Chapter 20: The Devil’s Training Camp

"Didn't we all receive cultivation techniques at the Xuantian Tower? Why do we still need to obtain them from the sect?" Wen Yue asked.

"The techniques from the Xuantian Tower are only foundational. They don't include combat skills! For example, if you want to acquire even the simplest 'Thousand Blade Slash' from the sect, it costs five thousand spirit stones," Bai Furuo explained.

"But isn't Elder Zhao teaching us basic spells right now? Surely those don't cost spirit stones?"

Wen Yue’s entire fortune consisted of the five spirit stones issued by the sect and one storage bag. After robbing Niu Hongtian of one, she had spent two on steamed buns, leaving her with only four. She was still 4,996 spirit stones away from even the cheapest skill.

"Those are free. If Elder Zhao didn't teach us basic spells, how would we ever leave the sect? How would we earn spirit stones? And without spirit stones, how would we buy cultivation techniques?"

"Can't we just buy them somewhere else?" Wen Yue wondered aloud, thinking of herself as a rogue cultivator. Rogue cultivators were self-reliant; surely there was nothing wrong with that.

"What kind of techniques could you possibly buy elsewhere? Anything you find on the market is trash. I advise you to drop that idea. Besides, I happen to know that sects from the righteous path come to our Heavenly Demon Sect every year to buy techniques from us."

Well, that closed off the last path, forcing one to become a villain.

"So, you’re gathering a group of people—how do you plan to earn spirit stones?" This was the crux of the matter.

"By burning, killing, and pillaging, of course! Do you think spirit stones fall from the sky?" Bai Furuo rolled her eyes.

"We're only at the third level of Qi Refining. Isn't it too early to go out?" Wen Yue didn't understand.

"At the start, it's all about trickery and deception. When we need manpower, we move as a group. That’s why we want you to join us. Strength lies in numbers!"

"My original plan was to take a farming task after reaching the third level of Qi Refining and wait until my cultivation base improved before going out for experience. Even without the abundance of resources Ao Qing gave me, I still can't bring myself to earn spirit stones this way."

"If you think that way, you’ll reach adulthood without a single powerful skill. How are you supposed to gain experience then?"

"Why doesn't the sect just lend us the techniques? We could pay them back once we’ve earned the spirit stones." She didn't know how other sects operated, but surely they wouldn't force children to resort to murder and arson!

"They say it’s to cultivate our ruthlessness. They don't want us to become powerful only to be too afraid to kill someone. So, they raise us to start killing from a young age."

It was true; setting aside the heavy burden of sin that stained everyone here, this method was indeed effective at tempering people. It was no wonder that while Hong Yi didn't seem like a mindless killing machine, the weight of her sins was something she would never be able to wash away in this lifetime.

"And what if I stick to my original plan—take a farming task after reaching the third level of Qi Refining?"

"Nothing much. You don't even have to take a task if you don't want to. But you won't have any income, no spirit stones to buy powerful skills, and your chances of dying in the annual grand and minor tournaments will be much higher. The rules of the Heavenly Demon Sect allow for death in matches. That's why we use every possible method to grow stronger."

"Besides, I know several people who received techniques from the Xuantian Tower but ended up switching to the Heavenly Demon Arts after returning."

"Why?" As far as Wen Yue knew, the techniques Ao Qing gave everyone were the ones best suited for them.

"To become stronger, obviously. Take Mu Yan, for example. She received the 'Heart Sutra of the Enchanting Maiden,' which is perfectly suited for her. She’s almost at the second level of Qi Refining, yet she still plans to switch to the 'Heavenly Demon Arts' later."

"And what about Elder Zhao? Is he powerful?" Even a layman could see that Elder Zhao was no great figure.

"Are you saying you want to end up like him?" Bai Furuo looked at Wen Yue with contempt.

"What do you mean?" Wen Yue had never heard anyone talk about Elder Zhao’s past.

"It’s not entirely his fault. He has a five-element root, and his aptitude is abysmal. His body is also incredibly weak, so he had no way to switch to the Heavenly Demon Arts. That's why he forfeits every match before it even begins."

"That sounds fine, doesn't it?"

"Fine? What’s fine about it? The sect leader only kept him alive because there was still plenty of manual labor to be done in the sect. Later, he was assigned to teach us newcomers, and when there's no teaching to be done, he goes to work the fields. And for all that, he gets absolutely no credit."

Wen Yue hadn't known this. No wonder none of the students showed Elder Zhao any respect; even though he taught them martial arts and spells every day, he was a teacher in name only.

"Thank you for telling me all this today. I think I’ll stick to practicing on my own for now. Maybe I’ll come looking for you all later."

Wen Yue didn't want to burn any bridges. It wasn't that she intended to join their criminal enterprise, but she didn't want to offend them, and she wanted to leave Bai Furuo with the impression that she was merely hesitant.

"Have you made up your mind?"

"I have. If I change my mind, I'll come to find you."

"If we meet in the tournament arena, I won't go easy on you."

"I know. Thank you." If not for Bai Furuo, Wen Yue might have continued to believe that life in the Heavenly Demon Sect was peaceful.

The Heavenly Demon Sect truly lived up to its name—it was nothing short of a demon training camp, constantly trying to incite conflict among its students. It was fortunate that everyone thought Niu Hongtian had been killed by Wen Yue; otherwise, her life wouldn't have been so easy. This was also why the sect's higher-ups didn't even blink when Niu Hongtian died.

The conversation with Bai Furuo left Wen Yue feeling heavy. She guessed that this period was just a "newbie protection phase." She couldn't imagine what kind of excitement the future held.

Little Golden Silk seemed to sense Wen Yue's low spirits and practiced diligently every day, having now reached the second level of Qi Refining.

"Master, Master, I've advanced! I'm at the second level of Qi Refining now! Master, please be happy." Little Golden Silk spoke in a tiny, milky voice, trying her best to cheer Wen Yue up.

"Wow! Little Golden Silk is so amazing? Already at the second level? You're incredible!" Wen Yue cheered, exaggerating her praise.

"Master, why have you been unhappy these past few days? Can you tell Little Golden Silk?" The tiny creature wanted to help solve her problems.

"It's nothing. I was just overthinking. I feel like our peaceful days are coming to an end, and our lives might be in danger soon. Are you afraid, Little Golden Silk?"

"I'm not afraid. We'll just work hard on our cultivation. If we both become as powerful as Ao Qing, who would we have to fear?" Little Golden Silk said innocently.

"We can't compare ourselves to Ao Qing. It takes a very long time to become as strong as him." Even though Ao Qing looked like a youth, the weariness in his eyes couldn't be hidden. Wen Yue had been a keen observer of people in her past life; she knew she wasn't wrong.

"How long is a 'very long time'?" Little Golden Silk asked curiously.

"You wouldn't want to know. It’s a length of time we can't even fathom." Wen Yue had once heard Ao Qing mention "epochs," a word Elder Zhao had never even spoken.