C22 Obtained the Animal Bone

Advancing from a Level 9 Warrior to a Fifth Grade Martial Master is nothing short of astonishing. Anyone still unsatisfied with such a leap would be nothing but avaricious. Lin Yaoyang stood his ground, voraciously siphoning the energy from the Ghost Faced Demonic Spider, a look of utter contentment on his face. The spider's body withered away, leaving behind nothing but a husk, its flesh shriveled and devoid of blood.

Yaoyang couldn't resist swinging a few punches, feeling a surge of power several times greater than before. With his current physical condition, he could have faced the Ghost Faced Demonic Spider without the need for such caution.

With the augmentation of the Power of the Ant King and his own formidable physique, he was confident he could shatter the spider's carcass with a single blow.

Yaoyang nodded in satisfaction. Moreover, he had just acquired an Animal Bone, a treasure he knew better than to flaunt before the mercenaries. Revealing it could lead to endless complications, potentially turning Qingye Town into a bloodbath over such a prize. The Animal Bone was, after all, one of the least impressive yet most abundant treasures dropped by a Demonic Beast, second only to the Demonic Core.

While Demonic Cores were indeed rare and valuable, they weren't entirely unobtainable. The real challenge for these mercenaries lay in their own lack of strength, averaging only the prowess of Level 9 Warriors, with their leaders barely reaching the first or second grade of Martial Masters. Their expeditions were limited to the outskirts of the Demonic Beast Forest and the fringes of the Demonic Beast Mountain Range.

Even the most formidable Demonic Beasts within these territories were no match for the outer perimeter creatures. Take the Fire Rat, for instance; despite its status as a Demonic Beast, any Fourth or Fifth Grade martial artist could easily handle one. The Fire Rat's danger level was negligible, its lineage having mutated to include a mere hint of fire attribute and a slightly larger size, making it as harmless as an angel compared to the true demons of the Demonic Beast ranks.

Moreover, the reproductive capabilities of typical Demonic Beasts aren't particularly strong. This is to ensure that their offspring maintain a pure bloodline and inherit strong talents, which naturally limits their numbers.

The Fire Rat, however, is an exception. It has inherited the formidable breeding prowess of common rats. These mercenaries could spend every day slaughtering creatures at the edge of the Demonic Beast Forest and still not make a dent in their numbers—they simply can't kill them as fast as Fire Rats reproduce.

Additionally, the likelihood of a Demonic Beast dropping a Demonic Core is intrinsically linked to the beast's strength, innate level, and species.

For the lowest-tier Demonic Beasts like the Fire Rat, which can't even best a standard, non-elemental tiger, finding a Demonic Core among ten thousand is cause for celebration. Anyone who does should consider themselves incredibly fortunate.

With each significant tier advancement, the quality of the Demonic Cores produced by Demonic Beasts improves dramatically. Consider the difference between a Demonic Beast at the Martial Master Level and one at the Martial Arts Level.

A higher-grade Martial Arts Level Demonic Beast could easily be worth a dozen or more Martial Master Level Demonic Beasts.

This illustrates the vast disparity between the levels. Moreover, Demonic Cores from Martial Arts Level Demonic Beasts can't be purchased with mere gold coins; they're traded among cultivators for the precious heavenly materials and treasures each seeks.

Beyond the Martial Arts Level, wealth becomes truly inconsequential. For a powerhouse at that level, acquiring gold coins is trivial.

For those without moral scruples, amassing gold coins could be as simple as descending upon a rural town and dispatching the local tycoon. Hence, their focus shifts from currency to the various spiritual medicines, treasures, techniques, and combat skills that can enhance their cultivation.

Then there's the Animal Bone, another rare treasure that can emerge from a Demonic Beast. It's only left behind under the rarest of circumstances, typically when a Demonic Beast meets its end through unique and special means.

The special nature of the Animal Bone lies in its ability to directly bestow a combat skill upon the one who fuses with it—a skill derived from the very Demonic Beast that was slain. What's more, there's no requirement for activation, which is frankly terrifying. Imagine slaying a mighty dragon and, with a stroke of incredible luck, acquiring its Dragon Head Animal Bone. Upon fusion, one would instantly gain the dragon's fearsome dragon flame combat skill, providing an overwhelming advantage in any evenly matched battle. In addition, the Animal Bone contains the essence of the Demonic Beast's bloodline, which, once integrated into the fuser's body, offers substantial benefits.

The rarity of the Animal Bone is such that its drop rate is infinitesimally lower than that of a Demonic Beast's crystal core. Those fortunate enough to possess an Animal Bone guard it jealously, keeping its existence secret, and use it as a hidden ace—an ultimate weapon. But the most crucial aspect is that unlike a devil box, which is expended upon use, the Animal Bone is enduring. Once fused, it remains a part of its bearer forever, even beyond the grave.

This is why the system Lin Yaoyang possesses is an extraordinary anomaly. Others must venture into peril, relying on astronomical luck to even have a chance at finding the treasures and elixirs they seek. But Lin Yaoyang? He simply needs to amass points and trade with the system to obtain what he desires, bypassing the arduous journey and saving untold amounts of time. Time that could be spent mastering additional combat skills or training another War Pet. Sometimes, the gap between cultivators is widened by these seemingly minor details.

Consider the plight of solitary cultivators versus sect disciples. A solitary cultivator must face death for the sake of their needed cultivation techniques, exerting every effort to secure necessary resources, always at risk of being ruthlessly slain by their peers. In contrast, a sect disciple enjoys the safety of their family or sect, where a wealth of suitable cultivation techniques and combat skills are readily available, tailored to the needs of various disciples.

As long as you possess enough strength, you can engage in cultivation and also have constant opportunities to spar with your fellow sect brothers. Should you be defeated, you have the chance to try again. Moreover, numerous seasoned Sect Elders are on hand to offer guidance. The Sect is also capable of procuring spiritual herbs and other auxiliary items for cultivation, which are readily provided to its disciples.