2: Murder and arson gold belt

Gu Yang didn't waste a single second on feeling guilty about killing.

In this world that devours people, killing is done to survive, to avoid being devoured oneself.

The moment the butcher's knife is raised, there are no more innocents.

He quickly walked over to Butcher Wang's corpse, enduring the stench of blood, and swiftly searched the still-warm body.

"Kill, burn, and plunder the golden belt. The ancients truly did not deceive us."

Gu Yang soon felt a small cloth pouch inside Butcher Wang's robes.

Opening it, he found several pieces of broken silver, weighing roughly three or four *liang*. In the slums, this was enough for a family of three to live on for half a year.

Besides that, there was also something tightly wrapped in oiled paper.

Gu Yang peeled back the oiled paper, revealing a piece of jerky inside, pitch-black as ink and emitting a faint, sickly-sweet scent.

The surface of the jerky even had faint threads of black Qi swirling around it. An ordinary person glancing at it would feel unsettled.

The moment his finger touched the black jerky, the System's prompt sounded again:

[Detected low-grade demonic flesh (impure). Contains undispersed demonic power. Absorb?]

"Demonic flesh?"

A sharp glint flashed in Gu Yang's eyes, and his heart contracted violently.

In the Fierce Tiger Gang, such things were considered 'great tonics' that only the Gang Leader and a few Hall Masters were qualified to enjoy. Mortals who ate it could strengthen their bodies and even prolong their lives, but it also carried the risk of being eroded by Demonic Qi.

Who would have thought this fellow Butcher Wang had secretly hoarded a piece.

"Absorb!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Gu Yang silently commanded in his heart.

Risk? For a cheater like him, this kind of directly converted energy was the purest tonic!

The jerky in his hand instantly seemed to have weathered for a thousand years, becoming shriveled and ashen, finally turning into a handful of dust that slipped through his fingers.

At the same time, a surge of energy far more refined and violent than the Evil Qi he had absorbed earlier flooded into his body.

[Absorption successful! Obtained energy points: 3.]

"Killing that accomplice didn't give any points, but this piece of meat did?"

Gu Yang pondered thoughtfully, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. "It seems the System's energy source must be items related to demons and monsters, or... directly slaying demons and monsters!"

His gaze shifted to the depths of the dungeon, where the so-called 'Lord Ghost Face' resided.

That was a genuine demon.

Also a walking... giant energy bank!

Just then, hurried footsteps and cursing voices came from outside the dungeon.

"Butcher Wang, you fat bastard, what are you dawdling for in there? Lord Ghost Face is growing impatient!"

"If you delay His Lordship's mealtime, we'll skin your fat ass and make jerky out of it too!"

Two senior enforcers wearing Fierce Tiger Gang uniforms, with sabers at their waists, walked in one after the other.

They had straw sticks in their mouths, faces full of impatience, clearly brimming with resentment for this dirty, tiring work.

As the door opened,

an overwhelming, suffocating stench of blood hit them.

The two instinctively covered their noses. Looking closely, their pupils instantly contracted violently, as if seeing something unbelievable.

The usually fierce and imposing Butcher Wang, who held considerable status even in their eyes, now lay slumped in a corner like discarded garbage, his head caved in, brains and blood smeared across the wall.

And that menial laborer Gu Yang, who was usually beaten and cursed at, whom anyone could step on, stood with his back to them beside the corpse.

Hearing the noise, Gu Yang slowly turned around.

What a physique it was!

His originally loose, tattered hemp clothes were now stretched taut by bulging muscles, on the verge of tearing. Every muscle seemed carved from granite, gleaming with a metallic sheen under the dim lamplight.

Especially the look in Gu Yang's eyes as he glanced over.

Cold, brutal, bloodthirsty.

It wasn't looking at people at all, but at two moving corpses, two pieces of meat waiting to be slaughtered.

"You... you killed Butcher Wang?!"

One of them, terrified, instinctively drew his waist saber, his voice trembling.

The corner of Gu Yang's mouth lifted into a cruel arc. He gently cracked his neck, producing a sharp *crack*.

"What, surprised?"

If it were ten minutes ago, encountering these two senior enforcers who had practiced martial arts for years and were ruthless, he could only kneel and beg for mercy, hoping to keep his body intact.

But now...

He glanced at his attribute panel.

Energy: 3 points

Realm: Savage Bull Strength (Minor Achievement)

"3 points... enough."

Gu Yang moved.

Without wasting words, his legs exploded with force, and his entire body shot forward like a hunting leopard!

The floorboards shattered under his feet, sending stone fragments flying.

"Looking to die! Attack together, chop him down!"

After all, the two enforcers were also men who lived by the blade. After a brief shock, they reacted instantly. Two long sabers, gleaming coldly, flanked Gu Yang, aiming straight for his vitals.

One slash at the neck, one stab at the heart—a skilled and vicious combination.

Facing the two steel sabers hacking toward him, Gu Yang neither dodged nor evaded.

While charging, his mind once again tapped firmly on that tempting '+' symbol!

All in!

[Consumed 2 energy points. Savage Bull Strength Major Achievement!]

*Crackle, pop!*

The familiar explosive sounds erupted within his body once more.

This enhancement was even more violent than the last!

Gu Yang's frame grew taller even as he ran, directly surpassing 185 centimeters.

His originally bronze skin darkened a shade, taking on a tough, leathery sheen, even faintly hinting at a metallic texture.

This was the terror of the Extreme Dao path—

I don't reason, I don't train, I just add points!

Breakthrough in the midst of battle, instantly grow stronger!

"Die!"

A thunderous roar, like a sudden clap of thunder on flat ground, made the two enforcers' eardrums buzz, slowing their movements by half a beat.

The air seemed to explode from the punch, letting out a short sonic boom.

The enforcer on the left had just raised his saber when he saw a blur before his eyes, a terrifying wave of heat rushing at his face.

Gu Yang's large hand ignored the slashing blade, directly grabbing for the saber's edge!

"Fool! Daring to catch a bare blade with your bare hand?!" The enforcer's heart surged with savage joy, a ferocious smile spreading across his face as he increased the force, wanting to slice off half of Gu Yang's palm.

However—

*Clang!*

A crisp sound of metal striking metal.

Sparks flew!

The anticipated scene of flesh and blood flying did not appear.

The sharp blade edge, chopping onto Gu Yang's palm, only left a shallow white mark, not even breaking the skin!

Savage Bull Strength Major Achievement effect—Bronze Skin!

"This... this is impossible?! Major Achievement Iron Shirt?!"

The enforcer was utterly horrified, his eyes bulging. This was a level of hard body skill even the Gang Leader might not have achieved! Impervious to blades and spears—this was a legendary technique!

"Your saber is too dull."

Gu Yang gave a cold laugh. His other fist, already like a battering ram, blasted through the air and slammed heavily into the man's chest.

*Crunch—*

A sickening sound of bone breaking rang out.

The sternum shattered, ribs inverted and pierced the lungs, the heart instantly pulverized by this violent force.

The enforcer flew back like a ragdoll, five or six meters through the air, spewing blood wildly even before he hit the ground. By the time he landed, he was a warm corpse.

The remaining enforcer was utterly terrified.

Was this even human?

Impervious to blades? Shattering a body with one punch?

How could a monster like this be a menial laborer?!

"Monster! There's a monster!!!"

His courage shattered, not a shred of fighting spirit remained. He threw down his saber, turned, and ran, wishing his parents had given him two more legs.

"Run? Do you think you can escape?"

Gu Yang did not give chase.

He casually picked up a boning knife that had fallen on the ground earlier, hefting it to gauge its weight.

A bit light, but enough to kill.

Relying on the terrifying explosive power and precise control brought by Major Achievement Savage Bull Strength, the muscles in his arm suddenly contracted. His upper arm drove his forearm, like a fully drawn hard bow, and he flung it violently!

*Whoosh!*

The blade light flashed like lightning, tearing through the air.

The boning knife traced a straight silver line through the air, piercing with perfect accuracy through the fleeing enforcer's back. The immense force carried his body forward several steps before, with a *thud*, pinning him firmly to the heavy wooden door.

The enforcer's hands feebly clawed at the door panel twice. Blood flowed down the door seam before he went completely still.

From the sudden eruption of killing to the end of the fight, it had only taken three breaths.

Clean. Efficient.

Pure, overwhelming violence.

Gu Yang stood in the pool of blood, letting the rainstorm blowing in through the broken window hit his face, washing away the bloodstains on his body.

He looked at the corpses littering the ground, feeling the still-unsettled boiling Qi and blood within him, and that sense of power where every cell seemed to be cheering with joy.

Too weak.

These Gang elites who usually tyrannized others and treated human life like grass were, in the face of absolute power, as fragile as thin paper, pierced with a single poke.

He glanced at his attribute panel once more.

Energy: 1 point

Realm: Savage Bull Strength (Major Achievement)

Effects: Bronze Skin (difficult to injure with blades/swords), Great Strength (thousand-pound force)

"Not enough yet..."

Gu Yang slowly let out a turbid breath. His gaze pierced through the corridor, firmly locking onto the secret chamber at the very depths of the dungeon.

There, a chilling, heart-palpitating aura was spreading.

That was the true source of fear, and also the true source of power.

Since he had already started killing, he would kill until it was thorough!

Tonight, the Fierce Tiger Gang would be destroyed!

Demons and monsters?

Hah, they're nothing but walking experience packs!