The Martial Saint Started from Scavenging

The carriage sped along the official road, its wheels crunching over gravel with a soft, rustling sound.

The carriage was dimly lit, with only a few rays of sunlight filtering through the gaps in the curtains, casting patches of light on the floor.

Lin Qingxue leaned against the car window, her profile softly outlined by the light and shadow. Her gaze was fixed on the rapidly receding shadows of the trees outside the window, lost in thought.

Suddenly, Ye Sheng spoke up, asking, "Who exactly is your father?"

Lin Qingxue paused slightly, but did not turn around. Her gaze remained fixed on the view outside the window, but the lines of her profile were taut, and her slender fingers gripped her sleeves.

After a moment, she spoke softly and calmly: "The Great Yuan Dynasty, a fourth-rank military official, with the hereditary title of Dingyuan General."

She paused, turned her gaze from the window to Ye Sheng, and said, "My Lin family in Qingyun City isn't just in the medicinal herb business. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to get you into the Qingyun Sword Sect so easily back then."

Upon hearing this, Ye Sheng's pupils suddenly contracted. The identity of a fourth-rank official householder exploded in his mind.

As far as he knew, in the "registration" system of the Dayuan Dynasty, a fourth-rank military officer was already a figure of immense prestige.

Ye Sheng leaned against the car wall, his gaze lowered, his mind churning with thoughts.

Although the spiritual energy in the cities within the territory of the Great Yuan Dynasty has declined, the court's control over the territory remains terrifying, especially the Wu Xun family, which holds military power and the right to verify household registration.

What they held in their hands was not just swords, but the lifeblood of the entire dynasty.

Therefore, even the renowned Qingyun Sword Sect, a major cultivation sect within the Eastern Region, is openly subject to the laws of the Great Abyss and must pay "spiritual energy tax" to the imperial court every year.

The tax, levied in spirit ore, was nominally a tribute from sects to the imperial court, but in reality, it was a tacit exchange of benefits between martial arts families and cultivation sects.

Ye Sheng lowered his eyelashes, concealing the deep thought that flashed across his eyes.

Lin Qingxue's words were not only a response to his question, but also a revelation of the Lin family's true status in Qingyun City.

The carriage continued its journey. Ye Sheng leaned against the carriage wall, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breathing. His consciousness sank into his body, and he carefully examined the condition of his dantian and meridians.

Although the true qi in the dantian still felt depleted, the meridians were no longer as sluggish as before. Although the flow of true qi was slow, the pain of being scraped by a knife was gone.

The seal placed by Wu Fei has completely disappeared, presumably due to the effect of Su Wan's Meridian Fusion Pill.

Two hours later, the carriage slowed down and finally came to a stop.

Ye Sheng opened his eyes, lifted a corner of the curtain and looked out, only to see that the carriage had entered a vast manor.

This manor is hidden in the mountains and forests, far from the official road. It is surrounded by ancient trees that provide dense shade. If you don't look for it carefully, you will never find that there is such a large mansion hidden here.

The courtyard walls stood tall, made of blue bricks and gray tiles, with watchtowers atop them, where shadowy figures could be vaguely seen moving about. The main gate was made of heavy ironwood, its studs gleaming, exuding an air of unassailable authority.

After the carriage stopped, Ye Sheng was helped off the carriage by one of the Lin family's personal guards.

After getting off the vehicle, he noticed that the guards leading the way were all calm and composed, with brisk steps and a fierce, battle-hardened aura in every gesture.

Ye Sheng's gaze swept over the crowd. Relying on his innate perception through his scavenging skills, he was secretly surprised: these people were not weak in cultivation. The weakest of them had already reached the Opening Meridian Realm, and several of them were even martial artists at the peak of the Opening Meridian Realm.

What shocked him even more was the awe-inspiring aura emanating from them, which was far superior to that of the lax outer disciples in the sect. It was an aura unique to those who had fought their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Lin Qingxue got off the carriage, straightened her clothes, and personally led Ye Sheng through several courtyards, settling him in a quiet guest room.

The guest room was small, but it was elegantly and neatly decorated, with bright windows and clean tables. There was also a pot of elegant orchids on the table, emitting a faint fragrance.

She ordered someone to bring her hot water and food.

Hot water was brought in in wooden buckets, steaming hot, with a few mugwort leaves floating on top; the meal consisted of four dishes and a soup, a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, all prepared with exquisite care and deliciousness.

"You rest first, I'll go and fetch Father."

Lin Qingxue stood at the door and spoke to Ye Sheng, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just pursed her lips and turned to leave.

Her footsteps faded into the distance along the corridor, eventually disappearing into the depths of the courtyard.

Ye Sheng sat on the bed, but had no intention of resting. He sat cross-legged, formed hand seals, and began to circulate the "Thick Earth Technique," drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into his body.

As he practiced his cultivation technique, he could feel the spiritual energy from all directions slowly gathering around him, seeping into his meridians through his pores, and flowing slowly along the meridians, nourishing those parched meridians.

Three hours later, Ye Sheng opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

He clenched his fist, feeling the flow of internal energy within his body, and realized that he had recovered about 60-70%. Although he was still far from his peak, he was at least no longer in that weak state where he couldn't even kill a chicken.

Then, Ye Sheng got up and pushed open the door.

The moonlight in the courtyard was perfect, and the silvery moonlight spilled onto the ground, like a thin layer of frost.

A full moon hung on the treetops, its clear light illuminating the courtyard.

At this moment, a maid saw him come out and quickly stepped forward to bow and say, "Young Master Ye, the master invites you to the study."

Ye Sheng nodded and followed the maid through several courtyards.

The courtyards along the way were all clean and tidy, with lush flowers and trees, rockeries and flowing water, reminiscent of royal gardens.

Occasionally, one could see the guards on night patrol passing by. They all walked in neat formation, their eyes fixed straight ahead, and they didn't even glance at him, a stranger. They were clearly well-trained.

Before long, they arrived at an elegant study. The study was tucked away in a corner, surrounded by several clumps of bamboo that rustled in the night breeze.

The door was ajar, letting in a dim, yellow light.

"Come in."

A deep, steady male voice came from inside. The voice was not loud, but it carried a natural authority that made people want to obey.

Ye Sheng took a deep breath and pushed open the door to enter.

The room was furnished in a simple and elegant style, with a strong scholarly atmosphere. Against the wall was a row of tall bookshelves, filled with all kinds of classic books, some of which were yellowed and curled at the edges, clearly having been read frequently.

On the desk were the Four Treasures of the Study, and a Duan inkstone still gleamed with a damp sheen, as if ink had just been ground.

At this moment, a middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe stood with his back to the door in front of the bookshelf, holding an ancient book in his hands.

He was tall and upright, with a refined and scholarly air. Even though he was just standing quietly, he gave people a sense of profound composure and unyielding strength. There was an air of authority between his brows, a quality that could only be cultivated by long-term exposure to high positions and the ability to issue commands.

This person is Lin Xuan, the head of the Lin family.

"Father, Ye Sheng is here."

Lin Qingxue stood up from the side and called out softly.

She stood beside the desk, her hands clasped in front of her, her posture respectful, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor in front of Ye Sheng.

Lin Xuan slowly turned around, his gaze falling on Ye Sheng. He looked Ye Sheng up and down, from his handsome face to his calm, water-like eyes, and finally to his hands, which were hanging at his sides and slightly clenched.

After a long pause, Lin Xuan spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful: "Did you save my daughter?"

"This humble one, Ye Sheng, greets Patriarch Lin."

Ye Sheng clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, his waist slightly bent, neither humble nor arrogant. His voice was steady, and his gaze was fixed directly on the other person.

"No need for formalities." Lin Xuan waved his hand casually, yet with an undeniable air of authority. He gestured to the guest seat beside him, "Please sit down."

Ye Sheng sat down as instructed, maintaining an upright posture with his back straight and his hands naturally placed on his knees.

Lin Xuan sat back down in the main seat, looking directly at Ye Sheng, his eyes seeming to see through all the secrets in his heart.

"My daughter has already told me what happened at the Qingyun Sword Sect."

Lin Xuan cut to the chase, his voice echoing in the study, "You once saved my daughter from danger, and now you are imprisoned. My Lin family should help you. But there are some things I need to clarify."

"Please ask, Master?" Ye Sheng replied calmly, his gaze frank.

Lin Xuan stared at him, his first question hitting the nail on the head: "Where exactly do you come from? Why did you infiltrate the Qingyun Sword Sect? And why do you possess demonic energy and wield a demonic blade?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Sheng's heart sank slightly.

Lin Xuan is indeed extraordinary, but Ye Sheng also knows that if he hides anything at this moment, it will only arouse more suspicion.