Eternal Heart
Chapter 668: ’The Slaughter Ranking List

In the mountainside, all those involved in the assessment boarded the giant ship.

Atop the ship’s bow, the old man wearing a jade crown, “Elder Wei,” glanced briefly over everyone who had boarded.

Among the Shi Clan, there were some with heaven-reaching abilities, unique races with special abilities; they must not be allowed to disguise themselves as human beings and infiltrate the Great Yu Realm.

Moreover, Elder Wei could sense the earthy power emanating from the crystal hearts of the Shi Clan.

Some people carried with them a lesser aura, while others were drenched in it.

Based on this, he could estimate the number of Shi Clan members those talented individuals had slaughtered. It wouldn’t be entirely accurate but could serve as a reference point.

"The aura on the geniuses from the great clan powers is always a bit more intense.”

Elder Wei mused silently to himself.

One could imagine that during the hunt for foreign races in the Stone Cloud Realm, most action took place in teams from clan powers, where geniuses from powerful families were naturally able to hunt more of the foreign beings.

There was also the extortion and pillaging of the crystal hearts obtained by smaller clan powers from the great ones.

This situation was beyond the control of the high ranks of both sects; Elder Wei could only hope that the clan prodigies participating in the Black Demon Valley assessment did not turn against the others who were partaking.

After all, the two great sects were betting on the final results of this assessment to determine the winner.

And the number of people who passed the first part of the assessment gave the Heavenly Jade Sect a slight edge.

Elder Wei hoped even more that the geniuses participating in the Black Demon Valley assessment would go and rob those from the Heavenly Jade Sect, thereby increasing the chances of a victory for Black Demon Valley.

"Eh? The scent of crystal hearts on this young man is particularly intense.”

Elder Wei’s gaze lingered on Chen Yu for several moments longer, sensing him carefully.

The aura of the crystal hearts emanating from Chen Yu far surpassed anyone present and was also the strongest Elder Wei had encountered thus far

"So it’s him? The young man who swept through the Cui Clan on the Heavenly Ascension Ladder!”

Elder Wei remembered Chen Yu’s performance on the Heavenly Ascension Ladder and nodded slightly to himself.

He had planned to take Chen Yu as his disciple, and judging by the current situation, Chen Yu’s results in the second assessment must also be quite impressive.

Elder Wei’s resolve firmed up in an instant.

Chen Yu, along with Yang Fenghou, Shi Wwei, and others, boarded the giant ship of Black Demon Valley. However, Chen Yu suddenly felt that the elder from Black Demon Valley seemed to be watching him.

When he looked over, he found Elder Wei observing somewhere else.

Perhaps he was overthinking it.

"Once on board this ship, no one is to remove the crystal hearts until the results are recorded; violators will be severely punished.”

At that moment, Elder Wei announced a rule.

This was to prevent clan powers from trading crystal hearts for Slaughter Points.

Some people, lacking a hundred Slaughter Points to pass the assessment, might pay a cost to purchase points from others.

Upon hearing this, many people immediately showed expressions of disappointment.

Some who had brought out their crystal hearts seemed to be in the midst of transactions; they broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly stored their items into their storage spaces.

Next, the giant ship sailed to other places to collect those taking part in the second assessment.

When about everyone was aboard, the giant ship flew to an altitude of five thousand zhang in the Stone Cloud Realm, where a massive space passage existed, stable and durable.

The ship entered it, and before long in the space passage, it brought everyone back to the Great Yu Realm’s “Heavenly Ascension Peak.”

Back in the Great Yu Realm, everyone immediately felt a sense of familiarity along with the rich Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi; many took deep breaths.

At this moment, below Heavenly Ascension Peak there were only a little over a thousand people; many more were in the Stone Cloud Realm, not yet returned.

Not far away, a genius from the You Clan came to the side of a green-haired elder.

Had Chen Yu been there, he would have recognized the elder as the one who had wanted to take him as a disciple in the Stone Cloud Realm.

"You Lie, how did you fare in the second assessment?”

Inquired the green-haired elder.

Most from the You Clan had smug smiles, clearly with good results; only You Lie and a few other You Clan geniuses had gloomy expressions.

"Third Uncle, we got robbed of our crystal hearts by others.”

A You Clan woman exclaimed angrily.

"Oh?”

The green-haired elder glanced at You Lie, clearly seeing that even You Lie’s crystal heart had been snatched.

"Could it be Xu Nanyun from the Xu Family, or perhaps Hua Dufeng from the Hua Family?”

Asked the green-haired elder.

The Xu and Hua families were both Three-Star families, with Condensed Star Realm Kings at their helm, shining stars in this assessment.

"Third Uncle, it wasn’t the Hua Family or the Xu Family; it was that Chen Yu.”

Continued the You Clan woman.

"Chen Yu?”

The green-haired elder frowned, as if recalling something.

"You Lie, you should have no problem entering the inner valley, right?”

The green-haired elder’s tone turned stern.

"I was a bit late; they didn’t manage to tally up five hundred Slaughter Points for me in time!”

You Lie shrunk back, his voice faint.

After he spoke, he clenched his fists tightly, overwhelmed with shame.

Upon hearing this, the green-haired elder’s face suddenly turned grim, his powerful aura spreading out, causing many around to tremble in fear.

"Third Uncle, I must get revenge!”

You Lie’s face suddenly twisted with malice, his teeth gritted.

After being robbed by Chen Yu, he had also suffered an attack from the Thousand Stone Venerable, resulting in the death of many talents.

You Lie blamed Chen Yu for the deaths of these geniuses, setting up Chen Yu as an enemy and adding obstacles.

But as long as Chen Yu lived, the grudge in his heart would be hard to quell.

"Heh heh, isn’t that easy?”

The green-haired elder chuckled coldly.

He hadn’t expected that You Lie would fail to accumulate five hundred Slaughter Points because of Chen Yu, hindering him from entering the inner valley.

Naturally, he placed the blame upon Chen Yu.

"It’s perfect, I’ve been planning to take him as a disciple, and then have you become his senior brother. What do you think?”

The man with the greenish hair curled his lips, revealing a sneer.

Hearing this, You Lie’s eyes sparkled with a glint of light, revealing a malevolently evil grin: “That’s right, he’s just a nameless nobody. This young master will play him to death with ease.”

Just a minor character without a backing—so insignificant in front of an entity like the You Clan.

By then, when Chen Yu becomes a disciple of a powerful member of the You Clan, he’ll be completely at their mercy.

"Chen Yu, this is what happens when you offend me. Your life and death will be in my hands. When the time comes, you’ll be the one kneeling and begging me for a chance to live

You Lie looked towards the distant Chen Yu, his face donned with a cruel smile full of anticipation and excitement.

An hour later.

All the candidates taking part in the assessment gathered at the base of the Heavenly Ascension Ladder.

Buzz!

The huge spatial passage in the sky slowly constricted before finally closing.

Atop the Heavenly Ascension Ladder.

"Is this all the people that are left?”

"It seems due to the unique nature of this assessment, quite a few talents have perished within.”

Two elders from the sects, observing the situation below, chatted casually among themselves.

This time, due to the bet between the two sects, the second part of the assessment was more brutal than usual. Whenever candidates from both sides met, it was almost certain to end in battle, resulting in a higher death rate than before.

About a thousand talented individuals died in the second part of the assessment!

"Members of the Black Demon Valley, everyone seems to be back now. Shall we calculate the final scores?”

An elder from Heavenly Jade Sect, sporting a long beard, suggested.

"Let’s begin.”

Elder Wei glanced at the other party and nodded slightly.

"The second assessment is over, now we’ll begin recording everyone’s scores.”

An elder from the Black Demon Valley stepped forward, announcing the end of the assessment.

"The recording of scores has begun—I wonder what position I rank amongst all the participants.”

"With your strength, you’re definitely not making it onto the ‘Slaughter Ranking List’.”

"I heard the ‘Slaughter Ranking List’ from both sects only lists the top hundred. Those who make it will receive focused cultivation from the two sects.”

People from the two sects formed two long lines, proceeding to ascend the Heavenly Ascension Ladder one by one.

There, stewards from both sects were responsible for checking the crystal hearts and calculating and registering Slaughter Points.

Behind them, two huge steles stood, and soon enough, a hundred names each appeared on them.

However, as data continued to be updated, the names on the stele quickly changed, gradually getting replaced by new ones.

An hour later, half of the participants from both sects were registered.

By this point, the names on the ‘Slaughter Ranking List’ had more or less stabilized.

"The person ranking first on Heavenly Jade Sect’s side has accumulated nine hundred and twelve Slaughter Points, which is two more than the top contender of the Black Demon Valley.”

"However, merely relying on the ‘Slaughter Ranking List’ data makes it hard to tell which sect will come out on top.”

Suddenly, the names on the ‘Slaughter Ranking List’ showed continuous changes.

"It’s the Hua Clan, heavens! Hua Dufeng has accumulated one thousand two hundred and thirty-six Slaughter Points.”

With the Hua Clan genius’s score registered, the names on the Black Demon Valley’s stele were quickly replaced, with several Hua Clan geniuses listed on the ‘Slaughter Ranking List’.

Hua Dufeng topped the list with one thousand two hundred and thirty-six Slaughter Points, outpacing the second place by more than four hundred points.

Such an achievement had many other talents merely looking up in admiration.

"Hmph, with my performance in this assessment, I should be ranked first, right?”

Hua Dufeng, dressed in a robe embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, walked with his hands clasped behind his back, slowly descending the Heavenly Ascension Ladder.

"Young Master, I heard there’s an unwritten rule in the Black Demon Valley that the top scorer in each assessment can become the disciple of a ‘Deputy Valley Master’.”

A handsome member of the Hua Clan said with a smile.

"Does this mean when the Young Master enters the valley, he can become a disciple of a Deputy Valley Master? I wonder which Valley Master it will be.”

Another excited female voiced out.

The Black Demon Valley had five great valleys: Demon Valley, Yinfeng Valley, Evil Ghost Valley, Illusion Spirit Valley, and Blood Demon Valley.

"That’s just a rumor. Whom the Valley Masters are willing to take as a disciple is not for us to decide.”

Hua Dufeng shook his head slightly, but his face revealed an even more prideful smile.

Suddenly, the crowd around them erupted.

"Look at the stele, Xu Nanyun, with one thousand two hundred and fifty-eight Slaughter Points!”

"Xu Nanyun’s Slaughter Points are higher than Hua Dufeng’s!”

"Hmm?”

Hua Dufeng turned to glance at the stele behind him, and the smile on his face disappeared without a trace.

"Xu Nanyun!”

Hua Dufeng’s gaze turned icy as he forced out the three words.

"Someday, I will make sure you are beneath my feet.”

With a cold huff, Hua Dufeng turned and walked away.

Slaughter Points couldn’t prove one’s strength, talent, or potential—Hua Dufeng firmly believed he would leave Xu Nanyun far behind.

On the ‘Slaughter Ranking List’, Heavenly Jade Sect’s number one had once again overtaken the Black Demon Valley.

Whether it was outsiders, many talents, or the elders atop the Heavenly Ascension Ladder, all were discussing this matter.

Chen Yu, who was queuing up, was also paying attention to the ‘Slaughter Ranking List’.

"How come the highest so far is just over a thousand points?”

Chen Yu compared these figures to his own, feeling quite proud in his heart.

"Perhaps the real elites haven’t appeared yet. Maybe there will be higher figures in a while.”

Chen Yu thought to himself and felt he shouldn’t be too proud.

Just then, he reached the Black Demon Valley steward’s presence.

"Show me all the crystal hearts you’ve obtained.”