Chapter 7 – The Outer Court Rankings (1/2)

The training grounds.

Yang Ye and Elder Qian walked side by side. Even though it was already night, but under the illumination of the Moonlight Stones in the surroundings, the training grounds were bright as day.

Suddenly, Elder Qian stopped and look at Yang Ye before he said, “Yang Ye, did you ever feel resentment towards me when I reduced you to a Labor Disciple that day?”

Yang Ye shook his head and said, “Elder Qian, if it wasn’t for you, then my younger sister and mother would have probably already fallen into the Liu Clan’s hands. I do have resentment in my heart, but it’s only to my own self. At that time, I didn’t live up to Elder Qian’s expectations and caused Elder Qian to be ridiculed by others just like I had. It was I that disappointed Elder Qian!”

Yang Ye would never forget the scenes of those Outer Court Elders ridiculing him and Elder Qian. When he was unable to become a Profounder even after a year, those Outer Court Elders and Outer Court Disciples had given him a ‘resounding’ nickname. Moreover, they even ridiculed Elder Qian by calling him old, unable to see properly, and said he’d brought back a piece of trash for the Sword Sect.

It could be said that he was the laughingstock amongst the Outer Court Disciples, and because of him, Elder Qian became the laughingstock amongst the Outer Court Elders.

When he heard Yang Ye, Elder Qian patted Yang Ye on the shoulder and said, “Alright, all of that has already pa.s.sed, and you don’t have to make a fuss about it. I never imagined that you would actually possess Profound Energy of the five elements, and it would even be gold element Profound Energy. Come, let’s head to the Outer Court Peak now. I intend to reinstate your status as an Outer Court Disciple. Let me see who dares call you a piece of trash now!”

“Elder Qian, I want to partic.i.p.ate in the Outer Court Exam that’s being held a month from now. I’ll use my strength to tell them that I’m not a piece of trash, and Elder Qian’s perception is the best in the Sword Sect!” Yang Ye looked at Elder Qian as he spoke in an extremely serious manner. If he really possessed the Profound Energy of the five elements, then he might really follow Elder Qian to the Outer Court Peak. But the problem was, did he possess gold element Profound Energy? He didn’t want others to know of the secret that was the tiny vortex!

Elder Qian was stunned when he heard this, and then he started laughing before he said, “Good, good, you have ambition.”

The Sword Sect had two methods to recruit Outer Court Disciples. The first method was that Outer Court Elders could recruit any three disciples at will because all Outer Court Elders had a quota of three Outer Court Disciples. The second method was the Outer Court Exam. This was the normal method the Sword Sect utilized to recruit disciples, and anyone that had attained the sixth rank of the Mortal Realm before the age of 17 had the qualifications to partic.i.p.ate in this exam.

The strength and status of Outer Court Disciples chosen from the Outer Court Exam were superior to the Outer Court Disciples recruited by the Outer Court Elders because the exam was extremely stringent. Not only did one have to possess a formidable strength, one also had to possess a formidable comprehension ability and natural talent.

It could be said that the former was taking the backdoor while the later was becoming an Outer Court Disciple by relying on one’s own strength. So, the status of the former was far inferior to the latter in the Sword Sect.

Elder Qian thought for a moment and then withdrew a small pouch from his pocket. He pa.s.sed it to Yang Ye and said, “It’s very good that you have ambition. There are 10 Energy Stones and Meridian s.h.i.+eld Pills here. The Energy Stones will allow you to quickly absorb Profound Energy, whereas, Meridian s.h.i.+eld Pills can protect your meridians from injury.”

As he gazed at the small pouch, Yang Ye hesitated before he received it and said seriously, “Elder Qian, don’t worry. I’ll definitely not disappoint you this time.” He didn’t refuse Elder Qian’s good intentions because he did indeed require cultivation resources now. Otherwise, with his current speed of cultivation, it would definitely be impossible for him to attain the sixth rank of the Mortal Realm before he was 17.

Elder Qian smiled as he nodded, and then he said, “I believe that the speed of cultivation of someone that possesses the Profound Energy of the five elements is extremely swift. I don’t know what the problem in your body was in the past, but it seems like there are no more problems now. Cultivate properly and strive to obtain the top 10 positions in the Outer Court Exam and allow those old fellows to see who the true piece of trash is!” As he finished speaking, Elder Qian’s voice carried a trace of anger. Even though he had a good temper, when he thought of looks on those Outer Court Elders at that time, he was still slightly angry.

“The first 10 positions?” Yang Ye spoke in a low voice.

“What? You aren’t confident in your ability to obtain that?” Elder Qian spoke with a smile.

Yang Ye shook his head. How could he not be confident? His target wasn’t the become an Outer Court Disciple, and his true target was to become an Inner Court Disciple. In the past, he didn’t dare have extravagant hopes of becoming an Inner Court Disciple, but now that he possessed that mysterious tiny vortex in his Dantian and coupled with his own hard work, he believed that he would definitely be able to become an Inner Court Disciple. Of course, I had to first become an Outer Court Disciple before he had the qualifications to partic.i.p.ate in the Inner Court Exam!

Yang Ye pondered deeply for a moment, and then he said, “Elder Qian, I have something to ask of you!”

“What is it?” Elder Qian spoke with curiosity.

Yang Ye told Elder Qian about the Southpeace City’s Liu Clan targeting his younger sister. Originally, he intended to rely on his own ability to deal with the Liu Clan, yet now, his strength was still insufficient, and he still needed time. So, he could only entrust Elder Qian with taking care of it.

Elder Qian went silent for a moment when he heard Yang Ye, and then he said, “If I’m not wrong, that Liu Qingyu who recently joined the Outer Court is a disciple of the Liu Clan, and that’s the reason why the Liu Clan dared to disregard my warning from that day and started to target your family again!”

“Liu Qingyu?”

When he heard Yang Ye repeat this name, Elder Qian’s expression became slightly serious, and he said, “He’s a disciple of the Liu Clan that recently became an Outer Court Disciple after attaining the third position in the Outer Court Exam. After cultivating for a single month, he was ranked at the 29th position on the Outer Court Rankings. Supposedly, some Inner Court Elders have already started to pay attention to him.”

“29th on the Outer Court Rankings?” Yang Ye’s expression became serious as well.