Chapter 0715: Sparring Again
Upon hearing Shen Ji's words, Chen Yu's brows furrowed, and his gaze fixed intently ahead.
He knew that Shen Ji was a Disciple of the Demon Valley Master, arrogant and domineering, with a notorious reputation within Black Demon Valley.
Therefore, when faced with provocation, Chen Yu had restrained himself for a moment, not wishing to engage in a quarrel.
Unexpectedly, the other party was impudent, pushing his luck even further.
Though Chen Yu was domineering, he had his pride, and would never make idle threats. Since Shen Ji mentioned that he had sparred with Tu Zhixiang, it must have happened.
"There's going to be a good show. Shen Ji is humiliating Chen Yu like this. If I were Chen Yu, I couldn't bear it."
"And what if he can't bear it? Shen Ji is currently ranked thirty-fifth on the 'Heaven's Pride List', but with his strength, he's definitely capable of breaking into the top ten or even higher. Chen Yu's talent isn't bad either, just a bit too young, and he has just entered the tail end of the 'Heaven's Pride List'. The gap in strength between the two is just too vast."
Many Disciples nearby were gloating and chatting with schadenfreude.
With the 'Heaven's Pride List' Ranking Battle about to begin, they were even more interested in the people on the list.
"Brother Shen, we should hurry along. He's just a Junior Brother who entered the valley a few years ago. You're a magnanimous person; don't bother with him …"
Just then, a man next to Shen Ji urged him with a smile.
"Brother Zhang is right, Master Liu is an Artifact Refining Master, and those seeking his services could break down his doorstep if they tried. If we don't hurry, we might not get our items before the 'Heaven's Pride List' Ranking Battle."
Another female Disciple also said with a smile.
They persuaded for other reasons as well.
After Tu Zhixiang from Silent Blood Valley was soundly defeated by Shen Ji, if Shen Ji were to severely humiliate Chen Yu again today, it would further disgrace Blood Demon Valley. The Silent Blood King also had a fierce temper, and who knew what might happen then.
"Forget it, my time is limited. You can go seek advice from your Senior Sister Tu."
Shen Ji smiled and shook his head, his face full of playfulness and disdain.
This was a clear message that Chen Yu was so inferior to Shen Ji that even his defeated subordinate, Tu Zhixiang, would be enough to instruct Chen Yu.
Then, Shen Ji turned around and said, "Let's go."
Just as he and the other two were turning to leave and the nearby crowd began to disperse slowly,
"If there's a chance during the 'Heaven's Pride List' Ranking Battle, I will seek Brother Shen's guidance."
Chen Yu's voice, cold and decisive, suddenly rang out.
Shen Ji and his two companions abruptly halted.
Everyone around turned to look at Chen Yu, mouths slightly agape, faces full of disbelief.
They had all thought that Chen Yu would swallow his anger from beginning to end, given the vast difference in strength.
Yet as Shen Ji was leaving, Chen Yu had lashed out fiercely!
"Hahaha!"
Shen Ji turned around again, bursting into laughter as a mighty surge of frenzied Demonic Qi was unleashed, rampaging recklessly in the void.
Many of the Outer Valley Disciples trembled in body and spirit when caught by Shen Ji's gaze, unable to even stand steadily. They bowed their heads and bent their backs as if to submit before him.
At that moment, Shen Ji was like a peerless Demon King, radiating a terrifying demonic aura that instilled fear in all.
"Mid-stage Sky Sea Realm!"
Chen Yu's mind tightened, surprised by Shen Ji's cultivation level.
The Little Demon King Shen Ji, so young, possessed such an advanced level of cultivation!
However, the strength that Shen Ji exuded was intense but somewhat uncontrollable, becoming proof that his foundation was either not stable, or he had just broken through to the Mid-stage Sky Sea Realm.
Chen Yu felt that the latter reason was more likely.
Among the younger generation of Black Demon Valley, the name of the Little Demon King Shen Ji overshadowed all others, becoming the leader of the young generation, to some extent representing the face of Black Demon Valley itself.
It was precisely for this reason, for the face of the 'Heaven's Pride List' Ranking Battle, that Shen Ji had made a hastened breakthrough.
"I will certainly give you some good advice when the time comes."
Shen Ji yelled loudly, and then he left.
Some time ago, Shen Ji heard from his Master that the Silent Blood Valley Master had taken in an excellent Disciple, and in the next 'Heaven's Pride List', Chen Yu might become the leader of Black Demon Valley.
It was for this reason that Shen Ji took Chen Yu seriously and provoked him like this.
Swoosh—
The three sped away, and the crowd there felt relieved as if a weight had been lifted, all sighing at the Little Demon King Shen Ji's reputation being no mere rumor, indeed arrogant and overpowering.
"I never imagined that kid would say such a thing, and Brother Shen didn't even make a move."
The man next to Shen Ji felt a bit surprised.
"Hehe, I think after seeing Brother Shen's true strength, Chen Yu must be deeply regretting it now,"
Another female Disciple chuckled.
"Everyone thinks that Brother Shen only has the strength of rank twenty or thirty on the 'Heaven's Pride List', little do they know that Brother Shen has deliberately held back his power to deceive outsiders. As Black Demon Valley's trump card, Brother Shen's true strength is probably on par with the top five,"
Said the female Disciple with a flattering smile, though she was also unsure of Shen Ji's true capabilities, so she flattered him highly.
Shen Ji did not respond to this comment, but the corner of his mouth revealed a bit of a smile.
…
Having his mood spoiled by Shen Ji, Chen Yu chatted briefly with the Yang Family, then headed back to the inner valley.
Suddenly, a red-clothed woman flew towards him, her posture graceful, her face full of haste.
As soon as the red-clothed woman saw Chen Yu, she immediately stopped.
"Who would have thought that Senior Sister would be so enthusiastic to come out to meet me?"
Chen Yu teased.
"Ah, I see your courage is getting bigger, teasing your Senior Sister as soon as you get back."
Tu Zhixiang scolded, her lovely form twisting slightly, enchantingly captivating, causing Chen Yu's eyes to struggle to look away.
In fact, as soon as Tu Zhixiang heard about the conflict between Chen Yu and Shen Ji, she hurried out. Now, seeing that Chen Yu was unharmed, she breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that if Shen Ji had made a move, he surely would not have shown mercy.
"You've broken through to the Sky Sea Realm?"
Tu Zhixiang carefully examined Chen Yu but found it difficult to gauge the depth of her junior brother's abilities, so she asked.
"That's right."
Chen Yu nodded.
To this, Tu Zhixiang showed no surprise, since before Chen Yu left Black Demon Valley, he had already touched the threshold of the Sky Sea Realm.
"The ranking battle for the Genius List is approaching, and you haven't participated in the Black Demon Valley's triennial minor competition or the quinquennial major one. I even thought you wouldn't take part in the Genius List ranking battle either."
"The Master regards the Genius List ranking battle quite seriously, and he told me a few days ago that if you returned, he would drag you there himself."
On the way, Tu Zhixiang launched a counterattack, teasing Chen Yu.
Is this what the Master really said?
Chen Yu had no doubt, as it seemed that the face-conscious Silent Blood Valley Master indeed placed great importance on the Genius List ranking battle.
Soon after, Chen Yu and Tu Zhixiang arrived at the residence of the Silent Blood King.
The world was gloomy and eerily quiet, a suffocating atmosphere looming over everything.
The Silent Blood King's gaze immediately fell on Chen Yu, unleashing an immense and irresistible pressure. Chen Yu suddenly felt as if a huge mountain had crashed down upon him, weighing him down immensely.
After a moment, the pressure suddenly dissipated.
"The Blood Soul Fusion Technique has been lifted?"
The Silent Blood King was somewhat surprised.
Tu Zhixiang, standing beside him, was also shocked. She had not expected that in the year Chen Yu was away, he would resolve the troublesome Blood Clan's secret technique that even the Master found challenging.
What exactly had his junior brother experienced this past year?
"Yes," Chen Yu responded.
It seemed the Master had always been concerned about this matter and worried about his disciple's wellbeing.
"As a teacher, I heard that you have entered the 'Genius List' some time ago, so you must participate in the Genius List ranking battle in a month's time."
"Do not think that just because you're in the 'Genius List', you can disregard the ranking battle. If you do not participate, your name will be directly removed from the 'Genius List' after the ranking battle," the Silent Blood Valley Master said, his expression stern and his tone firm, showing a hint of authority.
It has always been the geniuses who rank in the Genius List through the ranking battle that are truly recognized and not questioned.
Some doubted whether Chen Yu had truly earned his place in replacing the Purple-clothed Demon by his own skill.
"The disciple will give his all," Chen Yu answered.
Seeing Chen Yu's agreement, the Silent Blood Valley Master continued, "This ranking battle will gather all the talents from the entire Southern Domain, including those exceptional prodigies and reclusive family clans. You are still young, so take this ranking battle as a chance to gain experience. The next Genius List will be your real stage."
The Silent Blood Valley Master had high hopes for Chen Yu but felt that it would be good enough if Chen Yu managed to stay on the 'Genius List'.
The Southern Domain was vast, and the geniuses were numerous, with only a hundred spots on the 'Genius List'.
There were even some who usually paid no attention to the 'Genius List' and focused on "sharpening their swords," only to astonish everyone during the ranking battle!
"The disciple will heed the Master's teachings," Chen Yu said with a wry smile in his heart.
A few months earlier, he had fought Qian Xianghua, ranked eighty-sixth on the Genius List, and sent him running in five moves.
Chen Yu had some confidence in the ranking battle, but since he did not know much about it, he restrained from making careless comments.
Seeing the discrepancy between Chen Yu's outward expression and his true feelings, the Silent Blood King then said, "Zhixiang, test the results of Chen Yu's external training."
Tu Zhixiang immediately stepped forward, her face full of excitement.
Before Chen Yu left, the two had fought, and now she also wanted to see how much Chen Yu's strength had grown.
"Junior brother, please instruct me," Tu Zhixiang said formally.
"Alright!"
Chen Yu too stepped forward.
In the previous fight with Tu Zhixiang, he felt quite stifled after being bested. This time, he was determined to open his senior sister's eyes.
Whoosh!
Chen Yu's figure soared, releasing the essence of the demonic way as he took the initiative to attack.
A simple punch was thrown, stirring up the Demonic Qi, trembling the void, with a vast momentum pouring down on Tu Zhixiang like a collapsing mountain.
Tu Zhixiang's expression changed immediately; from this simple punch, she could tell the level of Chen Yu's ability.
Inside the palace, the Silent Blood King's eyes also moved slightly, and he sat up a bit straighter.
Tu Zhixiang's robes fluttered, surrounded by blood energy that pervaded in all directions. With a sweep of her fair palm, a blood-colored jade palm struck out.
Boom!
Fist met palm, and a storm surged.
As they continued to exchange blows, Chen Yu's simple yet overwhelming attacks gradually gained the upper hand.
After half a year of adventure, Chen Yu's cultivation had been thoroughly consolidated, and he could readily wield the power of the Mid-stage Sky Sea Realm. His Secret Pattern Demon Body was still ahead of his cultivation level, nearing the peak of the Early-stage Sky Sea Realm.
At this moment, his simple punches and kicks, integrated with the power of his intent, embodied the force of nature, each one delivering a powerful impact.
Initially, Tu Zhixiang approached the fight with a probing mentality.
After exchanging a few moves, she continuously increased her combat strength.
The result was that as Tu Zhixiang's own battle power grew, Chen Yu's displayed strength became stronger and stronger…