Chapter 95

In the end, Ye Zhen chose the Hundred Stacked True Qi Technique from the Body Guarding Qi Secret Manual, even though the introduction stated it was extremely difficult to cultivate. However, the fact that it could withstand a full-strength attack from a Spirit Induction Realm existence when perfected was too tempting.

Next, he needed to choose an offensive martial technique.

There were many offensive martial techniques that Ye Zhen was interested in, but greed would lead to failure. Currently, he could only focus on refining one before considering others.

After a brief consideration, Ye Zhen resolutely abandoned the fist techniques and chose a sword technique instead.

In terms of combat power, fist techniques and sword techniques were on par, but over the past period, Ye Zhen had discovered a sharp issue through comparing the Thunder Leopard Collapse Fist and the Flying Frost Sword Technique.

When the same amount of true essence was used, the power of a sword technique was slightly greater. To achieve the same power, a fist technique consumed more true essence.

It was simple: sword techniques concentrated all the true essence at the tip of the sword, making them more explosive and better at breaking through defenses, thus making it easier to defeat enemies. Fist techniques were slightly inferior in this regard.

More importantly, an inch longer meant an inch stronger!

A sword was like an extension of the arm, allowing one to fend off enemies from a distance, which fist techniques could not achieve.

With his direction set, Ye Zhen focused on searching.

While Ye Zhen was concentrating on choosing the secret manual, Elder Five Hong Banjiang also gathered his few personal disciples.

"Master, apart from Qu Zhanqian, the second senior brother who is out training and hasn't returned, the other senior brothers have all arrived and are waiting outside the door," the sword boy of Dinglei Peak replied.

"Call them all in!"

As Hong Banjiang's voice echoed, three disciples stepped into his study.

The first person was none other than the true disciple Fan Chuyu.

The last person was Zhou Zhian, who had fled in panic at the Fish Dragon Path.

The middle person, if Changsun Ran were present, would recognize him as the thirteenth-ranked Cao Luo of the Heavenly List!

Including the deceased Yue Chengzu and the future Qu Zhanqian, these were the five major disciples of Elder Five Hong Banjiang. In particular, the first-ranked Qu Zhanqian of the Heavenly List was hailed as the future ninth true disciple of Qiyun Sect.

It was precisely because of the true disciple Fan Chuyu and the first quasi-true disciple Qu Zhanqian that Elder Five Hong Banjiang had considerable influence within the sect.

"Master, Junior Brother Zhiyuan has been severely deceived by Ye Zhen again. Not only did he lose 240,000 taels of silver, but he also lost face," Cao Luo said angrily as soon as the disciples entered.

Hearing this, Hong Banjiang did not get angry but laughed instead: "So, this is how you act as senior brothers? Chengzu was killed, Bao'er was driven mad by Ye Zhen, and Zhiyuan was deceived. My disciples under Hong Banjiang have been completely deceived by that brat Ye Zhen!"

"Disciple is incompetent!"

Zhou Zhian looked ashamed.

"Do you still have the nerve to say that? What did I tell you? I told you to provoke Ye Zhen to the martial arena and take him out to avenge your cousin Yue Chengzu! Not only did you fail, but you were also severely deceived by Ye Zhen!"

"Worthless!"

"I must have been blind to take in a bunch of good-for-nothings like you!"

Beside him, Fan Chuyu, clenching his teeth, spoke up, "Master, perhaps we should arrange an opportunity for me to..."

"No way!"

Hong Banjiang directly interrupted Fan Chuyu, "Your most important goal now is Caiyi, understand? This matter is a thousand times more important than dealing with Ye Zhen. Caiyi is the greatest secret of our Qiyun Sect!"

As he spoke, Hong Banjiang's other two disciples, Cao Luo and Zhou Zhian, both showed curious expressions.

"Don't even think about it! The secret of Caiyi, even I only know a little."

"Master, disciple understands! What about Ye Zhen..."

"Let Cao Luo and Zhiyuan handle it!" Hong Banjiang said.

Hearing this, Fan Chuyu frowned, "But Ye Zhen is ranked tenth on the Heavenly List. The two junior brothers might not be a match for him."

"Hmph, tenth on the Heavenly List?"

Hong Banjiang sneered, "To pass the fifth level with Fourth Rank True Essence, under normal circumstances, not even the first genius of the past hundred years, Tu Fangye, could do it. I suspect that Ye Zhen either took a shortcut or has some unknown secret!"

Saying this, Hong Banjiang suddenly slapped his thigh and pointed at Zhou Zhian's nose, "You good-for-nothing, why didn't you challenge Ye Zhen when he emerged from the Fish Dragon Nine Transformations?"

"That's right, according to the sect rules, a higher-ranked Heavenly List disciple cannot refuse a challenge from a lower-ranked one!" Cao Luo shouted.

"What are you waiting for? A battle will reveal the truth. Both of you have the right to challenge Ye Zhen, so go quickly!" Hong Banjiang said coldly.

Zhou Zhian, however, was somewhat fearful, "Master, Ye Zhen did pass the fifth level. That guy is too ruthless, I'm afraid he might..."

"Worthless!"

While scolding, Hong Banjiang still threw a jade talisman, "This is a Spirit Light Amulet I refined. It can protect you from one disaster for half an hour. Go quickly!"

As Cao Luo and Zhou Zhian hurried out, Hong Banjiang's voice rang out again, "To avoid alerting Ye Zhen, Cao Luo, you go first. With the sect rules, he cannot refuse. When you get the chance, take out that scoundrel. I'll cover for you!"

"If you succeed, I'll reward you heavily!"

"Chuyu, you go too! You need to hurry with Caiyi..."

Inside the fourth floor of the Scripture Hall.

Ye Zhen quickly chose the Cold Plum Sword Technique.

The reason for choosing the Cold Plum Sword Technique was simple: the true essence flow of the Cold Plum Sword Technique was yin-biased, and when cultivated, the sword light was particularly cold, which could better unleash the power of the lower-grade treasure weapon, the Heavenly Crystal Sword.

Of course, the Cold Plum Sword Technique itself was also extremely powerful.

Finally, Ye Zhen also chose a special technique, the Breath Concealment Technique, which could suppress a martial artist's aura fluctuations to a certain extent and significantly reduce the vital energy aura around the body.

This was especially useful when entering the territory of beast spirits, as it could help avoid detection by beast spirits or prevent the strong vital energy aura from attracting powerful beast spirits.

"Old Steward, I've chosen these three secret manuals. Could you please fetch them for me?"

Outside the Scripture Hall, the old steward squinted and glanced at the choices, "Choosing the Cold Plum Sword Technique shows good judgment, it's very suitable for your lower-grade treasure weapon, the Heavenly Crystal Sword. The Breath Concealment Technique is also very useful, but what about the Hundred Stacked True Qi Technique?" The old steward frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"Didn't you get attracted by the line in the introduction that says 'when perfected, it can withstand a full-strength attack from a Spirit Induction Realm existence'?" the old steward asked.

Ye Zhen nodded.

"Let me tell you the truth. In our sect, only about twenty disciples can enter the fourth floor of the Scripture Hall. When they first came, twelve of them chose to cultivate the Hundred Stacked True Qi Technique.

However, eleven of those twelve disciples returned the Hundred Stacked True Qi Technique after cultivating for only about three days and chose another Body Guarding Qi Technique.

The other one, who didn't believe in the difficulty, cultivated for three months but eventually also chose another Body Guarding Qi Technique. Do you know who that disciple was?"

"Who?"

"Changsun Ran, the third-ranked Changsun Ran on the Heavenly List, who just left!"

"Change your choice!" the old steward advised.

The old steward thought Ye Zhen would listen, but unexpectedly, Ye Zhen firmly shook his head, making the old steward fume, "I knew it, you inner disciples are all the same! You won't listen to me unless you suffer a loss!"

"Hmph, the Hundred Stacked True Qi Technique costs 7,000 sect contribution points, the Cold Plum Sword Technique costs 6,000 sect contribution points, and the Breath Concealment Technique costs 3,000 sect contribution points, totaling 16,000 points," the old steward said, fuming.

"So many?"

Ye Zhen was somewhat surprised. Lower-grade human rank secret manuals cost only 500 to 600 sect contribution points, while upper-grade human rank secret manuals were ten times that.

"This is nothing. An upper-grade human rank secret manual, if auctioned outside, could fetch several hundred thousand taels of silver easily."

"What, not enough?" the old steward was quite concerned about Ye Zhen.

"Not enough is fine. Inner disciples who rank in the top ten of the Heavenly List can borrow 10,000 sect contribution points from the sect," the old steward reminded.

Ye Zhen shook his head. With so much silver, he could easily exchange for enough sect contribution points to get the secret manuals.

Soon, after exchanging 160,000 taels of silver for 16,000 sect contribution points, Ye Zhen successfully obtained the three secret manuals.

Deciding to go all the way, Ye Zhen went to the main hall of the sect and exchanged all his silver for sect contribution points, which he then used to buy Condensing Essence Pills. He even borrowed 10,000 sect contribution points, which he also used to buy more Condensing Essence Pills.

Everything was aimed at improving his cultivation.

If his cultivation improved, earning silver would be easier.

Half an hour later, Ye Zhen happily stored more than twenty bottles of Condensing Essence Pills in his storage bracelet. Now, these pills would be enough for him to cultivate for several months.

Just as Ye Zhen stepped out of the main hall, two figures were seen running towards the main hall from a distant mountain path. On the right was Zhou Zhian, whom Ye Zhen recognized.

The moment the two running figures saw Ye Zhen, one of them shouted excitedly, "Ye Zhen, I am the thirteenth-ranked Cao Luo on the Heavenly List, and I challenge you, the tenth-ranked!"

Hearing Cao Luo's shout, Ye Zhen's expression immediately changed.

It was said that Cao Luo's cultivation had already reached the Spirit Induction Realm.

At the same time, a sect rule flashed in Ye Zhen's mind: when a lower-ranked Heavenly List disciple challenges a higher-ranked one, the higher-ranked disciple cannot refuse!

*********

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