The Martial Saint Started from Scavenging

Ye Sheng had seen a related record in "Fengwu Zhi": This Gu is vicious, invisible and colorless, and it specifically parasitizes the roots of living beings, devouring their spiritual power and vitality. It is extremely difficult to detect and even more difficult to eliminate. Ordinary methods are ineffective against it.

"Junior Brother Ye, how is it? Any progress?"

Yang Zhao walked up to Ye Sheng and asked.

"Replying to Senior Brother Yang, the root cause of the illness lies in the disease itself."

"Oh?"

Yang Zhao raised an eyebrow, asking with a hint of doubt, "What's wrong with this one?"

"Its roots have been parasitized by a tiny worm," Ye Sheng said calmly.

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise finally appeared on Yang Zhao's usually calm face.

As a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, he possessed powerful divine sense and had previously thoroughly examined the Nine Nether Fruit, yet he had not discovered any trace of Gu worms.

"Are you sure?" Yang Zhao's voice was slightly tense.

"I'm sure, kid," Ye Sheng said loudly.

Yang Zhao fell silent. After a long while, he once again condensed his divine sense into needle and thread, carefully scanning the roots of the Nine Nether Fruit, and then probing deep into the soil. After a moment, he withdrew his divine sense, his expression showing even greater surprise.

Because he did indeed detect a subtle, unusual fluctuation among those tangled roots, fainter than dust. Had Ye Sheng not pointed it out, he would never have noticed such a minute detail.

"How...did you find out?" Yang Zhao looked at Ye Sheng with a deep gaze.

"From a young age, I have been sensitive to the scent of plants and trees and can detect subtle changes that are difficult for ordinary people to perceive. It was only by combining this with the family's secret techniques that I was able to discover it."

Ye Sheng responded with a prepared explanation.

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhao stared at him for a long time without pressing further. After a while, she finally said, "Alright. Even if you have found the cause of the illness, how will you eliminate the Gu worms and restore its vitality?"

"Senior Brother Yang, I need a few auxiliary materials."

"speak."

"A bowl of blazing sun grass juice, three qian of copper ore powder, and a drop of rooster comb blood."

The auxiliary materials Ye Sheng mentioned are naturally information provided by the skill panel.

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhao's expression turned slightly strange.

Both the Blazing Sun Grass and the Red Copper Ore Powder are extremely Yang substances, so using them to counteract the Yin-cold Devouring Gu would be reasonable. However, the rooster's comb blood... is entirely a folk remedy for exorcising evil spirits and warding off impurities, completely incompatible with the path of cultivation.

Just as Yang Zhao was hesitating, Liu Qing, who had been standing outside the hall, suddenly stepped inside.

"Please, senior brother, let him give it a try."

Her voice was cold as she said, "Since this fruit is going to die, we might as well try anything, even if it's a dead horse."

Yang Zhao looked at Liu Qing, then at Ye Sheng, and finally nodded.

"Alright, then let's go along with Junior Sister Liu's suggestion."

He nodded and smiled slightly at Liu Qing.

It seems that Yang Zhao is quite protective of his junior sister.

Soon, Yang Zhao ordered someone to bring Ye Sheng the items he needed. Ye Sheng took them but did not immediately begin. He first mixed the juice of the Blazing Sun Grass with the powdered red copper ore, then dripped in the drop of bright red rooster's comb blood, and slowly stirred it with a small wooden stick.

Of course, this was also taught through the skill panel. Throughout the entire process, Ye Sheng remained meticulous and focused. Liu Qing and Yang Zhao, on the other hand, stood quietly and observed.

At this moment, Liu Qing's eyes held a hint of curiosity and anticipation. Yang Zhao's gaze, however, was more complex. He felt that this young man possessed a composure and mystery that were completely inconsistent with his age and status.

A moment later, Ye Sheng slowly poured the prepared dark red liquid along the base of the Nine Nether Fruit.

"Sizzle..." A slight burning sound came from the soil. Immediately afterwards, wisps of black smoke, thinner than a hair, rose from the soil and dissipated into the air.

Those were the Soul-Devouring Gu forced out by the medicinal liquid; under the influence of the supreme yang power, they turned into black smoke.

As the black smoke dissipated, a faint glow appeared on the bare trunk of the Nine Nether Fruit at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Although the faint light was extremely weak, the deathly and decaying aura had indeed dissipated considerably. On the contrary, a glimmer of life had returned to this dying spiritual plant.

At this moment, Yang Zhao's pupils shrank, and for the first time, a genuine expression of emotion appeared on his face.

This boy actually did it!

He appears to be an ordinary spiritual plant cultivator, but judging from his qi and blood, he is merely a mortal martial artist at the early stage of the Meridian Opening Realm. Yet, he has actually accomplished something that even the elders of the sect who are skilled in alchemy are helpless against!

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Ye, you've passed the test."

Yang Zhao took a deep breath, looked at Ye Sheng, and said, word by word.

At this moment, his gaze swept between Ye Sheng and Liu Qing, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

Yang Zhao's gaze was sharp, as if he wanted to see through the "special relationship" between Ye Sheng and Liu Qing. After all, in his mind, Liu Qing had always been aloof and proud, but just now she had spoken up for a spirit plant husband.

Liu Qing remained unmoved, her cold expression showing no emotion. Ye Sheng maintained his respectful and calm demeanor, as if what he had just done was nothing more than a trivial matter.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yang." Ye Sheng clasped his hands in thanks.

Yang Zhao withdrew his gaze, took out a palm-sized token from his robes, and handed it to Ye Sheng. The token was cool to the touch, with an ancient character "藏" (Cang) engraved on the front and the cloud-patterned emblem of the Qingyun Sword Sect on the back.

"This is the access pass to the Scripture Pavilion," Yang Zhao said calmly. "With this pass, you may freely consult the books on the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion for two hours."

He paused, then added, "Remember, only two hours. When the time is up, you must leave."

"I understand, sir."

"Junior Sister Liu." Yang Zhao turned to Liu Qing, his solemn expression softening into a gentle smile. "When Master returns, I will explain what happened today. Your personal spirit plant husband certainly has some real skills."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Brother."

Liu Qing nodded slightly.

"Alright, that concludes today's test. You may all return now."

Yang Zhao waved his hand, and the two bowed and left the hall.

As the two walked down the white jade steps, Liu Qing suddenly spoke, her voice still cool and clear:

"Junior Brother Ye, was what you just used another ancestral secret technique?"

"Yes," Ye Sheng answered readily.

Liu Qing glanced at Ye Sheng but didn't press the matter further. She knew Ye Sheng was still wary of her and that this was not the time to delve deeper.

"Junior Brother Ye, the Scripture Pavilion is located on Wanfa Peak. You now have a pass token. You may go there on your own."

Liu Qing stopped at the head of the white jade bridge and said calmly, "I have other matters to attend to and cannot see you off."

"Yes, Senior Sister."

After saying that, Ye Sheng headed towards Wanfa Peak alone.

Wanfa Peak, as its name suggests, is where sects store their cultivation techniques and secret manuals, and it is also one of the forbidden areas. Because the entire mountain is shrouded in powerful restrictions, the spiritual energy fluctuates violently.

As soon as Ye Sheng stepped into the peak area, an invisible pressure came from all sides, making it hard for him to breathe. He quickly circulated the "Thick Earth Technique," focusing his true energy to flow throughout his body, and only then was he able to withstand the pressure.

Ye Sheng sighed inwardly: Luckily, he had already broken through to the Meridian Opening Realm and condensed his internal energy into true qi. Otherwise, if the Heavenly Sword Peak and the Myriad Laws Peak had come today, he would have really made a fool of himself in front of Liu Qing.

Ye Sheng walked along the mountain path for a while, and then a nine-story, ancient, dark blue-green stone pagoda came into view. The pagoda was covered with mysterious runes, which gleamed faintly in the sunlight.

"Could this be the sect's scripture repository?"

Ye Sheng muttered to himself. He looked around and saw a wide open square in front of the pavilion. The square was empty except for an old man in a gray robe with white hair and beard, who was slowly sweeping fallen leaves with a broom.

The old man was hunched over and moved slowly, resembling an ordinary old man on his deathbed. But Ye Sheng frowned, his eyes suddenly becoming serious, and he dared not underestimate him in the slightest.

Because of his innate perception gained from scavenging, he could not detect any spiritual energy fluctuations or even a trace of vital energy from the old man. He was like a withered tree or a stubborn rock, completely integrated with his surroundings.

Ye Sheng had only ever experienced this feeling with one person: the mysterious stall owner who had given him the bronze token from the Ghost Market during their transaction there.

At that moment, Ye Sheng was certain in his heart: this old man must be an unfathomable powerhouse.