The Best Choice

Although he didn't fully understand, Wu Yuan wasn't actually a fourteen-year-old boy, and he understood after a moment's thought.

Gao Yu fancied his talent.

He specifically requested Wu Yuan to join the 'Finance and Engineering Hall' in the future, likely due to the internal competition among the five halls of the Hengyun Sect.

"An invitation?" Wu Yuan mused inwardly.

It seemed like he had a choice, but did he really?

No choice!

Accepting was the best option!

If he refused, he would not only offend Gao Yu immediately, but Huan Xinyan's attitude would likely change too. Even if they didn't target him, it would bring a lot of trouble.

Besides, the Finance and Engineering Hall had money and power, so why refuse?

Therefore, without any hesitation.

"Senior Gao, Master Huan." Wu Yuan said with a serious expression, "I believe in the Sect and I believe in Master Huan. I am willing to join the Finance and Engineering Hall after entering the Sect."

Since he had chosen to accept, he might as well leave a good impression and have a chance to gain more benefits.

"Very good." Gao Yu smiled, "Wu Yuan, believe me, you will never regret this decision in the future."

Huan Xinyan's smile also became brighter.

She and Wu Yuan weren't actually too familiar with each other; their relationship was only slightly better than a normal teacher-student relationship.

However, as her first disciple, Wu Yuan held special significance. Now that he had revealed his talent and would be able to enter the Sect's Finance and Engineering Hall in the future, she was happy to see it happen.

"Your current physical fitness and combat skills are rapidly improving, thanks to 'opening the acupoints'. However, this process will end soon," Gao Yu said. "But even after it ends, it will permanently enhance your potential."

"With the resources of the Cloud Martial Hall, and with additional resources from our Finance and Engineering Hall, your progress will be several times faster than it is now."

"Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to aid your physical cultivation, top-tier cultivation techniques, and practice grounds."

"As long as you work hard, by the age of twenty!"

"You have the potential to become a First-class Expert!" Gao Yu said solemnly.

"Really?" Wu Yuan's face was filled with excitement, but inwardly he felt rather indifferent. Making promises, indeed, was something all leaders were good at.

A leader who couldn't make promises wasn't a good leader!

Of course, Wu Yuan also understood that even if Gao Yu exaggerated some things, it wouldn't be too far-fetched.

"Since I've decided to leave Li City."

"The Hengyun Sect also has Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, so I'll go take a look," Wu Yuan mused inwardly. "Perhaps the Hengyun Sect can't compare to the top powers, but it would be much harder for me to gain the trust of those powers."

He didn't pay much attention to cultivation manuals or practice grounds.

Only the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures caught his interest.

For Wu Yuan, the most important thing right now was to improve his physical fitness.

Combat skills? Once he gradually recovered to his previous life's level, breaking through and improving further wouldn't be something ordinary manuals or practice grounds could help with.

"Within the Hengyun Sect, there are top experts, and possibly even Earth Ranking Grandmasters," Wu Yuan felt a flicker of anticipation. "At that time, I can also witness the true Martial Dao powerhouses of this world."

Just like in his previous life.

Wu Yuan had participated in numerous Human Federation Martial Dao competitions and had even challenged many Martial Dao Grandmasters one-on-one!

Deep down, Wu Yuan yearned to spar with experts! To fight with the strong!

Of course, the environment was different. In his previous life, sparring and fighting had no life-threatening danger.

In this life? Without sufficient confidence or benefits, Wu Yuan wouldn't rashly challenge those peak Martial Dao powerhouses.

"Senior, the Cloud Martial Hall's recruitment of disciples isn't until next year, right?" Wu Yuan asked.

"Haha, that's for ordinary martial artists. But true geniuses don't need to be bound by rules," Gao Yu laughed. "I will report to the Sect as soon as possible and go through the special recruitment channel of our 'Finance and Engineering Hall'."

"However, for a disciple to enter the Sect, they must go through official procedures at the 'Teaching Hall'. Plus, it's thousands of miles from Li City to the Sect, so it will take at least a month."

"At most two months."

"At that time, a special envoy will come to pick you up and take you to the Cloud Martial Hall," Gao Yu said.

One to two months? Wu Yuan thought inwardly.

So slow.

But considering the backward transportation methods of this world, and this kind of special recruitment, it did require going through the process.

Not too slow.

"Senior, what else do I need to do?" Wu Yuan asked shrewdly.

"The most important thing is secrecy," Gao Yu said solemnly. "Unless you arrive at the Sect Headquarters and are under the Sect's heavy protection, you will naturally be safe. Until then, do not reveal your talent or strength, to prevent assassination or abduction."

"Assassination?" Wu Yuan feigned surprise.

"Yes!"

Gao Yu sighed, "The world is filled with constant strife between hundreds of sects and nations. Our Hengyun Sect has many enemies, and our biggest enemy right now is the Great Jin Empire! They wish to unify the seven states of the Central Plains, and their spies are spread all over the land, impossible to catch all of them or kill them all."

"Ordinary martial artists, those hidden pawns aren't interested in them, but once your talent is exposed, it will definitely attract attention from all sides."

"At that time, it will be easy to attract assassination attempts from the Great Jin Empire."

"Other forces might not kill you, but some dark forces like the Seven Stars Tower and Nine Kill Mansion could abduct you and force you to work for them," Gao Yu said.

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

Before the unification of the Human Federation, the nations of Blue Star were in conflict, and during that time, major powers would also assassinate each other's top scientists.

The principle was the same!

In this Central Land World, the Martial Dao reigns supreme, and un-grown martial arts geniuses are naturally valued.

As for the Seven Stars Tower and Nine Kill Mansion? Wu Yuan had heard of them; they were dark forces known even to ordinary people, with long legacies.

Compared to these dark forces.

The Fierce Tiger Gang was just a fledgling!

"Secondly, don't get arrogant. In the two months you'll be in the Cloud Martial Hall, you still need to seize the time to cultivate. You are currently at the most suitable age for cultivation, so don't waste it," Gao Yu exhorted. "Give it your all, and only then will you have a chance to become a First-class Expert before the age of twenty."

"Thank you for your reminder, Senior," Wu Yuan said repeatedly.

"Lastly, you promised to join the Finance and Engineering Hall in the future, and it will not let you down. Before you officially join the Sect, we will prepare a gift for you," Gao Yu said.

"However, it's too sudden today, and I haven't prepared anything."

"Five days!"

"In five days, come back to the Martial Arts Academy to see me, and I will have a special gift for you. I believe it will be helpful," Gao Yu said with a smile, looking at Wu Yuan.

"A gift?" Wu Yuan's eyes lit up, seeming very expectant.

However, Wu Yuan was inwardly guessing what kind of gift Gao Yu and the Finance and Engineering Hall behind him could prepare for him.

"Alright, you can go back now," Gao Yu said. "After today, the news of your Martial Master strength will likely spread quickly, and it will barely qualify you for special recruitment."

"You don't need to hide the matter of special recruitment from your family."

"Go back and discuss it with your family," Gao Yu said.

Wu Yuan nodded.

After bowing, Wu Yuan left the Martial Dao Grand Hall.

In the testing room, only Gao Yu and Huan Xinyan were present.

"Senior Brother, are you really deciding so quickly?" Huan Xinyan couldn't help but ask. "Shouldn't we consult with other Sects?"

"If Master and the Hall Master knew, they would probably agree even faster than I did," Gao Yu shook his head slightly. "Junior Sister, you are still young and don't understand what opening the 'Upper Dantian Palace' truly means."

"Once the news gets out, the other four halls will go crazy trying to recruit him."

"First come, first served!" Gao Yu chuckled.

Huan Xinyan was taken aback and frowned slightly. "According to what you said, Senior Brother, opening the Upper Dantian Palace cannot be precisely detected. Aren't you afraid of making a wrong judgment?"

"Make a mistake?" Gao Yu was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. "There is indeed a possibility of making a mistake."

"However, if Wu Yuan hasn't opened his Upper Dantian Palace but has already gained initial control over 'Double Extreme Strength' in just a few months, it only proves that his talent in combat techniques is even more terrifying than we imagined, and he should be specially recruited even more."

"In either case, he has the potential to become a Grandmaster!" Gao Yu said softly.

Grandmaster potential?

Huan Xinyan could hardly believe her ears.

"In the Battle of Hengshan, our Hengyun Sect suffered heavy casualties. Uncle-Master Xia Heng died, and only two old ancestors are left to support the Sect. They are both nearly a hundred years old! How much longer can they support the Sect?" Gao Yu said slowly. "Recruiting Wu Yuan is not just for my Finance and Engineering Hall, but for the entire Sect."

"My entire life, can I only become a top expert at most? A Grandmaster? I dare not even think about it!"

"But both Xu Hui and Wu Yuan have the potential to become Grandmasters," Gao Yu said solemnly. "As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we cannot give up."

"I understand. Everything is for the Sect," Huan Xinyan nodded slightly.

They had grown up in the Sect since childhood and had a strong sense of belonging.

"What is Wu Yuan's background?" Gao Yu asked.

"He is a native of Li City, and his family is also a local family in Nanmeng Prefecture, with a history of over a hundred years. Many members of his family have joined the Sect," Huan Xinyan said. "His father was a member of the Nanmeng Army and died in the Battle of Hengshan."

"You investigated this early? You've prepared quite thoroughly," Gao Yu smiled and looked at his junior sister.

"This background is very clean, even more trustworthy than Xu Hui's. Once the Inspection Hall conducts a more detailed investigation, there will be no problem," Gao Yu said.

Huan Xinyan nodded.

Wu Yuan's background and upbringing would satisfy any high-ranking member of the Sect, making him worthy of full cultivation.

"Senior Brother, what gift are you going to prepare?" Huan Xinyan asked.

"I have it in mind," Gao Yu chuckled. "The Hall Master is currently inspecting Nanmeng City. I'll go there to report to the Hall Master, and he will make the final decision."

"Go to Nanmeng Prefecture City? That's over a thousand miles away," Huan Xinyan was surprised.

"That's why I asked Wu Yuan to wait five days," Gao Yu said with a smile. "I'm going alone, and I'll have to rush back. Five days is enough for me to make a round trip."

Huan Xinyan nodded.

She could truly feel her senior brother's regard for Wu Yuan.

"I wonder what gift Gao Yu has prepared?" Wu Yuan walked through the bustling streets.

"Joining the Hengyun Sect seems to have gone smoother than I expected."

"To have gotten results so quickly, revealing my talent was indeed very important."

"However, I have to wait for one to two months?" Wu Yuan thought to himself, "That's fine, the Spirit Liquid in the jade bottle is barely enough for me to cultivate for another month."

Wu Yuan's physical condition had already reached its current limit. From now on, the focus would be on 'nurturing' and cultivating step-by-step, and the Spirit Liquid required wouldn't be as extravagant.

"This matter of being specially recruited into Cloud Martial Hall."

"I need to tell my mother, and I should also tell the clan leader."

Thinking of this, Wu Yuan remembered something else: "Also, the ten pigs I was raising in the separate courtyard, the clan should have received them by now."

The news of the Fierce Tiger Gang's destruction had gradually faded.

Wu Yuan didn't want to waste those big pigs that had consumed Spirit Liquid. He didn't show himself, but used money to pave the way, secretly arranging for brokers to deliver them directly to the Wu Clan.

Calculating the time, they should have arrived.

Deep within the Prefectural Sect Martial Academy, in a rather luxuriously decorated hall.

"I hope Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming are willing to reconcile," Dean Zhang Da said as he tidied his appearance in front of a mirror.

"Xu Shouyi has truly made things difficult for me," Zhang Da grabbed a stack of silver notes from the table, feeling a pang of pain in his heart.

But he understood he had no other choice.

Wait and see for a while longer? The price to pay would be much greater.

Reconciling now was his best option!