Who Doesn't Have a Secret in Their Heart

Chen Xian could see the questioning intent in Ding Chen's eyes.

Of course, Wang Yan and the others also wore expressions of shock and curiosity, waiting for him to provide an explanation.

Chen Xian had no intention of explaining.

His current cultivation was hard-won, at the cost of his life, and it was something he couldn't explain to them anyway.

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

Chen Xian's expression was calm. He grabbed the Tiger Demon's corpse and walked towards the large cart.

Ding Chen turned and stared at Chen Xian's retreating back. He hadn't expected Chen Xian to offer no explanation at all.

Not even a lie to sow doubt in their minds.

He was completely calm, as if nothing had happened.

For a moment, Wang Yan and the others exchanged glances, their gazes eventually falling on Ding Chen.

Ding Chen took a deep breath. "Load up the cart and head back!"

Regardless of whatever secrets Chen Xian had, he had after all survived a brush with death, and Chen Xian had saved them all by risking his life.

This debt of gratitude still had to be acknowledged.

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

Everyone nodded repeatedly.

Actually, even if Chen Xian's Blood Moving Realm cultivation became known, it wouldn't be a big deal. He wouldn't be punished; he'd just be transferred to the front lines to fight demons.

Wasn't that the very reason they had come to Demon-Slaying Pass?

Without fighting demons on the battlefield, how could they earn military merits?

Did they expect to achieve great things in the Cooks' Camp?

That hope was too slim!

Cooks' Camp.

When they returned, it was already dark.

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

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

He walked up to Zhao Tong and explained the situation.

"A Tiger Demon?"

Zhao Tong was startled. He remembered there being no Tiger Demon corpses on the battlefield.

But here they were, having brought back a Tiger Demon corpse, and one of the cooks had a head that was bloody and mangled; the person was already dead.

"This Tiger Demon...!?" Zhao Tong's gaze fell on the Tiger Demon's corpse, a look of confusion on his face.

The Tiger Demon's body was three meters long, possessing at least the strength of a mid-stage Lesser Demon.

Without the strength of a Great Accomplishment in the Blood Moving Realm, it would be impossible to kill this Tiger Demon.

Zhao Tong was confused because he himself was only at the introductory stage of the Blood Moving Realm. Faced with this Tiger Demon, he would only have the option 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!"

"Nonsense!"

Zhao Tong couldn't believe it and said disdainfully, "Try to defeat me together, and see what happens!"

Even an introductory stage in the Blood Moving Realm had much greater physical strength than someone at Body Refinement Completion. It was impossible for Ding Chen and the fourteen others to all be at Body Refinement Completion.

Even if they were, it wouldn't be easy to defeat him, let alone kill a Tiger Demon.

Ding Chen said expressionlessly, "We really killed it together. This Tiger Demon, like the Wolf Demon last time, was heavily injured. We killed it by working together."

Hearing this, Zhao Tong's eyes flickered. The Tiger Demon's corpse indeed had many knife wounds from different angles. The fatal blow was to the neck.

The wound on the severed neck had many ragged edges, clearly indicating it wasn't a single fatal strike.

"Did you really kill it together?" Zhao Tong stared at Ding Chen suspiciously.

"Absolutely true!" Ding Chen nodded.

Although Zhao Tong still had doubts, he didn't say anything further. Instead, he praised Ding Chen and the others, saying that a merit would be recorded for them.

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

Zhao Tong glanced at Chen Xian. He knew all the cooks under him and nodded secretly. "Don't worry, it won't be reported incorrectly!"

Saying that, he waved his hand at everyone. "Hurry up and start cooking!"

Ding Chen nodded and led the others to the cookhouse, where they began chopping wolf meat to prepare dinner.

After dinner.

Everyone buried their fallen comrade together and then returned to the camp tent to practice with Zhao Tong and the others. They were all practicing the Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique.

Chen Xian practiced along with everyone else.

Only when he lay in bed did Chen Xian summon his status panel.

[Experience: 221 points]

[Martial Arts: Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique (Mastered), Demon-Slaying Blade Technique (Mastered), Great Tablet Smashing Hand (Mastered)]

[Realm: Blood Moving (Mastered)]

[Lifespan: Four years and seven months]

He stared specifically at his lifespan and sighed inwardly. He had seventy years left when he first arrived, but in less than half a month, only four years and seven months remained.

Fortunately, his body showed no signs of aging; that would have been truly devastating.

"What's the next realm?" Chen Xian frowned slightly. His memory only contained the Body Refinement and Blood Moving realms; he knew nothing about the martial arts realms that came after.

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

Ding Chen gave him a meaningful look.

Chen Xian pondered for a moment and then nodded gently.

After everyone else had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, rolled over, and slipped out of 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, looking up at Chen Xian. "This evening, I told Zhao Tong that we killed the Tiger Demon together, taking credit for your great achievement. You're not angry, are you?"

Chen Xian shook his head. "We did kill it together originally, so there's nothing to be angry about."

He truly wasn't angry.

It was because he didn't want to stand out yet and fight demons on the battlefield.

If he could stay low-key, he definitely wouldn't take risks.

As for earning merit and marrying a wife, as long as he had the strength, he wouldn't lack opportunities to find a wife.

Seeing that Chen Xian didn't care at all, Ding Chen nodded to himself. "Since you've reached the Blood Moving Realm, what cultivation technique are you practicing?"

Hearing this, Chen Xian turned to look at Ding Chen. "What cultivation technique do people in our military camp practice for the Blood Moving Realm?"

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

Chen Xian's eyes lit up. "I'm also practicing the Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique."

Ding Chen wasn't surprised. He had already noticed it when Chen Xian killed the Tiger Demon, which had made him curious.

One had to reach Body Refinement Completion before applying to the higher authorities for the Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique to cultivate in the Blood Moving Realm.

However, Chen Xian had only been in the Ninth Battalion for three months and hadn't applied for any cultivation techniques.

To be precise, half a month ago, Chen Xian was at most at Body Refinement Minor Accomplishment and didn't even qualify to apply for subsequent cultivation techniques.

And now, Chen Xian was at Blood Moving Great Accomplishment. Without the Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique, he absolutely wouldn't have reached this level.

The key point was that even if Chen Xian had applied for the Blood Flame Ox Demon Technique half a month ago, it was impossible for him to reach Blood Moving Great Accomplishment in just half a month!

The most talented genius he had ever seen took three months to go from the Body Refinement Realm to the Blood Moving Realm.

"Were you in the Body Refinement Realm half a month ago?" Ding Chen couldn't help but feel curious.

Chen Xian nodded. "You could say that."

His answer was ambiguous.

But Ding Chen was still incredibly surprised. "Then you now..."

Chen Xian calmly stared at Ding Chen. "Brother Ding, everyone has their own secrets!"

Ding Chen's gaze faltered slightly. He looked directly at Chen Xian for a moment, and then the corners of his mouth suddenly curved upward. "That's true!"

Chen Xian gazed into the distance. Under the dark sky, wisps of blood energy floated high in the air, refusing to dissipate.

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

"It's the Surging Origin Realm!"

Ding Chen answered Chen Xian's question without hesitation.

Chen Xian's lips curled up slightly. "Brother Ding really knows a lot!"

Ding Chen's brow twitched slightly. He had a feeling that Chen Xian's words held a hidden meaning.

At this moment, Chen Xian continued, "Brother Ding, I remember you told me to come to you with any questions or needs, so I have a favor to ask!"

Ding Chen's eyes flickered. He had indeed said that, and he couldn't help but reply, "Go ahead."

Chen Xian leaned closer to him and whispered, "I want a Surging Origin Realm cultivation technique!"