Chapter Seventy-Five: Ascending to the Sixth Rank

The lowest-ranked rat demon possessed at least the strength of a ninth-grade wild demon, equivalent to a human martial artist of the same rank. However, the power between demons of different species varied greatly; for instance, a rat demon of ninth-grade could not match a weasel demon of the same rank. Similarly, under equal circumstances, a weasel demon would surely lose to a wolf demon, and a wolf demon would inevitably fall before a tiger demon.

A ninth-grade wild rat demon’s physique was not much different from that of a human martial artist of the ninth grade, but it was far weaker than the physical strength of a weasel demon.

As dawn broke and the sun rose in the east, Yanggu County survived the night.

The city walls were littered with torn corpses, severed limbs, and sticky blood underfoot. Soldiers not yet dead wailed in agony, and their passing comrades could only grant them a merciful end. Those who could still be saved were carried away for treatment. Ordinary militia returned to their homes seeking remedies, as only the constables and official soldiers were entitled to government medical care.

The rebels had retreated as well. With the black-furred rat demons joining them, their losses during the night’s assault were minor. The black-furred rat clan had feasted heartily, with many even breaking into the residential quarters of Yanggu County, and were still lingering there, likely planning to remain and gorge themselves further.

The county yamen had no manpower to clear out these rat demons, so the task was left to the three main gangs in town: the Black Wolf Gang, the Plum Blossom Sect, and the Fragrant Society. These organizations depended on the three great families within the city, dividing their annual gains into four shares to be handed over to the yamen, and the Zhou, Feng, and Wei families.

…

The Wang Family.

A weasel demon had been stewed into a pot of soup, some of which was set aside for the women and servants of the house as nourishment. The rest was brought into the room. The fierce weasel demon from last night had now become meat in the pot.

Dipping the meat in sauce, Su Yang devoured it in large mouthfuls, chewing as the demon flesh released its potent medicinal effects, which were quickly transformed into a robust vitality that surged through his body.

There wasn’t much meat from one weasel, so it was soon consumed. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he directed the energy to temper his bones.

Time slipped by.

Within Yanggu County, after the brutal battle, the official soldiers and constables found the city walls depleted of militia. They began going door to door, conscripting grain and recruits.

Those with silver paid silver, those with grain gave grain, and those with nothing were forced to give themselves.

The people of Yanggu County were already starving; where would they find spare grain to hand over? They were bound and sent to the battlefield. Corpses piled like mountains from the night’s battle, still burning in heaps even now.

No one wished to go to war, so men would bring their wives and daughters to try their luck, hoping to sell their women to raise enough silver or grain to pay their dues.

If a household lost its men, the women left behind would surely be preyed upon, for they themselves had once mistreated other women and feared the same fate. Rather than endure such suffering, it was considered a better fate to be sold into the home of a powerful family.

After consuming the demon meat, it was noon before the medicinal effects were fully spent, all used to temper his bones. Now, he was only a step away from achieving bones as lustrous as jade. He could distinctly feel his bones becoming as hard as iron, radiating a crystalline sheen.

Name: Su Yang (Quasi-Immortal)
Incense Points: 301
Realm: Seventh Grade, Muscle Tempering
Techniques: [Incense Division+], [Aura-Sight], [Heart Control Worm], [Root-Testing Technique], ...
Manual: [Mighty Bull Long Fist]
Tome: [Sacred Book of Gynecology]
Lifespan: 60+
Family Descendants: 2
Long-Term Progress: The family’s progress is going very smoothly. For the healthy growth of your descendants and their care, please assign a maid to each pregnant wife. Each assignment grants 20 incense points!
Family Progress: Your family has grown considerably, with many servants, but there are not enough martial experts to defend the household. Recruit ten ninth-grade martial guardians for the estate to earn 100 incense points!

The symbol appearing after [Incense Division] filled Su Yang with joy. He quickly clicked it, and the incense points vanished rapidly as a mysterious, gentle force entered his body.

Within a few breaths, his bones glittered like jade and were as hard as refined steel—indestructible. He had stepped into the ranks of sixth-grade martial artists, now a mid-tier expert, holding a notable position in all Yanggu County.

To reach the fifth grade, he would need to temper his kidneys to flawless perfection—a formidable barrier where many failed and perished. Of course, if Su Yang used incense points to break through, he wouldn’t need to worry about safety.

The final step from seventh to sixth grade had cost him a full three hundred incense points, leaving him with just one. The path of family legacy was indeed long and arduous.

Now, having reached the sixth grade, he could, if circumstances allowed, reveal his seventh-grade strength to deter those harboring malicious intent.

“Master, there are some people at the gate wishing to sell their womenfolk. Would you like to go and see?”

As Su Yang pushed open the door, Wang Han came to inform him.

“Yes, let’s take a look.”

Now that he had reached the sixth grade, there were no longer many restrictions on the number of maids and servants he could keep. A few more would do no harm. What troubled Su Yang most was still the lack of martial experts at home.

There were only two ninth-grade martial experts guarding the estate, and not a single eighth-grade one. Ma Han and Wang Chao had only just advanced to ninth grade, and it would be difficult for them to reach the eighth grade soon. He needed to find a way to recruit more martial artists into his household.

He followed Wang Han out the main gate.

A dozen men quickly pulled their wives and daughters forward, all of them gaunt and malnourished, unsure how much longer they could survive.

“Master, please buy my daughter—she truly is a beauty!”

“Master, buy my daughter—she’s hardworking and beautiful as well!”

“Master, my daughter is cheap, only half the usual price!”

“My wife has only just joined our family three months ago—please, Master, buy her instead!”

Outside the gate, the men anxiously touted their women, terrified they would be unable to sell them. Their faces were tense as they pushed the women forward, brushing aside tangled hair to reveal pale faces.

“Stand in line. Master will inspect each one. Those who pass will be bought; those who do not will leave,” Wang Han said, maintaining order.

Su Yang stepped forward and used [Root-Testing Technique] to assess the women’s innate potential. Sadly, among the dozen or so, only one woman possessed a D-grade root and was bought. The rest were dismissed.

“Master Su...!”

Just as Su Yang was about to leave with his newly acquired woman, Hu Shi arrived with several constables, followed by a group of conscripted militia from other wealthy households.

Heavenly Silkworm, Heavenly Bean.