《Supreme Sword Domain》 The Miscellaneous Disciple of the Sect
Sword Sect, Hanging Sky Mountain, the peak where low-level apprentices live. As one of the most famous sects in the South Region, Sword Sect is backed by the vast Ten Thousand Mountains and faces the Great Qin Empire. Its buildings occupy over a thousand miles of the Hanging Sky Mountain. The mountain has seven major peaks and thirty-six smaller secondary peaks, and the Miscellaneous Disciple Peak is one of these countless small peaks. Though the Miscellaneous Disciple Peak is where low-level apprentices live, its scale is enough to rival a small city in the Great Qin Empire with a population of over thirty thousand. As the sky began to lighten, just like any other day, Yang Ye woke up. After a quick wash, he grabbed the broom behind his door and stepped out of his room. Looking at the pale light of dawn, Yang Ye took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. After a moment, the slightly immature face on Yang Ye''s face showed a determined look, and he muttered to himself, "Persist and never give up!" After saying that, he quickly walked toward the place called Qingfeng Valley. "You see, isn''t that the former Outer Sect Disciple?" "Oh, it''s him. Well, that''s what he was before, but now he''s just a Miscellaneous Disciple, doing chores just like us." "What a shame, he was such a handsome young man! And he¡¯s only about sixteen or seventeen now. At that age, his future should have been bright, but now look at him, doing chores. It''s such a pity!" "I heard he was accepted as a disciple by an Outer Sect Elder in Annan City, but after a year without sensing the natural energy, he was angrily demoted to a Miscellaneous Disciple by a middle-level teacher. Apparently, he is the first in Sword Sect''s history to be demoted from an Outer Sect Disciple to a Miscellaneous Disciple and even earned the title of Sword Sect''s number one waste!" "Sword Sect''s number one waste, tsk, that''s quite a loud title!" Hearing the conversation around him, Yang Ye''s footsteps slowed, his grip tightening on the broom. After a moment, he took a deep breath, ignored the whispers, and quickly headed toward Qingfeng Valley. Qingfeng Valley is located behind Miscellaneous Disciple Peak, nestled between several small mountains with a sunken valley floor. The valley is lush with fragrant grass, and towering trees spread out like umbrellas, blocking out the sun. This area is where low-level apprentices usually gather medicinal herbs and cut wood, and it is also where Yang Ye typically practices. On a large stone, Yang Ye casually tossed the broom aside, then sat cross-legged on the stone. From his chest, he took out a letter and a small clay figurine, the letter being one he had received the night before. He hadn''t had time to read it because he had been busy for the past seven or eight hours. Looking at the small clay figurine, Yang Ye¡¯s youthful face showed a soft smile. The figurine wasn¡¯t very detailed, but its features were clear enough. It was made by his little sister to resemble him. Although it was rough and not quite like him, to Yang Ye, it was the most precious thing. After gently stroking it for a moment, Yang Ye put the figurine back into his chest pocket. He then looked at the envelope, gently blew off the dust, and carefully took out the letter. "Brother, we¡¯ve received the gold coins you sent last month. Ever since you were taken by the Sword Sect to become an Outer Sect Disciple, those neighbors who used to look down on our family have been visiting us often. Hmph, Xiao Yao knows they¡¯re only doing this because they now know you¡¯re capable, so they want to get close to me and mother... "And also, the people from the Liu family are so annoying! They actually proposed to mother, asking Xiao Yao to marry that big, fat guy from their family, the one who weighs three hundred pounds. That guy can hardly walk, and when Xiao Yao saw him, she couldn¡¯t even eat. They still want her to marry him, but luckily mother didn¡¯t agree! Even if I had to marry him, Xiao Yao would only marry someone as handsome as brother... Ugh, how embarrassing! Brother, don¡¯t laugh at me, and don¡¯t laugh in your heart!" "Liu family!" Yang Ye¡¯s eyes flashed with a cold light. This family had some influence in Annan City. Before, the head of the Liu family wanted to take his mother as a concubine, but his mother refused, and the Liu family dared not make a fuss because the laws of the Great Qin Empire were strict. If they caused trouble, they¡¯d face consequences. But the Liu family hadn¡¯t given up, constantly making life difficult for his family in Annan City, trying to force his mother to join them. Life was tough, but his mother still refused to submit. This continued until Yang Ye was accepted as an Outer Sect Disciple by the Sword Sect, and after that, the Liu family dared not push them too much. However, he hadn¡¯t expected that now the Liu family had turned their attention to his little sister! "Power... power!" Yang Ye¡¯s fists clenched. He understood that if news of him being demoted to a Miscellaneous Disciple spread back to Annan City, the Liu family would definitely target his mother and sister. Their situation would be extremely dangerous. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. With that thought, Yang Ye folded the letter and put it away. He walked to a giant stone, pushed aside some branches, and found four black iron rings under the stone. He put the rings on his arms and ankles, and immediately felt a heavy weight. Fortunately, after a year, he had become accustomed to the weight of the iron pieces. After putting on the iron weights, Yang Ye walked to a large tree, jumped up with force, and grabbed a branch firmly. Using the pull of his arms, he began swinging up and down. His body moved in an unusual posture, which caused all of his muscles to work together. This was a body strengthening exercise called the "Body Refining Technique." He had received this technique when he became a middle-level apprentice. It wasn¡¯t the best technique, but every Outer Sect Disciple had a copy. The purpose of this technique was to enhance physical strength. When the body¡¯s muscles and bones reached a certain level, a mysterious natural energy called "Xuan Qi" would emerge. This energy was invisible but essential for becoming a true practitioner, called a "Xuan Master." Back when he was a middle-level apprentice, Yang Ye practiced the Body Refining Technique for six months but never managed to generate a single trace of Xuan Qi. This was the reason he had been demoted from an Outer Sect Disciple to a Miscellaneous Disciple, the lowest rank in the Sword Sect. Others mocked him as a waste! Not only that, but he also became the example used by the Outer Sect Elders when they lectured other disciples. If any middle-level apprentice slacked off or didn¡¯t put in the effort, the Outer Sect Elders would always say, ¡°Do you want to become the second Yang Ye?¡± Normally, most people would leave the Sword Sect and return to an ordinary life. But Yang Ye hadn¡¯t. Not only had he not left, but he was willing to stay as a Miscellaneous Disciple! All because he didn¡¯t want to disappoint his mother and sister! He was their hope. When he became a middle-level apprentice in the Sword Sect, his mother and sister could live without fear. When he became an Outer Sect Disciple, their lives started to improve. If he went back now, all of that would be destroyed! "Ha... ha..." After a while, the air in Qingfeng Valley was filled with heavy breathing. Sweat stung his eyes, making them sting painfully, but Yang Ye didn¡¯t stop. He gritted his teeth, holding onto the branch tightly, and kept swinging his body up and down. After a long time, his face flushed, his forehead covered in sweat, and his outer robe soaked through. The extreme exertion made his head spin. Finally, he let go, and his body fell heavily to the ground. "Ha... ha..." Lying on the ground, Yang Ye breathed heavily, feeling too weak to even move a finger. As the sky lightened, the view around him gradually became clearer. The gentle breeze brushed by, and Yang Ye greedily inhaled. Suddenly, his body shot upright, his eyes wide open, his face full of disbelief. He had actually felt Xuan Qi! Yes, he had felt Xuan Qi! The faint energy slowly flowed through his meridians and gathered at his heart. Although the flow was still weak and intermittent, he could truly feel it. "Huh? What¡¯s going on?" Yang Ye felt the Xuan Qi enter his heart, but then it suddenly disappeared. It was as if it had never been there at all! Yang Ye¡¯s brows furrowed as he focused on the faint trace of Xuan Qi in his body. After a moment, his eyes widened in shock. ¡°I¡­ I actually have two Dantian!¡± he exclaimed, his throat tight with disbelief. He had found that the Xuan Qi wasn¡¯t just in one place but flowed into a small whirlpool deep inside his second Dantian. This whirlpool was full of Xuan Qi! Yang Ye now realized why he hadn¡¯t been able to absorb any Xuan Qi before. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t absorb it, but rather, as soon as he did, it was immediately pulled into that small whirlpool. He had never noticed it before because it had been hidden too deeply! His face was filled with disbelief. He had found that trace of Xuan Qi, or rather, it wasn¡¯t just a trace, but a flow of energy. Deep within his Dantian, there was a small whirlpool, and in this whirlpool, it was completely filled with Xuan Qi! Yang Ye now understood why he had never been able to absorb any Xuan Qi before. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t absorb it, but rather, as soon as he absorbed it, the small whirlpool would immediately draw it in. He had never noticed the whirlpool before because it was hidden so deep within his body. If he hadn¡¯t followed the sensation of the Xuan Qi flowing just now, he probably would never have discovered it. And the reason he could now sense the Xuan Qi was that the small whirlpool had become full. Yes, the small whirlpool was filled with Xuan Qi, and this trace of Xuan Qi had been squeezed out into the normal Dantian position. But for some reason, the whirlpool had forcefully sucked that trace of Xuan Qi back in, leaving nothing for the normal Dantian. From what he knew, a normal person should only have one Dantian. He didn¡¯t know if others were like him, but one thing was clear to him now¡ªhe wasn¡¯t a waste! He was capable of absorbing natural energy, and of cultivating Xuan Qi! With that thought, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Yang Ye¡¯s mouth. After a moment, the smile grew wider, and a light chuckle escaped from his throat. After a while, the light chuckle turned into a full, hearty laugh. ¡°I, Yang Ye, can become a Xuan Master! I, Yang Ye, can become a Xuan Master! Hahaha...¡± At that moment, Yang Ye laughed so hard he cried, tears streaming down his face like a child. For countless days and nights, though he had never given up, he had always carried an invisible weight on his shoulders. He wasn¡¯t afraid of being ridiculed as a waste, nor of being looked down upon by others. But he feared one thing¡ªthe hopes of his mother and sister being shattered! He feared that his mother and sister would once again be humiliated by the neighbors like before! He feared that his mother and sister would return to the days when they couldn¡¯t even afford a meal! He was really afraid¡ªso much so, of many things... But now, he had the ability to stop all of that from happening. As long as he could practice the "Body Refining Technique" to its highest level, reaching the sixth level of a mortal, he would qualify as a mid-level apprentice. Once he became an Outer Sect Disciple, he would have the resources he needed for cultivation¡ªspells, swordsmanship, and more. At that point, he would have the chance to become an Inner Sect Disciple. Once he became an Inner Sect Disciple, even the city lord of Annan City would treat him with respect! The gentle sunlight filtered through the trees, shining on Yang Ye¡¯s face, still streaked with tears, making it glow with a warm red hue. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I notice how beautiful the scenery was before?¡± With a smile, Yang Ye suppressed the excitement in his heart, wiped the tears from his face, and then took off the iron weights, placing them back where they had been. He walked over to the giant stone, picked up the broom, and quickly ran toward the valley entrance. He remembered that today his task was to clean the Sword Sect¡¯s training square for spells and martial arts! Fight At the Servants'' Peak, there was a martial arts field, vast in size, measuring several hundred meters in both width and length. It was paved entirely with massive gray-white stones, exuding an ancient and imposing aura. At the center of the square stood a giant stone sword, towering with authority. This martial arts field was where the Outer Sect disciples practiced, and it was also the place Yang Ye had to clean today. With such a large area, it was obviously not something he could clean by himself; this was the workload of three people in one day. If this had been yesterday, Yang Ye might have grumbled a bit, as such a large area would require at least four people working hard all day to finish cleaning it. This would leave him with no time to practice. But now, his heart was full of hope, and everything seemed perfect in his eyes. At that moment, a mocking voice came from the side. "Oh, isn''t this the number one waste in history? Oh, wait, no, it¡¯s our Yang, the great Outer Sect disciple. You really wake up early, huh? Have you finished cleaning the martial arts field already? Hahaha..." Hearing the mocking words, Yang Ye turned and looked at the three people standing to his right¡ªhis work partners for the day. Seeing their playful expressions, Yang Ye remained expressionless, his face revealing no signs of anger or joy. The man leading the group was someone he knew¡ªDu Xiu, also a servant disciple. However, Du Xiu had a bad reputation. Though he was a servant disciple, he never did any work, always passing his tasks onto others. The reason Du Xiu was so arrogant was that he had an uncle and a cousin in influential positions. His uncle, Manager Xu, oversaw all the servant disciples at the Sword Sect¡ªmore than two thousand of them! His cousin was an Outer Sect disciple! With these two powerful backers, Du Xiu could act with impunity at the Servants'' Peak, looking down on everyone. The two people beside Du Xiu were Gao Qiu on the left and Li Ge on the right. They were also servant disciples, but they had a nickname: bootlickers. Yang Ye collected his thoughts and said, "Since everyone is here, let¡¯s divide the work. Four people, one person per side, to make it fair!" "Hahaha..." Li Ge, who was standing to the left of Du Xiu, burst out laughing and pointed at Yang Ye. "Du Bro, did you hear that? This guy wants to assign you work. Hahaha, I thought this kid had some sense, but it turns out he''s a complete fool!" "That¡¯s not right!" Gao Qiu pretended to be serious, looking at Li Ge. "This person is an Outer Sect disciple, even if it was only for a short time. How can we let someone who was once an Outer Sect disciple do such a lowly job? Du Bro, what do you think?" "Hahaha..." Li Ge laughed again, looking at Gao Qiu. "Gao Qiu, you¡¯re good! You can insult people without being direct. I, Li Ge, admire you. No wonder Du Bro favors you!" "Where, where!" Gao Qiu humbly responded. "I just talk a lot, but Li Ge, you¡¯re the one who can charge ahead and fight. Every time we come across those ungrateful people, it¡¯s you who handles them. You¡¯re Du Bro¡¯s left-hand man!" "..." For a moment, the two of them exchanged compliments. Yang Ye coldly watched them, letting the two of them praise each other. Du Xiu walked up to Yang Ye and patted him on the shoulder. "Not bad!" Yang Ye slapped Du Xiu¡¯s hand away, walked in front of Li Ge and Gao Qiu, and said, "I know you¡¯re jealous because I was once an Outer Sect disciple, and it makes you feel unbalanced. After all, you were once treated worse than dogs in front of Outer Sect disciples. Now that I¡¯ve become a servant disciple, you want to take back the dignity you lost through me. I understand!" After finishing his words, Yang Ye turned around and picked up the broom, walking toward the center of the martial arts field. Yang Ye''s direct and sharp sarcasm made Li Ge and Gao Qiu¡¯s faces turn red and white, like they had been poisoned. Du Xiu, standing to the side, squinted his eyes and his expression darkened. No one in the Servants'' Peak had ever dared to disrespect him. No one had done it in the past, none did it now, and no one would do it in the future. He would never allow anyone to become an exception! You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Seeing Du Xiu¡¯s face darken, Li Ge immediately understood. He rushed up to Yang Ye, pointing at him, "Yang Ye, do you still think you''re an Outer Sect disciple? You¡¯re just a waste who can¡¯t even reach the first rank of a mortal in a whole year, the number one waste of all time! Du Bro let you clean for him because he¡¯s giving you face. Don¡¯t push your luck!" "I¡¯m a waste!" Yang Ye stopped and said, "But I¡¯m still better than certain bootlickers, who spend all day acting like dogs. When their master is happy, they flatter; when their master is upset, they bark at others!" "Fight, beat him to death! If you kill him, it¡¯s on me!" Du Xiu¡¯s face turned grim as he issued the order. No one dared challenge his authority in the Servants'' Peak, and he would never allow it. He was the boss here, second only to his uncle! Hearing Du Xiu¡¯s command, Li Ge immediately grinned maliciously and threw a punch at Yang Ye¡¯s face. He had long wanted to take action, but he didn¡¯t dare without Du Xiu¡¯s permission. If he killed Yang Ye, the consequences would be severe. But now, Du Xiu had spoken, and there was no hesitation. Seeing Li Ge making his move, Yang Ye¡¯s expression darkened. He wasn¡¯t the kind of person who liked trouble, but that didn¡¯t mean he was afraid of it. These three had insulted him verbally, then expected him to clean their workload all by himself, and now they were physically attacking him. He was really pissed off! Turning around, Yang Ye launched a punch at Du Xiu¡¯s right fist. "Bang!" The two fists collided. With a "crack," Du Xiu¡¯s eyes widened, and a look of pain appeared on his face. His Hand Was Broken" Du Xiu was just about to pull back when Yang Ye suddenly grabbed his soft, limp fist with a reverse move, yanked it forcefully, and kicked his abdomen hard with his right foot. "Bang!" Du Xiu was immediately sent flying, and after flying a meter, he crashed heavily to the ground. Although Yang Ye was also a servant disciple, he didn¡¯t spend his days just working and idling around like the others. Every day, apart from his regular tasks, he spent all his time training his body. Whether it was windy or rainy, ever since he joined the Sword Sect, he had never stopped! So, even though he hadn''t become a mysterious practitioner yet, his physical strength was already not something these two could compare to. After dealing with Li Ge, Yang Ye turned to look at Gao Qiu. Upon seeing Yang Ye¡¯s gaze, Gao Qiu instinctively took two steps back, gripping his hands tightly and forcing himself to stay calm. "Du... Du Xiu is Manager Xu¡¯s nephew, and his cousin is an Outer Sect disciple. If you touch him, Manager Xu and his cousin won¡¯t let you off!" Ignoring Gao Qiu¡¯s attempt to threaten him, Yang Ye walked over to where Du Xiu lay on the ground, squatted down, and patted the fearful Du Xiu on the face. "Now, there are four of us and the entire martial arts field. You three will clean the whole area. Got a problem?" Du Xiu swallowed hard, hesitating for a moment. Seeing Yang Ye clenching his fist, he hurriedly said, "No problem, no problem. We¡¯ll clean it right away!" The principle of avoiding immediate conflict was something his uncle had taught him, and now he was using it. Yang Ye glanced indifferently at Du Xiu before standing up, grabbing his broom, and walking swiftly toward Qingfeng Valley. He knew this wasn¡¯t over. The people in front of him would still cause trouble. Du Xiu wouldn¡¯t dare, but he would definitely ask his uncle or that Outer Sect disciple cousin to deal with him. Right now, Yang Ye was strong in body but not yet a mysterious practitioner. He definitely wasn¡¯t a match for an Outer Sect disciple. To protect himself, he had to train harder and become a mysterious practitioner as soon as possible. Otherwise, when that Outer Sect disciple came for him, he wouldn''t even have the ability to resist! So, he needed to speed up his cultivation and become a mysterious practitioner as soon as possible. "Du Bro, what should we do now?" Li Ge helped Du Xiu up and said in a low voice. Now, he understood that he was no match for that person named Yang Ye. If they went looking for trouble, they¡¯d just be asking for a beating. Gao Qiu remained silent. Yang Ye¡¯s ruthless and decisive actions had made him a bit fearful. "Wait until my cousin comes back from visiting the mortal world. I¡¯ll make sure he makes that guy¡¯s life a living hell!" Looking at Yang Ye¡¯s retreating figure, Du Xiu¡¯s eyes flickered with a venomous light. It had been five years since he became a servant disciple, and no one had ever dared to treat him like this. The fact that someone dared to lay their hands on him filled him with hatred. The more he thought about it, the more his eyes burned with vengeful anger.
The Gossip Spread "Did you see that? That so-called number one waste, oh no, I mean Yang Ye, really gave Du Xiu and his lackeys a good beating!" "What? Really? Du Xiu got beaten?" "You¡¯re not lying, right? Du Xiu¡¯s uncle is Manager Xu, and his cousin is an Outer Sect disciple. Did that guy Yang Ye really dare to beat him?" "What would I lie for? I saw it with my own eyes. Du Xiu and his two lackeys were just like usual, trying to get out of work and making Yang Ye clean the entire martial arts field alone. Yang Ye refused, so Du Xiu and the others started attacking him. But in the end, Yang Ye beat them up instead and made them clean his section!" "Haha, how satisfying! That Du Xiu, usually relying on his uncle and cousin to bully us servant disciples, finally met his match! Come on, let¡¯s tell others about this, let them enjoy it too..." Before long, the story of Yang Ye beating up Du Xiu spread across the entire Servants¡¯ Peak. Meanwhile, Yang Ye had already arrived at Qingfeng Valley. Vortex Dantian By a Pond in Qingfeng Valley Yang Ye sat cross-legged beside a pond, his eyes half-closed as he focused his mind inward. After his earlier excitement, Yang Ye felt something was off. The presence of two dantian felt strange to him, and the more he thought about it, the more something seemed wrong. He decided to clear up the mystery about the small vortex dantian deep inside him. This time, he clearly observed the small vortex dantian. It was about the size of a palm, constantly emitting a pulling force. It was this force that caused all the mysterious energy he absorbed during his training to be sucked into this small vortex in an instant. This small vortex drained all the energy from his dantian, preventing him from becoming a true mysterious practitioner. No, to be precise, he had already been a mysterious practitioner long ago. The qualification to become one is based on one''s aptitude, and as long as someone can absorb the mysterious energy through physical training, they are considered a mysterious practitioner. However, his mysterious energy was immediately absorbed by the small vortex upon entering his body, which made him believe for the past year that he wasn¡¯t a mysterious practitioner. In reality, he was already one, from the standards of becoming a mysterious practitioner. Yang Ye tried to control the small vortex. Since it was inside his body, it should have been his, something he could control. But to his disappointment, every time he tried to draw the mysterious energy out, the small vortex seemed to respond to some sort of stimulus, spinning faster and faster, preventing him from pulling out a single drop of energy. "That energy is mine!" After struggling for a while, Yang Ye became frustrated. He thought angrily to himself, If I can¡¯t control this small vortex, will I spend my whole life working for it? The most important thing was, without the mysterious energy, how could he improve his training? His current training regimen had already reached his limit. Without cultivation resources, if he didn''t have the mysterious energy to sustain and repair his body, pushing further might lead to irreversible harm. "Give me a little, just a little. You should know, without me, you wouldn¡¯t be able to absorb the mysterious energy. If you give me a little, I can absorb more energy. The energy I absorb will still be yours! How about it? Win-win, or lose-lose!" Unable to force the vortex into submission, Yang Ye decided to try a softer approach. Though it felt somewhat humiliating since he had worked hard to cultivate the mysterious energy, he had no other choice. His future as a mysterious practitioner and his path to becoming an outer sect disciple depended on it, so he had to swallow his pride. After a while, when the vortex showed no response, Yang Ye was about to curse when, suddenly, a faint golden mysterious energy flowed out of the small vortex. Seeing this, Yang Ye was so excited that he nearly jumped up. After a short while, another thread of energy flowed out. Gradually, one thread after another of faint golden energy kept flowing out until about twenty threads had been released. Finally, the vortex stopped. The faint golden energy flowed into his normal dantian, and just as Yang Ye was about to shout in joy, he felt the energy suddenly spread throughout his meridians. Then, the energy began to slowly seep into his muscles. At that moment, it felt as if he could hear his muscles'' countless cells celebrating. The fatigue and soreness vanished, replaced by a feeling of increasing vitality. Just as Yang Ye was puzzled, he suddenly felt something wriggling on his body. He quickly took off his clothes and looked down, his eyes widening in shock. The skin on his body was shedding at a visible rate! Shedding skin! This was the phenomenon of the Body Refining Art reaching the fourth stage! That meant he was now a Level 4 Mysterious Practitioner! Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Haha..." Laughing with joy, Yang Ye jumped up from the ground. After laughing for a while, he suddenly realized something wasn¡¯t right and quickly stopped, lowering his gaze to his body. His skin was still shedding. He quickly stripped off all his clothes, then jumped into the pond. After the skin had completely shed, he rolled around in the pond, then leaped out. Slowly, his hand touched his chest, and as he ran his hand over his skin, it felt as smooth and hard as stone. A peculiar sense of hardness filled his palm. Clap! Clap! Suppressing his excitement, Yang Ye picked up a nearby branch and immediately performed a basic sword technique. With each move, the sound of wind echoed around him, and the force was strong enough to lift dust from the ground. The momentum was far greater than anything he could have managed before. Finishing the sword practice, Yang Ye quickly focused his mind inward once more. A moment later, his face lit up with ecstatic joy. Yes, he had really reached Level 4 in the mortal realm! From not even being a mysterious practitioner to suddenly reaching Level 4, Yang Ye felt like he was dreaming. But he soon came to his senses. Since joining the Sword Sect, he had been practicing the Body Refining Art diligently. Although he wasn¡¯t the hardest-working among the outer sect disciples, he was definitely among the top three. After nearly two years of practicing the Body Refining Art, his body had already reached an extraordinarily strong state. Now, with the mysterious energy entering his body, it was like he had been handed a golden ticket with a code¡ªonce he had the code, he could unlock the gold inside. In simpler terms, it was like building up strength and then releasing it all at once! Suddenly, Yang Ye frowned, as a thought struck him: My mysterious energy is golden! Is it unique to me, or is all mysterious energy faintly golden? He was puzzled. "Forget it. Once I become an outer sect disciple, I¡¯ll meet more people and find out if their energy is the same," Yang Ye was not one to dwell on small details, so he decided to put this thought aside for now. Sitting cross-legged again, Yang Ye focused his mind inward. This time, in his regular dantian, the golden mysterious energy had disappeared, leaving it empty. "Brother, I¡¯m sure you understand what I¡¯m saying. From now on, the mysterious energy I absorb will be split fifty-fifty. I¡¯ll give you all the energy I absorb, but you must give me that faint golden energy. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m taking advantage of you; you should know that only when I get stronger will I be able to absorb more mysterious energy. If I don¡¯t get stronger, the energy I absorb will be very little. So, for now, it¡¯s better for me to take the lead. Once I¡¯m stronger, you¡¯ll get more energy, understand?" Yang Ye had a strange feeling that the small vortex could understand him. There was no specific reason, but he just had this instinct. So he decided to try and negotiate with it, or else it would keep monopolizing the energy, leaving him with no choice but to suffer. After a while, just when Yang Ye was starting to lose patience, the small vortex began to spin. After a few moments, it stopped. Feeling the movement of the small vortex, Yang Ye smiled. His intuition told him that it had agreed. It seemed the vortex wasn¡¯t happy with the current rate of energy absorption, so it had decided to let him get stronger first. This was an investment! After putting on his clothes, Yang Ye went to where he hid his Xuan Iron Block. He wore it, and at that moment, he felt no weight at all. Since he had no cultivation technique, he had to rely on physical training to absorb the mysterious energy. The harder he trained, the more energy he would absorb. The more energy he absorbed, the more faint golden energy he would get. And with more of that energy, he could continue strengthening his body and improving his realm. "Ah... help, don¡¯t chase Bao''er, Grandpa help..." Just as Yang Ye was preparing for intense training, a piercing scream suddenly came from the woods. It was a young voice, clearly that of a little girl. Hearing the cry, Yang Ye paused and looked toward the woods. Suddenly, a little girl in a flower-patterned white dress ran out of the woods in a panic. The girl, about thirteen or fourteen years old, had a long braid tied at the back of her head. Her face was pale, her mouth tightly clenched, and she was running frantically. When the little girl saw Yang Ye, her already pale face turned even whiter. While running, she shouted, "That little servant, run! The little snake¡¯s gone mad!" Boom! As Yang Ye froze in shock, the ground suddenly shook, and a giant creature burst out of the trees behind the girl. The Giant Snake King! Upon seeing this massive creature, Yang Ye¡¯s face turned as white as the girl¡¯s. This isn¡¯t a little snake! This is the Giant Snake King! The Giant Snake King was a Level 5 mystical beast, over three times the size of an adult, measuring three zhang long, with eyes as large as fists. Most importantly, its scales were so tough that even sword techniques might not be able to cut through them! The Battle with the King Python Although the little girl was small, she ran surprisingly fast. When she spotted Yang Ye, she abruptly changed her escape direction, moving closer to the King Python. If Yang Ye had turned and fled right away, he would likely have had a good chance of escaping. Yang Ye hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, made up his mind, and picked up a nearby boulder, charging towards the King Python. When he got within about ten meters, he clenched his fist around the stone and hurled it with all his strength at the giant snake. "Bang!" The boulder struck the King Python''s head, shattering into pieces with a loud crash. Yang Ye''s eyelid twitched at the sight¡ªits defense was too formidable! Struck by the rock, the King Python roared in fury and immediately abandoned its pursuit of the little girl, whipping its massive body towards Yang Ye. The snake''s huge frame wreaked havoc wherever it passed, flattening everything in its path with terrifying force. "Run quickly!" Yang Ye yelled at the little girl, who was curiously watching him from the side. At the same time, he grabbed another stone from the ground and dashed toward the King Python again. To be honest, Yang Ye had no confidence in his ability to defeat this colossal monster. But he couldn''t bring himself to run away. If the little girl had led the King Python to him from the start, he would have fled without a second thought. However, the girl had chosen to let herself be chased rather than drag him into danger. Such a kind-hearted girl, just like his little sister, Xiao Yao! Of course, it also mattered that he had a fighting chance now. The little girl gasped for breath, her big, lively eyes watching Yang Ye charge at the King Python. She clearly didn''t expect that this lowly servant disciple would come to her aid against such a formidable foe. "Ah!" With a loud shout, Yang Ye used all his strength to smash the rock in his hand against the King Python''s head. "Boom!" The impact caused the stone to shatter, and Yang Ye was thrown backward, crashing heavily to the ground. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Yang Ye finally understood the meaning of a strength gap! His earlier strike felt like hitting solid steel. Not only did the rock shatter, but his arm had gone numb from the shock. "Hiss, hiss..." Enraged by Yang Ye''s attack, the King Python flicked its enormous tongue, swayed its body, and lunged at Yang Ye again. Seeing the mountain-sized King Python coming at him, Yang Ye''s eyelid twitched. He didn''t dare think about anything else. He quickly stood up, spat out a mouthful of blood, and charged forward once more. Running was out of the question; there was nothing behind them to provide cover. On flat ground, they definitely couldn¡¯t outrun a snake! Since escaping wasn''t an option, they had to fight. When he was two meters away from the King Python, Yang Ye roared fiercely, pushed off the ground with both feet, leaped into the air, and brought his fists down on the snake''s massive, sapphire-blue eyes. "Hiss!" The King Python twisted its body, and its enormous tail, moving with a gust of wind, whipped toward Yang Ye. The tail moved so fast that Yang Ye didn''t have time to get close before he was struck. "Bang!" The tail sent Yang Ye flying, his waist feeling as though it had snapped. With a muffled groan, he spat out blood, his body hurtling through the air and crashing into a patch of grass, raising a cloud of dust. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "I can''t beat it!" In fact, he had always known he wasn¡¯t a match for it. The defense of a Mystical Beast could crush a human of the same level, sometimes even surpass them by a tier. And this beast was stronger than him! "Are you okay?" The little girl, Bao¡¯er, ran to Yang Ye and helped him up, her voice gentle. "Why didn¡¯t you run away?" Yang Ye struggled to stand, his face darkening when he saw that the girl hadn¡¯t escaped. He had risked his life to buy her time to flee, but she hadn''t left. Yang Ye was exasperated! Bao¡¯er shook her head, her little pigtails swinging as she spoke earnestly, "You¡¯re so loyal; how could Bao¡¯er leave you behind? Bao¡¯er will stay with you, live or die together! Here, take this power charm and keep fighting it." With that, she pulled a talisman from a pocket hidden in her skirt and slapped it onto Yang Ye¡¯s shoulder. The moment the talisman touched him, it transformed into a golden light that surged into his body. The energy flooded him, invigorating his spirit, and a surge of power coursed through his veins. With no time to ponder the changes in his body, Yang Ye grabbed a wooden stick from the ground and charged at the King Python. He really wanted to rest, but the King Python wouldn''t give him a chance. As soon as the girl applied the talisman, the snake came at them again. This time, the King Python was serious, opening its enormous jaws to reveal a crimson tongue as thick as an arm. Faced with that gaping mouth, bigger than three of his heads put together, Yang Ye felt a chill run down his spine. He didn''t know where he found the courage to fight a creature two levels higher than him. But he knew one thing: on this open plain, running would be a death sentence. Fighting gave them at least a sliver of hope. "Ha!" Yang Ye let out a roar, banishing all hesitation. His feet picked up speed, and he charged the King Python with the wooden stick. The snake flicked its tongue and coiled its massive tail, whipping it horizontally towards Yang Ye. The tail swept across the ground, sending leaves flying. Yang Ye, eyes focused, dropped to his knees, sliding along the ground to dodge the tail by mere inches. Feeling the rush of wind against his face, he roared and, with a burst of energy, sprang upward. Using his left hand to push off the ground, he gripped the stick with both hands and aimed for the King Python¡¯s massive right eye. It was a basic sword technique. Although he only had a wooden stick, it would have to do. "Thud!" The King Python tilted its head to dodge, but the stick still pierced into the back of its head. The snake writhed in pain, and its tail shot up, wrapping around Yang Ye¡¯s waist. For a moment, Yang Ye was stunned to see the snake¡¯s black scales crack. But before he could celebrate, he felt the tail squeeze him, sending searing pain through his body. Fear gripped him as the snake''s coils tightened. Yet at this moment of crisis, the mysterious vortex within him finally activated, sending golden energy surging into his dantian. Feeling the power fill him, Yang Ye wasted no time. He abandoned the stick and focused his energy into his fists, which began to glow with a faint golden light. He punched the King Python¡¯s tail repeatedly, hammering with all his might. To his surprise, each blow dented the snake¡¯s black scales. It had to be the effect of the talisman and the golden energy coursing through him. He knew his usual strength couldn¡¯t hurt the snake. Seeing the golden energy around Yang Ye''s fists, Bao¡¯er¡¯s pale face lit up with excitement. "Gold-element energy! This little servant actually has one of the rare five elemental energies¡ªgold!" "Bang, bang, bang!" Under Yang Ye''s relentless attacks, the King Python started to feel pain. Its grip loosened, and its scales cracked, revealing red flesh. The snake finally released Yang Ye, retreating a few meters, its eyes gleaming with a mix of rage and fear. Bao¡¯er quickly ran to Yang Ye and supported him as he stumbled. "Servant boy, keep fighting! It chased me for an entire hour over a low-grade Mystical Herb! If it weren''t for my speed charm, I¡¯d be in its stomach by now!" Yang Ye drew in a sharp breath. A Mystical Herb! Now he understood why the beast had chased her. Mystical Herbs were incredibly valuable, ranked from Heaven, Earth, Mystic, to Yellow. Even the lowest Yellow-ranked herb could sell for over ten thousand gold coins, a fortune for someone like Yang Ye, whose monthly wage was just a few dozen coins. As for the higher-ranked Mystic Herbs, Yang Ye couldn¡¯t even fathom their worth. Herbs were to beasts what high-level techniques were to humans, irresistible and vital. Bao¡¯er frowned as she saw Yang Ye¡¯s exhaustion. She pulled a green and a white talisman from her pocket and pressed them onto Yang Ye¡¯s body. "Servant boy, keep fighting. Bao¡¯er will cheer you on." Yang Ye''s mouth twitched. Just then, he felt another surge of power, and his fatigue vanished. His strength returned, and energy from the world around him poured into his body, filling his meridians. Suddenly, the vortex within him began to spin rapidly, absorbing the energy before releasing streams of golden energy into his dantian. Delighted by the surge of strength, Yang Ye glanced at the little girl''s pouch, astonished. He knew that the energy must have come from her talismans, but he had no time to ask questions. A formidable Fifth Rank Mystical Beast still loomed before them. Cracking his neck and feeling the energy coursing through him, Yang Ye grinned savagely at the King Python, and with renewed confidence, charged at the beast once more. The Path of Rune Seals ¡°Hiss, hiss...¡± Seeing Yang Ye launch another attack, the Giant Python King was obviously enraged. With a swing of its massive body, the enormous tail whipped toward Yang Ye once again. As the tail came sweeping down, Yang Ye''s eyes narrowed. This time, he wasn''t planning to dodge. Golden Profound Energy surged within his body, flowing into his right fist. With a fierce shout, he slammed his fist directly at the Giant Python King''s tail. Under the support of the mysterious talisman and the golden Profound Energy, veins bulged along Yang Ye''s arm, resembling wriggling earthworms. A faint golden light shimmered on his fist, and the air shrieked as it was split by the force of his punch, creating a terrifying momentum. ¡°Boom!¡± When fist and tail collided, a muffled thud echoed, and Yang Ye was pushed back several steps. However, the Giant Python King''s tail was also blasted backward by Yang Ye''s punch. Where the fist landed, the tail had been forced inward, showing the sheer power behind his blow! Seeing he had managed to knock the tail back with one punch, Yang Ye''s eyes lit up with excitement. Golden Profound Energy surged through his body as he rushed forward once more, his fists raining down on the Giant Python King like a relentless storm. Watching Yang Ye pummel the Giant Python King into retreat, Little Bao''er, standing to the side, was astonished. She patted her small chest and softly said, ¡°My mid-grade Strength Talisman only doubled his power, but combined with his golden Profound Energy, it increased it by nearly five times. Grandpa was right¡ªgolden Profound Energy is the most powerful among the Five Elements Profound Energies.¡± The more Yang Ye fought, the more exhilarated he became. His strength had reached nearly a thousand pounds, and each punch left a gaping hole in the Giant Python King''s body. Before long, the python was covered in wounds, blood splattering everywhere. However, Yang Ye himself had also sustained significant internal injuries. Each clash with the python''s tail sent a tremor through his body, but he felt a strange power within him constantly healing his internal injuries. Without it, he would have collapsed long ago. ¡°Boom!¡± After a long and intense struggle, Yang Ye found an opening. He leaped into the air and landed a fierce punch on the python¡¯s head. The Giant Python King let out a wretched cry and began to convulse violently. Yang Ye, seizing the chance, pounded the python''s head repeatedly until it finally lay motionless. ¡°Phew!¡± Seeing the python lying still, Yang Ye slumped to the ground, breathing heavily. The fatigue and pain from being struck by the python''s tail earlier now washed over him like a tidal wave, leaving him utterly exhausted. At this moment, Bao''er ran over to the fallen python. She kicked it angrily with her tiny feet and muttered, ¡°Serves you right for chasing Bao''er! Now you''re dead! See if Bao''er doesn''t turn you into something useful!¡± She pulled out a jade bottle from her little pouch, and as soon as she uncorked it, a powerful suction force emerged. In an instant, the python''s massive body shrank into a tiny dot and was sucked into the bottle. Seeing this, Yang Ye was dumbfounded. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Sure enough, the Giant Python King had vanished. If not for the pool of blood on the ground, he would have thought he had been fighting nothing but air. Storing away the jade bottle, Bao''er walked over to Yang Ye and took out a green talisman from her pouch, pressing it onto him. The talisman transformed into a green light that surged into Yang Ye¡¯s body. Moments later, the fatigue in his body disappeared. ¡°Are... are you a Rune Seal Master?¡± Yang Ye asked softly, looking at the girl who was now examining him. Bao''er¡¯s lips curled with pride. ¡°Of course! I''m a genius¡ªthe only fourteen-year-old Grade Five Rune Seal Master in the entire Sword Sect. Impressive, right?¡± Hearing Bao''er¡¯s confirmation, Yang Ye took a deep breath, his face showing genuine shock. Although he wasn¡¯t highly skilled, he knew what a Rune Seal Master was. Rune Seal Masters were incredibly esteemed in the Southern Region. The items they crafted would drive countless cultivators into a frenzy. Take those talismans from earlier, for example: they could instantly enhance one''s combat power without any side effects and were life-saving tools in critical moments. And that wasn¡¯t all. Rune Seal Masters could inscribe strange runes onto weapons or armor. A weapon enhanced by these runes would become much more powerful, and its price would skyrocket. Talisman crafting and rune inscription were just the tip of the iceberg. It was said that Rune Seal Masters could even inscribe skills onto weapons or armor. With enough Profound Energy, a cultivator could activate the skills directly from the inscribed items. However, Yang Ye had never seen such treasures himself. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He had never seen these kinds of Rune Seal Master-crafted items, and he had only ever encountered one Rune Seal Master in person¡ªthis little girl in front of him. The rarity of Rune Seal Masters was what made them so highly regarded. In An Nan City, with a population nearing a million, there wasn¡¯t a single Rune Seal Master to be found. And now, he had actually met one and even used so many of her precious talismans. Thinking of this, Yang Ye felt a pang of pain. Just one of those talismans could sell for enough to feed him for a lifetime! ¡°Why didn¡¯t you run earlier?¡± Bao''er asked seriously, after putting away the jade bottle. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yang Ye was taken aback. ¡°I mean, you¡¯re so weak. Why didn¡¯t you run instead of fighting the snake?¡± Bao''er pressed on, her small face earnest. ¡°If I had run, you would have ended up in the snake¡¯s belly!¡± Yang Ye smiled. He had considered fleeing, but the girl¡¯s kindness had moved him. If he had run then, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to face himself. Bao''er studied Yang Ye for a moment, then broke into a smile. ¡°Lots of people have tried to please me before, but I knew they all had ulterior motives or wanted to curry favor with Grandpa. You¡¯re different. You didn¡¯t know who I was and still risked your life to save me. Let¡¯s be friends! My name¡¯s Bao''er. What¡¯s yours?¡± ¡°Yang Ye!¡± Yang Ye replied with a smile. The girl reminded him of his younger sister, so cute and endearing that he couldn¡¯t help but feel fond of her. Remembering something, he asked, ¡°By the way, aren¡¯t Rune Seal Masters supposed to be powerful? Why...?¡± Bao''er blushed and mumbled, ¡°I-I¡¯m at the eighth level of the Profound Realm, and I have wood-attribute Profound Energy, the weakest of the Five Elements. A-and I¡¯ve never fought anyone before, so... I don¡¯t know how to fight...¡± Her face turned even redder. Yang Ye was stunned. Eighth level at such a young age? This talent was truly monstrous! But hearing that she didn¡¯t know how to fight, his expression grew odd. Such exceptional talent, yet no battle skills... Seeing Yang Ye¡¯s peculiar look, Bao''er glared at him and quickly changed the subject. ¡°By the way, you have metal-attribute Profound Energy, which means you should be progressing quickly. Why are you only at the fourth level?¡± ¡°Metal Profound Energy? Five Elements Profound Energy?¡± Yang Ye was confused. He had never heard of these terms before. Bao''er didn¡¯t explain, but instead asked, ¡°You know how prestigious Rune Seal Masters are, right?¡± Yang Ye nodded. ¡°Very prestigious. I¡¯ve only ever heard about them but never seen one before. We don¡¯t have any in An Nan City!¡± ¡°Rune Seal Masters are esteemed because only those with Five Elements Profound Energy can become one. And Five Elements Profound Energy is extremely rare, appearing in only one out of millions of people. Rare things are valuable, so Rune Seal Masters are highly respected in the Southern Region. Got it?¡± Bao''er explained. ¡°You¡¯re saying... I have Five Elements Profound Energy?¡± Yang Ye¡¯s eyes brightened. Being a Rune Seal Master was far more prestigious than being an outer disciple of the Sword Sect. If he could become one, even the city lord of An Nan would have to show him respect, let alone the Liu family. Bao''er nodded. ¡°It seems so. Metal-attribute Profound Energy is golden, and yours is golden too. So yes, you could become a Rune Seal Master! And metal Profound Energy is the strongest among the Five Elements. I can¡¯t believe I actually met someone like you!¡± Yang Ye was first overjoyed, but then he frowned, calming down. Metal Profound Energy was supposed to be golden, but his was light gold, transformed by the strange whirlpool in his body. Was it truly Five Elements Profound Energy? ¡°Why can only people with Five Elements Profound Energy become Rune Seal Masters?¡± Yang Ye asked seriously. ¡°Because only Five Elements Profound Energy can survive in the air!¡± Bao''er explained. ¡°Ordinary Profound Energy dissipates unless sustained by special techniques. But Five Elements Profound Energy doesn¡¯t. It can remain in the air indefinitely unless destroyed.¡± Yang Ye pondered her explanation, then summoned his Profound Energy and, using his finger as a pen, traced a golden line on a nearby rock. The line remained, glowing faintly. Delighted, Yang Ye continued drawing, and soon a golden ¡°Yang¡± character appeared on the stone. He waited, and the character remained, not dissipating. Yang Ye was overjoyed; it appeared he really did possess Five Elements Profound Energy!
Seeing Yang Ye''s excited expression, Bao''er hesitated for a moment. Remembering how Yang Ye had charged at the Giant Python King earlier, she stopped hesitating, reached into her pocket with her small hand, and pulled out a scroll. Handing it to Yang Ye, she said, ¡°Little Servant, this scroll is the ''Basic Rune Techniques.'' It¡¯s different from other ''Basic Rune Techniques'' because it contains countless insights recorded by my grandfather. I¡¯ve learned almost everything in it, so I¡¯m giving it to you now. But don¡¯t show it to anyone else, understand?¡± As she spoke, Bao''er¡¯s face grew serious. Hearing this, Yang Ye was deeply moved. After hesitating for a moment, he took the scroll and looked at Bao''er, saying earnestly, ¡°Thank you. Don¡¯t worry¡ªI won¡¯t show it to anyone.¡± This was an opportunity, a chance to become a Rune Seal Master, and he had no intention of letting it slip away. Bao''er nodded and then said softly, ¡°Grandfather has gone to the Great Qin Empire, so I can¡¯t take you back to the Rune Peak yet. Once he returns, I¡¯ll have him assess your potential as a Rune Seal Master. If you have good talent, I¡¯ll ask him to accept you as a disciple. If not, that¡¯s okay too¡ªyou can still hang out with me. I¡¯m pretty amazing myself!¡± Hearing Bao¡¯er¡¯s words, Yang Ye felt a wave of emotion. Bao¡¯er was not only giving him the valuable ¡°Five Elements Rune Techniques¡± but was also planning to introduce him to her grandfather. This little girl truly considered him a friend. ¡°Little Servant, you have to remember not to neglect improving your cultivation as a Profound Practitioner just because you might become a Rune Seal Master,¡± Bao¡¯er said seriously. ¡°The more refined the Profound Energy in your body, the more effective the talismans you create will be. And crafting talismans consumes a lot of Profound Energy. With the current amount of Profound Energy you have, you could only make a few talismans at most, understand?¡± Yang Ye nodded. ¡°I know. My goal is to become an inner disciple!¡± Although the Rune Seal Master profession was prestigious, he had never given up on his dream of becoming a powerful Profound Practitioner. With great strength, he would be better able to protect his mother and sister Another Conflict Erupts After returning from Qingfeng Valley to the Servants¡¯ Peak, Yang Ye arrived at the dining hall. The moment he stepped inside, he noticed that half of the people in the hall were staring at him. Some of the servant disciples greeted him with friendly smiles, while others looked at him with expressions of schadenfreude. Yang Ye nodded back at those with friendly smiles and was about to get some food when a cold voice suddenly called out from behind him. ¡°Yang Ye, stop right there!¡± Yang Ye''s brows furrowed upon hearing the voice; he recognized it all too well. It was Manager Xu. Trouble had come for him again. Yang Ye turned around to face Manager Xu, a man in his forties with a fat, fleshy face and a body so large that from a distance, his eyes were barely visible. Despite wearing an oversized servant¡¯s robe, the fabric was stretched taut around his massive figure, the fat around his shoulders and back bulging out with a reddish hue. Within the Sword Sect, Manager Xu was known by the nickname ¡°Xu the Flayer,¡± because anyone who crossed him would be sure to suffer severe consequences, often leaving them feeling as if they had been skinned alive. Standing next to Manager Xu were Du Xiu and his two companions, sneering at Yang Ye. Seeing this group, many of the servant disciples in the dining hall showed a mix of deep fear and resentment. These four often exploited them and made life miserable, but no one dared to stand up against them. ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? Yang Ye hit Du Xiu, and Xu the Flayer isn¡¯t going to let that slide. Yang Ye is finished now¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, there was someone who stood up to Xu the Flayer once, and he got beaten to death by these four right on the spot. Why couldn¡¯t Yang Ye just have endured it back then? Young people and their impulsiveness¡ªit¡¯ll be the death of him¡­¡± ¡°Shh, stop talking! If Xu the Flayer hears you, you¡¯ll be in for a whipping too.¡± Manager Xu and his three followers made their way toward Yang Ye. When they reached him, a whip had somehow appeared in Manager Xu¡¯s hand. With a sinister grin, he looked at Yang Ye, who remained calm, and said, ¡°Yang Ye, you need to understand reality. You used to be an outer disciple, but you¡¯re not anymore. Now that you¡¯re on my turf, you follow my rules. You attacked my nephew¡ªhow do you think we should settle this?¡± ¡°Uncle, why waste time talking to him? Just kill him!¡± Du Xiu spat out viciously, glaring at Yang Ye. He still couldn¡¯t swallow the humiliation he had suffered. Yang Ye gave Du Xiu a cold glare, then turned to Manager Xu and said, ¡°Tell me, how do you want to settle this?¡± At Yang Ye''s words, Manager Xu started to laugh. He pulled out an envelope from his robe, the seal already broken, indicating it had been read. Taking out the letter inside, he chuckled, ¡°Yang Ye, I hear you have a younger sister, still in her teens? She hasn¡¯t married yet, right? How about letting her become my concubine? I love young girls. And then, you can kneel and apologize to Du Xiu¡­¡± Before he could finish, Manager Xu¡¯s voice was abruptly cut off. A huge fist came crashing toward him. The moment Yang Ye heard Manager Xu insult his sister, his expression twisted with rage. Without hesitation, he threw a punch. His sister and mother were his reverse scale, the boundary no one could cross. ¡°Bam!¡± Manager Xu hadn¡¯t expected Yang Ye to strike so suddenly. Caught off guard, his face slammed into Yang Ye¡¯s fist. With a scream, he fell to the ground, blood streaming from his nose and mouth. But Yang Ye didn¡¯t stop there. Instead, he lunged forward, snatched the whip from Manager Xu¡¯s hand, and started lashing it down on the man¡¯s fat, quivering body. ¡°You scum! How dare you think you¡¯re worthy of my sister? I¡¯ll beat you to death¡­¡± Yang Ye¡¯s face was twisted with fury as he swung the whip relentlessly. ¡°Ah! Yang Ye, you¡¯re dead! How dare you hit me! Ah, stop! Please, Yang Ye, I¡¯m begging you, stop! I was wrong¡­¡± Everyone in the dining hall was stunned. They never expected Yang Ye to actually attack Xu the Flayer, an official manager appointed by the Sword Sect. But soon, the shock faded, replaced by excitement. Yang Ye was doing what they had only dreamed of. Many servant disciples clenched their fists in excitement, their eyes shining with exhilaration. ¡°Yang Ye, let go of my uncle, or you¡¯re dead!¡± Du Xiu finally came to his senses. He wanted to rush forward but was too afraid of Yang Ye¡¯s strength, so he could only shout angrily from the side. Yang Ye ignored Du Xiu and struck harder, the whip landing repeatedly on Manager Xu¡¯s bloated body. Within moments, Manager Xu had been whipped over a hundred times, his body covered in bloody welts, a horrifying sight. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. To Yang Ye, if someone bullied him, he might endure it. But if anyone dared to threaten his family, he would turn into a demon without hesitation. Manager Xu had crossed the line by targeting his sister, and that was something Yang Ye would never forgive. ¡°Ahh¡­ Ahhh¡­¡± Manager Xu¡¯s screams echoed through the dining hall. Except for Du Xiu and his companions, the other servant disciples grew more excited with every scream, feeling a sense of justice being served. Xu the Flayer had tormented them for years, withholding wages and whipping anyone who displeased him. More than ninety percent of the thousands of servant disciples on Servants¡¯ Peak had suffered under his abuse. ¡°Stop!¡± Suddenly, a stern voice rang out. An elder in a blue and white robe appeared in the dining hall, his voice infused with profound energy, causing everyone¡¯s ears to buzz. Hearing this, Yang Ye felt a chill run down his spine. He turned and saw the elder, his expression complicated. Taking a deep breath, Yang Ye put down the whip, ignored the barely conscious Manager Xu on the ground, and walked up to the elder. He bowed deeply and said, ¡°Elder Qian!¡± This elder was the one who had originally accepted him as an outer disciple in Anyang City. It was this elder who had changed his fate. If not for Elder Qian warning the Liu family back then, his mother and sister might have already fallen into their hands. Even though Elder Qian had later demoted him to a servant disciple, Yang Ye had never blamed him. On the contrary, he was deeply grateful. One of the reasons he worked so hard was to prove himself to this elder. Back when he couldn¡¯t absorb any profound energy for a whole year, Elder Qian had been mocked by the other outer elders because of him. He wanted to prove to the Sword Sect that he, Yang Ye, was not useless! Elder Qian¡¯s eyes also held a complicated expression as he looked at Yang Ye. He knew Yang Ye¡¯s talent better than anyone. However, for some unknown reason, Yang Ye had failed to absorb any profound energy for an entire year and never became a Profound Practitioner. He had no choice but to demote Yang Ye to a servant disciple. Seeing Yang Ye now, Elder Qian felt a complex mix of emotions. Du Xiu suddenly fell to his knees in front of Elder Qian and pointed at Yang Ye, crying, ¡°Elder Qian, you must give us justice! Yang Ye beat me severely and even forced me to do his chores. My uncle came to talk to him, but he was beaten nearly to death instead. Elder Qian, please give us justice!¡± Hearing Du Xiu¡¯s distorted version of events, Yang Ye frowned but remained silent. The surrounding servant disciples, however, were furious, enraged by Du Xiu¡¯s shameless lies. Elder Qian glanced at the barely breathing Manager Xu on the ground and then looked at Yang Ye. His eyes suddenly widened with surprise. A wave of spiritual sense enveloped Yang Ye, and moments later, Elder Qian¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯ve reached the fourth rank of the Profound Practitioner realm?¡± Yang Ye nodded. Profound energy surged from his body, and a faint golden glow appeared in his palm. ¡°Elder Qian, I can absorb profound energy now!¡± As he said this, Yang Ye felt a weight lift from his heart. He had pushed himself to his limits so he wouldn¡¯t disappoint the elder. Though he had failed before, he could now finally tell Elder Qian he had succeeded. Seeing the golden glow in Yang Ye¡¯s hand, Elder Qian¡¯s eyes widened, as if he had seen something extraordinary. He moved swiftly to Yang Ye, his gaze intense. ¡°Your¡­ your profound energy is golden?¡± His hands trembled slightly. Seeing the elder¡¯s serious expression, Yang Ye hesitated before nodding. His profound energy might not be exactly gold-attributed, but it was certainly not inferior to it. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Seeing Yang Ye nod, Elder Qian suddenly burst into laughter. After laughing for a while, he seemed to realize it was inappropriate, so he suppressed his excitement, patted Yang Ye''s shoulder with his right hand, and said, ¡°Good, very good, excellent.¡± Five-element spiritual energy appears only once among millions, and not only does Yang Ye possess five-element energy, but it¡¯s also the strongest of them all: metal elemental energy. How could he not be excited? Hearing Elder Qian''s words, Du Xiu, standing nearby, suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. But when he looked down at the severely injured Steward Xu on the ground, he took a deep breath, braced himself, and knelt before Elder Qian again, pleading, ¡°Please, Elder Qian, grant us justice!¡± Elder Qian frowned and shot a cold glance at Du Xiu, then turned to look at the people around them. He declared, ¡°Tell me everything that happened just now. Don''t worry¡ªno one will be able to threaten you with me here. But if anyone dares to hide the truth, don¡¯t blame me for being merciless.¡± Upon hearing this, Du Xiu''s heart sank, and his face turned deathly pale. He realized that Elder Qian had already decided to side with Yang Ye. The surrounding servant disciples didn¡¯t dare to hide anything and recounted everything that had happened. Some of them, understanding Elder Qian''s favorable attitude towards Yang Ye, even saw this as a chance to take down Steward Xu. As a result, they revealed all of Steward Xu¡¯s past misdeeds, with some even exaggerating their accounts. Hearing the testimonies, Du Xiu and his two companions turned as pale as ghosts, their bodies trembling with fear. They knew that this time, they were doomed. Yang Ye calmly walked over to Steward Xu, took the envelope and letter from Xu¡¯s body, and tucked them into his robe. Once Elder Qian heard everything, his expression grew dark. He glared at the terrified Du Xiu and said coldly, ¡°I never imagined¡ªtruly never imagined¡ªthat while the outer sect elders and disciples have been busy with cultivation, the Servants¡¯ Peak has become your uncle-nephew duo¡¯s playground. How utterly audacious!¡± ¡°Please spare us, Elder, please spare us¡­¡± Du Xiu and his companions immediately dropped to their knees, begging for forgiveness. ¡°We won¡¯t dare to do this again, never again¡­¡± At this moment, the three of them deeply regretted ever provoking Yang Ye. If they had known he had become a cultivator, they wouldn¡¯t have dared to confront him even if they had a hundred lives to spare. Elder Qian snorted coldly and declared, ¡°From now on, Steward Xu is no longer the manager of Servants¡¯ Peak. All four of you are to mine at Star Mine Mountain for ten years. Everything you earn will belong to the sect. After ten years, you¡¯ll be expelled from Sword Sect and will never be allowed to return.¡± After delivering his judgment, Elder Qian nodded at Yang Ye, then reached out to grab Yang Ye¡¯s shoulder. In a flash, the two of them disappeared from the hall. Upon hearing Elder Qian¡¯s decision, the servant disciples erupted into cheers, while Du Xiu and his companions fainted on the spot. They knew they were now doomed to serve the Sword Sect like slaves for the next ten years. Outer Sect Ranking List
Training Ground Yang Ye walked side by side with Elder Qian. Though it was night, the training ground was as bright as day under the illumination of the surrounding moonlight stones. Suddenly, Elder Qian stopped and looked at Yang Ye. "Yang Ye, when I demoted you to a miscellaneous disciple, did you harbor any resentment toward me?" Yang Ye shook his head and replied, "Elder Qian, if it weren¡¯t for you, my sister and mother would have probably fallen into the hands of the Liu family. I did harbor some resentment, but it was only toward myself. I was the one who failed, making you and me the laughingstocks. I let you down!" Yang Ye would never forget the time when the outer sect elders mocked him and Elder Qian. When he had failed to become a (Xuan Practitioner) after a year, the outer sect elders and disciples not only gave him a "memorable" nickname but also ridiculed Elder Qian for being senile and accepting a useless disciple into the Sword Sect. He had become the laughingstock among outer disciples, and Elder Qian had, as a result, also become the target of mockery among the outer sect elders. Hearing Yang Ye¡¯s words, Elder Qian laughed and patted Yang Ye¡¯s shoulder. "Alright, that¡¯s all in the past, no need to dwell on it. I didn¡¯t expect you to have five elementalÐþÆø (Xuan Qi), and a gold-element one at that. Come, let¡¯s go to the Outer Sect Peak. I¡¯m going to restore your status as an outer disciple. Now, let me see who dares to call you trash!" "Elder Qian, I want to participate in next month¡¯s outer sect disciple assessment. I¡¯ll prove with my strength that I¡¯m not useless, and that your judgment was the best in the Sword Sect!" Yang Ye said seriously as he looked at Elder Qian. If he truly possessed five elemental, he might go along with Elder Qian, but the problem was, did he really have it? He didn¡¯t want others to learn the secret of the mysterious vortex in his dantian! Upon hearing this, Elder Qian was momentarily stunned, then smiled, saying, "Good, good, you have ambition." There were two ways to join the Sword Sect as an outer disciple. The first was through the recommendation of an outer sect elder, who could accept up to three disciples. The second way was through the outer sect disciple assessment, which was the official method. Anyone who reached the level of aÐþÕß (Xuan Practitioner) of the sixth rank before the age of seventeen was eligible to take the assessment. The disciples who passed the assessment were ranked higher in both strength and status than those chosen by elders because the assessment was extremely rigorous. It tested not only strength but also comprehension and talent. The first method was akin to a backdoor entry, while the second one required talent and effort, so in the Sword Sect, the latter¡¯s status was far superior to the former¡¯s. Elder Qian thought for a moment, then took out a small pouch from his robe and handed it to Yang Ye. "Yang Ye, I admire your determination. This contains ten energy stones and a Meridian Protection Pill. The energy stones will help you quickly absorb, while the Meridian Protection Pill will protect your meridians from damage." Yang Ye hesitated for a moment, then accepted the pouch and said seriously, "Elder Qian, don¡¯t worry. I will not disappoint you this time." He didn¡¯t refuse Elder Qian¡¯s kindness. At this moment, he truly needed the cultivation resources. Without them, it would be impossible for him to reach the sixth rank ofÐþÕß by the age of seventeen. Elder Qian smiled and nodded. "I believe in you. Those with five elementalÐþÆø usually have a fast cultivation speed. I didn¡¯t know what went wrong with you before, but now it seems that there¡¯s nothing wrong with your body anymore. Just cultivate hard. Aim for the top ten in the outer sect assessment. Let¡¯s show those old guys who the real waste is!" By the end of his sentence, Elder Qian¡¯s voice carried a hint of anger. His temper was usually good, but when he thought of those outer sect elders and their smug attitudes, he still got angry. "Top ten?" Yang Ye muttered. "Why? No confidence?" Elder Qian smiled. Yang Ye shook his head. How could he have no confidence? His goal was not just to become an outer sect disciple; his true target was to become an inner sect disciple. He had never dared to hope for that before, but now, with the mysterious vortex in his dantian and his own effort, he believed he could make it. Of course, he first had to become an outer sect disciple to qualify for the inner sect disciple assessment! Yang Ye paused for a moment, then said, "Elder Qian, there¡¯s something I need to ask you." "What is it?" Elder Qian asked curiously. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Yang Ye explained the situation with the Liu family trying to harm his sister, which had originally been something he wanted to resolve by himself. But now, his strength was insufficient, and he needed more time. So, he was asking Elder Qian for help. After hearing this, Elder Qian fell silent for a moment, then said, "If I¡¯m not mistaken, the Liu Qingyu from the outer sect recently became an outer disciple, and he¡¯s from the Liu family. That¡¯s why the Liu family has ignored my previous warning and started plotting against your family again." "Liu Qingyu?" Hearing that name, Elder Qian¡¯s expression became slightly more serious. "He¡¯s from the Liu family. He recently became an outer disciple after ranking third in the outer sect assessment. In just a month of cultivation, he¡¯s already ranked twenty-ninth in the outer sect rankings. It¡¯s said that some inner sect elders have already started paying attention to him." "Twenty-ninth in the outer sect rankings?" Yang Ye¡¯s expression became serious. The outer sect rankings were a list of the strongest outer sect disciples. There were thousands of them, and many were very powerful. It was said that the top ten in the rankings were already on par with some outer sect elders. Liu Qingyu¡¯s rapid rise to twenty-ninth place in just a month showed his immense talent and strength! "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll go to An¡¯nan City," Elder Qian said. "Right now, Liu Qingyu isn¡¯t yet an inner disciple, so the Liu family still respects me a little. But if he passes the inner sect disciple trial in three months and becomes an inner disciple, the Liu family might no longer care about me." Upon hearing this, Yang Ye bowed deeply to Elder Qian. "Thank you, Elder Qian." Yang Ye knew that once Liu Qingyu became an inner disciple, the outer sect elder status wouldn¡¯t hold much power over the Liu family anymore. With the resources of the inner sect, Liu Qingyu¡¯s strength would only grow, and the Liu family in An¡¯nan City would become even more arrogant. If Yang Ye wanted to keep the Liu family in check, he needed to surpass Liu Qingyu in both strength and status. In other words, he had three months. If he couldn¡¯t surpass Liu Qingyu by then, his sister and mother would be in danger. "Kid, if Liu Qingyu is ranked twenty-ninth in the outer sect rankings, it means he¡¯s already a congenital expert. You must work hard, or not only will you not be able to protect your family, but your own life will also be in danger," Elder Qian said seriously. Congenital Expert! Yang Ye¡¯s pupils contracted, and his hands clenched tightly. It was well-known that anyone below the congenital level was considered a mortal realm practitioner. There was a massive difference between a mortal realm practitioner and a congenital expert. Once someone reached the congenital level, theirÐþÆø shield could no longer be broken by mortal realm practitioners! "Congenital, huh? Looks like I need to work even harder!" Yang Ye clenched his fists, his expression firm. Seeing that Yang Ye wasn¡¯t intimidated by the concept of congenital experts, Elder Qian smiled and nodded. The reason he had given Yang Ye a spot back then wasn¡¯t just because Yang Ye was loyal but because of his determined personality. Martial arts required not only strong talent but also the kind of character and resolve Yang Ye possessed. After bidding farewell to Elder Qian, Yang Ye didn¡¯t continue cultivating at Qingfeng Valley but returned to his own house. There, he began studying the "Five Elemental Talismans." If he could create talismans, it would greatly enhance his strength, as the effects of these talismans were extremely powerful. As Yang Ye studied the "Five Elemental Talismans," he became increasingly shocked. Some of the talismans were incredibly powerful. For instance, one of the talismans, the Spirit Gathering Talisman, could make one rapidly absorb, although only for an hour or two, it was still very strong. Another talisman, the Strengthening Talisman, could increase one''s strength by several times within an hour. There were many other talismans as well... After some time, Yang Ye couldn¡¯t resist and decided to make a talisman. He didn¡¯t choose the most difficult ones, but instead opted for the Strengthening Talisman. The idea was good, but when he tried making it, Yang Ye realized that creating talismans was much harder than he had thought. However, Yang Ye didn¡¯t get discouraged and kept trying again and again. Over the next few days, thanks to Elder Qian, the newly appointed steward of the Miscellaneous Disciple Peak was smart enough not to assign any tasks to Yang Ye, so Yang Ye had plenty of time. Every day, he either trained at Qingfeng Valley or studied the talismans. One day, while Yang Ye was studying the "Five Elemental Talismans" in his room, a miscellaneous disciple came to visit. The disciple looked serious and said, "Yang Ge, there¡¯s something I need to tell you!" "What is it?" Yang Ye asked, confused. He didn¡¯t recognize the person in front of him. Although the miscellaneous disciples were very respectful toward him due to what had happened with Du Xiu and his group, Yang Ye didn¡¯t have much interaction with them. Hearing Yang Ye¡¯s question, the disciple hesitated for a moment before saying, "Yang Ge, it seems Du Xiu¡¯s cousin is coming back." "Du Xiu¡¯s cousin?" Yang Ye frowned. He knew that Du Xiu¡¯s cousin was an outer sect disciple. Was the person coming back to cause trouble for him? The disciple nodded and said, "Yang Ge, we wanted to inform you. I¡¯ve heard that Du Xiu¡¯s cousin is a (Xuan Practitioner) of the eighth rank. If he finds out that Du Xiu and his group were demoted to the Star Mine Mountain because of you, he will definitely cause trouble for you. You need to be prepared!" "Xuan Practitioner of the eighth rank?" Yang Ye¡¯s eyes narrowed. After thinking for a while, he took out fifty gold coins and handed them to the disciple. "Thank you for your help. I will be careful. Here are fifty gold coins. Don¡¯t refuse, take it. If there¡¯s any important news, you can come and tell me!" With thousands of miscellaneous disciples scattered across the peak, each day there was information to be heard. These disciples held a wealth of information, and if they could be his eyes and ears, it would be of great help to him. The disciple took the fifty gold coins and was excited. "Yang Ge, don¡¯t worry. If there¡¯s any news about you or anything important, we¡¯ll let you know as soon as possible!" After saying this, the disciple left the room. After the disciple left, Yang Ye squinted his eyes and murmured, "Xuan Practitioner of the eighth rank. I¡¯m only a Xuan Practitioner of the fourth rank right now. Looks like I need to keep working harder!