I am grinding experience in another world

Weizhi Peak, in front of the thatched cottage at the summit.

“Luoding of the Luodu Academy?”

“Never seen him.”

Chen Mu feigned ignorance with an earnest expression in front of Yuan Zhen.

“The commotion on the mountain just now…”

“I had a minor breakthrough in my Dao and couldn’t control my power well, startled everyone, truly sorry for that.” Chen Mu continued with a guilty look.

“Really didn’t see Luoding?” Yuan Zhen looked at Chen Mu skeptically.

Was it truly just a simple secret technique practice causing such a ghostly racket?

After some thought, he pulled out a small black lacquer copper mirror the size of a palm.

“What’s this?” Chen Mu curiously leaned in to take a look.

“This is called the Divine Communication Mirror, modeled after the Luofu Taoist Ancestor’s Spiritual Treasure, the Divine Bone Mirror, it reveals the true nature of spiritual deities.”

“If possessed by demons, it can detect the anomaly.” Seeing the face in the mirror identical to Chen Mu’s, Yuan Zhen sighed in relief and patiently explained.

“Luoding colluded with demons to let a demon possess him for rebirth after attacking Lin Tu, I must guard against him.” He apologized sincerely.

So that peculiar Emerald Green Flying Cicada wanted to possess me?

Chen Mu was startled.

Thankfully, the Heavenly Demon Armor protected the Jade Seed Dao Foundation and directly repelled the flying cicada.

If it had really entered my body, the outcome might have been entirely different.

“The academy has considered everything; being cautious for everyone’s safety is beneficial.” Chen Mu waved, unconcerned by Yuan Zhen’s investigation.

“Really didn’t see Luoding?” Yuan Zhen put away the Divine Communication Mirror, still uneasy.

“You have to trust me, really didn’t see Luoding!” Chen Mu replied with grave seriousness.

Can’t say I saw him.

Luoding, after all, is from the Holy Heart Institute, a figure in the Yellow Springs Sect, and might have connections.

If those people find out Luoding died by my hand, it’d likely cause great trouble, better to deny from the start.

Alright then.

Didn’t see means didn’t see.

“Yuan Zhen once presided over your Daoist Soldier Contract signing; if it turns against you, you’ll be quite passive.” Yuan Zhen stopped probing and sincerely advised.

“Don’t stray too far from Nine Peaks Mountain recently; if something happens, I can quickly assist.”

“Thank you, academy!” Grateful at heart, Chen Mu solemnly clasped his hands.

But still, can’t reveal anything about Luoding.

…

After seeing off Yuan Zhen, Chen Mu returned to the thatched cottage and lay in the rocking chair.

After dealing with Luoding’s assault in the first half of the night and responding to Yuan Zhen’s probing in the second half, it was only now he had time to think about Luoding’s attack.

“First Lin Tu, then me.”

“Luoding launched a sneak attack to let that Emerald Green Flying Cicada Demon possess.”

“Definitely aiming to wreak havoc at Nine Peaks Mountain.”

“The old guy deserves to die!”

Chen Mu snorted coldly.

Recapping now, he still felt a lingering fear. Luckily, there was the Heavenly Demon Armor; otherwise, the flying cicada might have succeeded.

“Gladly, in the end, I won and completely dealt with that old thing.”

“Luoding was indeed cautious, even leaving his heart outside the mountain ahead.”

“Wonder what secret technique allows regenerating the body from the heart.”

“Heard the true form realm in Heavenly Demon Reincarnation allows rebirth from a drop of blood, did the old guy master the True Form of Heavenly Demon?”

Chen Mu thought then shook his head.

If he mastered the true form, I should’ve died instead; it must be the secret use of the Holy Heart Scripture.

“Holy Heart Scripture, too bad I missed the chance.”

Chen Mu lamented.

At the time of signing the Daoist Soldier Contract at the Holy Heart Institute, I had the chance to get the Heavenly Demon Rebirth Path Artifact Creation Secret Technique.

But I, a proper Qi Cultivator, ultimately chose the Yellow Springs Gourd.

While in the small valley, Luoding was stark naked, and after being devoured by Yama’s Feast, I found no trace of the Mustard Seed Talisman.

Chen Mu guessed Luoding might have lost his belongings in the fight with Yuan Zhen at Chaoyang Peak.

“If only I could glimpse the Holy Heart Scripture, maybe it could resolve my confusion.”

Chen Mu touched his chest and frowned.

Ever since devouring Luoding with Yama’s Feast, after returning from the small valley, he’d heard another heartbeat.

Inside the original heart, there seemed to be another heart beating.

Using the Truth Listening Divine Power to probe revealed nothing, only an indistinct sense of a weak life force growing inside.

“Should be nothing bad…right?” Chen Mu was worried.

…

Apprehensive for several days.

But besides the second slow heartbeat, nothing abnormal occurred.

Even on the fifth day, the second heartbeat gradually merged with the original one,

Chen Mu sighed in relief, thinking it would end there. But waking the next day, he felt a slight anomaly in his chest.

Probbed with the Truth Listening Divine Power, finding that after only a sleep, a heart emitting a scarlet glow appeared on the right side of his chest!

It mirrored the original heart’s distribution, as new dark green veins extended throughout the body, establishing a second circulatory system!

What the hell is going on?

Who has two hearts?

One even emits a scarlet glow, clearly suspicious!

Chen Mu’s eye twitched wildly.

Luoding sure is a long-lasting calamity, not letting me rest even in death!

…

“Two hearts?”

“Isn’t this effect not found in the ‘Holy Heart Scripture’?”

On the east side of the dojo at the mountainside, inside the Scripture Pavilion, Tang Zhimu shook his head in confusion.

“It’s not from the ‘Holy Heart Scripture’?”

Chen Mu grew increasingly worried.

Although he felt no discomfort, in fact, he felt more energetic.

But suddenly acquiring an extra heart was not something he could just ignore, so he came to seek out Tang Zhimu for answers.

“There is a similar Heart Transfer Secret Technique, which can use the heart of a demon to gain the demon’s innate divine power.”

“But it’s considered an unorthodox path with significant side effects.”

“Instead, there’s another strange secret technique that aligns more with the Institute’s description.” Tang Zhimu looked at Chen Mu. “Does the Institute have any understanding of the region of Kangzhou?”

West of Yizhou, Kangzhou?

He did indeed know something about it.

When returning from the Beyond Heaven Star to the earth, his first stop was in Kangzhou.

“Are you referring to those members of the Yin Ghost Sect?” Chen Mu raised an eyebrow.

“Yes.” Tang Zhimu nodded.

“It’s rumored that mortals and martial artists who practice the Yin Ghost Secret Technique, when reaching an advanced level, can develop a second heart.”

“Their bodies can then become strong like demons, possessing incredible powers.”

Nether God Blood Pouch?!

So, is the second heart in his chest caused by the Underworld God Transformation?

Chen Mu immediately realized.

He had indeed practiced the Underworld God Transformation Secret Technique.

Chen Mu summoned a gray stone gate.

Green Satchel Chapter: Limit.

Back then, to escape the Divine Statue Cave Heaven, he had practiced the Underworld God Transformation. Using the Green Satchel Chapter, he cultivated the Nether God Blood Pouch, and then implanted a Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed in himself, allowing his body to become a demon seed avatar of the Heavenly Demon Body.

Then, using the Substitute Puppet Technique, he let the Heavenly Demon Body hold the fort in the Divine Statue Cave Heaven, allowing his true self to escape.

But since initially cultivating the Blood Pouch, he hadn’t continued the practice.

On one hand, he had no further secret techniques; on the other, he didn’t find it necessary.

He was a Qi Cultivator with a completed Dao Foundation, granting him a two-hundred-year lifespan. The Underworld God Transformation only increases offensive means and is not a path to longevity, so he didn’t pay much heed. Yet, he didn’t expect any complications to arise here.

“Didn’t Luo Ding practice the Heavenly Demon Rebirth Path? How did Yama’s Feast on him lead to an improvement in the Underworld God Transformation?”

“Is there an intrinsic connection between the ‘Holy Heart Scripture’ and the Underworld God Transformation?”

The more Chen Mu thought about it, the more puzzled he became.

…

Two days later.

At the top of Weizhi Peak, in front of a thatched hut’s door.

Chen Mu sat in a bamboo chair beneath the window, feeling the synchronized beating of two hearts, slightly relieved.

Over the past two days, he closely monitored bodily changes and found no adverse effects.

On the contrary, with the operation of a second blood circulation system, his own strength and physique began to improve gradually.

“If this enhancement continues over time, it might outstrip the body cultivated through the Heavenly Demon Rebirth Path.”.

Chen Mu had a peculiar expression.

In his younger days, he relied heavily on martial strength to slay enemies and protect his way, his techniques rather uncouth.

Later, becoming a Qi Cultivator, he gradually emphasized secret techniques as these had a more immortal quality.

Yet, it seemed he had come full circle back to an old path of Body Refinement.

Am I born to be a brute?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Chen Mu refused to acknowledge!

…

The changes brought by the second heart were far more encompassing than this.

Chen Mu’s spirit delved into Thousand Lanterns City.

At this moment, Thousand Lanterns City had quietly expanded several times over.

The large eye drooping with lifeless eyelids overhead had begun to move gradually, as if gaining a trace of spirituality.

“Did the enhancement of the Underworld God Transformation really augment Thousand Lanterns City?”

“Remarkable!”

Initially, Chen Mu thought Thousand Lanterns City was a remnant cave heaven created by Ancient Qi Cultivators.

Later, during an invasion of Sea State Nether Demon Heaven, he encountered the No-Eyed Child, a demon following Lan Zhang.

The other claimed he was from the Shadow Clan and said Thousand Lanterns City Cave Heaven was a divine skill passed through their clan’s bloodline, which could be mutually devoured to stack and enhance.

The large eye at the top of Thousand Lanterns City only appeared after counter-killing and devouring No-Eyed Child.

“But wasn’t Thousand Lanterns City rooted in the innate divine power of the Yin Spirit Sky Demon Body?”

“How did a boost in the Underworld God Transformation instead strengthen the Heavenly Demon Body?”

Of course!

The core of the Underworld God Transformation lies in the Blood Pouch, which is constructed using Netherworld Worms.

Ghosts and Netherworld Worms are two sides of the same coin, and with a death transition, Netherworld Worms can become ghosts.

And the essence of the Yin Spirit Sky Demon Body is Ghosts (Yin Spirits).

If this is the case, it’s reasonable that the Underworld God Transformation could affect the Yin Spirit Sky Demon.

Chen Mu gained a deeper understanding in his heart.

“Gaining an extra heart enhances the physique and simultaneously expands the Thousand Lanterns City’s space.”

“Well… it’s not too bad.” Chen Mu smacked his lips.

“That old fellow Luo Ding, in a sense, died with some merit.” He commented with a bit of disdain.

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