21: Back at the main gate! An unexpected surprise!

"D... Dead?"

Jiang Haochuan's and Ji Zhipeng's pupils shrank to pinpoints; they had witnessed something they couldn't comprehend!

A Profound Core Realm Martial Artist was killed by one slash from Zhang Yang, who was only in the Spirit Aperture Realm?

Jiang Haochuan couldn't help but clench his fists until his knuckles turned white.

How was it that after not seeing him for just a few days, he couldn't even see Zhang Yang's back anymore?

A Profound Core Realm Martial Artist had actually died at the hands of someone in the Spirit Aperture Realm.

Jiang Haochuan shook his head and couldn't help but give a bitter smile.

Even if he told others about today's events, likely no one would believe him; it simply defied common sense!

"Brother Zhang, you..." Jiang Haochuan stepped forward, but words failed him, and he could only let out a sigh.

Beside him, Ji Zhipeng was so shocked he couldn't even speak.

"Brother Jiang, no need to be so formal. Let's wait here for a moment until Senior Jiang Dao arrives before returning to the Sect."

Zhang Yang waved his hand; he naturally knew what Jiang Haochuan and the other were thinking.

The strength he displayed was so staggering that the two of them didn't know how to act around him anymore.

"Alright." Seeing this, Jiang Haochuan could only nod.

Zhang Yang looked at the corpse split in two before him and proceeded with the routine of looting the body.

Unfortunately, this Profound Core Realm Martial Artist was also a pauper; he had nothing on him.

He wondered if all the good stuff was hidden in his lair, as he hadn't even carried a map.

After more than ten minutes,

Jiang Dao flew swiftly from the distance and landed before the three of them shortly after.

"You lot really are prone to trouble, aren't you? You haven't been out long, and you've called for me again!"

Jiang Dao landed on the ground, looked at the corpse, and nodded slightly.

Then he turned to Zhang Yang: "This must be one of the three moves you've fused so far. It truly is immensely powerful!"

Even Jiang Dao couldn't help but be inwardly amazed.

He knew the moves Zhang Yang created were extraordinary, but he hadn't expected them to be this potent.

Just looking at the surroundings, it was clear that this Profound Core Realm Martial Artist had likely been insta-killed in a single move.

For a Martial Skill to allow someone in the Spirit Aperture Realm to exert such power, it seemed this skill was already close to Earth Rank Middle Grade!

"Yes," Zhang Yang nodded.

There wasn't much to hide; after all, these three moves were basically created right in front of Jiang Dao.

Jiang Dao kicked the corpse by his feet and turned to ask, "What was this guy's background?"

"He was the mastermind behind that Evil Path Martial Artist stronghold we wiped out earlier."

"I see." Jiang Dao nodded and looked at the three of them.

"Since I'm here, I'll give you a lift."

In the next instant, Jiang Dao waved his hand, and an invisible surge of Qi lifted Zhang Yang and the other two.

Then, they sped towards the location of the Clear Wind Sect.

In just over ten minutes, Zhang Yang and the others arrived not far from the Clear Wind Sect.

"Alright, I'll leave you here."

Jiang Dao stopped as he looked at the Clear Wind Sect in the distance and set the three of them down.

"Son! Remember to Cultivate hard!" Jiang Dao looked at Jiang Haochuan and instructed.

"I'm coming to watch your Inner Sect Grand Competition! You better not make me lose face in front of those fellows!"

Having said that, Jiang Dao turned to Zhang Yang: "I look forward to your performance!"

Zhang Yang nodded, slightly surprised inwardly.

He really hadn't known that Senior Jiang Dao would actually come to watch the Clear Wind Sect's Inner Sect Grand Competition.

Jiang Dao turned and his figure rapidly ascended into the sky, flying off into the distance.

Seeing Senior Jiang Dao leave, Zhang Yang, Jiang Haochuan, and the other turned and walked towards the Clear Wind Sect.

Upon entering the Clear Wind Sect, the three of them first completed the mission they had taken.

Each of them received twenty-five Purple Sun Pills.

Zhang Yang looked at the twenty-five Purple Sun Pills in his hand and shook his head; the world really was like a game of chess, unpredictable and ever-changing.

Over half a month ago, he had regarded these twenty-five Purple Sun Pills as treasures, but now he almost looked down on them.

After collecting the mission rewards, Brother Zhang Yang cupped his fists and said, "Brother Zhang Yang, I expect I'll be in secluded cultivation for the foreseeable future."

"I look forward to meeting you again at the Inner Sect Grand Competition! I hope Brother Zhang Yang will go easy on me then."

With that, Jiang Haochuan turned and left.

Beside him, Ji Zhipeng also nodded to Zhang Yang and then followed.

Watching their departing figures, Zhang Yang shook his head and then quickly returned to his own small courtyard.

Now that he had another thousand Purple Sun Pills, as well as Senior Jiang Dao's records of Saber Intent insights,

there was about a month left until the Inner Sect Grand Competition. It was time to seize this month to Cultivate hard!

Back in the courtyard, just as Zhang Yang was about to start cultivating, a voice came from outside.

"Zhang Yang, your reward has arrived!"

Zhang Yang Hearing this， His brows furrowed slightly.

Hadn't he already collected the mission rewards? What other reward was there?

Walking out of his room, Zhang Yang saw a person standing outside the courtyard. Judging by his cultivation, he seemed to be in the Profound Core Realm.

Was it another Elder?

Seeing Zhang Yang come out, the man outside stepped forward quickly. Arriving before Zhang Yang, he smiled with a somewhat respectful tone:

"Little Brother Zhang Yang, my name is Fan Xu. You can just call me Brother Fan."

"Brother Fan, I'm not sure what other reward I have?" Zhang Yang asked with cupped fists.

"Brother Zhang Yang, you might not know, but your reputation has been soaring within the Sect lately."

"You easily defeated Li Hai, who was ranked fortieth on the war dragon ranking and had comprehended Sword Intent!"

"Now, you've become the fortieth on the war dragon ranking!"

"The Sect provides rewards for Disciples who make it onto the war dragon ranking."

While speaking, Fan Xu took out a jade box and a token and handed them to Zhang Yang.

"Inside this jade box are one thousand Purple Sun Pills; that's the reward."

"And this token allows you to choose any two Martial Skills from the third floor of the Scripture Depository, and any Martial Skill from the second floor as you wish."

"How's that? A good reward, right?" Fan Xu smiled, a hint of envy appearing in his eyes.

Although he had also made it onto the war dragon ranking back then, he was only ranked in the seventies,

far less generous than Zhang Yang's reward today.

"Yes." Zhang Yang nodded, feeling a bit pleasantly surprised.

He hadn't expected such benefits from getting onto the war dragon ranking.

"Since the rewards are in Brother Zhang Yang's hands, I'll take my leave now."

"If you're free in the future, Brother Zhang Yang, feel free to drop by my Immortal Cave!" With that, Fan Xu tactfully departed.

Seeing Fan Xu's figure recede, Zhang Yang looked at the two rewards in his hand, his eyes shining with joy.

Now he had a full two thousand Purple Sun Pills; he wondered what Realm they could help him break through to.

Furthermore, this token solved Zhang Yang's urgent need.

He currently needed a large number of Saber Technique Martial Skills to fill and fuse, in order to create the final three forms!

"Hmm, I'll head to the Scripture Pavilion first! I'll borrow all the Human Grade Saber Techniques in the Sect!"

"I also need to see if there are other Saber Techniques on the third floor, or perhaps techniques for tempering the Physical Body."

"Even though it's said the Great Sun True Fire Body Tempering Art at Perfection can go head-to-head with a Xuandan, it doesn't seem to be quite enough!"

Having made his decision, Zhang Yang put away the Purple Sun Pills and headed to the Scripture Pavilion to select Martial Skills.

Before long, he arrived at the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion.

Elder Wang was still lying leisurely on the chair by the entrance, looking very comfortable.