"Attention, attention! The servant disciple will challenge the 29th ranked outer sect disciple, Liu Qingyu, in three months! Everyone, be sure to go to the Death Arena and watch the match in three months…"

"A servant disciple challenging an outer sect expert? Are you out of your mind… You mean the one who killed Duan Jun in that life-and-death battle, right?"

"Of course, it’s him. Who else could it be? Which servant disciple has the guts to do something like this?"

"This servant disciple is absolutely amazing. First, he challenges outer sect disciples, and now he’s going after someone in the outer sect rankings. It’s reckless, but you can’t help but admire his courage!"

...

In no time, news of Yang Ye’s challenge spread throughout the outer sect. Even some of the top-ranked disciples from Seven Refining Peak heard about it.

"A Sixth-grade Xuan practitioner challenging a Martial Master? Truly ignorant and fearless!" an outer sect expert commented upon hearing Yang Ye’s challenge to Liu Qingyu.

"Although Liu Qingyu isn’t that impressive, he’s still not someone a mere Sixth-grade Xuan practitioner can challenge. It’s been a long time since I left Seven Refining Peak. Are the outer sect disciples really this reckless now?"

"A Sixth-grade Xuan practitioner challenging a Martial Master? Interesting..."

Whether it was the outer sect peak or Seven Refining Peak, the news of Yang Ye’s challenge quickly spread. At that moment, Yang Ye’s name truly echoed throughout the entire outer sect.

Qingfeng Valley

After arriving at Qingfeng Valley, Yang Ye took out a high-level Yellow-tier sword technique given to him by an elder: the Fensling Sword Art, and began studying it carefully. Right now, he was in desperate need of improving his strength!

"Fensling Sword Art, high-level Yellow-tier, created by a former Sword Sect elder. It has ten levels. Each level can release a sword energy. When perfected, ten sword energies can be released simultaneously, and they are unstoppable!"

Seeing the introduction of the Fensling Sword Art, Yang Ye silently thanked his lucky stars. If Duan Jun had learned more than just the first level when they fought at the Death Arena, he would have been in serious danger.

He continued reading, his expression growing more serious. The Fensling Sword Art was powerful, even terrifying. If the sword energy was released in ten directions at once, it would be hard to counter, but the real danger came from how the sword energy could be "split"—allowing the sword energy to change direction during its flight.

The idea of ten sword energies attacking from different angles excited Yang Ye, but he quickly regained his composure. It was clear that controlling the direction of the sword energy required an extremely high level of control over Xuan Qi, a level that even some outer sect elders had failed to reach!

Taking a deep breath, Yang Ye rolled up the scroll and grabbed his longsword. He began practicing the Fensling Sword Art’s movements slowly.

Whether for his sister, mother, or himself, he would not back down. In this world where power ruled, without strength, one had no voice or dignity. Just like earlier, when Liu Qingyu’s strength was higher than his, he could act with impunity and kill him without a second thought, disregarding all rules.

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In this world, strength was the only true authority. Yang Ye had understood this principle in Annan City, but coming to the Sword Sect had made it even clearer to him.

For the next few days, apart from eating in the cafeteria, Yang Ye spent every moment practicing tirelessly in Qingfeng Valley. Even when he slept, it was in Qingfeng Valley. With the protective pills given to him by the outer sect elders and the energy stones from Bao’er, he could cultivate without any worries.

Clap, clap...

Yang Ye stood on top of a massive rock, his Xuantie sword swinging continuously. If anyone had been there, they would have been shocked. With each swing, not only was there a loud whooshing sound, but several sword images were created!

The sound of the wind breaking was immense—what kind of force was needed for that? And the sword images? What kind of speed did he have to move at for those to appear?

After finishing a basic sword style, Yang Ye slanted his sword to the ground, his eyes half-closed. His face was calm, like a monk in deep meditation. His cheeks were slightly thin, his features sharp, and with his flowing black hair, he couldn’t be called a handsome man, but he was certainly pleasing to the eye.

At this moment, Yang Ye was focusing on controlling the faint golden Xuan Qi within him, trying to guide it from his dantian to the Xuantie sword in his hand. However, that tiny thread of Xuan Qi was like a disobedient child, refusing to follow the Fensling Sword Art’s movements.

Minutes passed, and sweat began dripping down his forehead. The sweat ran down his eyebrows, over his closed eyes, and dripped down to his lips.

The breeze rustled through the trees in the forest, and a few yellow leaves floated gently to the ground. Yet, the young man on the rock remained standing straight, as if he were a statue.

After about half an hour, suddenly, the Xuantie sword in his hand flashed with a faint golden light and trembled slightly, as though it had come to life.

After a moment of stillness, Yang Ye’s eyes suddenly opened wide, and a sharp cold light shot from his eyes. He gripped the sword tightly and swung it at a massive tree in the distance.

"Fensling Sword Art!"

He whispered to himself. A faint golden sword energy shot out from the tip of his Xuantie sword, and with a loud crack, a tree several meters in diameter broke in two. The break was smooth, like a mirror. The tree’s crown fell with a thunderous crash, sending dust flying everywhere.

Looking at the fallen tree crown, a rare expression of excitement appeared on Yang Ye’s usually calm face. After six days of relentless practice, not only had his basic sword technique improved, but he had also mastered the first level of the Fensling Sword Art. How could he not be excited?

Suddenly, Yang Ye felt an empty sensation spreading from his chest. His Xuan Qi had been exhausted!

"It seems that unless it’s absolutely necessary, I can’t use the Fensling Sword Art so recklessly anymore!" Looking at the Xuantie sword in his hand, Yang Ye smiled bitterly. Although the Fensling Sword Art was powerful, the consumption of Xuan Qi was just too terrifying. Even after using only one sword energy, his Xuan Qi had already been depleted.

He took out an energy stone, gripping it tightly and absorbing its power. The Xuan Qi from the energy stone rushed into his body and was quickly absorbed by the mysterious small vortex inside him. But this time, Yang Ye frowned because the small vortex didn’t release the usual faint golden Xuan Qi.

Was there a problem again?

Yang Ye grew uneasy. He focused his mind inward, but this time, he couldn’t enter the small vortex. It felt as if something was blocking his way, preventing him from seeing inside the vortex.

Panic spread within him as he quickly took out several more energy stones to absorb, but still, as before, the Xuan Qi was absorbed by the vortex, but the faint golden energy did not appear.

"Big Brother, what game are you playing?" Yang Ye’s expression turned sour as he looked at the small vortex. Was it going to act up again?

After some thought, Yang Ye dismissed this idea. He and the small vortex were one. If he didn’t absorb Xuan Qi, the vortex couldn’t absorb it either. The two were inextricably linked—he didn’t believe the vortex would harm him.

After a while, Yang Ye once again took out an energy stone and continued to absorb its power.

An hour passed, then two, and the vortex kept absorbing energy without releasing any faint golden Xuan Qi. Yang Ye’s frustration grew as he continued his struggle, determined to figure out what was happening.