9: Chapter 9 Let's go home together

Ye Xuan's current goal was to raise his cultivation level by another tier so he could face the inner sect assessment.

Besides, the inner sect was merely a starting point.

After thinking it over carefully, Ye Xuan took that bottle of marrow cleansing spirit liquid out from his storage spirit ring.

After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly swallowed the entire thing.

Come to think of it, he had only just gotten around to using this marrow cleansing spirit liquid; it had taken quite a bit of effort to find it back then.

Ye Xuan had spent seven whole days tinkering with those three iron fragments using his Mystic Power before he finally obtained the crystal-clear marrow cleansing spirit liquid inside.

Ever since then, Ye Xuan felt that those with good fortune were all people favored by the heavens.

If their true owners had found them, they probably could have obtained them easily, but for anyone else, it required paying a price to get their hands on them.

Ye Xuan calmed his mind and circulated his Mystic Power along the meridians of the Evil God Art to begin refining the marrow cleansing spirit liquid.

Streams of spirit energy surged along his meridians, battering his entire body and striking at the seemingly existent barrier.

"Boom—"

The barrier broke.

The aura on Ye Xuan's body surged continuously, and a vortex of Mystic Power appeared above his head: late stage of the seventh level of the True Profound Realm, early stage of the eighth level of the True Profound Realm... until reaching the perfection of the ninth level of the True Profound Realm.

Just as his cultivation was about to reach the first level of the Spirit Profound Realm, Ye Xuan resisted the temptation and forcibly suppressed his cultivation back down to the ninth level of the True Profound Realm.

This action was like forcing a lid back onto a bottle that had just been pried open.

Any powerful strength required a foundation of a sufficiently robust physique to be fully unleashed.

"Is this the ninth level of the True Profound Realm?"

Ye Xuan felt the Mystic Power within his body and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

In just one short year, he had raised his cultivation to the ninth level of the True Profound Realm—an increase of six levels—and he was very satisfied.

If he hadn't resisted the temptation earlier and had broken through to the Spirit Profound Realm in one go, he feared his foundation would be very unstable now.

The True Profound Realm was the first realm of the human path and the foundation of the myriad paths, so it was better to be cautious.

"The inner sect is within reach."

The stone in Ye Xuan's heart had finally dropped.

He could use these next few days to stabilize his increased cultivation and properly master this surge in strength.

Possessing great strength but not knowing how to use it would be a waste.

Ye Xuan circulated the Evil God Art.

The thunder seed in his dantian emitted streaks of electric arcs, tempering his entire body and making his physical form grow stronger bit by bit.

...

Time passed as ruthlessly as flowing water, and soon a month had gone by.

The next morning, a gentle breeze blew through the green pines in the mountains.

The Outer Sect's arena was exceptionally lively today.

The disciples who usually cultivated diligently had all gathered here in formal attire, striving to enter the inner sect.

Yes, today was the day the Outer Sect selected prospective inner sect disciples.

New disciples would enter the Outer Sect, and disciples whose cultivation met the requirements would be selected as prospective inner sect disciples.

"Hahaha, Senior Brother Ye, long time no see. You're here too."

The person who arrived was none other than Wu Xiaolong.

Although his figure was bloated, he wore an elegant white robe that gave him an air of distinction, and his face was overflowing with enthusiasm.

"How about we go together? I remember our paths seem quite similar."

"The Gufeng Dynasty and the Great Qin Dynasty are both in the north, so we can travel together.

Besides, my old man has arranged a marriage for me—I heard it's with the daughter of a county magistrate, so our family is considered to be marrying above our station."

Although Wu Xiaolong kept talking eloquently, he couldn't hide the despondency in his eyes.

After all, he was about to be sent home by the Holy Land and would have no further connection to the world of cultivation.

Who could accept that?

"Yo, if it isn't Xiaolong. You're dressed up nicely today."

Ye Xuan looked at Wu Xiaolong, a trace of a smile flashing across his face.

He then examined the little fatty's destiny and found it hadn't changed much from before, except that he had a few more wives and concubines.

It seemed Wu Xiaolong's future was set and could not be changed.

Ye Xuan was no saint; he could not go all out for others.

Even though their relationship was decent, that was as far as it went.

"Let's go, let's go and take a look."

"Alright."

Wu Xiaolong didn't say anything more upon hearing this, his face showing signs of joy, though he was muttering to himself inside.

It seems Senior Brother Ye is also prepared to go home and inherit the family business.

Along the way, Ye Xuan and Wu Xiaolong both remained silent but walked toward the Outer Sect dueling arena in a relaxed manner.

"This year, any disciple who has reached the age of fifteen and whose cultivation has not reached the sixth level of the True Profound Realm will be sent back home.

Those who have reached the age of fifteen may be granted an inner sect identification badge and become inner sect disciples after participating in the grand competition challenge."

On the dueling arena, the Outer Sect elder said to the disciples below in a casual tone.

At this moment, over ten thousand disciples had gathered at the Outer Sect dueling arena.

Among them were some chore disciples who wanted to try their luck to see if they could use this opportunity to advance into the Outer Sect and become Outer Sect disciples.

Most of the disciples had reached the age limit this year and had to leave, which would vacate many cultivation caves in the vast Outer Sect.

In less than an hour, seven thousand disciples had received their travel expenses from the elder and handed over their disciple identification badges.

But as for the dueling arena to enter the inner sect, there were very few people.

"Senior Brother Ye, see you in the jianghu!"

Wu Xiaolong ultimately couldn't hold back his tears and broke down crying on the spot.

"The jianghu is a long way off.

Who knows, maybe one day I, your Senior Brother Ye, will come to seek refuge with you."

Upon hearing this, Wu Xiaolong, who had been quite sad, instantly burst into hearty laughter:

"Ahahaha, alright! Senior Brother Ye, see you in the jianghu!"

Having come to the Holy Land at the age of seven and cultivated until now, he had long regarded the Holy Land as his home.

Now that he was about to be kicked out, who could accept it?

Wu Xiaolong turned and left without further hesitation.

"See you in the jianghu."

After Ye Xuan said goodbye to the fatty Wu Xiaolong, he walked to the inner sect registration desk, but at the same time, a mocking voice came from behind:

"Ye Xuan, you're done for this time, aren't you?"

Looking over, it was a detestable figure.

Zhao Erhu was standing at the inner sect registration desk, followed by several lackeys.

"I originally wanted to give you a lesson you'd never forget, but it seems that won't be necessary now.

You're about to be kicked out of the Cangqiong Holy Land like a stray dog."

Zhao Erhu's expression was incredibly arrogant, and he was vaguely smug:

"Let me tell you some good news: a few days ago, I broke through to the sixth level of the True Profound Realm.

I can finally enter the inner sect that you, Senior Brother Ye, have been dreaming of."

Over the past few years, every time there was an Outer Sect grand competition, Ye Xuan would inevitably go to the dueling arena to watch.

The longing beneath his eyelids was something anyone could easily perceive.

Zhao Erhu wanted to use this to humiliate Ye Xuan.

"Is that so? What a pity, I also happened to break through to the sixth level of the True Profound Realm a few days ago, so I can enter the inner sect too."

Ye Xuan responded casually.

"How is that possible? How could a piece of trash like you break through to the sixth level?

You haven't made any progress in four years!"

Zhao Erhu's face was full of fury.

He stared in disbelief at the aura of the sixth level radiating from Ye Xuan, and blurted out:

"You... impossible! Have you been hiding your strength and playing the fool all this time?!"

"Oh, do you want to make a move on me now?"

Ye Xuan's expression suddenly turned serious, and he looked at Zhao Erhu with a half-smile:

"If the elder doesn't mind, I can fulfill your request right now."

"Wait a moment, Senior Brother Ye.

Why bother having you personally deal with this kind of trash? Just let your junior brother handle the lesson."

In the distance, a figure slowly approached.

Ye Xuan's gaze swept over in surprise, and he suddenly laughed happily.

"Senior Brother Ye, congratulations on successfully reaching the sixth level of the True Profound Realm as well."

The person who arrived was none other than Yun Zhe, who was currently baring a mouthful of white teeth and smiling knowingly at Ye Xuan.