"Tell me, who gave you that information?"
Lu Yang's saber struck again and again. The leopard demon's wounds grew heavier, and blood stained the dead leaves on the ground.
The leopard demon's green eyes fixed on Lu Yang, filled with ferocity and fury.
"You lowly blood-meal, you'll never get a thing out of me!"
In an instant, blood flooded the leopard demon's eyes. Its demonic aura suddenly surged, and it dodged the blade at twice its previous speed, lunging recklessly at Lu Yang's neck with its sharp fangs.
"Berserk?"
Lu Yang's heart stirred.
Rumor had it that some members of the Demon Race were born with the ability to burn through their demonic aura to gain explosive strength for a short time, dull their pain, and unleash their ferocity.
The price was a temporary loss of reason, followed by a period of weakness.
Those in the Demon Race who could go berserk were usually among the more gifted members of their clans.
Lu Yang had only heard Captain Yan Liu brag about it once before. This was the first time he had experienced it firsthand.
"Mountain Splitting Saber Art!"
Faced with the bloodthirsty assault of that "Big Black Skin" after it went berserk, Lu Yang, who had already broken into the Postnatal Realm, remained calm.
He raised his saber with composure, parrying the leopard demon's sharp fangs again and again.
The true qi in his body flowed like a trickling stream. It might have seemed feeble, but it never ceased, giving Lu Yang a steady, endless supply of strength.
After several blocks in a row, the blood and demonic aura in the leopard demon's body were clearly beginning to ebb.
After all, it was only a First-tier Lesser Demon. It had very little demonic aura to burn through.
And it had already suffered repeated, grievous injuries. It had lost a great deal of blood and qi, and was now at the end of its tether.
After blocking another assault, Lu Yang seized his chance. He raised his saber over his head and let out a shout.
"Rolling Stone Opens Mountain!"
True qi from the Houtian First Level poured into his saber, whipping up a fierce gale.
Lu Yang brought his saber down, and the massive head of "Big Black Skin" spun away across the ground.
Half an hour later.
Niushi Fort.
Niu Hanshan wore a worried frown.
Chen Fang said, "He's been gone so long. Could something have happened to Captain Lu?"
"He should be fine." Niu Hanshan clung to a hopeful thought as he spoke. "Captain Lu is at the Body Tempering Ninth Level, and he seems to have mastered his saber art. Even if he can't win, he should still have a chance to escape."
Even as he said it, Niu Hanshan wasn't entirely sure.
Wang Fang said, "If Captain Lu was careful, he might have escaped. But if there were more ambushers in the woods, then we're in trouble."
At those words, everyone's heart tightened.
After all, they still didn't know how many "Black Skins" there had been in that group.
If more leopard demons were hiding in the woods, waiting to help their companions, Lu Yang's situation would be grim.
Suddenly, a dark shape darted out of the shadowy forest, racing toward Niushi Fort at astonishing speed.
Everyone jumped in alarm. When the shape drew closer, they made out a human silhouette and their worry turned to joy.
"He's out!"
Zhao Hu leaped to his feet in excitement. "Brother Yang is back!"
Seeing this, Wang Fang and the other constables let out long sighs of relief.
Atop the fort tower, Niu Hanshan quietly unclenched his fist.
When he saw that Lu Yang was carrying the three bloodied heads of the leopard demons, he burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"Captain Lu is truly a young hero! I'll play host today. Please stay at Niushi Fort for the night, and let's drink until we drop!"
A feast of wine and food awaited the guests; it would be rude to refuse.
That day, Lu Yang and the others stayed at the fort and celebrated to their hearts' content.
There was wine and meat aplenty, and cups passed back and forth. There was no need to say more.
After three rounds of drinks, with host and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves, Niu Hanshan seized the moment and asked, "Captain Lu, did you find any Demon Treasures in those 'Black Skins'? If you did, I'd be willing to pay a hefty sum for one."
A Demon Treasure was the essence of a demon's blood and qi.
Put simply, it was a small lump of the finest flesh within a demon's body.
It was said that if a demon succeeded in taking human form and became a Great Demon, this lump of flesh would fully congeal into a Demon Core.
However, ordinary first- and second-tier demons did not always give birth to a Demon Treasure.
For First-tier Lesser Demons in particular, the chance was exceedingly slim.
But these leopard demons had nearly reached the peak of the First-tier Lesser Demon level, so their chances of producing a Demon Treasure were undoubtedly much higher.
Unlike a Great Demon's Demon Core, which was the condensed essence of a Great Demon but could only be consumed after being refined into a pill, a Demon Treasure had no such danger.
If a martial artist swallowed a Demon Core directly, the violent demonic aura within could invade their body, send them into cultivation deviation, or even turn them into a half-human, half-demon creature.
A Demon Treasure, however, posed no such risk.
Though this lump of flesh formed inside a demon, it was pure before it congealed into a core, without even a trace of demonic aura.
Its grade was too low to be refined into a pill, but the flesh was mild and free of demonic aura, so even ordinary people could eat it directly.
After consuming one, a martial artist could improve their blood and qi, and even their true qi.
Even an ordinary person could gain strength and live longer after eating one.
When Niu Hanshan was young, he had swallowed a Demon Treasure by chance. That was how he had managed to reach the Body Tempering Eighth Level and become the lord of Niushi Fort.
Later, he was injured, lost blood and qi, and his cultivation stalled.
Now he was asking Lu Yang about Demon Treasures, no doubt hoping to replenish his blood and qi and soothe his hidden injuries.
At that moment, everyone's eyes fell on Lu Yang.
Demon Treasures were extraordinarily precious to first- and second-tier martial artists—natural spirit elixirs, as it were.
Even Zhao Hu and Wang Fang, when they heard those two words, couldn't hide the yearning in their eyes.
Lu Yang smiled. "Town Chief Niu has a sharp eye. I was lucky enough to dig up a Demon Treasure."
As he spoke, he turned his hand over, and a bloodstained handkerchief appeared in his palm.
Lu Yang hadn't even unfolded the handkerchief, yet the room was already filled with a rich, unusual fragrance.
Niu Hanshan's eyes lit up, and his face flushed crimson.
Zhao Hu, Wang Fang, and the others began breathing faster too.
A trace of greed appeared in Chen Fang's eyes. But perhaps he remembered that Lu Yang had saved his life earlier, or perhaps he realized that Lu Yang was strong enough to kill all three leopard demons. Before long, his gaze cleared again.
Zhao Hu suddenly leaned close and whispered, "Brother Yang, wealth stirs the heart. You shouldn't take something this precious out in front of everyone."
Lu Yang smiled and waved him off, signaling that it was fine.
A man might be blameless, but possessing a jade would bring disaster.
He naturally understood that principle.
But he had already broken into the Postnatal Realm and condensed true qi. Even if everyone here attacked him at once, he wouldn't fear them.
Besides, Lu Yang had his own reasons.
Demon Treasures gave off an unusual fragrance. Once stored away, ordinary martial artists might not be able to smell it.
But demons, with their keen sense of smell, could detect it clearly from dozens of miles away.
Taking this thing along the mountain roads back to Black Mountain County would be asking for death. It would surely attract all kinds of demons along the way.
Besides, once dug up, its medicinal potency would quickly dissipate if it wasn't consumed within a day.
He couldn't make it back to Black Mountain County in a single day.
He could simply eat it himself, of course.
But with the system at his side, all he had to do was slay demons to increase his cultivation. A Demon Treasure from a mere First-tier Lesser Demon wasn't all that meaningful to him.
He might as well trade it for some money.
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