NOVPUB"Ji Yuan might still have a chance,"
Xi Wushang said, his tone full of reluctance.
To become a personal disciple, cultivation base and age were linked, the younger one was with a higher cultivation base, the higher the chance of becoming a personal disciple.
If he could have succeeded in advancing to Nascent Soul the first time, he would also have had a chance to compete for the position of a personal disciple.
Now, after a delay of more than twenty years, such hope had become nearly slim.
However, his demeanor revealed little sense of defeat.
"It’s a pity Senior Brother Ji was assigned to an external post right after breaking through to the Nascent Soul and emerging from seclusion; otherwise, we could have had a drink together..."
Wang Ba also expressed a hint of regret.
He then teased with a smile,
"By the way, congratulations are in order, Elder Brother Xi, for already becoming Qin Family’s rapid son-in-law."
Xi Wushang gave a bitter smile,
"Mock me all you want, the elders all say I lack ambition and indulge in the pleasures of the flesh."
Hearing this, Wang Ba’s expression became more solemn,
"I’m not mocking you, Elder Brother. What’s wrong with enjoying the pleasures of the flesh? If a cultivator has no desires or aspirations, then what is cultivation for?"
"Instead, I think our cultivation is meant to live comfortably. If there’s a chance for such at present, why abandon the fundamental for the minor? Of course, we can’t neglect our cultivation either, since this is not exactly a peaceful world."
Xi Wushang nodded in strong agreement with Wang Ba,
"I knew you wouldn’t think like those old fogeys."
"Sigh, the question is when will there be peace? These various troubles seem endless, with great floods one moment, and troubles from the Kingdom of Immortals the next..."
Xi Wushang said, filled with emotion.
Wang Ba, upon hearing this, also fell into a brief silence.
With natural disasters, there would inevitably be strife among people.
The great floods were a sign of the decaying world.
And the sweep of the Kingdom of Immortals through Fenglin Continent was another kind of calamity.
Neither the floods nor the Kingdom of Immortals could be stopped by Golden Core Craftsman like them.
So beyond a sigh, there was nothing he could do.
"We should still prioritize our cultivation,"
he sighed.
Xi Wushang soon started selecting cultivators meticulously under the guidance of an Enforcer from Rende Hall.
But in most cases, cultivators who met the standards of the Wanxiang Sect were scarce.
And the vast majority of these few, either had ruthless methods and greatly lacking virtue,
or they had decent talent and virtue, but their cultivation foundations were destroyed, with limited achievements.
Therefore, the progress at Rende Hall was not fast.
That day,
Wang Ba, having finished his own matters, casually went to find Xi Wushang for a chat.
As the two of them were talking,
a Rogue Cultivator at the peak of the Golden Core realm, with a black, hairy mole on his forehead, approached cautiously and bowed deeply. After looking around, he whispered to Xi Wushang with a flattering smile:
"My lord, I am Zhang Yao. I—I am actually better at magical combat than that Zhu Shicheng from yesterday, and my cultivation base is higher than his, and I am more capable. Why—why did you choose him but not me..."
Xi Wushang, who was chatting with Wang Ba, turned to look at the man and then shook his head with regret,
"Ah, it’s you. I remember you; you were here yesterday. But there’s nothing I can do, you indeed do not meet our criteria. Don’t dwell on this too much; you might try your luck with other Sects in Jin."
Upon hearing Xi Wushang’s response, the man quickly smiled even wider,
"Lord, it’s not me who’s saying this, but that Zhu Shicheng really isn’t good enough. To be frank, he is my junior brother; we came from the same Sect and were taught by the same master. He just has better qualification, but his comprehension is truly mediocre. My master scolded him countless times. You can look at me; I’m different. My spells..."
"There’s no need to say more, Zhang. Rules are rules; if it’s a ’no,’ then it’s a ’no,’"
Xi Wushang interrupted, somewhat helplessly.
Yet Zhang Yao still didn’t give up, hurrying to say more, but at that moment, an Enforcer from Rende Hall noticed the scene and promptly scolded him away.
Afterward, frowning, the Enforcer spoke to Xi Wushang,
"Wushang, such a sinister and cunning person full of underhanded schemes should not make you hesitant to refuse."
Hearing this, Xi Wushang could only give a wry smile.
Once the Enforcer from Rende Hall left, and seeing Wang Ba’s curious gaze, Xi Wushang shared,
"Zhang Yao, when we were screening yesterday, was found through a Secret Technique that he intentionally leaked his master’s whereabouts to an enemy to gain a Dharma for achieving Nascent Soul. He’s both foolish and malicious; naturally, the Sect wouldn’t keep someone like him."
Wang Ba nodded slightly, in agreement.
While he believed that the expansion of the Sect shouldn’t exclude some of the smaller-minded individuals,
someone like Zhang Yao, who would betray even his master for personal gain, was a scourge no matter where he was placed.
Of course, if he could be sent to another force, like the Kingdom of Immortals, then it would not be a problem.
But such a chance was unlikely.
While they were talking, Wang Ba suddenly heard a warning signal from Yuhuang Peak in the distance.
He was startled and stood up in a flash, then quickly flew out.
The three Enforcers from Rende Hall who were present also were shocked and hurriedly followed suit.
In the blink of an eye, twelve Nascent Soul Cultivators, along with Wang Ba and Xi Wushang, had gathered on Yuhuang Peak.
Tang Ji looked serious as he spread open the small stone in his hand.
It was the Spirit Rhinoceros Stone used for communication.
At this moment, however, an urgent voice from Song Dongyang was coming through the Spirit Rhinoceros Stone:
