Urgency and hardship

Swallow a Golden Core into the belly, and only today discover the heavens beyond this world.

The proficient-level Green Snake Breathing Method was not as overwhelming as the legendary Golden Core, but it was not far behind.

Rhythm, breathing, efficiency!

All manner of information seeped into the depths of Su Changsheng's consciousness, until he absorbed it completely, turning it all into the instinctive potential of his Yao Body and the deep reserves of his bloodline.

At that very moment, the changes were plain to see.

Demon wind blew from his mouth, while a storm of spiritual energy poured in from the void, combining with the blood energy, demon power, and other forces within him. It became purer energy that nourished every inch of his Yao Body's skin and scales.

Three double-hours later.

Su Changsheng finally stopped cultivating and let out a long breath. A visible stream of pale, freezing air whistled out, struck the rock wall, and turned into a patch of white frost.

Player: Su Changsheng

Realm: second-level half-demon 66/500

Cultivation method: Green Snake Breathing Method, proficient 47/2500

Survival points: 0

"Three double-hours, six points of realm experience!"

"What terrifying efficiency. That's more than four times what the Skilled Level Breathing Technique could manage."

Su Changsheng was overjoyed.

The effects of the proficient-level Breathing Technique far exceeded his expectations. Previously, two full double-hours of breathing practice had yielded only one point of realm experience.

Compared with now, the difference was like heaven and earth.

More importantly, he had only just advanced and was not yet accustomed to it. Once his Yao Body fully adapted to breathing at this level, his efficiency would increase further.

"At this rate, cultivating around the clock would yield a full twenty-four points of realm experience a day. In about twenty days, I could become a level three half-demon! I can definitely advance before shedding my skin."

"Amazing!"

"Perhaps only those level six or seven half-demons can master a Breathing Technique at this level."

Su Changsheng marveled inwardly.

Proficient-level Green Snake Breathing already had the power to turn decay into wonder. Its efficiency completely offset Su Changsheng's abysmal aptitude, and even put him on par with pure-blooded members of the Demon Race.

He experimented a little longer and discovered that proficient-level Green Snake Breathing was also superb at restoring demon power.

Whenever he drew in spiritual energy from the outside world, a faint spiritual-energy vortex formed around Su Changsheng.

"But isn't the consumption a little too much?"

Su Changsheng rubbed his ravenous belly with a wry smile.

Energy did not come from nowhere. Although the Green Snake Breathing Method had increased his efficiency and speed more than fourfold, the amount of blood food it consumed had also risen considerably.

Previously, one jin of low-grade blood food had sustained one to two double-hours of full breathing practice without leaving him hungry at all. Now, even after eating eight or nine jin in succession, he did not feel remotely full.

"I'm going to be so poor my pockets will jingle again."

"I've only had two days of the good life."

Looking at what little blood food remained, Su Changsheng felt sorrow well up within him.

Over this period, he had visited the Yao Market four times in total, trading one or two Concealment Runes each time. Apart from occasionally buying some demonic beast pelts for making talismans, he had earned a little over a hundred jin of blood food.

He consumed roughly four or five jin a day, already the bare minimum needed to sustain his daytime breathing practice.

But now, a mere three double-hours of breathing practice had consumed nearly ten jin of blood food. How was he supposed to cope with such an energy-guzzling monster?

He had only just secured enough to eat, and now he was back where he started. When would his demonic life finally reach modest prosperity?

The burden was heavy, and the road was long!

"Forget it, forget it. At least I ate it myself rather than feeding it to a dog. Still, I'll have to revise my plans. Shedding my skin requires blood food, the proficient-level Green Snake Breathing Method requires huge amounts of blood food, and digging tunnels and making talismans are physical work that still requires blood food."

"Blood food, oh, blood food! You really are a treasure. I can't do without you!"

Su Changsheng gathered himself, stood up, and began making talismans. He lacked exceptional aptitude, but he refused to lie down and give up, so he had to work hard every moment.

He could not waste a single second.

By then, night had fallen, and the demonic moon slowly passed over the ridge. Crimson moonlight spilled down through the cracks onto Su Changsheng, eerie and magnificent.

The bitter wind howled, its chill piercing to the bone.

Su Changsheng wrapped his tail around his body and carefully engraved the rune base, stroke by stroke.

Life was hard, but at least it was stable.

Living slowly, planning slowly, accumulating slowly-he believed that one day, there would be bread, and there would be milk too.

As long as he worked hard, everything would get better.

There were three days left before the end of the month.

The Black Tiger Yao still had not come to collect this month's dues, and all manner of rumors began to ferment further throughout the Half-Demon Grounds.

Still, no half-demon dared visit the Black Tiger Yao's residence to investigate.

When Su Changsheng woke early and opened his door, he saw that new neighbors had moved in next door.

A married pair of avian half-demons.

One had a bird's head and a human body, while the other had a human head and a bird's body. He could not tell exactly what kinds of half-demons they were.

They apparently had not expected a snake yao to be living next door either. After giving Su Changsheng a wary look, they slipped into their house without so much as a greeting.

Su Changsheng's gaze remained calm. He was not surprised at all. After all, half-demons of every kind came and went from the Half-Demon Grounds, with the residents constantly changing.

From the day disaster had struck Male Fox, he had already expected new neighbors to appear.

There was nothing unexpected about it.

"Even birds come in pairs!"

"And here I am... why the hell did I think of Male Fox?"

Su Changsheng had meant to lament his lot, but his face immediately darkened as Male Fox's sleazy smile involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Fuck.

That bastard wouldn't give me any peace even after dying!

"But why would they choose to move here now?"

Su Changsheng frowned.

Within the Half-Demon Grounds, half-demons from other areas did not dare relocate at will without the approval of a minor yao like the Black Tiger Yao.

As for wild yao hoping to become residents of the Half-Demon Grounds, that was harder still.

"Or did they already live here and just change houses? No, that's not right. The Half-Demon Grounds aren't small, but they aren't that large either. There weren't any half-demons like them here before. They must be outsiders!"

"Could it be..."

Su Changsheng's heart sank slightly.

The Bird Yao couple next door had most likely moved here only after receiving approval from the minor yao in charge of the Half-Demon Grounds.

That meant either the Black Tiger Yao had recovered but had not shown himself for some reason, or the higher-ups of the Yao Stronghold had sent another minor yao to take charge.

Su Changsheng leaned toward the former.

After all, the Black Tiger Yao's strength was plain for everyone to see. He did not believe that bastard would fall so easily to a Wraith Beast.

Perhaps he had yet to appear because he was secretly plotting something.

Given the Black Tiger Yao's bizarre, cunning nature, the odds of that were anything but small.

"So... the Black Tiger Yao will be back before long! In that case, I need to pick up the pace too."

"I need to become a level three half-demon as soon as possible!"

Su Changsheng suddenly felt a pressing sense of urgency.