Volume One: The Menial Servant of Changshui County Chapter 120: Breaking Through to the Eighth Grade

“Master Jiu? What is it? I haven’t sensed any danger around,” the big black dog asked, puzzled.

Lu Jiuzhang furrowed his brow. “I feel like I’m about to break through to the eighth rank of Martial Dao!”

“Wow, that’s great news! Why the long face then?” the big black dog wondered.

“It’s troubling because the ninth rank requires an immense amount of spiritual energy. So, to break through the seventh rank, the amount needed is even more astronomical!” Lu Jiuzhang’s worry was exactly this.

As one advances in Martial Dao, the resources required multiply exponentially.

If reaching the ninth rank demands such vast spiritual energy, then what about the eighth, seventh, and sixth ranks...?

The spiritual energy needed would increase by hundreds or even thousands of times.

“That’s true. Looks like we’re in for a big expense spree,” the big black dog sighed. “Master Jiu, try to save some. You don’t even have a wife yet. Why not take advantage of your current wealth, marry a lady, and have a child?”

“Otherwise, if you become a poor bachelor, marriage will just be a dream.”

Lu Jiuzhang was taken aback. How did the conversation suddenly take such a turn?

“You talk too much. Protect me while I break through!” Lu Jiuzhang said solemnly.

“Got it, Master Jiu. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone disturb you,” the big black dog responded seriously.

Lu Jiuzhang sat cross-legged and took out some spiritual herbs from his storage ring, just in case.

At the same time, he turned his focus inward and mobilized all his strength.

Within a radius of ten thousand meters, spiritual energy was absorbed into Lu Jiuzhang’s body, and this range kept expanding. His aura surged steadily.

Even the spiritual herbs resting on his knee couldn’t withstand the intense cultivation and were gradually drained of their energy by Lu Jiuzhang.

The big black dog glanced at the cold, beautiful young woman nearby and couldn’t help but say, “Please protect Master Jiu and me!”

After speaking, the big black dog quickly lay beside Lu Jiuzhang and began cultivating along with him.

Once they both entered a meditative state, the icy young woman exhaled deeply and cautiously surveyed her surroundings, her curiosity evident.

This place was indeed very different from the ancient ruins world. Even the sun above was something she had only read about in old texts.

She had been holding herself together, but her aged master had once told her that one must be cunning, especially when stepping into the outside world. One must remain calm in the face of calamity, never showing surprise or naivety, lest others see them as easy prey and take advantage.

With the man and dog engrossed in cultivation, the young woman finally allowed herself to relax.

...

The spiritual energy here was so rich that the big black dog consumed it greedily, as if wanting to claim all the energy before him.

But his speed was still too slow.

Lu Jiuzhang absorbed spiritual energy at a rate ten or even a hundred times faster than him.

The only unusual thing was that as Lu Jiuzhang’s aura surged, the big black dog noticed subtle changes within himself.

His black fur began to fade, replaced gradually by black scales.

These scales were quite hard, and the big black dog felt his defense had leveled up.

...

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Jiuzhang slowly opened his eyes.

He had broken through, officially entering the ninth rank of Martial Dao.

The reason he had been studying so many cultivation techniques was that when one method reached its limit and could no longer absorb spiritual energy, one had to constantly seek new techniques to open new channels for absorption, gradually accumulating enough energy to trigger a qualitative leap.

In Lu Jiuzhang’s sea of consciousness, not far from the Kui Xing Tower, a small pool appeared.

No, it was not a pool but a well.

From the well, spiritual energy continuously surged forth.

Is this what the eighth rank of Martial Dao looks like?

Lu Jiuzhang clenched his fist slightly, feeling his entire body brimming with power.

Then, he threw a punch.

“Ouch... ouch... this hurts like hell,” the big black dog cursed.

Lu Jiuzhang focused his gaze and realized the big black dog was no ordinary beast now; his entire body was covered in scales, and two bumps had grown on his forehead, as if something was developing inside.

Could those be horns?

“What happened to you?” Lu Jiuzhang asked in surprise.

“How would I know?” the big black dog replied, confused. “But it’s better than being a mere stray. Now I have the might of a divine beast, don’t I?”

“I think you look uglier. You were better off as just a big black dog,” Lu Jiuzhang commented.

In his heart, Lu Jiuzhang was more amazed by the big black dog’s defenses.

After breaking through to the eighth rank, Lu Jiuzhang’s strength far surpassed before, yet he couldn’t knock the dog away with a single strike.

The black scales on the dog’s body seemed to render most of Lu Jiuzhang’s attacks ineffective.

...

After some light chatting, the two men and one dog headed toward Changxian County.

Along the way, Lu Jiuzhang used the “Distant Reach” technique several times, each teleportation covering about eight hundred meters.

Soon, Lu Jiuzhang felt this divine ability might finally be mastered.

With his breakthrough to the eighth rank, his spiritual energy had thickened, allowing him to use “Distant Reach” more frequently.

Such a divine skill consumed enormous spiritual energy. Even an ordinary ninth or eighth rank martial artist would struggle to perform it successfully without exerting all their strength.

Several hours later, Lu Jiuzhang and the big black dog arrived at the city gates of Changxian County.

The guards at the gate were shocked upon seeing Lu Jiuzhang, especially when they recognized the attire of the Demon-Slaying Department he wore.

“Zombie’s back! Zombie’s back!” one guard screamed as he ran inside the city.

The remaining guards were so frightened they nearly lost their souls.

“You’re the zombie! We’re living people... ah, wait, a living dog! No, you guys are the dogs! One’s a living human, the other’s a divine beast, and you’re cursing us to death? Believe it or not, I’ll pee on you and kill you!” the big black dog indignantly retorted.

Coming back only to be cursed—clearly these people harbored ill intentions.

The city guards did not dare block Lu Jiuzhang and let him stride into the city freely.

Along the way, the townsfolk whispered and pointed at him.

Only when he returned to his small courtyard did Lu Jiuzhang notice white flags hanging everywhere.

“Damn, do they all think I’m dead?” he muttered, about to enter when a strange woman came out.

Upon seeing Lu Jiuzhang, she was first shocked, then shouted, “Who’s this rude person trespassing into someone else’s home?”

“Someone else’s home?” Lu Jiuzhang was puzzled. “You must have come to the wrong place. This is my home. My eldest brother and I have lived here for over ten years. The neighbors can all vouch for us!”

“Nonsense! This was sold to me by Madam Zhao. She said the owner died, the house was empty, and the white flags mean it can’t be taken down for seven days,” the strange woman said. “White flags are for the dead, very ominous, but the house was cheap—only four taels of silver—so I bought it. Rude man, if you don’t leave now, I’ll report you to the authorities!”

Report to the authorities?

Lu Jiuzhang smiled. “I am the authority. Can’t you see my Demon-Slaying Department uniform?”

The Demon-Slaying Department was indeed an official government agency, so that was a fair claim.

“Ah, I see now. You’re in cahoots, aren’t you?” The woman seemed to understand the scheme, hands on hips, ready to curse. “You sold me the house cheaply, then got someone in the government to take it back!”

“You’re just exploiting us common folk! You petty officials want to drive us to death! Believe it or not, I’ll just bash my head against you all and die right here!”