Borrowing a Tiger's Skin to Raise a Mighty Banner

Su Changsheng respectfully left Black Tiger's dwelling with three jin of blood food and a large chunk of black snow.

He wore a beaming smile the whole way, looking utterly delighted. In truth, he had already silently cursed eighteen generations of the Black Tiger Yao Ancestors countless times.

That son of a bitch is ruthless! Just three jin of blood food-even the capitalists from my previous life would shed tears at this!

Fuck! If I ever get the chance, I'm cutting that bastard's thing off and steeping it in liquor, with his two kidneys thrown in for good measure!

That said, his plan to trade with the Black Tiger Yao for blood food had succeeded.

Three jin of blood food was not much, but it still beat risking his life hunting or trading Concealment Runes.

Most importantly, he had established a connection with the Black Tiger Yao, making his future in the Half-Demon Grounds somewhat safer. At the very least, it would discourage many half-demons from eyeing him, allowing him to cultivate more peacefully at home.

The Black Tiger Yao actually let me dig up some black snow. What an unexpected bonus! All that hard work groveling like a grandson wasn't wasted.

Su Changsheng looked at the black snow in his hand, as solid as ice, feeling genuinely surprised.

This stuff was not to be underestimated. After prolonged exposure to the Black Tiger Yao's demon power, the substance of this black snow had changed.

The aura it emitted could even intimidate some weaker wraith beasts. In the Half-Demon Grounds, it was also a symbol of status-the tiger demon's protection!

It was something every half-demon in the Half-Demon Grounds desperately avoided yet yearned for.

"With this, the final step of my plan will be even more perfect."

Su Changsheng took a deep breath and slowed his pace. Holding fresh blood food in one hand and a huge chunk of black snow in the other, he began his performance once more!

Parading through the streets!

Borrowing a tiger's skin to raise a mighty banner!

Unlike his cautious journey there, on the way back, Su Changsheng wished every half-demon in the Half-Demon Grounds could see him.

He even chose a longer route home that passed more half-demons. Naturally, all sorts of half-demons "happened" to spot him along the way.

"That's right, the Tiger Lord rewarded me with it. Ah, the Tiger Lord truly gave me a second life."

"What? You're asking how to get to the Yao Market? Let me tell you, this blood food was a reward from the Tiger Lord. See this black snow? Never seen any before, have you?"

"Fox, don't run! Have you seen this chunk of black snow in my hand? Ah, it's pretty heavy. Why don't you help me carry it?"

"I'll pass on hunting. See this food? The Tiger Lord rewarded me with it. Fresh, too!"

Su Changsheng grinned and joked all the way, eager to let every half-demon know that the Tiger Lord had rewarded him with blood food and black snow.

He looked every inch a petty man puffed up by success.

By giving him black snow, the Black Tiger Yao had made his protection clear. Since that was the case, Su Changsheng naturally had to advertise it properly and intimidate those dangerous types who wanted to raid others for provisions in winter.

He was not afraid of being robbed. After all, no demon in the Half-Demon Grounds dared disregard the Black Tiger Yao's intimidating presence, not even the other few lesser demons.

No one would risk everything for three jin of blood food.

A powerful being's reward inherently carried a promise of protection.

This was also one reason Su Changsheng had chosen not to trade runes at the Yao Market. Even if he obtained blood food there, he would not be able to protect it.

Instead, it might bring a fatal disaster down upon him.

He had originally intended to spread the word discreetly even without the black snow. Now that he had it, the effect was even better.

And so it went.

Passed from mouth to mouth.

The news that a little green snake had received the Tiger Lord's rewards and protection spread among the various "neighbors" of the Half-Demon Grounds.

Some were surprised.

Some were envious.

Some were scornful.

Others were jealous and secretly resentful.

There were reactions of every kind, but the traditional winter practice in the Half-Demon Grounds of raiding snake half-demons for provisions did indeed die down considerably for a time.

Who knew whether some other snake might also have won the Black Tiger Yao's "favor"?

It was nearing evening.

Only then did Su Changsheng return to his stone house, weary and dusty from his travels.

He had just hung the black snow beneath the eaves and had yet to enter when a rank, musky smell drifted over from nearby.

A Half-Demon Fox was posing seductively outside the neighboring stone house. Her upper body looked humanoid, with two fox ears, a shapely figure, and a pretty face, but her lower body consisted of two thick fox legs.

When she noticed Su Changsheng looking her way, the Half-Demon Fox's eyes lit up. In a high, delicate voice, she said, "Oh my, looks like you had quite a haul today, Brother Snake. You haven't come over to play in ages. Want to give it a try? Just half a jin of blood food."

With that, she licked her scarlet lips and thrust out her chest, making the musky odor around her even stronger.

Looking at the fox spirit's thick, furry thighs, Su Changsheng could not help taking a deep breath.

Damn, was the world of demons really this uninhibited? A half-snake and a half-fox could get together like that?

That's crossing species, hey!

Su Changsheng forced out a faint smile. "Not today. I still have things to do. Another day... we'll talk another day!"

Back home.

Su Changsheng first cut himself a small piece of blood food weighing a little over one liang. Without even bothering to cook it, he wolfed it down whole.

He had long since grown so hungry that he was beginning to panic. Waves of weakness ran through his body, as though he might head off to play chess with Lord Yama at any moment.

Once that liang of blood food reached his stomach, his stomach acid began fiercely digesting it, and even the demonic aura inside him started to seethe.

This half-demon body had not tasted anything so delicious in a very long time. Even his own tail no longer looked appetizing to Su Changsheng.

"Blood food really is the best!"

Looking at the blood food in his hand, Su Changsheng could not bear to eat any more. He could only gulp down three buckets of cold water to "fill the gaps."

Generally speaking, blood food was made from the flesh and blood of wraith beasts, Wild Yao, mutated demonic beasts, farmed blood beasts, and even other demon inhabitants.

For an enormous Yao Stronghold like the Black Mountain Stronghold, however, most blood food came from wild demons, mutated creatures, and similar beings in the Wilderness.

Mutant Demonic Beasts always had a small portion of flesh that could be eaten directly without causing contamination or mutation, and it was also highly effective at restoring and replenishing demon power.

Thus, for any member of the Demon Race seeking greater strength, ample blood food was an indispensable resource, even more precious than the spirit stones humans needed.

Strictly speaking, the three jin of blood food the Black Tiger Yao had given Su Changsheng was not good quality. It was merely the lowest grade. Not only had it been stored for a long time, but it had probably come from an utterly ordinary Wild Yao, or even a blood beast raised by the Yao Stronghold's higher-ups.

Even so, to Su Changsheng, who had previously been limited to dried beast meat, this chunk of blood food was something normally far beyond his reach.

With just one small piece in his stomach, its energy made every cell in his Yao Body cry out in delight. His demon power seethed, a demonic wind arose, and his snake scales shone with a brilliant luster.

Waves of cold air continuously spilled out.

"Time to get cultivating!"

The best time to cultivate was while consuming blood food, every bit as good as midnight.

Su Changsheng practiced his Breathing Technique for two full double-hours before he finally managed to digest the immense energy from the blood food.

He hurriedly checked his attribute list.

Player: Su Changsheng

Realm: first-level half-demon 78/100

Cultivation method: Green Snake Breathing, proficient 20/500

Demonic art: Concealment Rune, beginner 95/100

Innate talent: snake saliva ice, proficient 2/500

Survival points: 58

Su Changsheng did some mental calculations and discovered that, with blood food supporting his breathing practice, he could gain roughly one point of realm experience per double-hour, even while cultivating during the day.

"My aptitude is just too poor. I thought my experience gain would double."

Su Changsheng did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Still, now that he had blood food, he could speed up his cultivation. For instance, he could practice breathing during the day as well, and eat a little blood food when practicing at midnight. Perhaps that would make things slightly faster.

In short, if he disregarded blood food consumption, mental exhaustion, and the like, he could absolutely advance to a second-level half-demon within two or three days.

It was only the middle of the month. He had originally expected to advance close to the month's end, so this was considerably ahead of schedule.

"No. I've only just traded for this blood food. Who knows whether the Black Tiger Yao will send a wailing ghost to watch me in secret?"

Su Changsheng never underestimated the wickedness and cunning of demons. He always considered and scrutinized other demons' intentions with the utmost suspicion.

When it came to the Black Tiger Yao, he could never let his guard down.

"So for the next half month, I'll still have to scrimp and save, 'do everything I can' to make my tribute during the day, and keep practicing the Breathing Technique for three double-hours at night."

"Keeping things unchanged for now is the best choice."

Su Changsheng decided to hold his position for the time being. Even if he needed to advance at the end of the month, he had to make that advancement seem more reasonable.

In a Wilds Yao Stronghold, danger often lurked within a single moment of carelessness.