The Grey Rat's Demon Path

After returning from the Peacock Secret Realm, Xu Chang'an announced he was entering seclusion.

The reason he gave was that he was preparing to go all out in his attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

During his seclusion, he would not be accepting any custom elixir orders.

He also intentionally spread the word that he had purchased Jade Marrow Spirit Liquid outside the Peacock Secret Realm and planned to use it to improve his aptitude.

With his current status as a Tier Two High-grade Alchemist, he was fully capable of protecting a mere vial of Jade Marrow Spirit Liquid.

Xu Chang'an's seclusion lasted for three months.

On this day, the Spiritual Qi outside Gray Rat Cave on Shuyun Peak surged, showing signs of frenzy.

Several of his neighbors on Shuyun Peak sensed the commotion.

"I can't believe Grey Rat actually broke through!"

Watching the violent surge of Spiritual Qi from Gray Rat Cave, Yu Lulu muttered to herself.

Three days later, Xu Chang'an announced he was coming out of seclusion.

He hosted a Spiritual Food Banquet and invited many of his friends.

These included Pill Master Ye and his former colleagues from Peacock Demon City, representatives from various merchant guilds and shops, some of the Demon connections he had cultivated, and his few neighbors on Shuyun Peak.

He even invited Sherri, the Elk Demon Steward from Cloud Sea Peak.

When he appeared this time, the cultivation aura Xu Chang'an revealed had impressively stepped into the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"Congratulations, Gray Rat Alchemist!"

Many Great Demons offered their congratulations.

A smiling Xu Chang'an greeted them all.

"Grey Rat, congratulations!"

Pill Master Ye also congratulated Xu Chang'an.

The Pill Master Ye of today was already famous throughout Peacock Demon City, a true Quasi-Third Tier Alchemist.

His status was comparable to that of the most elite Top-tier Great Demons!

"Grey Rat, now that you've reached Foundation Establishment, becoming a Tier Three Alchemist is within your grasp!"

Pill Master Ye was quite emotional.

The Grey Rat who had once humbly sought his guidance had now reached such heights.

And his future potential was limitless!

...

After the grand Spiritual Food Banquet, Xu Chang'an did not resume accepting custom elixir orders.

Instead, he used the excuse of visiting friends and family to say he needed to travel for a while.

As a newly minted Foundation Establishment Great Demon, he was at the height of his prestige. The reason of visiting friends and family was perfectly logical.

In reality, Xu Chang'an's true destination was Thunder Demon City in the Thundering Mountain Range!

Following the Red Cloud Mountain Range's military withdrawal, the Thundering Mountain Range had invaded a significant portion of Human Race Territory, thus achieving its objective for initiating the conflict.

Pressured by the two Unparalleled Demon Kings of the Thundering Mountain Range, the Human Race had been forced to concede much territory and many benefits.

The hostilities between the Thundering Mountain Range and the human Yanyue Sect gradually died down, returning to the previous stalemate.

Just two months ago, Thunder Demon City of the Thundering Mountain Range had released a piece of news.

They were preparing to hold a grand, high-profile auction.

Numerous rare and Heavy Treasures, along with scarce Spiritual Items, would be up for auction!

In addition, many items from the Human Race would also be auctioned!

Thunder Demon City's position in the Thundering Mountain Range was akin to Peacock Demon City's in the Red Cloud Mountain Range.

The Thundering Mountain Range's forces were more numerous and more powerful.

Plus, the Yandang Ancient Road next to Thunder Demon City connected to several neighboring mountain ranges.

Therefore, commerce in Thunder Demon City was even more prosperous.

It was a trading hub for several mountain ranges!

Many Demon Kings at the Core Formation Realm would travel to Thunder Demon City to purchase what they needed!

News of Thunder Demon City's upcoming grand auction naturally circulated among the upper echelons of the Red Cloud Mountain Range.

As a Tier Two High-grade Alchemist, Xu Chang'an naturally had channels to learn of this news.

What Xu Chang'an desired most urgently right now was not things like Magical Treasures or Demon Talismans.

It was a Spiritual Item that could improve his Bloodline aptitude.

Resources like the Tier Three Lifespan Extension Pill had to take a backseat!

His current Bloodline aptitude was Middle-class. If he could improve it and attain an Upper-class Bloodline, his Demon Body would undergo a further transformation.

With the Golden Core formed within him and his Demon Body, he would be able to face a Top-tier Demon King head-on!

At that point, after finding one more ace up his sleeve, he would ascend to the Mountain Gate of Peacock Mountain.

He would seize the initiative and get a firm handle on his convenient Dao Companion, Peacock King Chu Xianyi.

Once he absorbed the Alien Energy attached to her Divine Spirit, according to his previous calculations, it would likely be enough for him to break through to the Mid-stage Core Formation!

Once he stepped into the Mid-stage Core Formation, combined with all his previous accumulations...

...including the Human Race, there would probably be few beneath the Nascent Soul Realm who could defeat him, Xu Chang'an!

'Quasi-Magical Treasures are almost useless to me. I can sell them all off at this Thunder Demon City auction. I can also sell the Supreme-grade Magical Artifacts, Puppetry Technique, Alchemy, and Array formation inheritances!'

Xu Chang'an transformed into a Wolf Demon Silver Fang, riding a Magical Artifact as he flew through the sky using Yukong.

The amount of Demon Stones he would need to win the bid for a Spiritual Item that could improve his Bloodline aptitude at the Thunder Demon City auction would be astronomical.

Fortunately, during the chaos of the previous war, he had earned a considerable amount of Demon Stones by reselling Spirit Medicine and Spiritual Materials, buying low and selling high.

There was also the loot from slaying several Tribulation Cultivator Great Demons.

Adding his own prior savings and selling off the Quasi-Magical Treasures, Supreme-grade Magical Artifacts, High-Tier Demon Talismans, Array Flags, and various inheritances...

...he roughly estimated that he should be able to scrape together a million Demon Stones.

This was almost his entire fortune!

'If that's still not enough, then I'll just have to figure something out when I get to Thunder Demon City!'

Xu Chang'an thought to himself.

A million Demon Stones was already enough to buy Core Formation treasures like the Crystal Condensation Pill and the Clearing Qi Pill.

Generally speaking, it should be enough to win a suitable Spiritual Item for improving his Bloodline.

After all, Xu Chang'an's expectation was only to raise his Middle-class Bloodline to an Upper-class Bloodline.

He wasn't trying to break through the Upper-class Bloodline to become a demon of prodigious talent!

With very few exceptions, those who could become Demon Kings generally had an Upper-class Bloodline at the very least.

Moreover, the vast majority of them were in the upper echelons of the Upper-class.

Many even possessed a Demon King Bloodline!