Gu Chang'an left in less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.
"Swish!"
The air seemed to tear open as a black shadow descended from the sky, landing steadily upon the blood-stained wasteland.
Following closely behind, four others leaped in. Their strides were uniform, and as their feet touched the ground, grass clippings flew three feet into the air as murderous intent instantly arose.
The five of them wore pitch-black martial outfits. Their robes were wide yet not fluttering, with mysterious thunder patterns embroidered at the cuffs, and two silver-hooked, iron-drawn characters clearly written on their left shoulders:
[Demon Suppression]
Their expressions were cold and stern like iron, and they each grasped unusual weapons in their hands:
There were double-bladed long halberds, flowing-fire repeating crossbows, wide-backed giant sabers, and even a woman holding a talismanic volume, cyan and blue spiritual light swirling within her eyes.
The leader was a young man of about thirty-seven or thirty-eight years of age, over nine feet tall. His features were chiseled like a sculpture, his brows like swords, and he wore a black cloak that snapped loudly in the wind.
His eyes were like lightning as he spoke in a cold voice, "The demonic energy is dense. As expected, it didn't run far."
"Combat preparation. Target: Green Cat Demon, suspected level three."
"Main diet of human flesh, extremely sensitive to blood scent, moves without a sound, astonishing bite force, able to condense demonic energy into claws and blades. Danger level: medium-low."
This man was Ning Bugui, a Fifth Rank martial artist and a battalion commander of the Demon Suppression Division in Guangling Commandery, Jingzhou.
"The target is right ahead. It just devoured three people earlier, and its demonic energy is at its peak."
"Good." Ning Bugui's gaze turned fierce.
At the same time, the Green Cat Demon finally detected the danger, its blood-red pupils abruptly lighting up like fire!
It let out a low roar, its dual claws kicking off the ground as it shot out several streaks of black light that actually managed to easily snap old trees!
"Screech--!"
The first streak of black light whistled in, only to be blocked by Ning Bugui raising a hand. The double-bladed long halberd stirred up a torrent of yuan force, shattering the black light and sending surrounding dust flying in shock!
"Well done!"
That talismanic woman abruptly hurled three cyan talismans, which transformed into three thunder nets in mid-air in an attempt to restrict the beast's movements!
As for another person—the short-crossbowman strode forward,
"Click, click, click!"
The triple-repeating crossbow sounded, firelight raining down as everything shot toward the demon's head!
Roar--!
The Green Cat Demon roared angrily, its mouth splitting like a blade as demonic energy billowed, actually managing to forcefully shatter half of the thunder nets, though its movements still slowed down.
Cold light flashed in Ning Bugui's eyes. He stamped his foot, his twin halberds moving like dragons!
"--Suppress for me!"
A surge of black-thunder yuan force, erupting like a mountain torrent, violently pressed down from overhead and pierced straight through!
"Crack!!"
The Green Cat Demon's sternum was forcefully shattered, blood flying everywhere as it was hurled away like a torn sack, heavily slamming beneath a tree.
It struggled to stand up, but was caught in a pincer attack from the left and right by two other Demon Suppression Division cultivators. One sliced through scales with a long saber, while the other locked the throat with an iron chain. Finally, Ning Bugui darted over, his twin halberds descending together to smash straight through its skull!
"Creak..."
Blood gushed like a spring. The demon trembled for a fraction of a second before its form scattered, ultimately returning to dead silence.
Ning Bugui slowly withdrew his halberds, coldly gazing at the demon's remains as he spat out two words:
"Beast."
"Confirm the existence of the demon core, gather materials, and report back to the yamen."
He calmly gave the order, as if the heart-pounding battle just now were nothing more than an everyday chore.
"Understood!" The other four answered in unison.
Time flowed like a white horse passing a crevice, vanishing in a flash.
A full month had already passed since the slaying of Zhang Qiang.
He had obtained twenty taels of silver from Zhang Qiang.
This was a colossal fortune that ordinary families could hardly hope to reach in several years.
At first, Gu Chang'an still worried that the murder would come to light, and thus did not dare to spend this twenty taels of silver.
Yet after a few days passed.
The deaths of Zhang Qiang and the other two stirred up almost no ripples at all. The Firewood Gang remained completely still, and the official authorities did not come knocking to investigate.
Gradually, he set his mind at ease.
It seemed that the demon had shouldered the blame for him.
After all, the corpses of those three had been devoured by the demon, perhaps leaving not even bones behind.
And he was merely an ordinary refugee, completely unconnected to Zhang Qiang.
Having figured this out, Gu Chang'an began to use the twenty taels of silver.
First, he broke away from those refugees and beggars—no longer taking shelter in ruined temples and ancestral halls, and no longer needing to keep company with the stench of the sick.
He took out three taels of silver and rented a dilapidated small courtyard in the west of the city.
Although this courtyard was cramped, its walls leaned and toppled, and the courtyard gate even hung crookedly with a rusted copper lock.
Still, it was at least a private dwelling with its own entrance. Even though there were only two rooms, it was enough to keep out the wind and rain.
There was a stove and pot to make a fire, and well water to wash his body. Compared to his past life of sleeping on the mud floor and relying on leftover soup and cold scraps to fill his belly, it could simply be called paradise.
The remaining ten taels of silver were handed over with what felt like clenched teeth.
This was the largest investment of his life.
The "Sky Wind Martial Hall" was established on South Street in the city. Though small in area, it bustled with activity every day, teaching orthodox martial arts rather than the cheap three-legged cat tricks of street performers.
Li Tianfeng, an Eighth Rank martial artist, had once achieved military merit in the border army and could split a one-inch-thick iron shield with a single hand. Though lacking widespread renown, he was extraordinarily ferocious.
Yet due to advancing age and lingering external injuries, he had established this Sky Wind Martial Hall in Nanning County.
Ten taels of silver a month sounded absurd, but it was precisely because of such a high price that idle people and vagrants were kept at bay.
Ever since he encountered that demon, Gu Chang'an knew.
He had to be strong!
He had to grow stronger!
While gnawing on a purchased meat bun, Gu Chang'an summoned his stat panel.
[Name: Gu Chang'an] [Lifespan: 53 years and 4 months] [Identity: Hunter (Commoner)] [Realm: None] [Constitution: 111 (+2/day)] [Techniques: Iron Cutting Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Initial Mastery/+), Iron Cloth Shirt (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Initial Mastery/+), Flowing Wind Steps (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Initial Mastery/+), Mountain Shattering Fist (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Initial Practice/+), Archery (Mortal Grade, Initial Mastery/+)]
Among them, the Iron Cloth Shirt, Flowing Wind Steps, and Mountain Shattering Fist were all learned by Gu Chang'an at the Sky Wind Martial Hall.
Through a month of arduous training, the Iron Cloth Shirt and Flowing Wind Steps had already reached Initial Mastery.
Meanwhile, the Mountain Shattering Fist was still at Initial Practice.
Regrettably, the Iron Cutting Saber Technique remained at Initial Mastery, with progress proceeding slowly.
His constitution had consequently increased to 111, breaking through the hundred-point milestone, and his lifespan had increased by a corresponding year.
This indicated that even without the system's help, relying purely on one's own cultivation could likewise elevate one's constitution, though the magnitude of improvement was not as pronounced as when boosted by the system.
According to his understanding, his current constitution value was already approaching the standards of a Ninth Rank Martial Artist—
Because he had once encountered a Ninth Rank martial artist whose constitution was 150.
However, Gu Chang'an did not feel that he could contend with a true Ninth Rank Martial Artist.
Not a single one of his techniques had reached the stage of entering the room, and his combat experience was far from sufficient.
In combat, constitution was certainly the foundation, but technique levels and practical experience were equally vital.
Therefore, he knew that his current self still needed to bide his time, remain hidden, continue surviving, and keep refining himself.
As for his identity changing to a hunter, it was because Gu Chang'an dared not continue cutting firewood and intersecting with those people from the Firewood Gang after killing Zhang Qiang.
Thus, he had transitioned into becoming a hunter.
Although hunting deep in the mountains carried a certain probability of encountering demons.
He still harbored lingering fear regarding that demon.
However, having heard that the demon had already been eliminated by the Demon Suppression Division, he felt far less terror.
Gu Chang'an understood the principle of sitting idly and eating through one's supplies.
For the sake of survival, certain risks still had to be taken.
Even so, his hunting was strictly confined to the outer fringes of the forest, and he never dared to venture deep inside.
Furthermore, that Archery at Initial Mastery had been acquired during the hunting process.
In addition.
Due to his recent hunting and meat consumption, alongside selling meat to earn money for medicinal ingredients that repaired the damage to his body, his lifespan had risen to 53 years.
His entire demeanor and vital energy were now completely different, and his complexion was no longer sickly pale...
If you search for the book title and cannot find it, you can try searching for the author instead. Perhaps it simply changed its name!
Before you continue