Jiang Xiaorou's Warning

Yi Yun and Jiang Xiaorou walked toward their home, almost engulfed by the entire village.

For the Lian Clan, Yi Yun passing the assessment was huge news.

A boy from a poor family had actually been chosen by the Emissary Lord, who would personally guide him in martial arts. He might even participate in the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection in the future!

Even saying that their ancestors' graves had begun smoking green wasn't enough to describe it.

"You tell me, I've watched this Yun Wazi grow up since he was little, but I never thought there was anything special about him. Is he really a martial arts prodigy? Can he really participate in the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection?"

"Since the Emissary Lord said it, there must be some basis for it. But forget about the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection. There's so little time left. Even if Yi Yun really is a martial arts prodigy, he has absolutely no hope."

In the eyes of the Lian Clan villagers, martial arts training was not something that could be accomplished overnight. The Divine Kingdom Grand Selection was a place for choosing elites. Yi Yun being favored by Zhang Yuxian was already an incredible stroke of luck.

As for passing the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection, that was simply a fool's daydream.

If one gave a child who had never studied the classics a stack of ancient texts to read, then no matter how intelligent that child was, it would be impossible for him to pass the imperial examinations and become the top scholar after studying for only a month or two.

Participating in the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection followed the same principle. This was the consensus formed by the people of the Lian Clan, and no one doubted it.

It took Jiang Xiaorou great effort to bring Yi Yun home.

When she closed the courtyard gate, many people were still curiously leaning over the wall and peering into Jiang Xiaorou's home. The village's earthen walls were short to begin with, and even a half-grown child could jump up and cling to the top.

As a result, an entire row of people was soon draped over the wall of Jiang Xiaorou's home. The earthen wall swayed dangerously, looking as though it might collapse.

Jiang Xiaorou ignored them. In truth, her feelings were complicated at that moment. She was proud of her younger brother, but her heart was also mixed with confusion and fear about the future.

Jiang Xiaorou understood that Yi Yun merely had high talent right now, not great strength.

Some villagers might have confused the two, thinking that Yi Yun's fortunes were about to change. But Jiang Xiaorou knew very clearly that in the Great Wilderness, strength was everything. Talent only had meaning if one could develop it into strength. Otherwise, it was useless!

"Yun'er, Lord Zhang said today that you have a Flawless Physique. Do you know what a Flawless Physique is?"

Jiang Xiaorou pulled Yi Yun over by the hand and sat down beside the bed.

Yi Yun shook his head. "Sister Xiaorou, could it be that you know?"

"Mm... I've heard a little about it. A Flawless Physique means that the body has no energy 'leaks.' This constitution is most suited for martial arts."

"Flawless Physiques also have different grades. A low-grade Mortal Blood Flawless Physique can remain flawless at the Mortal Blood level, but not at the Purple Blood level. A Purple Blood Flawless Physique can remain flawless in both the Mortal Blood Realm and the Purple Blood Realm, but not at higher realms... We still don't know which kind you have, little brother."

After hearing Jiang Xiaorou, Yi Yun was stunned. "Sister Xiaorou, how do you know so much?"

Jiang Xiaorou stroked Yi Yun's head and said, "When I was little, my lineage also tested my talent, so I heard a little about it."

"The process of testing for a Flawless Physique is very troublesome. Lord Zhang probably didn't have a formation plate, and his own cultivation was limited, so he could only perform a rough test on you..."

"Flawless Physiques are highly valued by lineages, but if it's only a Mortal Blood Flawless Physique, then the level of importance is very limited. High-grade Flawless Physiques, however, are extremely rare. I vaguely remember that when my talent was tested, there was a cousin in my lineage called Jiang Mingzhe. He seemed to have a Saint-level Flawless Physique. The entire lineage was alarmed, and we celebrated for many days. Many important figures even came to our home to offer their congratulations. My memories of the details are a little hazy..."

When Jiang Xiaorou said this, Yi Yun was completely stunned.

A Saint-level Flawless Physique?

Although he did not know what level that was, it sounded extremely powerful.

And Jiang Xiaorou's lineage could actually produce someone with such a constitution. What kind of lineage was it?

Yi Yun had originally known only that Jiang Xiaorou came from a wealthy family. She had learned to read and write at a very young age, read many books, and knew about cultivation—abilities that children from small households could not possibly possess.

Since Jiang Xiaorou had been born into such a family, why had she inexplicably ended up in the Great Wilderness and been adopted by his family?

Yi Yun could not help asking, "Sister Xiaorou, what was your former lineage actually like?"

Jiang Xiaorou lightly furrowed her delicate brows and thought for a while. In the end, she still shook her head and said, "I don't remember anymore. I only remember that it was a very large lineage. Then... I only remember the books I read and the words I wrote when I was a few years old, and the courtyard where I lived as a child. But I've forgotten everything that happened afterward. No matter how hard I think, I can't remember."

Jiang Xiaorou's words aroused Yi Yun's curiosity. Could something have happened to her lineage?

Could such a glorious lineage have been destroyed, causing its people to scatter?

Dynasties rose and fell, lineages flourished and declined. In this world, nothing could remain forever.

"Yun'er, these are the clothes I made for you. See if they fit."

As she spoke, Jiang Xiaorou rummaged through an old bundle in the house and took out a newly sewn garment.

The blue cloth looked very coarse. It was the linen that people in Yunhuang often wore—sturdy and hard-wearing.

Yi Yun was stunned for a moment. His family was so poor that they did not even need to lock their door. This was no exaggeration; it was truly the case. Poor families like Yi Yun's did not have locks because in Yunhuang, metal locks were still quite expensive, while all the belongings of a poor family were not worth as much as a single lock.

They were poor to this extent, yet Jiang Xiaorou had somehow obtained a piece of cloth and made him new clothes?

Yi Yun accepted the garment with complicated feelings. The cloth was rough, but it had been cut with great precision and sewn neatly. The edge was covered in fine stitches, every one of them sewn by Jiang Xiaorou herself.

To be honest, the clothes did not feel good at all. In fact, they felt terrible. Compared to the cotton and silk clothes Yi Yun had seen on Earth, the difference was like heaven and earth.

Yet this very garment gave Yi Yun a special feeling.

"Put them on quickly. I originally planned to let you wear them for the New Year, but you're going to the training grounds to practice martial arts today, Yun'er. That's a major occasion, so you naturally have to dress a little better. We can't let the neighbors laugh at you."

Jiang Xiaorou spoke of these trivial matters, but Yi Yun's nose stung as he listened. He took a deep breath, removed his tattered clothes, and changed into the new outfit.

People relied on clothes just as horses relied on saddles. Jiang Xiaorou's new clothes fit him closely. Although they were made of coarse cloth, when paired with Yi Yun's body, which had begun to grow taller, and the restrained aura that had emerged after his breakthrough into the Meridian Realm, they gave him a dazzling appearance.

Jiang Xiaorou pulled Yi Yun over and looked him up and down, thoroughly satisfied.

But then she remembered something and said, "Yun'er, although you've gained Lord Zhang's favor, Lord Zhang will leave after only three days. He isn't related to us, and it's already rare for him to look after you a little. In the days ahead, we'll still have to rely on ourselves."

"Lord Zhang says you have talent for martial arts, but talent cannot be used to protect you. Before you grow strong, it might even bring disaster. Elephants are hunted for their tusks, and rhinoceroses are slaughtered for their horns. When you practice martial arts under Lord Zhang, don't show off too much. Keep a low profile and be cautious in everything. You can never go wrong that way."

"Especially Lian Chengyu. He has a narrow mind. If you overshadow him, he definitely won't tolerate you!"

"While Lord Zhang is here, Lian Chengyu won't dare do anything. But what about after Lord Zhang leaves? And how could Lord Zhang know what Lian Chengyu is really like? He knows even less about the mess inside the Lian Clan or Lian Chengyu's hostility toward you. Lord Zhang is most likely here on important business. As for coming here to conduct the preliminary selection for the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection, that should merely be something he's doing along the way. He might not devote much attention to it, and he certainly won't interfere in the Lian Clan's internal affairs. It will be very difficult for you to seek his protection. Do you understand?"

Jiang Xiaorou said so much in one breath that Yi Yun secretly admired her.

Jiang Xiaorou was truly meticulous. Her understanding of people and worldly affairs far surpassed that of girls her age.

If it were an ordinary young girl, encountering the great fortune of having her younger brother favored by the Emissary Lord would probably have left her dazed by this pie that had fallen from the sky. How could she still have stayed home to give him so much advice? She might have already run off to boast to the neighbors about how capable her younger brother was.

"Sister Xiaorou, I know everything you said." Yi Yun held Jiang Xiaorou's hand. "Don't worry. If I hadn't been confident that I could deal with Lian Chengyu, I wouldn't have rashly stood out today."

Before signing up, Yi Yun had carefully weighed the pros and cons.

There was no doubt that he had to pass the preliminary selection presided over by Zhang Yuxian. Not to mention that this was a required admission ticket for the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection, Yi Yun was already extremely interested in the martial arts Zhang Yuxian taught.

Previously, Yi Yun had learned martial arts from Yao Yuan by secretly copying him, so the results had naturally been greatly diminished. Therefore, when Zhang Yuxian selected people, Yi Yun had to step forward.

However, Yi Yun could reveal his talent, but he could not expose his true cultivation before Zhang Yuxian.

Zhang Yuxian did not know Yi Yun's foundation, but how could Lian Chengyu not know? Just a few days ago, Yi Yun had still been a helpless weakling. In such a short time, from everyone else's perspective, he had taken no medicine and received no martial arts instruction, yet had somehow cultivated to the Meridian Realm. Wasn't that far too outrageous?

Once Lian Chengyu told Zhang Yuxian about this, Zhang Yuxian would definitely become suspicious. Even the geniuses of major lineages, who consumed Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures every day, could not cultivate so quickly.

When that happened, Zhang Yuxian would naturally think that Yi Yun had a secret!

Although Zhang Yuxian looked very upright, one could never be too wary of others. In the face of a priceless treasure, could an upright person truly never develop wicked thoughts? Yi Yun absolutely could not allow the Purple Crystal to be exposed in the slightest.