Chapter 120: Entering the Fourth Rank

Zhao Wanliang reneged on his word, and a wave of jeers immediately erupted from the crowd. Below the stage, the townsfolk pointed fingers at him in open disapproval.

On the elevated platform, the heads of the Chen, Wei, and Lin families exchanged glances, having no intention of involving themselves in this messy affair.

"Master Zhao, you cannot treat me like a fool."

"The rules were set; they cannot be changed at will. Even if this were taken to the county magistrate, I would still be in the right."

"Zhao Hongyan, if you are unwilling to marry, you may state it now. However, I cannot guarantee whether the beast in my hand will survive."

"If you are willing to marry me, swallow this pill I hold. You will need to come to me every ten days for the antidote; without it, death is certain. Come and swallow it, and I will release this cat demon."

Su Yang turned his gaze to the cat demon in his grasp. "If you are willing to become my pet, you too shall swallow this pill, and I will abandon the idea of marrying your young mistress."

The seventh-grade heart-control insect, the size of a grain of rice, shimmered with a golden luster in the sunlight. It curled into a round shape, looking exactly like a medicinal pill.

"I will marry you!"

Zhao Hongyan gritted her teeth and walked toward Su Yang, her eyes burning with fury and resentment.

Before she could get close, the cat demon in Su Yang's hand reached out, plucked the heart-control insect from his fingers, and tossed it into its own mouth.

"Lan'er!"

Zhao Hongyan cried out, but it was too late to stop her. She could only watch helplessly as her cat demon swallowed the pill.

"Miss Zhao, your cat demon is truly loyal and righteous. From this day forward, she belongs to my household. Lan'er—a fine name. You shall continue to use it."

Seeing the cat demon swallow the insect, Su Yang felt a surge of satisfaction. Compared to Zhao Hongyan, a woman of uncertain aptitude, Su Yang cared far more for the cat demon, whose potential had already been confirmed as Grade B. Zhao Hongyan's aptitude was likely Grade B, but there was a significant chance it could only be Grade C.

"Master Su, the nights are long and dark. Do you not fear retribution?" Zhao Wanliang’s vital energy surged, rolling toward Su Yang like a tidal wave. A terrifying pressure descended upon him.

Yet, Su Yang remained indifferent and entirely unaffected. "Master Zhao, Yanggu County is finally at peace. Do not lead yourself astray."

Did Zhao Wanliang actually intend to strike at him in secret?

What a delusion.

Within Yanggu County, the five-grade martial artists of the four great families—Zhao, Chen, Wei, and Lin—as well as the county magistrate, were kept under constant surveillance by informants and spies. There were records of even the most intimate details of their private lives. If Zhao Wanliang were to attack the Su household, no matter how influential he was, he could not stand above the law.

You might be able to send subordinates to covertly wipe out an enemy’s family, but five-grade martial artists were not to act rashly unless they could ensure no one would see them—which was virtually impossible. The Su family had many martial artists of their own who would immediately spread the word of who the assassins were.

In Yanggu County, six-grade martial artists were generally safe, ignored by others, and could move about with far more convenience. This was the very reason Su Yang had been so arrogant of late.

In Yanggu County, he was practically invincible!

Beyond this, he was also driven by his family progress. On his interface, there were two current objectives: one was to monopolize an industry in Yanggu County for over a month to earn 1,000 incense points, and the other was to become the top family in the county, which would grant 5,000 incense points. To become the top family, he needed to establish both strength and reputation.

...

"Master Zhao, if you wish to disturb the hard-won peace of Yanggu County, my Wei family will be the first to oppose you."

At that moment, the head of the Wei family stood up from his chair, effectively siding with Su Yang.

Zhao Wanliang’s fury burned brighter, yet he felt a sense of helplessness. The Master of the Wei family was also a five-grade martial artist. How had this Su Yang managed to cozy up to the Wei family?

The simple, brutal path of slaying Su Yang now seemed unviable; he would have to find another way.

"Master Zhao, if I die, this cat demon dies. You must trust in the power of my pill."

With that, Su Yang ignored Zhao Wanliang and walked toward his home, dragging the cat demon along. He was in high spirits. He hadn't expected to win Zhao Hongyan today, but gaining a cat demon was a pleasant surprise. He wondered what she would look like once she transformed into human form.

After all, demons could take human shape. Would she have cat ears, or a tail? Something fluffy...?

Holding a cat tail in both hands...!

On the street, the crowd saw Su Yang dragging the cat demon and scrambled to both sides, pointing and whispering.

Su Yang’s final words—*If I die, this cat demon dies*—abruptly jolted Zhao Hongyan and Zhao Wanliang out of their murderous intent.

That was right. If this wretch Su Yang died, what would become of Lan'er?

...

Back home, Su Yang made a black collar and fastened it around Lan'er's neck; it fit quite well.

"I am a cat demon, not a pet cat...!"

The battered cat demon Lan'er looked at the collar around her neck, her voice soft and filled with delicate indignation.

"Lan'er, I have never seen you take human form. Why don't you transform and let me see?" Su Yang sat in a chair, holding the leash attached to the collar, looking down at the cat demon slumped on the floor.

Lan'er lay motionless, perhaps too severely injured to do anything but rest. Even with the black collar around her neck, she lacked the strength to pull it off.

Demon bodies were generally warmer than human ones, and she was so fluffy. It was no wonder Zhao Hongyan liked to hold her; having her in his arms on a winter night would surely be comfortable.

Su Yang didn't get to see her transform today, which was a slight pity, but there would be opportunities in the future. Most importantly, he needed to improve his own strength.

...

Night fell.

Inside the magistrate's office of Hulao County, adjacent to Yanggu, a young dandy was enjoying wine and song. He was Qiu Yan, the son of the Hulao County magistrate!

In his arms were both human women and demons, including the famous female demons of the white-haired rabbit clan and a wolf demon. Though their cultivation was shallow and they retained some demonic features in human form, this only added to their exotic appeal, keeping Qiu Yan thoroughly enchanted.

"Has Sun Da returned?"

Qiu Yan hugged a demon, his hands restless, making the woman giggle incessantly.

"Young Master, Young Master... I have returned, I have returned...!"

Hearing the voice from the private room, a martial artist scrambled in, dusty and travel-worn. He knelt flatteringly, carefully massaging his master's feet. "Young Master, I have found everything out."

"Speak."

Qiu Yan pushed away the demon and the courtesan, his frivolous expression vanishing as he asked seriously.

"The martial arts matchmaking of the Zhao family in Yanggu County has fallen through."

"At the end of the competition, a six-grade martial artist emerged as the victor. But the man already had a wife and only wished to take Miss Zhao as a concubine, which she naturally refused."

"In the end, he gave up on marrying Miss Zhao and took the cat demon that was always by her side. From now on, she follows him."

Sun Da smiled. "Young Master, this is good news. We no longer need to send people to assassinate Miss Zhao's husband."

"Have you discovered the man's background?" Qiu Yan asked, his brows arching.

"I happened to be cautious and looked into it."

"The man is named Su Yang. He was originally a live-in son-in-law for a wealthy merchant surnamed Wang in Yanggu County, but he later broke away to start his own house. He is now a master of the Su family, a six-grade martial artist, and has monopolized the textile industry in Yanggu County, with several restaurants doing very well, too."

"Aside from him, there are three other six-grade martial artists in his household. In Yanggu County, they are the top family below the five-grade level."

Qiu Yan fell into deep thought, his eyes glinting with malice. Seeing his master silent for a long time, Sun Da asked softly, "Young Master, what are your orders?"

"Get out!"

"Yes!"

Sun Da retreated hastily. Qiu Yan continued to ponder. Miss Zhao loved that cat demon dearly; he hadn't expected her to part with it for Su Yang. No, given the circumstances, it couldn't have been that simple.

Qiu Yan immediately summoned Sun Da back in. After questioning him on the details and realizing the truth, his anger flared. He kicked Sun Da to the floor and cursed, "You dog of a servant, how could you forget such an important detail?"

"Go and take thirty lashes."

"Yes... Young Master...!"

Sun Da looked devastated. These were not ordinary wooden boards, but iron ones, and the force was determined by the strength of the one administering the punishment. Thirty lashes would truly ruin his backside.

So, Su Yang had forced Miss Zhao to give up the cat demon, leaving her deeply resentful. If he, Qiu Yan, were to finish off Su Yang and return the cat demon to her, she would surely be filled with gratitude.

Thinking of Zhao Hongyan’s peerless beauty, Qiu Yan couldn't help but lose himself in a daze.

However, since Su Yang had four six-grade martial artists in his home, he would need a five-grade martial artist to deal with him. While his own subordinates included experts, they were only sixth grade. Five-grade martial artists served his father; requesting their help would require time and a heavy price.

Hulao County was slightly larger than Yanggu and more populous. The magistrate was a fourth-grade martial artist sent down to gild his resume, and he would be transferred to a higher post in two years.

...

Ten days later.

Name: Su Yang (Quasi-Immortal)
Incense Points: 1570
Humanistic Merit: 102
Realm: Fifth Grade
Techniques: [Incense Ministry+], [Qi Observation+], [Seventh-Grade Heart-Control Insect+], [Aptitude Assessment+]
Secret Manuals: [Savage Ox Long Fist+], [Fire Dragon Overlord Three Spears+]
Data: [Sacred Book of Gynecology+]
Lifespan: 970+
Family Offspring: 8

Family Progress:
1: Your family is progressing smoothly. You have numerous guards and a respectable estate. Your first wife is less than seven months from giving birth. You must secure a domain for your heirs. Become the top family in Yanggu County to earn 5,000 incense points and the [Sixth-Grade Heart-Control Insect].
2: Family progress is smooth. You have sufficient resources to nurture your offspring. Your concubine, Taohua, is six months pregnant and nearing birth. You must prepare a mentor for the child to earn 2,000 incense points! Requirement: Must hold a rank of Juren or higher!

Completed Family Progress:
1: Family progress is smooth. To become the top family in Yanggu County, you have a long way to go. First, monopolize an industry to become the leader to earn 1,000 incense points. (Completed)

...

The progress for monopolizing an industry was finally complete. The Su family now had over two hundred textile workers, completely dominating the cloth trade in Yanggu County, and they were already expanding into neighboring counties. The modification of the looms allowed them to quickly devour the market.

However, this had to be kept strictly secret.

Because of his Humanistic Merit, the [Incense Ministry] always had a "+" sign, indicating it could elevate his strength to the fourth grade. Su Yang didn't know if his 1,500 incense points would be enough to upgrade the ministry and reach the fourth grade.

Ultimately, he decided to try. He spent 1,000 points on the upgrade, but nothing changed. He then poured the remaining 570 points in, and the number dropped to 150 while his realm jumped to "Fourth Grade."

On the panel, a surge of incense power drifted into Su Yang’s body, beginning to refine his internal organs.

He was overjoyed and quickly sat cross-legged to guide the power to refine his liver.

After a long while, when his liver was refined to perfection, his vital energy surged with the thunderous roar of a tiger and leopard—the mark of a fourth-grade martial artist.

Fourth-grade power. It was enough to reign supreme in Yanggu County.

He had often teased the cat demon in his home, and she had grown accustomed to him. Su Yang had no ill intent, and his handsome, deceptive face had slowly won the cat demon over. Yet, she remained stubborn, never once transforming into human form to satisfy his curiosity.

Xue Yuan had been in a deep slumber for a long time.

Su Yang was anxious. After reaching the fourth grade, he visited Xue Yuan’s room. She hadn't been able to eat or drink for ages, yet she maintained a faint life force—a miracle.

[Aptitude Assessment]
Aptitude: A

Still Grade A! Moreover, a trace of coldness continued to seep from her. Ever since she was knocked unconscious, she had remained asleep. When he tested her days ago, her aptitude was already Grade A. He had expected her to wake up soon, but she still hadn't.

He didn't know when she would finally wake. Su Yang had a maid bring a basin of hot water and personally wiped her body; her skin was as white as snow.

...

After leaving Xue Yuan’s room, Li Niuniu came to report on the progress of Shen Zhenxing’s tomb. The evil energy within had dissipated significantly, but it would likely take another half-month to clear entirely. He needed to be prepared.

Entering the tomb with fourth-grade strength should be safe enough.

PS: There will be another update later, after midnight. Everyone, get some sleep!