C19 Heavy Mountain Sword

Although there were only nine moves, the power of the final one was the most formidable. A single strike could cleave a boulder in two.

It was no surprise that the elder was so adamant about Ye Feng mastering the Heavy Mountain Sword.

This sword technique was a significant upgrade from shoveling puppets.

As the puppet launched another attack, Ye Feng stomped forcefully on the ground and charged at the puppet's right foot using the Ghost Shadow Step.

The puppet, sensing danger, swung its sword at him. It was then that the "ghost" aspect of the Ghost Shadow Step truly came into play.

Ye Feng channeled Spiritual Force into his feet. To an onlooker, it would seem as though their vision blurred, and by the time they refocused, he was already positioned in front of the puppet's left foot.

Mimicking the puppet's earlier move, Ye Feng powered off his foot, pivoted his body, and his sword struck the puppet's right foot with full force.

This time, Ye Feng had infused the blow with Spiritual Force.

"Boom!" The impact was thunderous, and the puppet's right foot was severed.

The puppet, now grievously damaged, disintegrated into ash and vanished from the field.

"Well done, lad," the elder exclaimed, unable to contain his admiration.

The third level was next...

As time swiftly passed, Ye Feng continued his training within the Nine-level Demon Tower. Meanwhile, outside, rumors about him began to circulate, spurred on by Chen Feng's manipulations. Both the Inner and Outer Sects were abuzz with talk of him being nothing more than a sell-out, who had gained entry to the sect only through the assistance of the Young Master of the Lee family.

And who was this Young Master Lee? The sole heir to the Lee family, impeccable in all ways but one—he was attracted to men.

Overhearing the gossip, Ye Feng's brow furrowed in annoyance.

Damn! Who was spreading these lies about me?

As he rounded a corner, a pair of delicate hands reached out, pulling him into an alleyway.

"Ye... ahem, Martial Uncle." Recognizing the voice, Ye Feng relaxed his defensive stance.

"Bai Yunxue? What brings you here?"

Glancing at the bystanders outside the alley, Bai Yunxue spoke with indignation, "Martial Uncle Ye, it's outrageous. They're actually calling you Young Master Lee's male consort."

"They?" Ye Feng zeroed in on the crucial detail in her statement.

Bai Yunxue nodded, "As soon as the rumor started circulating, I asked Grandma to look into it. It turns out that Chen Feng, the eldest of the Chen family, was the one who started spreading it."

"That explains it," Ye Feng mused, understanding the situation.

"Young Martial Uncle, I wanted Grandma to clear things up for you, but she refused. I can't do much to help you on my own," Bai Yunxue said, clearly frustrated.

Ye Feng shook his head, "I should handle this myself. As an Outer Sect disciple, it's not appropriate for your grandmother to intervene."

"But now the whole sect knows..."

"Believe me, I can handle this," Ye Feng assured her with a confident smile.

Seeing his smile, Bai Yunxue felt her anxiety melt away. She returned his smile with a sunny one of her own, "Okay, I trust you, Young Martial Uncle."

After parting ways with Bai Yunxue, Ye Feng headed directly to the registration desk.

All disciples participating in the selection had to draw their lot here.

"Name," the registering disciple asked without looking up.

"Ye Feng." He had no intention of concealing his identity. Rumors were just that, and he was determined to prove the gossipers wrong.

"You're Ye Feng?" The registering disciple stopped writing and looked up with a look of contempt.

"Yes, I am," Ye Feng confirmed with a nod. "Is there an issue?"

"Sorry, you're not welcome here. Go back to where you came from," the disciple said dismissively.

"Why? I've signed up," Ye Feng replied calmly.

The disciple scoffed, "You're nothing but a nobody who got into the sect through connections. Where do you get the nerve to ask why? You'd be better off going back to serving Young Master Lee and letting him get you into the Inner Sect."

Their exchange drew the attention of other disciples nearby, some registering, others just there for the spectacle.

When they realized he was Ye Feng, whispers and pointed comments began to circulate.

"Just a kept man, what's there to be so proud of?"

"Some people are shameless, so a bit of arrogance is to be expected from him."

"Kid, go back and tend to your master. Why bother taking up a spot here?"

There were only a few coveted spots available for Elite Disciples. The fewer the participants in the selection process, the better their chances of becoming Elite Disciples. They were quite pleased at the prospect of Ye Feng dropping out of the competition.

Ye Feng tuned out the surrounding chatter and retorted, "How do you know I'm just some nobody who got into the sect through connections? And by the sound of it, you seem quite adept at serving Young Master Lee. Are you perhaps very experienced in that regard?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?!" The disciple was fuming. "Do you think I won't ruin your face, leaving you unfit to serve Young Master Lee?"

Ye Feng couldn't help but chuckle. "Ruin my face? You'd need the skill to do that." After a month of training, he had reached Body Tempering Peak.

If Tan Xi hadn't been concerned about his rapid advancement potentially destabilizing his foundation, he might have already reached Spirit Astral Stage Rank Two.

The disciple before him was merely at Body Tempering Rank Seven. What made him think he could challenge Ye Feng?

Blinded by rage, the disciple swung his fist at Ye Feng, declaring, "Today, I'll show you whether I have the skill."

"Sun Fist!" The disciple's fist glowed a fiery red, with flames dancing around it—a Yellow Grade technique, the Sun Palm.

Ye Feng sighed in resignation, "Some people just don't know their own limits."

As the disciple's Sun Fist approached with ferocity, Ye Feng simply lifted his hand effortlessly, without employing any techniques. It was as if he were plucking fruit, gently catching the disciple's fist.

To enter the Inner Sect, one's cultivation level had to be at least Body Tempering Rank Six. Ye Feng, an Outer Sect Disciple who had joined the sect through connections, should not have been able to withstand it.

Yet, to their astonishment, Ye Feng didn't fall screaming in agony as they had anticipated. With a mere grip, the disciple found himself unable to move forward even slightly.

"You!" It was only then that the disciple sensed that something was amiss.