Tales of demons and gods: Ultimate Villain

Shen Fei strolled back to his room after dinner, his mind teeming with thoughts. The soft hum of lanterns flickered along the hallway, casting elongated shadows on the polished floor. He opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind him with a quiet click. The room, lit by the faint glow of moonlight streaming through the window, offered him the solitude he craved. He sat on the edge of his bed, running a hand through his hair, and exhaled deeply.

"Another day, another step forward," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Settling into a comfortable position, Shen Fei allowed his thoughts to settle. The events of the day replayed in his mind, and he marveled at the vast knowledge he had gained.

"Unbelievable," he muttered, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. "The history of Glory City is far more intricate than I imagined."

The information had flooded his mind with precision. He now understood the glory and tragedies that shaped the city and the lives of its famous practitioners, both celebrated and forgotten. Families that had once flourished in the city, only to vanish into obscurity, now lived vividly in his memory. He chuckled, leaning back against the headboard.

"Who would've thought? Even the things buried in time are mine to uncover. Not bad, Shen Fei. Not bad at all."

The knowledge didn't stop at Glory City. As his historical proficiency grew—thanks to the divine reward—fragments of the broader Divine Continent began piecing themselves together in his mind. Though the information was sparse, Shen Fei was confident.

"If I keep reading," he mused, "then maybe—no, surely—I can surpass Nie Li's understanding of the world. Not just this realm, but all realms."

He rose from the bed, pacing the room. "The demon beasts," he continued aloud, "their spirits, their uses... There's so much to uncover. But for now, I'll focus on what matters."

Shen Fei's primary focus for the day had been body cultivation. His newfound knowledge had already begun formulating ideas for a technique that could be uniquely his.

"I need to stay ahead of Nie Li," he said, his voice resolute. "Let him reincarnate. I'll be ready. But I can't rush. The Sacred Family's library, the Holy Orchid Academy's archives... I haven't fully explored it either. Somewhere in those walls might be a technique even more suited for me."

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. Shen Fei paused. "Enter," he commanded, his tone calm but authoritative.

A servant entered, bowing respectfully. "Young Master, your evening tea."

Shen Fei accepted the tray with a nod. " Leave it there."

"Yes, Young Master." The servant retreated without another word, closing the door quietly behind them.

He poured himself a cup of tea, the warm aroma filling the air. Sitting back on the bed, he sipped thoughtfully. "Nie Li might have the edge of reincarnation, but talent and hard work? Those are mine. If I focus, I might even complete my body cultivation technique within a day or two."

His expression hardened, his determination evident. "I'll create a technique that suits me perfectly. No borrowed paths, no imitations. Just mine."

He placed the cup down, allowing a small, confident smile to surface. "Perverted talent, God Rewards Hard Work. It's almost unfair for everyone else."

As the night deepened, Shen Fei finally lay down to rest, determined to wake up early to continue his studies. Sleep overtook him quickly, his mind already plotting his next steps.

The Next Morning.

The first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, rousing Shen Fei from his slumber. He sat up, stretching leisurely, his mind sharp and ready for the day.

"Let's make today count," he muttered, ringing the bell to summon a maid.

Moments later, a young maid entered, bowing respectfully. "Good morning, Young Master. What do you need?"

"Bring my breakfast here," he instructed curtly.

The maid nodded and left promptly. When she returned with the tray, Shen Fei ate quickly and left the room without sparing her a second glance. She stood in stunned silence, watching him rush out the door.

'Strange… why didn't the Young Master harass me like he does every day?' she thought, puzzled.

Shen Fei made his way to the library, the early morning hush granting him an uninterrupted path. Most of the household was still asleep, while others were training their soul force in their quarters. As he approached the library, the elder guarding the entrance looked up, startled.

"Young Master? Here? This early?" the elder muttered, rubbing his eyes as if he were hallucinating. Before he could speak further, Shen Fei had already stepped inside.

Inside the library, Shen Fei headed straight to the section containing books on body refining for fighters. Selecting a few volumes, he settled at the nearest table and began to read.

His reading speed, sharpened by six hours of rigorous study the previous day, was now astounding—10 to 15 pages per second. As his reading proficiency grew, so did his memory and comprehension. The books on body refining seemed simple to him now, and he devoured their contents with ease.

For three hours, Shen Fei read every book related to body refining techniques in the family library. By the time he finished, his understanding of the subject had soared to unprecedented heights.

Satisfied, Shen Fei moved on to books detailing the types of Snow Wind Beasts commonly found outside the Saint Ancestral Mountain Range. Their sheer variety made the task more time-consuming. It took him another two hours to complete all the books on the subject, but his knowledge had expanded considerably.

Meanwhile, the elder, uneasy about Shen Fei's uncharacteristic behavior, had been spying on him from behind the shelves. At first, he assumed the young master was merely skimming books to impress someone, but Shen Fei's intense focus made him reconsider.

"This isn't like him at all," the elder murmured, watching Shen Fei's relentless pace. "He's not just flipping through pages; he's truly focused on reading."

After finishing the books on Snow Wind Beasts, Shen Fei turned his attention to rare and exotic beasts. He read through those texts at incredible speed, completing them within another two hours. His reading, comprehension, and memory had taken yet another leap forward.

Finally, he returned to body refining techniques, re-reading the same books. While they no longer provided as much experience as the first read-through, they still offered valuable proficiency points. Within an hour, he had reabsorbed all the information, refining his understanding further.

As he sat back, the knowledge from all the books coalesced in his mind. The thoughts and experiences of the techniques' creators, their expectations, disappointments, advantages, and flaws—everything was thoroughly imprinted in his consciousness. He began to extract the essence of each technique, merging their best traits while eliminating their weaknesses.

Gradually, a new technique took shape in his mind.

Shen Fei smiled in satisfaction. The technique he had created was extraordinary. It allowed the user to devour spiritual energy from the surroundings to strengthen their body comprehensively—skin, muscles, nerves, vessels, bone marrow, blood, and organs. For faster results, it could even use the user's own spiritual energy without any side effects.

"This is it," Shen Fei said to himself. "Supreme Body Forging."

Though eager to test it, he decided against doing so in the library. Realizing it was already evening, he left the library. The elder greeted him at the door, his perplexed expression going unnoticed by Shen Fei.

In the dining hall, Shen Fei saw only his aunt, Shen Xiu. His brother was absent, and his father was likely cultivating in seclusion. Shen Xiu, dressed in another of her signature seductive dresses, caught his attention as she sat gracefully, her curves highlighted by the fabric.

Shen Fei ate his meal quickly, though he occasionally stole glances at her, much to her irritation.

"Stop gawking and eat properly," she snapped, her tone sharp.

Shen Fei chuckled inwardly, ignoring her scolding. His mind wandered to the possibilities of use his new technique, some of which he intended to test with her later.

After finishing his meal, he stood and bid her farewell. "Good night, Aunt Shen Xiu."

She merely waved him off, annoyed by his lingering gaze.

Back in his room, Shen Fei organized his newfound knowledge for an hour before sitting cross-legged on the bed. He began chanting the mantra of Supreme Body Forging, drawing spiritual energy from the air into his body. The energy traveled along a specified route, cleansing and strengthening him as it coursed through every fiber of his being.

The process was painful but invigorating. After two hours, Shen Fei stopped, noticing a foul odor. Looking down, he saw that his body had expelled a black, mud-like substance filled with impurities. The smell was unbearable.

"Disgusting," he muttered, standing up. His joints popped audibly as he stretched, his body feeling lighter and more powerful. Throwing a punch, he marveled at the force it generated, compressing the air like a cannon.

He rushed to the bathroom, scrubbing himself clean multiple times to rid himself of the smell. Once satisfied, he dressed and left his room, ordering a maid to clean up the mess.

It was nearly midnight when Shen Fei approached Shen Xiu's room. Knocking softly, he waited. Moments later, the door opened, revealing Shen Xiu. She had just bathed, her wet red hair framing her flushed face. She wore a loose bathrobe, her cleavage teasingly visible.

Shen Fei's gaze lingered, drawing an annoyed glare from her. "What are you doing here, Shen Fei?" she asked sharply.

Distracting himself from her alluring appearance, Shen Fei smirked. "Won't you invite me in, Aunt?"

Suspicious of his intentions, Shen Xiu crossed her arms. "Come in, then," she said, stepping aside. Despite her wariness, she wasn't overly concerned—she was far stronger than him.

Shen Fei entered, closing the door behind him. Shen Xiu turned to face him impatiently. "Now, tell me. What do you want, Shen Fei?"

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Please advise on this chapter. Point out any mistakes you found or any ideas for improvement.

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