Chapter 18 - Demonic Heart?? Opportunity!!

The challenges were winding down as only a handful of examinees managed to complete their challenges.

Xiao LingYue slowly made his way to the arena, his sudden movement drew the attention of many.

The reason being was that his age was just too young!

Seemingly around 12 or 13, he made his way up the steps of the arena, his gaze calm while killing intent boiled underneath the surface. . .

'Hoh?' Elder Jiang Bolin leaned forward as his gaze was completely focused on Xiao LingYue's body.

Xiao LingYue bowed with a cupped fist as he reached the middle of the arena, "Elder, I am Wan Tao and would like to make my challenge."

His voice was as calm as an old lake, unperturbed by neither wind nor rain as he stared directly at the Elder.

The Elder's frowned as he stared at Xiao LingYue, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

"Child, explain your eyes . . ." He rested his fist under his chin and said as his aura billowed.

"If your answer doesn't satisfy me, I'll slay you here and now. Better to kill the innocent than let a treacherous villain escape." he continued.

LingYue's back began to sweat as he kept his eyesight on the elder; the weight of his aura had him feeling completely stifled.

"It was due to an ocular technique my teacher taught me. I no longer have the beast skin parchment it was written on as it was quite precious to her. . ."

He replied without wavering.

At this time a message was passed to one of the deacons beside the elder, upon hearing it his eyebrows shot upwards as he then looked to Xiao LingYue before turning and whispering to the elder.

Elder Jiang's aura suddenly retracted as he stood up in shock, 'Wan Tao? The only disciple of Mei Qingdao?' He thought to himself.

"Child, what is the name of the treasured saber of your master?" He said as he was testing this Wan Tao.

Xiao LingYue retrieved the Humble DayDream from his embroidered pouch.

Gasps were heard from all the deacons, even Elder Jiang was a bit startled.

'It seems she has truly sent him, sighs we lost a powerful prospective elder. . .' Elder Jiang lamented to himself.

Xiao LingYue watched as the aura of everyone changed from aggressive to forlorn upon seeing the saber he had in his hand.

"You may start your challenge, don't disappoint your teacher. " LingYue heard a voice similar to a whisper in his ears.

LingYue looked up towards the outer sect audience as he said, " I'd like to challenge the 90th-ranked disciple.

Gasps were heard once again as they all stared at this young boy who seemingly wanted to throw away his life.

Though ranked near the bottom, these are still disciples who were within the tutelage of the Blood Gate Cult for a year, some even 2 years!

No one would have expected this young boy to jump straight to the 90th rank!

Within an audience, Xuan Xian'er and the others who passed sat, looking down on the arena.

"He's going to die a brutal death for arrogance." A male outer sect disciple nearby muttered.

Xuan Xian'er was close by as she heard this, her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she sent a secret message to the deacon asking if he could step in to help this boy.

Upon hearing his response her face seemed all the more solemn as she stared at the arena,

' Little lover, you're on your own this time. . .' She thought as she wondered why the deacon wouldn't help this time.

*****************

The 90th-ranked disciple slowly stood up, and a tall young man with exquisite features stood towering within the audience.

This man was Zhu Yan, who was quite amused by the challenge of this young boy, his face holding a confident smirk.

His hair was the colour of crimson and his eyes were a deep grey colour, he had originally looked different but due to the [Demonic Heart Transformation Art], his features gradually shifted to what they currently were.

His greyed lips parted as he smiled, before leaping out of the crowd, his black robe fluttered as he slowly floated downwards.

Zhu Yan landed gracefully in the arena, his confidence at its peak as a dark demonic aura emanated off him, his Blood Qi soared as it pressed towards Xiao LingYue.

Xiao LingYue stood frozen as his eyes opened and his pupils shrunk. . .

Zhu Yan smirked seeing the petrified LingYue thinking that this boy clearly wasn't ready, but what he didn't know was that Xiao LingYue stopped seeing him as an opponent and started looking at him as a cultivation resource.

Zhu Yan's cultivation method changed one's physique and its source was the heart which was constantly tempered to house the demonic heart blood qi.

The blood qi within Zhu Yan was vast, LingYue believed if he could get his hands on this man's heart, he would undoubtedly be able to reach the absolute peak of The Body Tempering Stage or even half-step Meridian Opening Stage.

Zhu Yan rushed Xiao LingYue as he wanted to get this over with quickly, his hand reaching out looking like the claw of a ferocious demon.

[Demon Grasping Art 1st Movement: Engorging Claw!]

The vast Blood Qi was almost liquefied as it wrapped around his fingers, slowly making his hand look like a ferocious demon's claw.

Xiao LingYue drew his 'Humble DayDream' an inch out as he smirked.

The claw move of Zhu Yan pierced Xiao LingYue's chest, but he didn't feel any accomplishment from this feat.

[ Beguiling Ghost Blade 1st Movement: Ghostly Deception]

Xiao LingYue's figure faded as a saber's blade pierced Zhu Yan's temple!

His eyes turned as small as needle points as he dodged parried!

[Demon Grasping Art 2nd Movement: Sauntering Demon!]

His body twists at an unnatural angle as the saber's blade slice a shallow wound at the side of his face, leaving a trickle of blood slowly dripping from the 'Humble DayDream' as Xiao LingYue slowly appeared holding its hilt.

Everyone around the arena was shocked by what had ensued, Zhu Yan may be ranked low but that was only because he had recently joined the Cult due to a deacon's exception.

He was by no means weak. . .

Xiao LingYue looked at the blood on his blade which had a ruby-like lustre, his blood rumbling and his fangs itched from the smell of it alone.

His aura flared as the only thought going through his mind was. . .

'I must get that guy's heart!'