The Martial Saint Started from Scavenging

"I come from Shuilongdu, and I was originally an unregistered migrant worker."

Ye Sheng frankly admitted, his voice steady, but he downplayed the seriousness of the matter, saying, "To make a living, I brought my sickly younger brother to Qingyun City to find work. Later, through Miss Lin's introduction, I entered the Qingyun Sword Sect as a handyman. As for demonic energy..."

He paused, raised his hand to press his brow, a self-deprecating smile on his face, a bitter smile playing on his lips, as if mocking his bad luck, or perhaps mocking the capriciousness of fate.

"That was the demonic seed that Wu Fei, the second elder of the Enforcement Hall, forcibly injected into my body during my spiritual root test in order to frame me."

At this point, there was a hint of anger in Ye Sheng's tone, but he quickly suppressed it.

"He intended to frame the boy as a spy for the Demonic Sect, then search his soul, and avenge the loss of his disciple Pang Fu's severed hand."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly but did not refute it; he simply listened quietly.

His gaze never left Ye Sheng's face, as if he were observing every subtle expression on his face.

"As for the swordsmanship you displayed during the selection competition that day, it was a family martial art, not a demonic art."

Ye Sheng continued, "My fight with He Ping to the death was merely a desperate attempt to survive. At that time, it was either me or him; I had no other choice."

Lin Xuan's gaze was deep as he looked at Ye Sheng and asked in a deep voice, "You're saying that swordsmanship is a family heirloom?"

"Yes."

Ye Sheng lowered his head and said again, "Before my ancestor fell on hard times, he was a martial artist. This sword technique was passed down from my ancestors. Although it damages one's blood and qi, it is by no means a demonic or evil technique."

He had to keep this lie going. In the Great Yuan Dynasty, military households held a prestigious position, and since Lin Xuan was also a military official household, perhaps by claiming that his ancestors were military households, the other party would be more willing to help him.

The atmosphere in the study was tense. Lin Qingxue stood to the side, not daring to utter a sound, only watching her father and Ye Sheng quietly, a hint of nervousness in her eyes.

The candlelight flickered, casting swaying shadows on the wall.

After a long pause, Lin Xuan finally spoke, his voice low and deep: "Alright, I believe you."

The reason he was willing to trust Ye Sheng was because he knew Wu Fei very well.

This person is always vindictive, wicked, and ruthless. It is not impossible that Ye Sheng was framed.

"Is your brother's constitution the Dao Calamity Constitution?"

Lin Xuan suddenly stared sharply at Ye Sheng and asked.

Upon hearing this, Ye Sheng's heart tightened. He hadn't expected that Lin Xuan had even guessed Ye Kai's physique.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately only answered with one word: "Yes."

"Don't be nervous."

Lin Xuan sighed softly, his gaze softening slightly: "Because the heartwood of a hundred-year-old rotten tree is the main medicinal ingredient used to resolve the Dao Calamity Body."

"Besides, I guessed it because Qingxue described your brother's illness. Does that child often have fevers at night, develop black lines on his body, and have a cold, eerie aura?"

Ye Sheng nodded. Lin Qingxue had indeed witnessed these symptoms firsthand.

"In addition, I saw a related record in an ancient book in my early years."

Lin Xuan continued, gazing out the window as if recalling something.

"The body of Dao Calamity can devour Yin Sha, but it is also devoured by Yin Sha, causing its life force to drain away. If one can find a Dao essence that is compatible with the body, one can turn calamity into a source of power, and its potential will be limitless."

"This kind of constitution is extremely rare, one in ten thousand years, but once it is successfully resolved, the future achievements are limitless."

He withdrew his gaze, looked at Ye Sheng, and asked, "Qingxue told me that you want to return to the Qingyun Sword Sect?"

Ye Sheng nodded, his gaze resolute: "I'm going back to find my brother."

"But do you know that sending you back to the Azure Cloud Sword Sect is no easy task?"

Lin Xuan spoke slowly, his tone turning somber: "Especially since you've been framed as a demonic cultivator by Wu Fei. Moreover, you've killed so many low-ranking disciples and servants."

"I understand, sir." Ye Sheng nodded, his gaze lowered, knowing that Lin Xuan was telling the truth.

After pondering for a while, Lin Xuan said, "Although my Lin family has some influence in Qingyun City, the Qingyun Sword Sect is a major sect of immortal cultivation with strict rules, which are difficult for outsiders to interfere with."

"If I were to shamelessly plead with their founder, I might be able to absolve you of the crime of indiscriminately killing innocent people. But if you want to be able to return to the sect legitimately again, there is only one way."

He paused, his gaze falling on Ye Sheng, and suddenly asked an unrelated question: "Do you know anything about alchemy?"

"I know a little bit about this."

Ye Sheng replied, looking puzzled, not understanding why Lin Xuan suddenly asked this.

"That's good! The Qingyun Sword Sect holds a 'Grand Alchemy Gathering' every three years. At that time, alchemists from all over the Eastern Region, as well as all kinds of extraordinary people, can go there to discuss and exchange ideas."

Lin Xuan slowly explained: "If you can stand out in this grand event, you will be granted special permission by the sect to become a guest elder, or even directly become an inner disciple."

"A grand gathering of alchemy masters!"

Ye Sheng's heart skipped a beat. This might be his only chance to return to the Qingyun Sword Sect.

"When will this grand event be held?" he asked eagerly.

"Just after March."

Lin Xuan replied, looking directly at Ye Sheng, "If you are willing to participate, my Lin family can provide you with all the pills, spiritual plants, and cultivation techniques to lend you a helping hand."

"Thank you, Patriarch Lin!" Ye Sheng stood up, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and bowed deeply.

This gesture was sincere, because Lin Xuan had given him not only resources, but also hope.

Lin Xuan waved his hand and turned his gaze to Lin Qingxue: "Qingxue, you will be responsible for Ye Sheng's daily life and cultivation needs during this period."

"As for the century-old rotten wood heart, it will be stored in the Lin family's treasury for now. I will retrieve it when Ye Sheng enters the sect, finds his younger brother, and refines the Soul-Soothing Powder."

"Yes, Father."

Lin Qingxue responded respectfully, her gaze lingering on Ye Sheng for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

A warm feeling welled up in Ye Sheng's heart. Lin Xuan's actions were both a way of repaying a debt of gratitude and a test for him.

The reason for keeping the century-old rotten wood heart was to ensure that he could successfully enter the sect and find Ye Kai. If he could not enter the sect, then the rotten wood heart would naturally be out of his reach.

Such foresight not only gave Ye Sheng hope but also left him with a backup plan, which made Ye Sheng admire him.

"There's one more thing."

Lin Xuan said, his tone tinged with seriousness, "I have already sent people to investigate your brother's whereabouts in the past two days. He was taken to the Beast Taming Peak of the Qingyun Sword Sect by Yun Zhonghe."

"Beast Taming Peak!"

Ye Sheng's pupils contracted sharply, as if pricked by a needle. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white and his nails almost dug into his flesh.

Yun Zhonghe, it turns out he really was the one who kidnapped my brother.

"Yes, the peak master of Beast Taming Peak is a late-stage Golden Core cultivator. He is stubborn and dislikes interference from outsiders."

Lin Xuan's tone turned serious, and a hint of worry appeared in his eyes. "If you are fortunate enough to rejoin the sect, you must be extra careful."

"Furthermore, it is said that Yun Zhonghe has a close connection with Beast Taming Peak. Now that your brother has fallen into their hands, I'm afraid..."

He didn't finish the second half of his sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

"Thank you for informing me, Patriarch Lin."

Ye Sheng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the murderous intent surging within him. This was not the time for anger; he needed to calm down.

"Furthermore, you must remember this."

Lin Xuan's tone turned cold, his gaze sharp as lightning, and he continued, "After you join the sect, you must be careful in everything you do. Do not reveal your connection with my Lin family to anyone in the sect."

"I understand," Ye Sheng replied.

After the conversation in the study ended, Ye Sheng followed Lin Qingxue out.

A night breeze caressed his face, and the moonlight shone like water. At this moment, the oppressive feeling in Ye Sheng's heart dissipated by more than half. To save Ye Kai, the Pill Dao Grand Gathering was the only way.

The road ahead may be difficult, but at least we have direction and hope.

In the days that followed, Ye Sheng devoted himself to cultivation in the Lin family's villa.

Every morning, as the first rays of sunlight stream into the courtyard, he rises to cultivate the "Thick Earth Technique," absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

In the afternoon, he would study Taoist alchemical texts, and in the evening he would continue his practice until late at night before resting.

The Lin family is wealthy, and the quality of the spiritual plants they provide far surpasses that of the medicinal garden in Liuyuan. Those spiritual plants are all ancient herbs over a hundred years old, with abundant medicinal power and containing several times more spiritual energy than ordinary medicinal herbs.

Ye Sheng swallowed the Qi Condensation Pill and Yuan Strengthening Pill that he made from these medicinal herbs every day, and combined them with the "Thick Earth Technique" to cultivate, his cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.

He could feel his internal energy becoming increasingly abundant, his meridians becoming more resilient, and the vortex of internal energy in his dantian constantly expanding.

Lin Qingxue also frequently came to visit, bringing various books and books.

Sometimes it's alchemy insights, densely marked with the experiences of predecessors; sometimes it's a spiritual plant atlas, detailing the growing environment and harvesting methods of various spiritual herbs; sometimes it even contains some sect secrets of the Qingyun Sword Sect, such as the strength comparison of each peak, the preferences and grudges of the elders, information that will be crucial for Ye Sheng's future entry into the sect.

"This is a copy of 'True Explanation of Alchemy' that my father had someone make from the library of the Qingyun Sword Sect."

Lin Qingxue handed Ye Sheng a jade slip, a hint of puzzlement on her face, and asked, "As a martial artist, why do you also practice alchemy? And why are you so interested in the Dao of Alchemy?"

She tilted her head and looked at Ye Sheng, her eyes full of curiosity.

Ye Sheng accepted the jade slip without saying much. He knew that improving his alchemy skills was his greatest asset at the moment.

In this world where strength reigns supreme, having more skills means having more security. Moreover, alchemy is currently his only ability that can be useful at the Grand Alchemy Gathering.

As soon as he got his hands on the jade slip, the skill panel flashed, and lines of text appeared in his mind:

[Unknown information source detected, parsing...]

[Skill: Alchemy (Beginner) Progress: 980/1000]

[Skill: Alchemy (Proficient) unlocked!]

[Effects: Identifies common pills, refines low-grade pills, and faintly senses the residual medicinal power of pills.]

[Talent Ability: 'Introduction to Alchemy' Unlocked! Allows for direct visualization of elixir ingredients, deduction of refining techniques, and optimization of elixir formulas.]

Ye Sheng was overjoyed. The resources provided by the Lin family, along with the classic texts sent by Lin Qingxue, enabled his alchemy skills to advance by leaps and bounds, finally breaking through the entry level and reaching the proficient level.

This means that he will not only be able to refine more types of pills, but more importantly, his talent for "initial understanding of alchemy" will give him a huge advantage at the alchemy gathering.

In the days that followed, Ye Sheng devoted all his energy to cultivation and the study of alchemy.

He refined elixirs by day and cultivated at night, almost never stopping for a moment. When he was tired, he would meditate to regulate his breathing; when he was sleepy, he would drink a cup of spiritual tea to refresh himself.

Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Ye Sheng awoke from his cultivation, walked to the bronze mirror, and looked at himself in the mirror. His face was thin, his cheekbones slightly protruding, but his eyes were piercing and bright, and his aura was restrained, indicating that he had reached the peak of the Meridian Opening Realm.

At this moment, he could feel his internal energy surging, and his every move was full of power. This was the result of three months of hard training and taking drugs.

And the grand gathering of alchemists is also fast approaching.