Who Will Claim the True Yin Body? Jiang Ye's Scheme!

"I've grasped the Saber Intent?!"

After a brief moment of shock, a flash of irrepressible joy bloomed across Jiang Ye's aged face.

The Blood Moon Saber manual records that once one's saber technique breaks through to the Minor Accomplishment stage, the practitioner has a chance to comprehend Saber Intent.

The likelihood of this depends entirely on one's aptitude.

Those with high aptitude may achieve enlightenment in an instant.

Those with low aptitude might practice bitterly for ten years and still not reach the threshold.

That ugly man from the Seven Kill Cult had practiced the saber his entire life and severed countless heads before he barely managed to grasp Saber Intent.

Yet Jiang Ye, having practiced the saber for only a few days, had already grasped it.

Well, having transcendent aptitude is just like that.

Jiang Ye glanced at his system panel.

Mastered Martial Arts: Five Animal Fist [Perfected], Blood Moon Saber [Minor Accomplishment, 3/2000]

Sure enough, the Blood Moon Saber had already broken through to Minor Accomplishment.

"Time to test the blade!"

A look of excitement flashed in his eyes. He immediately put down the two thin branches and turned to head back into the wooden hut.

A moment later, he pushed the door open and stepped out, a curved saber shimmering with cold light now in his hand.

The moment the saber was in his grip, Jiang Ye felt a difference.

Before, holding the saber had only felt natural.

But now, it felt as if the blade were an extension of his own arm, a part of his own body.

It was the same saber, yet in his perception, it felt thirty percent lighter and thirty percent more agile, as if the blade's light could be unleashed the very instant his mind willed it.

He carried the saber and stepped back into the herb garden.

Under the moonlight, the blood-red Heavenly Sunflower Grass swayed gently.

He walked slowly through the rows, his gaze scanning every inch of soil like a hawk, looking for a decent Fire Centipede to test his blade on.

However, whether it was because that previous strike had scared the beasts away or simply bad luck tonight, he circled several times and only found a few small ones about half a foot long.

Those Fire Centipedes crawled out of the soil, but before they could even nibble on the leaves, they were picked up by him one by one.

"Still not good enough."

He glanced at their abdomens—the fire marks were still faint, no different from the "trash" he had encountered before.

Shu.

A flash of blade light.

Before the few Fire Centipedes could even struggle, they were simultaneously sliced in two by the blood-moon-like arc of the blade.

The cuts were as smooth as a mirror, without the slightest hesitation.

Yet, as Jiang Ye looked at the severed insect corpses, he shook his head slightly.

Creatures of this level didn't even qualify to make him strike with his full strength.

Testing the blade? This wouldn't prove anything.

He raised his eyes and looked around, his gaze suddenly landing on a small tree as thick as a bowl beside the herb garden.

The tree was about a person's height, its trunk straight, casting a faint shadow in the moonlight.

Jiang Ye stepped forward with the saber and stood about three feet away from the tree.

He took a deep breath, his blood surging within him. The newly grasped Saber Intent flowed silently, converging into the curved blade in his hand.

The next instant.

He swung the saber violently.

At that moment, the curved blade in his hand no longer felt like a weapon, but like a true crescent moon rising from a sea of blood.

Blood-red light faintly swirled upon the blade, carving a breathtaking arc through the moonlight as it slashed toward the small tree from a distance.

Shu—!!!

A sharp, piercing sound tore through the silence of the night.

A visible ripple seemed to spread through the air, following the direction of the blade's edge as it swept toward the small tree.

Bang!!!

A loud crash!

A mirror-smooth cut suddenly appeared in the center of the small tree's trunk, three feet away.

The upper half of the tree swayed slightly, then collapsed with a boom, slamming heavily into the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Jiang Ye stood with his saber, watching the fallen trunk, his aged eyes gleaming with brilliance.

Blade Intent!

This is Blade Intent!

Separated by three feet, the blade had yet to touch the body, yet the tree had already snapped.

He slowly sheathed his blade, lowering his eyes to look at the curved weapon in his hand.

"A fine blade!"

He muttered to himself, unsure if he was speaking of the blade, the blade technique, or the Blade Intent he had just comprehended.

Feeling the blood and qi within his body gradually calm, Jiang Ye did not continue practicing his blade work, but instead continued searching the herb garden for Fire Centipedes.

Perhaps it was past the Fire Centipedes' feeding time; he wandered around several times, yet he could not find even a shadow of one.

There would be plenty of time in the future; Jiang Ye had not expected to find a top-grade Fire Centipede all at once.

After strolling through the herb garden for a while longer, Jiang Ye shook his head slightly and returned to his wooden hut to prepare for rest.

The next day, the morning light was faint.

Jiang Ye rose early as usual, practicing the Five Animal Fist.

Although the Five Animal Fist had already reached perfection, practicing this health-preserving technique more often was always beneficial for this aged frame.

"Old Master Jiang!"

Before long, a crisp, melodious voice drifted over from not far away.

Jiang Ye followed the sound and saw Wen Yueyao walking quickly along the path of the herb garden.

The young girl wore no makeup today, her face bare, yet this only served to highlight her bright eyes and white teeth.

Her beautiful hair fluttered slightly in the morning breeze, and a few stray strands brushed against her cheek, which she tucked behind her ear with a casual gesture.

That natural, unadorned look, paired with her habitual sweet smile, possessed a uniquely moving charm.

"Miss Wen, you are up so early."

Jiang Ye stopped his fist practice and walked over to meet her, a polite smile on his face.

"Haha, those of us who practice martial arts must naturally rise early!"

Wen Yueyao stood gracefully before him and laughed, revealing a row of neat, pearly teeth. "Besides, isn't Old Master Jiang also up quite early?"

"I am simply old, and sleep does not come easily."

Jiang Ye smiled and shook his head slightly.

After the two exchanged a few pleasantries, the smile on Wen Yueyao's face gradually faded, replaced by a hint of apology:

"Old Master Jiang, there is something... I must apologize to you for."

She bit her lip, looking somewhat embarrassed as she spoke:

"I told you before that once you joined the sect, I would transfer my contribution points to you so you could exchange for a Qi Nourishing Method as soon as possible..."

She paused, her fair cheeks flushing slightly; it was clear she rarely experienced such moments of "breaking a promise."

"The Peak Master, in order to help me break through to Transformation Strength and begin nourishing qi, took it upon himself to exchange all my contribution points for medicinal pills."

"So, it may take me some time before I can gather enough contribution points to transfer to you."

As she spoke, the young girl lowered her head, her face burning with embarrassment.

Hearing this, Jiang Ye smiled faintly and waved his hand: "It is of no concern. This old man has lived for so long; a little more time matters not."

His aura was perfectly contained, and coupled with the fact that he had killed Black Old Five with a single sneak attack, Wen Yueyao had always assumed Jiang Ye was a martial artist at the peak of Transformation Strength.

He must be anxious to obtain a Qi Nourishing Method to nourish his qi.

In truth, he was still at the early stage of Transformation Strength...

Jiang Ye estimated that at his current pace, it would take about a month to reach the peak of Transformation Strength.

Wen Yueyao's "some time" was actually quite perfect.

"Old Master Jiang, I am truly sorry. I will definitely gather the contribution points as soon as possible!"

Hearing Jiang Ye say it was no matter, Wen Yueyao let out a sigh of relief, then solemnly promised him repeatedly that she would gather the sect contribution points as quickly as she could.

Jiang Ye took this opportunity to ask how many contribution points were required to exchange for a Qi Nourishing Method.

The answer he received left him shocked.

Exchanging for a single Qi Nourishing Method actually required a full thirty thousand contribution points!

Based on his salary of one thousand contribution points per month as a deacon, he would need to save for two and a half years without eating or drinking to accumulate enough for the exchange.

"That is too exaggerated. Is a Qi Nourishing Method really that precious?"

Jiang Ye sighed softly and shook his head slightly.

"The Qi Nourishing Method is the core of the sect!"

Wen Yueyao said with a grave expression: "Every type of Qi Nourishing Method represents a different path. Old Master Jiang, you will understand in the future that these thirty thousand contribution points are, in fact, not expensive at all."

After the two chatted for a while longer, Wen Yueyao left in a hurried manner.

It seemed that being a True Disciple kept her quite busy.

Jiang Ye had intended to take advantage of his morning energy to practice the Five Animal Fist, followed by a session with the Blood Moon Saber.

But before he could even turn around, he saw Lv Ming, that little fatty, approaching along the herb garden path with two others, smiling cheerfully.

"Steward Jiang!" Lv Ming called out from a distance. "These two are also colleagues who guard the herb gardens. They heard a new steward had arrived at the Heavenly Sunflower Grass garden and wanted to come by and pay their respects. I took the liberty of bringing them over."

As they spoke, the three of them reached the entrance.

Jiang Ye swept his gaze over the two newcomers.

The one in the lead was a young man in his twenties, dressed in the attire of the Azure Sky Sect. His face was square and his features were regular, yet an air of gloom permeated his entire being.

"This is Junior Brother Fang Ming, who is responsible for guarding the Flame Heart Fruit garden."

Lv Ming introduced him.

Fang Ming lifted his eyelids slightly, glanced at Jiang Ye, and offered a casual, perfunctory cupped-hand salute, his voice barely audible: "Greetings, Steward Jiang."

Jiang Ye's expression remained unchanged as he gave a slight nod in response.

Lv Ming then pointed to the other person.

This was a young woman, also wearing the Azure Sky Sect disciple robes. She had a heart-shaped face; while her features weren't exactly stunning, she possessed a charm that grew on you the more you looked at her.

Her brows and eyes carried a natural sense of approachability, and when she smiled, her eyes curved into two crescent moons.

The loose Azure Sky Sect robe was worn in such a way that it looked quite snug, with a noticeably full curve at her chest, while her waist was cinched extremely thin.

Clearly, beneath that fabric hid a figure with plenty to offer.

"This is Senior Sister Chen Lili, who is responsible for guarding the Earth Fire Ginseng garden!"

Chen Lili gave a hearty laugh and took an active step forward, her eyes sparkling as she sized up Jiang Ye, her voice crisp and pleasant:

"Greetings, Steward Jiang! I've been in the herb gardens for so long, but this is the first time I've seen a steward of your age!"

As she spoke, she suddenly let out a giggle: "Seeing you is just like seeing my grandfather—so incredibly familiar!"

Hearing this, a smile couldn't help but surface on Jiang Ye's aged face, and he cupped his hands:

"You are both too kind. This old man is new here, so I hope for your guidance in the future."

He then stepped aside to clear the doorway, inviting the three of them into the hut.

Fortunately, although the wooden hut was simple, the tea and snacks provided by the sect were sufficient, so he wasn't left without anything to offer his guests.

The four of them sat around the crude wooden table, eating and chatting.

With Lv Ming, that little chatterbox, present, the atmosphere naturally didn't stay cold for long.

Once he opened his mouth, it was like a floodgate had been released; he chatted incessantly about everything from the weather in the herb gardens to the habits of the Fire Centipede, and even the gossip regarding the True Disciples of various peaks.

Chen Lili was also a straightforward person. Once she got going, she opened up completely, speaking even more enthusiastically than Lv Ming and occasionally punctuating her words with exaggerated gestures, which the loose steward's robe couldn't hide the undulating waves of her chest.

Jiang Ye sipped his tea, listening with a smile and occasionally interjecting a word or two.

He noticed that the gloomy-looking Fang Ming didn't speak much, but his gaze would drift toward Chen Lili from time to time.

A secret admirer, then.

Jiang Ye shook his head slightly, a flash of realization crossing his aged eyes.

He also took advantage of this idle chatter to learn more about the sect.

As they talked, the topic somehow drifted to the news that had caused such a stir throughout the sect yesterday.

"Tsk tsk, our Azure Sky Sect was absolutely boiling over yesterday!"

Lv Ming slapped his thigh, his face full of envy, jealousy, and resentment. "That little lass who just joined, what was her name... Xu Qinghuan? The True Yin Body! You've heard about it, right?"

Chen Lili rolled her eyes: "Duh, who in the entire sect hasn't heard?"

"Do you know who ended up taking her in?"

Lv Ming held back the punchline, and seeing them both looking at him, he lowered his voice and feigned mystery: "Golden Star Peak, Senior Brother Jin Hai! The one ranked third on the True Disciple Ranking!"

"Jin Hai?" Chen Lili's eyes lit up. "He's a real big shot. I heard he's only twenty-five this year and is already in the Core Formation Realm."

"Exactly." Lv Ming sighed. "And I heard their wedding date is already set for three months from now..."

He looked up at the sky and sighed, his expression clearly saying, "If only I could take his place."

Chen Lili sighed along with him, but what she said next nearly made Jiang Ye choke on his tea: "What a pity! I truly hate that I'm a woman and don't have that thing! Otherwise..."

"Cough, cough..."

The hand holding Jiang Ye's teacup trembled slightly, and the tea nearly spilled out.

He lifted his eyes to look at Chen Lili, only to see the girl speaking with such righteous conviction, without a shred of shyness, as if she were merely discussing what to have for dinner.

Good heavens, this little girl is far too bold.

Jiang Ye cast a subtle, fleeting glance at her lower half.

I saw that her fair, slender legs were pressed tightly together, and a faint, lingering fragrance emanated from her body.

Clearly, this little lass was still a maiden who had yet to experience the affairs of men.

Fang Ming, sitting to the side, could no longer sit still.

He furrowed his brows, looking at Chen Lili with a stern expression, his voice tinged with a hint of disapproval: "Lili, you are a woman; how can you speak such lewd and coarse words..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Lili rolled her eyes dramatically, looking utterly speechless: "Junior Brother Fang, how many times have I told you? You are not to call me Lili; you must call me Senior Sister!"

She paused, lifting her chin slightly, her tone laced with impatience:

"And as for what I say, it is not your place to manage me!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Fang Ming's expression shifted abruptly.

The atmosphere inside the wooden hut grew slightly cold.

Fortunately, Lv Ming was a man who knew how to handle such situations; seeing this, he quickly laughed it off, using banter to steer the conversation elsewhere.

Before long, the atmosphere warmed up once again.

Jiang Ye held his teacup, listening to their chatter while silently digesting the information he had just received.

Jin Hai, third on the True Disciple Ranking, a powerhouse of the Core Formation Realm, was to marry Xu Qinghuan in three months.

He set down his teacup and asked, feigning indifference:

"I have heard that this True Yin Body only has the effect of breaking through realms for martial artists below the Core Formation Realm. Since Jin Hai is already in the Core Formation Realm, what does he hope to gain by taking Xu Qinghuan for himself? Could it be that he is merely coveting her beauty?"

"Deacon Jiang, that is where you are mistaken."

Lv Ming shook his head, wearing an expression that suggested he was letting the elder in on a secret:

"For Jin Hai, the greatest utility of this True Yin Body is not breaking through realms, but cleansing the physical body!"

"It is said that if this True Yin is completely absorbed by a man, the strength of his body after the cleansing will increase significantly!"

Upon hearing this, a sudden light ignited in Jiang Ye's aged eyes.

For the past few days, he had been wanting to cultivate the Diamond Body Refining Technique.

However, limited by his elderly physique, he had been unable to make any progress.

At this very moment.

A bold and dangerous idea sprouted in Jiang Ye's heart like wild grass.