Seeing Jiang Liu's sullen expression, Feng Boyun chuckled unkindly and said, "Don't look like you've suffered a great loss. My Feng Yue isn't bad either!"
"Besides, my Feng Family isn't bad off in Yunzhou! We can help you in any way we can!"
Jiang Liu rolled his eyes, not wanting to pay any attention to this unscrupulous old man.
Feng Boyun didn't care about Jiang Liu's attitude and continued, "Alright, let's stop this small talk and tell you the main reason I called you here!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu immediately became interested and looked at Feng Boyun, waiting for him to continue.
Feng Boyun continued, "The various states are preparing to hold Martial Arts Tournament. Are you interested in participating?"
Jiang Liu was taken aback and said, "Martial Arts Tournament? Never heard of it! Who started it?"
"The Three Sects! Right now, they're only circulating among the top powers in each state; they haven't spread far yet! So, kid, are you interested in joining?"
"When does it begin?"
"Starting next June, each prefecture will be allocated quotas according to its upper, middle, and lower levels: ten for the lower prefectures, fifteen for the middle prefectures, and twenty for the upper prefectures. The final winner will be decided in Qian Province!"
Jiang Liu immediately understood the implication when he heard that the final gathering would take place in Qian Province. Were the three sects preparing to fight against the Great Qian? And this martial arts tournament was even jointly organized by the three sects. This was truly intriguing!
Jiang Liu didn't say anything, he just looked at Feng Boyun.
Feng Boyun looked at Jiang Liu with a headache. What a cunning little fox! "Our Feng Family doesn't have a single ninth-rank member among the younger generation right now. We want you to represent the Feng Family in the battle!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu frowned and said, "Your Feng Family is full of talented people, why would you need an outsider like me to represent the Feng Family?"
"And is there any special significance to this martial arts tournament?"
"All those who qualify from each state will be awarded one Primal Return Pill. Those who enter the top 100 will be awarded an additional Demon Transformation Pill, those who enter the top 50 will be awarded an additional Essence Solidifying Pill, those who enter the top 25 will be awarded a top-grade weapon, and those who enter the top 10 will be awarded a unique skill to choose from in the Three Sects Martial Arts Pavilion. The top three will be awarded a spot as True Inheritor Disciple the Three Sects."
Upon hearing that he could choose any unique skill from the three sects, Jiang Liu's eyes lit up as he looked at Feng Boyun. As for the other reward pills, they were all for helping him reach the Grandmaster Realm, and Jiang Liu had no interest in them.
Feng Boyun could tell what Jiang Liu was thinking just by looking at his expression. He chuckled and said, "Kid, you're overthinking it. It's impossible for him to possess the three sects' ultimate techniques! But if you become True Inheritor Disciple of one of the three sects, it might actually be possible!"
"So? Kid, are you tempted yet?"
"Are the quotas for each state predetermined, or are they awarded through competition?"
Seeing that Jiang Liu was interested, Feng Boyun smiled Jiang Liu said, "It was obtained through a competition; each faction only has the right to recommend!"
"Is it stipulated that only the top powers in each state can participate?"
"No, that's not true. Any martial artist under the age of thirty who is below the Grandmaster Realm and is within the territory of the Great Qian can participate."
"But think about it! Can any top-ranking young martial artist under the age of thirty in each state be cultivated without a top-tier power?"
Feng Boyun glanced at Jiang Liu, then added, "After all, people like you are in the minority."
Jiang Liu glanced at Feng Boyun, guessing that he had already figured out his strength.
This old fox is clearly trying to lure me into a trap. Once I'm on his pirate ship, it'll be hard to get out.
Even if you want to participate, you don't necessarily have to represent the Feng Family!
The Feng Family is such a large Lineage, there must be a lot of infighting. Besides, this is just the Feng Family of Wind City, and it doesn't represent Yun City!
So let's wait and see!
Jiang Liu then said to Feng Boyun, "I need to think about this. Besides, there's still plenty of time!"
Feng Boyun nodded, then said with some curiosity, "Alright! But where did you go for the past few months? How come you disappeared for half a year?"
"I didn't go anywhere! I just went into the Ten Thousand Mountains range to cultivate."
"The Ten Thousand Mountains? Did you encounter a battle Grandmaster from the Ghost School and the Daoist sect?"
"A grand battle between the Ghost School and the Daoist sect's Grandmaster? When?"
"About half a year ago! How come you ran into him?"
"I don't know if it counts as encountering them, but I know that one night, there was a sudden surge of energy. I wonder if they were having a big battle?"
"A surge of vital energy? That must be it. I heard it was a battle between Dao Sheng of the Daoist sect and Gui Shan of the Ghost School. Later, the sect leader of the Daoist sect and the sect leader of the Ghost School both appeared and stopped the battle!"
"It's been many years since there's been a battle between Grandmaster! If Daoist Dao Sheng hadn't happened to encounter the Ghost School's soul-summoning ritual, this great battle wouldn't have occurred!"
Feng Boyun said with a longing look on his face.
"Summoning souls? What do you mean? You mean the Ghost School is summoning souls?"
"Yes! The Ghost School's cultivation methods are unique; they can absorb the souls of martial artists or Exotic Beast for cultivation. At that time Gui Shan of the Ghost School was leading his disciples in a soul-summoning ritual, which is why Dao Sheng fought him!"
Jiang Liu was a little confused when he heard this. This soul-absorbing cultivation was similar to the Soul Technique! Could it be that the Ghost School also Soul Refining Technique? But then he thought about it, and realized that couldn't be right! They should be two different cultivation methods!
It seems that the lack of Spirit Power Particles during the Soul Refining Technique must have been caused by the Ghost School's Soul Guide.
Immediately, the cultivation techniques of the Ghost School caught Jiang Liu's attention.
Seeing Jiang Liu's interest, Feng Boyun was speechless and said, "Don't even think about messing with the Daoist Sect or the Ghost School. Neither of them is easy to deal with!"
"I know! I'm just interested in the Grandmaster battle!" Jiang Liu replied casually.
Feng Boyun looked at Jiang Liu with an expression that said, "You're trying to fool a three-year-old," and could only warn Jiang Liu again.
"Don't take this lightly. Although you've offended White Saint Society, he doesn't know and it's not easy to investigate. But the Daoist and Ghost School Sects are very special. Once you get involved with them, it's hard to get rid of them."
Jiang Liu, seeing Feng Boyun's repeated warnings, immediately became wary. It seemed these two sects were no ordinary ones; it was best to avoid provoking them. After all, many mysteries of this world remained unexplained.
Then Jiang Liu asked Feng Boyun for advice on some difficult cultivation problems, especially the issue of advancing to the Grandmaster level.
Feng Boyun patiently explained it to Jiang Liu again.
Finally, Jiang Liu was indeed alright, and then he bid farewell to Feng Boyun.
Feng Boyun repeatedly urged Jiang Liu to stay for a meal, but Jiang Liu declined each time, as he was already terrified of this old fox.
Feng Boyun had no choice but to let Jiang Liu leave.
Feng Boyun watched Jiang Liu's retreating figure and thought to himself, "It will be a long and arduous task to win this kid's heart over the Feng Family!"
Jiang Liu followed Feng Yunli all the way out of the Feng Family. Only when they reached the gate did Feng Yunli say to Jiang Liu, "Nephew, I hope you don't mind. That's just how the old man is, but he really likes you!"
Jiang Liu nodded and said, "Uncle Feng, I know. Besides, I also enjoy talking with the old man!" After saying that, Jiang Liu turned around and got into the carriage.
Feng Yunli watched the departing carriage, lost in thought.