C2 Little Fatty

Lee Qi, who had arrived with Zhang Heng, was by his side. Having consumed the Soul Devouring Soup, their appearances and auras had changed so drastically that they now blended in seamlessly with those around them. At that moment, they stood before the gates of Valiantheart Academy in Lanta, their gaze fixed on the walls flanking the entrance.

Plastered across these walls were numerous slogans: "Drive the long chariots, shatter the Black Sand Demon King's fortress!" "With unwavering resolve, feast on demon flesh, and in mirth, drink the blood of demon kings!" "Without the demon race's demise, how can we call any place home?" "When facing demons, it's better to mistakenly slay a hundred thousand than to spare even one!"

The two men were silent as they absorbed the messages before them. Casting their eyes around, they were surrounded by humans. In that instant, they felt the full weight of being in enemy territory, utterly alone and without support.

After what seemed an eternity, Zhang Heng heard Lee Qi's feeble voice, his face ashen, "Zhang Heng, humans seem so brutal. Are you sure we should try to get into Lanta Valiantheart Academy?"

Lee Qi's words hung in the air as he anxiously scanned the faces of the human passersby.

Zhang Heng flashed a wry smile. "What other choice do we have?"

Lee Qi fell silent, knowing that any further hesitation would be fatal. Once the effects of the Soul Devouring Soup wore off in five days, their demonic identities would be exposed, and death would be their only fate.

Zhang Heng disliked dithering. With the situation as it was, the only option was to face the challenge head-on. He strode confidently toward his goal, a row of temporary tables set up beneath a white jade pavilion.

Each table had a wooden sign hanging in front: Lanta Valiantheart Academy Enrollment Station. Long queues had formed at nearly every station, but Zhang Heng paid them no mind. He had thoroughly researched the academy's admissions process beforehand and knew these were the lines for the standard exams.

The standard exams comprised six areas: Body Tempering Talent Test, Qi Refining Talent Test, Elemental Pulse Talent Test, Cultivation Technique Talent Test, Secret Art Talent Test, and the Combat Test.

Only after passing through multiple layers of selection could one finally gain admission to the academy.

The critical point was that this phase of the process would span a full six days.

By the end of those six days, Zhang Heng and his companion's Demonic Qi would have been exposed, leaving them vulnerable to being vanquished by demon slayers. How could they then stand a chance of infiltrating the academy?

Thus, they had only one option available.

With this realization, Zhang Heng's gaze shifted toward the left, focusing on the enrollment station by the Crystalflow River.

The line at this registration point was sparse.

Upon Zhang Heng's arrival, there was just one young man ahead of him.

This youth was imposingly tall and robust, with a physique as sturdy as a bear and arms as thick as the legs of a King Kong elephant.

Standing there, he resembled a towering iron fortress, a massive wall exuding an overwhelming presence.

In front of the muscular youth, next to the registration table, stood a large golden sign that proclaimed: "Lanta Valiantheart Academy - Exclusive Enrollment Point for Test-Free Admission."

Zhang Heng was there to take part in the test-free admission assessment.

Intelligence had revealed that this particular admission test solely evaluated one's Body Tempering talent. However, the standard for this talent was set exceedingly high, making it a formidable challenge for the average candidate to catch the examiner's eye.

Body Tempering was among the Demon Race's greatest strengths.

If the Demon Race couldn't pass, Zhang Heng struggled to imagine any human who could.

At the test-free registration point, Zhang Heng noticed a chubby boy sprawled across the table, possibly asleep.

The strapping youth approached and rapped on the table, asking, "Hey, is it true that the admission test only evaluates Body Tempering talent and that passing it means immediate entry into the academy?"

"That's correct."

The chubby boy was the examiner for the test-free admission. He had a youthful, cherubic face and appeared to be just a teenager himself.

Lying atop the table, half-asleep, he responded to the muscular youth's inquiry without lifting his head or opening his eyes, grumbling, "But with your frail appearance, you might want to consider registering next door. I'd hate to ruin your looks with a single punch."

The burly youth, taken aback by the little examiner's response, bristled, "You think you could damage me with a punch?"

"There's no need to move; I like it right here. If I can withstand your punch, does that mean I can join the academy directly?"

Upon hearing this, the chubby boy murmured, "Not bad."

"You're not going to use your Yuan Qi to take advantage of me, are you?" the strapping young man asked with concern.

The first realm for a brave is the Qi Refining Realm, which allows one to gather the Yuan Qi of the heavens and earth, significantly enhancing combat power. Hence, his concern.

"Absolutely not," the chubby boy responded with a languid drawl.

"Alright, go ahead and punch me," the strapping young man said, visibly reassured, looking down at the chubby boy with a dismissive air.

"Or you could just scram!" the chubby boy retorted, still feigning sleep.

In the midst of their conversation, his arm, resting on the table, shot out like a python emerging from its lair, and his fist connected with the strapping young man's body with a thud.

With that thud, the strapping young man's towering frame was sent flying like a cannonball, landing with a splash in the nearby Crystalflow River.

As Zhang Heng observed the scene, he overheard the murmuring crowd, "Think it's easy to get into the academy without an exam? Senior Liang Peng was the top Body Tempering student of his year."

"He wouldn't be an assistant examiner for the entrance exam otherwise."

"Challenging Senior Liang Peng without any real skill is just asking for embarrassment..."

"Exactly!"

While they talked, the crowd's gaze turned to Zhang Heng and Liang Peng, who were standing confidently at the registration point manned by the chubby boy, as if they had already concluded that Zhang Heng and Liang Peng were there to be humiliated.

Zhang Heng paid them no mind and strode forward, stopping in front of the chubby boy.

Noticing another arrival, the chubby boy didn't even lift his head. "Did you see what happened to that guy just now?"

"I did," Zhang Heng replied.

"And you still come here looking for trouble?" the young man snapped. "Don't take offense at my words; I'm just blunt."

Zhang Heng flashed a smile and said, "He is who he is, and I am who I am."

The little fatty grunted and simply responded with "okay" before throwing another punch at Zhang Heng without even looking up.

The punch came with such force that the wind rushed towards Zhang Heng's face.

However, unlike the burly youth before him, Zhang Heng didn't stand still. He countered with a punch of his own, his fist cutting through the air like a dragon, meeting the little fatty's oncoming fist head-on.

To everyone's amazement, when the fists collided, Zhang Heng remained unshaken, his feet firmly planted and his stance as solid as a mountain.

In contrast, the little fatty let out an incredulous yelp, "Huh, how is this possible!?"

Caught in his own cry of surprise, the little fatty was sent flying uncontrollably and with a splash, landed in the nearby Crystalflow River.

Moments later, he emerged from the river, spitting out a bellyful of water, and stood on the bank looking like a drenched chicken, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at Zhang Heng. "You hit me?"

Zhang Heng couldn't help but feel a bit of schadenfreude as he looked at the little fatty, who stood there with a face full of grievance. He replied without a hint of emotion, "You were the one who hit me first, Senior Brother."

"I was assessing you," the little fatty declared with conviction.

"And I was responding to the assessment," Zhang Heng replied earnestly.

"The assessment only required you to take a punch from me, not to throw one back," the little fatty said with a scowl.

"But there was no rule against me punching back."

That seemed to be the case!

The little fatty opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words. After a good 10.6 seconds of thought, he reluctantly conceded, "It seems I've taken a beating for nothing."

"Damn it, I thought being a deputy examiner here meant I could strut around and dish out punches without consequence. I didn't realize I might be on the receiving end for nothing."

"Still, this kid is strong. I was the top Body Tempering student back in the day, and he actually managed to..."

Watching the little fatty's sullen figure, Zhang Heng chuckled inwardly, "You think you can outmuscle the demons, little fatty? Have you lost your mind? I've got to hand it to you, you've got guts."

In the midst of his rant, he abruptly came to a realization, "Oh, I seem to have forgotten that he's unaware my current form belongs to a demon."

Meanwhile, the chubby boy had swiftly adjusted himself, using his vital energy to dry off the river water and grinning at Zhang Heng. His demeanor did a complete 180, and he even volunteered his name, "From now on, we're brothers. My name is Liang Peng. What's yours, junior brother? I'll get you registered right away."

Zhang Heng glanced at the chubby boy and cheerfully shared his name: "Zhang Heng."

Then it was Lee Qi's turn to sign up.

Thanks to his formidable demon physique, he easily passed the test.

Subsequently, Zhang Heng and another individual were escorted into the Valiantheart Academy by a senior brother.

Shortly after, the group reached a grand hall.

This hall was known as the Hall of Judgement.

The entire hall exuded a stern and intimidating presence.

A man was already there waiting in the expansive hall.

He was an elder with piercing eyes and a stern countenance, not prone to smiles.

"I am the chief examiner for the new student assessment, the Hall Master of the Hall of Judgement."

"If you pass my test, you will become part of Lanta Academy. Fail, and you die," Hall Master Fang declared with a steely gaze.

Murmurs spread among the group.

Failure meant death?

Wasn't that excessively severe?

Anticipating their reaction, Hall Master Fang of the Hall of Judgement added icily, "Humans and demons have been at war for generations, and it's common for demons to attempt infiltrating the academy with ill intentions."

"This test is designed to root out any demon spies."

The crowd had an epiphany.

So, only demon spies would fail the test.

Naturally, demons were to be eliminated on sight.

Afterward, Hall Master Fang of the Hall of Judgement instructed each person to come forward for inspection.

The atmosphere, once calm, shifted dramatically with the fifth individual.

"You possess demonic energy within you. You are a demon."

Hall Master Fang of the Hall of Judgement addressed a frail young man, enunciating each word clearly.

"I... I've consumed the flesh and blood of demonic beasts... I..."

The young man stuttered in his defense.

"Lies!"

But Hall Master Fang from the Hall of Judgement wasn't having any of it. With a swift motion, he reached out, seized the young man by the neck, and with a chilling snap, twisted it, tossing the lifeless body to the ground.

Zhang Heng watched as the body hit the ground and instantly transformed into a snarling, fanged wolf.

"It was actually a demon!"

Zhang Heng silently mused.

"I just hope the Demon Devouring Soup works, or I might be the next one to die."

Zhang Heng was next in line after the young man.

At that moment, the stern-faced Hall Master Fang gestured for him to come forward.

Zhang Heng approached without trying to hide his fear.

Considering a demon had just perished before his eyes, it would be unnatural for a young man with little experience not to show signs of fear.

Sure enough, Hall Master Fang, seeing his frightened state, did not grow suspicious but instead offered some rare words of comfort, "You needn't fear. He was a demon, and that's why I had to strike him down with such force."

Zhang Heng couldn't help but think, "This kind of reassurance only makes me more terrified."

He then listened as Hall Master Fang instructed, "Just relax, and trust me, you'll be fine."

"Yes, Hall Master Fang," Zhang Heng responded with due respect, resigning himself to whatever might come.

Next, Elder Fang placed his right hand on Zhang Heng's shoulder.

Instantly, a peculiar current flowed from the palm of Hall Master Fang into Zhang Heng's body.

The sensation was refreshingly cool, and as it entered Zhang Heng, it meandered throughout his body, reaching from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet.

Zhang Heng felt, in just a brief moment, that the current had thoroughly scanned every organ, limb, and bone, leaving no place concealed.

After a short time, Hall Master Fang withdrew his hand and regarded Zhang Heng, asking, "Your vitality and strength are exceptional, beyond that of ordinary people. What's the reason for this?"

As a member of the demon race, it was inevitable that his physical constitution would stand out from ordinary humans.

Zhang Heng and Lee Qi had anticipated this scrutiny. He calmly gestured towards Lee Qi and explained, "Lee Qi and I come from a lineage of hunters, often venturing deep into the wilderness."

"We once shared two unusual fruits we found in the mountains."

"Fruits?"

"Yes, the fruits closely resembled Peaches of Immortality, except they were adorned with numerous silver characters."

Hall Master Fang paused, then regarded Zhang Heng with a hint of surprise. "That explains it; you two are quite fortunate."

"The fruit you consumed must have been the Longevity Peaches of Immortality. Not only do they enhance one's physical strength, but they also extend one's lifespan."

With a dismissive wave, he signaled for Zhang Heng to step back.

Zhang Heng sighed in relief, silently grateful for the effective Demon Devouring Soup.

Subsequently, Lee Qi also passed the examination.

Once everyone had completed the process, Hall Master Fang, the chief examiner for the new recruits, scanned the group with a piercing gaze.

He then announced with a stern voice, "The exemption from the entrance examination for this session is now concluded."

"Congratulations to all of you on becoming part of Valiantheart Academy in Lanta. A brave is the most steadfast shield of humanity and the sharpest blade against demons. I trust that you will honor the name of the brave and, in the future, vanquish demons to purify the cosmos."

"Now, please proceed to collect the essential items for new students."