Chapter 9 : The Outer Sect

Jian Zheng stood tall on the mountain with his sword in his hand. His sword was currently buzzing excitingly as the invisible swords in the air dance around him.

With his robe and hair fluttering in the wind Jian Zheng looked like an peerless expert as he held his sword.

"That was refreshing!" Scarlet giggled in Jian Zheng mind. She felt like a free bird in Jian Zheng hands something she haven't felt before.

"How is this possible!" An Luwang shouted. He believed that Lei Yun would easily defeat Jian Zheng but the turn of events have really surprised him.

He was especially frighten by Jian Zheng sword strike, "If I were to be hit by that sword then I would have to use one of my trump cards..." He said with fear in his eyes. Even if he were to use his trump card he wasn't exactly confident in stopping Jian Zheng sword.

"Jian Zheng wins!" The elder shouted then fired a white beam to the sky. The beam then exploded in the air three times which caught the attention of the disciples and elders of the sect.

"For the light to explode three times can only mean that only three were able to enter the outer court." Elder Lu exclaimed while caressing his long beard.

He was currently holding an arm in his hand with blood leaking out of it. Beside him were three elders who had bruises on their body.

"Lu Langshen!!!" One of the elders shouted angrily. He was currently holding his shoulder that was missing an arm and his face was extremely pale, at any moment he would die from blood loss.

"Lu Langshen don't think because the Sect Master gave you permission to look over the sect you can act so arrogant." Another elder exclaimed calmly as he walk over to the elder missing an arm and feed him a pill.

Swallowing the pill the elder expression became better, "If I Xue Qinggong does not exact my revenge then I will be struck by lightening!" Elder Xue roared to the heavens as he got up from the ground and rushed towards Elder Lu.

"Xue Qinggong come back here!" The other two elders expression changed but it was too late for them to stop the elder.

With a flash Xue Qinggong appear infront of Elder Lu, "Asura Cloud Palm! Seventh Form!" The elder shouted as his palm became covered in an sinister aura. That aura locked onto Elder Lu freezing him in place.

"Pitiful tricks!" Elder Lu sneered as he easily broke through Xue Qinggong lock. Raising his hand, it glowed black as he slapped the elder on the face.

The slap landed first even though Elder Xue palm was just an inch away from Elder Lu. With a loud clap the slap sent the elder flying as his face became deformed.

"Xue-" The two other elders called out to Elder Xue but when they saw him they became shocked as his entire face was blown to bits.

"You... Blood Circulation Realm." The two elders said with fear in their eyes. The moment Elder Lu raised his hand they could tell that some strange energy was circulating inside his hand causing Elder Xue head to explode. That strange energy entered his head and due to not being able to circulate spiritual energy into his head it exploded like a balloon.

"Do you think because you broke through you can threaten our Enduring Mountain Faction!" The elder looked at Elder Lu with disdain.

"Oh please do you think I care about destroying your pathetic faction? My disciple can easily squash you all like bugs without me having to lift a hand." Elder Lu looked on the two elders with a playful smile, "Besides, my goal isn't to get rid of some trash faction but to take over the Asura Cloud Sect." Elder Lu said calmly.

"I have already poisoned the Sect Master, he should have already entered deep sleep and soon the poison will infect his entire body until he dies." Elder Lu laughed coldly which made the two elders expression change, "You're betraying the sect!" They roared with all their might then released their cultivation at the Body Transformation third stage, "Asura Cloud Palm! Sixth Form!"

"I guess its time for me to kill you two?" Elder Lu chuckled. Soon his eyes became dark as an sinister aura envelop his being. Soon cries of horror rang out. The cries then came to a stop as heads roll on the ground.

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"Here are your outer court robes and your prize for winning." The Elder smiled at Jian Zheng as they arrived at the outer court.

"Unlike the labor workers section, the outer court does not have any place for you to stay." Giving Jian Zheng his robes and spiritual stones he said.

"This is because the outer court amount to over ten thousand individuals." Jian Zheng raised his eyebrows in shock as he never thought that much were inside the outer court.

One must know that there are only five hundred people in the labor worker area. But this was expected afterall, not many people would want to be a labor worker who is practically an slave to the sect who does the sect chores.

"I will update you on more information on the outer sect tomorrow." The elder looked deeply at Jian Zheng then turn around to take his leave.

"Elder may I know your name?" Before the elder could leave Jian Zheng asked, he could tell this elder wasn't simply at all even though he acts like a weak old man.

"You can just call me Elder Qin." The elder said then disappear into the night, "Elder Qin.." Jian Zheng mumbled and also walked away.

After entering the outer court an elder brought Lei Yun away, probably to bring him to a place to heal while An Luwang left quietly. Not even Elder Qin saw when An Luwang left.

Now that Elder Qin has taken his leave, Jian Zheng began walking around the outer court. While walking he saw many outer court disciples walking by. Some even looked at Jian Zheng with weird and disgusted gazes.

Wondering what these gazes meant, Jian Zheng looked at himself and saw his clothes filled with dirt while some parts of it had cuts, showing his skin.

Embarrassed, Jian Zheng rushed to a seclude corner. After running for an hour Jian Zheng reached a place that was filled with trees, from the looks of it Jian Zheng could tell it was a forest.

"What's a forest doing in a sect?" Jian Zheng asked as he walked into the woods. The trees there were so tall that it could easily measure a small hill.

The trees looked rather sturdy. Touching the barks of one a cut was formed on his finger, "How the hell..." Jian Zheng immediately removed his finger from the tree as he wonder how the tree cut his finger.

Although he have a weak, delicate body that doesn't change the fact that he's a cultivator. A regular tree shouldn't be able to pierce through his skin.

"What is an Azure Sword Tree doing in these woods?" Scarlet woke up when she felt the wound on Jian Zheng. Due to how connected they are, Scarlet could easily sense pain coming from Jian Zheng.

"Azure Sword Tree?" Jian Zheng heard Scarlets drowsy voice and asked.

"The Azure Sword Tree is a unique tree that can be used to create low-high grade swords, but it seems like your sect doesn't know about this." Scarlet response startled Jian Zheng, "No wonder the tree felt so sharp." He said under his breath as he began examining the trees.

"This tree can also temper your Sword Aura, it should allow you to reach the peak of the houtain initial stage." Scarlet came out of the sword and stood beside Jian Zheng, "What are you waiting for? Start now! I'll watch over you." Scarlet said in a sweet and soft tone.

"Alright." Since Scarlet insist, Jian Zheng nodded his head and sat beside the tree and closed his eyes. Soon he entered an unknown state. In this state Jian Zheng saw a red light that shines in the darkness.

Going closer to it he saw that the light resemble a phoenix. Reaching the phoenix he saw that between this phoenix was a blazing red sword. The pressure and heat coming off this sword amazed Jian Zheng as he went closer and touched it.

Touching the sword the Phoenix made a loud battle cry as red flames spread around the darkness. Soon the darkness was replaced by red light.

Opening his eyes, Jian Zheng eyes flashed with scarlet light which disappear quickly, "What was that strange sword?" He whispered to himself then got up.

Taking deep breaths Jian Zheng then released his sword aura. When his sword aura was released invisible swords spun around him. These swords came with a small pressure that was almost impossible to identify along with a sharp aura that felt like anything that came intact with these swords would immediately cut them in half.

"You actually managed to reach Huotian astute stage? Pretty impressive but what amazes me is that your sword aura now carries heavy and sharp intent." Scarlet examine Jian Zheng then said in admiration.

"What is heavy and sharp intent?" Retracting his sword aura Jian Zheng asked with a smile. 'It seems like Scarlet is rather knowledgeable," was what Jian Zheng thought.

"Hm.. where should I start?" Scarlet placed her two fingers on her chin while closing her eyes, "I guess I will start with heavy intent." She said.

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An incense worth of time later Jian Zheng finally got a basic understanding of these two intent.

Heavy Intent is usually something that only heavy sword cultivators could awaken. This intent can cause weak persons to feel a sort of heaviness on their body. Slowing them and making them slightly weaker.

While Sharp Intent can be awaken by any sharp weapon, mainly sabers and sword users. This pressure is the only defense a swordsman have. This intent deflects almost all of a person's power, It can easily cut attacks in two and depending on the grade, a person human body can split in half if coming intact with this sharp intent.

There are seven grades of Sharp Intent with the first being the best and seventh the worst. The seventh grade can easily cut elementary grade techniques, sixth to fourth can break profound arts, third to second can destroy exceeding arts while first can collapse eclipsing techniques.

It is the same for heavy intent except it weaken techniques.

From what Jian Zheng heard from Scarlet, he currently have the second heavy intent while his sharp intent is at the first.

With the second heavy intent all he needs to do is release his sword aura to weaken at least 25% of a person strength while with the sharp intent more than 50% of their attack can be destroyed.

"But this highly depends on their cultivation. If their realm is way higher than yours then they can easily squash you like a bug." Scarlet continued.

With that said Jian Zheng felt more confident in his abilities. Now that he have reached Huotian astute stage now he only needs to get his cultivation art to the second stage.

"Hm? Although my sword aura have clearly increase it still feels like its at the peak of Huotian stage, shouldn't it be comparable to the Profound realm sword aura?" Jian Zheng pondered on this but stopped thinking about it since there's nothing he could do but wait until he reaches the profound realm.

Taking out the ten low spiritual stones, Jian Zheng once more sat on the ground, "I should be able to reach the second stage with these." He said as he entered mediation with one of the stones in his hands.

Soon the stone light dimmed down as the immense amount of spiritual qi inside it was absorbed into his body.

At that moment another tear above his dantian lit up as he felt his strength multiply then enter his sword.

Opening his eyes he had a bitter smile on his face, "I really can't tell what's so special about being a true swordsman. With this cultivation art my strength would easily be comparable to those at the Body Transformation realm if I reach the second phase but alas." Sighing, Jian Zheng shook his head then turned to use the second one.

After using three more spiritual stones the third tear lit up and once again his strength multiply and was then absorbed into his sword.

With his full strength along with his sword aura, ordinary cultivators at the huotian ninth stage shouldn't be a problem for him.

Realizing this clear excitement could be seen on his face as he absorbed three more spiritual stones.

The fourth tear lit up which made Jian Zheng even more excited, "I should be able to lit up the last tear with the other three spiritual stones!" Knowing this he quickly used the rest. 

Using the last three spiritual stones two cracks could be heard in Jian Zheng body as his aura rose.

"..."

Jian Zheng eyes opened as he got up from the ground and inspect his body.

"What happened?" Scarlet asked as she felt that something was wrong with Jian Zheng.

"I- I... I accidently used the remaining spiritual stones to break through to the fifth stage..." Jian Zheng smiled with a baffled tone.