Beast Taming Clan: I Have a Jade Book

Chapter 551: Chapter 448: Yun Baili’s Watchful Eyes (Double Chapter Special for 200 Comment Check-In)

The temple gate of the Purple Wood Sect is adorned with numerous Purple Cloud Wood Spirit Shadows, symbolizing the flourishing Purple Qi throughout the sect. At the top of the gate, two eagles are sculpted in flight.

Ye Jingcheng looked at this architecture style, which was similar yet different from the Ye Family style, and couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Guarding the temple gate were Ye Jingyu and Ye Haiyu.

There were also a few people whom Ye Jingcheng did not recognize, presumably recruited by the Ye Family in the Purple Wood Sect.

Ye Family’s Hidden Peak Race People were not overly abundant, but not scarce either.

However, after establishing several Hidden Islands, the clansmen found themselves spread too thin, and had to admit that having these cultivators from the Purple Wood Sect would greatly benefit the development of the Ye Family in the East Sea.

Of course, the Ye Family must maintain a certain moderation; if they exceed it, they would fall into a terrifying crisis of exposure.

In that case, even if Ye Xuecang broke through to the Golden Core, he might not withstand the crisis.

And that was also the reason Ye Jingcheng looked forward to the family’s trial with its three challenges.

If the Ye Family’s three challenges were ineffective, he could improve them.

If the three challenges were formidable, he could learn something from them.

Ye Jingcheng was not the first to attempt the trial; five cultivators had already tried before him.

Among them, three were in Qi Cultivation, and two were in Foundation Establishment.

Each had decent strength, but Ye Jingcheng was also aware that many of these cultivators had consumed a number of Spirit Pills made from Demon Beasts Inner Cores, rendering their Spiritual Energy not very condensed.

During their breakthrough, they almost entirely relied on Spirit Pills to push through the barrier.

After all, the cultivation techniques circulating among the common folk were not superior techniques.

And changing cultivation techniques was one of the reasons why many loose cultivators wanted to join a sect.

“Do you have any skills you excel in?” Ye Jingyu suddenly asked at this time.

“Skills I excel in?”

“Would Alchemy Skill and Killing Skill count?” Ye Jingcheng quickly understood why Ye Jingyu suddenly asked such a question.

Someone was watching them.

Otherwise, Ye Jingyu wouldn’t do so.

Ye Jingyu did not give a signal because he knew that Ye Jingcheng and he did not need to exchange looks.

And indeed, the outcome proved this to be true.

Ye Jingcheng just didn’t understand why Ye Jingyu could sense it, while he couldn’t.

Therefore, in response to what he had exposed these days, Ye Jingcheng chose to demonstrate his Alchemy Skill. Otherwise, his purchasing of Spirit Medicine would seem too much like a cover-up.

“They count. Go in, but be careful of releasing too much baleful aura. If you can’t make it through, don’t blame the Purple Wood Sect for not giving you a chance,” Ye Jingyu coldly mocked.

“Thank you for informing me, Sect Leader!” Ye Jingcheng wasn’t angry; instead, he cupped his hands.

At that moment, he was curious about who was observing them.

Was it Chief Steward Yun from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion or Yun Fusheng from the Cloud Heaven Pavilion?

But soon, he shook his head.

Both were Foundation Establishment cultivators; even if they dared, they wouldn’t have the strength.

With the added vigilance from his fourth brother, it had to be the Purple Mansion from the Yun Family.

The Purple Wood Sect was developing rapidly, and the Yun Family, along with other forces, never ceased their infiltration of the sect.

Of course, regardless of who it was, the most important thing for Ye Jingcheng was still helping Ye Xuecang through the Golden Core Thunder Tribulation.

Everything he was doing now seemed to be a way to lull these cultivators into a false sense of security.

Ye Jingcheng entered through the temple gate, and beyond it was the Array.

As he stepped into the Array, the surrounding scenery changed instantly.

Rumble!

Boundless tsunamis swept in, turning the entire sky into ink. Rolling dark clouds were accompanied by torrential rain and roaring tsunamis, engulfing waves one after another.

At that moment, Ye Jingcheng felt the limits of human ability against the boundless nature of the Heavenly Dao!

In the tsunami, various Demon Beasts appeared.

Ye Jingcheng was now standing before Purple Wood Island.

Purple Wood Island had activated the Island Protection Array and was fighting with the Demon Race.

Meanwhile, rescue Spirit Talismans continuously reached Ye Jingcheng.

And now Ye Jingcheng faced nothing more than two paths.

One was to flee, the other was to join forces on the island.

Ye Jingcheng knew this was an illusion, and the sect rarely killed people.

He hesitated for a moment, then chose to head to Purple Wood Island.

Once he landed on Purple Wood Island, the Illusion Realm disappeared instantly, making it overly simple.

Ye Jingcheng couldn’t help but smile slightly, no wonder they said the Purple Wood Sect was easy; such an illusion was absurdly easy.

However, Ye Jingcheng also realized that the family had already evaluated by this time.

The reactions of each challenger, whether hesitant, decisive, or fearful, were all observed by the Ye Family cultivators.

Testing abilities was false, testing temperament was real!

Ye Jingcheng moved on to the second challenge, which was more difficult. It was a Spirit Puppet with an aura similar to Ye Jingcheng’s.

With his late-stage Foundation Establishment strength, Ye Jingcheng could only fight to a draw with the Spirit Puppet.

Though it was because Ye Jingcheng was holding back, it also indicated that the Spirit Puppet conjured by the Array was quite impressive.

Ultimately, as Ye Jingcheng suddenly changed tactics and struck with the Eternal Green Sword, the Spirit Puppet vanished completely.

Ye Jingcheng then arrived at the third challenge.

“Come register, what level is your skill at? You barely passed the first two challenges!” The final figure was a white-bearded elder.

The third challenge was apparently just an inquiry.

This left him surprised and made him marvel at how simple the three challenges of the Purple Wood Sect were, indeed.

However, Ye Jingcheng suddenly had a doubt, if it was so simple, then everyone should be joining the Purple Wood Sect. In this light, the difficulty of the other three sects should not be too high either.

“I am Elder An Yuhuai, the Grand Elder of the Purple Wood Sect. Although you have the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, the Supreme Elder of the Purple Wood Sect is at the Middle Stage of Purple Mansion. If you show any disrespect towards the sect elders, you will still be taken to the Hall of Justice!” The old man, seeing Ye Jingcheng’s lack of action, blew his beard in anger and almost wanted to cancel Ye Jingcheng’s qualifications.

“Elder An, I am skilled in alchemy. I was just startled for a moment because my lungs were injured by that spirit puppet.” Ye Jingcheng hastily explained.

Upon hearing about Ye Jingcheng’s alchemy skills, Elder An’s mood slightly improved, and he patiently continued to inquire about Ye Jingcheng’s past, his future plans, and his mortal kin.

Ye Jingcheng answered each question, having prepared for this in advance.

However, he was equally surprised, as Elder An seemed unusual. What would a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator want to know about these things?

He was sure there was no Spirit Inquiry Talisman in sight.

Moreover, even if there was one, nothing could be discerned from Elder An’s questioning method.

Though confused, Ye Jingcheng nodded, confirming he joined his family’s sect.

Though not difficult, it was certainly complicated.

“Now that you have joined the Purple Wood Sect, remember to work hard. You’re still young, with a bright future ahead. The Supreme Elder of the Purple Wood Sect currently has no disciple. This matter has been told to you alone by this elder!” An Yuhuai advised earnestly after giving Ye Jingcheng a Purple Wood Token.

The final words were spoken mysteriously.

Ye Jingcheng naturally nodded, even offering some spirit stones.

However, An Yuhuai did not accept them.

This left Ye Jingcheng stunned.

“What do you take me for?” An Yuhuai couldn’t help but shout loudly.

“To succeed in the sect, diligent cultivation is what’s needed!”

Ye Jingcheng nodded, understanding Elder An’s hinting on the word ’diligence.’

Whether things in the Purple Wood Sect would turn out as expected depended on his mood.

Ye Jingcheng passed the examination and waited behind the hall door.

Making sure there were no issues with himself, he also observed others.

As expected, aside from disqualifying due to age, only the Yun Family’s recruitment was extremely strict.

The other Purple Mansion clans did not eliminate many.

Especially the Purple Wood Sect, keeping about eighty percent.

And even more were kept by the Foundation Establishment sects.

Seeing this, Ye Jingcheng could predict what would become of these cultivators.

There were many ore veins in the Outer Sea and many resource-rich Spirit Islands.

The only lacking were guard and pioneer teams.

At this time, Ye Jingyu, while explaining the sect’s rules, handed Ye Jingcheng a different jade talisman.

Inside the jade talisman were the Ye Family’s examination rules and observed information.

Those eliminated from the examination weren’t the ones who fled right away in the illusion realm.

But those who decisively entered Purple Wood Island or hesitated for a short time before entering.

In the Ye Family’s view, such cultivators were most likely to have ulterior motives.

How could loose cultivators truly dedicate themselves to the sect? Fleeing is human nature.

Only hesitation followed by more hesitation reflects the mindset of loose cultivators, as they would worry that the illusion array could also be a slaughter array.

Only those who investigated, prepared, and could instantly tell the illusion array lacked lethality were the greatest threat to the Ye Family.

Instead, those straightforward, selfish, and afraid of death weren’t likely spies.

In terms of fleeing in the sea domain, a small-scale escape seems natural.

But during a large-scale beast tide, trying to escape alone would lead to even faster demise!

By rules, Ye Jingcheng would have been eliminated too.

Only Ye Jingyu forcibly brought him in.

Additionally, this fourth brother might have intentionally shown him the jade talisman.

Ye Jingcheng couldn’t help but smile, finding the illusion array unfriendly to a strong Divine Soul, as it minimally affected them.

There was no immersive feeling.

The second trial was simpler, observing the source of one’s cultivation technique and combat skills.

These often hinted at a person’s background.

The Ye Family’s array could even retain images, gathering the strengths of numerous sources without issue.

This also supported the Ye Family’s experience in magical combat, serving multiple purposes.

The third trial was just for numbers; An Yuhuai was recruited after the Ye Family established the Purple Wood Sect. Though neither his cultivation nor talent stood out, he was extremely passionate about founding the sect.

Recognizing his enthusiasm, the Ye Family granted An Yuhuai most of the management authority in the Purple Wood Sect.

Only supervisory rights remained in Ye Family cultivators’ hands.

In a way, An Yuhuai truly contributed to the Purple Wood Sect’s strength.

“Did I misunderstand him?” Ye Jingcheng was momentarily bewildered.

But he quickly shook his head, finding An Yuhuai of minor importance; those concealed in darkness mattered more.

According to the jade talisman, the one observing the Ye Family was indeed Zi Yun from the Yun Family, known for insight into minds, the Hundred Eyes Ascendant, Yun Baili!

The Ye Family’s hall held a sensing treasure.

Following the jade talisman, this Yun Baili had once tracked Ye Jingyu, but was later deterred by Ye Xuefan.

In the jade talisman, Ye Jingyu reminded Ye Jingcheng to be cautious.

Not to allow Yun Baili any chance.

“Dong! Dong! Dong!”

With three bell tolls, the sect conference concluded. Disqualified cultivators left in disappointment, while successful ones exchanged glances, sighing in relief.

No longer labeled as loose cultivators, their risk of demise significantly dropped, heightening the chance to acquire more spirit stones.

For Ye Jingcheng, he could finally legitimately settle on Purple Wood Island to observe its current development.