After sitting in front of Chen Heng in silence for a while, Hou Juan lightly sighed and forced out a small smile.
"The sect's Minor Competition is about to begin. Is Senior Apprentice Brother intending to…" she lightly asked.
The Minor Competition was one of the traditions within the Flowing Cloud Sect.
The Flowing Cloud Sect held one Major Competition every three years and a Minor Competition every one and a half years.
Major Competitions allowed Outer Court Disciples to become Inner Court Disciples, and this was a path that Inner Court Disciples had to walk.
Only by passing the Major Competition and defeating other Outer Court Disciples could outstanding disciples join the Inner Court.
As for the Minor Competition, it was much less important, but to ordinary disciples, it was a good chance to test their cultivation.
In the Minor Competition, the sect would take out many precious resources and spirit stones and give them as rewards.
For cultivators, they naturally would not let go of such a precious opportunity.
In recent days, many people had started putting their attention on this.
Given Chen Heng's circumstances, Hou Juan naturally believed that he would also participate in this Minor Competition.
"I'll see," Chen Heng said.
The Minor Competition was an opportunity to many of the cultivators in the Flowing Cloud Sect, but it was not a big deal to him.
He did not have much need for the experience, and he did not need the resources either.
As such, it did not matter if he participated or not.
After Hou Juan left, Chen Heng also departed and headed to the Spirit Formations, preparing to cultivate.
Just like usual, there were not too many people there, and some of them were familiar to him.
Looking at Chen Heng, those people all had looks of reverence on their faces and seemed quite respectful.
This made sense.
Over the past half a year or so, Chen Heng had become quite famous.
Anyone who saw him would not dare to underestimate him.
Just like usual, Chen Heng prepared to find a place to cultivate, but he suddenly paused.
"One moment please, fellow Daoist," a voice suddenly sounded out.
Hearing this, Chen Heng paused but then continued walking.
"Ai, fellow Daoist!"
That person behind him seemed somewhat anxious and hurriedly said, "Please, one moment of your time."
This time, that person strode in front of Chen Heng and stood in front of him.
As such, Chen Heng stopped in frustration and looked at that person, "What is it?"
It was a young man.
His looks were quite ordinary and he wore white robes. He had long hair, and standing there, he cupped his hands as he said, "Fellow Daoist, I have to ask. I was wondering if you're interested…"
"What is it?" Chen Heng once again asked.
"I heard that sir is unparalleled in refining magic items. I was hoping sir could refine a magic item for me," the young man smiled, "I'm easy with the price.
"I heard that sir has been looking for a Nine Heavens White Jade to refine magic items? I happen to have one here…"
"You have one?"
Hearing this, Chen Heng felt quite surprised.
He had indeed been searching for a Nine Heavens White Jade to refine a magic item for himself.
.........
This magic item was something he wanted to help with cultivating, and he had obtained many materials and was only lacking the white jade.
He had never thought that this person would have one.
Hearing this, Chen Heng felt quite interested.
As such, he thought for a moment before nodding, "If you have the white jade, then it's fine."
Hearing this, the young man let out a breath of relief and nodded.
He chatted with Chen Heng for a while and they set out the terms of their agreement before he hurriedly left.
Watching that person hurriedly leave, Chen Heng thought to himself before walking into the Spirit Formation.
...
"So it's here?" Chen Heng walked out of the Flowing Cloud Sect and came to a marketplace outside.
This marketplace was set up by the Flowing Cloud Sect. It had been set up for the Flowing Cloud Sect disciples to trade, but it had attracted many solo cultivators and become a large marketplace.
Walking in, Chen Heng found that it was quite lively.
It was not the first time he had come here; in the past, he had come here many times. In fact, in the past half a year, he had set up a shop here.
The place for the trade was here.
"Will that person really come?" a voice sounded out.
The young man who had sought Chen Heng was sitting there, looking like he was meditating.
Hearing the question, he softly replied, "Of course he will come. Since we have made that agreement, there will be no problems."
"Are you sure there aren't any problems with the person you chose?"
That voice once again sounded out, sounding quite sinister, "You don't have many Demon Seeds, and if you chose the wrong place, things will become quite problematic…"
"Don't worry."
A cold smile appeared on the young man's face, "I've observed him for a long time. This fellow is a rare genius in the Flowing Cloud Sect's Outer Court, and he has become quite famous over the past half a year.
"It would not be an exaggeration to say that in less than half a year, he should be able to become an Inner Court Disciple. Of course, that's not the main point.
"To us, a mere Inner Court Disciple is not a big deal. However, he can refine magic items and will be greatly valued by people in the future, making it easy to obtain information.
"As long as we can control him, it will make things easier for us in the future."
He laughed and said, "Of course, even if this is not possible, just being able to control a refining master will still be good. What do you think?"
"That's not bad," the other voice sounded out and spoke in agreement.
After a few moments, the evil aura from the young man's body retracted and he returned to his normal state as he walked out.
"Senior Apprentice Brother Zhang."
After walking out of the room, he saw Chen Heng.
"Senior Apprentice Brother is indeed quite punctual."
Looking at Chen Heng, he gave a sincere smile.
Chen Heng looked at him and only said, "Lead the way."
Hearing this, the young man nodded and walked in.
Soon, they came to another place.
This was a sparse region with pill cauldrons burning in the surroundings. They were tools for refining all kinds of things.
Chen Heng looked at the equipment and nodded.
"Did you bring the things?"
"I've prepared everything," the young man gave a slight smile and took out some things.
It looked like everything was there.
Looking at those things, Chen Heng turned, thinking to himself.
This person had come prepared.
Preparing a complete set of equipment for refining was not simple.
Moreover, he had even more equipment than Chen Heng did.
This could no longer be described as just meticulous preparation.
This young man's identity was not simple at all.
Chen Heng thought to himself as he walked to the side and began to act.
Golden spirit fire began to burn resplendently.
As the spirit fire burned, Chen Heng tossed all kinds of materials into the spirit fire, which began to melt under his control.
The magic item refining had begun.
Watching Chen Heng's actions, the young man named Liu He's expression became serious.
Even though he had set Chen Heng as his target, he had to at last observe him.
The Demon Lord had limited Demon Seeds to give, and he could not just waste them.
If a person's abilities or talent was not enough, there was no need to control them.
As such, he had to observe his targets carefully.
Soon, his expression changed.
"This… what meticulous skills…"
Watching Chen Heng's actions and his skills, his expression slightly changed as he inwardly marvelled, "Even a grandmaster of refining might not be able to do better."
What he did not know was that Chen Heng really was a refining grandmaster.
He had not seen any other refining grandmasters, and he only felt that those other refining masters could not compare to Chen Heng at all.
Only after a while did he look away with a resolute gaze in his eyes.
An invisible and imperceptible trace of black aura appeared from a corner of the room and slowly stretched towards Chen Heng.
When the black aura reached Chen Heng's body, Chen Heng's actions slightly paused for a moment before resuming as normal.
It was as if nothing had happened.
Watching this scene, Liu He had a slight smile on his face, feeling quite pleased.
As for Chen Heng, he was just the same before, as if he had not sensed anything.
He silently finished the magic item before getting up and looking at Liu He.
In just a short period of time, his body seemed to go through changes.
As if it was because of the evil aura, his expression became more stiff and his actions became more rigid.
However, it was as if he did not notice anything at all.
"I've finished your request."
Standing there, his expression was cool as his body was filled with the evil aura, and he looked at Liu He as he asked, "Where is my payment?"
"I've naturally already prepared it."
Looking at Chen Heng, Liu He smiled and said softly, "Thank you, Senior Apprentice Brother."
Following this, he picked up an ornate wooden box and gave it to Chen Heng.
Chen Heng opened it and saw a faint white jade within it, looking beautiful and translucent. It seemed to contain spirit qi, and anyone could tell that it was not simple.
Indeed, it was the Nine Heavens White Jade.
To cultivators, Nine Heavens White Jade was an incredibly rare material. Even if it was not refined, just using it to cultivate was also quite good.
After putting it away, Chen Heng looked at Liu He and nodded before leaving.
Watching Chen Heng's figure disappear, Liu He gave a slight smile as he returned to the room from before.
"How was it?" that voice from before suddenly sounded out.
"It is done," Liu He gave a resplendent smile, "The Demon Seed has been planted and will sprout in a few months. When that time comes, that person will belong to the Demon Sect."
"Not bad," that voice sounded out.
"I just wonder how the others are doing," Liu He said, "It's a pity that we have limited Demon Seeds or else we could find more people.
"I heard that the others at the Nine Link Sect are doing quite well and have controlled a few Elders."
"We're doing well as well," the other voice said, "It's merely just a small sect and is not a big deal to our Demon Sect. We will be able to take it easily. If it wasn't for the Sect Master being wary of the Daybreak Sect noticing, why would we have to make things so troublesome?"
"Indeed," Liu He lightly sighed before smiling, "Then again, this isn't too bad; taking things slowly can be good as well."
...
Elsewhere, after Chen Heng walked out of that building, the evil aura around his body completely disappeared as if nothing had happened.
After walking within a crowd, Chen Heng thought to himself.
"How troublesome."
Chen Heng had clearly sensed what had just happened.
When that Demon Seed had activated in his body, he had noticed that something was off. It was just that he wanted to see just what Liu He wanted to do.
Now, it seemed that there was something off about Liu He's identity.
"So… it's someone from the Demon Sect?" Chen Heng thought about that feeling from before.
When the Demon Seed had entered his body, he could sense himself almost losing control of his magic energy, and it also reduced his control over his body.
This feeling was very small, and ordinary people would not have been able to notice it at all.
Afterwards, the evil aura remained in his body and was silently replacing the magic energy in his body.
"Quite impressive methods," Chen Heng sensed it for a moment before nodding, "If I really was a Spirit Refining realm cultivator, I would not have been able to detect anything. Rather, it would have slowly devoured my magic energy without me realizing it."
That unique aura was devouring his magic energy and using his magic energy as a cover, making ordinary cultivators unable to detect it.
If a cultivator lost their magic energy, they would be easily killed.
And this was the only effect that Chen Heng had discovered so far.
As for what else there was, Chen Heng had no idea.
However, from the current situation, it seemed that this evil aura could control others.
As this evil aura continuously became more powerful, it would affect the cultivator's soul and would eventually create a new soul in the cultivator.
Moreover, once this new soul combined with the evil aura, it would gradually devour the original soul.
When that time came, the cultivator would become a different person.
Sensing the evil aura in his body, Chen Heng inwardly shook his head, "If I was a normal cultivator, I would have been doomed."
This evil aura was quite powerful, and ordinary cultivators would not have even been able to sense it, let alone get rid of it.
Only those with greater strength and knowledge would be able to sense it and get rid of it.
Perhaps this was one of the reasons why they had acted against him and not others.
After all, his performance had been quite outstanding, but he was only in the Spirit Refining realm so it would be quite easy to control him.
As long as they could control him now, even if he completed Foundation Building, it would be too late.
Thinking to there, Chen Heng inwardly shook his head and did not know what to say.