Who Doesn't Have a Few Secrets?

Chen Xian saw the questioning intent in Ding Chen's eyes.

Of course, Wang Yan and the others wore equally shocked and curious expressions, waiting for him to offer an explanation.

Chen Xian had no intention of explaining.

His current cultivation had been bought with his life, and there was no way he could make it clear to them anyway.

"Brother Ding, it's getting dark. Let's hurry up and load the cart so we can head back."

Chen Xian looked calm as he grabbed the tiger demon's corpse and headed toward the flatbed cart.

Ding Chen turned and stared at Chen Xian's back. He had not expected Chen Xian to offer not a single explanation.

He had not even told a lie to leave them with doubts in their hearts.

He was utterly calm, as though nothing had happened.

For a moment, Wang Yan and the others exchanged looks, before finally turning their gazes to Ding Chen.

Ding Chen took a deep breath. "Load the cart. We're going back!"

No matter what secrets Chen Xian had, they had escaped death this time, and Chen Xian had risked his life to save everyone.

They had to remember this debt of gratitude.

Ding Chen told Wang Yan and the others to keep their mouths shut and not speak carelessly.

Everyone nodded again and again.

In truth, even if people learned that Chen Xian had reached the Blood Moving Realm, it would not amount to much. He would not be punished; he would only be transferred to the vanguard to fight demons on the battlefield.

Was that not exactly why they had come to In front of Demon-Slaying Pass?

If they did not fight demons on the battlefield, where would they get military merits?

Could they count on earning great merit in the Cooks' Camp?

The hope was far too slim!

Cooks' Camp.

When everyone returned, night had already fallen.

Zhao Tong stood before the tent, staring speechlessly at Ding Chen. "Why are you back so late again?"

Ding Chen did not immediately answer Zhao Tong's question. Instead, he first instructed Chen Xian and the others to unload the cart.

Then he walked over to Zhao Tong and explained what had happened.

"A tiger demon?"

Zhao Tong was startled. He remembered there being no tiger demon corpse on the battlefield.

Yet Ding Chen and the others had brought back a tiger demon corpse, as well as a cook whose head had been smashed into a bloody pulp. The man had been dead for a long time.

"This tiger demon...?" Zhao Tong's gaze landed on the tiger demon's corpse, and a doubtful look appeared on his face.

The tiger demon's body was three meters long. It had at least the strength of a mid-stage lesser demon.

Without Blood Moving Great Accomplishment strength, it would have been absolutely impossible to kill this tiger demon.

What puzzled Zhao Tong was that he himself had only just entered the Blood Moving Realm. Against this tiger demon, he would only have been able to flee for his life. How could Ding Chen and the others possibly have killed it?

"Who killed it?" He stared at Ding Chen.

Ding Chen casually glanced at Chen Xian and said, "We killed it together!"

"Bullshit!"

How could Zhao Tong believe that? With a look of disdain, he said, "Try joining forces to beat me, then."

Even if one had only just entered the Blood Moving Realm, the force of the physical body was far greater than that of Body Refinement Completion. Could all fourteen of Ding Chen's men possibly be at Body Refinement Completion?

Even if they were, it would not be easy for them to defeat him, much less kill a tiger demon.

Ding Chen said expressionlessly, "We really did kill it together. Like that wolf demon last time, this tiger demon was badly wounded. Only by joining forces did we manage to kill it."

At those words, Zhao Tong's eyes flickered slightly. The tiger demon's corpse indeed bore many blade wounds from different angles, while the fatal blow had severed its neck.

The wound on its severed neck had many ragged edges. Clearly, it had not died in a single stroke.

"You really killed it together?" Zhao Tong eyed Ding Chen suspiciously.

"Absolutely true!" Ding Chen nodded.

Though Zhao Tong still had doubts in his heart, he said nothing more. Instead, he praised Ding Chen and the others, saying he would record a merit for them.

Ding Chen smiled. "Brother Zhao, Chen Xian has accumulated two merits already!"

Zhao Tong glanced at Chen Xian. He knew every cook under his command and nodded to himself. "Don't worry. I won't report fewer merits than he deserves!"

With that, he waved at everyone. "Hurry up and cook!"

Ding Chen nodded and led everyone beneath the cooking shed, where they began chopping wolf meat for dinner.

After dinner.

Everyone buried their companion together, then returned before the tents and practiced with Zhao Tong and the others. They were all practicing The Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique.

Chen Xian practiced alongside them as well.

Only after lying on his bed did Chen Xian summon the panel.

Experience: 221 points

Martial Arts: Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique (Perfection), Demon-Slaying Saber Technique (Perfection), Great Tablet Smashing Hand (Perfection)

Realm: Blood Moving Perfection

Lifespan: four years and seven months

Staring particularly at his lifespan, Chen Xian sighed inwardly. When he had arrived, he still had seventy years left to live. In less than half a month, only four years and seven months remained.

Fortunately, there had been no change in his body. If he had become decrepit with age, that would truly have been enough to make him collapse.

"What realm comes next?" Chen Xian frowned slightly. In his memories, there were only Body Refinement and Blood Moving; he knew nothing at all about the martial realms beyond them.

Sensing someone watching him, Chen Xian turned his head and met Ding Chen's eyes.

Ding Chen gave him a meaningful look.

Chen Xian pondered for a moment, then nodded lightly.

Only after everyone had fallen sound asleep did he open his eyes, roll over, and leave the tent.

Not long after, Ding Chen followed him out.

"Brother Ding, did you want to talk to me about something?" Chen Xian asked curiously.

Ding Chen sat on a stone slab and looked up at Chen Xian. "At dusk, I told Zhao Tong that we had killed the tiger demon together. I took credit for your great merit. You aren't angry, are you?"

Chen Xian shook his head. "We did kill it together in the first place. There's nothing to be angry about."

He truly was not angry.

Because he did not yet want to stand out and be sent to the battlefield to fight demons.

If he could lie low, he certainly would not take risks.

As for earning merit and taking a wife, as long as he had strength, why would he need to worry about not finding a wife?

Seeing that Chen Xian did not care in the slightest, Ding Chen nodded to himself. "You've reached the Blood Moving Realm. What technique are you cultivating?"

Chen Xian turned to look at Ding Chen. "What technique do Blood Moving Realm cultivators in our military camp practice?"

Ding Chen said, "The Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique!"

Chen Xian's eyes lit up. "I practice the Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique too."

Ding Chen was not surprised, because he had already seen it when Chen Xian killed the tiger demon. That was why he had doubts in his heart.

Only upon reaching Body Refinement Completion could one apply to the higher-ups for the Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique and begin Blood Moving Realm cultivation.

But Chen Xian had only been in Ninth Camp for three months, and he had never applied for any cultivation technique.

More precisely, half a month ago, Chen Xian had at most been at Body Refinement Minor Accomplishment. He had not even been qualified to apply for a subsequent technique.

Yet Chen Xian was now at Blood Moving Great Accomplishment. Without the Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique, he could never have reached such a level.

More importantly, even if Chen Xian had obtained the Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique half a month ago, he could not possibly have reached Blood Moving Great Accomplishment in such a short half-month!

The most gifted genius Ding Chen had ever seen had still taken three months to go from the Body Refinement Realm to the Blood Moving Realm.

"Half a month ago, were you in the Body Refinement Realm?" Ding Chen could not suppress his curiosity.

Chen Xian nodded. "More or less."

His answer was ambiguous.

Yet Ding Chen still could not help being shocked. "Then you now..."

Chen Xian looked steadily at Ding Chen. "Brother Ding, who doesn't have a few secrets in their heart?"

Those words made Ding Chen's gaze freeze slightly. He looked directly at Chen Xian for a moment, then the corners of his mouth suddenly lifted. "That's true!"

Chen Xian gazed into the distance. Beneath the dark sky, blood qi floated high in the air without dispersing.

He asked, "Brother Ding, what realm comes after the Blood Moving Realm?"

"Surging Origin!"

Ding Chen did not hesitate and directly answered Chen Xian's question.

The corners of Chen Xian's mouth rose slightly. "Brother Ding, you really know a lot!"

Ding Chen raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling that there was something beneath Chen Xian's words.

Just then, Chen Xian continued, "Brother Ding, I remember you told me that if I had any problems or needs, I should come to you. So I have a favor to ask!"

Ding Chen's eyes flickered. He had indeed said that, and could not help replying, "Let's hear it."

Chen Xian moved a little closer and said in a low voice, "I want a Surging Origin Realm cultivation technique!"