Public Bounty

Two thick-looking stone doors were engraved with rippling water, carp, a radiant Dragon Gate, and a carp-dragon leaping over the Dragon Gate as it transformed into a dragon—carp leaping through the Dragon Gate.

That was the meaning behind the name Fish Dragon Path.

By now, seven or eight hundred people had gradually gathered near the entrance to the Fish Dragon Path. Aside from the seed candidates from the various Menial Peaks, most were Qi Yun Sect Outer Disciples dressed in black.

The Fish Dragon Path, opened once each year specifically for Menial Disciples, was both an entertaining and lively event for the Outer Disciples cultivating on East Arrival Peak.

"My Jin Yuanbao Fish Dragon Path championship betting pool is now open! Feng Haoran of Stone Jade Peak, odds one to one! Shi Tianjia of East Seven Peak, odds one to one point one! Wang Qi of South Nine Peak, odds one to one point one..."

"Senior He, how many people do you think will pass the Fish Dragon Path this year? Twenty, or fewer than ten?"

The black-clad Outer Disciples gathered together were extremely animated. In particular, the betting pool opened by the Outer Disciple named Jin Yuanbao drew an endless stream of wagers.

As a result, the Menial Disciples listed in Jin Yuanbao's betting pool also became the focus of everyone's attention.

For instance, Feng Haoran of Stone Jade Peak was a rather proud seventeen-year-old youth.

His thin lips were slightly pursed, his face full of confident arrogance. Though only seventeen, he had a build no less imposing than an adult's. His temples bulged, sharp vigor radiated from his entire body, and his ruddy complexion made it clear that his blood qi was brimming.

Shi Tianjia of East Seven Peak, with his square face, appeared much more easygoing. Yet despite his mild expression, the confidence that occasionally flashed through his eyes was quite astonishing.

The most intimidating of all was Wang Qi from South Nine Peak. His enormous frame stood among the many Menial Disciples like a crane among chickens. Even compared to Outer Disciples around twenty years old, he was exceptionally brawny, with very few able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

Anyone who saw those fan-sized hands would never doubt the terrifying strength contained within them.

Looking at Wang Qi's build, Ye Zhen vaguely understood that Wang Qi was likely one of those people born with divine strength. Such people possessed extraordinary power from birth. Once their cultivation reached Blood Refining Triple Layer and formed a Blood Qi Condensation Pearl, the strength they could unleash would be absolutely terrifying.

Ye Zhen, this dark horse who had suddenly emerged from Hundred Pine Peak, naturally did not qualify to be included in Outer Disciple Jin Yuanbao's betting pool.

After carefully studying the Menial Disciples listed in Jin Yuanbao's pool for a while, Ye Zhen had already decided that after entering the Fish Dragon Path, unless absolutely necessary, he would never clash with these outstanding seed candidates from the various peaks.

His goal was to successfully clear the Fish Dragon Path and advance to become an Outer Disciple!

Just as Ye Zhen held his Talisman Token and prepared to report to the Sect Deacon waiting before the entrance to the Fish Dragon Path, two young men in Black Training Suits abruptly blocked his way. The leader had his hair bound with a black headband, and his expression was fierce.

"You're Ye Zhen?" the black-headbanded youth in the Black Training Suit asked maliciously.

"I am. May I ask who you two senior brothers are?" Ye Zhen hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting.

Within the Qi Yun Sect, hierarchy was strict. Menial Disciples had to step aside and offer greetings upon seeing Outer Disciples, Inner Disciples, True Disciples, sect stewards, or Sect Deacons. Outer Disciples had to do the same upon seeing Inner Disciples, True Disciples, sect stewards, or Sect Deacons.

However, within the Qi Yun Sect, True Disciples held a higher actual status than sect stewards and Sect Deacons. Sect stewards and Sect Deacons would take the initiative to greet True Disciples.

The disciple before him, clad in a black headband and Black Training Suit, was an Outer Disciple. If Ye Zhen failed to greet him and encountered someone narrow-minded, that person could beat him half to death, and Ye Zhen would have nowhere to seek justice.

The moment Ye Zhen nodded, the black-clad youth's expression darkened completely. Set off by that black headband, he appeared even more gloomy.

"So it was you. My cousin Ma Yuanwu was crippled by you, you brat!" Ma Hun, the black-headbanded youth, roared furiously. "If my cousin hadn't sent word through someone, I wouldn't even have known that you beat him so badly he couldn't get off the ground, and even stole his place as a seed candidate!"

"Brother Ma, why waste words on him? He's just a worthless Menial Disciple. Beat him up first, then talk." Just as Ye Zhen was about to speak, Li Xuelong, the overbearing-looking Outer Disciple behind Ma Hun, barked arrogantly. He even rolled up his sleeves, clearly ready to make a move.

At Li Xuelong's words, Ma Hun glanced at the Sect Deacon not far away. A fierce gleam flickered repeatedly in his eyes, and his aura rose as though he were about to attack.

"Hmph! Go on, try it. In my forty-three years in the Qi Yun Sect, I have never heard of anyone daring to attack a Menial Peak seed candidate about to enter the Fish Dragon Path right in front of it!" Steward Zhao of Hundred Pine Peak spoke from behind Ma Hun and Li Xuelong, his voice somewhat sinister.

Steward Zhao's appearance immediately crushed Ma Hun and Li Xuelong's intention to attack on the spot. Moreover, they had no choice but to greet Steward Zhao.

Anyone qualified to serve as a steward within the Qi Yun Sect was, at the very least, once an Outer Disciple of the Qi Yun Sect, and an Outer Disciple who had rendered meritorious service to the sect. It was not up to them to run wild.

"Ye Zhen, don't be afraid of them. Steadily clear the Fish Dragon Path, and then you'll be an Outer Disciple too. Private fighting is forbidden among Outer Disciples in the Qi Yun Sect. What can they do to you then?"

Steward Zhao's words immediately darkened Ma Hun and Li Xuelong's faces. Because Steward Zhao was right: once Ye Zhen became an Outer Disciple, there was generally nothing they could do to him.

"Many thanks, Steward Zhao!"

Ye Zhen thanked him again, but Steward Zhao merely patted Ye Zhen's shoulder. "This old man's performance evaluation for Hundred Pine Peak this year rests entirely on you. I'll be waiting for you outside the Fish Dragon Path."

Seeing Ye Zhen and Steward Zhao chatting and laughing together, Ma Hun, who had already been holding in a bellyful of fury, felt his lungs nearly explode.

The elders of his clan had told him to look after Ma Yuanwu. After giving Ma Yuanwu a few pointers and seeing him lord it over Hundred Pine Peak, Ma Hun had stopped paying attention, simply waiting for Ma Yuanwu to advance into an Outer Disciple. Yet at the very end, Ma Yuanwu had been crippled by Ye Zhen.

Since Ye Zhen could easily defeat Ma Yuanwu, who stood at the Peak Blood Refining Third Level, how could Ma Hun, with his discernment, fail to see that Ye Zhen had a very good chance of clearing the Fish Dragon Path?

The Ma Yuanwu entrusted to his care by the clan had been crippled, which had already made him lose face. If he could not even avenge this grievance now, he would truly be unable to hold his head high in his own clan.

Gritting his teeth and hardening his heart, Ma Hun took out a pill bottle and gave Ye Zhen a sinister smile.

"This Marrow Cleansing Pill was originally prepared for Ma Yuanwu. Since he can no longer become an Outer Disciple and enjoy this Marrow Cleansing Pill, then let it avenge my cousin Ma Yuanwu!"

The next instant, Ma Hun raised the pill bottle and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"A Marrow Cleansing Pill! Once the Fish Dragon Path opens, whoever can kick this bastard Ye Zhen out of the Fish Dragon Path will receive this Marrow Cleansing Pill!"

Swish!

The gazes of nearly a thousand people before the Fish Dragon Path instantly converged on Ye Zhen. Some of those gazes fixed upon him even turned fiery.

A Marrow Cleansing Pill was an essential medicinal pill for breaking through to Blood Refining Fourth Level and tempering the body. The effectiveness of body tempering at Blood Refining Fourth Level directly affected how soon an Outer Disciple could achieve Essence Condensation and Origin Gathering.

And the effect of body tempering was closely tied to the number of Marrow Cleansing Pills an Outer Disciple possessed.

Moreover, a single Marrow Cleansing Pill cost as much as one hundred Sect Contribution Points in the Sect Main Hall, while its market price exceeded a thousand taels of silver.

It could be said that every Marrow Cleansing Pill was extremely precious to every Outer Disciple.

The seed candidates from the various peaks stared intently at Ye Zhen. Some even firmly memorized his appearance. As long as they found a suitable opportunity, obtaining that Marrow Cleansing Pill seemed quite easy.

Steward Zhao, who had just moved aside, instantly hated Ma Hun so much that his teeth itched.

So long as Ye Zhen did not strive blindly for superiority, his chances of successfully clearing the Fish Dragon Path had been extremely high. But Ma Hun's bounty had instantly placed Ye Zhen in a deadly perilous situation. Even if Ye Zhen wanted to keep a low profile, he could not.

Under such circumstances, Ye Zhen's chances of successfully clearing the Fish Dragon Path had instantly fallen to their lowest point.

"His bounty is quite good. Whoever has the ability, come and take it!" Ye Zhen shrugged with incomparable dominance. Paying no heed to the burning gazes of the seed candidates from the various peaks, he walked toward the Sect Deacon before the entrance to the Fish Dragon Path.

Not far away, Feng Haoran's brows suddenly rose, while Shi Tianjia, who had been staring at Ye Zhen, lightly furrowed his brow.

"Lord Deacon, Ye Zhen of Hundred Pine Peak has come to report!" Ye Zhen respectfully handed over his Talisman Token.

"Wait there!" the Sect Deacon said expressionlessly.

After waiting for quite some time, until all the seed candidates from the various peaks had arrived, the Sect Deacon suddenly flicked a finger. A sharp clash of metal and stone burst forth, painful enough to pierce the eardrums, instantly silencing everyone.

"This year's Fish Dragon Path, opened specifically for Menial Disciples, follows the old rules. Any Menial Disciple who successfully clears the Fish Dragon Path, regardless of cultivation, may advance to become an Outer Disciple.

"At the same time, the sect will reward the first ten disciples to clear the Fish Dragon Path. The first disciple to clear the Fish Dragon Path will receive one Marrow Cleansing Pill and ten Blood Origin Pills! Second and third place will receive ten Blood Origin Pills each, while fourth through tenth place will receive five Blood Origin Pills each!"

Sharp gasps immediately rang out in a wave. Ye Zhen was also greatly moved, especially by the reward for first place.

Ten Blood Origin Pills amounted to a full fifty days' regular allowance for an Outer Disciple, not to mention the first-place reward of a Marrow Cleansing Pill. Whoever took first place would likely see their strength surge by a great margin at once.

However, Ma Hun's bounty of one Marrow Cleansing Pill truly seemed powerful enough to rival the reward for first place in clearing the Fish Dragon Path.

Before Ye Zhen could think any further, the Sect Deacon casually struck out a ray of light. Amid a creaking sound, the heavy doors of the Fish Dragon Path slowly opened.

"All disciples, enter the Fish Dragon Path in order."

***********

After striving for a week, Old Pig had finally climbed onto the new book rankings with enormous difficulty, but he could be kicked off at any time. Brothers, please give Old Pig a hand!

Please vote, click, and add it to your favorites!