Demonization Ability

The sky gradually darkened.

On the official road, the dim yellow afterglow stretched the shadow of a horse and the two corpses dragging behind it long across the ground.

"Giddyup! Giddyup!"

Jiang Yuechu urged it twice, but the horse beneath her only snorted and panted heavily, its steps growing slower and slower.

She glanced back.

The two pig demon corpses carved deep furrows through the dirt, trailing dust all the way.

She had originally thought she could reach Golden City before nightfall.

But now, it seemed unlikely.

"Forget it." Jiang Yuechu sighed and dismounted.

She walked up to the horse and patted its sweat-soaked neck.

"You've had it rough, old friend."

The horse snorted in response.

Jiang Yuechu untied the rope, tossed the two corpses by the roadside, then removed the saddle.

"Go find some grass to eat. We'll rest here tonight."

She looked around. Not far from the official road stood a ruined Land God Temple. Half its walls had collapsed, and even the statue had toppled over. It was just right for sheltering from the wind.

She moved her things into the ruined temple, then sat down heavily against a broken wall.

The night wind swept past, carrying the chill of the wilderness.

But Jiang Yuechu had no mind to care about that.

At a thought, the ancient scroll slowly unfolded in her mind.

[Dao Cultivation: 180 years]

Seeing that number, she could not help grinning.

All that hard travel and risking her life on the blade's edge had been for this, hadn't it?

Now that she had 180 years of Dao Cultivation in hand, she naturally had to spend it lavishly.

Her consciousness settled on the two demon scrolls that had already reached the Vermilion Staining realm.

Should she continue upgrading Tiger Mountain God, or Azure-Faced Lord?

Fierce Tiger Swift Blade was currently her most handy technique—broad and powerful, overwhelming ten enemies with sheer force.

Azure Cliff Returning Shadow, meanwhile, placed greater emphasis on movement, unpredictable and ever-changing.

After thinking it over, it was safer to focus on one target first.

After all, trying to swallow too much would only leave her unable to chew.

"You, big tiger."

Jiang Yuechu made up her mind.

She took a deep breath and sank her consciousness into the scroll.

The next instant, all 180 years of Dao Cultivation surged into the scroll of that white-browed, hanging-eyed tiger like floodwaters bursting through a dam!

Boom—

A blood-red light flared brilliantly across the scroll!

The tiger seemed to come alive. Every strand of fur, every inch of muscle and bone, was undergoing an indescribable transformation.

The Dao Cultivation number rapidly dropped.

170 years.

150 years.

100 years.

Fifty...

Finally, it stopped at zero.

All 180 years of Dao Cultivation had been completely consumed.

Jiang Yuechu felt a pang of pain in her heart.

But before she could finish grieving over it—

A line of brand-new text slowly emerged on the scroll.

[180 years of Dao Cultivation consumed. Tiger Mountain God progress increased.]

[Current Scroll: Tiger Mountain God (Eye-Pointing)]

Boom—

A tremendous blast rang out.

Jiang Yuechu felt as though her head had exploded.

She abruptly opened her eyes, gasping for breath, her forehead drenched in cold sweat.

On the scroll, a touch of scarlet vermilion had been added to the pupils of the white-browed, hanging-eyed tiger.

It seemed to have come alive.

[Tiger Mountain God successfully underwent Eye-Pointing. Demon gift obtained.]

[Demonization: Tiger Mountain God unlocked (Consumes one's own vitality and blood to temporarily enter a half-demon state, gaining its abilities. This divine power is exceptionally dangerous. Use with caution.)]

"Fuck..."

Jiang Yuechu stared at the fresh lines on the panel for a long while without speaking.

Demonization?

Temporarily transforming into a tiger demon?

Jiang Yuechu licked her somewhat chapped lips, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

She slowly raised her right hand and focused her thoughts.

Hum.

An indescribable scorching sensation erupted from her heart.

The vitality and blood within her seemed like ignited oil, rapidly burning away at a terrifying speed.

Jiang Yuechu groaned. Every bone in her body seemed to creak beneath unbearable strain.

Before her eyes, her right hand was undergoing an astonishing transformation.

The muscles beneath her skin rapidly tightened, becoming tough as iron without swelling excessively, merely tracing smooth lines brimming with explosive strength.

Her long black hair began to be swiftly dyed crimson from the roots, like burning flames beneath the cold moonlight.

The most terrifying change occurred in her eyes.

The world before her seemed to stretch and distort. In an instant, her pupils became a pair of cold, merciless golden vertical slits.

An unprecedented sense of power surged wildly through every limb and bone!

It felt as though she could smash the broken wall beside her with one punch if she wished.

But what followed was searing pain from her heart.

It was as though an invisible black hole were madly devouring her life force.

Her vitality and blood were draining away faster than ever before!

If this continued, she would be drained dry alive in less than ten breaths!

Stop!

Jiang Yuechu screamed frantically in her heart.

Hum—

That scorching power receded like the tide.

Her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground. Her chest heaved violently as she gasped for breath.

A lock of hair fell before her eyes, already restored to black.

She raised a trembling hand and touched her eyes, then looked at her palm. That explosive power had vanished without a trace.

"Fuck..."

Jiang Yuechu spat out the word, feeling utterly drained, almost too weak even to curse.

This move...

It was powerful, sure.

But if she failed to end the fight in time—

Wouldn't she be left at the mercy of anyone on the spot?

Unless it was absolutely necessary, she could never use it again.

She struggled into a sitting position and leaned against the wall.

Just then—

Grrr—

Her stomach let out an ill-timed growl.

Jiang Yuechu clutched her stomach, her face full of helplessness.

There was no helping it. This was simply how martial artists were.

Consumed vitality and blood could only be replenished through food.

That demonization had nearly drained her dry. Her stomach was now utterly empty, and she was starving.

She pulled out the jerky Chen Qingyuan had given her. It was dry and hard. She broke off a small piece, put it into her mouth, and chewed for a long while, finding it utterly tasteless.

Her gaze unconsciously fell upon the two enormous corpses outside the ruined temple.

Pig demons...

"They're pigs too, right?"

She licked her lips.

"Fuck it. I'm starving to death here. Who cares about being picky?"

She got to her feet, pulled out a fire striker from her bundle, then drew her saber and strode toward the pig demon corpses.

With a flash of her blade, she neatly severed one fat hind leg.

The stench of blood rushed at her, but Jiang Yuechu did not even frown.

Before long, a bonfire was burning inside the ruined temple.

The skinned pig leg sizzled over the fire. Fat dripped into the flames, crackling loudly as a strange meaty aroma filled the air.

Jiang Yuechu tore off a huge chunk of browned meat. Ignoring the heat, she blew on it twice and stuffed it into her mouth.

The meat was coarse and carried an indescribable gamey stench. It was not particularly tasty.

Yet as the flesh entered her stomach, a warm current rose from within and swiftly spread through every limb and bone.

The vitality and blood depleted by her demonization were rapidly replenishing at a visible rate.

Jiang Yuechu's eyes lit up.

It really was a great tonic!

She hesitated no longer, gripping the pig leg and tearing into it mouthful after mouthful.

At that moment, she suddenly felt that—

Demons...

Really were a good thing...