Chapter 351: First Entering the Outer Gate

As the night deepened, the courtyard of Zixiao Sect's outer gate looked particularly quiet and simple under the pale blue moonlight. The bluestone-paved paths in the courtyard were lined with ancient pines and cypresses that had experienced the baptism of time, with drooping branches, as if silently guarding this piece of pure land.

When Ye Fan walked through the courtyard gate, his steps were slow but firm. He was wearing a plain blue shirt. Although his clothes were simple, his straight back and the determination in his eyes foreshadowed his extraordinary future.

Walking into the outer gate reception hall, Ye Fan saw an elderly deacon standing behind the counter, on which were neatly placed stacks of jade tokens, hardcover booklets, and various seals. The deacon had a thin face and a calm and serious look. He raised his hand and nodded slightly to Ye Fan: "Donor, please apply for the status of an outer sect disciple here and receive the sect rules and skills manuals."

Ye Fan reached out his hand and took a finely carved jade token. The token was engraved with the words "Purple Sky Outer Sect Disciple". It was crystal clear and seemed to contain a faint spiritual aura. He also took a hardcover booklet of sect rules. The cover was painted with a pattern of a coiled blue dragon and clouds, as well as a volume of outer sect skills written in ancient seal script. Although the booklet was thin, every word was a pearl, and every page exuded a kind of wisdom accumulated by masters of past generations.

"Complete the basic tasks assigned by our sect every day, and you will gain a little bit of improvement in your cultivation." The deacon said calmly, with unquestionable rules and rigor in his voice. Ye Fan nodded and carefully put the token and booklet in his arms. He knew that this was not just a piece of rune, but also a key to open the door to a new life.

During the day, the outer disciples each performed their duties. The courtyard was divided into several different areas, some were responsible for taking care of spiritual plants, some were responsible for collecting medicinal materials, and Ye Fan was assigned to a deep garden to take care of a rare spiritual plant. The garden was located in a remote corner of the courtyard, surrounded by lush greenery. The spiritual plants grew in the ancient stone flower beds, exuding a faint fragrance. However, under the busy daylight, Ye Fan's work was not smooth sailing.

Walking in the garden, an old outer sect disciple with a mean face and arrogant expression came to Ye Fan with contempt in his eyes: "Boy, taking care of these spiritual plants is just the most basic task of the outer sect. Don't think you are so great." Although his clothes were similar to Ye Fan, his face full of traces of meanness and his cold words made people feel chilly.

Ye Fan was silent. He knew that in the outer sect, newcomers often encountered such difficulties. Although he felt a little aggrieved, he still responded in a low voice: "Brother, I will take good care of them and will never let these spiritual plants be damaged." His voice was not loud, but firm and powerful, as if telling of his determination and forbearance.

The old disciple snorted coldly, said no more, and turned away. Ye Fan continued to silently arrange the spiritual plants in the garden, his eyes always focused on each rare herb. He secretly calculated in his heart: If these spiritual plants can be cultivated properly, they will provide endless spiritual materials for the sect to refine pills, and will also lay a solid foundation for his future practice.

As night fell, the courtyard of the Zixiao Sect's outer sect gradually returned to peace, with only the sound of insects chirping and the rustling of treetops in the wind in the distance. Ye Fan returned to his simple room, leaned against the window, and looked at the starry sky in the distance through the mottled light and shadow on the courtyard wall. The room was simply furnished with a wooden bed, a desk, and several oil lamps, all of which exuded a strong ancient atmosphere. The weak light reflected on the desk, and the Zixiao Sect's outer sect skills booklet and sect rules booklet looked particularly solemn. Every page recorded the ancient heritage and the hard work of countless practitioners.

Ye Fan took out the book and slowly opened it, his eyes gradually becoming focused. Every word and every pattern seemed to contain infinite mysteries. The wind outside the room whistled, as if it was bringing him the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, while the room was filled with the fragrance of books and the smell of ancient wood. At this moment, Ye Fan was immersed in the practice of Zixiao Sect's skills. His breathing became even and his expression was focused, as if the whole world was left with only those flying words and the surging spiritual energy in his body.

"This technique... is truly extraordinary." He whispered, his fingertips lightly stroking the runes on the book, feeling the aura of the great way of heaven and earth contained in it. He knew that although these external basic techniques were not as sophisticated as the internal ones, they were far more profound and practical than the ones he had learned before. Every move and every style aroused strong spiritual fluctuations in his body, as if it could directly break through all obstacles.

In the dead of night, Ye Fan sat cross-legged, his eyes closed, his consciousness scattered, the spiritual energy in his body surged like a torrent, and he gradually entered a state of deep thought. At this moment, time seemed to stand still, only the heavy martial arts book, the faint light in the room and the endless persistence in his heart were intertwined. The wind and clouds were surging outside the house, and a little spiritual light was faintly revealed in the hall of Zixiao Sect in the distance, but all this seemed to have nothing to do with him. His world was only about cultivation, breakthroughs and future glory.

During that long period of silence, Ye Fan's face gradually became serious and resolute. Every scar and every pain was silently transformed into motivation to keep moving forward. He knew that it was this period of forbearance and cultivation that would determine his future height and whether he would be able to rewrite his own destiny in this world.

The moonlight outside the window was bright, reflecting the mottled bluestone and pine trees in the courtyard, which looked particularly sad and peaceful. Ye Fan's figure seemed so lonely in the moonlight, but also very firm - that was a kind of stubbornness that did not give up after going through hardships.

"No matter how difficult the road ahead is, I will keep going." Ye Fan whispered to himself. Although his voice was light, it was as shocking as a landslide or tsunami.

He knows that this road is full of challenges and unknowns, but as long as he has a dream in his heart, no difficulties or obstacles can stop his determination to pursue power and change his destiny. And Lin Yue's company, that gentle and firm gaze, will always be the warmest support in his heart.

As the night deepened outside the window, Ye Fan continued to immerse himself in the thousand-year-old Zixiao Sect's skills. His expression gradually changed from concentration to tranquility. From every word, he seemed to see the wisdom and tenacity of countless ancestors and the infinite possibilities of the future. Every breath, every flow of spiritual energy, was telling him the true meaning of practice - only by continuous breakthroughs and continuous growth can one truly grasp the key to destiny.

On this quiet and solemn night, Ye Fan silently made up his mind: no matter how turbulent the outside world is, he will use this strength and wisdom to walk out a glorious road of his own and meet all challenges in the future.