Although the requirement for entering the Yi Yuan Sect's Main Sect was Houtian Seventh Stage or above, by Yi Yuan Sect's standards, even Houtian Ninth Stage cultivators could only become Outer Gate Disciples. Only those in the Xiantian realm could become Inner Disciples. Those below Houtian Ninth Stage were all menial disciples. What were menial disciples? They were slave disciples, with extremely low status in the Yi Yuan Sect. Outer Gate Disciples, though their status was still comparatively low, at least did not have to handle all manner of chores. They could receive a certain amount of cultivation resources and, at fixed times, had the chance to attend lectures from senior brothers with profound cultivation.
Unlike ordinary wandering cultivators, subordinate direct forces of the Yi Yuan Sect like the Yi Yuan Sect at Green Peak Mountain would mostly choose to join the Yi Yuan Sect only after reaching Houtian Ninth Stage. No one was foolish enough to give up calling the wind and summoning the rain on their own turf just to go to the Yi Yuan Sect's Main Sect and work like an ox or a horse for others. Anyone with a functioning brain would not do such a thing.
"Come on, I'll introduce you to a few senior brothers and junior brothers!" Ye Feng said.
Ye Feng brought Ye Xiwen to meet several of the top disciples among the Core Disciples. Generally speaking, however many true top experts there were among the Core Disciples represented the overall strength of the Core Disciples.
Among this generation of Core Disciples, there were not many who qualified as top-tier. There were only three: Zhang Yang, Qian Wanru, and Wu Hao.
Among them, Zhang Yang was the strongest. Like Ye Feng, he was at Houtian Ninth Stage Peak. He was broad and sturdy, like an iron tower.
Qian Wanru was a beautiful woman, lovely as a flower. Her strength was slightly weaker, at late Houtian Ninth Stage.
Wu Hao was a thin young man. His strength was comparable to Qian Wanru's, likewise at late Houtian Ninth Stage.
Even with Ye Feng added in, there were only four of them. Yet apart from the Five Great Disciples who had long since made their names, the Zhang Family had reportedly produced another two people this year who had entered late Houtian Ninth Stage, joining the ranks of the top disciples.
In terms of numbers, they held an almost overwhelming advantage. That was why the Zhang Family had been so ambitious this time, hoping to use the Blood Origin Fruits within the Blood Origin Realm as stakes and completely crush the Yi Yuan Sect.
On the Yi Yuan Sect's side, even with Ye Xiwen included, there were only five people in total. The gap was still immense.
These were the acknowledged top experts among the Core Disciples, and they would receive the sect's greatest allocation of resources.
Ye Xiwen had now tacitly joined this small group as well. They would be the highest hope of all Yi Yuan Sect disciples. Whether they could defeat the Zhang Family this time truly depended on this small group.
Day after day passed. As time flowed on, Ye Xiwen continuously adjusted his condition, until at last the day of the Core Disciple Competition arrived.
That day, the Core Disciples were summoned to the plaza. Compared to the vast plaza, the mere hundred-odd Core Disciples seemed rather scattered.
Not long after Ye Xiwen and the others arrived, the elders leading this expedition appeared. One fat and one thin, the two elders stepped before the crowd.
The moment he saw them, Ye Xiwen knew without any introduction that they were the rather famous Fat Elder and Thin Elder of the Yi Yuan Sect. Their characteristics were simply too distinct, and the two always appeared together. Over time, many people had even forgotten their real names and simply called them Fat Elder and Thin Elder.
"This is one of the weaker lineups among the Core Disciples participating in the trial!" Fat Elder's opening words immediately left the Core Disciples feeling ashamed.
"I won't waste words on any other nonsense!" Fat Elder turned stern and said coldly, "The location of this trial is somewhat different. It will be held in the Blood Origin Realm. I believe you all know what kind of place the Blood Origin Realm is! Countless people from the Yi Yuan Sect have died there. I hope a few more of you can return this time. I'll ask once: whoever wishes to withdraw may do so now!"
As soon as Fat Elder finished speaking, more than forty Core Disciples chose to withdraw. Yet no one mocked their choice. After all, this was a journey of death. Although the Blood Origin Realm held countless benefits and those who emerged alive could gain tremendous rewards, that was only if they could survive. So many experts had fallen inside over the years, with no shortage even of Xiantian Experts. What chance did they have?
Those withdrawing this time were all Core Disciples below Houtian Eighth Stage. Their strength was relatively weak, and they expected that even if they went, they would be unable to achieve good results and might even lose their lives. Naturally, they chose to give up.
Among the disciples who had only just been promoted to Core Disciples this generation, only Ye Xiwen and Dongfang Bai continued participating. Dongfang Bai looked energetic and high-spirited; his previous injuries had clearly more or less healed.
"Every participant will receive a waist token that will record your individual points. Killing one Houtian Eighth Stage demonic beast earns ten points; one Houtian Ninth Stage demonic beast earns fifty points; one Xiantian-level demonic beast earns one thousand points. There are also fifteen tokens placed in the Blood Origin Realm by the predecessors of our two sides. They are red, yellow, and green, corresponding to one hundred, five hundred, and one thousand points respectively!" At this moment, Thin Elder began explaining. "In addition, any heavenly treasures you find within will be converted into points after you come out. The top three disciples by total score will receive Blood Origin Fruits as rewards!"
This news immediately stirred up a commotion among the Core Disciples. Even the Core Disciples had not known that Blood Origin Fruits would be offered as rewards. This was a decision made by the upper echelons of the two factions. Only Ye Xiwen remained relatively calm because he had learned the outcome in advance.
These were Blood Origin Fruits! Even Xiantian realm cultivators could rise by an entire realm after consuming them. Quite a few disciples who had already withdrawn secretly cried out in regret.
"However, if you are defeated or killed by someone, your points will be added to that person's total accordingly. So you must be careful. I hope more of you can return alive this time!" Fat Elder added, his tone somewhat emotional. No one knew how many more would die or be injured this time, but those who emerged alive would undoubtedly become the finest among them.
Ye Xiwen fell silent. These rules truly did encourage mutual slaughter. There were many ways to score points: hunting demonic beasts, finding heavenly treasures, and those tokens. But how could any of that compare to killing people? No matter how many points the other party had accumulated, they could be transferred to one's own body in an instant.
Only upon becoming Core Disciples had they truly stepped into this cruel world of martial artists. Whether Inner Disciples or Outer Gate Disciples, although they received fewer resources before, they had been comparatively well protected.
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