Jiang Xiaorou's Admonishment

Yi Yun and Jiang Xiaorou walked towards their home, surrounded by almost the entire village.

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

A kid from a poor background, chosen by an Emissary Lord to be taught martial arts, and possibly even participate in the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection in the future!

This was beyond anything one could describe as luck.

"You guys, I've watched this Yun kid grow up since he was little. I never thought he was anything special. Is he really a martial arts prodigy? And can he really go to the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection? Is this true?"

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

In the eyes of the villagers of the Lian Clan, martial arts cultivation was not something that could be achieved overnight. The Divine Kingdom Grand Selection was a place for elites. Yi Yun being noticed by Zhang Yuxian was already him striking it lucky.

As for passing the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection, that was simply daydreaming.

It was like trying to teach a young child who had never read a book before to recite classics and historical texts. Even if the child was brilliant, it would be impossible to become a top scholar after only one or two months of study.

Participating in the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection was the same principle. This was a consensus among the Lian Clan members, and no one doubted it.

Jiang Xiaorou finally managed to bring Yi Yun home.

As she closed the courtyard gate, many people were still peeking curiously over the wall into Jiang Xiaorou's house. The village's earthen walls were already low, and a half-grown child could easily stand on the wall.

As a result, a row of people was now perched on Jiang Xiaorou's wall, making the earthen wall look like it was about to collapse.

Jiang Xiaorou ignored them. In truth, her heart was filled with complex emotions. While she was proud of her younger brother, she also felt a sense of confusion and apprehension about the future.

Jiang Xiaorou understood that Yi Yun only had high talent now, not strong power.

Perhaps some villagers were confusing the two, thinking Yi Yun's luck had turned. But Jiang Xiaorou knew very well that in this Great Wilderness, strength was everything. Talent was only meaningful if it led to growth in strength; otherwise, it was useless!

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

Jiang Xiaorou took Yi Yun's hand and sat on the edge of the bed.

Yi Yun shook his head. "Sister Xiaorou, do you know?"

"Mmm... I've heard a little. The Flawless Physique means that the body has no 'leaks' of energy. This physique is most suitable for practicing martial arts."

"The Flawless Physique also has levels. The low-level Mortal Blood Flawless Physique can achieve flawlessness at the Mortal Blood level, but not at the Purple Blood level. The Purple Blood Flawless Physique has no leaks in the Mortal Blood and Purple Blood realms, but not in higher realms... We don't know which type you have yet, little brother."

Hearing Jiang Xiaorou's words, 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 family also tested my talent, so I heard some things."

"The process of testing the Flawless Physique is very complicated. Lord Zhang probably couldn't conduct a thorough test because he didn't have the formation disk and his own cultivation was limited, so he could only give you a rough assessment..."

"The Flawless Physique is highly valued within families, but if it's just the Mortal Blood Flawless Physique, its importance is very limited. However, high-level Flawless Physiques are extremely rare. I vaguely remember that when my talent was tested, there was a cousin in my family named Jiang Mingzhe who seemed to have the Saint-level Flawless Physique. The entire family was shocked, and they celebrated for many days. Many important figures came to offer congratulations during those days. I don't remember the specifics very clearly..."

Yi Yun was completely stunned by Jiang Xiaorou's words.

Saint-level Flawless Physique?

Even though he didn't know its rank, it sounded incredibly powerful.

And... what kind of family could produce such a physique?

Yi Yun had only known that Jiang Xiaorou came from a wealthy family, learned to write at a young age, and had read many books, knowing some things about cultivation. These were not skills a child from a small household would possess.

If Jiang Xiaorou was born into such a family, why did she inexplicably end up in the Great Wilderness and get adopted by his family?

Yi Yun couldn't help but ask, "Sister Xiaorou, what was your family like before?"

Jiang Xiaorou frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and finally shook her head. "I don't remember. I just remember it was a very large family, and then... I only remember the books I read and the characters I wrote when I was a child, and the courtyard I lived in. But for things after that, I've forgotten. I can't recall them no matter how hard I try."

Jiang Xiaorou's words piqued Yi Yun's curiosity. Had her family experienced some upheaval?

Had such a glorious family been destroyed, causing its members to scatter?

Dynasties changed, families rose and fell. In this world, nothing could last forever.

"Yun'er, this is a dress sister made for you. See if it fits."

As Jiang Xiaorou spoke, she rummaged through an old bundle at home and pulled out a newly sewn garment.

It was made of blue cloth, which looked very coarse. This was the hemp cloth commonly worn by people in Yunhuang, sturdy and durable.

Yi Yun was taken aback. His family was so poor they didn't even need locks; it wasn't an exaggeration, but the truth. Poor families like Yi Yun's didn't have locks because metal locks were quite expensive in Yunhuang, and all the possessions of a poor family weren't worth as much as a lock.

To be this poor, how did Jiang Xiaorou get a piece of cloth to make him a new outfit?

Yi Yun took the garment with mixed feelings. Although the cloth was coarse, it was cut very finely and neatly. The edges were adorned with delicate stitches, all sewn by Jiang Xiaorou's own hands.

To be honest, the feel of this garment was not good, even quite poor, a world apart from the cotton and silk clothes Yi Yun had seen on Earth.

Yet, this simple garment gave Yi Yun a special feeling.

"Hurry and put it on. I originally wanted you to wear it during the New Year, but you're going to the training grounds to practice martial arts today, which is a big event. You should dress nicely so the neighbors don't laugh at you."

Jiang Xiaorou spoke these trivial words, but Yi Yun's nose stung. He took a deep breath, took off his tattered clothes, and put on the new outfit.

Clothes make the man. The new clothes Jiang Xiaorou made fit him perfectly. Although it was coarse cloth, combined with Yi Yun's gradually maturing body and the hidden aura he possessed after breaking through the Meridian Realm, it gave people a refreshing impression.

Jiang Xiaorou pulled Yi Yun over and examined him from all angles, looking very satisfied.

But then she seemed to remember something and said, "Yun'er, although you've gained Lord Zhang's favor, he's only here for three days. He's not related to us, and it's already very kind of him to look after you. We still have to rely on ourselves in the future."

"Lord Zhang said you have talent for martial arts, but talent alone cannot protect you. In fact, it might even bring disaster before you grow strong. Elephants are hunted for their tusks, and rhinos are slaughtered for their horns. When you practice martial arts with Lord Zhang, don't be too ostentatious. It's always best to be low-key and cautious."

"Especially Lian Chengyu, he's narrow-minded. If you outshine him, he definitely won't tolerate you!"

"When Lord Zhang was here, Lian Chengyu wouldn't dare do anything. But what about after Lord Zhang leaves? How would Lord Zhang know Lian Chengyu's character, let alone the messy internal affairs of the Lian Clan, or Lian Chengyu's animosity towards you? Lord Zhang is likely busy with important matters this time, and this preliminary selection for the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection is probably just a side task. He won't put too much thought into it, nor will he interfere in the Lian Clan's internal affairs. It'll be difficult for you to seek his protection, do you understand?"

Jiang Xiaorou said all this in one breath, and Yi Yun listened, secretly admiring her.

Jiang Xiaorou was truly meticulous and her conduct far surpassed that of girls her age.

If it were any other young girl, encountering the great fortune of her younger brother being appreciated by an Emissary Lord, she would likely be dazed by this stroke of luck. She wouldn't be at home giving him so many instructions, and might have already run off to brag to neighbors about how capable her brother was.

"Sister Xiaorou, I know everything you're saying," Yi Yun said, holding Jiang Xiaorou's hand. "Don't worry, if I didn't have the confidence to deal with Lian Chengyu, I wouldn't have dared to step forward today."

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

Undoubtedly, Yi Yun had to pass the preliminary selection hosted by Zhang Yuxian. Regardless of it being a necessary ticket to the Divine Kingdom Grand Selection, the martial arts taught by Zhang Yuxian alone made Yi Yun very interested.

Previously, when Yi Yun learned martial arts from Yao Yuan, he did so stealthily, which naturally reduced the effectiveness. Therefore, Yi Yun had to step forward when Zhang Yuxian was selecting candidates.

However, Yi Yun could reveal his talent, but he couldn't expose his true cultivation level in front of Zhang Yuxian.

Zhang Yuxian didn't know Yi Yun's foundation, but how could Lian Chengyu not? Just a few days ago, Yi Yun was still a helpless brat. In such a short time, without anyone noticing him taking any elixirs or being taught martial arts, he inexplicably reached the Meridian Realm. This was too outrageous!

If Lian Chengyu were to tell Zhang Yuxian about this, Zhang Yuxian would surely become suspicious. Even the prodigies of great families, who consumed heavenly treasures daily, wouldn't have such a rapid cultivation speed.

At that time, Zhang Yuxian would naturally assume he had a secret!

Although Zhang Yuxian appeared very upright, it was wise to guard against others. Faced with a great treasure, would even an upright person not harbor greedy thoughts? Yi Yun absolutely dared not expose even a sliver of the Purple Crystal at this moment.