At the start of the game, you have one equipment slot; the effects of unequipping the equipment rema

After selecting the Dantian construction method, Mu Yang turned to the Meridian Opening Method section of the catalog.

If the methods for building the dantian are diverse and there are many types to choose from, then the methods for opening the meridians are like the wages of oxen and horses—pitifully low!

There are only ten doors in total.

Most of them are the most common meridian-opening methods, suitable for cultivating non-attribute true qi.

Only three books require the true qi attribute.

These are the "Breath Earth Meridian Opening Method", the "Mysterious Ice Meridian Opening Method", and the "Fiery Fire Meridian Opening Method".

The exchange price is also twice as high as other meridian-opening methods, requiring two low-grade earth-level merits.

If conditions allowed, Mu Yang would naturally want to exchange for this "special effect" meridian-opening method, but unfortunately he was short of money and could only choose an "ordinary" meridian-opening method.

Ultimately, Mu Yang's gaze settled on a martial art called "Zhengyuan Tongmai Fa" (正源通脉法).

The exchange price is a low-level Earth-grade merit, and there are no prerequisites for cultivation; all you need is attribute-free true qi.

"Brother Mu, you've exchanged for the Meridian Opening Technique? Is it in preparation for breaking through to the Meridian Opening Realm later?"

Lei Sai thought to himself, then turned to Zhou Yao and whispered, "Sister Yao, how long do you think it will take Brother Mu to break through from Qi Condensation to Meridian Opening?"

"I remember it took my sister almost five years. With Brother Mu's talent far surpassing hers, do you think he can break through within a year or two?"

After saying that, Lei Sai didn't hear Zhou Yao's voice for a long time.

He looked at Zhou Yao in confusion, only to see her red lips slightly parted, her eyes wide, and her finger pointing in Mu Yang's direction.

Lei Sai followed her gaze and saw that Mu Yang had put away the exchange slip for the "Zhengyuan Tongmai Method" and then opened the catalog to the page containing the fifth-order martial arts techniques.

Lei Sai: ? ? ?

What are you doing, Brother Mu?

Haven't we already exhausted all our efforts?

Why are you still watching?

Lei Sai was puzzled, but Zhou Yao seemed to realize something and suddenly blurted out, "What did you just ask me?"

Lei Sai subconsciously said, "I wonder if Brother Mu will break through to the Meridian Opening Realm in just one or two years?"

Zhou Yao replied with a strange expression, "I'm afraid it won't be that slow..."

"slow?"

Lei Sai was taken aback.

One or two years is too slow?

He felt that with his talent, it would be quite an achievement if he could master the first meridian within ten years.

He estimated Mu Yang's speed to be ten times his own, and he still calls that slow?

Zhou Yao didn't explain, she just silently looked at Mu Yang.

After a moment of deliberation, he finally made a decision.

"This is it."

Mu Yang pointed to a fifth-tier martial art called "Seven Injury Fist" and said to the guards.

"Seven Injury Fist", a martial art at the Meridian Opening Realm, exchange price: three Earth-level low-grade merits.

This is a powerful martial art with extremely high power, but it is also extremely difficult to master.

One needs to condense the internal energy into a unique Seven Injury Force.

The Seven Injury Force is a mixture of softness and strength, with unpredictable power that strikes directly at the lungs and internal organs, making it exceptionally difficult to defend against.

However, it is also extremely difficult to cultivate.

In the early stages of cultivation, one needs to condense two different types of strength: soft strength and hard strength. This step is not too difficult.

However, in the middle stage of cultivation, it is necessary to integrate the two completely different forces to initially achieve a state of softness with strength and strength with softness.

At this stage, because it takes place inside the body, one can easily injure oneself if not careful.

After that, it is even more necessary to further strengthen the control of force, to achieve a balance of softness and strength, and to be able to control both at will.

That is, first hard then soft, penetrating armor and piercing the heart, and first soft then hard, dissipating force and penetrating the body.

At this stage, the flow of energy can change in an instant, with no fixed pattern. If one is not careful, the energy will be out of control, and one will injure oneself before injuring others.

Only by thoroughly mastering this step, achieving complete control and effortless transformation of energy, can one be considered to have truly mastered it.

The goal is to achieve a state where the force originates from the body but harms others without harming oneself.

The Seven Injury Fist is achieved by combining seven steps: hardness, softness, hardness with softness, softness with hardness, hardness first then softness, softness first then hardness, and the balance of hardness and softness.

Whether it's a naturally strong demon or a martial artist who practices physical training, no matter how strong their physical body is, it's difficult to strengthen their internal organs.

With Mu Yang's strength, once he completes the training, its power is unimaginable.

As for the difficulty of studying it?

Let's talk about his equipment slots!

Under Lei Sai's questioning gaze, the person on duty silently picked up Mu Yang's bronze token, scanned it in the appraisal mirror, then wrote a note and returned it to Mu Yang along with the bronze token.

"Brother Mu, this martial art is worth three low-grade Earth-level merits. Where did you get so many merits?"

Lei Sai was a little confused. He didn't remember that there were so many rewards for the clearing mission last night.

"The benefits of promotion."

Mu Yang walked forward with the note in his hand, speaking without turning his head.

"Advancement?"

Lei Sai was somewhat confused: "Weren't you promoted to Second-Class Demon-Hunting Captain? What kind of promotion bonus came from...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Lei Sai seemed to realize something, and the confused expression on his face gradually turned into disbelief, as if he had just witnessed a man giving birth: "Wait, Brother Mu, you...you wouldn't have been promoted to First-Class Demon-Seeking Captain, would you?"

His voice rose involuntarily, mixed with a subtle emotion that was hard to define—whether it was admiration or bewilderment.

Mu Yang didn't turn around, but simply gave a soft "hmm" in response.

Lei Sai stood there watching his retreating figure, opened his mouth, then closed it again.

He turned his head somewhat stiffly to look at Zhou Yao, as if wanting confirmation.

Zhou Yao simply nodded silently.

Finally, she added, "Don't be discouraged, you're great too."

Lei Sai:............

They were meant to be comforting, but why do they sound so hurtful...?

..................

Midnight, 9 PM.

Demon Slayer Division, Martial Arts Arena.

Under the moonlight, Mu Yang arrived at the training ground alone.

Yesterday, after being promoted to Second-Class Demon-Seeking Captain, he officially left Qin Yuan's team and gained the authority to go on missions and even lead teams.

However, he felt that he was more efficient working alone, so he did not have a team leader.

Now that he has been promoted to First-Class Demon-Seeking Captain, he naturally has even less need to lead a team.

Because first-class demon-hunting captains are at least fifth-level martial artists, the tasks they undertake are not something that second- or third-class demon-hunting captains can do.

When faced with difficult tasks, we will conduct joint operations, just like we are doing now.

When Mu Yang arrived, there were already more than a dozen people standing in the training ground.

There were acquaintances, strangers, and a few people I barely knew.

The familiar faces were naturally Qin Yuan's team; without him, there were now four of them.

The unfamiliar one was a second-class demon-hunting captain named Huang Can; there were three of them in total.

The team that was only half-acquainted with Mu Yang was Li Xiulian's team, who had met him twice but had generously given away a fourth-tier demon corpse.

Their team consisted of five people, all with rosy complexions and full of energy, a far cry from the disheveled state he had encountered before.

Originally, Li Xiulian was about to greet Mu Yang when she saw him, but when she saw him silently standing next to Yuan Yuan, she froze on the spot, a big question mark appearing in her mind.

Which location...

Mu Yang has become a First-Class Demon-Hunting Captain?