The morning bell echoed across Guangchuan City Second High School.
All third-year students gathered on the main training ground as an instructor stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"Based on the current rankings," he announced, "the school will distribute cultivation rewards to encourage progress before the city-wide examination."
Spiritual light projected lines of text into the air.
Ranking Rewards:
1st Rank:– 50 Low-Grade Spirit Stones– 3 Body Tempering Pills
2nd–10th Rank:– 25 Low-Grade Spirit Stones– 2 Body Tempering Pills
11th–40th Rank:– 10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones– 1 Body Tempering Pill
41st–100th Rank:– 5 Low-Grade Spirit Stones
The crowd erupted instantly.
"Fifty spirit stones…"
"Three Body Tempering Pills? That's insane."
"No wonder everyone fights for rank."
Yu Chen listened quietly.
Thirty-seventh place.
That put him in the 11th–40th tier.
Ten spirit stones.
Enough for ordinary cultivation—but useless for what he needed.
He already knew the price.
Twenty-five stones.
That was the cost to push his demon spirit from Spirit Awakening Six Stars to Seven Stars.
Tomorrow's reward wouldn't even cover half of it.
That afternoon, Yu Chen left the school alone.
Beyond Guangchuan City lay a stretch of rugged terrain known as Black Fang Mountain.
It wasn't a true demon domain—but demon beasts roamed freely there.
Unlike humans, demon beasts cultivated naturally.
Their strength was measured the same way as humans at the lower stages:
Body Tempering Demon Beasts– 1 to 9 Stars
Low-star beasts were little more than savage animals.High-star beasts could crush trained students head-on.
The key difference—
Every demon beast condensed a Demon Core within its body.
Demon cores could be sold to the school, merchants, or sect agents in exchange for spirit stones. The stronger the beast, the more valuable the core.
That was why Black Fang Mountain never lacked hunters.
And why it never lacked corpses.
The moment Yu Chen stepped into the foothills, the air grew heavier.
Movement burst from the brush.
A Stonehide Boar charged toward him, its gray hide hardened like rock.
Yu Chen's eyes narrowed.
"Body Tempering… three stars."
Low-tier.
He sidestepped cleanly and slashed beneath its neck. The blade cut deep. The boar collapsed with a shrill squeal.
Yu Chen worked quickly, cutting into its chest.
A dull, earth-colored crystal lay near the heart.
"Demon core."
Low-grade—but usable.
He slipped it into his pouch.
Further in, danger increased.
A blur streaked from the trees.
A Bloodclaw Lynx—lean, fast, and vicious.
"Body Tempering four stars…"
The lynx was far faster than the boar.
Yu Chen barely avoided its claws, pain flaring as one tore across his shoulder. He forced himself forward, driving his blade upward.
The lynx convulsed and fell.
Yu Chen leaned against a tree, breathing hard.
Two demon cores.
Still far from enough.
As dusk approached, the forest grew unnervingly quiet.
Then—
A crushing pressure rolled through the trees.
Branches snapped.
A massive figure emerged.
A Black-Horned Earth Bear.
Its body towered over Yu Chen, muscles rippling beneath thick fur, a single curved horn protruding from its forehead. Each step shook the ground.
Yu Chen's expression tightened.
"Body Tempering… six stars."
Mid-tier.
Its demon core alone would be worth several spirit stones.
It was also fully capable of killing him.
Yu Chen tightened his grip on his blade.
Running was an option.
But so was giving up.
Yu Chen lowered his stance.
"Demon cores don't come cheap," he muttered.
The bear roared, charging forward.
Yu Chen stepped in to meet it.