Soul Emperor Martial God

Elder Yi left, and Xiao Yi stood there, stunned for a moment.

Having interacted for a month, Xiao Yi roughly understood Elder Yi's character.

Though an odd old man, he indeed was a senior worthy of respect.

Elder Yi had asked him to exchange for that item for a reason.

Xiao Yi even found that Elder Yi seemed to be doing so intentionally, crafting a perfect cultivation process for him.

From the first day's guidance on Martial Arts Knowledge to this month's advice on refining,

each step seemed tailor-made for him, most suitable for his current cultivation.

This went beyond mere guidance and was more like a master meticulously teaching his disciple.

Feeling reflective, Xiao Yi shook his head and turned to leave, having had an especially fulfilling month.

...

At the Outer Sect Task Department, an Outer Sect Steward was there to oversee things.

Xiao Yi glanced at the task introductions and roughly understood how they worked.

There were many tasks, some easy and some difficult; the sword points received also varied.

The easy ones, like helping the Sword Sect clean palaces, sweeping stairs in the back mountain, planting trees, and clearing weeds, etc.

They posed no difficulty, but they earned only 5 to 10 sword points.

Most importantly, during cleaning or planting, one could not use True Qi or Martial Soul and had to rely on one's hands to complete the work step by step.

This seemed rather time-consuming. To clean all Outer Sect palaces without using True Qi or Martial Soul would take at least a week.

Xiao Yi understood that these tasks were meant to temper the disciples' temperament and patience.

The sword points of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect were a means of motivation; tasks also served various purposes in training disciples.

The difficult tasks were about going out for training experiences.

Training experience tasks varied greatly, but mostly involved killing certain demon beasts.

Their purpose was to test the disciples' Cultivation strength.

In slaying the demon beasts, one could only rely on oneself, without the help of outsiders or family influence.

These tasks carried certain risks and were harder, but the sword points were also higher.

Generally between 20 to 40 points; the precise amount depended on the strength of the demon beasts killed.

"I will take these twenty tasks," Xiao Yi approached the Outer Sect Steward, pointed at the task list, and said politely.

The steward glanced at the list and nodded, "These twenty tasks are all about killing Third-level Peak Demon Beasts, each for 30 sword points. Alright, they're recorded."

After speaking, the steward took out an Ice Crystal Ball and said, "This is an Ice Crystal Ball, remember to use it when you kill the demon beasts."

The Ice Crystal Ball was the product of a high-tier Alchemist.

It was refined with Ice Crystals and a series of complex materials.

It could imprint the scene of the fight and also record the conditions of both parties.

Such as their Cultivation, whether they were seriously injured, etc.

This ensured that disciples had to rely solely on themselves during tasks and couldn't seek help from others.

Of course, the Ice Crystal Ball had its limitations, depending on the refiner.

If the Spiritual Energy fluctuations produced during the fight were beyond the Ice Crystal Ball's carrying limit, it would become ineffective.

Simply put, if Xiao Yi's or the demon beast's strength was higher than that of the Ice Crystal Ball's refiner, it would become ineffective. Рlеаsе rеаd this сhаptеr оn its оriginаl plаtfоrm—М|V|L1ЕМРYR.

Considering the grade of this Ice Crystal Ball, it likely was refined by an ordinary Fourth-grade Alchemist, with effectiveness only up to about the Mysterious Profundity Third Layer.

Xiao Yi accepted the Ice Crystal Ball and then turned to leave.

After completing these twenty tasks, he would accumulate 600 sword points.

By the way, there were rewards for the top ten in the second round of assessments, which consisted of fixed sword points.

Originally, Xiao Yi heard during the assessments that the top ten of the second round could directly exchange items in the Inner Sect Treasure Vault.

Later, after Elder Yi's explanation, he realized it wasn't a direct exchange but a reward of sword points to be used for picking items.

That made sense—the treasures in the Inner Sect Treasure Vault were of much higher tier than those in the Outer Sect Treasury; they couldn't possibly be given away so easily.

The top ten rewards were as follows: the first place received two thousand sword points; second to tenth places each received a thousand sword points.

According to Sky-splitting Sword Sect's usual practice, those who were among the top ten in the second round typically had the talent to pass the third round of assessments and enter the Inner Sect.

So, after the second round, they didn't directly go to the Inner Sect Treasure Vault but waited to pass the third test and enter the Inner Sect before going.

These ten individuals, including the sword points from the first assessment,

Would have enough after the two rounds to exchange for excellent items in the Inner Sect Treasure Vault to assist their cultivation or enhance their strength.

This was the Sky-splitting Sword Sect's gift to the new disciples, a form of indirect assistance.

And indeed, this year, the top ten from the first two assessments all entered the Inner Sect.

Except for Xiao Yi, who had not been able to enter due to Guu Changkong's obstructions,

he hadn't been able to go to the Inner Sect Treasury to exchange for items.

After these two rounds of assessments, he had accumulated over four thousand five hundred sword points.

With these twenty tasks, it was enough.

With his strength, he could complete all twenty tasks within a month and return to the Sword Sect.

Elder Yi knew the situation too, aware that Xiao Yi was only a few hundred sword points away from exchanging for that item, which was why he had Xiao Yi come to take on tasks; at most, it would take a couple of months to return.

Otherwise, if Xiao Yi was short by a few thousand sword points, even if he kept doing tasks, it would take several years.

It would be better to find another way to break through to the Mysterious Profundity Realm.

Having taken on the tasks, Xiao Yi headed towards the mountain gate.

Just as he was about to report to the Outer Sect Steward guarding the mountain gate, a dozen figures suddenly blocked his path.

The leader was none other than Guu Changfeng.

"Hmm?" Xiao Yi frowned slightly.

"Kid, you've given me quite the trouble to find," Guu Changfeng sneered coldly.

"You think hiding is useful? You've still been caught by me."

"Hiding?" Xiao Yi's frown remained tight.

"Hmph, still playing dumb," Guu Changfeng said pridefully. "After you went to the Outer Sect areas, you didn't report to the Deacon's Office nor did you stay at the designated residences. You were afraid I'd take revenge on you, weren't you?"

Xiao Yi's expression turned icy as he came to a realization.

This month, he hadn't been staying at the normal residences for Outer Disciples but had instead gone alone to the back mountain to cultivate.

The Sky-splitting Sword Sect, built adjacent to a mountain, was vast.

The back mountain was deserted, and naturally, nobody knew he had gone there.

Guu Changfeng must have been pondering for a long time to seek revenge but couldn't find him, so he assumed Xiao Yi was hiding.

"Xiao Yi, enough with the nonsense, today, we have come to challenge you. Just say whether you dare to accept."

"Don't tell this young master that you are a coward."

Guu Changfeng said coldly.

In the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, disciples were forbidden from murdering each other, but challenges and sparring were encouraged.

Moreover, the victor could gain 10 sword points from the defeated.

Every month, each disciple has three chances to challenge others, and the challenged must accept, with no refusal allowed.

This was another way for disciples to earn sword points.

Of course, the stronger the person, the more sword points they accumulate; the weaker the person, the fewer they have.

Outer Disciples received 30 sword points granted by the Sword Sect each month; exactly enough for three challenges—if all lost, all taken away.

After these three chances, if one wanted to issue further challenges, it depended on the willingness of both parties; if either side was unwilling, the fight could not commence.

This was the rule of the sect.

It appeared that these ten or so people, including Guu Changfeng, had used up their three opportunities for the month.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be asking for his opinion now.

If Xiao Yi agreed, the battle could start immediately.

If he did not agree, they would have to step aside.

Seeing that Xiao Yi was silent, Guu Changfeng mocked, "Waste, I knew you wouldn't dare accept. Kneel and kowtow to this young master a few times, then scram."

At that moment, one of the people by Guu Changfeng's side suddenly spoke, "Young Master Changfeng, it's enough to have gained face. I've heard Xiao Yi is particularly close to Elder Yi."

"This month, he's been seen in the morning looking for Elder Yi at the Outer Sect Treasury and disappearing at night; who knows where. Their relationship must be extraordinary."

"Quit the nonsense," Guu Changfeng scoffed with disdain. "What Elder Yi counts for is nothing; he is merely a guardian. This young master's older brother is the Sword Hall Chief and is destined to inherit the elder position."

"If you want to remain in the Outer Sect, don't give me useless chatter. Once my brother becomes an elder, the first thing he'll do is kick that worthless Elder Yi out of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect."

The ten or so people by Guu Changfeng's side were famous disciples within the Outer Sect, having practiced for many years, all at the Innate Ninth Layer.

However, with his brother's support and being an Inner Sect Disciple himself,

naturally, these dozens of people were extremely respectful to him, even deferring to him as a leader.

Guu Changfeng was adept at forming cliques and often engaged in shady activities.

"Hmph," Xiao Yi snorted coldly. "Save those words for when your brother truly becomes an elder."

"Believe me, your brother won't get that chance."

"And also believe me, today, I will tear your mouth apart."

The moment his words fell, Xiao Yi's figure vanished on the spot and instantly appeared in front of Guu Changfeng.

The challenged initiating an attack was tantamount to accepting the challenge.

"So fast," Guu Changfeng's pupils shrank as he exclaimed in shock, "Attack, I want Xiao Yi crippled."