Eternal Heart
Chapter 672: Seven-Year Goal

"You are my new disciple?”

Though Chen Yu was speechless in his heart toward the Silent Blood Valley Master’s question, he couldn’t show it, since the other party was one of the five Valley Masters of the Black Demon Valley, with cultivation and strength that reached the heavens—a legendary figure in the Southern Domain.

At this moment, the Silent Blood Valley Master’s gaze was fixed on Chen Yu. As soon as he asked this question, an even more astonishing and extremely strong oppressive force descended upon Chen Yu, even giving him a sense of crisis.

At that time, Chen Yu found it extremely difficult to move or to speak.

"How far has this person’s cultivation actually reached?”

Chen Yu marveled inwardly.

He felt that the Silent Blood Valley Master was truly not easy to deal with. It seemed that the other side wasn’t very interested in himself, this new disciple, and didn’t have much of a good impression.

Chen Yu even thought that if he said something that displeased the other party, the Silent Blood Valley Master might become angry immediately, with unimaginable consequences.

Of course, that was assuming he could even speak at this moment.

However, if he couldn’t even utter a word, how was Chen Yu supposed to pay his respects as a disciple?

If the stalemate continued and he couldn’t even utter a word, it would be disrespectful to the Valley Master, a new disciple showing disrespect—with unimaginable consequences.

Beside them, Tu Zhixiang witnessed this scene, her tempting lips slightly parting, and she couldn’t help but feel a secret alarm: “Little junior brother is unlucky to encounter Master in a bad mood.”

If Chen Yu couldn’t get past this, he would probably be unable to become a disciple of the Silent Blood Valley Master and would likely face punishment.

Chen Yu gradually realized this too. He couldn’t do or say nothing, especially now when the Silent Blood Valley Master was addressing him!

He covertly circulated his True Yuan, and the strength of his physique erupted.

Chen Yu’s body moved slightly, shaking the nearly solidified oppressive aura around him, and a series of deep resonances emanated throughout the air.

As his heart within his body beat strongly and powerfully, Chen Yu’s blood surged forth, breaking all fetters.

Boom!

Chen Yu suddenly knelt on one knee, creating a thunderous sound like metal striking the ground. However, for some reason, the ground here was extremely hard, and only some cracks appeared under the impact of Chen Yu’s strength.

"Disciple Chen Yu, greets Master!”

Chen Yu said.

Though this Master was not easy to deal with, his cultivation, status, and position were undeniable. Becoming a disciple of the Silent Blood Valley Master was definitely filled with many benefits.

Suddenly,

The entire mountain and forest fell quiet, and the overpowering and suffocating pressure dissipated instantly, leaving Chen Yu feeling an unprecedented sense of relief.

"Mm, from now on, you are a disciple under my command, do not tarnish my reputation,”

The Silent Blood Valley Master nodded and spoke in a deep voice.

Finally, Chen Yu successfully became a disciple under the Silent Blood Valley Master.

From the Silent Blood Valley Master’s words, Chen Yu sensed that the other party was a very proud person.

"Hehe

Tu Zhixiang couldn’t help but chuckle lightly.

She had just been worried that Chen Yu would fail.

At the same time, she also hoped that her little junior brother would be a genius with immense strength and exceptional talent.

"Disciple will surely not tarnish Master’s prestige,”

Chen Yu said earnestly.

"Good, since that is the case, I will give you seven years to enter the ‘Southern Domain’s Outstanding Talents Ranking’,”

The Silent Blood Valley Master’s voice was very loud, cold, and powerful.

Chen Yu somewhat regretted the pledge he made just a moment ago.

He had heard of the Southern Domain’s Outstanding Talents Ranking. This list only included the talents of the entire Southern Domain younger than fifty years old.

There were only regional and age restrictions, no limits on cultivation or strength.

It was said that everyone who made it onto this list was a cross-generational talent from the Southern Domain, the core disciples cultivated with all the might of the great sects and powers.

The entire list featured only a hundred people, but the scale of the Southern Domain was many times larger than the Kunyun Realm, and there were countless geniuses and outstanding figures within it.

Just this year, Black Demon Valley had recruited over two thousand new disciples.

Across the entire Southern Domain, countless talents and extraordinary individuals were competing to get onto this list.

It was evident how difficult it would be to enter the Southern Domain’s Outstanding Talents Ranking. This meant competing against all the young prodigies of the Southern Domain, and standing out from among them was no easy feat.

And the time limit given by the Silent Blood Valley Master to Chen Yu was a mere seven years!

"Your fourth senior sister, Zhixiang, is currently on the ‘Outstanding Talents Ranking’, placed at number sixty-three. You should try to match up to her,”

The Silent Blood Valley Master glanced at Tu Zhixiang.

Outstanding Talents Ranking’, ranked sixty-three?”

Chen Yu scrutinized Tu Zhixiang carefully.

During the new disciples’ registration, Tu Zhixiang had suddenly approached him, and Chen Yu hadn’t even noticed.

Tu Zhixiang was definitely a Sky Sea Realm Venerable, but her specific level of cultivation was hard for Chen Yu to discern.

"Does this mean that among the younger generation in the entire Southern Domain under the age of fifty, there are at least sixty-two people stronger than fourth senior sister?”

Chen Yu was profoundly shocked.

The reason for saying ‘at least’ was perhaps there were some whose reputations weren’t yet known, or who were recluses in seclusion and freakish figures.

"Little junior brother, you should hurry up and catch up to your senior sister,”

Tu Zhixiang showed a proud smile, teasing Chen Yu.

Whoosh!

All of a sudden, the Silent Blood Valley Master within the great hall waved his hand, and a dark red blood light shot towards Chen Yu.

Chen Yu’s eyes flashed, and he caught it. It was a black token with two curved demon horns on it.

"This is your True Disciple Identity Token. With this token, you may enter this teacher’s residence at any time, but if you disturb my rest without a good reason, you will not be let off lightly.”

"Yes!”

Chen Yu felt that this Silent Blood Valley Master was a bit too harsh. It seemed like there was some kind of punishment at every turn.

"The Token contains a strand of ‘Divine Power’ from your teacher. If you encounter a crisis that you cannot handle, you may activate it to escape calamity.”

"Of course, the True Yuan I’ve left behind can only transport you thousands of miles away in an instant. The difficulties and obstacles you encounter on the path of cultivation must still be smoothed out with your own strength.”

The Silent Blood Valley Master continued, his tone much gentler than before.

"Thank you for your teachings, Master.”

Chen Yu felt a slight stir in his heart, sensing that this master’s personality and temper might not be as bad as he thought.

However, the following words from the Silent Blood Valley Master changed Chen Yu’s impression of him again.

"Given my many daily affairs, if you have any doubts or difficulties in your cultivation, seek out your senior brothers and sisters.”

The Silent Blood Valley Master said irresponsibly.

"If there’s nothing important, you may leave now. When departing, you can pick one Demon Intent Fruit and one Blood Qi Flower from here.”

The Silent Blood Valley Master started to hurry him away.

"Disciple takes his leave.”

Chen Yu exited awkwardly.

Upon leaving the residence of the Silent Blood Valley Master, Chen Yu picked the largest Demon Intent Fruit from a nearby fruit tree, and then plucked a Blood Qi Flower as well.

"Little junior brother, what are your thoughts after being accepted into the Silent Blood Valley under our master?”

Tu Zhixiang asked with a chuckle.

"Hehe

Chen Yu gave a laugh but said nothing.

He definitely wouldn’t fall for Fourth Senior Sister’s trap by speaking here, where the Silent Blood Valley Master could surely hear.

"Sister, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

Chen Yu bid farewell to Tu Zhixiang.

It was his first day here, and there were still many things he hadn’t taken care of.

No sooner had Chen Yu left than a gentle-faced man floated down beside Tu Zhixiang.

"Fourth Junior Sister? Has the little junior brother left?”

The gentle man inquired.

"Yes, Third Senior Brother, you’re just a step late. Our little junior brother is quite remarkable, you know!”

Tu Zhixiang smiled.

"Oh? In what way is he remarkable?”

The gentle man showed a hint of a smile, a glint flashing in his narrow eyes.

"Don’t you know? Little junior brother’s results in the recent assessment left all the other prodigies from Black Demon Valley and Heavenly Jade Sect far behind!”

"That I have heard.”

The man remained composed.

"Moreover, Master has set a goal for little junior brother, to enter the ‘Genius Rankings’ within seven years.”

Tu Zhixiang said earnestly.

This time, the man’s expression changed slightly, becoming more profound.

"Even the goal that Master set for the fifth junior brother, who preceded us, was to enter the ‘Genius Rankings’ within eight years. And for me, Master set a ten-year goal.”

Tu Zhixiang ended on a somewhat disheartened note.

"It seems, then, that Master indeed has very high expectations for our little junior brother.”

The man cracked a smile.

As disciples of the Silent Blood Valley Master, they all knew that the more rigorous Master was with a disciple, the more he valued and had great expectations for them.

The seven-year goal designated by the Silent Blood Valley Master for Chen Yu was indeed incredibly strict and demanding.

Even for the Silent Blood Valley Master’s most outstanding disciple, the aforementioned fifth junior brother, the deadline was eight years.

"However, I think there’s a greater possibility that it’s just Master was in a bad mood and decided to give the little junior brother a hard time

Tu Zhixiang reverted to her usual self, her beautiful smile returning.

…

After leaving the residence of the Silent Blood Valley Master, Chen Yu obtained the attire and related items for disciples of Black Demon Valley by presenting his Identity Token.

As a True Disciple, Chen Yu lived in the Inner Valley Region, and his residence was an independent courtyard, which he could select himself.

Chen Yu chose a relatively quiet courtyard that he was quite pleased with and settled in.

Time was getting late; therefore, Chen Yu simply decided to enter seclusion and cultivate.

He took out a round and lustrous black fruit, the very Demon Intent Fruit he had picked at the residence of the Silent Blood Valley Master.

Crunch!

With a light bite, the fruit entered his mouth, and a cold and violent spiritual power burst forth, piercing through Chen Yu’s body, reaching into the soul within him.

Demon Intent Fruit could help demon cultivators strengthen their resolve on the path of Demon Cultivation and enhance spiritual power.

"Such powerful demon intent.”

Chen Yu gritted his teeth.

At that moment, he felt as if a wild and ferocious beast was rampaging inside his mind.

After some time, the fruit’s effect faded, and Chen Yu let out a long sigh of relief.

Closing his eyes to sense the changes, he noticed his spiritual power was more condensed than before, now exuding a stronger demon will.

A truly powerful demon cultivator could terrify an opponent, shaken to the core, with a mere glance.

Chen Yu felt that the Silent Blood Valley Master was of such a caliber, but he was still far from it.

After sampling a few more bites of the Demon Intent Fruit, Chen Yu took the Blood Qi Flower, plucked a petal, and swallowed it.

Instantly, Chen Yu’s blood became scorching hot, racing through his meridians.

The fatigue caused by the ordeal from eating the Demon Intent Fruit vanished in an instant.

Also, for those with special bloodlines that were exhausted through overuse, consuming the Blood Qi Flower had a restorative effect.

Chen Yu’s bloodline was within the mysterious space of his heart, different from the norm, and therefore did not receive the Blood Qi Flower’s efficacious result on the bloodline.

"The ‘Blood Crystal Flame’ can also use the Blood Qi Flower to enhance the flame’s quality.”

Chen Yu summoned a dazzling blood-red crystalline flame, plucked another petal from the Blood Qi Flower, and threw it into the flame.