43: Chapter 43: Demon Child Ranking Tournament

Three months, for a Mortal, is half a year, but for a Cultivator, it is just a fleeting moment.

Deep within the Eternal Night Palace, in the cultivation chamber.

Xiao Ran opened his eyes, and the two gray-black Guixu Vortex phantoms in his pupils slowly dissipated.

He slowly stood up, his bones emitting crisp explosions like clashing jade, and a dark golden luster faintly flowed beneath his skin.

This was a sign that the Myriad Dao Guixu Body was tempering his Physical Body at the last stage of Golden Core.

Xiao Ran's Physical Body was now no worse than that of an average Body Cultivator.

"last stage of Golden Core, done."

Xiao Ran felt the demonic core in his Dantian, which had expanded to the size of a fist, and secretly felt happy.

Looking at the entire world of Cultivators, there probably weren't many who could go from a cultivation novice to a powerhouse at the last stage of Golden Core in just one year!

"At least I didn't embarrass my fellow Transmigration peers."

Xiao Ran smiled inwardly.

Afterward, he began to calculate the resource consumption over the past three months.

During these three months, the Myriad Dao Guixu Body had been like a gold-devouring beast, consuming resources day and night.

But upon calculating, he found that he had only consumed a small fraction of the 20% of resources obtained from the Shiyin Sect.

It wasn't that the Myriad Dao Guixu Body was lacking; it was just that Xiao Ran's foundation was too deep.

Even so, the final results were significant.

Moving from the Middle Stage of Golden Core to the last stage of Golden Core, an ordinary Genius might need ten years or even longer.

Yet it only took him three months.

The Myriad Dao Guixu Body's Devouring talent, combined with its conversion ability, allowed him to efficiently convert resources of various attributes into pure demonic essence with almost no waste.

"Let me calculate the time; the Demon Son Ranking Tournament is in two days, right!"

Xiao Ran murmured, then walked out of the cultivation chamber.

Inside the Eternal Night Palace.

Zhao Ying and Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing had long been waiting outside.

In half a year, relying on the resources bestowed by Xiao Ran, their cultivation had both increased.

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing appeared even more mature, and she had been responsible for managing all affairs within the palace during this period.

"Congratulations to the Demon Son for coming out of seclusion!"

Seeing Xiao Ran, the two looked happy and bowed in unison.

Xiao Ran nodded slightly and casually tossed out a few hundred Spirit Stones.

He didn't like empty promises, nor did he like making them.

So he usually just handed out cultivation resources without a word, which made his subordinates extremely happy.

"Thank you, Demon Son! You are the coolest."

Seeing this, Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing wanted to pounce on Xiao Ran.

"Work hard for me, and the rewards will be huge."

Xiao Ran waved his hand, offering appropriate encouragement.

Afterward, he asked, "Has the Sect officially announced the news of the ranking tournament?"

"It was announced three days ago."

"This is the detailed rules and the list of participating Demon Sons for this ranking tournament."

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing quickly handed over a Jade Slip.

Xiao Ran took it and scanned it with his Divine Sense.

[Eternal Night Demon Sect Demon Son Ranking Tournament

Time: Seven days later.

Location: Eternal Night Demon Sect Forbidden Ground — Eternal Night Heaven Rank.

Rules:

1. The eight Demon Sons will challenge each other from low to high according to their current rankings. Each challenge is limited to one person, and the winner replaces the loser's ranking, while the loser moves back in the order.

2. Each person can accept at most two challenges per day, or initiate two challenges.

3. There are no specific rules for combat; any means can be used, but causing death intentionally is strictly prohibited — violators will be severely punished by the Law Enforcement Hall.

4. The final ranking will determine resource allocation, Immortal Cave privileges, and priority for Sect tasks for the coming period.

Participants:

First Demon Son: Li Tianxing.

...

Eighth Demon Son: Xiao Ran.]

Xiao Ran's gaze lingered on the list for a moment.

Blood Child was dead, so he moved up to become the Eighth Demon Son.

And of the seven people ranked ahead of him, the lowest was at the Peak of Golden Core, while the other Demon Sons were all Nascent Soul powerhouses.

"The pressure is immense."

Xiao Ran murmured.

There was a chasm between Nascent Soul and Golden Core, so he didn't even want to think about it.

As the saying goes, all are ants below the Nascent Soul.

This was only the case in the Eternal Night Demon Sect, the number one Demon Sect in the Northern Territory, where Foundation Establishment Cultivators were as common as dogs and Golden Core Cultivators were everywhere.

Elsewhere, Golden Core Cultivators were at the level called Old Ancestor.

But even so, Nascent Soul Cultivators were still the backbone of the Sect, which showed their value.

"I'll ignore the others, but I must challenge the Seventh Demon Son, as his cultivation is at the Peak of Golden Core."

After three months of bitter cultivation, Xiao Ran needed a hearty battle to verify his results.

"My Lord, this is an invitation sent by someone from the Third Demon Son."

Zhao Ying handed over a black invitation with skull patterns embroidered with gold thread on the edges.

"He invites you to gather at the White Bone Hall tomorrow, saying it's a small pre-battle chat among several Demon Sons."

Xiao Ran took the invitation, rubbed his fingertips over the skull patterns for a moment, and a curve appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"A pre-battle chat? I'm afraid it's mostly to probe me."

He put away the invitation.

"Reply and say that I have just come out of seclusion and still need to stabilize my cultivation, so I cannot attend tomorrow's appointment. If there is a chance after the ranking tournament, I will drink and have fun with all the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters."

"Yes."

Zhao Ying acknowledged the order and retreated.

Xiao Ran looked at Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing again.

"I've been in seclusion for months; my mouth has become tasteless. Go prepare a sumptuous meal for me."

"I need to improve my diet."

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing went to prepare immediately upon seeing this.

Xiao Ran walked through the Eternal Night Palace, harassing Li Changsheng through their mental link.

Of course, more importantly, he was showing off that he had already reached the last stage of Golden Core.

...

Three days later.

Eternal Night Demon Sect Forbidden Ground, Eternal Night Heaven Rank.

This was a mysterious place floating ten thousand feet in the air.

Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine black jade steps extended from the Void Realm, leading to a huge circular fighting platform.

The fighting platform was a thousand feet in diameter, and the ground was cast from Nether Profound Iron, engraved with dense defensive formation patterns, enough to withstand the aftermath of a Soul Transformation level battle.

Eighty-one spectator stands floated around in a circular distribution, each capable of accommodating hundreds of people.

At this moment, the spectator stands were already packed with people.

Inner Sect Disciples, True Disciples, deacons from various halls, and even many Elders of the Eternal Night Demon Sect had come to watch the battle.

The Demon Son Ranking Tournament was an annual event for the Sect; it not only concerned the rankings of the eight Demon Sons but also influenced the internal power structure of the Sect for the coming year.

"Look, First Demon Son Li Tianxing is here!"

Someone suddenly shouted.

The crowd stirred.

In the eastern sky, a bloody light broke through the air, and wherever it passed, the clouds were dyed dark red.

The bloody light landed on the highest spectator stand, transforming into a tall, straight figure.

That person wore dark red battle armor, his long hair was disheveled, and his face was cold and sharp as if carved by a knife.

When his eyes were closed, it seemed as if he was resting, but when he opened them, phantoms of a sea of blood and mountains of corpses appeared in his pupils.

First Demon Son, Li Tianxing, Peak Nascent Soul Cultivator, Blood Fiend Demon Body.

As soon as he appeared, the aura of the entire Heaven Rank was suppressed, and many Disciples with lower cultivation even felt difficulty breathing.

Immediately afterward, the other Demon Sons arrived one after another.

Second Demon Son Poison Lady, Late Nascent Soul Stage, Ten Thousand Poisons Spirit Body.

She was the only woman among the eight Demon Sons, and because of her enchanting appearance and cruel methods, she was known as the thorny rose.

At this moment, she was wrapped in seven-colored poison gauze, leaning lazily, with colorful smoke lingering at her fingertips, beautiful yet lethal.

Third Demon Son White Bone Scholar, Late Nascent Soul Stage, Nether Bone Body.

He was dressed in white, gently waving a bone fan, with a gentle, scholarly smile, but deep in his eyes, ghostly green ghost fire flickered.

Fourth Demon Son Yin Jiuyou, Nascent Soul middle stage, Nine Nether Profound Yin Body.

He was the most low-key among the Demon Sons, wearing a black robe that covered his body, revealing only a pair of ghostly green pupils, with cold air overflowing.

Fifth Demon Son Blood Slaughterer, Nascent Soul Early Stage, Bloodthirsty Battle Body.

He carried a Blood Fiend Dragon-Slaughtering Axe the size of a door panel, his Evil Qi was tangible, and he grinned, his Battle Intent undisguised.

Sixth Demon Son Ghost Shadow, Nascent Soul Early Stage, Phantom Demon Body.

At this moment, he was truly living up to his name; his figure was elusive, as if he would merge into the shadows at any time, and his aura was flickering.

Seventh Demon Son Tie Kuang, Golden Core Great Perfection, Diamond Demon Body.

He was one of the only two Golden Core Cultivators among the eight Demon Sons, and also Xiao Ran's main opponent today.

At this moment, he was shirtless, his muscles like cast refined iron, and just standing there, he was terrifyingly strong.

Finally...

"Eighth Demon Son Xiao Ran arrives!"