King of Creation

Two heavy-looking stone doors were engraved with water ripples, carps, and the glittering Dragon Gate, depicting a carp transforming into a dragon by leaping over the Dragon Gate.

This is the origin of the name Fish-Dragon Path.

At this moment near the great gate of the Fish-Dragon Path, hundreds of people had already gathered sequentially. Besides the seed candidates from Chores Peak, most were Black-Robed Outer Sect Disciples from Qiyun Sect.

The Fish-Dragon Path, specially opened for servant disciples each year, was considered an exciting and lively event for the disciples residing and training on Donglai Peak.

"Golden Yuanbao's betting pool for the Fish-Dragon Path is open! Shi Yufeng's Feng Haoran, odds one to one, Seven Peaks of the East's Shi Tianjia, odds one to 1.1, Southern Nine Peaks' Wang Qi, odds one to 1.1..."

"Senior Brother Hee, how many do you think will pass this year's Fish-Dragon Path? Twenty people, or less than ten?"

The cluster of Black-Robed Outer Sect Disciples was extremely lively, especially around the betting pool started by the disciple named Golden Yuanbao, which saw a continuous flow of betters.

This, in turn, brought much attention to the servant disciples that Golden Yuanbao had placed bets on.

For example, Shi Yufeng's Feng Haoran, a rather arrogant seventeen-year-old youth.

With slightly pursed thin lips and an expression full of confident arrogance, he matched adults in stature despite being only seventeen, with bulging temples and a sharp radiance all around him, along with a ruddy complexion indicating overflowing blood qi.

Shi Tianjia of Seven Peaks of the East looked more easy-going despite his square-faced appearance. His demeanor was relaxed, but the confidence inadvertently revealed in his eyes was quite striking.

The most daunting was Wang Qi from Southern Nine Peaks. His massive figure stood out starkly amongst the many servant disciples, much like a crane among chickens. Even compared to Outer Sect Disciples in their twenties, his towering physique was rarely matched.

His fan-sized hands would make anyone believe in the terrifying strength they contained.

Observing Wang Qi's stature, Ye Zhen vaguely understood that Wang Qi was probably one of those born with divine power. Such individuals, once their cultivation reached the Peak of Third Stage Blood Training of Blood Qi Condensing Bead, could unleash terrifying strength.

Ye Zhen, the sudden dark horse from Hundred Pine Peak, naturally did not qualify to be bet on by Outer Sect Disciple Golden Yuanbao.

After carefully observing the servant disciples Golden Yuanbao bet on, Ye Zhen had decided that once he entered the Fish-Dragon Path, unless necessary, he would absolutely avoid conflict with these standout seed candidates from various peaks.

His goal—to smoothly break through the Fish-Dragon Path and become an Outer Sect Disciple!

Just as Ye Zhen was holding his Talisman Token ready to look for the Sect Steward waiting at the Fish-Dragon Path's gate, two young men dressed in black combat garb suddenly blocked Ye Zhen, the one leading having his hair tied back with a black strip and wearing an aggressive expression.

"You are Ye Zhen?" asked the youth in black combat garb with a hostile face.

"I am. May I ask who my senior brothers are?" Ye Zhen quickly greeted with clasped hands.

In Qiyun Sect, the hierarchy was strict. Servant disciples seeing Outer Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, True Disciples, Sect Managers, and Stewards must make way and greet, and Outer Disciples did the same for Inner Sect Disciples, True Inheritors, Sect Managers, and Stewards.

However, in Qiyun Sect, the real status of a True Disciple was actually higher than that of a Sect Manager or Steward. Sect Managers and Stewards proactively greeted True Disciples when they met.

This Black-Robed Outer Sect Disciple in front of Ye Zhen, should Ye Zhen fail to greet and encounter someone petty, could beat him severely, and Ye Zhen would have no place to claim justice.

Once Ye Zhen nodded, the youth in black combat garb's face sank further, the dark band making his expression look even more sinister.

"I wondered who it was. Turns out, my cousin Ma Yuanwu was disabled by you, kid!" the black-banded youth Ma Hun angrily shouted. "Had my cousin not sent someone to tell me, I wouldn't have known you beat him so bad he couldn't stand, and you even took his seed candidacy."

"Brother Ma, why waste words on him? A lowly servant disciple, first beat him up, then talk." Just as Ye Zhen was about to respond, Li Xuelong behind Ma Hun, a defiant Outer Sect Disciple, started yelling aggressively, even rolling up his sleeves as if ready to fight.

Prompted by Li Xuelong, Ma Hun glanced at the Sect Steward not far away, his eyes gleaming with menace, his aura rising as if ready to strike.

"Humph, just try laying a hand on him, and see. I have been in the Qiyun Sect for forty-three years, and I have never heard of anyone daring to strike a Fish-Dragon Path participant or servant disciple seed candidate before the event!" The slightly sinister voice of Sect Steward Zhao rose from behind Ma Hun and Li Xuelong.

The appearance of Steward Zhao directly dashed Ma Hun and Li Xuelong's intention to strike, and they were even compelled to greet Steward Zhao.

Being a steward within Qiyun Sect, even at the lowest, was an ex-Outer Sect Disciple who had contributed to the sect, and they could not afford to act rashly.

"Ye Zhen, don't fear them. Just confidently get through the Fish-Dragon Path, and soon, you too will be an Outer Sect Disciple. In the Qiyun Sect, Outer Sect Disciples are forbidden from fighting privately, what can they do to you?"

Steward Zhao's statement immediately darkened the faces of Ma Hun and Li Xuelong. Because Steward Zhao was right, once Ye Zhen became an Outer Sect Disciple, under normal circumstances, they really couldn't do much against him.

"Thank you, Manager Zhao!"

Ye Zhen thanked again, and Manager Zhao patted Ye Zhen's shoulder, saying, "I'm counting on you for this year's performance at Hundred Pine Peak. I'll be waiting outside during the Fish-Dragon Path."

Watching Ye Zhen chatting and laughing with Manager Zhao, Ma Hun, who was already harboring a chest full of rage, couldn't help but explode with fury.

His clan elders had instructed him to look after Ma Yuanwu, and after several admonitions to Ma Yuanwu, who later dominated Hundred Pine Peak, Ma Hun had stopped paying attention, simply waiting for Ma Yuanwu to become an Outer Sect Disciple. Unexpectedly, Ye Zhen had crippled him in the end.

Given that Ye Zhen had easily defeated Ma Yuanwu at the Peak of Third Stage Blood Training, Ma Hun, with his sharp eyes, could see that Ye Zhen had a significant chance of successfully passing the Fish-Dragon Path.

His failure to protect Ma Yuanwu, as instructed by his clan, was already a mark of disgrace. Now if he couldn't even avenge this, he would never be able to hold his head up high in his family again.

With gritted teeth and a resolute heart, Ma Hun took out a pill bottle and smirked sinisterly at Ye Zhen.

"Originally, this Marrow Cleansing Pill was intended for Ma Yuanwu. Since he can't become an Outer Sect Disciple and use it, let this Marrow Cleansing Pill avenge my cousin Ma Yuanwu!"

The next moment, Ma Hun raised the pill bottle and bellowed loudly.

"Marrow Cleansing Pill! A Marrow Cleansing Pill! After the Fish-Dragon Path opens, whoever can kick this bastard—Ye Zhen out of the Fish-Dragon Path, will get this Marrow Cleansing Pill!"

Shush!

The glances of nearly a thousand people in front of the Fish-Dragon Path instantly focused on Ye Zhen, some of their gazes becoming fervent.

A Marrow Cleansing Pill, essential for advancing to the Fourth Stage Body Tempering in Blood Training, directly affects the timing of an Outer Sect Disciple's Essence Condensation and Qi Gathering.

The effectiveness of the body tempering is closely linked to the number of Marrow Cleansing Pills an Outer Sect Disciple possesses.

The price of a single Marrow Cleansing Pill in the Sect Main Hall was as high as one hundred Sect Contribution Points, the market price was even more than a thousand silver pieces.

It can be said that for every Outer Sect Disciple, each Marrow Cleansing Pill was incredibly precious.

The gazes of the seed candidates from various peaks were fixed firmly on Ye Zhen; some even memorized Ye Zhen's features. It seemed easy to snatch this Marrow Cleansing Pill, given the right opportunity.

Manager Zhao, who had just turned away, suddenly felt an intense resentment towards Ma Hun.

Because if Ye Zhen were not competitive and overzealous, his chances of successfully navigating the Fish-Dragon Path were very high. However, now, Ma Hun's bounty had instantly put Ye Zhen into grave danger, making it impossible for him to keep a low profile.

Under such circumstances, Ye Zhen's possibility of successfully passing the Fish-Dragon Path had plummeted to the lowest.

"His bounty is not bad, whoever is capable, just come!" Ye Zhen, with overwhelming swagger, shrugged his shoulders, disregarding the anxious gazes of the various peak seed candidates, and walked towards the Sect Steward in front of the Fish-Dragon Path's entrance.

Not far away, Feng Haoran's eyebrows suddenly shot up as he stared at Shi Tianjia's face, but his brow furrowed slightly.

"Steward, Hundred Pine Peak's Ye Zhen reporting!" Ye Zhen respectfully handed over his Talisman Token.

"Hold on there!" the Sect Steward said expressionlessly.

After waiting for a while, once all the seed candidates had arrived, the Sect Steward suddenly snapped his fingers, emitting a sound that painfully reverberated in everyone's eardrums, immediately silencing the crowd.

"This year's Fish-Dragon Path, traditionally open to servant disciples, allows any successful contestant, regardless of their cultivation, to become an Outer Sect Disciple.

Additionally, the first ten disciples to pass the Fish-Dragon Path will receive rewards from the Sect. The first disciple to pass will be awarded one Marrow Cleansing Pill and ten Blood Essence Pills! The second and third place will receive ten Blood Essence Pills each, and fourth to tenth place, five Blood Essence Pills each!"

A chilling gasp immediately resonated, with Ye Zhen particularly moved, especially by the first place prize.

Ten Blood Essence Pills were equivalent to fifty days of regular provisions for an Outer Sect Disciple, not to mention the first place prize of a Marrow Cleansing Pill, which could instantly enhance the strength of whoever clinched first place significantly.

However, Ma Hun's bounty of one Marrow Cleansing Pill seemed really compelling, almost comparable to the reward for finishing first in the Fish-Dragon Path.

Ye Zhen had no time to consider too much, as the Sect Steward casually emitted a ray of light, and with a creaking sound, the heavy gates of the Fish-Dragon Path slowly opened.

"All disciples enter the Fish-Dragon Path in order."

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