Chapter 375 - Demon Seed Planting Technique: First Stage
“What would you like to say?” Zhao Qingyun asked with great interest.
Long Chen had not taken out his Fire Essences, but rather asked to say something. Everyone was on the edge of their metaphorical seats. Long Chen and Yang Jun were competing for the first stage of the Demon Seed Planting Technique, so his haul was extremely important. Everyone craned their necks, trying to see the results.
Long Chen glanced at Yang Jun with some contempt and suddenly said loudly, “Everyone here is smart, so I am sure you all have figured it out already. The seven disciples all had under ten Fire Essences, yet Yang Jun exceeded expectations and gathered 522 Fire Essences. This must seem suspicious to you. They are all working together. I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. I can confirm that Yang Jun has so many Fire Essences only because his juniors gave him theirs. Yang Jun, tell me, am I right or wrong?”
Long Chen’s accusation set the crowd into a flurry. The elders and Enforcers were relatively calm because they had already made some guesses. However, to the disciples, this was clearly a case of cheating! It was a clear disrespect of the merit-based system of the Heavenly Demon Palace! If every disciple who was popular enough could do this, then they would only be at a disadvantage in future training exercises. Then what were they working so hard for?
“How could he do this? That’s so unfair. Didn’t they all agree on the rules? They can fight each other for Fire Essences, but I don’t think this is allowed!”
“Yeah! How would this be fair to the other competitors?”
“I’m working so hard all because of the Three Great Secret Scriptures. If the recipients are already internally determined, then why am I cultivating for?”
The crowd grew noisy, and most of them were glaring furiously at Yang Jun with contempt and blame.
“Everyone, shut your mouths!” The Third Demon Elder could not stand this any longer. Of course, he knew that this was the truth, but they could never admit it. Therefore, he stood up, looked down at Long Chen, and asked, “You brat, what evidence do you have? I think you’re just trying to frame Yang Jun because you don’t have enough Fire Essences! Yang Jun, tell Long Chen how you got your Fire Essences!”
Yang Jun went from being one of the most respected disciples to the object of criticism, so he was filled with resentment. He glared venomously at Long Chen, unable to face anyone else.
In reality, they knew that Long Chen had learned of their modus operandi and had already thought of a method to counter his accusations. Yang Jun stepped forward and said, “Long Chen, let me tell you this. Out of the five hundred-plus Fire Essences, I only found half of them on my own, through my own efforts! I won the other half after fighting my juniors! Who in their right mind would simply hand me their Fire Essences? I only received their Fire Essences because I defeated them. You can ask them if you don’t believe me!”
Then, after he spoke, a disciple stepped forward. “Palace Lord, we indeed dueled many times at the Pyro Passageways. In the end, because Senior Yang Jun was stronger than us, he basically won all our Fire Essences. We didn’t say anything only because it’s difficult to admit that out of the seven of us, no one could defeat Senior Yang Jun. However, I swear to the heavens that Senior Yang Jun won the Fire Essences fair and square!”
After this disciple spearheaded the support, everyone else started to promise that this was what happened.
“Long Chen, in future Pyro Passageways training exercises, I’d advise you to focus on searching for Fire Essences honestly. Do not spend your time coming up with dirty tricks, trying to frame other people!” the Third Demon Elder stated in the end. He looked at Yang Jun approvingly, then he sat down.
After hearing Yang Jun’s explanation and the other disciples’ promises, the disciples outside the Demon Pavilion felt better. However, they were still uncertain of who to believe, though it looked like Long Chen had completely lost to Yang Jun this time.
Everyone looked at Long Chen, but found that he did not look dejected at all after being refuted. Instead, he looked calm. What was up with that?
Zhao Qingyun was also looking for a change in Long Chen’s face, but when he saw that Long Chen’s expression did not change, he thought to himself, What is this brat hiding up his sleeve?
After that, Long Chen looked around him and said loudly, “I guess I can’t do much about Yang Jun’s matter. However, I believe that using cheap tricks to get the Demon Seed Planting Technique is something only cowardly trash would do. Trash would never understand the pride of a true prodigy. Now, let me show you all what a true prodigy is!”
Long Chen’s words were insane, but he had the right to be crazy. Under everyone’s stunned looks, Fire Essences poured out of his Universe Pouch and quickly formed a large pile in front of him. The searing pile of Fire Essences caused a huge rise in temperature within the Demon Pavilion, and the air became as hot as lava.
All eyes were glued to the large pile of Fire Essences. Everyone could see that there were many more Fire Essences compared to Yang Jun.
When the three Demon Elders and their disciples saw them, their eyeballs almost fell out of their sockets. The other elders and Enforcers were completely stunned.
“One thousand Fire Essences in total. If you do not believe me, you may count them. But the number will not be lower than a thousand,” Long Chen said mildly as he gazed proudly at the crowd.
For a long time, no one responded because they were all in disbelief.
One thousand.
This number spread like wildfire among the disciples. When Long Chen revealed the truth but was refuted, they all assumed that he had no hope left. It was too unexpected for Long Chen to suddenly produce such results.
One thousand Fire Essences made everyone’s hearts soar. They swarmed forward manically, trying to see if it was true.
“How could he have gathered a thousand? I don’t believe it! I must see it for myself! Stop pushing!”
“Stop pushing! The people in front already said it! It’s one thousand! I also saw it myself. It was a large pile! My goodness!”
“A thousand Fire Essences! Good heavens, Long Chen is a monster!”
Zhao Qingyun was stunned by the number of Fire Essences. Even an Eighth River Stage disciple would find it difficult to achieve this figure on their first trip to the Pyro Passageways!
Everyone was in disbelief, especially the Third Demon Elder, whose looked like he had been hit in the face with a wad of poop. Zhao Qingyun felt very cheerful because Long Chen had given him so much face today! He was even happier about taking Long Chen as a disciple now!
“It’s correct. Long Chen did retrieve one thousand Fire Essences, surpassing Yang Jun’s number. I believe everyone now knows who the first stage of the Demon Seed Planting Technique belongs to. It belongs to my direct disciple, Long Chen!” Zhao Qingyun laughed loudly as he announced the winner.
Even the most common disciple could hear the smugness in his tone.
When Long Chen heard him, he smiled to himself and quickly put the Fire Essences away. These were all treasures to Xiaolang, so it was best that he keep them in his pouch.
Zhao Qingyun’s announcement almost made Yang Jun break down. He looked at Long Chen in disbelief, then he screamed, “Impossible! That’s impossible! Palace Lord, Long Chen must have used some shady trick to obtain that many Fire Essences! We cannot give the Demon Seed Planting Technique to an outsider from who-knows-where!”
“Shut your mouth!” roared Zhao Qingyun, creating a boom. Blood sprayed out of Yang Jun’s mouth and he fell to his knees. Everyone else felt like they had been hit by a heavy hammer and felt pain spread through their whole bodies!
Zhao Qingyun glared coldly at Yang Jun and said, “Kid, I am not going to investigate your case, but Long Chen used his own strength to get more Fire Essences than you. Yet you’re still trying to tell lies? This is only a light punishment today. Remember this: Long Chen is my direct disciple. Even though he entered our clan late, he is definitely not an outsider! Everyone, do you understand me?”
Zhao Qingyun’s bout of rage startled everyone. He was usually a very calm person, so they had never seen this side of him. They were all terrified and felt terrible, so naturally they did not dare to say a word. However, they now knew that they could never see Long Chen as an outsider again.
Even the three Demon Elders could only swallow their anger at this moment. Zhao Qingyun’s rage was only targeted at four people. It was normal that blood sprayed out of Yang Jun’s mouth since he was not strong enough, but the three Demon Elders also suffered different levels of damage. It was clear that Zhao Qingyun was showing them what he was capable of.
Outsider.
Long Chen committed Zhao Qingyun’s words to memory. Anyone who treated him like their own, like Dongfang Xuanxiao had, would receive great treatment from Long Chen.
“Long Chen will receive the first stage of the Demon Seed Planting Technique. Does anyone have any questions?” Zhao Qingyun asked coldly.
No one replied.
Yang Jun was lying in Yang Danfeng’s arms, his mouth filled with blood and barely conscious.
Zhao Qingyun nodded approvingly and said, “In that case, we shall now determine the owner of the second stage of the Demon Seed Planting Technique. Murong Yu and Yang Danfeng, take out your Fire Essences and tell us the number!”
Yang Danfeng and Murong Yu looked at each other, then they stood in front of Zhao Qingyun.
Long Chen watched curiously. After he had taken the Frost Soul Essence from under their noses, they had a day to search for Fire Essences. That was why he did not know how many Fire Essences they had.