CHAPTER 378: CHAPTER 250: BONE MEMBRANE

Five hundred miles outside Qiu Dragon Mansion, Anchan County, Bitu Mountain.

After two fierce battles, Chen Ku gained a total of three hundred and sixty strands of First Realm demon Evil Qi.

And one strand of Sixth Realm demon Ghost Bird’s Evil Qi.

At this moment, after leaving the sixth layer of the Evil Summoning Banner, he looked at the Ghost Bird he had slain, which had already become food for the six-winged golden centipede, poison demon scorpion, and black smoke beast inside the banner, all scrambling to eat.

He smiled slightly in his heart:

"At least nothing is wasted."

He had already realized that this Evil Summoning Banner was much like the ’Deer Court’ in the imperial palace’s back garden; usually, there was nothing to do but raise the deer.

Whenever the Emperor needed it, he would go to harvest fresh deer blood to replenish his body.

Now, he was akin to that Emperor.

Raising such a banner of demons, when needed, he would kill them for Evil Qi or other demon materials, but when not needed, he could not let them all starve to death.

Otherwise, nothing could be gained.

Compared to the trouble of raising deer and cranes as medicinal supplements for the palace, where they had to be specially hunted.

Chen Ku at this moment, watching the scene where demons were summoned into the Evil Summoning Banner from within a six-hundred-mile radius around Bitu Mountain, thought to himself:

"My Evil Summoning Banner is truly defying the heavens. It seems that every time I recite the incantation, it replenishes the number of demons inside the banner."

Mastering the six-layered incantation of the Evil Summoning Banner, it can integrate fifty Sixth Realm demons, a hundred Fifth Realm demons, three hundred Fourth Realm demons, five hundred Third Realm demons, eight hundred Second Realm demons, and a thousand First Realm demons inside the banner.

Seeing the thousand First Realm demons that Chen Ku had just killed, they were already replenished within half a cup of tea.

Looking at the numerous demon corpses within the First Layer, Chen Ku thought:

"Such a vast amount of demon blood and flesh, converted into money, who knows how much it could sell for, and it seems that my automatic alchemy plan can also be implemented because of this."

A Fifth Realm Fire Beak Pot can automatically refine all pills below the Fifth Realm level of alchemy, and if the materials from inside the Evil Summoning Banner can be utilized, the profits produced each day would be unknown.

"This indeed is a lucrative project, and I have the room, capital, and connections to carry it out."

He thought to himself, this matter just requires a word with the Medicine King Hall, and it could smoothly restart the hall.

And all along, Chen Ku has been someone who severely lacks money.

Now, having just a few tens of thousands of taels of silver left, before unlocking the Hero King Treasure Sheyue Hall and obtaining the countless treasures inside the hall, he still needs to find a way to generate income on his own.

With this thought set.

He then looked at the speed of the Evil Summoning Banner’s demon summoning.

"The demon summoning speed has slowed here; probably only a few small demons remain, not many great demons above the Fourth Realm. I guess I’ll continue to venture into the uninhabited deep mountains and forests."

Just like that.

Chen Ku took down the Evil Summoning Banner and continued to venture deeper.

As he ventured deeper into the mountains, the number of demons above the Fourth Realm within the Evil Summoning Banner gradually increased.

Watching the scene of demons fighting and killing each other inside the Evil Summoning Banner, it wasn’t long before it yielded many more demon corpses, making him aware that probably before long, he would have to frequently go out to replenish the Evil Summoning Banner.

Otherwise, it would not take long for the demons inside to have killed themselves off completely.

Just like this.

Chen Ku was busy amidst the wild mountains in all directions of Anchan County for an entire night, and finally filled the number of Fourth and Fifth Realm demons inside the banner.

Thirty-six Sixth Realm demons were also forcibly captured.

Watching the sky lighten.

Chen Ku estimated that it’s almost impossible to find any Sixth Realm demons around Anchan County anymore, so he moved some of the First Realm demon corpses from the First Layer to the Sixth Layer, serving as food.

Riding the clouds and mist, he returned to Qiu Dragon Mansion.

After a night without sleep.

Chen Ku was somewhat exhausted, but as soon as he lay down at home, just after a few moments with his eyes closed, he heard the sound of drums and firecrackers from outside the courtyard gate.

He immediately got out of bed, with ears clear and eyes bright, he heard the sounds from outside his courtyard.

"Great joy! Is this the home of Scholar Chen? The Martial Temple has released the rankings! The Qiu Dragon Mansion’s ranking list for the martial exam for the thirty-six counties this spring has been announced, and Scholar Chen, as one of the three new Martial Scholars of the Qiu Dragon Mansion this year, is on the list; we have come to offer our congratulations!"

"Congratulations!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ku got up and went outside, and saw a group of government officers dressed in Martial Temple’s government officer uniforms, with plaques stating ’Quiet’ and ’Evade’ following behind them, beating drums and waiting at his door.

A short distance away on the street, a considerable number of townspeople had gathered.

His mother and sister-in-law, along with his elder sister and brother-in-law, were busy entertaining them.

"Scholar Chen!"

The leading government officer from the Martial Temple saw Chen Ku approaching, and said:

"Originally, the token of the scholar’s title, the ’Scholar’s Crown’, was to be sent to Baojiao County, but due to a rebel uprising in Baojiao County, it was unfortunately delayed. Yesterday, we heard that Scholar Chen had already moved to Qiu Dragon Mansion, so we brought the Scholar’s Crown over at the first opportunity, along with the ’Daji Documents’ recording your official title."

Chen Ku had appeared at the Three Emperors Ancestral Masters Association yesterday, and many had heard of his reputation, which naturally spread to the ears of the Martial Temple.

He clasped his hands, allowing his family to give a few red envelopes to those who brought the good news. The government officer, with a beaming smile, said: "Oh, also, Elder Tang Lie of the Martial Temple asked me to deliver a message. He said you solved his Iron Armor Rhinoceros question very well and would like to invite you to his home as a guest."

Tang Lie, Iron Armor Rhinoceros?

Chen Ku’s heart stirred: "He must be the examiner who possesses the casting materials for the divine weapon ’Jiuli Armor Leaf’."

He realized that this relationship could already be considered as a sitting master, so he nodded with a smile, and said: "Alright, I shall visit when I have some free time."

The visitors had already delivered the message, and did not say much more.

After sending off those who brought the good news.

The family looked at the scholar’s crown on Chen Ku’s plate. It was made of white jade, with a sword-shaped ornament used as a hairpin in the middle.

Li Yuancheng softly remarked, "A man crowns at twenty. This year, Er Lang is only eighteen after his birthday, not yet old enough for the ceremony."

Chen Ku touched his hair. Before this, his hair was simply gathered at the top of his head, with messy strands hanging over his brows. He said, "I actually like this casual look now. If I had to tighten my hair into a crown, it wouldn’t feel right."

Li Yuancheng shook his head and said, "Crowning and giving a name is a significant event in a man’s life. By then, you’ll also need to have a proper name. Chen Ku, Chen Ku, this is just a nickname. Now that you’re a scholar, you might become a higher scholar or even a grandmaster. You shouldn’t be called by a nickname."

"Indeed..." Mother Chen sighed, "When I named you two brothers, I didn’t think much. Now that you’ve achieved so much, we should find someone to give you a more dignified name for the future."

"I’m not even twenty yet," Chen Ku said with a smile, "When the time comes, I’ll ask my masters to give me a name."

"Two years will pass quickly," the elder kept nagging, "It’s better to plan early..."

Chen Ku smiled and nodded.

In the side yard, Chai Tiangui and Jiang Shaoyou came out to offer their congratulations. Chen Ku waved his hand and instructed someone to fetch a chef from the restaurant outside to set a few banquet tables at home.

During the banquet, Chai Tiangui spoke, "Brother Chen, after this meal, I should move out. Don’t worry, I’ve already found a place that’s big enough for our family."

Jiang Shaoyou laughed and said, "I’m moving out too, but there’s no need to sound so gloomy. All our houses are nearby, so we can still gather at Chen Ku’s place whenever we’re free."

"After you both move out to Qiu Dragon Mansion, if you encounter any financial difficulties, feel free to come to me anytime."

With the Evil Summoning Banner in his possession, Chen Ku, relying on the endless demon materials and pill refining, was essentially a money-making machine, confident in saying these words.

Jiang and Chai laughed and agreed.

After the banquet, Chen Ku watched both families move away, exhaling slowly. He thought about the Yuan Country, which could march southward at any time, knowing that Qiu Dragon Mansion wasn’t a place to stay for long, and realized he might have to move again...

He sighed:

"It’s time to train!"

Only with enough strength could he face all problems.

He looked at the fifth and sixth realm demons inside the Evil Summoning Banner, the abilities of over ten were what he wished to acquire, especially a ’Solid Bone Beast’.

Chen Ku did not rush to slaughter it.

Instead, he caught up on some sleep.

After a refreshing nap until the afternoon, he chose to enter the Hero King Realm, then released the sixth realm Solid Bone Beast inside.

In the Hero King Realm, he wasn’t afraid of it escaping.

Roar!

On the plaza in front of the Mountain Lifting Hall in the Hero King Realm, as soon as the Solid Bone Beast was released, it let out a deafening dragon roar.

Its appearance resembled a ’triceratops’ from the dinosaur era in Chen Ku’s past life memory.

It had a massive bony shield atop its head, with horns on the shield, its body larger than three elephants, spanning thirty feet long. However, it bore many injuries...

Those injuries had claw marks, bite marks, and one horn on its head had been burned.

Apparently, it fought with other fifth-realm demons inside the Evil Summoning Banner.

Bang!!

Upon seeing Chen Ku, the Solid Bone Beast charged at him with four hooves, causing the ground to tremble.

As it was three to four feet away from Chen Ku, the sharp horn on its head suddenly extended, stabbing at Chen Ku like thorns!

[The Solid Bone Beast intends harm against the master...]

Looking at the fifth-realm Solid Bone Beast,

Chen Ku stood without moving, not even wielding a weapon, and directly used Spiritual Capture, suspending the Solid Bone Beast mid-air. Then he hummed an incantation of Snot, following up with a Mountain Roar Tsunami Seal!

Bang!

The Solid Bone Beast had its spirit knocked out of its body, its brain splattered, yet its bone shield remained intact.

[The Diagram Master subdued the Solid Bone Beast, obtaining a strand of fifth-realm Evil Qi]

No unnecessary words.

Chen Ku hung it on the Transformation Diagram, consuming forty-five strands of Evil Qi, advancing the Solid Bone Beast to the Transformation Level.

Thus, gaining such transformative abilities.

[Solid Bone Beast Transformation!]

[Solid Bone Beast Transformation·Transformation]

[Abilities: Bone like Vajra, Bone Spur Assault, Five Internal Organs Strengthening, Tendon Membrane Protection...]

Seeing the abilities of the Solid Bone Beast was the reason he chose to specifically hunt it down.

The bones of this beast were a necessary raw material for refining the Solid Bone Pill, essential for cultivating from the Inner Strength Realm ’Bone Membrane Stage’.

Currently, Chen Ku was precisely at the juncture from Muscle Tendon Stage to Bone Membrane Stage.

Thus, he chose to overlay the Solid Bone Beast’s characteristics onto his bones, aiding in his bone membrane cultivation.

"Once I cultivate the bone membrane, I can take the Five Elements Great Rejuvenation Pill to strike the ’Sixth Realm Array Veins’. With sixth-realm strength, I can confidently face other forces in Qiu Dragon Mansion."

So, Chen Ku, carrying the Solid Bone Beast’s traits, began cultivating the Inner Strength Realm technique.

Days passed by in a flash.

Feeling the Solid Bone traits, Chen Ku found the opportunity to cultivate the bone membrane. Finally, one evening as the sun set.

A layer of bone membrane grew from the inside out on all his bones.

The next moment.

With a thought from Chen Ku, he executed an exclusive Inner Strength Realm technique, transforming directly into a three-meter-tall giant!