Chapter 19

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Now there is still time, why don’t we go to the beast garden to choose a demon beast first?”

After improving his cultivation, Zhang Chen thought of the demon beast that Li Mumin had given him, so he decided to go to the beast garden to choose one first.

Not long after, they arrived at the beast garden.

“Junior Brother Zhang…”

Seeing Zhang Chen, Wang Zhen was about to greet him when his eyes suddenly widened in surprise. “Junior Brother Zhang, you… you’re at the seventh level of Qi Refinement!”

“I just broke through.” Zhang Chen smiled slightly.

“The last time we met, you were still at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. It’s only been just over three months, but you’ve broken through two levels in a row?” Wang Zhengang felt like he was in a dream.

“It’s because Senior Brother Li successfully reached the Foundation Establishment realm and became a direct disciple that he rewarded me with some blood essence. That’s why I broke through two levels in a row.”

Zhang Chen used Li Mumin as a shield. Ordinary people would not ask a direct disciple about this matter.

“Senior Brother Li has become a direct disciple?” Wang Zhengang suddenly realized and then exclaimed enviously, “Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhang… ah, no, I should call you Senior Brother Zhang from now on.”

Wang Zhengang was deeply impressed. He still remembered the scene where Zhang Chen had actively spoken up to exchange blood essence for Li Mumin, but now he had soared to new heights.

“Senior Brother Wang joined the sect earlier than me, so it’s better to continue calling me Junior Brother,” Zhang Chen said humbly.

“No, no, no. The sect has always ranked people according to their cultivation level. I’m only at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, while you’re at the seventh level. I should call you Senior Brother?”

Hearing Wang Zhengang’s words, Zhang Chen did not continue to be modest. “Alright, I’ll call you Junior Brother Wang.”

“By the way, what instructions do you have for coming to the beast garden this time, Senior Brother?” Wang Zhengang asked eagerly, looking to please Zhang Chen.

“Senior Brother Li also rewarded me with a demon beast, and I came to choose one. Here’s Senior Brother Li’s token.” Zhang Chen took out the token and handed it over.

Wang Zhengang took a look and saw that it was indeed Li Mumin’s token.

I knew that Senior Brother Li thought highly of Zhang Chen, but I didn’t expect him to think so highly. Not only did he reward him with blood essence, but he also rewarded him with a demon beast!

With this in mind, Wang Zhengang just became more enthusiastic, “Brother Zhang, I’ll personally take you to pick one.”

“Is this appropriate? You still have to be responsible for registration, what if someone comes?” Zhang Chen was a bit embarrassed.

“It’s okay, let them wait for a while. They’re afraid I’ll arrange dangerous demon dens and won’t dare to complain.” Wang Zhengang didn’t care at all.

In his opinion, Zhang Chen was already at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. With Li Mumin’s support, it was almost certain that he would become an inner sect disciple.

To curry favor with Zhang Chen was equivalent to currying favor with both inner sect disciples and direct disciples.

As for those outer sect disciples who came to do missions, how could they be more important than currying favor with Zhang Chen?

“Then I’ll have to trouble Junior Brother Wang.”

Although Zhang Chen felt it was inappropriate, he did not want to embarrass Wang Zhengang. After all, he still needed Wang Zhengang’s help with many things.

For example, the demon beast Li Mumin gave him still needed to be kept in the beast garden.

“Senior Brother Zhang, follow me.”

Led by Wang Zhengang, Zhang Chen came to a cave.

“The demon beasts here were all kept by the senior brothers in the inner sect, and these five are the ones kept by Brother Li.” Wang Zhen pointed to several interconnected stone cells ahead.

Zhang Chen looked in that direction.

A rabbit demon at the third level of Qi Refinement, a horse demon at the second level of Qi Refinement, a wolf demon at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, a bull demon at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, and a pig demon at the seventh level of Qi Refinement.

Seeing someone coming, these demon beasts all bared their teeth and roared, their eyes full of hatred.

“Which one do you want to choose, Senior Brother Zhang?” Wang Zhengang asked.

Zhang Chen thought for a moment and finally pointed at a horse demon at the second level of Qi Refinement. “Let’s go with this one.”

Although Li Mumin said he could choose any, he couldn’t let people think he was greedy.

“Okay, Brother Zhang, are you planning to take the horse away or continue to keep it in the beast garden?” Wang Zhen asked.

“Let’s continue to keep it in the animal garden.” Zhang Chen’s small cave had no place to keep it, and he didn’t have a way to control demon beasts yet.

“When kept in the beast garden, a third of the demon blood will be collected every time it is taken. Is that okay with Brother Zhang?” This was the rule of the beast garden and not something Wang Zhengang could decide.

“No problem.” Zhang Chen nodded.

“Okay, I will transfer this horse demon to Brother Zhang’s name. Is there anything else Brother Zhang needs?” Wang Zhen asked again.

“Then let’s take the demon blood while we’re at it.” Li Mumin had been in seclusion for three months and hadn’t taken any blood. These demon beasts were all full of vitality, which made Zhang Chen very envious.

When Wang Zhengang heard this, he immediately took out an array formation token and controlled the array formation to restrain the horse demon. “Senior Brother Zhang, you can draw blood now.”

Zhang Chen nodded, and the blood condensed into a whip, lashing at the horse’s hindquarters.

“Crack!”

With a crisp sound, his flesh split open and demon blood gushed out.

Zhang Chen skillfully took out the blood storage bottle and absorbed the demon blood into it. He stopped only when the horse demon became very weak.

“Thank you, Junior Brother Wang.” Zhang Chen put away the blood storage bottle and thanked him.

“Don’t mention it, Senior Brother Zhang,” replied Wang Zhengang.

After giving one-third of the demon blood to Wang Zhengang and exchanging pleasantries, Zhang Chen left the beast garden.

Two weeks passed quickly, and Zhang Chen arrived at the mountain peak where Li Mumin was.

“Is Senior Brother Li here? Zhang Chen requests an audience.”

“Come to my cave abode.” Li Mumin’s voice came from the mountain.

After entering the cave, Zhang Chen saw Li Mumin again.

Li Mumin had clearly stabilized his realm and restrained his aura. He looked like an ordinary person. There were no symptoms of blood liquefaction in his body.

“Greetings, Senior Brother.” Zhang Chen cupped his hands and bowed.

Li Mumin nodded. “Not bad, you have indeed reached the seventh layer of Qi Refinement.”

“I have benefited from Senior Brother’s guidance,” Zhang Chen said respectfully.

Li Mumin said calmly, “The chance of being selected at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement is not high, but it is not impossible. There are still two months before the inner sect competition. During this time, it would be best for you to learn a technique and participate in the competition to become an inner sect disciple and try to be promoted.”

“Thank you for your advice, Senior Brother. I have the same intention.” Zhang Chen cupped his hands and thanked him.

Li Mumin was usually not one for small talk and handed Zhang Chen a bag directly. “This is a blood storage bag, which is 10 times the size of the blood storage bottle. It is one of the items awarded by the sect when I was promoted to a direct disciple.

“It is already filled with demon blood. I want you to exchange it for five bowls of blood essence every day. If you can’t do it alone, you can ask others to help. Come back to me in half a month.”

Zhang Chen took the blood storage bag and said, “I won’t disappoint you.”

“Okay, you can leave now.” Li Mumin ordered. He had just become a direct disciple, and there were still many things he needed to do.

“I’ll take my leave.” Zhang Chen bowed and left.

Back in his cave, Zhang Chen eagerly looked at the blood storage bag. It’s really a good treasure, but it’s a pity that I have to return it. I wonder if I can get one when I become a direct disciple.

Forget about those things. What I need to do now is to practice hard and prepare for the inner sect competition in two months, Zhang Chen thought to himself.

He put aside his distractions and started to absorb and refine the demon blood from the storage bag.

Two months might seem long or short, but time flew by unnoticed.