Chapter 5: Brave New World

Ye Chen's sudden explosive strength struck Bai Kun and Zhao Jing like a thunderbolt, while the new disciples watching the battle stared at Ye Chen with shining eyes.

"Such formidable power!"

"I'm afraid this is the strength only a second-layer True Qi master possesses!"

"Amazing, this Brother Ye Chen is incredibly powerful!"

On the Barbaric Wilderness Continent, where martial arts are revered, these young people joined the Qingyun Sect to cultivate greater strength; seeing Ye Chen display such formidable power, it was natural that the youngsters admired him immensely.

"I said it, Brother Ye Chen is extraordinary. It's impossible for him to be as bad as they claimed; I knew I saw it right."

The little girl in white had even brighter sparks in her big eyes as she looked at Ye Chen.

After defeating Bai Kun with a single move, Ye Chen glanced at Bai Kun, who lay on the ground, then lifted his foot and walked towards Zhao Jing.

"What do you want to do?"

Upon seeing Ye Chen walking over, Zhao Jing backed away three steps in fear.

"What do I want to do?" Ye Chen looked at Zhao Jing indifferently, "I said there were two dogs barking in my yard, so of course I have to throw them out."

"Ye Chen, don't be too arrogant. Do you think you can win against me just because you defeated Bai Kun?" Zhao Jing's face turned red and white as he shouted loudly.

Ye Chen continued walking towards Zhao Jing.

He couldn't be bothered to waste words on such a petty person.

The best option was to teach him a direct lesson!

As Ye Chen approached step by step, Zhao Jing's heart felt like it was being hammered by a big drum, and he found it difficult to breathe. Finally, when Ye Chen was three steps away, he couldn't contain himself and made the first move.

With a "whoosh," Zhao Jing drew his saber and furiously hacked at Ye Chen.

This strike unfolded like waves upon waves, creating several glimmers of saber light, its layered power growing continuously, and as the saber wind passed, it seemed as if a tide of fierce waves surged through the air.

"Hmph, Ye Chen, you forced my hand. Today, I'll let you witness the Yellow-rank lower-tier saber technique I've just cultivated—'Nine Waves Saber Skills'!"

Nine Waves Saber Skills, saber stacked with nine heavy waves!

Observing the approaching waves of saber light, a spark flashed in Ye Chen's eyes.

From the memories of his previous life, he knew that martial arts were divided into Internal Cultivation Methods and External Martial Skills; Internal Cultivation Methods focused on cultivating True Qi, while External Martial Skills were more oriented towards actual combat.

Both internal and external skills have tiers, ranked from high to low as "Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow," each tier further divided into "upper, middle, lower" levels.

Even the lowest tier, the Yellow-rank lower-tier skills, were very precious to martial arts cultivators.

Having been a disciple for a little over two years, Ye Chen had only practiced some Basic Skills and had never cultivated any tiered skills.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Jing had recently learned a set of Yellow-rank lower-tier External Martial Skills.

Facing the oncoming "Nine Waves Saber Skills," Ye Chen was just curious rather than panicked. He raised the wooden stick in his hand to meet Zhao Jing's saber.

"A Yellow-rank lower-tier skill?"

"This is a skill with a tier, far surpassing basic skills. I wonder if Brother Ye Chen can withstand it?"

The new disciples who were watching the battle, seeing the expanse of saber light slashing towards Ye Chen, were nervous for him.

While they watched intently, Ye Chen's wooden stick had already clashed with Zhao Jing's saber.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The collision of saber and stick caused an explosion of True Qi, and after Ye Chen and Zhao Jing passed by each other, they engaged in battle once again.

In this exchange, the two seemed evenly matched.

"Ye Chen, it seems you're nothing special after all!"

Originally, Zhao Jing wasn't sure whether he could withstand Ye Chen, who had suddenly become powerful, using the "Nine Waves Saber Skills." After all, he had just acquired this technique and hadn't grasped it deeply.

However, after this clash, finding himself not suppressed by Ye Chen, he regained some confidence.

"My 'Nine Waves Saber Skills' can layer up to nine heavy waves, the power increasing ninefold."

"Now we seem to be on equal footing, but once my saber momentum builds up in the later stages, let's see how you withstand it!"

Zhao Jing shook his treasured saber, and with a "whoosh," the saber light shot out like arrows, cascading down once again.

This time, the power of the saber technique was three times greater than before.

"A Yellow-rank lower-tier saber technique is indeed much more formidable than a basic saber skill."

Facing the "Nine Waves Saber Skills" with its increased power, Ye Chen remained unruffled. While parrying the attacks, he observed the technique.

Seeing that Ye Chen could still block his attack, Zhao Jing clenched his teeth, and his True Qi surged out, altering his saber moves once again.

However, no matter how Zhao Jing changed his moves, Ye Chen could easily break all the offensive efforts with a single wooden stick.

Gradually, the new disciples watching the battle realized that Ye Chen was not overwhelmed by Zhao Jing; he was clearly observing the saber technique without using his full strength.

Zhao Jing, who was exchanging blows with Ye Chen, knew this all too well in his heart.

When his saber technique reached its strongest state, peaking at nine heavy waves, his power multiplied ninefold, yet still being effortlessly blocked by Ye Chen, Zhao Jing felt like he was close to collapse.

He completely understood that he was no match for Ye Chen.

"True Qi Level Two, he must have entered True Qi Level Two."

"No, perhaps it's True Qi Level Three! Otherwise, with just Basic Skills, he could not possibly block my Yellow-rank lower-tier saber technique!"

The more he fought, the colder Zhao Jing's courage became. When he thought of the possibility that Ye Chen had stepped into "True Qi Level Three," even his hands began trembling with fear.

By that time, Ye Chen also understood that Zhao Jing had no new moves left to use.

"'Nine Waves Saber Skills,' relying on the stacked power of the saber to increase the attack, indeed not bad," Ye Chen conceded.

"However, this Zhao Jing, although capable of stacking up to Nine Heavy Waves, his fundamental strength is too weak. He can't unleash the true power of this saber technique, and even within the moves, there are countless flaws."

"I have also figured out this set of saber skills, now, let everything come to an end!"

As this thought flashed through Ye Chen's mind, the three vortexes of True Qi within his energy sea suddenly trembled violently.

With a 'hum,' the power in Ye Chen's wooden stick surged enormously. This sudden increase in power was transmitted through the stick onto Zhao Jing's saber blade, and finally, all of it flooded into Zhao Jing's body.

Just like how Bai Kun was sent flying earlier, without the slightest ability to resist, Zhao Jing was also directly blasted several meters away and 'bang'—landed on the ground with a crash.

Quite coincidentally, Zhao Jing and Bai Kun fell together, turning into a pair of unfortunate brothers.

Then, Ye Chen strode forward to the two of them. Looking at the two groaning on the ground, he kicked each one, sending them flying out of the courtyard.

Clean and efficient!

...

Inside the cottage.

Ye Chen sat on a chair, holding a fine-steel treasure sword in hand.

Thinking back to when he had kicked Zhao Jing and Bai Kun out of the courtyard like dead dogs, and the admiring yet frightened looks of the newly inducted disciples watching, he couldn't help but shake his head with a laugh.

"Brother Ye Chen, I will definitely become a formidable martial artist like you!"

And the words of that white-dressed little loli, when she left, gave Ye Chen a strange feeling.

Once upon a time, he was known as one of the "Three Fools of Qingyun Sect". Now, he had become someone whom the newly initiated disciples all admired and envied!

Even becoming the object of worship and learning for many.

All of this, because of the improvement of his strength.

"Barbaric Wilderness Continent, indeed it is a world where martial arts are revered, and strength is respected," Ye Chen reflected, standing up.

After closing his eyes for a few breaths, he reopened them, and then, the movements of the swordsmanship began to be practiced from his hands.

From Basic Sword Skills to the "Nine Waves Sword Skills" derived from the "Nine Waves Saber Skills."

Unlike Zhao Jing's shallow saber moves, the sword moves of Ye Chen, who was practicing the sword for the first time, were incredibly smooth, filled with the spirit of the swordsmanship.

After a good while, Ye Chen finally stopped and sheathed his sword.

"This 'Nine Waves Saber Skills' relies on stacking strength; it indeed seems more suitable for using a saber."

"To improve strength, one must cultivate both Internal Cultivation Methods and External Martial Skills."

"For internal cultivation, to refine True Qi, now that I have the 'Meridian Refining Art,' my speed of cultivating True Qi has improved a lot. However, for external skills, I have only cultivated Basic Skills. It seems I need to find a battle skill that is more suited to me."

Although he could use the "Nine Waves Sword Skills" with a sword, Ye Chen was still somewhat dissatisfied.

After all, this set of skills was derived from saber techniques and was not particularly suitable for swordplay against enemies. He had practiced it out of curiosity; it was not suitable for him.

"There's half a year until the external disciple assessment of Qingyun Sect. During this time, I aim to raise my realm to True Qi Level Five and master several formidable External Martial Skills."

"Only with a sufficient True Qi realm and enough combat ability can I pass the initiation assessment!"

"After cultivating True Qi for a while, I'll make a trip to the Martial Skill Pavilion," Ye Chen thought to himself.

...

After he finished his practice and had breakfast, Ye Chen left the small courtyard and headed for the Martial Skill Pavilion.

The main activity area for registered disciples of Qingyun Sect was at the foot of the outer mountain of Qingyun Sect.

On the left of the mountain's foot lay the living courtyards of the registered disciples; in the center, a vast and broad Mountain Gate Square; and on the right of the outer mountain's foot, buildings like the "Martial Skill Pavilion" and "Pill Pavilion" were constructed.

Passing through courtyards, Ye Chen arrived at the Mountain Gate Square.

The Mountain Gate Square was extremely large, bustling with people coming and going.

Walking on the Mountain Gate Square, Ye Chen saw groups of registered disciples, clad in the pristine white Training Outfits, practicing Basic Skills under the guidance of outer disciples.

Bang Bang Bang! Punches whistled, Sword Qi vibrated, and the youthful disciples moved agilely and ferociously.

These youngsters, mostly newly initiated or recently initiated registered disciples, practiced Basic Martial Skills diligently on the Mountain Gate Square every day, just like Ye Chen once did.

Looking at each youthful face brimming with energy, listening to the sounds of their practice, and gazing at the blazing sun above the square.

Ye Chen took a deep breath and exclaimed, "What a spectacular new world!"

This was the world of Martial Arts he was about to embrace!