The Sky Martial Sect Master compensated Chen Yu, partly because Chen Yu performed well and he had certain expectations for him, and partly because he had guaranteed at the beginning that Chen Yu wouldn’t face a life-and-death crisis. However, since Chen Yu unexpectedly did, this serves as compensation.
"Greetings, Master. Disciple has questions to ask."
At this moment, Qin Wentian arrived here, seemingly with cultivation-related questions, seeking the Sky Martial Sect Master’s guidance.
As he entered the hall, Qin Wentian noticed Chen Yu.
"Chen Yu?"
Qin Wentian’s expression changed slightly as he carefully observed Chen Yu.
When he sensed that Chen Yu was at the late peak stage, he breathed a sigh of relief.
All along, Chen Yu’s performance was better than his, and after Chen Yu disappeared for a few years, Qin Wentian’s cultivation reached four and a half stars, now ranking thirty-fourth on the Heavenly Martial List.
He felt that Chen Yu’s strength was at most on par with his own and couldn’t possibly surpass him.
Following this, Qin Wentian presented his cultivation doubts here.The Sky Martial Sect Master only took three simple sentences to enlighten him.
"Yu’er, it seems you have forgotten the goal I set for you when you first joined the sect," the Sky Martial Sect Master said to Chen Yu after resolving Qin Wentian’s issue.
Of course, Chen Yu remembered this matter. The goal was to enter the top twenty of the Heavenly Martial List within ten years.
At this moment, the Sky Martial Sect Master brought this up to see Chen Yu’s progress over the years. Additionally, Chen Yu’s current rank was still ninety-ninth on the Heavenly Martial List, which was way too low and embarrassed him as a master.
Qin Wentian couldn’t help but lower his head. Even a genius like him hadn’t been able to achieve that goal.
But their Master mentioned a while ago that it was an offhand, high-difficulty goal he had set. It would be good to achieve it, but not achieving it wasn’t a big deal.
However, he still hoped Chen Yu wouldn’t achieve it either.
"I wonder if trying to achieve this goal now would be considered too late?"
Chen Yu asked with a smile.
The ten-year target had already passed by twelve years, exceeding the deadline.
Even reaching it now would be somewhat noncompliant.
"It counts," the Sky Martial Sect Master replied as he brought it up; naturally, he couldn’t say it didn’t.
It was a casual requirement from the start, and it didn’t matter much whether it was achieved.
"Very well, Disciple will try the Sky Martial Battle Platform in a few days," Chen Yu said with a smile.
Qin Wentian’s face darkened, seeing Chen Yu’s demeanor. Was he confident about breaking into the top twenty of the Heavenly Martial List?
Although Qin Wentian also made considerable progress recently, he was only fifty percent confident of defeating the twentieth rank.
"Master, there’s another matter I must report regarding Zuo Zhushan."
Chen Yu suddenly recalled something.
Zuo Zhushan died by his hand. If the final investigation by the Heavenly Martial Sect pointed to him, it would be troublesome. It was better to proactively admit it now to avoid future issues.
Qin Wentian showed a peculiar expression.
Zuo Zhushan’s death had already spread throughout the Heavenly Martial Sect.
Being a top ten adept on the Heavenly Martial List, his death naturally attracted attention, and the Law Enforcement Team had been dispatched to investigate, with no news returned yet.
"Speak," the Sky Martial Sect Master said, curious, thinking Chen Yu might know some clues.
"Zuo Zhushan was killed by me," Chen Yu confessed.
Upon hearing this, Qin Wentian was dumbfounded, looking incredulous.
Was Chen Yu joking?
Zuo Zhushan was ranked sixth on the Heavenly Martial List, exceptionally powerful. How could Chen Yu possibly kill him, especially considering the heavy penalty for slaughtering a fellow sect member?
Even the Sky Martial Sect Master’s stern, aged face revealed a slight peculiarity, and his eyes fixed on Chen Yu.
"However, Senior Brother Zuo actually had another identity..."
Chen Yu recounted the events in the Dead Spirit Desert.
Upon hearing the account, Qin Wentian felt relieved. Zuo Zhushan must have been seriously injured in previous battles, leading to his death by Chen Yu.
In fact, when Zuo Zhushan appeared before Chen Yu, he indeed looked badly injured, though it was a deliberate guise meant to lower Chen Yu’s guard for a sneak attack.
"Faceless Man, Zuo Zhushan is the ’Faceless Evil Man,’" Qin Wentian said, acknowledging that notoriety within the path of evil.
"If this is true, you bear no guilt," declared the Sky Martial Sect Master.
Zuo Zhushan’s other identity was the Faceless Evil Man, and such individuals were bounty targets within the Sect Affairs Hall, with rewards available for their elimination.
"Junior Brother Chen, though you killed an injured Zuo Zhushan, it does not replace his slot," Qin Wentian reminded.
"Only by defeating an opponent on the Sky Martial Battle Platform can you replace their slot."
Although he had slightly overestimated Chen Yu, without any ability, it wasn’t possible to defeat an opponent, even if Zuo Zhushan was seriously injured.
"I know that," Chen Yu responded calmly.
Apparently, Qin Wentian was very wary of him surpassing him.
"Oh, Master, about what I mentioned last time, in a few days, I plan to return home once," Chen Yu said again.
Last time, he intended to return to the Great Yu Realm to treat Ye Luofeng, who was poisoned.
But he was delayed by going to the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Nest.
Now, it has been twenty years since Ye Luofeng was poisoned, with ten years left on the timeline. Although there seemed to be plenty of time, it was best to treat it early to avoid any unexpected events.
"Regarding that, I believe you can rest assured. Just a month ago, I sent your senior brother with the ’antidote’ to the Great Yu Realm," the Sky Martial Sect Master said with a smile.
Chen Yu’s fate among the Demon Race was uncertain, with a high possibility he might never return.
As his Master, he felt regret about it and recalled the matter of Chen Yu’s Daoist couple being poisoned, so he dispatched Chen Yu’s seventh senior brother, Hong Xiuyuan, to the Great Yu Realm to resolve it.
At that time, he considered this the last thing he could do for Chen Yu as a disciple.
Unexpectedly, Chen Yu returned lively and energetic.
Chen Yu paused for a moment, then expressed gratitude: "Thank you, Master."
When he encountered the God Demon Descendant and the Blood Race, he thought that if he encountered an accident, Ye Luofeng might never awaken.
Now it seems his worries were unnecessary.
"So it was Senior Brother Hong who went to help him..."
Qin Wentian felt a sense of loss internally.
From the actions of the Sky Martial Sect Master, it seemed he now valued Chen Yu more.
When they first joined the sect, the Sky Martial Sect Master clearly valued him, Qin Wentian, but now Qin Wentian felt a sense of being "out of favor."
Chen Yu and Qin Wentian left the Master’s residence together.
"Are you planning to go to the Sky Martial Battle Platform now?"
Qin Wentian took the initiative to ask.
After not seeing him for so many years, he wanted to witness Chen Yu’s strength and see clearly the gap between them.
Chen Yu thought for a moment and replied: "In a few days."
His cultivation had reached a point where he could break through at any time, so he decided to first break through to the Four-star King level.
Although he could enter the top ten now without much issue, wouldn’t breaking through in cultivation make things easier?
Returning to his cave dwelling, Chen Yu began a closed cultivation.
Inside the secret chamber, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi churned, swiftly absorbed by Chen Yu.
"My cultivation speed has clearly increased!"
Chen Yu’s face showed delight.
Immediately, he took some "blood leaves" from the Thousand-leaf Blood Tree within the world inside his heart.
Soon, the Blood Path essence within the blood leaves was absorbed by Chen Yu, and after being purified by the mysterious heart, it was integrated into the Primordial Power Star.
Chen Yu once again verified that his newly awakened physique could absorb various other energies to enhance his cultivation.
This meant that some cultivation materials, which were originally useless to him, were now beneficial.
"This physique increases my cultivation efficiency by at least sixty to seventy percent."
Chen Yu was quite pleased.
Moreover, based on the situation with the Indestructible Body, this speed-enhancing physique might have further room for improvement in the future!
Cultivation reaching the Condensed Star level becomes increasingly difficult later on, requiring massive resources.
This new physique’s importance to Chen Yu will grow more significant.
After verifying once again, Chen Yu focused entirely on condensing the fourth Primordial Power Star, aiming for the Four-star King!
The Heavenly Martial Sect requires all disciples to condense four Primordial Power Stars before breaking through to the Xuanming Realm.
The more Primordial Power Stars one condenses, the higher the probability of breaking through to the Xuanming Realm, and the strength after breakthrough varies significantly.
Hence, the powerful racial forces in the main world place great importance on the number of Primordial Power Stars at the Condensed Star Realm.
Some talents are willing to spend over a decade or even a century in the Condensed Star Realm just to condense one more Primordial Power Star.
The Sky Martial Sect Master initially set a higher goal for Chen Yu and Qin Wentian: to break through to the Xuanming Realm with at least ’Four and a Half Stars.’
This goal is serious, not a joke.
However, Chen Yu has never worried about this issue.
One day later.
His cultivation successfully broke through to the Four-star King, a natural progression.
"Four Primordial Power Stars!"
Chen Yu smiled.
The Four-star King in the Great Yu Realm is extremely rare.
If Chen Yu had stayed in the Great Yu Realm, he definitely wouldn’t have achieved this now.
Breaking through to the Four-star King increased the quantity and quality of Primordial Power, thus enhancing his overall strength.
After a brief consolidation, Chen Yu felt no issues with his foundation.
"In one go, I’ll perfect the Vermilion Bird Burning Sky Wings!"
Chen Yu decided.
The third layer of the "Four Symbols Divine Body," the Vermilion Bird Burning Sky Wings, had already been cultivated to the peak realm.
Plus, Chen Yu’s life force had long surpassed the Four-star King’s level; perfecting the Vermilion Bird Burning Sky Wings would be effortless.
Chen Yu opened his palms, revealing a jade bottle containing the blood essence of the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan, and his other hand held the Vermilion Bird Colorful Feather.
Buzz!
Behind him, red light patterns radiated brilliance, transforming into a pair of blood-red wings.
Chen Yu first took out the essence blood, absorbing its power to integrate it into the Vermilion Bird Sacred Wings.
As the essence blood merged, the Vermilion Bird Sacred Wings burned with intense flames, growing longer, with a more terrifying presence, akin to a true Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan emanating its aura.
Chen Yu finished refining all the essence blood in two days.
Next was the Vermilion Bird Colorful Feather.
Three days later.
Vermilion Bird Burning Sky Wings achieved perfection!
Boom!
In the secret chamber, tidal waves of blood, scorching hot.
Behind Chen Yu, a pair of blood wings emitted an ancient, domineering aura, with each blood-red feather appearing exceptionally clear, even possessing the tactile feel of real feathers.
According to the Vermilion Bird Burning Sky Wings description, after refining these two heavenly materials, the speed of the Vermilion Bird Sacred Wings and the power of its combat techniques both increase.
With cultivation breakthroughs and perfected Vermilion Bird Burning Sky Wings, Chen Yu felt excellent and ended his closed cultivation.
"Now I’ll go to the Sky Martial Battle Platform and accomplish the goal set by my Master long ago."