CHAPTER 861: CHAPTER 861: HE GAVE HER HALF OF HIS HEART

Samuel Chalmers had long noticed that his body always shared an odd sort of harmony with Scarlett Jennings.

He knew it was the lingering influence of the Vein Soul, but he inexplicably didn’t reject this feeling.

Scarlett didn’t hide it either and directly spoke her mind.

"Considering the situations with Zaback and Cassidy, the demon energy tainted by corruption usually affects things during emotional fluctuations, especially during fights. The more demonic power is used, the deeper the corruption of the demon energy."

She said,

"To make the students of the Academy of Mystique willingly expose their demonic power, we could directly hold a combat selection competition within the academy."

Just like the internal selection held by the Sea City Taoist Academy before the last academy competition.

"In the past annual academy competitions, the Academy of Mystique also organized the Spritelife Group to participate. In the upcoming Xuanmen Grand Competition, the Mystic Regulation Office could also have representatives from the Spritelife Group participate.

Coincidentally, this year is the triennial Xuanmen Grand Competition, so holding an internal combat selection early wouldn’t arouse much suspicion."

Scarlett was already aware that during the last academy competition, because Cassian Wolf spontaneously decided, the participants from the Spritelife Group, except for Callum Yuan, were randomly drawn by lot. That wasn’t the true strength of the Demon Clan.

The difference between the Xuanmen Grand Competition and the academy competition is that the Xuanmen Grand Competition is open to the entire Mystical Sect, and naturally, the Demon Clan as well.

In this circumstance, an internal selection becomes very necessary.

And as long as there’s a reasonable occasion to act, Scarlett can let them unleash all their latent demonic power.

Upon hearing her idea, Cassian Wolf merely raised an eyebrow, then looked at Samuel Chalmers,

"I have no objections, it depends on the master’s decision."

Unsurprisingly, Samuel Chalmers had no objections.

Thus, the matter was decided, and as the Dean of the Academy of Mystique and the other Demon Masters had just undergone a round of restructuring, they couldn’t come up with any objections to this internal selection at this time.

With a single command from Samuel Chalmers, the entire Academy of Mystique immediately began preparations.

During the preparation period, Scarlett didn’t forget to show concern for the previously brought-back Cassidy.

Previously, because of a word from Scarlett, the little bear cub Mingji and that grandaunt from the Mystic Regulation Office were forcibly required to compensate double for all losses.

The bear grandma, this grandaunt, though high in rank within the Bear Clan, couldn’t surpass other Demons of the Demon Clan, and faced with the Mystic Regulation Office, she dared not show the previously cocky attitude and compensated quietly with the little demon grandson in tow.

As for the little demon grandson, after almost being killed this time, whether he had become well-behaved is another story. But when he saw Cassidy again, he completely calmed down.

After proving that she hadn’t colluded with the Evil Demons, Cassidy was soon picked up by her parents to go home. Before they left, the two of them specifically sought out Scarlett,

"Master Scarlett, is our Edith alright now? Will the black demon energy you mentioned appear again?"

The Mystic Regulation Office hadn’t announced the tainted demon energy issue publicly, but Cassidy’s parents and Cassidy, the person involved, already knew what was going on, naturally worrying about the chances of today’s sudden berserk situation happening again.

Scarlett only said,

"The corruption on her demon energy has been cleansed by my companion, so there’s no need to worry about it happening again."

She paused, then added, "However, her berserk state was actually caused by overextending her demonic power, so she needs gradual recovery of her demonic power, no rushing."

Listening to Scarlett, Cassidy nodded. Scarlett was quite a celebrity within the Academy of Mystique. Though she had only heard of her before, after this interaction, she felt she had found another idol besides her brother.

Though a Pureblood Demon, she wasn’t one of those prejudiced Demons who despised Half-Demons.

For her, her liking for someone was based purely on personal charm, not breed.

At this point, Cassidy suddenly seemed to recall something,

"By the way, I don’t know how exactly I got caught, but I think you could investigate my brother’s rival, Noah Zimmerman."

"He’s my brother’s peer and rival, and he’s a demon of some sort. I’m not quite sure which kind, but lots of the merchandise I’ve bought are secretly produced by his people."

Cassidy looked as if she knew very well.

"There were several times when I sensed a faint hint of demon energy on some of those products, though I didn’t think much of it at the time."

Hearing this, Scarlett raised an eyebrow slightly,

"His rival? Secretly producing his merchandise?"

This seemed a bit off, didn’t it?

Normally, shouldn’t one produce their own merchandise?

But Cassidy said,

"He just wants to make money off of us rival fans, so we can’t support my brother! That way, he wins!"

Not many people knew about this, and she only confirmed it when she occasionally noticed the demon energy on the merch from his side. But even knowing it, she still bought from them.

Not for any reason other than that the variety and quality of the merchandise he put out hit all the right notes for their fanbase!

Though Scarlett had dabbled in entertainment variety shows, she wasn’t deeply familiar with the entertainment circle and certainly hadn’t known about demons mingling there.

Isn’t this kind of cheating?

Promising Cassidy she’d look into this Noah Zimmerman, Scarlett then followed Samuel Chalmers back home from the Mystic Regulation Office.

On the way back, after a silence, Samuel Chalmers suddenly spoke,

"The cleansing of the corruption on her demon energy wasn’t by me alone, but you as well."

He said, looking at Scarlett first, then his gaze fell below her collarbone.

The Academy of Mystique uniform was more like Cathay’s high school uniforms, with a somewhat high neckline. Besides, she always buttoned it up, so nothing around her neck was visible.

But Samuel knew she always wore an object beneath it.

At this moment, he slowly reached toward her, his fingertips aiming at a slightly protruding spot beneath her clothes, below the collarbone.

Scarlett saw golden light jumping on his fingertips. As if responding to him, her chest also emitted a faint golden light.

In a flash of golden light, the North Spirit Stone pendant originally hidden beneath her clothes seemed to pierce through a barrier and appear outside.

Scarlett had her suspicions before.

When Cassidy, berserk with corruption, charged at her, she reflexively bound her using the Fox Tail, and as it shimmered with golden light, she also felt a warmth in her chest.

She knew it was the North Spirit Stone at work.

After all, it was given to her by Samuel Chalmers. Initially, she merely used it to replenish her Spiritual Energy, but later discovered it did more than just that.

Recalling that Samuel had likely regained his memories of the Dragon Vein when he gave her the stone, Scarlett speculated—

"Does this North Spirit Stone contain your power?"

If that were possible, it would explain why she could also purify some of the corrupted demon energy.

Listening to Scarlett’s speculation, Samuel Chalmers simply replied,

"Your guess isn’t wrong, but precisely speaking, this stone holds the essence of my power."

He extended his hand, gently touching the North Spirit Stone’s surface with his fingertips, then said in a low, slow voice,

"This stone is a Vital Stone; you could interpret it as...my heart."

Samuel Chalmers had given her half of his heart.