<h4>Chapter 373 - Number One Wolf In The World</h4>


    Xiang finally stopped his attacks and turned back into his cute, tiny form. He returned to Long Chen, and despite his cute looks, he maintained a serious expression, which made him even more adorable.


    Murong Yu looked at Long Chen, then at Xiang. She was still in disbelief.


    “Is the little wolf that powerful?” Murong Yu croaked out, biting her lip.


    “Of course! Xiang is the number one wolf in the world!” Long Chenughed, then he looked at Murong Yu in amusement and said, “What do you think? The Frost Soul Essence is in my hands now. Do you have a problem with that?”


    “This little wolf sent Yang Danfeng running for his life, so how could I be a match for it? I’m not an idiot. Since you were able to take it, it’s yours. This oue is much better than letting that jerk Yang Danfeng get it. However, Long Chen, how did you know we’re fighting for the Frost Soul Essence?”


    “I saw Yang Jun and the others looking for it with a map, so I snatched it from them and came here. Thank goodness I arrived in time, or Yang Danfeng would have gotten it,” said Long Chen.


    Murong Yu felt like her heart was a mess as she looked at his impassive expression. She was more powerful than Long Chen, but in her heart, he was still mysterious and powerful. The Frost Soul Essence was with him now, and she was willing to admit defeat.


    He had the Frost Soul Essence, and there was no need to search for more Fire Essences. He only had to wait one more day to leave the Pyro Passageways. He had obtained a huge haul from this trip, and his cultivation would strengthen once more now that he had the Frost Soul Essence.


    Since he and Murong Yu were not close friends, it was understandably awkward. Therefore, he nodded and said, “If that’s the case, I’ll see you tomorrow. I need to go get more Fire Essences.”


    “How many do you have so far?” she asked hurriedly. When she asked the question, she realized she had overstepped. Since they werepetitors, and the number of Fire Essences determined whether they would receive the Demon Seed nting Technique, telling each other how many they had was not quite appropriate.


    “Fire Essences? About two thousand,” replied Long Chen without thinking much of it. To be honest, since she had helped him before, he basically saw her as a good friend. There was no need to hide small matters like this from a friend.


    “Two thousand?” Murong Yu was tongue-tied. She eyed him up and down, saw the corner of his lips curl up, then said a little angrily, “How dare you lie to me! Alright, I won’t keep you from your search for Fire Essences! But let me remind you that if you want to get the Demon Seed nting Technique, you’d best get at least five hundred Fire Essences. It’s safer that way. There are eight of them after all. If you want the second stage, you’ll need eight hundred ...


    “Right now, counting the Divine Essence Crystals, I have the equivalent of more than seven hundred Fire Essences. I don’t know how many Yang Danfeng has, but I believe he has around the same amount.” Murong Yu did not hold back and told him her number so he would be mentally prepared.


    “Thank you very much!” Long Chen could tell that she was being nice to him and looked at her gratefully. He bade her farewell, then turned to leave with Xiang.


    Murong Yu stood in the spot, dazed as she watched him leave. It was only when he disappeared that she came back to her senses ...


    The day passed slowly.


    Since Long Chen had an approximate knowledge of how many Fire Essences the other disciples had, and he knew that his number far surpassed theirs, he did not collect anymore but kept Ling Xipany instead. When it was time, he felt a powerful aura pressing on the Pyro Passageways. At this time, he emerged from the surface and returned to the original tunnel.


    Zhao Qingyun was standing on the surface of theva beneath the tunnel. When he saw that Long Chen was safe and sound, he sighed in relief and said, “Let’s go! Follow me back!”


    Long Chen followed a hanging metal chain that ran upwards and returned to the tunnel. By this point, the three Demon Elders had probably taken the others back too. Long Chen followed Zhao Qingyun out and began their journey back.


    “How is it possible for this demonic beast’s aura to be so much stronger than before?” Zhao Qingyun was a little stunned when he saw Xiang, who was napping in Long Chen’s arms. He eyed Xiang carefully for a while in disbelief.


    “Initially, I estimated this demonic beast to be a Category Five Earth-tier, but right now, it’s at least a Category Eight Earth-tier ...” Zhao Qingyun knew that Long Chen was a mysterious teenager who owned many mysterious items. However, he still found it difficult to ept that the beast had risen by three tiers in five days.


    Long Chen looked torn. He did not know how to exin Xiang’s condition to Zhao Qingyun.


    “So this is why you brought the demonic beast to the Pyro Passageways. This demonic wolf emits a thick fire energy, so the Pyro Passageways is the perfect ce for it to live.” There was only an impressed look in his eyes without any malicious intent.


    “Alright, kid. There’s no need to panic. I’m old. I don’t ask for much when ites to reputation, strength, and all, so I won’t ask about your personal secrets. All I want to know is the name of this beast,” Zhao Qingyun said with a grin, patting Long Chen’s shoulder.


    “Master, you must know of a ck-tier beast called the Moon Devouring Wolf, right? Xiang is a type of mutant that evolved from the Moon Devouring Wolf called the Sun Devouring Wolf,” Long Chen answered honestly.


    “I’ve heard of the Moon Devouring Wolf, but not the Sun Devouring Wolf. Are you sure it isn’t a name you made up, kid? Hehe. Whatever. Let’s put the wolf aside and discuss the main topic. Long Chen, how confident are you in winning?” There was anticipation, but also nervousness, in Zhao Qingyun’s voice.


    “Master, don’t worry. I promise you’ll be surprised,” Long Chen responded with a mysterious smile.


    “Surprise? Don’t underestimate the rest of them, kid. Xiao Yu is the only obedient one of the bunch. The other disciples of the three Demon Elders are all wild. They’re not true demons. You, Long Chen, fit my image of a demon better.”


    This was why Zhao Qingyun liked Long Chen so much. Long Chen worked alone and was restricted by no one. He was extraordinarily talented, and his attitude was carefree and straightforward. This was the “demon” that Zhao Qingyun had described, and Long Chen’s personality fit the description perfectly.


    “Nonsense. How could Zhao Qingyun’s direct disciple be worse than them? Then again, your disciples have never beaten the disciples of the three Demon Elders. Today, I’ll give you a taste of victory!” Although Zhao Qingyun was his master, Long Chen did not mince his words when he spoke, and Zhao Qingyun naturally did not care. Long Chen was veryfortable with a rtionship like that.


    No matter what Zhao Qingyun said, Long Chen refused to tell him how many Fire Essences he had gathered. They walked until they arrived at the end of the ten walkways where the metal door was, and Zhao Qingyun smiled in exasperation. The other people had begun to arrive too. First to arrive were the three Demon Elders, whose expressions were dark, while behind them were Yang Danfeng and Yang Jun, whose faces were even darker. There were a few more disciples with them, and a few were being propped up as they walked. These were the ones whose thighs Long Chen had stabbed.


    Murong Yu looked much more carefree than them, tagging along at the back.


    When the three Demon Elders spotted Long Chen, they shot him cold, deathly res, causing goosebumps to pop up all over his body. Since they had not announced the number of Fire Essences yet, the three Demon Elders were currently concerned about who had taken the Frost Soul Essence. That was something they had meticulously prepared for their number one disciples, yet Long Chen had reaped the fruit of theirbor. When they heard the news, even the First Demon Elder almost fainted from rage.


    At this point, the rage they felt towards Long Chen could no longer be described with words.


    However, what frustrated them was that they could not rage at Long Chen in public, because the Frost Soul Essence was a secret between them and their disciples. Usually, treasures found in the Pyro Passageways belonged to the Heavenly Demon Pce, but the three Demon Elders had kept it for themselves behind Zhao Qingyun’s back. This was already a wrongdoing, so they could not publicly ask Long Chen for a trade.


    When they saw that their disciples had been hurt by Long Chen, they were even angrier.


    Unfortunately, no matter how angry they were, they had to keep it inside.


    “Since everyone has arrived, then we shall not dy any longer. Let’s head to the Demon Pavilion to announce the results, then decide who shall receive the Demon Seed nting Technique!”


    Zhao Qingyun was no fool, so of course he saw their dark expressions. He knew that they were like that because Long Chen had beaten their disciples up in the Pyro Passageways.


    He finally had a direct disciple who was superior to the others, so although Zhao Qingyun did not say it, he was privately smug.


    He led the whole group towards the Demon Pavilion. Since the Pyro Passageways training exercise was finally over, it had caused a hugemotion in the Heavenly Demon Pce. All the disciples and elders were very concerned about who would receive the Demon Seed nting Technique, so many disciples had already gathered outside the Demon Pavilion. Almost all the elders, Enforces, and Pavilion Lords were already waiting inside.


    When Zhao Qingyun arrived, the Heavenly Demon Pce disciples started to chatter. They looked behind him excitedly and indeed, the disciples that had gone into the Pyro Passageways were with him. But why was the atmosphere so strange?


    Long Chen was next to Zhao Qingyun, both with identical expressions on their faces. On the other hand, the three Demon Elders had the same expressions as their disciples. Long Chen was naturally joyful, whereas the Demon Elders’ expressions were each darker than thest. Was this indicative of something?


    Did it mean ...


    Had Long Chen found more Fire Essences than them? More than Yang Jun?


    All faces were filled with disbelief.


    “That’s impossible. He’s just pretending. Once he shows the number of Fire Essences he has, you’ll know who the victor is!” one of them said with augh.