Descending the Mountain to Train

Meanwhile.

Over the past ten days, Ye Jingyun had continued tirelessly cultivating the Savage God Fist, and his movements had begun to carry a hint of effortless naturalness.

As for Ye Xuan, after cultivating the Nine Heavens Sword Art to a bottleneck, he entered the Merit Transmission Tower.

Inside the Merit Transmission Tower, radiant splendor shimmered in every color, and its aura was profound and mysterious.

Rows upon rows of jade shelves displayed manuals of cultivation arts and martial skills, arranged by category, along with all manner of magical treasures.

The treasures emitted dazzling five-colored radiance and imposing auras.

The ancient manuals of cultivation arts and martial skills exuded an otherworldly air.

Last time, the system had been quite thoughtful. Seeing that the sect had gained more disciples, it had directly offered up all sorts of top-grade cultivation arts, martial skills, and magical treasures.

The cultivation arts and martial skills were all at the peak of the acquired realm, while the magical treasures were at least spirit artifacts.

Some were even secret arts that the system had directly selected from other sects—techniques used to suppress and safeguard entire sects.

Even the Merit Transmission Tower itself had been granted intelligence by the system.

Apart from managing the tower's daily affairs, it could also assess the disciples who entered the sect—their bone structure, physique, talent, disposition, and more—and select the cultivation arts, martial skills, and magical treasures most suited to them.

Within the Merit Transmission Tower, Ye Xuan obtained a cultivation art called the Heaven-Defying Sword Body Art, which happened to perfectly match his Innate Sword Body.

This art blazed a trail of its own: it used the sword to form a Qi Sea, used the Qi Sea to devour ten thousand swords, and used the majestic essence of ten thousand swords to nurture the Innate Sword Body. Thus it cycled without end, achieving an eternal, undying existence that would endure through the ages.

Once this art was cultivated to minor accomplishment, one could become immune to the damage of ordinary swords and make ten thousand swords submit.

Beyond that, the Merit Transmission Tower had also bestowed several powerful magical treasures according to Ye Xuan's talent.

Sigh, what did all you fellow Daoists think of such a virtuous system?

After leaving the Merit Transmission Tower.

Ye Xuan first returned to the side peak where the Handyman Disciples resided, packed up a few daily necessities, and bid farewell to his Senior Disciple Brother, Ye Jingyun.

Then he scampered over to Heaven-Defying Peak, outside Xuanhuang Hall.

With a thud, he dropped to his knees outside the hall and kowtowed three times. His expression was respectful as he said, "Handyman Disciple Ye Xuan pays respects to Esteemed Sect Master."

"What is it?"

With a flash, Lin Feng appeared at the entrance to Xuanhuang Hall. He glanced at the cloth bundle on Ye Xuan's back, his brows knitting slightly as he thought, Could this guy be planning to run away and quit on the job?

Your second uncle.

Only a few days ago, he had bestowed the Nine Heavens Sword Art and the Flying Immortal Sword upon him. On top of that, he had obtained the Heaven-Defying Sword Body Art and several fairly formidable magical treasures in the Merit Transmission Tower—and now he wanted to run off with them?

This was simply outrageous!

He was clearly born with a rebellious bone!

At that thought, a trace of coldness flashed through Lin Feng's eyes.

So what if his talent was extraordinary? So what if he possessed great fortune? If his character was lacking, one stroke of the sword would be enough to cut him down!

Then Lin Feng reconsidered.

Eh?

No, that wasn't right. The system would never deceive him. Since this guy's loyalty was one hundred percent, he would never run away with the treasures. There had to be some other reason.

He would listen to what Ye Xuan had to say.

"Esteemed Sect Master, this disciple has discovered that his cultivation has reached a bottleneck. For the time being, I cannot find an opportunity for a breakthrough, so I wish to venture out and gain experience in search of that sliver of opportunity."

"I hope Esteemed Sect Master will grant permission."

So he wants to go out and train in search of an opportunity to break through. I was too hasty. Lin Feng muttered inwardly, and the chill in his eyes quietly faded.

It seemed he truly had overthought things.

With one hundred percent loyalty, how could Ye Xuan possibly run away with the treasures?

He nodded slightly. "This Sect Master grants permission."

"We cultivators walk a path that defies Heaven. Only by undergoing trials of life and death, savoring the myriad states of the mortal world, and forging a heart of steel can one attain the supreme Great Dao."

"Furthermore, remember this: disciples of my Divine Sword Sect should act as they please and distinguish black from white. When it is time to roar at injustice on the road, your cry must split the vault of heaven. Never be timid and submissive, lest you tarnish the Divine Sword Sect's Authority."

"Also, while you are out training, you may select people from the mortal world who possess good character and outstanding talent, recruit them into my Divine Sword Sect, and make them Handyman Disciples."

"If you handle this matter beautifully, this Sect Master will reward you handsomely."

Ye Xuan's expression turned solemn, while undisguised joy and excitement burst from his eyes. He said with utmost respect, "This disciple will obey Esteemed Sect Master's command."

My heavens, Esteemed Sect Master had assigned a task to him, Ye Xuan?

Wasn't that a sign that he valued Ye Xuan?!

How could he, Ye Xuan, possibly let down Esteemed Sect Master's great kindness?

At that moment, he firmly made up his mind. Once he went down the mountain, the first thing he would do was pull together a force and raise a banner with all his might, strengthen the Divine Sword Sect, and spread the fame of Esteemed Sect Master!

What a roar at the sight of injustice—his blood was boiling!

After respectfully bidding farewell to the Esteemed Sect Master, Ye Xuan raced out through the Divine Sword Sect Gate, brimming with passion, lofty ambition, and high spirits.

"Ding! The system has detected sect disciples descending the mountain for training, seen hope for the sect's growth, and proactively bestowed a disciple training gift pack."

"Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained the Brother-Protecting Demon!"

"Ding! Congratulations, your Core Formation Peak strike has been upgraded to an Innate Peak ultimate strike!"

"Ding! Congratulations, your Chaos Pressure has been upgraded!"

"..."

Hearing the system's cold voice, a look of surprise curled across Lin Feng's lips.

A gift pack could even be obtained when sect disciples went out to train?

Other than saying that the system was incredibly considerate, Lin Feng had nothing more to say.

"The Brother-Protecting Demon is a divine-grade puppet treasure capable of unleashing the peak strength of a Core Formation realm expert."

"Use: It can be applied to a sect disciple. When that disciple encounters a life-or-death crisis, the Brother-Protecting Demon will automatically intervene to save them."

After learning what the Brother-Protecting Demon did, Lin Feng was fairly satisfied.

The system truly was considerate. This way, he would not have to worry about the sect disciples running into danger.

After all, Ye Xuan was someone blessed with great fortune, and he also possessed an Innate Sword Body. Such a talent was exceedingly rare.

If he died, it would be far too great a pity.

The level of a Core Formation Peak expert was no empty boast. So long as he did not encounter those super experts, he would have a chance to escape.

"Activate the Protector Demon!" Lin Feng willed inwardly.

Almost at the same instant, ripples spread through the void before him, and a transparent figure stepped directly out of it.

"Go. Protect Handyman Disciple Ye Xuan." Lin Feng waved his hand at it as he spoke.

The transparent figure first gave Lin Feng a slight bow. Then, with a single step, it vanished from Xuanhuang Hall as though the ends of the earth lay within arm's reach, concealing itself in the shadows as it followed Ye Xuan's aura.

Meanwhile.

A hundred thousand li beyond the Divine Sword Sect.

A woman with a tranquil temperament, Peerless Beauty, and an aura of holiness permeating her entire body stood proudly in the void.

Merely standing there, she was surrounded by auspicious clouds and streaks of radiant fortune. Sun, moon, and stars dimmed before her, as though she were the only person in all heaven and earth.

Her pair of emerald-green eyes were especially pure. Combined with her emerald-green gown, she seemed like the holiest and purest being between heaven and earth.

Though she did not emit any especially chilling aura, she gave off a pressure that made others dare not look directly at her.

She could only be admired from afar, never profaned!

If a peerless expert had been present at that moment, they would certainly have clearly sensed that this woman faintly exuded the aura of a Great Emperor!

A Great Emperor!