Inner Court Martial Pavilion

Elder Wang on the high platform slammed his palm onto the stone table, jolting tea from the cup. "What a perfect Gale Sword! This kid actually mastered all three Human-grade High-tier Martial Skills—Vajra Fist, Gale Sword, and Ghostly Step—to perfection?"

Beside him, Elder Li stroked his beard with a smile. "He was still holding back when he fought Wei Zhao earlier. I told you this kid was no ordinary one."

The Outer Court disciples watching stood agape. Those who had just been saying, "Ding Qian is the number one in the Outer Court; Ye Feng is bound to lose," now looked as though their jaws were about to hit the ground.

One disciple in a coarse cloth shirt rubbed his eyes. "Just last month, I saw Ding Qian use the Black Iron Sword to split a thousand-pound stone. How could he not even block Ye Feng's wooden sword?"

Ding Qian's face had gone deathly pale. Staring at the Black Iron Sword on the ground, he suddenly bent down, snatched it up, and charged Ye Feng like a madman. "I didn't lose! You must have used some wicked technique!"

Ye Feng frowned, and a pale azure Sword Qi shimmered at his fingertips.

If Ding Qian made another move, he would not hold back.

But at that moment, a terrifying pressure suddenly descended from the high platform.

That pressure was like an invisible mountain, making Ding Qian's knees buckle until he nearly fell to the ground.

Elder Wang's voice boomed like muffled thunder. "Ding Qian! If Ye Feng hadn't held back, you would already be a corpse! The sect's duel rules require restraint; if you keep pushing your luck, you will be challenging the sect's authority!"

Ding Qian shook like chaff in a sieve. He recalled the Outer Court disciple from last month who had violated the duel rules, been expelled from the sect, and later died in the Magic Beast Forest.

The hand clutching his sword began to tremble, and the blade struck the bluestone tiles with a clack.

"E-Elder, I didn't mean to..."

"As agreed, hand over five Low-grade Spirit Stones to Ye Feng." Elder Wang's expression was cold, his gaze piercing Ding Qian like ice awls.

Gritting his teeth, Ding Qian pulled a purse embroidered with gold thread from his robes.

That was the stipend he had saved for half a year.

Trembling, he took out five Low-grade Spirit Stones. They glimmered with a faint white light, like five tiny moons.

He shoved the Spirit Stones into Ye Feng's hand, his voice steeped in poison. "These Spirit Stones are only being kept with you for now! Once I break through to the Qi Gathering Realm, I'll take them back twofold!"

Ye Feng accepted the Spirit Stones and casually tucked them into the cloth pouch at his chest. Patting the pouch, he curled his lips into a slight smile. "I'll be waiting anytime. But next time, remember to bring more."

"Five isn't even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth."

At that, Ding Qian's face alternated between red and white. Clutching the Black Iron Sword, he turned and left, the wind lifting the hem of his robe to reveal the blood seeping through his shoulder beneath.

The Inner Sect Selection Competition ended more quietly than expected.

Elder Wang stood in the center of the Arena, holding a sheet of paper. "Wei Zhao, Jin Zhong, Ding Qian, Ye Feng—come with me to the Inner Sect."

The road from the Outer Court to the Inner Sect was a narrow path paved with bluestone slabs. Spirit Locust Trees three zhang tall lined both sides, their leaves rustling as faint spiritual energy filled the air.

The Outer Court's air held only the scent of dirt and sweat, but the spiritual energy here was so dense it seemed capable of condensing into mist. Ye Feng took a breath and felt the True Qi within his body tremble faintly.

The Inner Sect disciples passing by wore moon-white robes, jade pendants engraved with the character "Inner" hanging at their waists. The way they looked at the four newcomers from the Outer Court carried faint scrutiny.

A sword-bearing youth stood beneath a tree, his voice clear and cool. "More disciples from the Outer Court? Last year, there was one who couldn't even learn the Qi Gathering Art and got sent back."

Ding Qian clenched his fists and was just about to speak when Jin Zhong tugged at his sleeve.

Jin Zhong was at the Body Refining Tenth Level. He had fought Ding Qian before and lost, but he had now become much more cautious. "Don't cause trouble. The weakest Inner Sect disciples are all in the Qi Gathering Realm."

The Inner Sect Steward was a middle-aged man in gray robes. He handed the four of them wooden plaques engraved with their names. "Each plaque corresponds to a small courtyard. Inside, there is a Spirit Well, spirit herbs, and three Foundation Cultivation Pills."

Ye Feng took his plaque. The words "Pine Courtyard" were engraved on it, while a small formation pattern was carved on the back.

It was the restriction for an Inner Sect courtyard. Only the holder of the plaque could enter.

Pine Courtyard's gate was made of nanmu wood. When Ye Feng pushed it open, he found a pine tree in the courtyard so thick that two people could barely wrap their arms around it. Beneath the tree was a stone well, several stalks of Green Spirit Grass growing along its rim, dew clinging to their leaves.

The stone table and stools were carved from Black Iron Rock. They felt icy cool to the touch and were ten times sturdier than the battered wooden tables of the Outer Court.

Ye Feng entered the room. A silkworm-silk quilt lay spread across the bed, a copy of Inner Sect Rules rested beside the pillow, and a porcelain bottle sat on the cabinet in the corner.

Inside were three Foundation Cultivation Pills. An Outer Court disciple would not receive even one in an entire year.

Ye Feng touched the silkworm-silk quilt, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

He had been transported here for some time now.

At last, he no longer had to sleep on the straw mats of the Outer Court.

But he did not linger. Turning around, he picked up Inner Sect Rules from the table, flipped through a couple of pages, and then quickly left the courtyard.

The Inner Sect Steward had said that upon entering the Inner Sect, one could choose a Human-grade Top-tier Cultivation Method and a Human-grade Top-tier Martial Skill. Ye Feng had no intention of missing that opportunity.