"Elder Du, what's going on? Didn't you say one of the five slots for the Tianying Small World was reserved for me? And also, I'm here holding your token to report to the Tianyuan Sect, but it seems useless. I was targeted at every turn before even entering the mountain gate."
Ye Yunfei frowned.
"It's difficult to explain in a few words. Originally, the Sect Leader had agreed to give you one of the slots. But Elder Luo Fengyang and Elder Su Deqing vehemently opposed it. The Core Disciples who received the news were also up in arms; they collectively petitioned the Sect Leader to oppose the decision. Now, even the ordinary disciples in the sect know about it. The whole Tianyuan Sect is in an uproar over your matter. I have a headache myself."
Elder Du sighed.
"So, even before I've officially entered, I've become the public enemy of all Tianyuan Sect disciples? Well, how is this going to be resolved?"
Ye Yunfei gave a cold smile.
Back then, Ye Yunfei had agreed to join the Tianyuan Sect primarily because he wanted to take a look at the Tianying Small World. Otherwise, he had no need to join the Tianyuan Sect. To be honest, a small sect from a minor empire wasn't something Ye Yunfei considered worthy. With the memories and accumulation of the Heavenly Emperor, Ye Yunfei, even the great sects and clans of the Eastern Region weren't qualified to have him join.
"If they provoke me enough, I'll simply take the Earth Vein beneath the Tianyuan Sect headquarters and let the high-ranking members weep," Ye Yunfei thought darkly to himself.
"Now, the Sect Leader has proposed a compromise. In ten days, the sect's Heaven Ascension Ladder will be opened. A ladder climbing competition will be held. If you can secure a position within the top five during that competition, then you will be qualified to occupy a slot for entering the Tianying Small World."
Elder Du explained.
"Heaven Ascension Ladder?"
Ye Yunfei was momentarily stunned.
"The Heaven Ascension Ladder is an ancient relic passed down from our Tianyuan Sect's distant past. It consists of one hundred steps, each step said to weigh as heavy as a mountain. Generally speaking, a disciple who can ascend to the fifteenth step is considered excellent. The highest record among the current generation of disciples is the twenty-fifth step. That record was set by Jiang Feng, who ranks first among the Core Disciples."
Elder Du elaborated.
"In ten days, I'll participate in the ladder climbing competition."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Excellent. Ye Yunfei, I hope you won't blame me for this matter. I had no other choice. I did my absolute best to fight for you. Come, let me take you to find a place to settle down now."
Elder Du was overjoyed to see Ye Yunfei agree.
Elder Du led Ye Yunfei to a magnificent and majestic mountain peak. This peak resembled a giant inverted sea bowl, sitting on the ground. The mountainside was dotted with pavilions, towers, and various structures.
Elder Du led Ye Yunfei to a small pavilion amidst the forests. The small pavilion was enclosed by a fence on all sides. Bamboo groves swayed, old trees stood sparsely, and a small stream flowed across the landscape. The scenery was indeed quite beautiful.
Within the Tianyuan Sect, occupying a small pavilion like this was a privilege reserved for Core Disciples.
"This pavilion is fully furnished with all common daily necessities. From now on, you can focus on cultivating here without worries. By the way, our Tianyuan Sect is divided into five peaks: Gold (Jin), Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth Peaks. This mountain is Jin Peak, and I am the Peak Master of Jin Peak. Your current status is that of a Core Disciple of Jin Peak. This is your identity token."
Elder Du took out an identity token and handed it to Ye Yunfei.
"Also, now that you are a disciple of our Tianyuan Sect, the sect will assign you tasks to complete from time to time. Alternatively, you can go to the Mission Hall to select suitable tasks yourself. For each task completed, the sect will award Contribution Points based on the difficulty. With Contribution Points, you can exchange for many things from the sect, such as cultivation techniques, secret manuals, heavenly and earthly treasures, spirit pills, and so on."
Elder Du gave detailed instructions before departing.
Ye Yunfei settled down on the low mountain.
"So this is Jin Peak. No wonder the mountain mass is oval-shaped and the rock has a whitish hue."
Inside the small pavilion, Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged and extended his Soul Power, perceiving the aura of this mountain. Ye Yunfei had already seen that the layout of the Tianyuan Sect headquarters was completely based on the Tianxuan Five Elements Divine Mountain Formation.
"It's a pity that of the five main peaks here, only the Water Peak and Earth Peak retain remnants of spiritual nature. Jin Peak, Wood Peak, and Fire Peak have completely lost their spiritual nature; their foundations are buried. Otherwise, I could leverage this special environment to forge a set of Five Elements Spirit Swords. With Five Elements Spirit Swords, I could cultivate the Five Elements Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation."
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power extended far out, perceiving the Tianyuan Sect headquarters as he sighed softly.
"Senior Brother Ye Yunfei! Senior Brother Ye Yunfei!"
Suddenly, an ordinary-looking disciple with thick hands and feet, dark skin, and an honest expression came before Ye Yunfei's pavilion, calling out loudly. This ordinary disciple was at the Seventh Level of Qi Condensation.
"What is it?"
Ye Yunfei walked out of the pavilion, frowning.
"You must be Senior Brother Ye Yunfei. My name is A Niu. Elder Du sent me. Elder Du said that Senior Brother Ye Yunfei has just arrived, so if there's anything unclear or unknown, feel free to order me around."
The ordinary disciple spoke respectfully. Ye Yunfei was a Core Disciple, with a status far above his.
"So that's how it is. Elder Du is quite thoughtful."
Ye Yunfei chuckled despite himself.
"Alright then, I won't hesitate to trouble you when things come up."
Ye Yunfei smiled at A Niu.
There was an amiable side to Ye Yunfei's personality. Especially towards ordinary people like this, Ye Yunfei generally didn't put on airs or show a disdainful face.
"By the way, Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, have you collected your sect welfare yet?"
A Niu asked.
"Oh? What sect welfare?"
Ye Yunfei was taken aback.
"The spirit crystals and spirit pills the sect distributes monthly to each disciple according to their fixed quota. Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, since you are a Core Disciple, you also have free access to enter the Repository Hall to borrow cultivation techniques and martial arts manuals. Looking at it, Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, you probably haven't collected your welfare yet. Come, let me take you to get it right now. If the sect is giving out benefits, you should take them; why refuse?"
A Niu replied.
"Alright."
Ye Yunfei smiled. He wasn't short of spirit crystals or spirit pills. But seeing A Niu's enthusiasm, and besides, Ye Yunfei also wanted to take a walk around, he nodded in agreement.
Ye Yunfei followed A Niu and left Jin Peak.
The center, surrounded by the five main peaks, was a vast basin. Within the basin, rows of majestic and magnificent structures were arranged in a picturesque layout.
A Niu led Ye Yunfei along a broad avenue. Along the way, they encountered many disciples.
"Look, that's Ye Yunfei."
"I heard his nature is extremely brutal. He injured many disciples as soon as he entered the mountain gate."
"Let's keep our distance. If he suddenly goes berserk again and starts hitting people, we'll be in trouble."
...
Many people pointed fingers and whispered about Ye Yunfei.
"Heh, I never thought I'd become a celebrity," Ye Yunfei's Soul Power clearly caught all those quiet discussions around him, and he found it inwardly amusing.
A moment later, they arrived before a particularly imposing and impressive building.
"Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, this is the Contribution Hall. Let's go in and collect your welfare."
A Niu led Ye Yunfei into the building's main hall. Inside the hall, many disciples came and went. Some were here to collect their monthly fixed welfare, others to exchange Contribution Points. It was bustling.
At that moment, not far away, a young man was fixing a cold, sharp gaze on Ye Yunfei. A dozen or so disciples flanked this young man.
"Senior Brother Li, it's this brat who injured many of our Water Peak disciples today. He's made our Water Peak lose all face."
A disciple next to him whispered through clenched teeth, his gaze towards Ye Yunfei filled with resentment and hatred.
"Our Water Peak has always been the strongest among the Tianyuan Sect's five peaks. Only we bully disciples from other peaks; no disciple from another peak has ever dared bully our Water Peak disciples. Who would have thought this brat would give our Water Peak such a massive show of force as soon as he entered the mountain gate? From now on, how can we Water Peak disciples hold our heads high? Senior Brother Li, we must teach this brat a proper lesson to restore our Water Peak's reputation!"
Another disciple also spoke with venom in his words.