When Ji Yuan saw the message left by Elder Xu, the fog in his mind was instantly dispelled.

He suddenly had a feeling of enlightenment.

Understood!

Finally understood!

I was wondering why the Water Dragon Sect suddenly started the selection early, and in such a hurry that not a moment could be spared. So it was because of this matter...

After all, there are quite a few disciples in the Water Dragon Sect who came from this Cloud Rain Marsh. If they learned of this news, they would certainly try to spread it out.

Just like Elder Xu.

So the longer it drags on, the more widespread the insider information becomes. By then, the people they can recruit... oh no, the cannon fodder will be fewer.

As for hiding it, it's definitely impossible to hide.

The Water Dragon Sect has thousands of disciples; how could it be hidden?

All they can do is to recruit as many people as possible before the news spreads too widely.

Once they join the Water Dragon Sect, how they are arranged will be at the sect's discretion, won't it?

"Senior, this doesn't seem to be the way to the Water Dragon Sect, did we take the wrong path?"

"No, we didn't, you have to pass through here to go to the Water Dragon Sect."

"Senior, why are we at the front line, isn't this where we're fighting with the Joy Palace, Senior?"

"It's nothing, we're just transferring here, we'll return to the Water Dragon Sect shortly."

"Senior, why do you want me to charge forward with the magical artifact, senior, senior, don't leave..."

Such dialogues subconsciously appeared in Ji Yuan's mind.

But... is the Water Dragon Sect really that terrible?

How long have they been fighting with the Joy Palace, and they're already dragging cannon fodder to the front lines?

Ji Yuan thought it was unlikely. If it had really reached a desperate state, the Water Dragon Sect wouldn't be so calm, not to mention that a few Foundation Establishment cultivators hadn't even died yet.

More likely, the Water Dragon Sect is unwilling to consume its elite disciples and wants to first recruit some loose cultivators to bolster its presence and show force.

Such newly joined loose cultivators have not yet consumed the sect's internal resources, so it's not heart-wrenching if they die.

Besides, loose cultivators are like leeks; after being harvested, new ones grow in a few years.

Dark! Very dark indeed!

A calm Ji Yuan couldn't help but shiver. Who would think that such a large Water Dragon Sect would harm loose cultivators... but then again, if not them, would they harm their own people?

But are the lives of loose cultivators not lives?

This method is indeed dark. Using the excuse of early recruitment, if you don't go this year, you'll have to wait another three years. In this way, many at the later stage of Qi Refining at the borderline might just go.

Ji Yuan guessed that the Water Dragon Sect might even slightly lower the conditions to attract more loose cultivators.

Fortunately, fortunately, Elder Xu was good to me... Without him, I might already be on the path to become cannon fodder.

It seems that when the time comes to join the Water Dragon Sect, I indeed need to repay Elder Xu heavily.

Three years...

Ji Yuan turned his head to look out the window, his gaze falling into the vast Cloud Rain Marsh.

Three years, so be it!

At worst, I'll wait until I reach the peak of Qi Refining before joining. It's all the same anyway, I'm still young, only turning 20 after the new year.

Waiting another 3 years would only make me 23, which is the perfect age for adventure.

After reassuring himself, Ji Yuan took a deep breath, and then turned to look at Tu Yue, who was still standing like a log. He rarely spoke, "Stop thinking about it; we still need to hang around in this market for another three years. Let's keep raising chickens."

Tu Yue waved her hand and then went to the back yard to tidy up the chicken cage for the day.

Thankfully, Elder Xu's message came in time; otherwise, Ji Yuan would have sent these things out already. It would have been awkward to retract them... not out of embarrassment, primarily because it would hurt his pride.

He once again stepped out to the front yard, looking into the direction of Zengtou City.

With Elder Xu's reminder, Ji Yuan now dared not join in any hustle and bustle, better to stay at home, rather than risk being conscripted.

So might as well wait at home.

Perhaps because he knew something major was happening in Zengtou City, Ji Yuan no longer had the mind to cultivate.

Not knowing whether Du Wanyi and Yao Jingfeng could see through the Water Dragon Sect's technique, but since Elder Xu could inform him, with their connections in the Water Dragon Sect, they would likely receive the news early too.

It made him think of Dong Qian and Han Feiyu, whom Yao Jingfeng often mentioned.

Ji Yuan kept pacing back and forth in the yard, while Tu Yue, having finished dealing with other chores, stood at the doorway again.

Ji Yuan glanced at her and decided to put it aside for now.

The situation in Zengtou City was off; he had to be ready to withdraw at any time.

After a while, Ji Yuan thought of asking Lin Hu to help inquire about the news in Zengtou City. But upon reaching there, he found out that their whole family had already left.

"Hmm?"

Just as Ji Yuan returned home, he looked towards Cloud Rain Marsh and saw a fiery red flying boat heading straight towards his small courtyard.

Du Wanyi?!

Why is she here, she must have also learned about this.

Ji Yuan closed down the building effects, and she descended into the yard at the right time.

"Fourth Brother."

"Second Sister, why are you here?"

"The Water Dragon Sect started the selection early, didn't they also do that here in Zengtou City?" Du Wanyi's face looked grim and heavy.

Ji Yuan couldn't tell if she knew about this matter, so he just nodded.

"Indeed."

This was a fact, no need to hide it. After saying this, Ji Yuan promptly asked, "Second Sister, are you not joining? You've even come to Zengtou City."

He said this with a slight smile.

But Du Wanyi couldn't smile, "Fourth Brother, don't you think something is strange about this?"

"Oh?"

So it seems Du Wanyi doesn't know about this?

Ji Yuan also put away the relaxed expression on his face, "What's happening? Hasn't there been any news from the assembly over there?"

"No." Du Wanyi slowly shook her head, "Even if there is, most of the time it goes to Yao Jingfeng."

"This..."

Could it be that Yao Jingfeng received the news but didn't tell us?

That's unlikely; something that harms others without benefit to oneself shouldn't be something he would do, nor is there any need to. Besides, the four of them were originally classmates.

The four of them were classmates before, and now the three of them naturally still are.

"I also find it strange. This all happened too suddenly, as if the Water Dragon Sect is eager for us to join."

Ji Yuan wasn't sure how deep this issue ran, but since even Du Wanyi and the others didn't know... It's probably quite significant.

If that's the case, it's better not to speak out, lest they cause trouble for Elder Xu.

"Yes, exactly that feeling."

Du Wanyi clenched her right fist, supported her left palm, and then lightly tapped her left hand with her right.

"I was worried something was wrong, so I came to ask for your opinion, Fourth Brother."

Originally, Du Wanyi would always go to Yao Jingfeng if she had any issues, but ever since the last incident, she's been more inclined to trust Ji Yuan.

Otherwise, she would have gone to talk to Yao Jingfeng this time too.

"So, Second Sister, what do you think?"

Ji Yuan still chose to ask first.

"I worry..." Du Wanyi seemed a bit conflicted, but then she gritted her teeth, "Why don't we wait and see!"

After the incident with Luo Tian's demise, Du Wanyi became more cautious.

"Alright!"

Since Du Wanyi could make such a decision on her own, Ji Yuan found it more convenient; he didn't even need to persuade her, which also prevented revealing any news.

"I think the same; it's only three years after all. If we don't join this time, we'll wait another three years."

"Mhm." Du Wanyi nodded earnestly, a slight smile appearing on her face, "I knew you wouldn't join either, Fourth Brother."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because you're too timid, haha."

Ji Yuan rolled his eyes and said no more. Just then, there was the sound of water splashing outside, followed by a hesitant knock on the courtyard gate.

"Brother Wen, just come in; the door's not locked." Ji Yuan called out.

Wen Lin immediately pushed open the door and was surprised to find a visitor in the courtyard. He hesitated for a moment, but then cupped his hands in a salute, "Greetings, Senior."

Du Wanyi withdrew her smile, her expression growing cold as she barely nodded.

She never showed a friendly face to outsiders.

"What's the matter, Brother Wen?"

Ji Yuan also noticed that Wen Lin had returned alone without his wife and daughter, so he must have something urgent.

"Brother Ji, I heard something in Zengtou City. The Water Dragon Sect has modified the selection rules this time."

Wen Lin didn't express his opinion, merely stating the facts.

"What rules?"

"This time, the Water Dragon Sect wants anyone at the late stage of Qi Cultivation. There's no need to individually slay a late-stage first-level Demon Beast like before."

"Oh?"

Ji Yuan and Du Wanyi exchanged a glance, both showing an expression of having expected this.

"Is there more?"

Ji Yuan wasn't too surprised as the news was within his expectations.

"I originally thought of testing Ling Er's Spirit Root, but this year the Water Dragon Sect doesn't plan on testing for Spirit Root. They seem to only be recruiting cultivators at the late stage of Qi Cultivation, as well as Loose Cultivators skilled in Alchemy Dao, Talisman Dao, and Artifact Dao."

"So, this year's Water Dragon Sect selection only admits two categories of people."

Du Wanyi said softly, and Wen Lin nodded, "Precisely."

He turned to look at Ji Yuan, hesitating a little, but still softly called, "Brother Ji..."

"Don't worry, I understand."

Ji Yuan maintained his calm demeanor, as if everything was under control.

"Alright, Ling Er and the others are still in Zengtou City, I'll head back to pick them up first."

Wen Lin cupped his hands and said, "Farewell!"

Watching his departing figure, once the outsider was gone, Du Wanyi's face regained a hint of a smile, "Fourth Brother, your neighbor is quite alright."

"He's a good person."

Ji Yuan sighed, "Looks like we anticipated correctly; the Water Dragon Sect even removed the threshold just to recruit more people."

"The Water Dragon Sect previously didn't lack disciples, so why recruit so many now..."

Du Wanyi spoke while suddenly looking at Ji Yuan.

Their eyes met and both saw a sense of realization in each other's eyes.

Ji Yuan looked at the finally "enlightened" Du Wanyi, "This Water Dragon Sect truly is a bit shady!"

"Who says otherwise."

Du Wanyi took a deep breath, as if recalling something, and said, "Previously, the Water Dragon Sect did something similar, recruiting a batch of miners to extract minerals deep within a vein. However, there were Demon Beasts living in that vein, and any cultivator at the late stage of Qi Cultivation entering would wake them, so the Water Dragon Sect could only let cultivators at the early and middle stages of Qi Cultivation dig."

"But there are very few cultivators with such low cultivation in the sect, so they lured many Fishermen by claiming to recruit reserve disciples for mining, and very few came back."

It seems this is an old tradition; cultivation sects aren't all that good, and it seems even if we join the Water Dragon Sect in the future, we'd better be ready to run anytime.

...The hardships of cultivating are many, and it's truly difficult to make a name for oneself!

The two waited another half-day, and Yao Jingfeng still didn't arrive.

Du Wanyi seemed a bit uneasy, "Logically speaking, if something were genuinely passed down from the assembly, Yao Jingfeng would definitely come to find me first; if not finding me, he would come to you, but we've waited for so long and he still hasn't come..."

Just as the two were about to venture to Huaiyin Square to take a look.

Lin Hu and Wen Lin, who went to Zengtou City to watch the fun, returned, and they brought back news.

"The Water Dragon Sect selection has ended; they also mentioned next year's selection will continue, and this year's was sudden and won't affect next year's."

Wen Lin said with a cheerful smile.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.