Initial Selection

Yi Yun was just thinking when, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly spotted someone.

After breaking through to the Meridian Realm, his five senses had become exceptionally sharp. Amid the chaotic crowd, he immediately saw Jiang Xiaorou standing outside it, craning her neck and peering inside.

"Sister Xiaorou!"

Yi Yun called out.

"Yun'er!" Jiang Xiaorou's heart leaped with joy when she saw Yi Yun. "Huh, Yun'er, how did you..."

She suddenly felt that Yi Yun seemed different today, but she could not quite put her finger on what had changed.

If the old Yi Yun gave off the impression of a timid, harmless little child, the current Yi Yun was a handsome youth with a heroic air between his brows. Even his shabby coarse-cloth clothes could not conceal his bearing.

Inner brilliance...

Jiang Xiaorou suddenly thought of the phrase. A treasured sword hidden in its scabbard, its sharpness concealed within, waiting for the day it would be drawn.

That was the feeling the current Yi Yun gave Jiang Xiaorou.

Of course, Jiang Xiaorou could sense it only because she had lived alongside Yi Yun day and night and knew him best. If someone was unfamiliar with Yi Yun, then even if they thought he seemed somewhat different, they would not pay much attention. After all, Yi Yun's impression on others was simply that of a sickly good-for-nothing.

"Sister Xiaorou, I'm fine." Yi Yun smiled. He knew this change in bearing was due to his breakthrough into the Meridian Realm. "Let's go inside and take a look."

He naturally took Jiang Xiaorou's hand and squeezed through the crowd. After reaching the Meridian Realm, whenever Yi Yun casually extended a hand, it seemed an invisible force would part the crowd and let him pass. Before anyone realized what was happening, they would only see a child dart through.

By the time they reacted, they assumed Yi Yun had merely taken advantage of his short stature to slip through the gaps.

At the center of the square, the upper echelons of the Lian Clan were still nervously receiving the sword-bearing man.

"Chengyu, give the order. Slaughter a cow and prepare a feast!"

The old clan leader waved his hand grandly, though his heart was aching terribly.

The clan also raised several plow oxen, which were clan property of the Lian Clan. These oxen looked much like the yellow cattle of Earth, but they possessed far greater strength.

The land of the Great Wilderness was filled with rocks, many of them Black Iron Rock. Developing a plot of farmland was exceedingly difficult. Without plow oxen, the Lian Clan would barely be able to produce its own grain, and all their food would have to be supplied by the Tao Clan.

Thus, in the Lian Clan, a single plow ox was worth more than dozens of human lives. It sounded tragic, but that was reality.

Now that a member of the Brocade Dragon Guard had come to the Lian Clan, they had to entertain him properly. The clan had already tightened its belts to refine Savage Bones; where could they find any decent food? They could only slaughter a plow ox.

The sword-bearing man naturally knew how difficult life was for the small clans of the Great Wilderness. He said indifferently, "There's no need to slaughter a cow. On my way here, I also encountered several Fierce Beasts that attacked me. After killing them, I put them on the Giant Rhinoceros Beast as provisions. Have someone take them down, then burn a fire and cook them."

The sword-bearing man spoke lightly, but the people of the Lian Clan were secretly shocked.

In Yunhuang, beasts that attacked humans were divided into three types: Fierce Beasts, vicious beasts, and Savage Beasts!

Fierce Beasts were the most ordinary kind, comparable to tigers and leopards on Earth. An experienced hunter could capture and kill them with traps, even without having practiced martial arts.

Vicious beasts, however, were far stronger. The powerful ones among them were comparable in strength to warriors of the Purple Blood Realm!

There were countless vicious beasts in Yunhuang. In fact, when clan hunters ventured out, vicious beasts posed their greatest threat.

Although Savage Beasts were powerful, most of them lurked in the "Savage Plains," where Savage Power was dense. As long as one avoided the "Savage Plains," one was basically safe.

But vicious beasts were spread far too widely. There was no avoiding them!

The reason Purple Blood Realm martial artists possessed the ability to hunt was that they could kill most vicious beasts. Even when they encountered vicious beasts they could not defeat, escaping was not a problem.

This sword-bearing man had crossed the Great Wilderness and casually hunted several vicious beasts, doing so with tremendous ease. Such strength was truly enviable!

Lian Chengyu drew a deep breath and clenched his fists as he looked at the bulging pack behind the Giant Rhinoceros Beast. Clearly, the vicious beasts he had killed were stuffed inside that enormous bag.

"One day, I'll have strength like this too—even strength far beyond this realm!" Lian Chengyu secretly vowed.

When he heard that they would not need to slaughter a plow ox, the old clan leader's heart bloomed with joy. Yet he continued saying aloud, "How could that do? How could we let a guest prepare the food? Though my Lian Clan is poor, we still..."

"That's enough. There's no need to say more. I came this time because I have business to attend to!" The sword-bearing man was a decisive, vigorous person. He had no interest in the Lian Clan's formalities.

"Please speak, honored envoy! Though my Lian Clan has declined, we still have over a thousand households. If there is anything you need us for, honored envoy, just say the word!"

The old clan leader's voice was extremely humble. He was not the least bit annoyed at being interrupted. He also understood that a dignified member of the Brocade Dragon Guard could not possibly have come to a tiny place like the Lian Clan for no reason.

The sword-bearing man said, "Several major events have occurred in Yunhuang recently, and the Lian Clan's location happens to lie within the region where these events are taking place! The Brocade Dragon Guard has come for this reason as well."

As soon as the sword-bearing man finished speaking, the old clan leader's expression changed. A major event had occurred in Yunhuang?

Moreover, from the sword-bearing man's tone, it seemed that many members of the Brocade Dragon Guard had come. He was merely one of them.

Anything the Brocade Dragon Guard regarded as a major event was beyond his imagination. And the Lian Clan happened to lie in the very region where these major events were unfolding. He had no idea whether it was a blessing or a disaster.

Once they were caught up in such a major event, a presence as insignificant as the Lian Clan would likely be annihilated in an instant, like a tiny wave swallowed by the sea, vanishing without even a bubble rising to the surface.

Seeing the old clan leader's expression, the sword-bearing man said calmly, "This matter should not involve you. However, quite a few outsiders will probably pass near the Lian Clan in the coming days, and some of them may be important figures. Just make sure you do not offend them."

"Yes, honored envoy, you are right. This old man will remember it well." The old clan leader nodded like a pecking chick.

The sword-bearing man continued, "My visit to the Lian Clan is merely incidental. My superiors ordered us to offer you some guidance, also in preparation for the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection not long from now!"

As he spoke, the sword-bearing man had already turned toward the people of the Lian Clan. His voice rang out, carrying more than ten li into the distance.

In an instant, the previously boisterous square fell completely silent.

"My name is Zhang Yuxian. Remember it well. I have come to the Lian Clan to select thirty youths under the age of twenty-eight as my temporary disciples and instruct you in fist techniques and cultivation methods!"

"I will remain here for only three to five days. You must study diligently. Everything I teach will be tested during the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection!"

The moment Zhang Yuxian said this, the people of the Lian Clan held their breath.

The Divine Kingdom Grand Selection!

It concerned their future destiny. The entire clan was risking everything merely to help Lian Chengyu pass the Warrior Grand Selection!

Especially the members of the Warrior Reserve Camp—their breathing grew rapid.

A master from the Brocade Dragon Guard had actually come to the Lian Clan to instruct them in cultivation methods and Martial Skills. How could such a wonderful opportunity exist?

They did not dare hope to pass the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection, but if they could receive Zhang Yuxian's guidance and learn some of the profound techniques of the Brocade Dragon Guard, it would certainly greatly benefit their future growth!

When Lian Chengyu passed the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection and entered the city, they would have greater strength and could win even more glory and riches for themselves!

"I will select the thirty people myself. The participants for the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection will also be chosen from these thirty. In other words, anyone I do not select will have no qualification to participate in the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection!"

Hearing Zhang Yuxian's words, Yi Yun immediately understood. So Zhang Yuxian was, in fact, the first examiner for the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection.

The Divine Kingdom Grand Selection of the Tai'a Divine Kingdom was held in Yunhuang only once every unknown number of years. Yunhuang lacked resources, its warriors had low average strength, and its settlements were scattered far and wide, making examinations extremely troublesome. If every citizen of the Great Wilderness could participate, organizing it would consume an incalculable amount of manpower and resources.

Thus, using an experienced Brocade Dragon Guard elite like Zhang Yuxian to conduct the first selection would save a great deal of time!

"Now, anyone who wishes to become my temporary disciple, attend three days of intensive training, and participate in the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection in the future may step forward. I will choose thirty people!"

The moment Zhang Yuxian said this, the crowd erupted into a commotion.

The members of the Warrior Reserve Camp were especially excited, all of them pushing forward with flushed faces and thick necks.

Some, like Zhao Tiezhu, knew how to read the wind and trim their sails. He first glanced at Lian Chengyu. Only after seeing that Lian Chengyu did not object did he squeeze to the front of Zhang Yuxian.

In an instant, nearly everyone from the Warrior Reserve Camp had come forward.

The Lian Clan's Warrior Reserve Camp had nearly sixty members in total, more than forty of whom met the age requirement.

Zhang Yuxian would select only thirty, which meant that more than ten people would be eliminated!

The weaker members of the Warrior Reserve Camp grew nervous. They were terrified that Zhang Yuxian would brush them aside.