by Feng Yise
Ye Yuan's thoughts were interrupted by Cheng Jiang, but he said with a smile, "I wonder what advice this Brother has?"
"Brother? Heh heh, boy, you have to call Your Excellency! A boy who just ascended. Really unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth!" Cheng Jiang said with a cold sneer.
"Your Excellency? Your esteemed self is merely a First Level Boundless Realm martial artist. Can you live up to 'Your Excellency' these two words?" Ye Yuan could not help laughing as he said.
"Merely a First Level Boundless Realm? Hehe, what high-sounding sentiments! Punks who ascended up are indeed more ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth one after another! You go and ask those two over there whether they are willing to obediently call me Your Excellency or not!" Cheng Jiang seemed to have long gotten used to Ye Yuan's conduct, saying with a cold smile.
The moment that one elderly, one youth, two people heard these words, their expressions because ugly.
They were already lectured prior to this. Moreover, the treasures on their body also had quite a bit plundered away.
Hearing Cheng Jiang asked him, the youth had no choice but to nod his head. He said, "This Brother, better put away the wild arrogance from the Lower Realms! This place . . . it isn't appropriate!"
Chapter 711 - Counter-suppression
"Hear that or not? I know that you guys are all first-rate geniuses in the Lower Realms with your own pride. However . . ."
Cheng Jiang deliberately dragged it out and said with a solemn face, "Your pride isn't worth a penny in the Divine Realm!"
Ye Yuan looked at Cheng Jiang and could not help laughing as he said, "Perhaps I really don't have the capital to be arrogant in front of a genuine expert. But in front of you . . ."
Ye Yuan did not finish talking, But the meaning of his words was already very clear.
He, Ye Yuan, was proud!
As proud as when he was in the Lower Realms!
When Cheng Jiang heard Ye Yuan's words but did not show an enraged expression.
Their objective of being here was in order to make those ascenders be obedient, let them know that after ascending, they had to tuck their tails between their legs and behave.
Otherwise, if these ascenders were all arrogant to the extreme, how would they manage?
Ye Yuan's behavior was also within Cheng Jiang's expectations. Or should he say, every ascender's attitude was about the same as Ye Yuan's.
Those two previously were like that too. Now, weren't they still docile and obedient?
"Hah, is that so? Then . . . I'll have to take a look at your pride!"
Cheng Jiang's voice had yet to fade when a surge of powerful essence energy instantly crashed over towards Ye Yuan, directly enveloping Ye Yuan inside.
The elder and youth other there could not quite bear to look steadily at it.
They knelt down to this move of Cheng Jiang's earlier and did not even have strength leftover to retaliate.
What was exasperating was that the two of them were both Boundless Realm experts!
First Level Boundless Realm versus First Level Boundless Realm and they actually did not even have strength leftover to counterattack.
They only struggled a little before conceding dejectedly. That scene earlier even made them somewhat doubtful about life.
Could it be that these years of cultivation were all cultivated into a dog's stomach? Or were the Divine Realm's martial artists all powerful to this sort of degree?
They ended up like this even though they were Boundless Realm. Wouldn't Ye Yuan, a freshly broken through Second Level Divine Traversing brat, be crushed until half-dead?
"Hey, Old Huang, you look! It looks odd!" that youth suddenly said to the elderly man.
Old Huang looked over at Ye Yuan there, his expression involuntarily changed.
"He . . . Why is he totally fine? This . . . This isn't right!" Old Huang said in amazement.
Over there, Ye Yuan was being pressured by Cheng Jiang's aura, but he was perfectly calm and collected. It was as if Cheng Jiang did not do anything at all.
Yet, the violent essence energy undulation around Ye Yuan clearly told everyone that Cheng Jiang was really putting pressure on Ye Yuan.
"Huhu, essence energy suppression is it? This is your opening gambit? Doesn't look like much to me," Ye Yuan said with a faint smile.
Cheng Jiang's expression was ugly as he said, "You . . . How is this possible?! You, an ascender, moreover, only Second Level Divine Traversing, are actually able to withstand my essence energy suppression! I don't believe it!"
Cheng Jiang clearly could not accept this truth. Hence, he mustered up all the essence energy in his body.
The coercion of a Boundless Realm crushed over towards Ye Yuan overwhelmingly.
Ye Yuan shook his head and said with a sigh, "Thickheaded!"
The next instant, Ye Yuan's aura was fully released!
The violent essence energy abruptly burst out, forcing back Cheng Jiang's suppression immediately!
Cheng Jiang did not expect that Ye Yuan actually still had strength leftover to counterattack. Caught off-guard all at once, he was forced back by Ye Yuan until his bottom plopped onto the ground directly.
Ye Yuan sneered coldly in his heart incessantly.
Cheng Jiang's methods, he was all too clear. Merely taking advantage of his cultivation time in the Divine Realm being long.
To really talk about comprehension towards cultivation realm, he might not even be stronger than an ascender.
The so-called essence energy suppression was actually because the Divine Realm's essence energy was not only thicker compared to the Lower Realms, it was purer compared to the Lower Realms' essence energy too.
Therefore, the martial artists cultivating in the Divine Realm, the essence energy within their bodies were many times purer compared to Lower Realms' martial artists!
Similarly, First Level Boundless Realm, the essence energy within Cheng Jiang's body was much purer than Old Huang's!
But how could Cheng Jiang have thought that what Ye Yuan cultivated was the Spirit Bristle Nine Yang Divine Art that caused a stir in the entire Divine Realm!
Even if Ye Yuan was cultivating in the Lower Realms, the essence energy he absorbed into his body was also refined and extracted through the Spirit Bristle Nine Yang Divine Art.
Compared to Cheng Jiang, Ye Yuan's essence energy was God knows how many times purer!
Therefore, him wanting to use essence energy to suppress and deal with Ye Yuan was simply a joke.
Ye Yuan arriving at the Divine Realm, although he was unable to jump realms and battle by a large margin like in the Lower Realms, dealing with a bottom-level soldier like Cheng Jiang was still achievable.
"No way, right? This . . . This brat is so strong!" on the platform, Old Huang exclaimed in shock.
Even though the youth did not speak, the expression on his face was exactly the same as Old Huang's.
When Cheng Jiang's big brother saw this scene, his face could not help revealing a look of astonishment.
These few years, Cheng Jiang had never dropped the ball before when taking action to deal with the lower realms' ascenders.
Didn't expect that today, he failed miserably in a very simple task.
"Boy, you're courting death!"
Cheng Jiang did not expect to actually have his face swept away by an ascender. He flew into a violent rage all at once and was about to step forward and make a move.
But he had yet to move and was stopped by Big Brother.
"Cheng Jiang, don't be rash!"
As he said, he came in front of Ye Yuan and bowed with his hands folded in front as he said, "Little Brother has such pure essence energy. This one is Yu Ming. I wonder what's Little Brother's name?"
Ye Yuan was not some impetuous person who just ascended. He knew the Divine Realm's matters like the palm of his own hand.
These two people were merely soldiers here to guard the ascension pool. They still had a powerful force be
hind them and could not be offended at all.
In the end, Ye Yuan was only an ascender now as well. His strength was too weak!
Earlier, making a move to deal with Cheng Jiang was also just taking him down a notch, and make them not casually knead him.
Since this Yu Ming had the intentions of getting friendly now, Ye Yuan was naturally happy to oblige.
"You flatter me. This one is Ye Yuan."
"So, it's Little Brother Ye. This brother of mine is too reckless when doing things. Just now, he offended you. But restraining ascenders is also where our brothers' duties lie. Little Brother Ye, please don't take offense."
Ye Yuan said with a smile, "Big Brother Yu is overly s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e. This small matter, this Ye will not go to the extent of taking it to heart."
Yu Ming originally thought that since Ye Yuan was young and his strength was formidable too, he probably would not be too easygoing. Didn't expect that he was so astute.
Except, because of this, Yu Ming regarded Ye Yuan even more higher.
This boy was bound to be a major figure in the future.
At least, he would be an existence that them brothers needed to look up to.
Such a person, one either had to exterminate him immediately now or get on friendly terms in advance. At least, one could not offend too much.
"Haha, then that's good, then that's good! Little Brother Ye's essence energy is so pure. It's really not like a newly ascended martial artist!" Yu Ming said with a laugh.
"Big Brother Yu is too kind. It's just that the cultivation method that this Ye cultivates in is a little special. To really come to blows, I probably won't be Big Brother Yu's match." Ye Yuan said smilingly.
This Yu Ming's shrewdness was very deep, wanting to test Ye Yuan. But Ye Yuan yielded cleverly, lightly skating over this topic.
Furthermore, Ye Yuan only said that he was not Yu Ming's match. But he did not say that he was not Cheng Jiang's match.
Yu Ming was slightly apprehensive in his heart and also put away the thought of probing. With a big laugh, he said, "Little Brother Ye is too modest!"
Chapter 712 - Merit Points
In comparison to the Lower Realms, the Divine Realm's space was more stable. The Heavenly Dao it contained was also more stacked and comprehensive.
Martial artists comprehending Heavenly Dao and concepts were a little easier relative to doing so in the Lower Realms.
Plus, the essence energy thickness was exceedingly high. Therefore, martial artists' overall strength was more than a level stronger than the Lower Realms.
Especially to martial artists who had just ascended, the Divine Realm's martial artists at the same rank would basically crush them.
But this sort of disparity would slowly become small along with the passing of time.
So much so that the Lower Realms' ascenders had even greater potential compared to the Divine Realm's native martial artists.
To be able to achieve the conditions for ascension under the Lower Realms' limitation, their talent in itself was absolutely a heaven defying-like existence.
After they arrived at the Divine Realm, once they get accustomed to it, regardless whether it was cultivation realm or concepts, a blowout-style eruption would occur.
It was just that, this sort of situation was in the minority. This is because after they arrived at the Divine Realm, they would not have the qualifications to go and cultivate at all.
To the vast majority of ascenders, the reality that they had to consider was still survival!
"Little Brother Ye's talent surpasses others. However . . . since you're an ascender, what should be said, Big Brother Yu still have to make it clear for you." Yu Ming said.
Ye Yuan nodded and said, "Big Brother Yu just go ahead and say."
Ye Yuan naturally knew that whichever force the lower realm belonged to, they would have to serve that force after ascending.
"The two of us brothers are serving Ancient Opulence City. Ancient Opulence City belongs to the Crimson Afterglow Holy Land. According to the Crimson Afterglow Holy Land's rules, ascenders must serve the holy land for 50 years after ascending up from the lower realms. Or save up sufficient merit points and you can obtain freedom. Since Little Brother Ye ascended to my Ancient Opulence City, you'll naturally have to serve my Ancient Opulence City. Of course, if Little Brother Ye's performance in Ancient Opulence City is outstanding and strike the holy land's fancy, it will be another opportunity. At that time, even Elder Brother, I, will have to look to Little Brother for support!"
When Yu Ming was talking, he observed Ye Yuan's expression from time to time.
According to his thinking, with Ye Yuan's pride, he would definitely blow his top when he heard this news.
But who knew that Ye Yuan's face only revealed a ruminating expression, and he did not seem to be surprised about this situation.
Ye Yuan finished listening and said to Yu Ming with clasped hands, "It's Little Brother's first day here. In the future, I still need Big Brother Yu to give more help."
Yu Ming hurriedly said that he dare not. "Big Brother, I, have also stayed for a few years in this Ancient Opulence City. Even though I'm not considered very formidable, I still have some connections in the city. If there are areas where I can come in handy for Little Brother Ye, feel free to open your mouth."
Ye Yuan said with a smile, "Then I'll have to trouble Big Brother Yu."
. . . . . .
Yu Ming led Ye Yuan's group of four to a vast great hall in the city. A manager-looking elder received them.
"Steward Lu, these few have just ascended. We'll have to trouble you to arrange identity tokens for them," Yu Ming said.
Steward Lu swept a glance over Ye Yuan and co. A hint of disdain was revealed in his eyes. But he looked at Yu Ming again and said, "Heh, four ascenders came at once. You, this boy, must have hauled considerable good stuff again this time, right?"
But Yu Ming was not embarrassed. Pulling Steward Lu to one side, he secretly shoved him something.
"How can I forget Steward Lu when there's good stuff? Hehe, this thing, you keep well," Yu Ming said smilingly.
That Steward Lu had sharp-eyes. With one look, he discerned the good and bad of the stuff, and he was fully satisfied with this matter. Patting Yu Ming's shoulder, he said, "It's still you, this boy, who are sensible! If there are any good errands in the future, I won't forget about you."
But Yu Ming smiled and said, "Since that's the case, then I'll have to thank Steward Lu very much."
The two people exchanged glances and smiled. Everything was conveyed without words.
This sort of thing like presenting Buddha with borrowed flowers, Yu Ming was never stingy.
Steward Lu had close relations with City Lord Manor, and his authority was exceptionally great. Yu Ming naturally had to build good relations with him.
Each time he sent ascenders here to collect identity tokens, he would always gift some small things to Steward Lu. Otherwise, the job of guarding the ascension pool also would not fall onto their heads.
Don't look at Cheng Jiang grumbling back then. This job of guarding the ascension pool was really a cushy job. It was just a little dreary.
Not only were they able to extort ascenders a little, they even did not have risks to their lives, and also had large amounts of time to cultivate.
Such a job was not what everyone could get.
Steward Lu returned, directly throwing four identity tokens to Ye Yuan's group of four and said rather impatiently, "Take the tokens and drip blood to let it acknowledge a master. This token, you guys safeguard it yourselves. If you lose it, it will be equivalent to losing your little lives. Take the tokens. You guys can go to the north of the city yourselves and report. There will be people arranging for you guys to mine ores."
Talking until here, Steward Lu immediately shut his mouth and did not speak, as if finding it tiring to even say a word more.
But that Old Huang could not take it lying down when he heard. He
shouted at the top of his voice, "Mine ores? Are you kidding?"
Steward Lu was the same as Yu Ming they all and was long used to this sort of attitude from the ascenders. He just said coolly, "I'm doing this for your own good. It's fine if you don't go too. Don't blame me for not warning you, as long as the merit points inside your identity token persist in the state of 'zero' for ten days, there will naturally be people coming to erase you! My Ancient Opulence City doesn't rear idle people."
Old Huang's expression changed when he heard that. Clearly, he did not think that there was still such a thing.
He was a first-rate powerhouse in the Lower Realms, revered by all.
But arriving at the Divine Realm, he actually needed to do mining for ores, this sort of thing!
Old Huang thought it over and over again and was also unable to accept it.
Except, he also knew that he could not even beat two soldiers, let alone others.
Not mining for ores, there was only the path of awaiting death.
Steward Lu sneered coldly when he saw Old Huang's expression and said, "Good that you can weigh the consequences! Don't think of escaping. You'll wish you were dead. If you don't believe, you can very well give it a try."
"May I ask Steward Lu, how many merit points are we able to obtain by going to dig a day's ores? And how many merit points do we need if we wish to obtain freedom?" The youth who was silent the entire time suddenly opened his mouth to ask.
Along the way, Old Huang and the youth also chatted a couple of sentences with Ye Yuan. Everyone was already familiar with each other.
This youth's name was Su Cheng, age merely 50. Old Huang's full name was Huang Tao but was already 200 years old.
To be able to cultivate to the Boundless Realm using 50 years in the Lower Realms, this Su Cheng was also absolutely a gifted talent.
It was just that such a genius still could not escape the fate of mining ores.
Steward Lu shot Su Cheng a ruminating glance and said with a smile, "According to your productivity when mining ores, it varies from one to five merit points every day. To want to obtain freedom, the merit points required is . . . 100 thousand!"