Primordial Divine Emperor-Chapter 40: Want to Join the Divine Sword Sect? That’s Impossible for You in This Lifetime
Watching Mu Yan and the other person fade from view, Ye Xiaofan let out a heavy sigh.
Though he was in the Profound Sea Realm now, he was far from being a match for those Elders. Feeling some dissatisfaction and anger, he could only swallow his grievances.
Mu Yan was right. The most important thing for him now was to hurry to the gather point. If he missed the time, he would no longer be a disciple of the Divine Sword Sect, and might even cease to be the Sword Saint’s successor.
With that thought, Ye Xiaofan pulled out a map and quickly determined his route.
A hundred miles ahead would be the outskirts of the Soul Beast Mountain Range.
"Forest of Sin?"
Looking at the region he had circled on the map, Ye Xiaofan furrowed his brows slightly.
Forest of Sin, supposedly the most chaotic of forests, was also a necessary passage to leave the region of Star Moon City. Bandits were rampant, and looters ran wild. A slight misstep could result in losing both life and wealth.
"Passing through this thick forest alone is too dangerous. If I can find a trade caravan to follow, it would surely be much safer." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Having made up his mind, Ye Xiaofan didn’t hesitate any longer. He packed up and headed beyond the Soul Beast Forest.
Three days later, on this particular morning.
Ye Xiaofan had been waiting at the entrance of the Forest of Sin, finding a trade caravan that he found reasonably suitable, intending to blend in. After all, traveling with a caravan was better than being alone; that would make him too conspicuous.
"You can join the caravan, but you need to pay one or two spiritual sand. Do you have any spiritual sand?" The caravan leader examined Ye Xiaofan, who seemed to be about seven or eight years old, apparently worried that he couldn’t afford the fee.
Ye Xiaofan frowned slightly upon hearing this. Although he was a master of the Profound Sea Realm now, he truly did not have any spiritual sand, and even less so spirit stones. Perhaps Mu Yan had some, but due to the rules of the Divine Sword Sect, he likely wouldn’t interfere.
"Little brother, one or two spiritual sand is already very cheap."
"Our caravan isn’t some big caravan. Not to make you laugh, brother, but we’re the worst caravan on this necessary route, and our fees are the cheapest."
The caravan leader, seeing Ye Xiaofan hesitate, mistakenly thought he considered the fees too high, and continued explaining, "If it’s still too expensive, little brother, I’m afraid you won’t find a cheaper one than ours."
Upon hearing this, Ye Xiaofan immediately settled on this caravan. He only wanted to pass through the Forest of Sin safely, and naturally, the more impoverished the caravan, the smaller the target. Any robbers with a bit of strength would deem robbing such a small caravan beneath them, not to mention muggers who live by plundering.
"Little brother, you’re not planning to join the caravan for free because you have no spiritual sand, are you?" The leader grew displeased as he saw Ye Xiaofan pondering.
"Indeed, I don’t have any spiritual sand," Ye Xiaofan admitted frankly, but quickly added, "However, uncle, I have a good thing on me. I don’t know what treasure it is, but maybe it can cover one or two spiritual sand?"
Ye Xiaofan tried to portray his identity as low as possible. After all, who among the powerful cultivators would travel with such a small caravan? If they knew he was a formidable figure in the Profound Sea Realm, they probably wouldn’t dare to take him in.
"Oh? A good thing? Let me see?" The caravan leader perked up with interest upon hearing this.
Not only did he become interested, but everyone in the caravan couldn’t help but look over at the words.
Ye Xiaofan didn’t mind the stares, instead rummaging through his belongings for some time before finally pulling out a Tier Five Soul Core.
"Look at this, could it work? I found it by the roadside, it’s crystal clear, and it glows at night, so it should be something good," Ye Xiaofan feigned ignorance.
However, the moment the caravan leader laid eyes on the Tier Five Soul Core, his eyes lit up. With his years of experience traveling to different places, he quickly identified it as a Soul Core from a Soul Beast.
Any Soul Core, even the weakest, would emerge from a Tier Five Soul Beast. Thus, even the worst Soul Core is a Tier Five Soul Core. Though it is not spiritual sand or a spirit stone, even the most inferior Soul Core can be sold for a spirit stone, equivalent to a hundred spiritual sand.
The moment the Tier Five Soul Core appeared, everyone slightly froze, looking baffled.
"What’s wrong, uncle? Can’t this cover one or two spiritual sand?" Ye Xiaofan feigned nervousness upon noticing the leader in a daze, asking.
"Yes, yes, of course, it can!" The caravan leader immediately snatched the Soul Core from Ye Xiaofan’s hand and pointed to one of the wagons in the caravan, saying, "You can ride with them. They’re also headed to the other side of the Forest of Sin. Don’t worry, little brother, we’ll definitely get you out safely."
"Thank you, uncle." Ye Xiaofan beamed with joy upon hearing this and immediately headed for one of the wagons.
Calling it a wagon, it was really just an open cart without a roof, pulled by an old horse, slow and leisurely on the road.
Ye Xiaofan jumped onto the cart, smiling and nodding at the young men and women already seated there.
"Let’s move out!"
Following a command from the caravan leader, the entire caravan began slowly heading towards the Forest of Sin.
Clearly, this was merely an escort team responsible for transporting regular poultry and meat ingredients. Though the team was long, it wasn’t particularly valuable. Even a robber upon seeing such a poor caravan would shake their head, let alone raid the convoy; they simply wouldn’t find it worthwhile.
This was exactly the outcome Ye Xiaofan wanted. By blending into such a caravan, he had no fear of being targeted by bandits.
After boarding, Ye Xiaofan didn’t sit for cultivation but instead moved his body in rhythm with the swaying cart, constantly observing the young men and women on board.
The cart wasn’t big, but neither was it small, accommodating about seven or eight youthful faces, seven males, and one female.
Since getting on, Ye Xiaofan noticed that the girl opposite had been watching him intently, checking him out from head to toe.
To pass through the Forest of Sin from here, it takes at least eight or nine days.
With all that back and forth, perhaps the journey was too dull, so Ye Xiaofan struck up a conversation with the young girl, and gradually they became familiar with each other.
The girl’s name was Qing’Er, and she was companions with the seven youths on the carriage. Initially, they could chat with everyone, but gradually, the seven of them realized that Qing’Er seemed naturally fond of Ye Xiaofan, and the two talked most frequently, which secretly annoyed the other seven youths.
Especially when they saw Ye Xiaofan’s handsome face and charming appearance, the jar of jealousy in their hearts was thoroughly overturned.
That night, the seven finally seized an opportunity.
In the carriage.
"Little brother, you’re really muddled."
Qing’Er had an expression of exasperation, unable to mold iron into steel. As they became more familiar, they both gradually opened up.
"Oh? Why do you say so?" Ye Xiaofan asked with a puzzled look.
Qing’Er, hearing this, was speechless. First, she looked around and then cautiously lowered her voice, "Little brother, do you know that what you picked up is a Soul Core? And you actually exchanged it for some Spiritual Sand?"
Qing’Er felt it unworthy for that piece of Soul Core.
Ye Xiaofan heard this and smiled slightly, about to speak when a youth beside him cut in, "Qing’Er, why are you telling her this? If she knew it was a Soul Core, she wouldn’t have exchanged it for Spiritual Sand."
After the youth’s words, another youth chimed in, "Alas, a frog in a well is like this—even when faced with opportunity, they don’t recognize it. A Soul Core, if given to me, would definitely greatly boost my strength after joining Divine Sword Sect. What a pity."
"Divine Sword Sect? Are you a disciple of Divine Sword Sect?" Ye Xiaofan said, slightly surprised.
The youth heard and responded with disdain and amazement, "Ah, she actually knows of Divine Sword Sect—a person who doesn’t recognize a Soul Core knows about a sect?"
Upon these words, the seven all tacitly laughed and mocked.
Ye Xiaofan, seeing this, smiled awkwardly. It was obvious that they were looking down on him, showing it vividly and undisguisedly.
"Not really knowledgeable, heard some things about Divine Sword Sect. This brother, are you from Divine Sword Sect?" Ye Xiaofan continued asking.
The opposite party’s smile slightly froze, "Not yet, but soon will be. We’re heading to Divine Sword Sect to participate in the outer disciple assessment. Once we pass the test, I’m an outer disciple of the Divine Sword Sect."
So you’re not from Divine Sword Sect yet?
Ye Xiaofan forced a bitter smile; he said, the Divine Sword Sect’s recruitment standards have become so low? Not even as outer disciples could compare. Among the eight, only Qing’Er’s talent was higher, but also at the First Layer of Profound Spirit.
As for the other seven, the youth imagining himself as Divine Sword Sect’s outer disciple was decent, at the Peak of Spiritual Absorption, while the others were mostly at the Late and Middle stages of Spiritual Absorption, akin to Ye Xiaofan’s overnight achievements.
"Divine Sword Sect."
Ye Xiaofan murmured to himself; it seemed Divine Sword Sect’s influence was still profound.
However, this murmur fell in the ears of a few, combined with his thoughtful demeanor, it turned into a display of aspiration.
"Kid, don’t dream about Divine Sword Sect; one of the top ten super sects of the Hundred Broken Mountain Range. Even we aren’t confident of entering the outer sect for cultivation, let alone you."
The few spoke truthfully, this time genuine taunts and belittlement.
"Alright, why are you acting like this?" Qing’Er spoke up, scolding the few, and turned apologetic to Ye Xiaofan, "Don’t take them seriously; everyone has their own way of life. As long as you work hard, you’ll have your own achievements."
Ye Xiaofan heard this and smiled slightly, saying nothing more.
Though at the moment outside the Forest of Sin, countless new prodigies recruited by Divine Sword Sect might have gathered. It seemed someone would pick up each arriving disciple there, including himself.
Thinking of this, Ye Xiaofan forced another bitter smile.
And the more you think of something, the more it occurs.
Amidst their conversation, the caravan slowly left the Forest of Sin.
Ye Xiaofan saw from afar—two senior brothers from Divine Sword Sect, waiting. They should have received Mu Yan’s notification to respond to him, the newly recruited disciple.
And naturally, Ye Xiaofan wasn’t the only one seeing this; Qing’Er and the others, along with the entire caravan, saw the two figures standing ahead, all were greatly shocked.
Beside Qing’Er, the seven youths were even more excited.
"People from Divine Sword Sect; they’re disciples of Divine Sword Sect."
"Oh my, didn’t expect to see Divine Sword Sect’s senior brothers here."
"Boy, see that? That’s a senior brother from Divine Sword Sect. You want to enter Divine Sword Sect? In this life, it’s impossible, but I might have a chance."
