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

The setting sun on the horizon blazed like fire, its crimson rays stretching across the clouds.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a lonely glow over the Hu family mansion.

Just then, hurried footsteps broke the silence of the mansion.

Xue She took the lead, leading Wu Cai and other constables into the Hu family mansion, followed by Zhou Heng, who was sweating profusely and panting, and the rest of the constables.

The shock of the Wang family's annihilation last night had not yet subsided when I heard the news of the Hu family's destruction so soon after I finished my shift today.

Ordinary constables felt that the events of the past few days were more exciting and bizarre than their entire careers as constables over the past decade.

"Brother Mu, we're here!!"

The person arrived before the voice.

Wu Cai started shouting at the top of his lungs from a distance, his voice full of worry.

However, when they rushed into Hu Wanshan's courtyard, everyone froze in place as if they had been frozen in place.

Gasps of shock rose and fell.

Blood stained the stone slabs, more dazzling than the setting sun in the sky, and bits of flesh and shards of bowls and plates, of indistinguishable creatures, were scattered all over the ground.

Among them was a male corpse that had been split in the middle. Judging from the jagged wounds, it looked as if it had been torn apart by some enormous force.

It's terrifying!

Mu Yang didn't seem to care about their surprise. He casually sat on a wooden chair, sipping the black gold four-sided mace he had just acquired from the Hu family's treasure vault, and sipped the tea he had just brewed.

If it weren't for the dried, dark red bloodstains covering his black clothes, the scene would truly resemble a valiant and talented young man admiring the sunset.

Zhou Heng glanced at the courtyard and saw that there were no remains of demons or Hu Wanshan's corpse, only the body of an unfamiliar man. He immediately moved closer to Mu Yang and asked in a low voice.

"Shepherd, what's going on?"

If he didn't know Mu Yang's character, he would have really suspected that Mu Yang just didn't like the Hu family and wiped them out.

"Hu Wanshan's new concubine is a third-tier fox demon. She seems to have the ability to bewitch people and has turned Hu Wanshan into a mindless puppet."

"Today, they ostensibly invited me to a banquet, but in reality, they intended to ambush and kill me. However, I managed to kill them instead."

Mu Yang's tone remained nonchalant, as calm as if he were talking about what he had eaten that morning.

As he spoke, he pointed to the corpse that had been torn in two: "By the way, this was also a martial artist who had been bewitched by that fox demon, and I killed him too."

Zhou Heng looked over and saw Xue She also approaching the corpse and wiping the bloodstains from its face with his hand.

"This is... 'Iron Hand' Zhao Kui?"

Xue She seemed to recognize Zhao Kui's identity, his eyes filled with shock: "Two years ago, this man killed thirty-six members of the Zheng family, the medicine merchants, in the next county, and stole countless amounts of money and medicinal herbs. He's still on the wanted list. I never expected him to be hiding in the Hu family!"

"This Zhao Kui mastered two top-grade martial arts to perfection, and his Eagle Claw Kung Fu could tear apart refined iron. I never expected that he would be turned into a puppet by a fox demon!"

Xue She sighed.

Zhao Kui is a very powerful Blood Marrow Realm Perfection martial artist; even in a one-on-one situation, he cannot guarantee a sure win.

Such a master was actually subdued by a fox demon.

Most importantly, Mu Yang easily subdued this powerful fox demon.

No, judging from Mu Yang's blood-covered appearance, he probably wasn't in a very easy situation either.

Even the knife shattered.

"No wonder I've heard so many stories of Hu family members dying suddenly over the past year, and servants disappearing all the time. It turns out they're being controlled by a demon!" Zhou Heng muttered to himself in surprise and fear.

Fortunately, the fox demon targeted the Hu family; if it had targeted the Zhou family, he probably wouldn't be in much better shape now.

Hearing Xue She and Zhou Heng's words, Wu Cai was stunned.

From the moment the value was distributed until now, in such a short time, Brother Mu has killed two Blood Marrow Realm warriors and a third-tier fox demon strong enough to control them.

As expected of Brother Mu, you're incredibly talented!!

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

In the blink of an eye, the setting sun disappeared.

It was already night.

Mu Yang changed into a clean set of close-fitting clothes, with a black gold four-sided mace in a hard bamboo sheath hanging at his waist, and a bag of gold and silver in his hand.

This is the money that belonged to Mu Yang after Zhou Heng and his group just finished wiping out the Hu family.

With the cool night breeze by his side, Mu Yang quickly entered his small courtyard.

Back home, Mu Yang closed the door, casually placed the bag of gold and silver together with the bag Zhou Heng had given him that morning, then took out five thread-bound books from his pocket and placed them on the wooden table.

The five martial arts manuals, namely "Zhi Xiang Gong", "Thirty-Six Styles of Mace Techniques", "Eagle Claw Hand", "Iron Body Skill" and "Swimming Dragon Step", are all of superior quality.

He only needs four high-grade martial arts manuals to connect all his muscles and bones and break through to the perfect level of the Blood Marrow Realm.

So, here's the question.

After equipping the fox demon corpse, he now only has three empty equipment slots.

Clearly, this is insufficient to equip four martial arts techniques.

Mu Yang looked at the five martial arts techniques and quickly made a mental calculation.

Should I equip three martial arts techniques at random and wait a while before attempting a breakthrough, or should I sacrifice the health of one martial art, use its enhancement function, and break through in one go today?

After a moment of contemplation, Mu Yang made a decision.

......

[Ding! Detected that the host has selected to enhance the main item -- "Thirty-Six Strategies of the Mace". Please check the required materials for enhancement: ( ), ( ), ( )]

......

In the path of cultivation, one must seize every moment.

It's just a high-grade martial art, only useful for now, so there's no need to save it.

The reason for choosing the mace method as the main enhancement is naturally because his current weapon is the black gold four-sided mace.

As the enhanced function panel appeared, Mu Yang waved his hand and placed "Boar Elephant Skill", "Eagle Claw Hand" and "Dragon Step" into the material bar.

......

[Ding! Detected that the main body's tier is three, and the lowest affix quality is white; the material's tier is three, and the lowest affix quality is white. The enhancement conditions are met. The quality of any affix on the main body will be upgraded!]

......

Pale white particles floated out from the three martial arts manuals and gradually merged into the "Thirty-Six Mace Techniques".

A flash of blue light appeared.

......

[Ding! The main item - "Thirty-Six Strategies of the Mace" has been enhanced, and its attribute quality has been improved!]

[Perfect (White) → Breakthrough (Blue)]

......

Another reason Mu Yang chose to strengthen the "Thirty-Six Mace Techniques" is that this martial art only has one entry.

There will be no deviation in the enhancement, resulting in the martial arts being wasted.

But what exactly is breaking the limit?

Mu Yang looked curiously at the name that changed along with the entry's grade.

......

[Equipable Item: Thirty-Six Styles of Mace Technique +1 (Superior Martial Art)]

[Rank: Tier 3]

【Equipment Effect: ① Limit Break (Blue): The proficiency in the Thirty-Six Styles of Mace Techniques reaches a level exceeding perfection, allowing for effortless and agile use of mace-type weapons, and significantly increasing the power of mace techniques.】

[Permanent fixation conditions: Equip this item for ten days, or kill any monster of rank three or higher while equipping this item.]

......

"Does wielding maces become effortless, greatly increasing the power of one's attacks?"

That sounds pretty impressive.

With a thought, Mu Yang immediately placed the +1 enhanced "Thirty-Six Strategies of the Mace" into his equipment slot.