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

“Uncle Lin, why take his life?”

A richly dressed man appeared beside Hall Master Lin just after Wang Lingyun was killed.

The newcomer was the Seventh Prince who Wang Lingyun had just mentioned!

“Junior Brother Chen has already become an Inner Sect Disciple, and he’s also an elder’s disciple. Although he’s just a named disciple, we cannot take this lightly. If we want to deal with him, we can’t let any word leak out. As the Sect Affairs Hall Master, it’s within my duties to send him to guard the Beishan Spirit Garden, which is a reasonable assignment within my job.”

Hall Master Lin said in a deep voice.

He took out a black metal bottle and poured out a few drops of milky white liquid.

Hiss~

Wang Lingyun’s body completely dissolved into a pool of blood and water and merged into the soil.

For Outer Disciples like Wang Lingyun, even if they died, it wouldn’t spark too much attention from the sect. Especially now, with the Bone Demon Palace invading, losing one Outer Disciple is even less of a concern for the sect.

“Uncle Lin, do you think that Junior Brother Chen really possesses some kind of great opportunity as Wang Lingyun said?”

The Seventh Prince’s gaze flickered.

“Opportunity is not unusual in the world of sects. If your Uncle Lin hadn’t stumbled upon an opportunity in my youth, I wouldn’t have reached the Qi Transformation Realm. This lad might have some kind of opportunity on him, but regardless of its existence, I want his Xuan Heavy Sword. The sword’s material is good; it was once used in the failed refinement of a mid-grade magical weapon. As for the ‘Qi Storage Pill,’ it’s no use to me; you can have it…”

“Everything will be as Uncle Lin arranges. As long as that kid is transferred away, everything will be easy,”

Huangfulin said, his smile hiding a trace of icy intent.

In the past few months,

he had been relentlessly pursuing Mu Xueqing to no avail. After the recent Outer Disciple competition, Huangfulin was certain that Mu Xueqing still had some attachment to Chen Yu.

If Chen Yu were still just a marginal Outer Disciple, it wouldn’t matter.

However, Chen Yu had recently stood out prominently among the sect.

Coupled with Wang Lingyun’s “fanning the flames,” asserting that Chen Yu possessed some opportunity, Huangfulin felt threatened by the possibility of Chen Yu’s rise in the future.

For these two reasons,

Huangfulin finally made up his mind to approach Hall Master Lin, a high-ranking sect figure close to the royal family.

…

Two days later.

The gates of Yunyue Sect were crowded with disciples, dozens of them.

Recently, the sect had enacted a semi-lockdown. Whether leaving or returning to the sect, everyone had to undergo strict checks.@@novelbin@@

“Have all the disciples going to the ‘Hidden Lake Conference’ gathered? We will not wait for latecomers!”

A man in a green pine robe stood on a tall stone, his piercing eyes scanning the group of disciples below.

“Senior Brother, we’re all here.”

“Senior Brother Zong! When are we leaving…”

The group of disciples looked up at the man standing on the high stone, respect evident on their faces.

“Is he the Chief Disciple?”

Chen Yu couldn’t help but observe.

“Junior Brother Chen, you’re not familiar with Senior Brother Zong, right?”

The graceful young man with a folding fan by his side spoke, smiling.

That young man was Nangong Li. Now, he had been promoted to the Organ Refining Stage, one of the inner sect true disciples.

“Brother Zong Tianchen is our number one true disciple. His talent and comprehension are excellent. He shined brightly in his early years and learned a sect-defining Cultivation Technique. As for now, he’s at least at the Peak of Refining Organ and seems to be on the verge of touching the Qi Transformation Realm.”

Nangong Li spoke with a hint of admiration.

The disciples gathered here were all set to attend the “Hidden Lake Conference.”

The sect decided to make them travel together as a group given the current invasion and infiltration by the Bone Demon Palace, which was no ordinary circumstance.

Looking around,

Chen Yu saw many familiar faces among the disciples, including Qiu Xinxin and her sisters, Mu Xueqing, Huangfulin, Kun Ling, Le Feng, and of course, several of Chen Yu’s fellow sect brothers. Many others he did not recognize.

Among the Outer Disciples,

there were also several familiar faces, including Hu Yiba, Huang Yuan, Yang Fan, and others.

At this moment, these Outer Disciples looked at Chen Yu with a mix of complexity and awe.

Strangely enough,

Chen Yu did not see Wang Lingyun. With Wang’s cunning, how could he miss such a group activity?

“Junior Brother Chen!”

Li Dakui and Wu Yu approached with a smile.

“Senior Brother Li, I haven’t planned on trading my Qi Storage Pill yet.”

Chen Yu sighed.

In recent days,

many Inner Sect Disciples, even some Stewards, had come to Chen Yu, wanting to trade for his “Qi Storage Pill.”

At this stage,

with the Bone Demon Palace invading, everyone in the sect felt endangered, and everyone wanted to improve their strength. Such elixirs, naturally, became very sought-after during wartime, and their prices soared.

Nevertheless,

most of those who came to trade with Chen Yu didn’t offer a sincere price; they wanted to trade at the normal rate.

Chen Yu estimated that his Qi Storage Pill could fetch at least a 50% price increase from the usual rate!

If put up in an auction, doubling in price wouldn’t be impossible.

“Let’s set off!”

The Chief Disciple, Zong Tianchen, on the high stone, flitted down like a feather “swoosh,” landing on the steps at the gate in the blink of an eye.

The elegance and speed of his movement technique left everyone else behind.

“Chen Yu, how about we compare movement techniques? Losing to you in the Outer Disciples competition was a regret I’ve had for a long time. I’ve wanted to have another match with you for ages. Unfortunately, I’ve now advanced to the Organ Refining Stage; competing with you wouldn’t be honorable,”

Nangong Li suddenly suggested.

“Then let’s compare.”

Chen Yu agreed, the corners of his mouth curling into a playful smile.

Before long,

the group of disciples, riding on the sect’s fine horses, began their journey.

Chen Yu and Nangong Li didn’t rent horses due to their movement technique comparison.

Zoom! Zoom!

The two figures raced alongside each other through the wilds, neither giving ground, yet staying close to the group.

At some moment,

Chen Yu and Nangong Li leaped to a sheer cliff dozens of meters high, darting swiftly, astonishing some other disciples below.

“Chen Yu’s Cloud Stepping seems to be nearing its peak level,”

Le Feng observed, surprised.

He had no idea,

After the meteoric iron gambling fight, Junior Brother Chen had diligently cultivated his movement techniques with the blessing of his “innate body technique talent,” making significant progress.

Especially since

after being assigned the “defensive duty,” Junior Brother Chen further improved his Cloud Stepping technique under the pressure of crises.

Now

Junior Brother Chen’s Cloud Stepping technique had not just achieved Great Success but had reached the Peak Realm!

A movement technique at the Peak Realm could be described as the pinnacle of mastery!

“I should not expose the level of my movement technique now…”

During his competition with Nangong Li, Junior Brother Chen still held back, not showing his full potential.

Even so

The Nangong Li he competed against was quite surprised.

“I have suppressed my cultivation level to the Peak of Meridian Passage. I have no advantage over him in terms of movement technique.”

This stoked Nangong Li’s competitive spirit.

He was a True Disciple, a genius of the Nangong Family of this generation, with Green Eyes Essence Blood enhancing his pupils and burdened with the high expectations of his family.

Swoosh!

He brought out his internal breath to the Refining Organ Level and surpassed Junior Brother Chen in terms of speed!

Junior Brother Chen just smiled slightly and didn’t take it to heart.

His demeanor somewhat dampened Nangong Li’s spirits; winning this way felt hollow.

Over the next two days

Junior Brother Chen and Nangong Li competed in movement techniques while discussing and exchanging knowledge on their journey.

Junior Brother Chen’s Cloud Stepping technique, having reached the peak, gradually unveiled the true essence of movement techniques.

Nangong Li had a higher level in movement technique cultivation, and from him, Junior Brother Chen learned quite a lot.

…

Two days later

A lake came into view.

The lake sparkled with the gentle blue of gemstones, about twenty to thirty li in diameter. What was most special was that the lake was nestled in the center of a mountain range and was difficult to discover.

“This is the Hidden Lake!”

In the middle of the lake, there was a central island.

“Alright! Now we must rely on our weight-reducing martial arts to get to that ‘Hidden Lake Island’…”

Zong Tianchen gathered all the disciples together.

At a glance, there were no boats on the lake’s surface. This area was part of the neutral power “Hidden Lake,” designed to be a place of cultivation for sect members.

It was difficult for ordinary people to access Hidden Lake Island.

“Let’s go!”

Zong Tianchen led the way, as light as a feather, stepping on the lake’s surface as if it were solid ground.

Plop! Plop! Plop!

In just a few breaths, Zong Tianchen had already stepped twenty zhang away.

Afterward

The other True Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples also exhibited their light-bodied martial techniques, treading over the lake with ease.

Basically

Disciples in the Organ Refining Stage could walk on water effortlessly.

Those at the Meridian Passage Stage had to be the elites; consequently, there were less than ten Outer Sect Disciples included in this excursion.

“Hehe, let’s have another competition.”

Laughing lightly, Nangong Li leaped alongside Junior Brother Chen on the surface of the lake.

The distance was a good seven to eight li.

At the beginning, all the disciples were fine, but after walking two to three li, some at the Meridian Passage Stage began to struggle due to their high internal energy consumption.

Among the Meridian Passage Stage disciples, only Junior Brother Chen remained calm and composed.

Splash Splash!

Suddenly, a silver-backed giant tiger, carrying an old man and a young girl, rode the wind and waves, passing by everyone.

“Hehe, these people are so silly.”

The girl on the silver-backed tiger blinked at everyone and made a face as she overtook them.

Whooosh Whap!

Then, right over their heads, a giant white crane flew past, carrying two to three people.

Clearly

These were all participants heading to the Hidden Lake Conference.

“Spiritual Pet Flying Creatures, how flashy it would be to have one.”

The disciples all wore looks of envy.

However, these spiritual pet flying creatures were mostly at the Organ Refining Stage or above. Cultivating or taming any one of them was extremely difficult, and typical disciples could not afford them.

The Yunyue Sect did have flying creatures for transportation, but their use was mostly restricted to the higher ranks.

Before long

The Yunyue Sect disciples arrived at Hidden Lake Island and saw many people coming and going.

Whooosh!

The journey across the water left many disciples panting and significantly diminished their internal energy. Particularly the Meridian Passage Stage disciples were nearly exhausted.

“Next, you may all move freely on the island. You have only one day. We will gather here tomorrow.”

Zong Tianchen announced.

He then explained some rules of the island.

Hidden Lake Island was a neutral trading spot in Chu Country, closer to the Yunyue Sect.

Typically, most participants were from the region near the Yunyue Sect, with few coming from the other two sects.

This time, however

Due to the invasion of the Bone Demon Palace and the urgent shortage of resources, this large-scale auction drew more participants than usual from the Iron Sword Sect and Water Moon Sect.

Junior Brother Chen assessed his assets: one Qi Storage Pill, an eighty-year-old Blood Ganoderma, and over eight thousand grade yuan stones (he stored genuine yuan stones; otherwise, seven to eight thousand grade yuan stones would fill several boxes).

The remaining yuan stones were kept in the Sect Affairs Hall for the purchase of Snake King’s Gallbladder and other auxiliary materials.

“Right, there’s also this.”

Junior Brother Chen took out a thumb-sized “Filthy Black Blood Pearl.”

Within this pearl, a terrifying aura of bloodthirsty yin energy faintly leaked out. At the same time, Chief Disciple Zong Tianchen looked over at Junior Brother Chen as if sensing something.

At that very moment, far in the sky

A lean figure in a black cloak and bamboo hat rode a black feathered fierce bird toward Hidden Lake Island, suddenly uttering a low sound of surprise, “Such a strong aura of malevolent energy! Could it be that some evil treasure has appeared on Hidden Lake Island?”