Chapter 490 - 465: The Grand Deacon

After condensing the petals, Zhaang Ye settled into a peaceful routine. Every so often, he would visit the Inner Sect Library Pavilion to peruse the ancient texts stored there.

The Green Cloud Sect’s Inner Sect Library Pavilion housed an enormous collection of two to three hundred thousand volumes. Although the texts on the 1st and 2nd Layers were mostly fragmented, Zhaang Ye still benefited immensely from them.

The most numerous books in the Inner Sect Library Pavilion were miscellaneous texts covering strange tales, rare flowers and exotic herbs, and Pill, Artifact, and Star Divination. These tomes were unrelated to Cultivation, but reading them greatly expanded Zhaang Ye’s horizons. It was then that Zhaang Ye learned for the first time that the massive Green Cloud Sect was merely a sect on the Barbaric Frontier.

From these miscellaneous books, Zhaang Ye learned that besides humans, the Barbaric World was home to many other powerful races, such as the Sea Race, the Lion Race, and the Tiger Clan. In addition to these races, there were also various powerful Barbaric Beasts. These beasts possessed combat strength at least equivalent to the True Dao First Layer, and every year, many of Green Cloud Sect’s True Dao Experts perished under their sharp claws.

From these books, Zhaang Ye also learned that Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Arrays were all extremely important for Cultivators. The more of these skills one mastered, the more it would benefit their future Cultivation. Achieving a certain level of accomplishment in these fields would be a lifelong boon, allowing one to go further on the path of Cultivation.

Zhaang Ye also learned from these books that within a radius of hundreds of millions of *li*, there were many powerful factions besides the Green Cloud Sect. While these factions couldn’t compare to the Green Cloud Sect, they were not to be underestimated. They possessed vast territories and numerous True Dao Experts. Some of the most powerful factions even had Grandmasters who had reached the True Dao Ninth Layer.

Besides the Library Pavilion, Zhaang Ye’s favorite place to visit was the Dao Discussion Pavilion. As its name suggested, the Dao Discussion Pavilion was a place where the Sect provided lectures to Inner Sect Disciples to teach the Dao and resolve their questions.

In the Dao Discussion Pavilion, the lecturers were all powerful figures like the Sect’s Elders and Stewards. Their Cultivation was profound and unfathomable, and every one of them was a battle-hardened master. Listening to these experts’ lectures greatly broadened Zhaang Ye’s horizons and inspired his way of thinking, making his own path of Cultivation increasingly clear.

「Time flew, and a year passed in the blink of an eye.」

During this year, through repeated verification and practice, Zhaang Ye finally deduced the Second Layer of the Celestial River Righteous Qi. He also had a general idea of how to approach the Third Layer.

Zhaang Ye’s Saber Technique had improved tremendously. He possessed five fragments, and all five contained an Ancient Strong Person’s comprehension of the Sword Dao.

After a year of contemplation, Zhaang Ye’s understanding of the Sword Dao had deepened, as had his comprehension of the Wind Realm. He had a faint feeling that if he could integrate the Wind Realm into his Cloud-Breaking Slash, the technique would become faster, more ethereal, and infinitely more profound.

In that year, Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation had also advanced from the Early-stage First Layer of the True Dao to the Mid-stage First Layer. This rate of progress was already quite good among his peers, but Zhaang Ye wasn’t satisfied.

Zhaang Ye knew full well that even though he had entered the True Dao, his aptitude still lagged far behind that of his fellow Inner Sect Disciples. Furthermore, the Celestial River Righteous Qi he cultivated required a massive amount of Essence Qi to grow stronger. Zhaang Ye estimated that cultivating it would require absorbing dozens of times more Essence Qi than an expert of the same rank.

Under these circumstances, the best way for Zhaang Ye to rapidly raise his Cultivation was to use a large number of Essence Stones and Gathering Yuan True Pills. The problem was, the Essence Stones and Elixirs provided by the Sect were nowhere near enough.

PHEW!

Zhaang Ye exhaled slowly. ’The Elixirs and Essence Stones provided by the Sect are nowhere near enough,’ he thought. ’It seems that if I want to raise my Cultivation quickly, the only way is to go out for training, hunt Barbaric Beasts, and use their Liquid Pills to cultivate.’

The Land of Divine Abandonment was inhabited by Fierce Beasts. However, in the Barbaric World, which was rich in Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, most of the fauna were powerful Barbaric Beasts.

Barbaric Beasts could absorb Heaven and Earth Essence Qi and use it for Cultivation. Inside their bodies, they had a liquid Inner Core formed from condensed Essence Qi. If a Cultivator could obtain this Inner Core, they could absorb the Essence Qi within to rapidly raise their Cultivation.

Having made up his mind, Zhaang Ye executed his Body Technique, left Rising Sun Peak, and headed straight for the Steward Hall.

New disciples of the Green Cloud Sect had a three-year protection period. During this time, they didn’t need to concern themselves with the Sect’s various missions and could simply focus on their Cultivation. However, new disciples were generally forbidden from leaving the Sect during this protection period. To do so, they had to go to the Steward Hall and obtain its approval.

「Inside the Steward Hall.」

Upon hearing Zhaang Ye’s request, Seventh Steward Feng Zhonghe said in surprise, "What? You want to go out for training? Daoist Master Zhaang, you still have a year and a half left of your new disciple protection period. It would be better to make good use of that time to raise your Cultivation and broaden your horizons before heading out."

The Heaven and Earth Essence Qi within the Green Cloud Sect was denser than outside, and the Sect possessed all manner of Cultivation Resources. The cultivation environment was far superior. For this reason, the vast majority of Inner Sect Disciples would cultivate diligently for three years and only consider venturing out for training after their protection period had ended. That Zhaang Ye wanted to leave with a year and a half remaining astonished Feng Zhonghe.

Zhaang Ye shook his head. "Thank you for your kind intentions, Seventh Steward. However, my mind is made up. I’ve decided to go out and train. I hope you will grant my request."

Feng Zhonghe stared at Zhaang Ye for a moment. Sensing his resolve, he shook his head slightly and said, "I’ll have to consult the Chief Steward on this matter. Please wait a moment."

Feng Zhonghe walked toward the back of the Steward Hall, and soon, a black-bearded old man slowly emerged. The old man showed no fluctuations of True Qi whatsoever, but Zhaang Ye could clearly sense an immense power contained within his body. Every gesture he made held countless Profound Mysteries.

The black-bearded old man’s gaze fell upon Zhaang Ye.

The moment that gaze landed on him, Zhaang Ye immediately felt an incomparably profound power descend. The old man’s stare was like a mountain weighing tens of millions of *jin*, and also like a sharp blade, slowly cutting into every inch of Zhaang Ye’s skin. The sensation was utterly terrifying.

’What a powerful person! What a terrifying aura!’ Zhaang Ye was shocked. The Celestial River Righteous Qi in his body surged forth, forming a dense layer of golden light to resist the profound power from afar.

Zhaang Ye’s Celestial River Righteous Qi was formed from the fusion of three Ancient Powers and possessed all sorts of wondrous abilities. In battle, it was domineering and majestic, making him nearly invincible among peers of the same rank. Yet, even this endlessly miraculous Righteous Qi couldn’t completely neutralize the profound power. Zhaang Ye felt as if that power was a blade, trying to slice into his very soul. Every muscle in his body screamed in agony.

’What a profound power! What terrifying strength!’ Zhaang Ye gritted his teeth against the intense pain, every muscle in his body tensing. Faced with this bizarre and overwhelmingly powerful force, Zhaang Ye stood like a nail driven into the floor, not retreating a single step!

CRACKLE, CRACKLE!

A series of soft crackles erupted around Zhaang Ye’s body. It was the sound of his Celestial River Righteous Qi clashing with the profound power.

Seventh Steward Feng Zhonghe stood not far from Zhaang Ye. When he saw Zhaang Ye withstanding the Chief Steward’s aura without retreating a single step, a look of utter shock filled his eyes.

Feng Zhonghe interacted with the Chief Steward often, so he was well aware of how terrifying the man’s power was. At the Chief Steward’s level of Cultivation, a simple glance could kill. The fact that Zhaang Ye hadn’t retreated a single step under his aura demonstrated a level of strength that far exceeded his expectations.

Seeing Zhaang Ye stand his ground, a flicker of surprise crossed the black-bearded old man’s face. After another moment, he finally averted his gaze.

As soon as the old man looked away, Zhaang Ye felt his entire body relax. The excruciating pain vanished in an instant, without a trace. The terrifying sensation felt as though it had been a dream.

"You withstood my aura for a full ten blinks of an eye without retreating a single step or uttering a sound. Zhaang Ye, you are quite impressive. You are well-deserving of the title of Inner Sect Senior Brother." The black-bearded old man looked at Zhaang Ye with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

Zhaang Ye knew this black-bearded old man must be the Inner Sect’s Chief Steward. The Chief Steward’s Cultivation was on par with that of an Elder. In other words, this old man had likely reached the True Dao Eighth Layer Realm.

Facing such a supreme expert, Zhaang Ye dared not be disrespectful. He bowed reverently and said, "Zhaang Ye greets the Chief Steward. Thank you for your praise."

The Chief Steward nodded slightly. "The pressure I just released was a test. The fact that you could withstand it for ten blinks of an eye proves your strength is already considerable. Therefore, I approve your request to go out and train."

Zhaang Ye’s heart filled with joy. He said respectfully, "Thank you for granting my request, Chief Steward."

The Chief Steward smiled, his curiosity piqued. "Zhaang Ye, the energy you cultivate is a fusion of several Ancient Powers, is it not? It is an exceptional power, its might far surpassing Innate True Qi. However, to cultivate this power to its peak, you will need to absorb dozens, perhaps even hundreds of times more Heaven and Earth Essence Qi than an ordinary person."

Zhaang Ye gave a wry smile. "That is precisely the case. That’s why this disciple wishes to go out and train, to hunt some Barbaric Beasts and accelerate my rate of Cultivation."

The Chief Steward chuckled. "Experts are forged in the crucible of battle. We at the Green Cloud Sect have always encouraged our disciples to venture out and gain experience. Zhaang Ye, I will grant you a year and a half to train outside. After that time, you must return to the Sect punctually to complete your assigned missions."

Zhaang Ye nodded and was about to speak when a steward suddenly rushed in from outside, announcing loudly, "Hahaha, Chief Steward, we finally have news of the previous Inner Sect Senior Brother, Galaxy! He has reached the Third Layer Peak of the True Dao and will be returning to the Sect soon!"

BOOM!

Hearing this news, the people in the Steward Hall erupted into a clamor. Everyone began scrambling for more information about Galaxy.

Zhaang Ye clenched his fist slightly. He gave a respectful bow to the Chief Steward, then strode out of the Steward Hall. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)