Exchanging Martial Arts! Equipping the Breath-Nurturing Method!

The County Yamen armory was deep in the rear courtyard.

It was a small two-story building made of blue bricks. Two Yamen Runners stood guard at the entrance, and when they saw Zhang Hu approaching with someone, they immediately saluted.

"Head Constable Zhang."

Zhang Hu nodded, took out a key, and opened the heavy iron door.

With a creak, a musty scent of old books washed over them.

The armory was not large, but everything was clearly organized.

The wooden racks on the left held sabers, spears, bows, armor, and other weapons and equipment, while the racks on the right held booklets of martial arts techniques.

Zhang Hu pointed at the racks and said, "The County Yamen isn't the Demon Suppression Division. We don't have many good things."

"But for those in the Body Forging Realm, it's enough."

"Ordinary weapons cost twenty or thirty Merit, basic martial arts cost thirty or forty, and if you want to exchange for silver, that's available too."

Yang Xiao's gaze swept over the racks, where booklet after booklet rested quietly.

The techniques that took others years of bitter practice could be instantly perfected by him as long as he equipped them in his slot.

He could even permanently solidify them into his own strength.

Yang Xiao felt a faint heat in his heart.

In his eyes, this armory was a treasure mountain waiting to be emptied.

Seeing how seriously he was looking, Zhang Hu said, "Your Basic Blade Technique is already decent, but your movement technique and unarmed skills are lacking."

"If you only know how to use a blade, you'll be at a disadvantage once a demon closes in, or if you encounter narrow terrain."

Yang Xiao nodded.

That was exactly what he had been thinking about.

During the battle at Liu Family Village, although he had relied on the Hundred-Refined Edge to slay demons, he had also clearly felt that his movement technique and close-combat abilities were insufficient.

If the Rat Demon's strength had not been limited, and it had been replaced by a stronger demon, things might not have gone so smoothly.

A quarter of an hour later, Yang Xiao selected two techniques.

"Monument Splitting Palm," worth 40 Merit, was a palm technique.

Once cultivated to minor mastery, its palm force could split stone tablets. At major mastery, it could shatter enormous rocks. At consummation, a single palm could contend head-on with a Ninth Layer of Body Forging demon.

The other was "Astonishing Swan Steps," worth 40 Merit, a basic movement technique.

At minor mastery, one's body became as light as a swallow. At major mastery, one moved as gracefully as a startled swan, skimming across the ground without a sound. At consummation, a single step could leave behind several overlapping afterimages, making reality and illusion impossible to distinguish.

After making his selection, Yang Xiao found Zhang Hu at the entrance and handed the books over.

"Head Constable Zhang, I'd like to exchange for these two martial arts."

"You have good taste." Zhang Hu raised his brows. "Once mastered, Astonishing Swan Steps will make your movements light and nimble, while Monument Splitting Palm is fierce and domineering. In close combat, it can make up for your weakness in unarmed skills."

"I'll take these two."

Zhang Hu had the armory steward record the transaction, then reminded him, "Go back and practice properly. The Demon Suppression Division's selection is imminent. Every bit of extra strength means a greater chance of being chosen."

"Thank you, Head Constable Zhang. I'll practice hard."

Yang Xiao accepted the two martial arts manuals. The moment his fingertips touched their covers, the transparent Equipment Slot before him trembled faintly.

[Detected equippable item: "Astonishing Swan Steps"]

[Equip?]

Yang Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly.

As expected, martial arts techniques could be equipped too!

He forcibly suppressed the joy in his heart and did not try it immediately.

This was the County Yamen armory, not a suitable place.

After seeing Yang Xiao put away the martial arts manuals, Zhang Hu's expression turned serious. "Yang Xiao, since your strength has improved so quickly, there are some things I should tell you."

"What is it?"

Zhang Hu said solemnly, "The distribution of demons around Xiangyun County."

"I'm telling you now not so that you can go kill demons, but so that you can avoid them and not make a mistake at this critical juncture before the Demon Suppression Division arrives."

Yang Xiao immediately became serious.

"There are actually demons appearing in several villages around Xiangyun County."

Zhang Hu spoke slowly. "Liu Family Village suffered a Rat Calamity, which you've already seen for yourself. But besides Rat Demons, there are other, more dangerous demons."

"Dog Demons appear in Wang Village east of the city. They roam in packs and love eating people. The villagers don't dare go outside and can only hide in the village."

"Three-Demon Mountain behind Li Family Hamlet in the north is even occupied by demons of all sizes. One of them has reached the Qi Gathering Realm and is the strongest of them all. Its strength is terrifying."

Yang Xiao's heart tightened. A Qi Gathering Realm demon!

The Qi Gathering Realm was said to be the realm after Body Forging. Those in it could wield even more extraordinary methods and injure people from a distance.

He was only at the Body Forging Realm Third Stage. If he encountered a Qi Gathering Realm demon, he probably would not even be able to escape.

"Head Constable Zhang, why haven't these demons been completely eliminated?"

Zhang Hu sighed. "The County Yamen's strength is limited. The few of us head constables are all at the Body Forging Realm Ninth Stage. We may look powerful, but we haven't escaped the Mortal Realm. We can only be considered somewhat stronger ordinary people."

"Only after entering the Qi Gathering Realm can one truly set foot on the Martial Dao and contend with them."

"Then what do we do?" Yang Xiao furrowed his brows.

How could anyone tolerate another sleeping soundly beside their bed—especially when that person was a demon capable of taking lives at any moment?

"We can only wait for the Demon Suppression Division to arrive." Zhang Hu spread his hands. "I've already requested aid from the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division. Only they can deal with demons of this level."

Yang Xiao suddenly understood. No wonder the County Yamen was helpless against these demons.

"I'm telling you this so that you'll be more careful when going out on duty." Zhang Hu spoke earnestly. "Be careful if you encounter a Dog Demon. And whatever you do, don't approach the Back Mountain behind Li Family Hamlet!"

"If you encounter a situation you can't handle, retreat immediately. Don't try to show off."

"I understand." Yang Xiao appeared thoughtful.

After finishing his shift, he returned home.

Yang Xiao closed the door and took the two booklets from his robes.

He did not rush to equip the two new martial arts. Instead, he took stock of the things in his home.

Yang Xiao looked at the Standard Saber at his waist.

It was the standard equipment issued by the County Yamen to its Yamen Runners. Its quality was ordinary, far inferior to the Spring Embroidery Saber.

"Let's give it a try."

Yang Xiao drew the Standard Saber and silently recited, "Equip."

The next moment, the Standard Saber transformed into a streak of flowing light and appeared in the Equipment Slot.

[Standard Saber]

[Effect: Basic Blade Technique—Initiation.]

[Note: After equipping for one hour, the equipment effect of this item can be permanently solidified.]

After seeing the equipment effect, Yang Xiao shook his head and silently recited, "Unequip."

The Standard Saber reappeared in his hand, and the Equipment Slot returned to being empty.

"The Standard Saber's quality is too low, so the effect it provides is too poor. Even solidifying it would be useless. It would only waste an equipment slot."

Yang Xiao pondered. "It seems that if I want to obtain stronger bonuses, I need to find higher-quality equipment."

He put the Standard Saber back at his waist, and his gaze fell upon a small booklet on the table inside the room.

It was the "Breath-Nurturing Method" issued to him when he first entered the County Yamen, the most basic cultivation technique of the Body Forging Realm.

[Ding! Detected equippable item: Breath-Nurturing Method]

[Effect One: Breath-Nurturing Method reaches the consummate realm.]

[Effect Two: Obtain the Vitality Recovery (Green) affix: Slightly increases the rate of qi and blood recovery.]

[Note: After equipping for one hour, the equipment effect of this item can be permanently solidified.]

[Equip this item?]

Yang Xiao's eyes lit up. Martial arts techniques could be equipped too!

And after equipping one, the technique could instantly reach consummation as well. That meant his cultivation speed could increase considerably!

"Equip!"

The next moment, the booklet transformed into a streak of flowing light and appeared in the Equipment Slot!

At the same time, the Breath-Nurturing Method he had practiced for two years instantly reached consummation.

Yang Xiao felt a stronger wave of heat surge through his body. His entire person seemed to be immersed in a hot spring, so comfortable that it was indescribable.

The flow of qi and blood inside his body accelerated, tempering his flesh and skin. Body Forging Realm Fifth Stage!

He had broken through!

From the Body Forging Realm Third Stage to the Body Forging Realm Fifth Stage, he had crossed two realms in less than a day!

"This Equipment Slot... is simply too heaven-defying!"

Moreover, he possessed the Consummate Basic Blade Technique and various affixes, giving him combat power far beyond others at the same realm.

It could be said that in less than a day, he had already claimed the top spot among the younger generation of Xiangyun County!