The Lucky Fellow

Su Changsheng knew nothing about what had happened to the Eagle Yao.

Given the circumstances at the time, his main aim had been to set a trap for the yaos following him. After using the Concealment Rune, he had no intention of lingering and immediately fled far away.

As the saying went, when Grand Duke Jiang fished, only the willing took the bait. The Eagle Yao had fallen into the trap, and he had only his own greed to blame.

Su Changsheng had abandoned those remains precisely because he, too, feared paying the price for greed. In the danger-ridden Yao Stronghold, there was nothing wrong with being cautious.

Now that his hidden identity as a half-demon white snake was firmly established, he needed to focus on his own problems. He had to find a plausible way to "advance" to the second level naturally, without drawing too much attention.

Night.

The wind and snow persisted.

After practicing his breathing for six hours, Su Changsheng had essentially finished assimilating the benefits of shedding his skin.

His various attributes had risen further, one after another. The efficiency with which Green Snake Breathing translated into cultivation experience had now fully stabilized at two points every two hours.

This allowed his cultivation to improve day by day. Even though advancing to a fourth-level half-demon required as many as 2,500 experience points, it was no longer an unreachable goal.

As long as there was a panel to show his progress, he would grind until heaven and earth grew old, never giving up.

After eating some blood food, he waited for today's settlement.

Survival points +400

Rating: perfect

-Heaven rewards diligence and unyielding persistence. As the saying goes, diligence makes up for shortcomings, and deep reserves yield great results. Nearly four months of planning, without rest or sleep, grinding experience day after day-while a yao works, heaven watches. Your efforts were without equal through the ages, finally bearing today's fruit.

-A towering building rises from level ground; deep roots and flourishing leaves spring from the soil. A second shedding was a relay between life and death. Your thorough preparations allowed you to pass through with a fright but no harm, reaping rich rewards. Clearly, the importance of a solid foundation outweighs Mount Tai.

Survival points: 730

"There's actually a perfect rating above excellent! It seems my cheat considers the second shedding even more important than advancing to a level three half-demon."

Su Changsheng was delighted.

A full four hundred points! He had never gained so many survival points at once. This enormous windfall sent his total soaring to a whopping 730.

He had spent 280 points upgrading demon art runes such as the Healing Talisman, then gone through more than twenty days of shedding and adjustment before reaching today's settlement.

His survival points had increased instead of decreasing!

How could he not be thrilled?

Of course, aside from the 400-point shedding reward, most of these survival points came from the guaranteed daily settlements and rewards for advancing his rune levels.

For instance, the proficient-level Concealment Rune had earned him +30 points.

Skilled-level Healing Talisman +10

Skilled-level Purification Talisman +8

First consumption of Wraith Beast Blood Food +10

Exchanging for blood food, increasing food reserves +5

And so on.

Each reward was small, but added together, they amounted to a substantial sum.

Survival arose from clothing, food, shelter, and travel, encompassing every aspect of life. He had to do his best in each area and prevent dangers from arising. Only then could he survive in the perilous Yao Stronghold.

He could also gain more survival points.

The two complemented each other; neither could be dispensed with.

Yet faced with so many survival points, Mr. Su had grown much calmer, looking as though even Mount Tai bearing down on his head would not change his expression.

"I still need to keep saving for the Green Snake Breathing Method's advancement beyond the proficient level."

"The road is long, and far stretches the journey ahead!"

"Keep working hard!"

Over the next half month or so.

Su Changsheng turned a deaf ear to everything outside his window and devoted himself entirely to making demon art runes.

To make his own "advancement" to the second level seem natural, he produced a large number of Shedding Talismans and Hair-Shedding Talismans, putting them on sale in the Yao Market through the Fox Woman.

All told, there were more than two hundred of the two kinds of runes. Their sheer quantity left the Fox Woman astonished for a time.

It was not that these runes were particularly precious; after all, they were merely the most basic low-level runes. She simply could not understand why Su Changsheng had stockpiled so many.

Naturally, he had an explanation.

Su Changsheng told her frankly, "I prepared these runes for my shedding a while ago. Now that I've finished shedding, they're no longer useful, so I need to start getting rid of them."

The Fox Woman did not suspect anything.

As a result, a large batch of decent-quality Shedding Runes and Hair-Shedding Runes appeared in the Yao Market, priced at a steady low rate of two for one pound of flesh. Many yaos who had previously been unable to afford runes could not resist buying some.

In particular, the various half-demons in the Half-Demon Grounds who could shed hair or skin rushed to spread the word that cheap runes were on sale.

And Su Changsheng, in his identity as the Half-Demon Green Snake, naturally bought a batch as well.

His excuse for advancing was secured!

Early morning.

The Bird Yao couple opened their door, preparing to bask in the sunlight to enhance the effects of their Hair-Shedding Runes and Shedding Talismans.

Before they could do so, however, they saw their neighbor on the other side-the Half-Demon Green Snake-emerge from the stone house he had not left for days.

"You..." The Bird Yao was about to greet him, but the words caught in his throat, turning at last into an exclamation. "You're... so big! Did you advance?"

Su Changsheng showed a hint of delight and nodded, picking up the conversation. "Just luck, just luck. Didn't I happen to catch a good opportunity recently? I bought some Shedding Talismans and Hair-Shedding Talismans."

"I don't know who made those runes, but their effects were truly beyond reproach. I only used them a few times before I felt my cultivation bottleneck loosen. In the end, I actually got lucky and advanced to a second-level half-demon."

He made no attempt to hide his admiration for the runes' maker.

"Second level..."

"Your size really is... really is impressive. Your talent is incredible, too. I'd thought you were already a second-level half-demon before."

The Bird Woman's mouth hung slightly open, her expression plainly saying that she was astonished and a little bewildered. To think she had previously been intimidated by a first-level half-demon. What a disgrace to yao-kind!

The Bird Yao nodded as well. Some snakes were enormous, after all. He guessed that Su Changsheng might carry a similar bloodline, which would explain such a drastic change in size.

Still, confronted with the latter's advancement, the Bird Yao could not help looking envious.

"Perhaps you'd been stuck at the peak of the first level for a long time," he said. "This opportunity happened to come along, and you finally advanced to the second level."

"Actually, you're not the only one. Quite a few yaos in the Half-Demon Grounds have improved to some degree because of this, and several have advanced to the second level. I have to say, the Yao Market did well this time. This batch of Hair-Shedding Talismans and Shedding Talismans is excellent quality, and most importantly, they're cheap."

"I wonder which expert talisman maker lent a hand, bestowing such blessings on us low-level yaos."

It was rare for the Bird Yao to say so much.

Shedding Talismans and Hair-Shedding Talismans did not have to be used during a shedding period. Using them at ordinary times also helped improve one's strength, and over the long term, they could even increase the chances of shedding.

This was a widely acknowledged effect. It was simply that no yao at the bottom could afford the extravagance of using them without restraint every day.

Hearing this, Su Changsheng nodded repeatedly, looking thoroughly in agreement. "Exactly. These runes are who knows how many times better than the rubbish talismans I make. I imagine that expert talisman maker must be a powerful, kindhearted figure who has compassion for all living beings!"

He praised himself to their faces without blushing or skipping a heartbeat, prompting the Bird Yao couple to nod repeatedly in agreement.

They even said that they had bought some runes themselves, and their recent sense of improvement must surely be thanks to them.

Afterward.

Su Changsheng chatted with the Bird Yao couple a little longer before returning inside to cultivate, knowing in his heart that the matter was essentially settled!

Despite being a yao of few words, the Bird Yao had a big mouth and a taste for gossip. He loved joining in the bustle, and he had no shortage of friends in the Half-Demon Grounds.

With him spreading the word, probably before tomorrow, the entire Half-Demon Grounds would be talking about another second-level half-demon in their midst-a lucky fellow who had advanced thanks to this batch of runes!

Neither conspicuous nor abrupt!

Everything followed naturally!