After listening, Xiao Zhuang unconsciously swallowed hard. “I say, Tong Ge, isn’t this a bit too harsh? I was just slacking off because cultivating Spiritual Power felt too slow—it’s not like I committed some heavenly crime! Do I really deserve this treatment? Even if I’m made of bones, that doesn’t mean I’m some cheap bones that enjoy suffering!”
The System immediately retorted, “Haven’t we already made up, buddy? Why would I deliberately screw you over? Think about what your true form is—bones! And not just any bones, but ones that once belonged to the Supreme Sword Bone! Forget that your real body is exceptionally hard to injure—just consider how many pain receptors a mere bone could have? Your pain threshold is ten times that of an ordinary demon. What would feel like a broken leg to others is barely a pinprick to you. With such incredible innate advantages, wouldn’t it be a waste not to train with this method?”
Xiao Zhuang hadn’t actually realized this before, mainly because he hadn’t been injured since waking up. His senses of taste, smell, and hearing were all normal, and he could feel textures without any numbness—so could he really be insensitive to pain? It seemed convenient enough. Deciding to test it out, Xiao Zhuang raised his hand and chomped down hard.
Whoa—he really couldn’t feel much pain! The tactile sensation was clear, but there was hardly any discomfort. This was practically like unlocking another cheat ability.
Schnauzer had thought Xiao Zhuang was sleeping with his eyes closed, but then he opened them and bit himself. What kind of weird habit was this? Was he still half-asleep? “Shisan, are you hungry? I think I still have a crispy pastry here—have this first.”
Xiao Zhuang awkwardly rubbed his nose; he’d forgotten there was someone else in the carriage. He quickly thanked Schnauzer for his kindness and said he wasn’t hungry. The silly dog grinned understandingly. “Why be embarrassed? When I was little, I often bit my hand while dreaming of gnawing on pig trotters. You’re still young and can’t handle hunger—eat up now!Ugh, there were too many absurdities to even complain about! Xiao Zhuang could only take the pastry and take a bite.
The System laughed in his mind. “See? I didn’t lie to you, did I? With this Cultivation Method and your special physique, you’re just a few whips away from reaching Foundation Establishment.”
In the past, Xiao Zhuang would never have had the heart to do this—he wasn’t a masochist and genuinely had no interest in being beaten. But the rat demon’s words had served as a wake-up call. Although his true form was special and wouldn’t die easily, being sold to that kind of place and… well, “explored” wasn’t a pleasant thought either. Getting beaten was definitely the better option. Since he’d crossed into the Cultivation World, becoming stronger had to be his goal. As a great man once said, “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun!” Justice always lies within the range of cannons. No matter what Demon Lords or white lotuses (scheming innocents) existed, as long as he became strong enough, no one could target his silly Father.
After obtaining his consent, the System quickly exchanged for that divine skill: “Hey Warrior, Hit Me Harder!”
Xiao Zhuang silently gave the System a mental middle finger. Not only was the Cultivation Method bizarre, but it even had a risqué name. If he ever started his own Sect, how could he present this manual to others?
The System appeasingly chuckled. “Host, you’re thinking too far ahead. Right now, survival is what matters. In the future, when you’re powerful enough to dominate everywhere or have saved up enough Wrath Points, exchanging for another Cultivation Method will be easy. Who says you have to teach your disciples your own techniques? This method isn’t suitable as teaching material anyway—imagine how chaotic the Sect would be if disciples actually practiced it! Other Sects are all about harmony, friendship, and mutual support, but in your school, would seniors and juniors be pulling each other aside asking to be beaten? People would think the whole Sect is full of masochists!”
Xiao Zhuang thought it made sense—hadn’t many gangs with underworld origins later laundered themselves into legitimate companies? They still put on respectable fronts and spouted benevolence and morality.
Even if he started as a sadist, once he reached Core Formation as a master, who would dwell on that?
Besides, with his Wrath Points completely depleted now, the priority was to cultivate diligently.
Bai Xiu continued driving the carriage. Foxes were naturally nocturnal creatures with good eyesight, so the carriage moved steadily along.
Schnauzer’s biological clock had kicked in again; he was already fast asleep like a dead dog.
Xiao Zhuang sat in meditation inside the carriage, circulating his Spiritual Power according to the Cultivation Methods, gradually entering a selfless state.
This was his first time meditating to cultivate. By the time his consciousness cleared again, sunlight was streaming brightly outside.
Bai Xiu was sprawled nearby, sleeping soundly, while Schnauzer had already disappeared.
Xiao Zhuang rubbed his somewhat numb legs and lifted the curtain to look outside.
Not far away stood towering city walls, with a massive gate nearly ten meters wide bustling with commoners coming and going.
The characters “Qian Yu” shone brilliantly above the city gate.
Before long, Schnauzer returned limping, holding a paper bag filled with meat buns.
Since they were safe at the city gates and Bai Xiu was resting after driving all night, the two weren’t in a hurry to enter the city. They chatted idly while eating the buns.
Although Xiao Zhuang had latched onto Schnauzer for free meals and drinks, after spending time together, he found him quite decent and didn’t intend to keep taking advantage.
Hearing that there were shops in the city specializing in buying Talismans and elixirs, Xiao Zhuang pulled out a stack of strength-enhancing Talismans he had drawn, saying he’d sell them later to help cover travel expenses.
As they talked, Bai Xiu also got out of the carriage, took a bun to munch on, and didn’t object to Xiao Zhuang selling the Talismans. He only cautioned him never to reveal that he was the one who drew them.
After finishing the buns and as the crowd entering the city thinned, they abandoned the carriage—which belonged to the rat clan’s driver and might bear their markings—by the roadside and entered Qian Yu City on foot.
This city was vastly larger than the City That Never Sleeps they had passed through before. Though it was called a bird clan gathering place, many races mingled here.
They even spotted a few cultivators.
Xiao Zhuang asked curiously, “Aren’t we in the Monster World now? Why are there cultivators here?”
Bai Xiu found it strange. “Why wouldn’t there be cultivators?
Once we join a Sect and practice orthodox Cultivation Methods, the Demon Markings on our foreheads will vanish, and we’ll become cultivators too.
Do you think cultivators never visit their families?”
Xiao Zhuang understood now. “So, those cultivators are actually monsters in origin, not humans?”
Schnauzer nodded. “Of course! Why would human cultivators come to the Monster World for no reason?
Humans and monsters can’t have children together—it’s not like they’re visiting their grandma’s house!”
Xiao Zhuang, lacking in common knowledge, humbly asked further, “Then can demons and monsters have children? What about demons and humans?”
Bai Xiu, assuming Xiao Zhuang’s youth explained his ignorance, patiently explained, “The Devil Race originally evolved from humans, so of course they can have children with humans.
But whether the child takes after the father or mother is uncertain—it’s a gamble.
Demons and monsters can also produce offspring, but those hybrid demon-monster children usually have poor aptitudes.
Children born from two demons are of the highest quality, so if a demon partners with a human, they typically have the human Enter the Demonic path before having children!”
Schnauzer chimed in gossipily, “I once heard a story about a human who fell in love with a monster. They desperately wanted a child together…”
Later, the two came up with a brilliant idea—that person tried every possible means to induce Qi Deviation.
“Once transformed into the Demon Empress, the two could finally have a child.”
Xiao Zhuang sighed in admiration, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Solutions always outnumber difficulties!
This couple’s thinking is truly expansive!”
Bai Xiu curled her lips, “That’s nothing. I’ve heard an even more shocking one.
A snake demon fell in love with a rabbit, and they also couldn’t have children.
Later, they broke up and each found a demon to have offspring with, coincidentally one boy and one girl.
Then they rekindled their old flame and made their half-demon children marry each other, raising the grandson as the continuation of their bloodline.
But the biological parents of the young couple objected and came to fight for the child. Eventually, all six family members lived together—you can imagine how chaotic it was.”
Xiao Zhuang felt his brain couldn’t process this, finding it even more melodramatic than modern romance novels.
Good heavens, these demons really know how to play!