Jiang Yuechu pondered for a moment.
Indeed.
From City to County, and now to Taihu Lake in Suzhou.
After a journey of killing and conflict, she had reached the Late Stage of the Ink Staining Realm.
Now she had even slain the Lotus Cultivation Demon King.
In the Region East of the River, the powerful Demons had either died or fled.
Staying any longer would truly yield no more profit.
"If nothing unexpected happens..."
Jiang Yuechu raised her head, her expression calm.
"That should be the case."
A sharp glint flashed in Granny Liu's turbid old eyes; she seemed to have been waiting for this answer.
"Since you are returning to the capital, this old woman has an impolite request."
"Lord Liu, please speak."
Granny Liu sighed: "Although the River-Flipping Demon King is dead, its corpse is a huge trouble."
"The Demon corpse of a Zhonglian Realm Perfection expert is a treasure trove. Its Dragon horns, Dragon scales, and Dragon tendons are all excellent Materials for forging Divine Weapons and Sharp Weapons."
"If such precious items were escorted by others, I would truly feel uneasy... But Old Wang and I have other matters to attend to, and if we let Wujiang go alone..."
Upon saying this, a hint of helplessness flashed in Granny Liu's eyes.
"That boy knows nothing of social etiquette except practicing swordplay and slaying Demons."
"If we let him travel alone, he'd likely be sold and still help the buyer count the money, perhaps even being tricked halfway by some Jianghu swindler."
You Wujiang, standing nearby, raised his head, slightly indignant upon hearing this.
"Granny, I'm not stupid..."
"Shut up!"
Granny Liu struck him on the calf with her walking stick. "Did I ask you to speak?"
You Wujiang winced in pain and shrank his neck.
Granny Liu turned back, putting on a smiling face as she looked at Jiang Yuechu.
"So, this old woman thought, since you are going the same way, why don't you travel together?"
"With you advising him, I can feel more at ease."
"Furthermore..."
The old woman paused, hinting meaningfully: "The road ahead is not peaceful. Having a free bodyguard like him around can save you a lot of trouble..."
Jiang Yuechu thought for a moment.
Since she was returning to the capital anyway, and it was along the way, she didn't mind.
"Since it is Lord Liu's command, how dare this Junior refuse."
Seeing her agree, the wrinkles on Granny Liu's face smoothed out, and she nodded repeatedly.
"Good, good, good, then it is settled."
"You two will set off tomorrow morning."
...After bidding farewell to the three officials in golden robe.
Jiang Yuechu was led by a personal guard to a chamber specially arranged by Lu Jingchun.
This was, after all, the standard configuration of the Region East of the River General Headquarters.
The furnishings inside were extremely luxurious.
Jiang Yuechu paid no attention to these external possessions.
She closed the door behind her and bolted the lock.
Walking to the bed, she unfastened Cold Moon from her waist and placed it casually beside the pillow.
Then she sat down cross-legged.
"Hoo..."
Only now did the tightly strung cord in her heart finally relax slightly.
The battle at Taihu Lake—that strike was dazzling, but it had nearly drained all her hidden cards.
If not for the System Panel backing her up, she would never have dared to covet that single strike in such a desperate situation.
Fortunately.
She reaped the benefits.
Jiang Yuechu closed her eyes, sinking her mind into her Sea of Consciousness.
Her thoughts stirred slightly.
[Name: Jiang Yuechu]
[Realm: Late Stage of the Ink Staining Realm]
[Current Dao Cultivation: 8,647 years]
Looking at the soaring number.
Even the usually calm Jiang Yuechu found her breathing quickening slightly.
Over 8,600 years!
What a massive fortune this was!
One must know that slaying ordinary Dianmo Realm Demons typically yields, at most, a little over a thousand years of Dao Cultivation.
After deducting the 1,300 years consumed by that one strike, she had netted over 7,000 years from this Lotus Cultivation Demon King!
It was just a pity.
After all, it was inappropriate to secretly hoard a Demon corpse under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Otherwise, she might have been able to step directly into the Seed Lotus Realm... However, Jiang Yuechu was not such a greedy person.
Such a massive Dao Cultivation income was already deeply satisfying.
"What should I enhance first..."
Jiang Yuechu looked at the System Panel, lost in thought.
With abundant Dao Cultivation now available, she naturally had to convert it into immediate combat power.
After all.
The higher she climbed, the more terrifying the enemies she encountered would be.
Relying solely on her Dianmo Realm cultivation today, she might not have been able to completely slay it.
Strength.
It was still insufficient.
Jiang Yuechu took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping across the System Panel.
Finally.
It settled on the White Ape Duke.
Her thoughts moved slightly.
The number on the System Panel began to jump wildly.
[Consumed 2,500 years of Dao Cultivation, White Ape Duke progress has reached the Eye-Dotting Stage]
[Successfully upgraded White Ape Duke to the Eye-Dotting Stage, gaining a Demon's Gift]
[Talent: Vast Knowledge and Strong Memory: Never forget what you see, never miss what you hear. Everything observed can be imprinted on the heart, never to be forgotten.]
A cool sensation instantly flooded her mind.
Jiang Yuechu felt her thoughts were clearer than ever before.
But... she opened her eyes, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.
"What good is this thing..."
Photographic memory?
Is this supposed to make her go take the imperial examination and become the Number One Scholar?
Jiang Yuechu shook her head in disdain.
2,500 years of Dao Cultivation exchanged for such a useless item—this transaction was a huge loss.
"Forget it."
Since she had already invested the resources, there was no reason to stop halfway.
Either don't practice, or practice it to the extreme!
"Add more!"
With a thought, another massive flood of Dao Cultivation poured into the painting scroll.
[Consumed 3,000 years of Dao Cultivation, White Ape Duke progress has reached Heavenly Accomplishment]
Buzz—!!!
Her Sea of Consciousness surged, and golden light shone brightly.
The White Ape in the painting did not grow larger; instead, it shrunk slightly.
Its previously somewhat hunched body became straight and tall like a pine tree.
Its white fur receded, revealing skin that resembled jade but was not exactly jade.
It stood with its hands behind its back, spontaneously emitting the demeanor of a Grandmaster.
[Successfully upgraded White Ape Duke to Heavenly Accomplishment, unlocking Spiritual Seal and Celestial Demon Martial Practice.]
[Limitless Bone (Supreme) advanced to—"White Ape Bone Transformation" (Mastery)]
Crack—!
Crack—!
Jiang Yuechu's eyes showed a trace of pain.
It hurts so much!
But the intense pain came and went quickly.
In just a few breaths, everything returned to peace.
Jiang Yuechu slowly raised her hand.
Her thoughts stirred slightly.
Her originally fair and slender arm suddenly became soft like a snake, able to bend freely into incredible angles.
With another exertion of strength.
Her arm instantly straightened.
The previously soft bones now became hard as iron, even emitting a faint jade-colored luster.
She flicked her finger.
Cling—!
The crisp sound of metal striking metal echoed between her knuckles.
"This is... Bone Transformation?"
The brilliance in Jiang Yuechu's eyes surged.
Unlike the Limitless Bone, which could only increase physical flexibility.
This "White Ape Bone Transformation" not only made her body boneless and supple but also allowed her to control the hardness of her bones in an instant!
Soft as cotton when relaxed, capable of deflecting immense force.
Hard as steel when tense, capable of shattering metal and stone!
Coupled with a defensive talent like Impure Earth Golden Body.
If she were to fight her former self... without relying on her ultimate method of consuming Dao Cultivation, it would truly be difficult to break her defense.