Monument Splitting Palm! Astonishing Swan Steps! Seventh Layer of Body Forging!

An hour later.

A message flashed before Yang Xiao's eyes.

[Equipped "Breath-Nurturing Method" has met the permanence condition. Its equipment effects are now permanent.]

[Breath-Nurturing Method has reached mastery.]

[Obtained trait: Vitality Recovery (green). Slightly increases the rate of qi and blood recovery.]

The Breath-Nurturing Method vanished from the Equipment Slot, leaving a space open.

Yang Xiao, who had been waiting for this, picked up Astonishing Swan Steps first.

The moment he opened the cover, translucent text appeared before his eyes.

[Equippable item detected: Astonishing Swan Steps]

[Equip?]

Yang Xiao did not hesitate. "Equip."

The thin booklet turned into a glimmer of light and settled into the Equipment Slot.

["Astonishing Swan Steps"]

[Effect 1: "Astonishing Swan Steps" proficiency reaches mastery.]

[Effect 2: Obtain trait (green) Shadow Swoop: Lightens the body and slightly increases agility.]

[Permanence condition: Equip for one hour.]

A flood of memories poured into his mind.

How to draw up his breath, where to place his feet, how to drive his movements with his waist and hips, how to twist and dodge in cramped spaces.

In an instant, Yang Xiao felt as though he had spent more than a decade practicing footwork.

His legs warmed slightly, and he stepped forward.

Whoosh—

The wind stirred in the courtyard.

Yang Xiao appeared several paces away, leaving only faint footprints on the ground.

"Excellent footwork."

Yang Xiao's eyes lit up.

If he had possessed Astonishing Swan Steps during the battle at Liu Family Village, killing the Rat Demons would have been even easier.

More importantly, footwork could save his life.

In a world overrun by Demons, being able to kill one was one thing. Surviving was another.

Yang Xiao tried the steps several more times around the courtyard.

His figure sped up and slowed down, his sleeves stirring the wind.

When he stopped, the qi and blood inside him surged, faintly breaking through a barrier.

His bones and sinews gave a soft crack.

Body Forging 6th Layer!

Yang Xiao clenched his fist. Feeling the strength that had grown within him, he smiled faintly.

Since waking yesterday, he had risen from Body Forging 3rd Layer to Body Forging 6th Layer.

He had reached the minimum threshold for the Demon Suppression Division's selection.

But that was not enough.

Not nearly enough.

The Rat Calamity at Liu Family Village had involved only a pack of low-level Rat Demons, yet it had nearly overwhelmed the entire village.

Wang Village had Dog Demons.

Li Family Hamlet had a whole mountain full of powerful Demons.

Beyond the County Yamen, who knew how many man-eating things lurked?

Body Forging 6th Layer alone was still not enough to keep him safe.

An hour later, the Equipment Slot trembled slightly.

["Astonishing Swan Steps" equipment effects are now permanent.]

[Astonishing Swan Steps has reached mastery.]

[Obtained trait (green) Shadow Swoop: Lightens the body and slightly increases agility.]

Looking at the empty Equipment Slot, Yang Xiao felt that reassuring sense of solidity return.

This was the most terrifying thing about the Equipment Slot.

Others could train bitterly for years and still fail to master a martial art.

But he only had to equip it and make its effects permanent. Then it became part of his strength forever.

Yang Xiao picked up the second thin booklet, Monument Splitting Palm.

"Equip."

[Equippable item detected: Monument Splitting Palm]

[Effect 1: Monument Splitting Palm reaches mastery.]

[Effect 2: Obtain trait (green) Mountain-Opening Force: Heavy palm strikes can break bones and sinews and disrupt low-level Demons' self-healing.]

[Permanence condition: Equip for one hour.]

Heat surged through his body again.

This time, it was not his legs that warmed. His arms, palms, shoulders, and back all swelled with power.

Standing in the courtyard, Yang Xiao spread his hands. A dark jade sheen faintly showed through the skin, flesh, bones, and sinews of his palms. As his qi and blood surged, it felt as though a layer of Iron Armor covered them, dense and immensely strong.

He struck out with his palms, pushing, slapping, and chopping sideways. Each movement sent a sharp burst through the air.

He walked over to the bluestone in the courtyard, raised a hand, and brought his palm down.

The bluestone shuddered. Cracks spread outward from where his palm had landed.

With a series of sharp cracks, the whole stone broke into several pieces.

Yang Xiao withdrew his hand. His palm tingled slightly, but it was otherwise unharmed.

Monument Splitting Palm at mastery added a thousand jin of force, enough to shatter stone and split steles. His bare hands could rival a Demon's body!

If he met creatures like those Rat Demons again, he would not even need his saber. He could slap a few of them dead barehanded.

As his qi and blood circulated, Yang Xiao felt heat surge through him. His bones and sinews rang out, and his strength grew once more.

Seventh Layer of Body Forging!

Yang Xiao stood in the courtyard and let out a long breath.

In less than two days, he had gone from Body Forging 3rd Layer to Seventh Layer of Body Forging.

If he told anyone, they probably would not believe him.

But this was only the beginning.

He had found his path now.

Kill Demons for Merit, trade Merit for martial arts manuals, make their effects permanent, then kill stronger Demons...

If he kept that cycle going, one day he would find his footing in this man-eating world.

He woke early the next morning.

Looking at the empty Equipment Slot in his vision, Yang Xiao felt hollow inside.

Ever since he had equipped the Spring Embroidery Saber yesterday, he had grown used to keeping that slot filled. It gave him the satisfying sense that he was making progress.

No. I need to get out there. I need to kill Demons!

Yang Xiao straightened his clothes, strapped his saber to his waist, and headed straight for the Xiangyun County Yamen.

Fifteen minutes later, Yang Xiao finished the last bite of his Scallion Pancake outside the County Yamen, then turned into his duty room along the familiar route.

Xiangyun County had three constables in charge. Aside from Head Constable Zhang Hu, who remained at the County Yamen, Second Constable Li Tie and Third Constable Wang Dagui were stationed at Li Family Hamlet and Wang Village respectively, returning every few days.

Yang Xiao served under Zhang Hu. Usually, he just patrolled the county streets and faced almost no risk of encountering Demons.

Yang Xiao resolved to find a way to get out of town today.

Otherwise, where would he earn Merit?

How would he keep improving?

In the County Yamen's duty room.

When Yang Xiao arrived, Zhang Hu stood before the desk with a grim expression. Zhao Qiang stood beside him and gave Yang Xiao a slight nod.

A rough map lay spread across the desk, with a crumpled letter requesting reinforcements beside it.

Zhang Hu looked up at Yang Xiao. His expression eased a little as he studied him closely.

There was more scrutiny in that gaze than there had been yesterday.

Word of Yang Xiao's performance in the battle at Liu Family Village had already spread throughout the County Yamen.

To ordinary Yamen Runners, a Rat Demon at Body Forging 6th Layer was the sort of thing that got people killed.

Yet Yang Xiao had cut it down cleanly.

If Zhang Hu had not seen it with his own eyes, he would have struggled to believe that this was the same Yang Xiao who used to muddle through his duties.

"Sit."

Zhang Hu pointed to the bench before the desk.

Yang Xiao sat without ceremony and looked down at the map.

Several villages around Xiangyun County had been marked on it in simple strokes.

Liu Family Village lay to the southwest, Wang Village to the eastern outskirts, and Li Family Hamlet farther north, near the Back Mountain.

Zhang Hu tapped Wang Village on the map.

"Something's happened at Wang Village."

Yang Xiao thought for a moment. "Dog Demons?"

"Yes." Zhang Hu picked up the letter requesting reinforcements and handed it over. "Wang Dagui sent this back with someone three days ago."

Yang Xiao took it and scanned it.

The handwriting was scrawled, and the ink had bled in places.

In essence, the number of Dog Demons near Wang Village had increased. They had been attacking livestock and villagers frequently, and several people had already been dragged away.

Third Constable Wang Dagui and his men were holding their position, but they were short-handed and had asked the County Yamen for reinforcements.

After reading it, Yang Xiao put the letter back on the desk.

"They asked for help three days ago. Why are we only sending someone now?"

Zhang Hu's face darkened further.

"The Rat Calamity at Liu Family Village suddenly spread. It tied up the County Yamen's men."

He looked at Yang Xiao. "I wanted to go myself, but someone has to remain here to hold the County Yamen."

"Zhao Qiang needs to take men to deal with the aftermath at Liu Family Village."

"So I want you to go and take a look at Wang Village."

Zhao Qiang's expression shifted slightly. "Constable Zhang, Yang Xiao alone?"

Zhang Hu fell silent for a moment.

"I'm not asking him to wipe out the Dog Demons. Just assess the situation."

"If everything's fine at Wang Village, come straight back."

"If something really has happened, don't try to be a hero. Return to the County Yamen and report it first."

With that, he turned to Yang Xiao.

"Are you willing to go?"