137: Chapter 137 The villains are brought to justice, a challenge from Liu Jingtao!

After Su Wan settled into the Hundred Herb Garden, life seemed to return to tranquility.

The herb garden was rich in Spiritual Qi and had a serene environment; although Elder Xie often shouted and made a fuss, he secretly took good care of Su Wan.

Ye Tian also visited frequently, bringing Medicinal Pills. Su Wan's injuries recovered quickly, and under the nourishment of the Spiritual Qi, her cultivation even showed signs of a Breakthrough to the fourth level of Qi Gathering.

However, the hatred the brothers Zhao Kanghu and Zhao Kanglong felt for Ye Tian did not end with Zhao Qian's downfall; instead, they lurked in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Not daring to provoke Ye Tian directly, they turned their sights toward Su Wan.

On this day, the sky was slightly overcast.

As instructed, Su Wan was tending to several rows of newly sprouted Jade Marrow Ganoderma in a relatively remote medicinal field on the eastern side of the herb garden.

Jade Marrow Ganoderma was a supplementary ingredient for refining healing pills; while not as precious as a Heaven And Earth Treasure, its growth conditions were harsh and required meticulous care.

Just as Su Wan bent over to carefully remove weeds, a young man wearing the attire of an Outer Sect Disciple with flickering eyes stealthily approached the medicinal field.

His name was Sun Miao, and his cultivation was at the third stage of Ningyuan. He was one of the Disciples responsible for miscellaneous tasks in the herb garden; usually lazy and slippery, he had been scolded by Elder Xie several times and harbored resentment in his heart.

The Zhao brothers exploited this, promising him Spirit Stones to find an opportunity to frame Su Wan.

Sun Miao waited for the moment when Su Wan's back was turned and she was fully focused on her work, quietly pulling a small paper packet from his robe containing the Spirit-Corroding Powder given to him by Zhao Kanghu.

This substance was colorless and odorless; when sprinkled on spiritual plants, it could quietly corrode their roots, causing them to slowly wither within a few days while appearing normal on the surface.

He planned to sprinkle the Spirit-Corroding Powder on several of the best-growing Jade Marrow Ganoderma and then frame Su Wan for poor care, slandering her for intentionally destroying the medicinal herbs!

Just as Sun Miao was about to flick the powder toward the Jade Marrow Ganoderma—

"Stop!" a cold voice suddenly rang out!

Sun Miao's whole body jolted, and his hand shook so much the paper packet nearly fell.

He turned his head in horror to see Ye Tian standing not far away, having appeared there silently at some unknown time.

Ye Tian's face was calm, but his eyes were like cold ice!

"Ye... Senior Brother Ye!"

Sun Miao couldn't stop trembling, his face instantly turning pale.

He had clearly observed that no one was around; how did Ye Tian appear?

Furthermore, that look in the other's eyes made it seem as if his plot had been discovered!

Ye Tian walked over slowly without intentionally releasing any pressure.

However, the Aura honed from countless life-and-death battles was enough to make Sun Miao's heart seize with terror.

"What is that in your hand?"

Ye Tian's voice was flat, yet it carried an invisible pressure.

"No... nothing! It's... it's for fertilizing the spiritual plants..."

Sun Miao stammered his excuse, subconsciously hiding his hand behind his back.

Ye Tian's gaze grew even colder: "Fertilizing with Spirit-Corroding Powder? Who gave you the audacity to tamper with things in Elder Xie's herb garden!"

Sun Miao felt as if he'd been struck by lightning; his legs went weak, and he fell to his knees with a thud: "Senior Brother Ye, spare me! Senior Brother Ye, please spare my life!

It was... Zhao Kanghu who forced me. He gave me fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones to frame Su Wan! I was momentarily blinded by greed, I beg Senior Brother to be merciful!"

He completely broke down; under Ye Tian's gaze, he felt as if everything in his heart was being seen through.

Ye Tian's eyes grew colder; it really was them—they truly were persistent!

He had long expected that after Zhao Qian's downfall, his remaining forces would not let matters rest, so he had been secretly keeping an eye on the herb garden's movements.

With his current Divine Sense, how could Sun Miao's petty, suspicious behavior be hidden from him?

"Break your own arm and go to the Law Enforcement Hall to turn yourself in. Confess everything about the Zhao brothers inciting you. Otherwise..."

Ye Tian didn't finish his sentence, but that chilling killing intent made Sun Miao feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

"Yes! Yes! I'll go right now! Right now!"

Sun Miao didn't dare hesitate for a moment. He steeled himself and circulated his true essence; with a sharp crack, he forcibly snapped his own left arm. Cold sweat poured down from the pain, yet he didn't dare make a sound as he scrambled and crawled toward the Law Enforcement Hall.

Turning himself in might lead to severe punishment, but if he defied the person before him, he had no doubt he would lose his life instantly!

This madman even dared to strike a lethal blow against a deacon like Zhao Qian, let alone a mere herb garden Disciple like himself?

Ye Tian watched Sun Miao's wretched, fleeing figure, the cold light in his eyes not yet fading.

Zhao Kanghu, Zhao Kanglong... it seems the last lesson wasn't deep enough!

Killing intent had already risen in his heart.

This matter quickly spread through the herb garden.

When Elder Xie learned of it, he was furious and charged straight to the Law Enforcement Hall, demanding severe punishment for Sun Miao and a thorough investigation into the Zhao brothers.

Although the Zhao brothers tried to deny it in every way, the evidence was as solid as a mountain, and all their sophistry appeared weak and powerless.

They were still heavily punished by the new deacon of the Law Enforcement Hall, losing a large number of contribution points and being sentenced to serve for three years in the Sect's most bitter and cold mineral vein before the matter was settled.

After this incident, the atmosphere of the herb garden was cleared, and no one dared to easily provoke Su Wan again.

Shortly after this disturbance subsided, the Outer Sect of the Liuli Xuan Sect welcomed a grand event.

The triennial Outer Sect Grand Competition!

News of the Grand Competition spread throughout the Outer Sect; whether they were veteran Disciples or newly joined ones, everyone was boiling with excitement!

The Outer Sect Grand Competition was not only a stage to test the results of three years of cultivation but also a crucial battle that decided one's future destiny!

Those who performed exceptionally in the Grand Competition would not only receive generous rewards of contribution points and Spirit Stones but also have the chance to be noticed by Inner Sect Elders and be directly recruited as Disciples!

Even the top few would gain the qualification to enter the Sect's Secret Realm to Cultivate!

The entire Outer Sect was immersed in an atmosphere of nervous excitement.

In the Martial Arts Arena, Disciples sparring and comparing skills were endless.

In the Mission Hall, Disciples formed long queues to exchange for Medicinal Pills, weapons, and Talismans.

Even Disciples who usually neglected their cultivation were cramming at the last minute, and the Qi Wu Hall was packed with people.

Everyone was rubbing their hands together, preparing to show off their skills in the Grand Competition.

Ye Tian also attached quite a bit of importance to this.

The Outer Sect Grand Competition was an important springboard for him to formally step into the Inner Sect and obtain more resources.

Although he was already a Disciple of Elder Tianshu, if he could win a good rank in the Grand Competition, it would undoubtedly make his position more legitimate and shut the mouths of certain people.

He hid his cultivation at the Ningyuan Fifth Stage to avoid others knowing his true depths.

On this day, while Ye Tian was meditating and regulating his breath in the quiet room of his small courtyard, Liu Ruyan's voice came from outside the door: "Junior Brother Ye, are you there?"

Ye Tian opened his eyes and stood up to open the door.

He saw Liu Ruyan's pretty face carrying a hint of solemnity, with Leng Feng also standing behind her.

"Senior Sister Liu, Senior Brother Leng, what is the matter?" Ye Tian asked.

Liu Ruyan took a deep breath and said, "Junior Brother Ye, do you know of Liu Jingtao?"

Liu Jingtao? The name of that famous Genius Disciple of the Outer Sect immediately surfaced in Ye Tian's mind; his cultivation was said to have reached the Peak of Ningyuan Sixth Stage, even touching the threshold of the seventh level.

"Naturally I know of him, a prominent figure of the Outer Sect," Ye Tian nodded.

"He... he just publicly declared in the Martial Arts Arena that he wants to compete with you in this Outer Sect Grand Competition!"

Liu Ruyan's tone was filled with worry; although she knew Ye Tian's strength was also at the seventh level of the Ningyuan Realm, Liu Jingtao was a veteran Disciple after all, and his sword techniques were sharp with almost no defeats!

"He said... he wants to personally test what kind of ability someone chosen by Elder Tianshu actually has! His tone was quite unfriendly."

Leng Feng also said in a heavy voice, "Liu Jingtao's strength is extremely high and his sword techniques are exquisite; it's said he once fought a Disciple of the Tianjue Sect at the Condensing Essence Seventh Level without being defeated. He is proud and arrogant; this challenge is likely coming with ill intent."

Hearing this, Ye Tian's eyes narrowed slightly.

He had no prior interaction with this person; why the sudden hostility?

Was it because he had become a Disciple of Elder Tianshu, drawing the man's jealousy and resentment?

Or was there another reason?

The corners of his mouth slowly curled up, and a trace of Battle Intent ignited in his eyes.

Touching the threshold of the seventh level?

Perfect!

He needed a whetstone of sufficient weight to test his current true strength!

And through this, he would declare to everyone that he, Ye Tian, was by no means undeserving of his reputation!

"If he wants to fight, then we shall fight."

Ye Tian's voice was calm yet filled with absolute confidence. "I will be waiting for him at the Outer Sect Grand Competition."

Liu Ruyan and Leng Feng looked at the sharp light in Ye Tian's eyes, their hearts trembling slightly.

They could feel that Ye Tian's confidence did not merely come from his status as Elder Tianshu's Disciple.

Perhaps this Grand Competition would produce the biggest upset!