After being struck by Yuan’s golden light, Meng Xuan felt her blood begin to boil, an intense heat coursing through her veins. Her muscles twitched and squirmed uncontrollably, as though they were trying to break free from her skin. "That power you accepted from the demon may have increased your cultivation and longevity, but it comes with a price. It will strip away your humanity. While you won’t fully become a demon, you’ll turn into something in-between—something neither human nor demon." As Yuan spoke, Meng Xuan’s body began to contort unnaturally, her form twisting and shifting. Her white skin darkened in patches, and her beautiful features took on a grotesque, unrecognizable appearance. Regret flickered in Meng Xuan’s eyes, a fleeting moment of clarity amidst the chaos consuming her. However, it didn’t last long. As her body continued to transform, her emotions and sanity were stripped away, leaving behind a hollow shell of what she once was. Her gaze turned vacant, and a primal, unrecognizable presence replaced her former self. Soon, her eyes became filled with rage and bloodlust. "What a pity." Not waiting for Meng Xuan to go on a rampage, Yuan activated True Dragon Awakening and immediately began attacking her with Demon Sealing Aura. Several strikes later, Meng Xuan was completely sealed, turning into a stone statue. "I can’t believe it… To think Tower Master Meng had been a demon worshipper this entire time," Tower Master Gao muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief. Sometime later, Yuan finished off the job. After killing Meng Xuan, she unexpectedly dropped a demon core. Normally, this wouldn’t be possible since only full-fledged demons have demon cores, but this was a trial created by the Stairway to Heaven. Yuan picked up the demon core, its dark and ominous energy radiating in his hand. He stared at it for a moment, his expression contemplative. Then, without hesitation, he tossed it into his mouth and consumed it. <...> After consuming a demon core with energy equivalent to a Divine Ancestor, Yuan’s cultivation soared an entire realm, entering the first level of Spirit Enlightenment. Moreover, all of the chaotic essence he’d consumed was replenished. "As I thought… the chaotic energy within demons can be used to replenish my chaotic essence…" Yuan muttered with a satisfied smile. By consuming the demon core, Yuan confirmed his suspicions— that it replenished his Chaotic Essence, a rare and invaluable energy source within the Nine Heavens. This realization meant that as long as he had access to demon cores, he could not only restore his Chaotic Essence but also develop his Chaotic Heart even further. "Oh? I only needed to pass a single trial this time?" "Congratulations, Master. Here is your reward," Tian’er appeared to personally hand him the reward for the first time. In her grasp was a long wooden box. Yuan accepted the box without hesitation and opened it immediately. Inside, nestled securely, were five distinct items. The first item was a golden pill. [True Heavenly Pill] [Tier 7] [Purity: 95%] [Effects: Greatly increases one’s innate talents and cultivation speed. Its effects will only work once.] The second item inside the box was a silver ore. It was clearly a material for crafting treasures. The third and fourth items were intricately rolled scrolls. Yuan picked them up one at a time, examining the titles inscribed on their surfaces. The first scroll was titled "Shadow Puppet," while the second bore the name "Shadow Extraction." "A martial technique and a cultivation technique, huh?" The fifth and final item was a thin, unassuming book with the title "A World of Darkness" ominously etched on its cover. After reading the first page, which was filled with array symbols, it became clear that it was a powerful formation. However, despite his knowledge, Yuan was unable to accurately determine its exact level. What he could deduce with certainty, though, was that it was at least a Level 7 formation. Find more chapters on empire "By the way, your Divine Beasts friends—the dragon and serpent have already passed their trials. They’re waiting for you inside the Stairway to Heaven," Tian’er suddenly revealed. Yuan nodded and said, "Thank you." "Should I take you to them now?" "Give me a moment." Yuan used this moment to consume the True Heavenly Pill and study the Shadow Puppet martial technique. ’I don’t need the cultivation technique, but Yingzi might be able to use it to start her second cultivation.’ Although magical beasts typically avoided using human cultivation techniques due to their inherent incompatibility, it was not entirely unheard of. There were rare cases where particularly intelligent or adaptable beasts had managed to modify and adapt human techniques to suit their unique physiology. A few hours later. [Shadow Puppet] [Rank: Supreme] [Mastery Level: 1] [Description: This ability grants the user control over shadows, enabling them to manipulate and shape the darkness around them into powerful weapons. The shadows become an extension of the user’s will, offering versatility in both offense and defense.] "Okay, I am ready," Yuan said sometime later. Tian’er teleported Yuan to the waiting room, where Lan Yingying and Xi Meili had been waiting since they finished their trials. "Sorry for taking so long. I didn’t think the trial would require so much time," he said to them. "It’s fine. I needed some time to digest what I learned from my trial, anyway," Xi Meili said. Sometime later, Tian’er brought Yuan to the others. "So, what did you think?" Yuan asked Tan Songyun, who was speechless at first. "I don’t know what to think. How much of what you showed me is real, anyway?" "While the trial isn’t a perfect replay of history, it’s true that those Tower Masters were all corrupted and the reason Tian Kai ended their lives." "I have a lot of questions, but they can wait. I am still trying to process what I witnessed," she sighed. Yuan smiled. "Take your time."