Slaying Demons, Leveling Up

"It seemed that slaying demonic beasts these past few days had activated the advancement progress bar for the Blood-Baleful Demon-Slaying Saber."

Lu Yuan muttered.

Previously, he had saved his experience points for emergencies.

To use at critical moments.

Now, he already had 1,810 experience points.

To improve his efficiency in slaying demons.

He could upgrade his martial techniques.

Once his martial techniques improved.

He would slay demons faster, and naturally gain experience points faster as well.

Right now, when he slew First-Order Perfected demonic beasts.

He still found it somewhat strenuous.

So at this moment, Lu Yuan directly began using experience points to upgrade them.

[ Ding! Consumed 500 experience points. Wild Bull Force has been raised to perfection. Experience required for advancement: 1,000! ]

[ Ding! Consumed 300 experience points. Withered Wood Fist has been raised to major mastery. Experience required to break through to perfection: 500! ]

[ Ding! Consumed 100 experience points. Carefree Steps has been raised to minor mastery. Experience required to break through to major mastery: 300! ]

[ Ding! Consumed 300 experience points. Carefree Steps has been raised to major mastery. Experience required to break through to perfection: 500! ]

[ Ding! Consumed 100 experience points. Ironhide Body-Tempering Art has been raised to minor mastery. Experience required to break through to major mastery: 300! ]

[ Ding! Consumed 300 experience points. Ironhide Body-Tempering Art has been raised to major mastery. Experience required to break through to perfection: 500! ]

A total of 1,600 experience points had been consumed.

Wild Bull Force had risen to perfection, Withered Wood Fist to major mastery, Carefree Steps to major mastery, and Ironhide Body-Tempering Art to major mastery.

Wave after wave of new cultivation insights surged into Lu Yuan's mind like a tide.

After Wild Bull Force reached major mastery, his use of force-energy rose by another level.

After Withered Wood Fist reached major mastery, he gained a new understanding of its third layer. He vaguely felt that he was about to touch the intent of the third layer of Withered Wood Fist: Withered Wood Sprouting.

After Carefree Steps reached major mastery, his movement technique became even more elusive and unpredictable. With one step, he skimmed the water like a dragonfly, and his entire body seemed much lighter.

After Ironhide Body-Tempering Art reached major mastery, the toughness of his skin membranes rose another level, and his control over them became more practiced.

"Break!!!"

Lu Yuan threw a punch, and the large tree before him crashed down.

And under the wash of that surging force.

Some impurities hidden beneath the skin on his body.

Were forced out of his body at that instant.

Boom!!!

A strange sound came from his dantian.

At that moment, Lu Yuan also broke through to become a First-Order Mid-Rank Martial Warrior.

Lu Yuan opened the panel again to take a look.

[ Host: Lu Yuan ]

[ Realm: First-Order Mid-Rank Martial Warrior (Skin Tempering) ]

[ Lifespan: 360 days ]

[ Cultivation Methods: Blood-Baleful Demon-Slaying Saber (advancing to Mysterious Grade Mid-Grade cultivation method Nine Nether Blood-Prison Saber (10/6000)), Wild Bull Force (advancing to Barbarian King's Giant Strength Art 0/1000), Carefree Steps (perfection 0/500), Ironhide Body-Tempering Art (perfection 0/500), Withered Wood Fist (perfection 0/500) ]

[ Current experience points: 210. ]

[ Draws: 1 (free) ]

All his cultivation methods and martial techniques had risen to major mastery or above.

Especially the Blood-Baleful Demon-Slaying Saber. If it advanced to the next grade, it would actually require nearly 6,000 experience points.

A Mysterious Grade Mid-Grade cultivation method—he wondered whether a cultivation method of such a grade counted as formidable within the Great Harvest Dynasty.

"Looks like I need to kill more demonic beasts."

After upgrading his cultivation methods and martial techniques.

Lu Yuan found slaying demonic beasts even more effortless.

At noon that day, Lu Yuan encountered the strongest demonic beast of this journey beside a deep mountain ravine.

A First-Order Perfected Azure-Scaled Python Demon.

The snake demon was as thick as a water barrel and nearly five zhang long.

Its entire body was covered in azure scales that gleamed with a metallic chill.

Its vertical pupils were icy.

It was far stronger than the First-Order Perfected Yellow Weasel Demon he had encountered before.

Though it could not speak human language.

Its fleshly body was so powerful that Lu Yuan felt it could rival a Second-Tier demonic beast.

"Hiss!!"

At the same time Lu Yuan found it.

The Azure-Scaled Python Demon's tail lashed toward him.

However, the current Lu Yuan was worlds apart from before.

Carefree Steps moved.

His feet shifted aside.

The snake tail directly smashed the rocks beside the ravine to pieces, sending stone chips flying.

At first, Lu Yuan did not use any martial techniques.

He simply used the strength of his First-Order Mid-Rank Martial Warrior realm to contend against the Azure-Scaled Python Demon.

Yet after several strikes.

He had only left streaks of white marks on the Azure-Scaled Python Demon's body.

Seeing that Lu Yuan could not break through its defenses.

The Azure-Scaled Python Demon immediately pressed forward.

It wanted to use the terrifying strangling power of its body.

To coil around Lu Yuan and squeeze him to death.

However, Lu Yuan naturally would not give this beast the chance.

If the Azure-Scaled Python Demon controlled him, he would find it difficult to break free with his strength.

A gentleman did not stand beneath a crumbling wall.

He wanted to test his raw strength without using cultivation methods or martial techniques.

But that did not mean he wanted to court death.

The next second, the Blood-Baleful Demon-Slaying Saber appeared. The rusty saber cut in beneath the reverse scale at the Azure-Scaled Python Demon's seven-inch vital point.

"Squelch!!!"

With a twist of his wrist.

He directly severed the great python's cervical spine.

[ Ding! Slain a First-Order Perfected Azure-Scaled Python Demon. Obtained 400 experience points. ]

Over three days, aside from sleeping at night to recover his strength, Lu Yuan almost tirelessly searched for traces of demonic beasts.

He gained a total of 1,300 experience points from slaying demons.

Perhaps Lu Yuan had slain too many demons in this area.

And the scent of blood had become too heavy.

As a result, on the third day, he encountered only one First-Order High-Grade demonic beast.

It was not that he slew demons slowly.

There were simply too few demonic beasts to encounter.

"If I go any deeper, I'm afraid I'll encounter Second-Tier, or even Third-Tier demonic beasts."

Lu Yuan was not afraid of a lone Second-Tier demonic beast.

But if they were pack-dwelling demonic beasts.

That would be rather troublesome.

As for Third-Tier demonic beasts, Lu Yuan would likely have to think about fleeing for his life.

"Never mind that. Rest first."

Lu Yuan looked at the sky, which had gradually darkened.

Traveling through Black Triangle Mountain at night.

Was clearly not a wise choice.

Lu Yuan found a concealed cave sheltered from the wind.

First, he set several simple warning traps at the cave entrance.

Then he covered the entrance with green vines.

Earlier, beneath a large tree nearby, he had found naturally fermented monkey wine.

He had also gathered several wild Sichuan pepper plants.

"Now this is a feast."

Lu Yuan started a fire and roasted a First-Order Low-Grade rabbit demon he had slain earlier.

The rabbit meat sizzled and dripped fat over the fire. Drops of golden oil fell into the flames, raising wave after wave of tantalizing fragrance.

He crushed the wild Sichuan pepper and wild garlic with a stone, then spread them evenly over the rabbit meat. The fragrance immediately grew richer and filled the entire cave.

Once it had roasted to a golden, crisp exterior and tender, juicy meat within, he tore off a rabbit leg and feasted heartily alongside the monkey wine.

"Ah, if only I could transport all the demon meat here outside."

Lu Yuan thought that if he could carry the demon meat out.

Then his family would not have to live so bitterly.

Still, selling the Demon Cores this time should earn him a sum of money.

When the time came, he would save part to buy medicinal herbs.

And give the rest to his family.

"Don't think so much. Once my strength rises, I'll naturally be able to give my family a good life."

"And protect them better."

Lu Yuan shook his head.

Then gulped down a mouthful of monkey wine.

It warmed his stomach. The liquor was not strong, yet its aftertaste lingered long, mixed with the fresh fragrance of many wild fruits.

"Crunch!"

He took another bite of the rabbit meat, charred outside and tender within.

Juice instantly burst forth, accompanied by the numbing fragrance of wild Sichuan pepper.

It greatly eased the exhaustion of the day.

After eating and drinking his fill, Lu Yuan dug a pit and deeply buried the leftover bones and refuse.

Then he mashed fresh grass and smeared it over his clothes and weapon.

To conceal the scent of blood.

This would, firstly, prevent sharp-nosed demonic beasts from following the scent to track him.

Secondly, it was to guard against martial warriors. In Black Triangle Mountain, people were far more dangerous than demonic beasts.

Those Rogue Cultivators and hired martial warriors who were tempted by wealth were no strangers to smiling before others while stabbing them in the back.

After handling all that.

Lu Yuan leaned against the cave wall.

And laid the rusty saber across his knees.