The Martial Saint Started from Scavenging

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Liu Qing appeared at the entrance of Liuyuan on time. She had changed into the martial arts attire of an inner disciple of the sect, her long hair tied up high, her posture upright, exuding a heroic aura.

"Let's go." Her voice was cold.

Ye Sheng had made all the preparations and, after giving instructions to Ye Kai, followed Liu Qing out of Liu Garden.

The two, one after the other, once again stepped onto the white jade bridge spanning the abyss. Their destination this time was Heavenly Sword Peak, the head of the five peaks and the residence of the sect leader.

With Liu Qing's late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, she could have used her sword to create a rainbow and carried Ye Sheng through the air.

However, the sect rules clearly stipulate that, except in special circumstances, no disciple may use their sword within the sect. This is intended to temper everyone's character. Moreover, they are heading to Heavenly Sword Peak today.

Heavenly Sword Peak is extremely high, with precipitous terrain and abundant spiritual energy, far surpassing Medicine King Peak. The closer one gets, the more an invisible pressure descends from the mountain peak, accompanied by the faint rumble of thunder.

That wasn't a deliberate release of spiritual energy, but rather a natural "force" formed by the long-term fusion of the power of heaven and earth and the aura of a strong person. Ordinary people would likely find it difficult to stand firm here.

Ye Sheng's expression hardened instantly, and he immediately activated the "Thick Earth Technique." The next second, his true energy in his dantian solidified like a mountain, resisting the oppressive force without faltering.

As Liu Qing led the way, she caught a glimpse of Ye Sheng out of the corner of her eye. His expression remained unchanged, and his steps were steady. A hint of surprise flashed across her eyes.

Soon, the two arrived at the gate of Heavenly Sword Peak. Two inner disciples, dressed in silver armor and with auras of at least the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, stood holding halberds.

Upon seeing that it was Liu Qing, the two immediately bowed:

"Senior Sister Liu."

Liu Qing nodded slightly and took out the token of the sect leader's personal disciple.

"My two junior brothers, I have been ordered by our master to bring this person here for the test."

A disciple guarding the mountain glanced at Ye Sheng, checked his token, and stepped aside to make way for him.

Inside the mountain gate, a white jade staircase winds its way up, with clouds and mist swirling on both sides, and cranes circling around, the spiritual energy so dense it's almost solid.

At the end of the steps stood a magnificent hall. The plaza in front of the hall was paved with a single piece of white marble, and in the center stood a giant stone sword sculpture ten zhang tall, pointing towards the sky, exuding an imposing aura.

"Junior Brother Ye, please go inside. My master is waiting for you in the hall."

Liu Qing stopped in front of the hall and said to Ye Sheng.

She paused, then lowered her voice and added, "Although my master is easygoing and proficient in swordsmanship and alchemy, he is also extremely strict about the pharmacology and medicinal properties of each spiritual plant. You just need to show him everything you know; there's no need to be nervous."

Ye Sheng nodded, not daring to be careless in the slightest. He straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the stone steps in front of the hall alone.

The palace gates were wide open. As soon as Ye Sheng stepped inside, a pressure far more terrifying than that outside the mountain gates rushed towards him, as vast as the sea and as deep as an abyss.

Ye Sheng's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down. He hurriedly channeled all his inner energy, and his bones cracked as he barely managed to steady himself.

Ye Sheng looked around and found the main hall spacious and majestic. Dozens of golden dragon pillars supported the dome, and the floor was so shiny that it reflected people's faces. There was no one sitting on the high platform directly above. Only a figure dressed in a black Taoist robe stood quietly in the center of the hall with his back to him, looking up at the huge ancient landscape painting on the wall.

The man was tall and slender, and although he did not release any spiritual power, he possessed the aura of a grandmaster who was profound and imposing.

"Disciple Ye Sheng greets Sect Master." Ye Sheng bowed, his voice steady.

The figure didn't turn around, only giving a faint "hmm." The voice was extremely young, clear and gentle, yet it carried an inherent air of authority.

"So you're the spirit plant donor recommended by Junior Sister Liu?"

"Yes."

Ye Sheng lowered his head and bowed in response, but inwardly he was filled with doubt: Why would the sect leader address Liu Qing as junior sister? That shouldn't be the case.

Before he could figure it out, the voice rang out again: "Raise your head."

Ye Sheng looked up as instructed, and the person slowly turned around at that moment. When he saw the other person's face clearly, Ye Sheng's pupils contracted slightly.

The young man before him was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a handsome face, bright eyes, a high nose, and a faint smile on his lips.

He wore only a simple black Taoist robe with a white silk sash tied around his waist, and no other ornaments.

But he simply stood there, and it was as if he had become the center of the entire hall, making people afraid to look directly at him.

What shocked Ye Sheng even more was that this person's aura was far stronger than any cultivator he had ever seen. It was a sense of returning to simplicity and harmony with heaven and earth.

At this moment, the skill panel displayed: "Late-stage Golden Core cultivator, unfathomable strength."

"This person's strength is definitely not that of an ordinary late-stage Golden Core cultivator," Ye Sheng thought to himself.

"You seem surprised? Have some doubts?"

The young man looked at Ye Sheng, his smile deepening slightly.

"This disciple dares not."

"Hehe, I am not the sect leader."

The young man smiled slightly and shook his head to explain: "My master suddenly had to go out on important business today. Before he left, he asked me to test him on his behalf."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "My name is Yang Zhao. I am the eldest disciple of my master and also the senior brother of Junior Sister Liu Qing."

Yang Zhao! His surname is Yang!

Ye Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately recalled the three pieces of vermilion paper he had picked up from the garbage dump in Black Stone Town, which were signed "Yang Clan of Central Plains".

"Could this person be related to the Yang family of Zhongzhou?"

Ye Sheng muttered to himself.

"So it's Senior Brother Yang. I've been disrespectful."

Ye Sheng bowed again.

"No need for such formalities."

Yang Zhao waved his hand, his gaze carefully scrutinizing Ye Sheng. Though his eyes were calm, they seemed to see right through him. Ye Sheng felt as if he had been stripped naked, his entire being, inside and out, completely exposed.

"I heard from Junior Sister Liu that your family's ancestral secret technique is proficient in the way of spiritual plants, and can even bring a dying Moon Orchid back to life and improve its quality."

Yang Zhao slowly spoke, asking, "I'm very curious about the nature of such methods. Could you please explain?"

"Senior Brother Yang, you flatter me. I only know a little bit about my family's secret techniques. As for saving Yuehualan, it was really just luck."

"Oh? By sheer luck?"

Yang Zhao smiled and said, "There aren't many lucky breaks in this world."

As he spoke, he walked to the side hall on one side of the main hall and pushed open the door.

"Fine. Since you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you. Come with me; the test is here."

Upon hearing this, Ye Sheng followed him into the side hall.

Inside the hall was a huge greenhouse, displaying hundreds of potted exotic flowers and plants, including many rare spiritual plants. A breeze blowing through the window brought a rich spiritual energy with it.

At this moment, Yang Zhao had walked to the center of the greenhouse. There was a bronze flowerpot about half a person's height, in which was planted a strange spiritual plant that was completely black, as if it had been dyed with ink.

The spirit plant had no leaves, only a bare black trunk with a fist-sized, jet-black fruit at the top. The entire plant exuded a heavy aura of death and decay.

"This item is called 'Nine Nether Fruit'."

Yang Zhao pointed to the spiritual plant and said calmly, "It originally grows in extremely yin places, blooming every three hundred years and bearing fruit every three hundred years. Its fruit contains pure nether energy, which is the main ingredient for refining high-level yin-attribute pills."

He paused, then looked at Ye Sheng.

"But this Nine Nether Fruit, for some unknown reason, began to lose its vitality half a month ago, and is now on the verge of dying. The elders of the sect are all helpless."

"Your test today is very simple."

Yang Zhao's gaze sharpened, and he said, "Within one hour, you must find the cause of the illness and restore a sliver of life to the patient. If you can do this, you will pass."

Upon hearing this, Ye Sheng didn't speak, but walked straight to the basin, squatted down, and examined it closely.

At this moment, [Skill Panel Feedback: A dying spirit plant, 'Nine Nether Fruit,' has been detected, suffering severe loss of life force. Its roots are parasitized by 'Spirit-Devouring Gu,' which is continuously devouring its life essence.]

"It's actually the Soul-Devouring Gu!" Ye Sheng's heart skipped a beat.