Perils of the Wilderness

After he advanced to a level three half-demon, the effectiveness of his proficient-level breathing technique plummeted exponentially.

Two hours of breathing practice yielded only one point of Realm Experience.

"To advance to a fourth-level half-demon, I now need 2,500 experience points. That's 5,000 hours-at least a year."

Su Changsheng sighed and rubbed his temples, his head throbbing. Once again, he felt that his breathing technique was no longer enough.

As for upgrading the Green Snake Breathing Method again, that was easier said than done! It likewise required 2,500 survival points, a staggering sum that bordered on despair-inducing.

For the time being, he could forget about it.

"Survival points..."

Those were equally troublesome to obtain. Right now, his fastest way to earn survival points was to keep studying demon arts, demon art runes, and the like.

"Or... could I deliberately create some danger to improve my survival assessment?"

Su Changsheng pondered the idea.

Encountering crises, fighting enemies, and so forth could all slightly increase the survival settlement reward, provided he made it through successfully.

At his current level as a level three half-demon, with the Stone-Shattering Art and his many runes, he was fully confident of defeating an enemy in a single strike if he managed things properly-provided his enemies were all below level three and there were not too many of them.

Viewed that way, this was a decent means of earning survival points. He could even bait others into attacking him.

Taking it a step further, he could explore the surrounding Wilderness. Not only could he obtain ample flesh and blood to eat, perhaps even becoming self-sufficient, but he would also receive survival points. One move, multiple gains.

Su Changsheng hesitated over that last option, however. He was cautious by nature and would never place himself in uncontrollable danger unless he had no other choice.

Wraith Beasts roamed the Wilderness, while Mutant Demonic Beasts and dangerous wild yao appeared endlessly. Even a Great Yao would not dare claim to roam there unhindered.

As far as he was concerned, he was better off avoiding places where danger lay beyond his control until he was strong enough.

Baiting attackers did interest him, though, but he would have to wait for the right opportunity.

He stopped thinking about it and continued cultivating.

He kept going until midnight.

Survival points +300

Assessment: Excellent

-Small gains accumulate into greatness; dripping water wears through stone. As the saying goes, without accumulating little steps, one cannot travel a thousand miles; without gathering little streams, one cannot form rivers and seas. Through your unrelenting perseverance, you cut through thorns and brambles and overcame hardship after hardship to reap today's rewards.

-Standing at level three, your survival has only just begun. From this day onward, you can straighten your back when you speak in the Half-Demon Grounds. The Black Tiger Yao is no longer the nightmare haunting your heart. But after bowing and scraping for so long, have you forgotten the hot blood within you?

Survival points: 323

A full three hundred points-a reward that could astound even a heavenly yao! Su Changsheng could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

With so many survival points, if he saved for a little longer, he could raise a demon art that had only just reached the skilled level straight to the proficient level!

There's no rush to get a second proficient-level demon art. I should keep saving survival points and prioritize cultivation methods and demon-art techniques.

Su Changsheng spoke to himself inwardly.

Many of his Skilled Level demon art runes were already more than halfway through their experience requirements. In particular, the Concealment Rune, his strongest specialty, was extremely close to the proficient level.

In another ten days or half a month, he would likely have his second proficient-level demon art.

Clearly, he did have some talent for demon art runes.

"A proficient-level Concealment Rune... I wonder whether it'll develop any new effects."

He was quite curious about that.

The leap from skilled to proficient was a qualitative transformation, and the point where the wonders of creation began to manifest. The Concealment Rune would certainly develop a new effect then; he simply did not know what it would be.

"No use thinking so much. One step at a time."

He settled his thoughts and continued cultivating.

He could not afford to slack off for even a day.

The night passed uneventfully.

Early the next morning, Su Changsheng reopened the tunnel, moved aside the boulder blocking the entrance, and stepped out into the sunlight.

After so many days without seeing it, the light stung his eyes. It took a while before the discomfort eased somewhat.

Looking up, he saw a neighbor he had not seen in days-the Bird Woman's husband. He stood at his doorway while the Bird Woman cleaned the bloodstains, stray grass, and other debris from his body.

A quick glance revealed numerous crisscrossing wounds across the bird yao's body. Some were deep enough to expose bone, revealing red flesh, and beads of blood still seeped from them.

Despite his bird's head and human body, he gave an impression of towering strength. Coupled with his injuries, he actually struck Su Changsheng as rather imposing.

This yao was also a second-level half-demon, somewhat stronger than the Bird Woman, but far weaker than Su Changsheng was now.

Su Changsheng had quietly gathered quite a bit of information about this bird yao couple. He knew they were Twin-Winged Bird half-demons who had migrated from the neighboring Wolf Yao's territory, a relatively rare species in the Half-Demon Grounds.

This species excelled at cultivating in male-female pairs, with one taking the lead and the other providing support. Cultivating together multiplied their results, much like the legendary path of dual cultivation.

There were drawbacks, however. The supporting partner depended excessively on the primary cultivator, and if the supporting partner died, the primary cultivator would suffer grievous harm as well. The reverse posed no such problem.

Put simply, the wife helped her husband cultivate, and the husband protected his wife. If the husband died, the wife survived; if the wife died, the husband was injured.

In a Yao Stronghold where danger lurked on every side, it was hard to say whether such a way of surviving was good or bad.

"Have you just returned from the Wilderness?"

Su Changsheng cupped his hands as he spoke.

At his words, however, the bird yao grew wary. Dangerous demonic energy rose from his body, and the feathers on his head bristled.

Su Changsheng could only sigh and add helplessly, "I mean no harm. I merely wanted to ask you about the recent situation in the Wilderness. If you'd rather not say, then forget I asked."

Hearing this, the bird yao reined in his agitated aura somewhat. He first glanced at the frightened Bird Woman behind him, then scrutinized Su Changsheng. Only after a long while did he slowly utter a few words. "Very chaotic. Very dangerous."

Very chaotic and very dangerous?

Su Changsheng's head filled with question marks. As if you need to tell me that! Who in the Black Mountain Demon Stockade doesn't know the Wilderness is chaotic and dangerous?

I want specifics!

The bird yao seemed taciturn, but apparently realized he had offered a thoroughly useless remark. He stiffly squeezed out a few more phrases. "Mutants. Many. Wild yao. Many dead. Dangerous Wraith Beasts. Don't go to the Wilderness for now."

Su Changsheng's expression gradually grew grave. After pondering for a moment, he took a Hair-Shedding Talisman from inside his robe, wrapped it in demon power, and passed it to the bird yao. "Thank you! Please accept this Hair-Shedding Rune."

He was not someone who thirsted for blood and slaughtered indiscriminately. The bird yao had given him quite a bit of information, and he could certainly afford a single inexpensive Hair-Shedding Talisman.

At the same time, this would help bring him closer to his neighbors and make it easier to ask the bird yao for news in the future.

"Thanks!" The bird yao still treasured every word like gold. He gave Su Changsheng a long look, then took the Bird Woman into their stone house.

As Su Changsheng recalled the bird yao's words, his brow gradually furrowed.

The bird yao's general meaning was this: many more mutants had appeared in the Wilderness, and large numbers of the wild yao living there had died for unknown reasons. Most importantly, extremely dangerous Wraith Beasts were prowling the nearby Wilderness. It was best not to go hunting anytime soon.

"The price of flesh and blood is going to rise!"

The possibility immediately occurred to Su Changsheng. Once this news spread widely, fewer and fewer yao would go out hunting, inevitably driving up the price of flesh and blood.

Conversely, prices for runes, materials, and similar goods would begin to plummet. Even if the problems within the Yao Stronghold remained unresolved, none of that would matter in the face of the immediate need for food.

"No, I need to sell off all my runes as soon as possible while prices are still high. I can't let them get stuck on my hands."

Su Changsheng immediately thought of the various runes he had stockpiled over the past few days. Aside from keeping a few in reserve, he planned to clear out his entire inventory in one go and exchange it all for flesh and blood.

He would stock up on another batch while its price was still at a low. After all, his next shedding period was fast approaching.