Chapter 35: Mount Ling

## Chapter 35: Ascend Spirit Mountain

Returning to the small spiritual garden, the night had already fallen. Yet, as Ye Chen stepped inside, he found Tiger Kid wide awake, seated cross-legged on a meditation mat, diligently absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. A careful inspection revealed that Tiger Kid's cultivation had already solidified at the first layer of Condensing Qi.

"Truly a diligent little fellow," Ye Chen smiled faintly.

Hearing the sound, Tiger Kid opened his eyes. Seeing it was Ye Chen, he hastily stood up. "Big Brother, you've returned."

"How do you feel?" Ye Chen patted Tiger Kid's shoulder.

"I feel very good, hehehe." Tiger Kid bared two rows of white teeth. Honest and guileless, he revealed only the truest emotions from his heart. "I feel full of strength, and my appetite has grown quite a bit too!"

"You'll become even stronger later." Ye Chen wore a gratified smile, then took three bottles of spirit liquid from his storage bag and handed them to Tiger Kid. "Take three drops every hour. Three drops is the limit; absolutely do not drink more."

"Thank you, Big Brother." Tiger Kid was incredibly excited, even remembering to wipe the bottles with his sleeve.

"When you've used them up, come find me for more."

"Mn, mn." Tiger Kid nodded, then raised his small head, blinking his large eyes at Ye Chen. "Big Brother, can I also cultivate on Spirit Mountain like you?"

Ye Chen fell silent. As a sect disciple, he deeply understood the sinister nature within. The weak were bullied, the strong attracted jealousy, and the schemes and intrigues made it impossible to be fully on guard. Tiger Kid was an honest and sturdy child; how could he understand schemes and intrigues? He truly did not want this child to encounter such things so early.

"I just want to see the world above," Tiger Kid lowered his small head, seeing Ye Chen remain silent.

Looking at Tiger Kid in this state, Ye Chen sighed inwardly, yet a slight smile still graced his face. He patted Tiger Kid's small head and laughed. "Prepare yourself, and tomorrow I'll take you up the mountain."

"Really?" Tiger Kid raised his small head again.

"Let's go!"

"Mn, mn!"

Tiger Kid was overjoyed and scurried into his small room.

*Ai!*

After Tiger Kid left, Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh secretly. "I wonder if helping you become a cultivator is the right choice or the wrong one."

Taking one last look at Tiger Kid's small room, Ye Chen once again tended to the injuries of the small eagle spirit beast, then, under the cover of night, walked into Zhang Fengnian's room and injected a bottle of Jade Spirit Liquid into his body, helping to nourish it.

Having done these things, Ye Chen returned to his own room, placing the small purple-gold gourd by his bedside to absorb spiritual energy. Afterward, he closed his eyes and began to cultivate the Barbarian Desolate Refining Body.

The next day, before the sky had even brightened, he stepped out of his room.

In the small garden, Tiger Kid was already awake, having even changed into clean clothes.

"Cultivating on the mountain requires proper conduct and rules. Don't cause trouble, and remember to return early." Zhang Fengnian, leaning on his crutches, repeatedly admonished him, fearing Tiger Kid would be bullied up there.

Ye Chen slowly walked over and smiled. "Senior, rest assured, I will take care of him."

After a simple breakfast, Ye Chen and Tiger Kid, under Zhang Fengnian's watchful gaze, walked out of the small spiritual garden.

Stepping onto the Spirit Mountain of the Hengyue Sect for the first time, Tiger Kid's large eyes constantly scanned his surroundings. The majestic mountain peaks, the grand palaces, the spiritual trees surrounded by light – everything was new and fascinating to him.

Today, the Spirit Mountain of Hengyue Sect seemed particularly crowded with people cultivating outdoors. Perhaps the melees on the Wind and Cloud Platform between the disciples of the three main peaks had ended, leaving no more spectacle to watch, forcing them to return to their cultivation. Or perhaps the outer sect grand competition, less than a month away, had increased the pressure, prompting them to speed up their cultivation.

However, Ye Chen's arrival still attracted much attention. This intern disciple, since arriving at the Hengyue Sect, had caused quite a stir with several significant events: battling Zhao Long on the Wind and Cloud Platform, openly defying Earth Yang Peak, crippling Wei Yang, and receiving punishment in the Disciplinary Hall...

"How did he bring Tiger Kid up? Is he openly ignoring the sect rules?"

"Are your eyes blind? That youth named Tiger Kid has true qi fluctuations within him!"

"He can cultivate?"

"Truly a strange piece of news!"

Ye Chen directly ignored the surrounding whispers, pulling Tiger Kid's hand and walking slowly. In contrast, Tiger Kid, facing the pointing and talking, timidly followed behind Ye Chen, not daring to make any extra movements.

"Don't be afraid," Ye Chen smiled slightly.

"I... I'm not afraid."

Turning several bends, Ye Chen brought Tiger Kid to the Nine Purity Pavilion to obtain an identity card for him. The elder in the great hall was still the same unruly-looking green-clothed elder.

Seeing Ye Chen walk in, the green-clothed elder couldn't help but smile. "Little fellow, indeed my eyesight was poor." The green-clothed elder still remembered the scene when Ye Chen first came here that day, with the peak masters of the three main peaks all present, yet they refused to take him as a disciple due to his low talent. However, the subsequent series of events truly surprised him. The intern disciple whom the three main peaks had abandoned actually possessed such astonishing talent, leaving people with endless regret.

"Senior is jesting," Ye Chen smiled. As he spoke, he led Tiger Kid forward and said with a smile, "Senior, he is called Tiger Kid, and he has come to obtain an identity card."

"Oh?" Hearing this, the green-clothed elder's gaze settled on Tiger Kid. He examined him carefully, pinching Tiger Kid's small arms and shoulders. He had made a mistake once and didn't want to make a second. However, this time, despite his careful inspection, Tiger Kid's talent and aptitude were indeed very mediocre. Compared to Ye Chen, the difference was too great.

"Little one, you can only be an intern disciple for now," the green-clothed elder finally looked at Tiger Kid and asked, "Are you willing?"

"Mn, mn, mn!" Tiger Kid nodded hastily. "Old Grandpa, as long as I can cultivate on the mountain, anything is fine."

The green-clothed elder smiled, then walked inside. Soon, he emerged with a storage bag. Ye Chen took the storage bag for Tiger Kid, then bowed to the green-clothed elder, "Senior, I have troubled you."

Saying this, Ye Chen was about to turn and leave, but was called back by the green-clothed elder.

"Little fellow, if your intern period is complete, are you willing to become my disciple, Qingyi?" The green-clothed elder extended an olive branch. The Hengyue Sect had a rule: no matter whether it was the three main peaks or the elders of various pavilions, they could all take disciples. The green-clothed elder's words were an invitation to bring Ye Chen under the tutelage of his Nine Purity Pavilion.

"Thank you, Elder, for your appreciation. When my intern period is complete, I will consider it," Ye Chen smiled slightly, his words tactful, neither promising nor refusing.

"I will await your answer."

Ye Chen nodded lightly and led Tiger Kid out of the Nine Purity Pavilion. Just as they emerged, he encountered an acquaintance, or more accurately, an enemy. That person, in flowing white robes, was as graceful as a jade tree in the wind, with a constant, hateful expression of mockery and amusement on his lips. Looking closely, was it not Qi Hao, the disciple from Yang Peak who had ambushed Ye Chen from the back mountain that day?

"Yo!" Seeing Ye Chen, Qi Hao smiled playfully. "This world is truly small! I see you, this waste, everywhere."

Ye Chen's gaze turned cold. Originally, he wanted to go directly to the Wind and Cloud Platform with Qi Hao right then and there, but after careful consideration, he temporarily abandoned the idea. Tiger Kid was with him, and he didn't want this child to witness a scene that was too bloody.

"What? Didn't the fire whip beat you to death?" Qi Hao scoffed with a disdainful smile. He wasn't alone; beside him followed a youth named Qi Yun. He was similar in age to Tiger Kid, yet he carried himself with arrogance, glancing at Tiger Kid with a look of utter contempt. "Truly weak."

Under the gaze of the youth Qi Yun, Tiger Kid lowered his head in shame. Regardless of his birth, cultivation realm, temperament, or aptitude, he was too far behind Qi Yun.

Ye Chen pulled Tiger Kid away, but a cold sentence drifted back.

"Qi Hao, tomorrow on the Wind and Cloud Platform, I will be waiting for you."