The Martial Saint Started from Scavenging

"It seems that this matter needs further consideration."

Ye Sheng thought to himself.

The most urgent task is to deal with the upcoming outer disciple selection competition.

As long as he can become an outer disciple, he can participate in the sect's spiritual root test. If he passes the test, he can cultivate both immortality and martial arts.

At that time, he will be able to obtain more resources and information, and will also have more time and opportunities to return to Blackstone Town and explore the secrets of the Broken Dragon River.

When Ye Kai returned to Willow Garden, he was carefully watering the century-old green vine in the yard.

When he saw Ye Sheng return, he immediately greeted him with a smile and asked, "Brother, you're back! How did it go? Did you find any clues?"

Looking into his younger brother's clear and expectant eyes, Ye Sheng felt a warmth in his heart. He patted Ye Kai on the shoulder, but didn't tell him everything that had happened in the Scripture Pavilion; he simply smiled and shook his head.

"Not yet, but I've got some leads."

He said this because he didn't want Ye Kai to bear some heavy secrets too early.

"Brother, don't worry, I will definitely find a way to cure your Daoist affliction and let you return to a normal life."

"Um!"

Ye Kai nodded heavily.

For the next three days, Ye Sheng did not go out. Instead, he locked himself in his room and devoted himself entirely to preparing for the final outer disciple selection competition.

The three "Spirit Gathering Pills" that Liu Qing gave him back then were of pure medicinal power, far superior to Qi Condensation Pills.

Ye Sheng did not intend to use it during the competition. Instead, he took one pill every day. With the cultivation of the "Thick Earth Technique", the true qi in his dantian became more and more solid, and his physical strength was improved once again.

Currently, his cultivation level has steadily remained at the peak of the early stage of the Meridian Opening Realm, and he is only one step away from the middle stage.

At the same time, he practiced the moves of the "Breaking Wind Blade Technique" hundreds of times, and had reached a state of perfect harmony between man and blade with the Black Ridge in his hand.

His swordsmanship was no longer bound by fixed moves, but moved freely according to his will, sometimes like a raging storm, fierce and domineering; sometimes like a gentle breeze and drizzle, light and elusive.

In Ye Sheng's hands, strength and gentleness have been perfectly blended together.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The special selection competition for outer disciples began as scheduled.

On this day, the outer area of ​​the Qingyun Sword Sect was bustling with activity. All the spirit planters and spirit feeders had gathered in a huge training ground located in the center of the outer gate.

The training ground was paved with bluestone and covered an area of ​​several miles in circumference. All around were high viewing platforms, which were already filled with outer sect disciples who had come to watch the battle.

Even some inner disciples appeared on the viewing platform with great interest.

For them, this selection competition was nothing more than an entertaining "fighting" performance. But for the participating spirit planters and spirit feeders, it was their only chance to change their fate.

At this moment, the training ground was crowded with people, with hundreds of participants divided into different formations according to their respective areas.

They were mostly strong, rough men, dressed in uniform gray short-sleeved shirts, with a tense yet excited expression on their faces.

Ye Sheng stood calmly in the formation of Lingzhi Fu, a stark contrast to his excited or apprehensive companions around him.

His gaze slowly swept across the crowd on the viewing platform. Soon, he spotted a familiar figure in a corner not far away—it was Du Tao.

At that moment, Du Tao was also staring at him with a venomous gaze. Then, Du Tao pointed to a figure in another formation in the training ground.

Then, with a sinister smile, he made a throat-slashing gesture at Ye Sheng, the meaning of which was very clear.

Ye Sheng looked in the direction Du Tao was pointing and saw a burly young man with a cold face.

The young man was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. He was shirtless, revealing his muscular, bronze-colored body covered with crisscrossing scars.

His hands were larger than normal, with thick knuckles and bulging veins on the back of his hands, as if they contained explosive power.

He simply stood there quietly, yet he exuded a fierce and menacing aura that made those around him hesitant to approach him.

This person should be He Ping, nicknamed "Bloody Hand".

Ye Sheng guessed in his heart. Based on his perception of the overflowing blood energy, he discovered that He Ping's strength was indeed not weak. His cultivation level was already at the mid-stage of the Meridian Opening Realm, which was a small realm higher than his own.

Moreover, the ruthless killing intent that He Ping possessed, honed through numerous bloody battles, was something that ordinary martial artists did not have.

Seemingly sensing Ye Sheng's gaze, He Ping slowly turned his head, his cold eyes falling on Ye Sheng. His gaze was as if he were looking at a dead man.

Ye Sheng met his gaze without fear, a faint smile even curving his lips.

Upon seeing this, He Ping raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Just then, a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in a blue Taoist robe, with an air of otherworldly wisdom, walked up from the high platform in the center of the martial arts arena.

He was none other than Elder Wang Changqing, who was in charge of this special selection competition for outer disciples, and his cultivation had reached the early stage of the Golden Core realm.

"Quiet, everyone!"

Wang Changqing's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire training ground. Instantly, the previously noisy scene fell silent.

"I hereby declare that this year's special selection competition for outer disciples shall now begin!"

Wang Changqing announced loudly: "The selection process will be the same as in previous years. It will consist of three rounds."

"The first round is a free-for-all. All participants will enter the free-for-all zone in the center of the arena. After one hour, the fifty people still standing will advance to the next round."

"The second round is the capture of the flags. Fifty people compete for twenty command flags. The one who ultimately holds the command flag advances to the final round."

"The third round is the arena battle. Twenty people will be drawn to determine the final rankings. The top ten will be promoted to outer disciples!"

"As for the rules of the competition, I'm sure you're all well aware of them and have all signed a life-or-death agreement. So, please rely on your own abilities; the winner will be respected."

"Now, the first round begins!"

With a command from the elder in charge, a huge fence made of gold crystal ore slowly rose from the ground in the center of the entire training ground, enveloping all the hundreds of participants.

Thus began a brutal elimination tournament, a battle for survival.

"kill!"

It's unclear who shouted first.

The entire battle zone instantly descended into chaos. Within moments, shouts of battle, screams of agony, and the clash of weapons filled the air.

Hundreds of ordinary people from the bottom of society, desperate to change their fate, transformed into the most primal beasts at this moment, raising their knives against their companions.

Ye Sheng did not make a move immediately. He simply leaned against the fence, gripping the Black Ridge sword, calmly observing the situation on the field.

At this moment, he was like an experienced hunter, waiting for the best opportunity to strike.

"Boy, prepare to die!"

Suddenly, a tall spirit feeder noticed Ye Sheng, who was cowering in the corner. He grinned maliciously, raised his spiked club, and brought it down on Ye Sheng's head. He wanted to crush this seemingly weakest pushover first.

Ye Sheng's eyes turned cold. Just as the spiked club was about to fall, he moved.

His figure vanished from the spot like a ghost. This Blood Shadow Step at the Opening Meridian Realm truly boasts an explosive increase in speed!

The next second, Ye Sheng appeared behind the spirit feeder. The Black Ridge in his hand instantly transformed into a black bolt of lightning, silently slicing across the back of the man's neck.

"Pfft!"

A fine head flew into the air, its blood staining a large area of ​​the bluestone ground.