Nine Star Hegemon Body Art

This place might only hold first-level rewards. However, the treasures available for exchange were numerous, and their prices were astonishing.

However, most of these items were meant for battlefield survival: medicinal pills, talismans, formation discs, weapons, battle armor—anything that could save a life at a critical moment.

None of these were things Long Chen needed. He was about to refuse when Luo Yanfeng insisted that if Long Chen didn’t pick something, he wouldn’t take Long Chen to the next battle.

Under this “blackmail”, Long Chen selected a pair of devil-hide boots. They were simple, adorned only with the embroidered fangs of a devil beast, yet they looked very suave. But most importantly, they were entirely black—just as Long Chen liked.

These boots were Human Emperor divine items, with complex formation runes carved into them. In the outside world, they would fetch an exorbitant price, but here, they cost just over two thousand kill points.

When Long Chen asked about the point system, he learned that the Luo family disciples would gain one point for every slain devil in the same realm.

However, higher-ranking devil experts with purer bloodlines had variable point values, ranging from one to five hundred or even more.

Since Luo Yanfeng was strong, the enemies he defeated were also elite members of the devil race, which allowed him to accumulate more points than anyone else. While ordinary disciples earned a few points per kill, he gained dozens. If he hadn’t been responsible for the group’s safety, his total would have been even higher.

“What’s the point of choosing a pair of boots? Just to run faster? At the very least, pick some proper battle armor. Your body is too frail,” Luo Yanfeng chided, displeased with Long Chen’s choice.

Seeing this pair of unremarkable boots, Luo Yanfeng thought Long Chen was just trying to save him money.

Long Chen never wore battle armor—he found it cumbersome and restrictive, so he directly refused.

Misinterpreting his refusal as an issue of pride, Luo Yanfeng didn’t press further. Worst case, he figured he’d bring Long Chen to the battlefield next time and help him kill a few devils to get some points.

Everyone wrapped up their selections quickly. The treasures required a lot of points to exchange, so they had to be strategic, choosing only what they lacked the most.

These disciples had entered the battlefield full of confidence, but real combat had exposed their weaknesses.

The battlefield was nothing like a martial stage, and their opponents weren’t human. There, every flaw was fatal. Luckily, this showed them their weaknesses, telling them what they had to work on to get stronger.

Once they had their rewards, they returned to the Luo family’s territory. Many were injured and needed time to recover. Meanwhile, those who were unscathed had to meditate on their experiences to refine their skills.

Long Chen also went into seclusion, organizing what he had learned from the violet blood race’s techniques and analyzing how they might help refine his Nine Star Hegemon Body Art.

Time was short. In three days, he had to go with Luo Yanfeng and the others to the battlefield.

However, just two days into his seclusion, Luo Zichuan summoned him. The two met atop a towering mountain— the same place where Long Zhantian and Luo Zichuan had talked with each other.

“Sit,” Luo Zichuan instructed, settling himself on a clean stone.

“How could I be qualified to sit in your presence? Whatever instructions you have, just tell me. I’m all ears.” Long Chen smiled.

Though Long Chen respected his grandfather, he knew Luo Zichuan was rigid and traditional, valuing strict etiquette. Sitting as equals with him felt inappropriate.

“If your father told you to sit, would you refuse?” asked Luo Zichuan.

“Of course not.”

“Then sit.”

Long Chen was baffled but still sat down.

Looking at Long Chen, Luo Zichuan said, “Father and son do not sit as equals; master and disciple do not speak on the same level. In the past, I would have insisted on such customs as well. But after meeting your father, I’ve come to understand many things. I must say—I truly like your father.”

“If he heard your praise, he’d be overjoyed. I think the thing he wants the most in this world is your approval,” said Long Chen, delighted.

Luo Zichuan was notoriously difficult to please. Even Long Chen’s uncles had never earned his recognition, no matter how hard they tried. Thinking of them, Long Chen couldn’t help but feel pity. Obtaining his grandfather’s recognition was harder than ascending the heavens.

“Your father is strong and intelligent. He is a good man—someone who can hold up the heavens. The day you ran off, we had a fight,” said Luo Zichuan as he let out a wry smile.

“A fight?”

“He cursed me.”

Long Chen was shocked. What was going on? Before coming here, his father had urged Long Chen to endure whatever was necessary to find his mother. Yet, he had lost his patience first? Long Chen’s heart tensed.

“I couldn’t understand why your mother left. After arguing, he cursed me for being emotionless, brainless, and devoid of humanity.”

Long Chen reflexively responded, “At the very least, I think you’re not lacking in humanity.”

“So you agree with the first two accusations?” Luo Zichuan smirked.

Long Chen wanted to slap himself. Why had he responded so quickly? Sometimes, silence was golden! Now, how was he supposed to take it back?

Before Long Chen could attempt damage control, Luo Zichuan continued, “At the time, I was furious. I demanded an explanation. He told me I wasn’t fit to be a father—that I had treated my own daughter as a tool, using her as a trump card to save the family. He knew that after all these years, I still held a grudge against her. After that, he said that the most important thing in cultivation is humanity. And as a father, I should have loved my children unconditionally—not raised them as weapons.”

Long Chen remained silent. In truth, he agreed with his father.

But the immortal world was cruel. Sentimentality was a weakness. The ties between father and son, brothers, even spouses—could all be severed in an instant. As Long Zhantian had said, cultivating against the heavens meant losing one’s humanity.

“Chen-er, do you like the violet blood race?” asked Luo Zichuan suddenly.

Long Chen shook his head.

“Are there people here that you like?”

Thinking of Luo Yanfeng and the others, Long Chen nodded slightly.

“If the violet blood race faced a culling—where ninety percent of them died—would you want them to survive?” Luo Zichuan asked seriously.

Long Chen jumped in shock. “What happened in the violet blood race?!”

“Answer my question first.”

“Of course I’d want the good ones to live.”

“Then, Grandfather needs your help.”

Luo Zichuan placed a hand on Long Chen’s shoulder, his eyes filled with expectation.

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