Thicker, Bigger, Stronger

It was almost noon.

Everything was ready. Attack Runes, traps, warning devices, and more-he had done everything he could to set up as many as possible.

After blocking the tunnel with several huge boulders in succession, Su Changsheng waited until the last glimmer of light faded before picking up his things and feeling his way into its innermost reaches.

At the deepest point of the tunnel was a circular platform of roughly three or four square meters. Another, narrower tunnel led from there, its diameter barely wide enough for Su Changsheng to crawl through.

The new tunnel was a little over twenty meters long and led to a hidden spot in the mountain behind his house. If danger struck the main passage-if enemies discovered it and blocked the entrance, for instance-Su Changsheng could escape through this backup route.

At that moment...

Deep inside the tunnel, the front passage was sealed off and the rear opening was covered by heavy snow, leaving the interior pitch-black, oppressively so.

Although Su Changsheng was a Green Snake Half-Demon, his night vision was terrible, perhaps because of prolonged malnutrition. He was practically blind in the dark.

Even so, he still did not light a fire.

This was the critical moment for breaking through to a level three half-demon. He could not afford the slightest carelessness. Even a tiny flame might attract some extremely heat-loving Wraith Beast and bring danger down on him.

So even if he could not see his own hand in front of his face, he could not light a fire.

Caution first. Safety first.

Sitting on the cold stone slab, Su Changsheng did not begin his breakthrough immediately. Instead, he silently kept track of the time.

It was still a little short of noon. First, he ate ten pounds of flesh, stopping only after his belly bulged and he could not fit in another bite.

"Burp!"

"It feels so good to be full."

Su Changsheng rubbed his belly and let out a satisfied belch. More than three months had passed since he transmigrated here. Every day, he had scrambled to survive and find his next meal, never having enough food or warm clothing. All his provisions had to be rationed out, bit by bit, according to plan.

Today was the first time he had truly felt full. For someone who had spent so long starving, that feeling was precious beyond measure, something to savor endlessly. It was sheer bliss.

"If only I could eat this well at every meal from now on. Too bad... that's not very realistic."

Su Changsheng sighed.

The dangers of the Wilds, the chaos of the Yao Stronghold, and the strife among demons meant that flesh for food was ultimately the scarcest, most sought-after resource.

And his aptitude was ordinary. His Breathing Technique had to consume enormous amounts of flesh to make up for his lack of natural talent.

That made even securing enough food and clothing incredibly difficult. Food shortages would almost certainly remain Su Changsheng's constant companion.

Poverty was the one thing that could always keep rattling, without ever stopping.

"Time to break through!"

The abundant flesh in his stomach gave him an unprecedented sense of fullness, stirring the vital blood and demon power within his Yao Body into restless motion.

Once the temperature inside the cave had risen just a little more, Su Changsheng hesitated no longer and immediately began his breathing exercises.

One cycle, two cycles, three cycles...

The demon power within him surged and circulated, while wisps of spiritual energy seeped from the surrounding rock walls and gathered inside the tunnel.

Exhaling, inhaling, he continued without pause, his demon power and vital blood moving in rhythm with his breathing.

At that moment, the proficient-level Green Snake Breathing Method was like an ever-victorious general, commanding everything throughout his body as it launched an assault on a higher order of life.

The energy within his body began to drain rapidly, transforming little by little into the power of creation needed to break through, which manifested as realm experience.

Time slipped away unnoticed in cultivation.

Sunlight crossed the mountain ridge and sank beyond the edge of the Wilds. Moonlight likewise swept over the ridge, hanging high above the Wilds.

Yet breaking through to a level three half-demon was harder than Su Changsheng had imagined. Even with his cheat allowing him to ignore the fetters of natural aptitude, he could not break through easily.

The energy required for that final bit of experience exceeded anything he had imagined.

At that moment...

The ten pounds of flesh in his stomach had long since been consumed. Waves of hunger began washing over him, his body warning him that its energy was running low.

Left with no choice, Su Changsheng stopped his breathing exercises and ate another ten-odd pounds of flesh. After adjusting his mindset slightly, he resumed his assault on the breakthrough.

His aptitude was too poor for him to abandon the effort halfway. He had to push through in one burst: the first beat roused the spirit, the second weakened it, and the third exhausted it!

Trying to break through again next time would be anything but easy.

Time continued to pass.

The demon moon withdrew its crimson radiance, and the great sun once again rose into the sky.

Gradually, the vital blood and demon power within his Yao Body began flowing more smoothly, then trembling faintly, as if cheering. Many circulation routes that had never been reached before suddenly opened up, connecting from end to end.

Waves of energy arose out of nowhere, born within his Yao Body. They were stronger demon power, more abundant vital blood, and a mightier source of essence, energy, and spirit.

A green demonic wind appeared from nowhere, and the spiritual energy in the air plunged joyfully into his snake scales.

By now, Su Changsheng's breathing had become increasingly smooth and harmonious.

His snake scales shone with brilliant green demonic light. Countless hidden, invisible demonic bloodline markings also clung to them, lending him an added air of nobility and mystery.

Layers of frost quietly formed over his Yao Body.

Another day passed.

At noon on the third day, the changes in his Yao Body finally came to an end. Only then did Su Changsheng slowly open his eyes, feeling for a moment as though he had awakened from a fleeting dream beneath the southern bough.

Realm: Level Three Half-Demon 0/2500

Congratulations. You did it.

Su Changsheng softly spoke those words to himself in his heart, sharing in this rare joy.

Three months since his transmigration felt like a lifetime apart. Danger lurked everywhere in the Yao Stronghold. He had faced life-and-death crises and bowed and scraped just to stay alive. Through countless plans and calculations, living with constant caution and cutting his way through thorns at every step, he had finally become a level three half-demon today!

Although a level three half-demon was still only a low-ranking demon in the Yao Stronghold, Su Changsheng was already deeply satisfied.

He believed that as long as he kept moving forward resolutely, one solid step at a time, he would someday reach greater heights and look down upon the entire Wilds.

After his advancement to a level three half-demon, every change was considerable.

First was his Yao Body. He had grown noticeably taller, and his tail had lengthened somewhat. Overall, he was about a fifth larger. His strength, speed, and other attributes had also improved significantly.

His demon power and vital blood had increased the most, reaching more than twice their previous amounts. Their quality, too, could no longer be compared to what it had been.

It was like the difference between heavy oil and clear water.

To get a more concrete idea, Su Changsheng tested the Stone-Shattering Art several times. He discovered that after becoming a level three half-demon, the Stone-Shattering Art was more powerful. Released through his hand at close range, a single use could shatter rock to a depth of over thirty centimeters.

Both the interval between uses and the number of uses had improved. The former had fallen to around two and a half minutes, while the latter had risen to twenty-double what it had been.

"A level three half-demon really is impressive."

Su Changsheng was in a good mood.

The improvements brought by becoming a level three half-demon far exceeded his expectations. These changes had finally given him some ability to protect himself in the dangerous Wilds.

He could hardly help feeling delighted.

Next, he ate some flesh to replenish his depleted reserves. Then, while his breakthrough was still fresh, he resumed his breathing exercises.

Persevere without fail, and keep striving onward.

The results, however, fell short of his hopes.

Two hours of breathing exercises yielded only a single point of realm experience!

After he broke through to a level three half-demon, the effectiveness of his proficient-level Breathing Technique plummeted. It had been slashed all the way down to the bone.

"Fuck!"

"This garbage aptitude!"

Su Changsheng's face darkened. He could almost glimpse himself in the years ahead, still living beneath the shadow of starvation.

When would these days of going hungry one meal and eating his fill the next finally end?