How can I have a heart of a demonic god in my body?!

Yuan Chen, the top student of the No Demon Academy and ranked third on the Heavenly List, represented the pinnacle of strength in Yun Zhao Country.

In all aspects, he surpassed Chen Yu, and with his True Yuan released, Chen Yu's killing moves crumbled in an instant.

"Too strong!"

Chen Yu sighed in his heart.

Even if he used his "Blood Crystal Flame" and Dragon Scale Bloodline, it seemed that Yuan Chen could easily defeat him. As the No Demon Academy's foremost student, Yuan Chen undoubtedly had some trump cards up his sleeve.

Beside them, the Red Flame King took a few more glances at Yuan Chen.

Not far away, Yi Lantian nodded in agreement.

Chen Yu's performance was beyond his expectations.

At the early stages of the Innate realm, he could exert the power of the Innate Peak. It was truly astonishing—more impressive than Yuan Chen had been at the start.

However, Chen Yu's Spiritual Body talent was far inferior to Yuan Chen's, and the path of Body Cultivation was even harder to walk.

"Master, given junior brother's strength, he should be able to participate in the academy's grand competition a year from now, right?"

Yuan Chen inquired.

Yi Lantian's gaze narrowed slightly, and he remained silent for a moment without answering.

"The academy's grand competition?"

Chen Yu was not familiar with it.

But looking at his Master's expression, it seemed his current strength wasn't enough to take part in the grand competition.

"The academy's grand competition is organized jointly by the four major academies of Yun Zhao Country. All academies throughout Yun Zhao can participate!"

Yuan Chen saw the puzzled look on Chen Yu's face and provided some explanation.

"All academies throughout Yun Zhao can participate?"

Chen Yu was slightly shocked—that would be at least three to four hundred academies.

It seemed he had indeed underestimated the grandeur of the grand competition.

Three to four hundred academies, all deploying their elites—what kind of grand scene would that be?

Chen Yu's spirits were lifted, and he couldn't help but look forward to it.

"One year from now, if you, Chen Yu, can withstand twenty moves from Yuan Chen, I will allow you to participate in the grand competition."

Suddenly, Yi Lantian spoke.

He hadn't expected Chen Yu to be so strong before, hence the idea of him participating in the grand competition hadn't crossed his mind. Furthermore, Chen Yu was young and could wait for the next competition. By then, Yuan Chen wouldn't be able to participate, and Chen Yu would become the strongest representative of the No Demon Academy.

However, Chen Yu's performance was unexpected, and he had already reached the threshold to participate in the grand competition.

So he set a requirement for Chen Yu.

Yi Lantian's disciples, if they were to compete, must not fade into obscurity.

As the academy's top student, Yuan Chen had hopes of contending for first place in the grand competition—if Chen Yu could withstand twenty moves from Yuan Chen, his performance in the competition wouldn't be too shabby.

Yuan Chen was slightly taken aback. Was the Master being too strict with Chen Yu?

He, as the No Demon Academy's top student, aimed to be first in this grand competition.

Just before, his half-step True Essence nearly defeated Chen Yu.

For Chen Yu to endure twenty moves against him seemed unlikely.

Moreover, as Chen Yu was improving, so was he.

"Good!"

Chen Yu nodded his head.

Yi Lantian's strict requirements meant that he saw potential in Chen Yu. He didn't want Chen Yu to become cannon fodder in the competition.

"Little junior brother, you'll have to work even harder."

Yuan Chen offered a faint smile, not to criticize but to encourage Chen Yu.

"If I want to improve my strength, which area should I focus on to have the greatest effect?"

Chen Yu asked seriously, taking the initiative.

Catching up with senior brother Yuan Chen would not be an easy task. Over the next year, he would have to work much harder.

If there was a focal point, it might be better.

"You are very balanced in all aspects, and there is no weakness on the spiritual side…"

Yi Lantian pondered.

Thinking carefully, this disciple was outstanding in all areas, with no obvious weak points.

But since the disciple had asked, he still had to provide an answer.

"Your movement technique, battle skills, and Cultivation Techniques are quite compatible with one another. The only thing that stands out is the Body Refining Techniques."

Yi Lantian stated calmly.

Chen Yu's "Devilish Evil Frenzy Shadow," "Shocking Evil Sword Technique," and "Yuan Sha Divine Skill" all had connections and could complement each other.

The "Copper Statue Technique," though not conflicting with these three martial arts, didn't have much correlation either.

Thus, relatively speaking, the "Copper Statue Technique" was the problem.

But Yi Lantian could see that Chen Yu's strongest talent lay in Body Cultivation. The "Copper Statue Technique" was more profound than the other three martial arts, which was problematic.

"The 'Copper Statue Technique'?"

Chen Yu did not expect that the problem identified by his Master would be this.

Yi Lantian wasn't saying the technique was inadequate, but that if Chen Yu switched to a more suitable Body Refinement Technique, his potential for improvement would be even greater.

"Master, given junior brother's immense talent for Body Cultivation, perhaps he could cultivate that legendary technique of the academy!"

Yuan Chen suggested with an inquiring tone.

Chen Yu's eyes sparkled, guessing what it might be.

Before choosing the academy, he had heard that the No Demon Academy had a supreme technique renowned as the "number one defense Cultivation Technique" of ancient and modern times.

However, with his status at the time, he had no access to witness this technique.

"The academy does possess a supreme technique that blends demonic and Body Cultivation methods. It is indeed suitable for you, but the difficulty of this technique is immense. Over the ages, few have fully mastered it. Most have either given up halfway or gone mad from demonic possession."

Yi Lantian stated gravely.

Chen Yu's mind was stirred, desiring the formidable Body Refining Technique.

He chose the No Demon Academy in part for that reason.

Among all his aspects, Body Cultivation was his strongest talent, and he didn't want to give up such a formidable Body Refining Technique.

At his side, the Red Flame King displayed a look of disdain.

He didn't believe that there were any remarkable Cultivation Techniques in such a small place.

"Too bad, I don't have any Body Refining Techniques in my memory, otherwise, they would surely be superior to this so-called best defensive Cultivation Technique from ancient to present. In that case, I could negotiate terms with this kid!"

The Red Flame King sighed inwardly.

Yi Lantian's gaze shifted slightly as he glanced at the Fire Scale Beast.

Yuan Chen also looked at the Fire Scale Beast again.

This Spirit Pet seemed to understand their conversation and sported a rather peculiar expression, evidencing very high intelligence.

"Chen Yu, with such a Spirit Pet, if you cultivate it well, it will become a great asset in the future," Yi Lantian said.

Nearby, the Dark Night Mountain Cat opened its drowsy eyes, glanced at the Fire Scale Beast with indifference, and continued to sleep.

"This little fellow is actually looking down on me!" The Red Flame King felt very annoyed internally and glared fiercely at the Dark Night Mountain Cat.

Immediately, the Dark Night Mountain Cat felt a sense of unease, its sleepiness disappeared, and it looked at the Red Flame King attentively.

"This little junior brother's Spirit Pet is extraordinary, even Master's Mountain Cat seems to hold it in such high regard," Yuan Chen said with a smile.

On ordinary days, the cat appeared disinterested in everything, only focused on sleeping.

Chen Yu chuckled dryly and secretly sent a message to the Red Flame King to behave. It would be troublesome if its true nature were discovered.

Yi Lantian also found it curious and gave the Fire Scale Beast a few more glances.

"If you want to cultivate, prepare five hundred thousand No Demon Points, and I can help you exchange for the first three levels," Yi Lantian said, having noticed from Chen Yu's earlier expression that he was very interested in this unique technique.

"Five hundred thousand!" Chen Yu trembled slightly, quite startled.

Even at his wealthiest, he only possessed one hundred and seventy thousand No Demon Points.

And Master said that five hundred thousand were only enough to exchange for the first three levels of this technique.

"Heh, little junior brother, this Cultivation Technique is one of the great Ancient Ten Unique Techniques, incorporating Body Cultivation, demon paths, battle skills, and so on, equivalent to an entire legacy—its value is immeasurable. If you weren't a student of No Demon Academy, no amount of Primordial Stones could buy it," Yuan Chen laughed and said.

Indeed, five hundred thousand No Demon Points was a lot, but the price was not at all expensive.

"Alright then," Chen Yu dismissed the thought for the moment.

"Chen Yu, although you have become my disciple, and no one in the academy dares to provoke you, once you leave, you will face even greater dangers. I have a gift for you!" Yi Lantian suddenly spoke and then flung his sleeve.

Whoosh!

Without seeing Yi Lantian make a move, a black and purple bead flew towards him at high speed.

"This bead contains Master's True Essence Power; its might is capable of heavily injuring or even killing an ordinary person from the Guiyuan Realm," Yuan Chen said with a smile.

He had received a bead like this as well when he first became a disciple under Yi Lantian.

Chen Yu solemnly stowed it away.

It was a life-saving ace from Master; if used well, it could even kill a Guiyuan Realm expert.

"Let's end today's matters here. As my disciple, you're entitled to a private courtyard. You should go to the Wumo Sub-Hall and choose one," Yi Lantian said.

Afterward, Chen Yu and Yuan Chen left the place.

"Junior brother, Master is elusive on normal days, so if you have any issues, you can come straight to me," Yuan Chen said with a trace of a smile, showing his care for Chen Yu.

"Definitely," Chen Yu responded without hesitation.

Leaving the restricted area, Chen Yu immediately headed to the Wumo Sub-Hall at Blood Slaughter Peak.

First, he claimed the rewards related to his tower challenge.

From the twenty-first to the thirty-first floor, Chen Yu earned one hundred thousand No Demon Points as a reward.

"If I trade all the resources I scavenged from the Red Earth World, I should be able to gather five hundred thousand No Demon Points," he thought, setting this aside for now.

Next, Chen Yu selected a private courtyard.

The cultivation effects in the private courtyard were even better than those in his cultivation cave, and the environment was more pleasant.

After moving to his new residence, Chen Yu immediately began a period of seclusion.

After all, he had only recently broken through to the Innate Realm, and the effects of cultivation would be even better at this moment.

Ten days later, Chen Yu emerged from seclusion.

He decided to wait for a private trade fair to be held within the academy before exchanging resources for No Demon Points.

In the meantime, he could earn No Demon Points by completing tasks.

Moreover, his Token had received a message—it was the academy urging him to take on tasks.

Arriving at the Wumo Sub-Hall, Chen Yu took on three tasks at once; they varied in difficulty but were all near the academy, with the target locations within the "Poison Fog Forest."

That day, Chen Yu set out for the Poison Fog Forest in Tianhe Prefecture.

While not as deadly as the Demon Bone Wilderness, the Poison Fog Forest was shrouded in poisonous miasma all year round, with sudden bursts of special toxins in some areas that made it unpredictable and well-known in Tianhe Prefecture.

Fortunately, Chen Yu had a robust constitution and, after taking a Detoxification Pill, was essentially immune to these poisons.

In three days, Chen Yu completed the first gathering task.

Five days later, he completed the second task of hunting Demon Beasts.

The third task was a bounty, targeting a vicious fugitive known as "Poison Dragon."

After searching for ten whole days, he still had no clue.

However, during those ten days, Chen Yu collected many precious medicinal herbs.

"Eh? Found it!" Just as Chen Yu was gathering herbs, he paused.

Through the vision of the Iron Moon Strange Insect, he spotted a cave with a figure inside—its build seemed very similar to the description on the bounty.