Chapter 545 - 518: The Scorn of the Young Experts

(There was a heavy rainstorm in southern Guangxi yesterday, which led to a power outage. On top of that, this is a transitional plot that involves setting up character personalities, Cultivation Techniques, and identities, all of which takes time. That’s why I missed yesterday’s update. Apologies!)

After seeing off Feng Zhonghe, Zhaang Ye pondered for a moment before flying to the highest point of Rising Sun Peak. Facing the slowly rising sun, he took out a large, purple saber.

This purple saber was precisely the Broken Wave Saber that Zhaang Ye had obtained from the Ancient Cave Mansion.

There were only three days left until his departure. Zhaang Ye planned to use these three days to refine the Broken Wave Saber and increase his combat strength.

Although the Mysterious Blade Tip Zhaang Ye often used to kill his enemies had an extraordinary origin, it was just a Broken Blade. Lacking the support of its Arrays and having endured ten thousand years of erosion, the Mysterious Blade Tip’s power had weakened considerably, making it inferior to even a Sixth-Grade True Artifact. The Broken Wave Saber in his hands, however, was inscribed with dozens of complete Arrays. It was a Fifth-Grade True Artifact with quite impressive power.

After refining the Broken Wave Saber, the power of Zhaang Ye’s Saber Technique would increase significantly, and his overall combat strength would also see a major boost.

When it came to refining True Artifacts, Zhaang Ye was already quite experienced. For example, the Punishment Whip, a Fifth-Grade True Artifact, was something he had successfully refined all by himself.

HUMMM!

The Celestial River Righteous Qi in Zhaang Ye’s body surged into the saber’s blade. He slowly used the Celestial River Righteous Qi to wash over the Broken Wave Saber, imbuing it with his own aura.

「Two days later.」

A faint purple glow flowed across the blade of the Broken Wave Saber, and its dozens of Arrays lit up one by one. This Fifth-Grade True Saber, which had lain dormant in the Ancient Cave Mansion for ten thousand years, was now gaining Spirituality, no longer a piece of dead metal.

Zhaang Ye examined the saber’s blade, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. He knew he was about to succeed in refining it. All that was left was to carve his Spiritual Brand into the blade, and the task would be complete.

PFFT!

Zhaang Ye spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the Broken Wave Saber. He then gripped the hilt tightly as the Celestial River Righteous Qi from his body poured continuously into the saber, carving his Spiritual Brand inside it.

HUMMMMM!

After carving the Spiritual Brand, Zhaang Ye’s Heart Spirit and the Broken Wave Saber were instantly linked. With a slight stir of his Heart Spirit, the Broken Wave Saber seemed to come to life. It nimbly flew into the air, slowly circling Zhaang Ye’s body and emitting sharp Sword Gangs.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Zhaang Ye casually slashed several times, an exhilarating feeling welling up from the depths of his heart. The Arrays inscribed on this Broken Wave Saber were quite profound; not only could they significantly increase the power of his attacks, but the saber itself was also extremely fluid to use. The Broken Wave Saber felt like an extension of his own arm, making it very comfortable to wield.

「On the morning of the third day」, Zhaang Ye left Rising Sun Peak and arrived at a mountain peak within the Green Cloud Mountain Range.

This peak was called Lianyun Peak. With its quiet and beautiful scenery, Lianyun Peak was an excellent meeting place. The young experts participating in the Third-Grade Young Master List’s evaluation assembly would all gather on this peak before setting out together.

Not long after Zhaang Ye arrived at Lianyun Peak, he suddenly felt a slight tremor in the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi as a streak of golden light shot straight toward the peak. Zhaang Ye focused his gaze, then suddenly let out a laugh and cupped his hands. "Senior Brother Galaxy, it’s been three months. Your Cultivation has improved again."

Before Zhaang Ye’s voice had even faded, the golden light abruptly landed on the ground. With a SWOOSH, it transformed into a cold-faced man in golden robes—it was none other than the Green Cloud Sect’s previous Inner Sect Senior Brother, Galaxy.

Galaxy landed, glanced at Zhaang Ye, and his pupils suddenly contracted. He said slowly, "Junior Brother Zhaang, it has only been three short months, yet your Cultivation has unexpectedly reached the Third Layer Peak of the True Dao."

Zhaang Ye’s expression remained unchanged as he replied flatly, "Senior Brother Galaxy, you flatter me."

Galaxy gave Zhaang Ye a deep look, then flashed over to a large boulder, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

Although Galaxy’s expression was calm as he sat cross-legged on the stone, he was secretly aghast. ’After a Martial Artist reaches the True Dao Realm, advancing even a single Small Tier is incredibly difficult. Even for the geniuses of the Inner Sect, it can take several years, or even more than a decade, to advance one Small Tier. But in just three short months, Zhaang Ye actually went from the Mid-stage Third Layer of the True Dao to the Third Layer Peak. Such a Cultivation speed is truly unbelievable.’

’This Zhaang Ye punk, his strength is improving way too fast!’ A sense of crisis rose in Galaxy’s heart. Although he was confident he could defeat Zhaang Ye, Zhaang Ye’s rate of Cultivation was just too quick. Even though Galaxy was a top-tier genius of the younger generation, witnessing Zhaang Ye’s speed of Cultivation put immense pressure on him.

’It seems I have to speed up my own Cultivation. After the Young Master evaluation assembly is over, I’ll immediately challenge and defeat Zhaang Ye. Then I’ll go into seclusion for a while to raise my Cultivation to the True Dao Fourth Layer Mid Stage and comprehend the Golden Realm to the Great Success Realm. When that time comes, no matter how formidable Zhaang Ye becomes, I’ll still be able to crush him under my heel.’

Galaxy silently finalized his plan.

On Lianyun Peak, Zhaang Ye and Galaxy both meditated in silence with their eyes closed. The entire peak was tranquil, with only the crisp sound of birds chirping and the roars of wild beasts.

After meditating for a while, a thought stirred in Zhaang Ye’s mind, and he suddenly opened his eyes. He saw that sometime, without him noticing, a grim and gloomy young man had appeared on the peak.

Galaxy also opened his eyes at this moment. Seeing the grim-faced young man, Galaxy nodded slightly and said, "Senior Brother Yan Ming, your Cultivation has improved again. In this Young Master evaluation assembly, you have a good chance of entering the top ten of the Second-Grade List."

A faint smile appeared on Yan Ming’s stern face. "You’re too kind. Galaxy, your combat strength is quite impressive as well. You also have a good chance of entering the top ten of the Second-Grade List."

Zhaang Ye stood up, bowed to Yan Ming, and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother Yan. My name is Zhaang Ye. I hope Senior Brother Yan will look after me."

Yan Ming grunted through his nose, his gaze falling upon Zhaang Ye. After sizing Zhaang Ye up, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, and he spoke in a condescending, patronizing tone, "Zhaang Ye, to have reached this level of Cultivation in just a few short years, you could be considered a genius. However, with your current strength, you are completely unqualified to participate in the Young Master evaluation assembly. It’s such a waste, such a waste that the Sect gave a precious spot to you."

Zhaang Ye’s brow twitched slightly as he said flatly, "The Sect allowing me to participate in the Young Master evaluation assembly is a show of their trust in me. I will do my best to make it onto the list."

A trace of disdain flashed in Yan Ming’s eyes. "Do your best? How will you do your best? Let me tell you, the young experts participating in the Young Master evaluation assembly have Cultivations of at least the True Dao Fourth Layer. Zhaang Ye, your Cultivation is only at the Third Layer Peak of the True Dao. How do you plan to ’do your best’? Do you even stand a chance?"

Zhaang Ye was secretly furious, but he immediately recalled Feng Zhonghe’s advice and suppressed his anger, silently closing his eyes to meditate.

Seeing that Zhaang Ye was ignoring him, Yan Ming flicked his sleeve, floated over to a rock, and also began to meditate.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Zhaang Ye had only been meditating for a moment when he suddenly heard several sounds of something tearing through the air. Five powerful auras abruptly appeared on Lianyun Peak. Zhaang Ye opened his eyes and saw five young men striding forward. The weakest among them had a Cultivation at the Early Stage of the True Dao Fifth Layer. They walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, projecting a natural and imposing might.

A young man in moon-white robes let out a hearty laugh and greeted a young man in gray, "Hahaha! Senior Brother Gu Jianyuan, long time no see! Thirty years have passed, and not only has Senior Brother Gu become the deputy director of the Sect’s Alchemy Room, but your Cultivation has also grown more profound. It looks like you’re about to reach the Late-stage Fifth Layer of the True Dao!"

The gray-robed young man named Gu Jianyuan smiled faintly and said, "Pingcang Mountain, your progress has not been small either. In these thirty years, you not only became the Sect’s Outer Sect Chief Steward, but your Cultivation has improved significantly as well. It seems life has treated you well these past thirty years."

A flash of pride crossed Pingcang Mountain’s face. The position of Outer Sect Chief Steward of the Green Cloud Sect was definitely a lucrative one, coveted by countless people. For Pingcang Mountain to have successfully secured this position before the age of eighty was certainly something to be proud of.

Though he was secretly proud, Pingcang Mountain wore an indifferent expression. He waved his hand and said, "It’s nothing worth mentioning, nothing at all. Right now, you are the deputy director of the Alchemy Room, Junior Brother Shi Shenghao is the Sect Leader of a Middle Sect, Senior Brother Gao Kangzi has become the Patriarch of his family, and Senior Brother Taishu Gang presides over the three great mines as their master. And Junior Brother Qi Qingle has even become the Vice National Preceptor of the Da Feng Kingdom. Compared to all of you, my humble position as Outer Sect Chief Steward is truly not worth mentioning!"

"Hehehe, Senior Brother Ping is too modest."

"The position of Outer Sect Chief Steward carries a status comparable to an Outer Elder. It’s definitely a lucrative post."

The five young men greeted each other, and Lianyun Peak instantly became lively. Listening to their conversation, Zhaang Ye finally figured out their identities.

Pingcang Mountain, Gu Jianyuan, Taishu Gang, Shi Shenghao, Gao Kangzi, and the yet-to-appear Qi Qingle were the most outstanding young powerhouses of the Green Cloud Sect from the past fifty years. They were all under eighty-one years old, and their Cultivation had all reached the True Dao Fifth Layer. Like Yan Ming and Galaxy, they had all started as Inner Sect Disciples. After honing their skills in the Inner Sect, they had all left the Sect to forge their own paths, each achieving great fame and prestige.

"Greetings, Senior Brothers."

Seeing Pingcang Mountain, Gu Jianyuan, Taishu Gang, Shi Shenghao, and Gao Kangzi walk over, Yan Ming, Galaxy, and Zhaang Ye all stood up at the same time to greet the five young powerhouses.

"Mm."

The five young powerhouses nodded at the three of them and began talking amongst themselves. Zhaang Ye noticed that the five powerhouses only gave him a nod and didn’t speak to him at all. Clearly, in their eyes, Zhaang Ye was just a junior with shallow Cultivation, completely unworthy of their attention.

Zhaang Ye vaguely understood what these young powerhouses were thinking. He gave a wry smile, sat back down, and continued to meditate. He believed in returning respect for respect; since these people looked down on him, he couldn’t be bothered to go and curry favor with them.

-(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)