Core Disciple Competition Begins

In the main sect of the Yi Yuan Sect, although the admission requirement was Houtian Seventh Stage and above, according to the Yi Yuan Sect's standards, Houtian Ninth Stage cultivators were only Outer Gate Disciples. Those who reached the innate realm were Inner Disciples. As for those below Houtian Ninth Stage, they were all servant disciples. Servant disciples were essentially slave disciples with very low status within the Yi Yuan Sect. Although Outer Gate Disciples also had relatively low status, at least they didn't have to perform a series of menial tasks. They could access certain resources for cultivation and, at fixed times, had the opportunity to attend lectures by senior disciples with high cultivation.

Subordinate forces directly under the Yi Yuan Sect, like the Yi Yuan Sect on Green Peak Mountain, were different from ordinary rogue cultivators. Most of them would choose to join the Yi Yuan Sect only after reaching the Houtian Ninth Stage. No one was foolish enough to give up their influence and power in their own territory just to be a servant at the main sect of the Yi Yuan Sect. No sensible person would do that.

"Let's go, I'll introduce you to some fellow disciples!" Ye Feng said.

Ye Feng took Ye Xiwen to meet some of the top disciples among the current Core Disciples. Generally, the number of true top experts among the Core Disciples represented the strength of the Core Disciples.

In this batch of Core Disciples, there were not many who could reach the top level, only three: Zhang Yang, Qian Wanru, and Wu Hao.

Among them, Zhang Yang was the strongest. Like Ye Feng, he was at the Houtian Ninth Stage Peak, strong and sturdy, like an iron tower.

Qian Wanru was a beautiful woman, slightly weaker in strength, at the Houtian Ninth Stage late stage.

Wu Hao was a thin young man, with strength comparable to Qian Wanru, both at the Houtian Ninth Stage late stage.

Adding Ye Feng, that made only four so far. As for the Zhang Family, besides the five renowned senior disciples, it was rumored that two more had entered the Houtian Ninth Stage late stage this year, joining the ranks of top disciples.

In terms of numbers, they held an overwhelming advantage. That's why the Zhang Family had such ambitious hopes of using the Blood Origin Fruit from the Blood Origin Realm as a stake, hoping to completely suppress the Yi Yuan Sect.

On the Yi Yuan Sect's side, even with the addition of Ye Xiwen, there were only five, a significant difference.

These were the recognized top experts among the Core Disciples, who would enjoy the most tilted resources from the sect.

Now Ye Xiwen had also implicitly joined this small group, becoming the highest hope for all Yi Yuan Sect disciples. Whether they could defeat the Zhang Family this time truly depended on this small group.

Time passed day by day, and Ye Xiwen continuously adjusted his state amidst the flowing time. Finally, the day of the Core Disciple Competition arrived.

On this day, the Core Disciples were summoned to the plaza. Compared to the vast plaza, the slightly over a hundred Core Disciples seemed a bit sparse.

Not long after Ye Xiwen and the others arrived, the Elder leading them quickly appeared. Two Elders, one fat and one thin, presented themselves before everyone.

Seeing the two of them, Ye Xiwen knew without any introduction that these were the well-known Fat Elder and Thin Elder of the Yi Yuan Sect. Their two characteristics were too obvious, and they always appeared together. Over time, many people even forgot their real names and simply called them the Fat Elder and the Thin Elder.

"This is, this is the batch of Core Disciples participating in the trial with the weakest lineup!" The Fat Elder's opening words made the Core Disciples feel a sense of shame.

"I won't say any more nonsense!" The Fat Elder became serious and said coldly, "The location for this trial is a bit different; it's set in the Blood Origin Realm. What the Blood Origin Realm is, I believe you all know! Countless people have died in it within the Yi Yuan Sect. I hope more of you can come back this time. I'll ask once: whoever wants to withdraw can withdraw now!"

After the Fat Elder finished speaking, over forty Core Disciples chose to withdraw. However, no one mocked their choice, as it was a journey of death. Although the Blood Origin Realm offered many benefits, and surviving it could yield great rewards, the prerequisite was to be able to survive. So many experts had perished in there in previous years, including those in the innate realm, let alone them.

Those who withdrew this time were Core Disciples below the Houtian Eighth Stage. Their strength was weaker, and it was unlikely they could achieve good results or even survive if they went. Thus, they naturally chose to give up.

Among the disciples who had just been promoted to Core Disciples this year, only Ye Xiwen and Dongfang Bai continued to participate. Dongfang Bai appeared energetic, indicating that his previous injuries had likely healed considerably.

"Each of you who participates will receive a waist badge that will record your points. Killing a Houtian Eighth Stage demon beast rewards ten points, a Houtian Ninth Stage demon beast rewards fifty points, and an innate realm demon beast rewards one thousand points. Within the Blood Origin Realm, there are also fifteen tokens left by our ancestors, which are red, yellow, and green, corresponding to scores of one hundred, five hundred, and one thousand respectively!" At this time, the Thin Elder began to explain, "In addition, any heavenly treasures you find within will be converted into points after you come out. The top three disciples with the highest total scores will receive the reward of Blood Origin Fruits!"

This news immediately caused a stir among the Core Disciples. The reward of Blood Origin Fruits was something even the Core Disciples didn't know about. This was the result of discussions among the high-level officials of the two families. Only Ye Xiwen, having learned the outcome in advance, appeared relatively calm.

This was a Blood Origin Fruit, a heavenly treasure that could even increase one's realm by one level after consumption by someone in the innate realm. Many disciples who had withdrawn regretted it!

"However, if you are defeated or killed by someone, those points will be correspondingly accumulated by that person. So, you must be careful. I hope more of you can return alive this time!" The Fat Elder added, his tone somewhat emotional. He didn't know how many would be injured or killed this time, but those who managed to return alive would undoubtedly become the elites among them.

Ye Xiwen remained silent. The rules indeed... encouraged mutual slaughter. There were many ways to earn points: hunting demon beasts, obtaining heavenly treasures, or acquiring those tokens. However, none of these were as fast as killing someone. Regardless of how many points the opponent had earned, they could be instantly transferred to oneself.

Core Disciples had truly stepped into this cruel world of martial artists. Although Inner Disciples and Outer Gate Disciples before them received fewer resources, they were also relatively well-protected.

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