On Luck

Outside the Fish Dragon Path, as they watched Menial Disciples crawl out of the water one after another, soaked through like drenched chickens, everyone grew increasingly expectant.

Especially Outer Disciples Ma Hun and Li Xuelong. Their eyes were wide as fighting cocks, fixed fiercely on the watery cave of the Fish Dragon Path, as if they wished they could stare Ye Zhen right out of it.

Because any Menial Disciple who fell into the Fish Dragon Path could only emerge from that water cave.

The several stewards from Menial Peak gathered not far away, especially Steward Zhao of Hundred Pine Peak, were likewise staring intently at the water cave.

However, Steward Zhao's gaze was the exact opposite of Ma Hun's. He was desperately hoping Ye Zhen would not appear from that water cave. He had placed great hopes on Ye Zhen, this dark horse.

From time to time, Steward Zhao glanced toward the exit of the Fish Dragon Path, hoping to see Ye Zhen emerge. Disciples who successfully cleared the trial would appear from the Fish Dragon Path's exit.

"Old Zhao, stop looking. Even if you stare your eyes bloody, that Ye Zhen still won't make it through the Fish Dragon Path. With Blood Refining Triple Layer cultivation, even if he's exceptionally gifted, crossing the Fish Dragon Path is already difficult. Now that there's a Marrow Cleansing Pill bounty added in, someone might just give him a kick, and he'll be finished.

"Besides, the first place hasn't even come out yet. Why are you staring at the Fish Dragon Path exit? Do you think Ye Zhen can still take first place? I'd say your Hundred Pine Peak's evaluation this year is as good as fin—"

Suddenly, the steward who had been speaking abruptly stopped. His mouth hung open as though stuffed with a duck egg, his astonishment beyond measure.

"He's out, he's out!" Steward Zhao cheered, then abruptly froze in shock as well. "First place? That can't be possible, can it?"

Ma Hun and Li Xuelong, whose eyes were wide as fighting cocks, could not help rubbing their eyes when they saw Ye Zhen become the first person to walk out of the Fish Dragon Path exit.

Silence!

As Ye Zhen emerged first from the Fish Dragon Path exit, the area before the Fish Dragon Path gates suddenly fell utterly silent. The many Outer Disciples watching the excitement stared fixedly at Ye Zhen, as though trying to see something through him.

"First place in this Fish Dragon Path trial: Ye Zhen!"

"Dark horse! Hahaha, the dark horse pulled off an upset! Takes all, the house takes all!" After the Sect Deacon before the Fish Dragon Path confirmed Ye Zhen's ranking, Jin Yuanbao, who had set up the betting table earlier, flipped onto the gambling table and roared wildly in delight.

In contrast, the Outer Disciples who had placed their bets were all bitter with frustration, tearing the slips in their hands to pieces.

The top three places of the Fish Dragon Path trial were now set in stone. However, Wang Qi, the naturally powerful contestant whom many Outer Disciples had favored, had successfully crossed the Fish Dragon Path but only ranked ninth.

In the end, as many as three hundred and forty-seven Menial Disciples entered the Fish Dragon Path, yet only sixteen successfully crossed it and advanced to become Outer Disciples. The elimination rate was astonishingly high. Basically, only Menial Disciples possessing Blood Refining Fourth Level strength had any chance of crossing the Fish Dragon Path.

"Ye Zhen, this is the reward for first place in the Fish Dragon Path: one Marrow Cleansing Pill and ten Blood Origin Pills. You may consume the Blood Origin Pills to raise your cultivation, but the Marrow Cleansing Pill must wait until your cultivation breaks through to the Blood Refining Fourth Level before it can be used for Marrow Cleansing and Body Tempering."

Qi Yun Sect handled matters with exceptional efficiency. Moreover, while the Fish Dragon Path might have been an annual grand event in the eyes of the Menial Disciples, to the upper ranks of Qi Yun Sect it was as ordinary as eating and drinking. Thus, Sect Deacon Liu, who was presiding over the matter, distributed the rewards on the spot.

What surprised Ye Zhen slightly was that when Sect Deacon Liu placed the first-place reward for the Fish Dragon Path into his hands, Ye Zhen noticed that many of the watching Outer Disciples were burning with envy.

Clearly, even to Outer Disciples, this reward was no trifling thing.

"Brother, thanks! You made me a killing today!" Jin Yuanbao looked somewhat like a gold ingot, true to his name, but every inch of him radiated shrewdness. He was also the sort who acted familiar with anyone.

When he came before Ye Zhen, he grabbed Ye Zhen's hand and warmly greeted him without caring whether Ye Zhen was willing, acting as though Ye Zhen were an old friend he had not seen in years.

"Brother, ignore that Ma fellow. You're an Outer Disciple now. As long as you don't go onto the Martial Arena with him, unless your luck is particularly bad during the year-end grand competition, there's nothing he can do to you." Jin Yuanbao blinked as he looked at Ma Hun in the distance, who was grinding his teeth in hatred.

"Brother, taking first place in the Fish Dragon Path with Blood Refining Triple Layer cultivation—impressive!"

"Brother..."

"Brother, you have no use for the Marrow Cleansing Pill yet. Sell it to me, will you?"

When Ye Zhen finally got a chance to speak, he could not help rolling his eyes. So that was what this Jin Yuanbao wanted all along—his Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Without a doubt, Ye Zhen refused Jin Yuanbao. Yet Jin Yuanbao did not get angry. Instead, he smiled and patted Ye Zhen on the shoulder. "It's fine if you won't sell it. I understand." He made it seem as though Ye Zhen owed him something for refusing.

"Brother, remember me, Jin Yuanbao. If you need anything, or if there's anything you can't handle, come find me. I, Jin Yuanbao, will definitely satisfy you."

"That Jin Yuanbao is a broker from East Arrival Peak. If you ever want to trade for something or need something, you can look for him. And don't underestimate him—this boy has abilities reaching heaven and earth. Even this old man has times when he needs him to handle things." As Jin Yuanbao swaggered away, Steward Zhao approached Ye Zhen with a delighted expression.

"Heh, boy, you gave this old man a huge surprise! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have dared believe you could take first place in the Fish Dragon Path! Now, Hundred Pine Peak's outstanding evaluation is in the bag!"

"Luck. I merely reaped where the snipe and clam fought." Ye Zhen modestly explained what had happened within the Fish Dragon Path. Truthfully, though Ye Zhen's strength was exceptional, when facing Feng Haoran and Shi Tianjia, both of whom possessed inherited martial skills, he was not certain of victory against either one.

"Before long, you'll discover that luck is also a part of strength!"

Steward Zhao sighed for no apparent reason. "Back in my day, among my fellow disciples, those with luck all went farther than I did and achieved more. Someone as luckless as this old man can only manage little brats like you."

In the distance, the Sect Deacon who had presided over the Fish Dragon Path trial was already urging Ye Zhen onward.

Although Ye Zhen had successfully crossed the Fish Dragon Path and advanced to become an Outer Disciple of Qi Yun Sect, becoming an Outer Disciple of Qi Yun Sect was no simple matter. There was still a great pile of procedures to handle. He had heard they even had to pay respects to the founding patriarch.

Qi Yun Sect's Menial Disciples held only a title. Remove the two words "disciple," and that was what Ye Zhen and the others had truly been before. But once one became an Outer Disciple, one was considered part of Qi Yun Sect's fold.

"Ye Zhen, go on. Advancing to become an Outer Disciple is quite a solemn matter."

"Ye Zhen, remember this: after you complete all the procedures for becoming an Outer Disciple, when the Sect Deacon tells you newly advanced Outer Disciples to enter the Scripture Depository and choose cultivation methods and martial skills, decline. Do not enter the Scripture Depository to choose cultivation methods and martial skills for now. Come see me first," Steward Zhao instructed.

"Why?" Ye Zhen was somewhat taken aback.

Steward Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly. "You don't trust this old man? You think this old man would harm you?"

"How could that be?" Still surprised, Ye Zhen nodded. "Thank you for the guidance, Steward. I understand." With that, he strode toward the group of newly advanced Outer Disciples, including Feng Haoran, led by the Sect Deacon.

"Sorry, but it seems your bounty wasn't enough!" As he passed Ma Hun, Ye Zhen chuckled, instantly making Ma Hun's teeth itch with rage.

Young and reckless—enjoy yourself first, and let the floods surge sky-high afterward!

"Ye Zhen, just you wait! Even if you've become an Outer Disciple, I'll avenge my cousin! Just wait to die!" Seeing Ye Zhen's delighted appearance, Ma Hun, who had lost face when his bounty failed, clenched his steel teeth until they crackled!