Chapter 722: Tested
Liu Lei explained, “They attacked me fiercely. Si Maping knew an inner sect martial brother from my sect, so no one helped. I refused at first, but then I heard someone whisper that Si Maping had just reached the yellow level middle stage.”
Ye Mo looked at Liu Lei, who was at the peak of the yellow level middle stage, and asked speechlessly, “So you thought you could beat him, and agreed?”
Liu Lei fell silent, then nodded. “Yu Yuyan and Pan Cheng insulted me, saying I lacked courage. Since I was at the peak of the yellow level middle stage, I thought I’d be fine. But after I agreed, they made it a life-or-death battle. It turned out Si Maping hadn’t ‘just reached the yellow level middle stage’ at all—he’s at the very peak of the yellow level, a half-step black level cultivator! I had no chance of winning.”
Ye Mo understood and asked, “Do you know who said Si Maping had just reached the yellow level middle stage?”
Liu Lei shook his head. “I was excited and angry. All I know is it was someone from Shu Mountain. I don’t understand why, being in the same sect, they would mislead me!”
Ye Mo sighed. “You’ve probably been cultivating at your family home and rarely went out, right?”
Liu Lei nodded. “Yes, I’ve cultivated in Lian Hua City my whole life. Because my family rarely had talented members, I wasn’t allowed to go out.”
Ye Mo thought, It’s because of that that Liu Lei has such an impulsive character. A careful person wouldn’t have helped Ye Mo as Liu Lei did in Hang Shui City.
Thinking this, Ye Mo said, “Since Shu Mountain takes in so many outer sect disciples, there will be a second test to select inner sect disciples from among the outer sect members.”
“Yes, a harsh selection process with tests and battles. Also, reaching the black level before 30 allows direct entry into the inner sect,” Liu Lei said.
Then, Liu Lei realized something and said, “Brother Mo, are you saying someone wanted me dead to eliminate a competitor? That, that—”
Liu Lei thought it was a ridiculous reason to harm someone.
But Ye Mo had seen similar things happen often and wasn’t surprised.
Without further explanation, Ye Mo took out a curved sword and gave it to Liu Lei. “Try this sword.”
Liu Lei took it and praised, “Good sword! Much better than my essence steel sword.”
Liu Lei infused it with inner qi, and it hummed almost imperceptibly. He felt the sword was almost alive.
“Is this a magic artifact from the Forgery Hall?” Liu Lei said in shock.
Ye Mo smiled. “Strictly speaking, it’s not, but it’s close. It’s not from the Forgery Hall, but it’s yours now.”
“Huh?”
Liu Lei was dazed and quickly returned the sword. “Brother Mo, this is too precious. I can’t accept it.”
Ye Mo pushed it back. “I have many. Take it. If you cut Si Maping’s head off tomorrow, I’ll be satisfied.”
Liu Lei liked the sword, so he studied it carefully. “Brother Mo, before, I had no chance. Now, with this sword, I have at least a 30% chance. I won’t thank you, but I’ll accept it. When I met you and your wife in Hang Shui City, I knew you weren’t ordinary. I was right, haha!”
Ye Mo smiled and shook his head. “I don’t think you should fight with only a 30% chance.”
Seeing Liu Lei’s confusion, Ye Mo asked, “How many people are in this room?”
“Three, but after I agreed to fight Si Maping, one moved out, and the other rarely returns; he gambles all day,” Liu Lei answered.
“Okay, take this pill—it’s like a black rising pill.” Ye Mo handed Liu Lei a chi-increasing pill.
Liu Lei took it subconsciously. “Brother Mo, I’ve taken countless pills like the black rising pill. Usually, only the first is useful.”
Although black rising pills were expensive, they weren’t much for members of large families.
Ye Mo smiled. “This is a chi-increasing pill, much stronger than a black rising pill. Take it and cultivate; I’ll guard you. It should take an hour or two.”
Though Ye Mo spoke confidently, Liu Lei was dubious. He took it anyway.
As soon as it entered his stomach, Liu Lei felt intense heat surge into his dantian and meridians.
His face flushed, and he quickly sat to control his chi, but the pill’s potency overwhelmed him. More and more power welled up.
He reached the yellow level tertiary stage effortlessly. His qi kept increasing, and soon he reached the peak of the yellow level tertiary stage.
Though the potency remained, Ye Mo felt Liu Lei’s talent was far less than Luo Xuan’s, and he couldn’t reach the black level with only one chi-increasing pill.
These pills were useless to Ye Mo, so he gave another to Liu Lei.
Liu Lei was happy to have reached the yellow tertiary stage, but when Ye Mo produced another, he knew Ye Mo wanted him to reach the black level. Excited, he quickly absorbed the second pill’s power.
After three hours, Liu Lei felt his body rumble as strong inner qi rose from his dantian, and he stood up excitedly. Three hours, and he reached the black stage!
Ye Mo looked at the excited Liu Lei and smiled. “What are your chances against Si Maping now?”
Liu Lei laughed—Si Maping was merely at the yellow level. With a new weapon and the black level, if he didn’t have a 100% chance of winning, he might as well kill himself.
“Brother Mo, thank you.” Liu Lei knew Ye Mo had saved his life and ensured he wouldn’t need the tests to become an inner sect member, having reached the black level before 30. He would be an inner sect member upon arrival.
“Okay, consolidate your power. I need to go. I’ll cheer you on tomorrow,” Ye Mo said.
As Ye Mo left Liu Lei’s room, a green-dressed girl stopped him.
“What do you want?” Ye Mo’s voice was cold. He wanted no connection with Yun Ziyi; he felt she was hiding something, and she seemed too cunning. He disliked her, knowing she had watched his every move the previous day.
“Young Master Mo, our Young Miss wants to speak with you,” Xiao Ling said.
Ye Mo said plainly, “I’m busy. Move aside.”
The green-dressed girl smiled. “Our Young Miss could help you obtain a herb to restore your looks—”
Ye Mo interrupted. “I don’t care about my looks. No need. Goodbye.”
“The herb is called the Jia Lan Flower.”
At this, Ye Mo tensed—he knew things weren’t good.