Soul Emperor Martial God

In the Outer Sect Treasury, Xiao Yi was meticulously examining each and every treasure.

In his spare time from cultivating in the back mountain, Xiao Yi would come to this place.

"Fourth-level Demon Beast Essence Blood, 100 sword points; High-level Xuan Rank Martial Technique, 1500 sword points...."

On the wooden platform where the treasures were placed, the tier and use of each treasure were clearly labeled, along with the sword points needed for exchange.

The so-called sword points are a type of reward system of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect.

Outer Disciples receive 30 sword points each month; or they could earn a certain reward when their Cultivation breaks through.

In addition, the Sword Sect also set up some missions, which could be completed to earn sword points.

Overall, getting sword points wasn't hard, but accumulating enough to exchange for something was very difficult.

For an ordinary Outer Disciple, it would take at least three months to save up for a vial of Fourth-level Demon Beast Essence Blood.

To obtain a High-level Xuan Rank Martial Technique, it would take at least four years.

This method was somewhat similar to the Demon Hunting Hall.

However, the Demon Hunting Hall purely aimed to drive countless Demon Hunters to serve them.

Meanwhile, the Sky-splitting Sword Sect used it as an incentive, encouraging disciples to practice diligently.

As long as one cultivated earnestly, breaking through their Cultivation frequently, more sword points would be awarded; even going out for trials would earn reward sword points.

Xiao Yi came here because he had many sword points on hand; the scores he got in the first assessment were, in fact, sword points.

That is to say, he now had a total of 2535 sword points.

Xiao Yi only learned about this after he arrived at the Outer Sect and read through the sect's rules and such.

No wonder people like Guu Changfeng and Zhao Buqun valued the scores so much during the first assessment.

Every disciple only got this opportunity to earn a large number of sword points easily through combat upon first joining the sect and participating in the assessment.

Of course, one had to seize the opportunity to grab as many as possible.

Normally, the first place winner of the first assessment could generally advance to the Inner Sect.

In the Inner Sect Treasure Vault, both the quality and the quantity of treasures far exceeded those in the Outer Sect Treasury.

Then, after entering the Inner Sect, one could exchange the large number of sword points earned from the first assessment for a very decent treasure or Martial Arts Technique in the Inner Sect Treasure Vault.

This was also considered a gift from the Sky-splitting Sword Sect to its most outstanding disciples.

Regrettably, Xiao Yi was still just an Outer Disciple, unable to enter the Inner Sect Treasure Vault.

Therefore, he could only come and have a look in the Outer Sect Treasury.

When he first came here to select treasures after the initial assessment, it was considered a reward and didn't require sword points, with a limited time of half a day to make a selection.

Now that sword points are needed, there is no time limit, and Outer Disciples may enter and choose to exchange at will.

Sword points are hard to come by, so naturally, Xiao Yi wouldn't use them to exchange for Martial Arts Techniques, as the highest in the Outer Sect Treasury were only Peak Xuan Rank Martial Techniques, and even those were scarce.

He didn't lack such things for the time being.

He wanted to see if he could find treasures like the Three Fire Puppet Ball.

The Cultivation Techniques and Martial Techniques exchanged within the sect couldn't be privately transmitted and could only be practiced by oneself. Publication courtesy of M|V|LE-MPYR.

But other treasures, like weapons or Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, could be disposed of at one's discretion once exchanged.

Xiao Yi thought, it would be good to prepare some protective treasures for the Third Elder and the others when he returned to the Xiao Family in half a year.

...

An hour later, Xiao Yi furrowed his brow, "I've searched for so long and not found a single item that compares to the Three Fire Puppet Ball."

After all, it was just the Outer Sect Treasury, and the quality of the treasures was much inferior to that of the Inner Sect Treasure Vault.

Now, the advantages of being an Inner Sect Disciple could be seen.

Sitting on the Inner Sect Treasure Vault and still receiving 60 sword points monthly, it was also easier to obtain sword points in other ways.

If Xiao Yi was an Inner Sect Disciple, with the sword points he currently possessed, it wouldn't take a year to save enough sword points to exchange for an Earth Rank Martial Technique in the Inner Sect Treasure Vault.

"Forget it," Xiao Yi sighed and turned to leave.

He spent his days focusing on cultivation, and if he used an hour of his spare time to take a stroll here, even if he couldn't find a treasure, it was considered broadening his horizons.

"Hmm?" Suddenly, a firm yet hoarse voice of curiosity rang out.

"Xiao Yi, I've been watching you for several days now, why do you always come to the Outer Sect Treasury?" An elder suddenly appeared in front of Xiao Yi.

It was Elder Yi.

"Ah," Xiao Yi was startled and politely said, "Greetings, Elder Yi, I'm just casually browsing."

"Why would Elder Yi come here?" Xiao Yi asked curiously.

He found that with his own strength, even warriors of the Mysterious Profundity Realm Seventh Layer or above like Guu Changkong wouldn't be able to bypass his senses.

But Elder Yi had been watching him for several days, and he was utterly unaware.

Elder Yi showed a strange expression and said, "Kid, don't you know that I am the guardian of this Outer Sect Treasury? If I'm not here, where would I be?"

"Just, when I don't want to be discovered, no one knows I'm here, that's all."

Although the treasures in the Outer Sect Treasury were generally not of a high tier, their numbers exceeded one hundred thousand, and naturally, there had to be a Guardian.

"Uh." Xiao Yi showed an embarrassed look. Since he arrived in the Outer Sect area, he had spent almost all his time cultivating alone in the back mountain, and was mostly unfamiliar with the people and affairs of the Outer Sect.

Elder Yi waved his hand and went to the desk he usually read at.

As he walked, he said, "Kid, now that you're part of the Inner Sect, you should cultivate seriously and stop wandering around the Outer Sect area. Moreover, there's nothing worth your time in the Outer Sect Treasury."

Xiao Yi bowed slightly and replied, "Elder Yi's words are extremely true; however, with my dull aptitude, I have not been able to enter the Inner Sect, so I can only resort to this Outer Sect Treasury."

"The kid is leaving now, not to disturb Elder Yi anymore, farewell."

Having said that, Xiao Yi turned and left.

To be honest, the thought that he had been watched by Elder Yi all this time in the vast, silent Outer Sect Treasury, without having the slightest inkling, was truly a terrifying thing.

Xiao Yi didn't enjoy such a feeling and just wanted to leave quickly.

"Wait." Elder Yi called out, puzzled, "What did you say, kid? You didn't enter the Inner Ten Halls?"

"Yes." Xiao Yi responded with a sound, and not wanting to be alone with the eccentric Elder Yi, he quickly walked away without looking back.

Elder Yi watched Xiao Yi's fast retreating figure and furrowed his brow.

"The first in the double assessment, surpassing all other examinees, and yet he didn't enter the Inner Sect?"

...

Several days later, Xiao Yi stopped his cultivation in the back mountain.

He clearly felt that his Innate Ninth Layer Cultivation had stabilized considerably; with another ten days or so of dedicated practice, he would be able to completely solidify it.

"It's also time to seriously prepare for the breakthrough to the Mysterious Profundity Realm," Xiao Yi mused.

It was undeniable that his talent was terrifying. Not long after breaking through to the Innate Ninth Layer, he was already preparing for the Mysterious Profundity Realm.

The Mysterious Profundity Realm was a watershed in Martial Arts cultivation.

Once broken through, it was like a fish leaping through the dragon gate, and one's strength and realm would undergo earth-shaking changes.

Therefore, this realm was extremely important. Xiao Yi had to make thorough preparations.

"It seems I need to take another trip to the Outer Sect Treasury." Xiao Yi frowned.

He remembered there was a volume in the Outer Sect Treasury that specifically detailed the preparations needed for breaking through to the Mysterious Profundity Realm.

Moreover, the sword points required for that volume were not expensive, only a hundred.

After all, it wasn't a Cultivation Technique or Martial Arts Technique, just an explication of the realm.

...

Re-entering the Outer Sect Treasury, Xiao Yi was no longer as casual as before, and became extremely cautious.

The feeling of being secretly observed without knowing was very unsettling.

But, the next second, it seemed he didn't have to worry.

Because Elder Yi was sitting at his usual desk, reading a book.

"Elder Yi," Xiao Yi greeted uneasily, "This time, I've come to exchange for an item."

"Hmm." Elder Yi nodded indifferently, "Take me to it."

"Yes." Xiao Yi responded, going over to the wooden platform where that volume was kept.

"Mysterious Profundity Realm Breakthrough Record?" Elder Yi glanced at the volume, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Yes." Xiao Yi did not notice the expression on Elder Yi's face and took out his token, preparing to deduct sword points for Elder Yi.

"You don't need to exchange for this," Elder Yi shook his head.

"Hmm?" Xiao Yi was taken aback.

Elder Yi gazed at Xiao Yi and said, "If you could enter the Inner Sect, this knowledge would be taught to you by the Inner Sect Deacons."

Xiao Yi gave a wry smile, "Elder Yi, didn't I say last time that I was not able to enter the Inner Hall?"

"I know," said Elder Yi in a deep voice, "I also know exactly what happened."

"It's because I know that you don't need to exchange."

"Uh?" Xiao Yi was puzzled again.

Elder Yi turned around and walked back to his desk, saying as he walked, "Go back to your cultivation, if you have any questions, you can come here to find me anytime, and I will answer them."

Xiao Yi shook his head, seemingly understanding Elder Yi's implication, but said, "Thank you for your good intentions, Elder Yi, I can manage my own cultivation."

"Hmm?" This time it was Elder Yi who was taken aback, stopping in his tracks and turning back to say, "You don't want to?"

"It's not that I don't want to," Xiao Yi said with a bitter smile, "Although I know Elder Yi is no ordinary Deacon, that Guu Changkong is no good person. If Elder Yi takes me as a disciple, it may bring disaster upon yourself."

"Heh." Elder Yi suddenly let out a laugh, "Who said I want to take you as a disciple?"

"I just know you've received an unfair treatment and want to give you a bit of compensation. If you have questions about cultivation, you can ask me. Of course, it's up to you whether you come or not. Beyond that, there is no relation between us."

Clearly, Elder Yi had inquired about the few Inner Sect Deacons in the last few days and knew what had happened during the third assessment and why Xiao Yi had not entered the Inner Ten Halls.

"Also," Elder Yi turned again, hands behind his back, and spoke indifferently, "Who told you I was a Deacon?"