"Hmph!"
"Seeking death!"
Upon hearing the roars from the surroundings and the howling rush of approaching figures, Ye Tian's gaze turned icy, cold light flashing in his eyes. He plunged the black iron sword into the ground and unleashed the Thunder Palm, preparing to meet the oncoming shadows.
In the pitch darkness, visibility was nearly nonexistent; everyone could only sense the gusts of a raging storm approaching, followed by a fierce surge of true essence, relentless as the mighty ocean, crashing toward them.
In an instant, dozens of the rushing figures were sent flying by Ye Tian, blood spurting from their mouths as they met a grim fate.
This was not due to Ye Tian's extraordinary prowess but rather because these individuals were simply too weak. After all, those with a cultivation level above Martial Master would have long since entered the small world; only those below that rank chose to lay in wait in this area.
Of course, there were a few formidable Martial Masters among them, yet Ye Tian, at the eighth level of Martial Master, stood at the pinnacle of strength within the entire Black Blood City; few could withstand a blow from him.
"Hmph!"
Casting a disdainful glance at the lurking figures shrouded in darkness, he snorted coldly, grasped his black iron sword, and swiftly departed in one direction.
Not a soul dared to impede him as he vanished into the night.
The earlier spectacle had struck fear into everyone present. Shortly after Ye Tian's departure, gasps of astonishment echoed throughout the forest.
"Impressive!"
"Who is this person? Their strength must be above Martial Master level seven!"
"Those fools perished so miserably; they didn't even discern the identity of their adversary before charging in recklessly. Truly idiotic!"
Amidst the shadows, whispers circulated.
After leaving the Black Blood Mountains, Ye Tian did not return to Black Blood City. Instead, he set his course toward Blood Jade City, having completed his escort mission and acquired the treasures from the small world. Remaining in Black Blood City held no necessity, and there was a chance of danger.
With the weighty black iron sword in tow, Ye Tian pressed on with considerable difficulty. The sword was immensely heavy, necessitating periodic rest to recover his true essence; otherwise, he would lack the strength to carry it.
However, it is worth noting that this arduous journey served as a valuable trial; Ye Tian could sense his cultivation advancing at an astonishing rate. He anticipated that a breakthrough to Martial Master level nine was not far off.
It is important to remember that Ye Tian had only recently ascended to Martial Master level eight; such speed was enough to dazzle anyone.
Eventually, Ye Tian realized the reason for his rapid growth: the black iron sword was a spiritual weapon, constantly absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. As he bore the sword, a portion of the abundant spiritual energy naturally flowed into him, enhancing his training speed.
Thus, Ye Tian returned to Blood Jade City, still shouldering the heavy black iron sword. By this time, six months had passed; undoubtedly, the city lords had returned early.
After all, the black iron sword was excessively burdensome, and Ye Tian's pace had naturally slowed, especially since he was solely on foot.
In truth, three days after Ye Tian departed from the small world, the lords of Black Blood City and Blood Jade City, along with members of the four great families, left in sullen spirits after thoroughly scouring the small world.
Their journey had yielded little, obtaining only a few medicinal pills and martial arts manuals left behind by Zhao Yun—treasures valuable to ordinary martial artists but beneath the interest of the four great families.
Naturally, the lords of Black Blood and Blood Jade Cities still valued them; after all, they couldn't compare to the four families, and the martial techniques left by Zhao Yun exhilarated them.
Upon the return of the Blood Jade City lord, he dispatched people to search for Ye Tian. However, Ye Tian remained elusive, sparking considerable concern among many.
Finally, after over half a year, Ye Tian returned to Blood Jade City, his spirit invigorated. The gate guards recognized him immediately, and numerous individuals rushed forward to greet him.
Among them were the leader of the Blood Guard, Liu Bao, and the five great captains: Zhao Dapeng, Niu Yunshan, Duan Wenbo, Sun Piaopiao, and Xue Yun, who had come because they had heard that Ye Tian had ascended to Martial Master level seven and would soon be nominated as a captain.
In addition to these individuals, several other captains, including Liu Hongwu and six others—Wu Qinghu, Bai Shui, Huang Fei, Yun Feifei, and Li Tian—had also arrived.
All were prominent figures in Blood Jade City, and the sight of them gathered at the city gate astonished onlookers.
"It seems a significant person has returned!"
"Even General Liu Bao has come personally; who else besides the city lord has that privilege?"
"Wait, isn't the city lord already back?"
Confusion rippled through the crowd as they gazed toward the gate, until a crimson figure approached, striding forth from the distance.
It was none other than Ye Tian!
"Hmm?" Ye Tian was taken aback by the dense crowd at the city gate. However, upon spotting Liu Bao and Zhao Dapeng, he quickened his pace and entered Blood Jade City.
At that moment, he had concealed the black iron sword in a hidden location outside the city, for such a precious item might tempt the Blood Jade City lord. It was best to keep it hidden.
More importantly, Ye Tian had no immediate use for the weapon; keeping it close served no purpose.
"You brat, you finally returned! Where have you been for the past six months?" Niu Yunshan exclaimed, slapping him on the shoulder with a broad grin.
Zhao Dapeng, Duan Wenbo, and the others all breathed a sigh of relief; Ye Tian was a talent they held in high regard, and they naturally wished for his safety.
"Good!" Liu Bao's gaze sharpened as he fixed his eyes on Ye Tian, a glint of intrigue sparkling within.
Ye Tian smiled faintly, knowing that Liu Bao had seen through him; after all, he hadn't concealed his cultivation at that moment. Thus, with Liu Bao being a half-step Martial Spirit, he could easily discern that Ye Tian had entered Martial Master level eight.
Having been absent for half a year and advancing to Martial Master level eight, while this speed was astonishing, it was still within the realm of believability.
Ye Tian pondered.
Subsequently, they all returned to the Blood Guard's camp, where Ye Tian was immediately summoned by Liu Bao, accompanied by Zhao Dapeng and the five captains.
Noticing the solemn expressions on the faces of the five captains, Ye Tian surmised that something significant had occurred.
In the Blood Guard's council chamber, Liu Bao sat in the elevated seat while Ye Tian and the five captains occupied the lower seats. Except for Ye Tian, everyone else wore serious expressions, including Liu Bao.
"Ye Tian!"
As Ye Tian pondered in confusion, Liu Bao finally spoke.
"You must have reached Martial Master level eight, correct?" Although he had discerned Ye Tian's cultivation, Liu Bao still asked with hopeful anticipation.
"Hiss!"
Instantly, the five captains around them inhaled sharply, their expressions filled with disbelief as they turned to look at Ye Tian.
Ye Tian nodded, not denying it. Given his current strength, only the Blood Jade City lord and Liu Bao posed a threat, leaving him unconcerned about others stifling his potential.
Upon seeing him affirm, Liu Bao's smile widened, while the five captains displayed a variety of expressions.
Zhao Dapeng appeared thrilled and astonished, while Duan Wenbo and Niu Yunshan shared similar sentiments. Sun Piaopiao displayed a hint of jealousy mixed with admiration, while Xue Yun's expression was complex, a blend of respect, envy, and a trace of jealousy.
"Excellent! You have indeed not disappointed us!" Liu Bao exclaimed, his eyes brimming with delight as he nodded in approval.
"Ye Tian, do you remember I told you there would be a surprise waiting for you upon your return?" Zhao Dapeng chimed in with a smile.
Ye Tian immediately recalled Zhao Dapeng's words before he departed Blood Jade City, a hint of curiosity crossing his face.
Noticing his puzzled expression, Liu Bao smiled slightly and produced a blue token inscribed with the characters—Stellar!
"What is this?" Ye Tian asked, gazing at Liu Bao. The token felt familiar to him, resembling the one he had acquired from the corpse of a disciple from the Star Gate.
"This is the Star Command. Any warrior in possession of this token has the opportunity to participate in the outer disciple assessment of the Divine Star Sect. Should you succeed in the assessment, you will become an outer disciple of the sect!" Liu Bao spoke slowly, a hint of nostalgia and sorrow gleaming in his eyes.
Ye Tian was taken aback by this revelation. He had long harbored aspirations for those martial arts sects, particularly the Divine Star Sect, and he had promised Liu Yunfei that he would deliver the Hailan Tian Kui to his partner, Wan Yunxia.
"Moreover, if you can place among the top ten in the assessment, you will directly become an inner disciple of the Divine Star Sect. This is a martial sanctuary that countless young talents from Nanlin Prefecture yearn for!" Zhao Dapeng looked at Ye Tian with envy plastered across his face.
"Are you suggesting that I participate in this assessment?" Ye Tian asked, realization dawning upon him, tinged with excitement.
"Who else could we possibly mean?"
Niu Yunshan shot Ye Tian a glare, sighing as he continued, "The Divine Star Sect has strict regulations. Only those under thirty years of age and at least at the seventh level of Martial Master can enter the assessment. In our Blood Jade City, you are the only one with such qualifications."
"Young Ye, you are the prodigy who has emerged from our Blood Jade City. Do not bring shame upon us; do not disgrace the Blood Guard. You must join the Divine Star Sect. Once you become a formidable Martial Sovereign, you will bring honor to us!" Zhao Dapeng said solemnly.
"Indeed, our Blood Jade City is so small that we have never produced a Martial Sovereign in history, leaving us the subject of ridicule from the warriors of Black Blood City. Whether we can wash away this disgrace rests solely on your shoulders." Duan Wenbo nodded in agreement.
Black Blood City and Blood Jade City are similar in size, but Black Blood City boasts a Martial Sovereign named Zhao Yun, which has fostered a sense of superiority among its warriors over those from Blood Jade City. Even the Black Armored Army frequently used this to belittle the Blood Guard, much to the displeasure of its several captains.
After a long wait, the emergence of Ye Tian as a prodigy had instilled great hope among several captains, including the lord of Blood Jade City and the leader of the Blood Guard, Liu Bao.
"By the way, Ding Hui from Black Blood City will also be participating, so you must be cautious." Liu Bao suddenly reminded him.
"Ding Hui? The top prodigy of Black Blood City at just twenty-five years old? He is only at the seventh level of Martial Master; how could he possibly be a match for Ye Tian?" Zhao Dapeng asked, perplexed.
"As far as I know, Wei Yuanlong has acquired numerous treasures in the small world this time. Given his character, he is likely to purchase some top-tier Qi Condensation Pills to elevate Ding Hui's cultivation to the eighth or even ninth level of Martial Master!" Liu Bao replied in a grave tone.