Renowned in Li City

In the Central Land World, the fastest way for those at the bottom to change their fate is through breakthroughs in the Martial Dao. For nobles and royalty to continue their glory, they too must have strong individuals emerge.

Every year, the Prefectural Sect Martial Academy Grand Competition is a grand event that attracts the attention of everyone in Li City. Being accepted into the Nanmeng Martial Academy is already dazzling!

Let alone a special recruitment by a Sect, which happens only once every ten years in Li City?

You must know that a few days ago, when Wu Yuan was undergoing the assessment for the Prefectural Sect Martial Academy, there were already many rumors circulating. Today, with the confirmation from the Prefect's Mansion, the news naturally spread like wildfire!

"Special recruitment? What is special recruitment?"

"Under normal circumstances, to enter Cloud Martial Hall, one must go through the Martial Academy Grand Competition. Special recruitment means someone's talent is too high, so high that they don't need to go through the regular competition and can enter Cloud Martial Hall directly!"

"Our Wu Clan will prosper!"

The entire Wu Clan of Li City, after receiving the confirmed news from the officials of the Prefect's Mansion, was completely jubilant and entered an unprecedented celebration, as if they had just celebrated three major festivals. It swept away the gloom of the previous attack on the manor and the deaths of several clan members.

A strong Martial Dao practitioner can change the fate of a family or clan with a single word!

Li City, east of the city.

A large mansion, covering a considerable area and located only two hundred meters from the Prefect's Mansion, now has its plaque changed to 'Wu Manor'!

Wu Yuan, his mother Wan Qin, his sister Wu Yijun, Clan Leader Wu Qiming, Wu Dongyao, Wu Long, Sixth Master Wu, and others have all gathered here.

Of course, there is also Gu Ji, who has changed into a butler's attire.

In addition to the members of the Wu Clan, the attendees also include Prefect Jiang Dongque, the Prefectural Commandant, and many other high-ranking officials of Li City.

"Prefect Jiang, according to the law, a medium-sized mansion would suffice," Wu Yuan said, shaking his head.

"Haha, Sect law also stipulates that if there is no suitable medium-sized mansion, a large mansion can be occupied," Jiang Dongque said with a smile, appearing very amiable. "Young friend Wu, you have been specially recruited into the Sect now. After a few years when your Martial Dao has progressed, according to the law, you will also have to move into a large mansion. It's better to do it in one go to avoid trouble."

"Alright, then thank you, Prefect," Wu Yuan said with a smile.

He no longer refused the other party's kindness.

The Hengyun Sect has established numerous large, medium, and small mansions in the prefectural and county cities across various regions to accommodate the lives of its members and their families, allocated according to their status.

The larger the mansion and the closer it is to the garrison or the Prefect's Mansion, the higher the status of the mansion's owner.

It will also be safer!

Upon resignation, one must also vacate the mansion. Like 'Guan Zishan' from Dongye County, he returned to his hometown after resigning, and most of his family members also moved back to Dongye County.

Of course, if one renders great service, they might have a chance to obtain permanent residency.

But this is very difficult!

The two parties chatted for a while longer, and then the Prefect, the Prefectural Commandant, and others tactfully chose to take their leave, leaving space for the Wu Clan members to communicate.

"When I passed the Xiucai exam back then, there were over a hundred people in that cohort. The Prefect only came to encourage us and didn't even speak to him alone," Wu Dongyao sighed. "But Wu Yuan, the Prefect personally came to congratulate him and show his goodwill!"

"Special recruitment is different," Wu Long said solemnly. "With Wu Yuan's talent, he has the potential to become a First-class Expert in the future."

The Prefect serves a four-year term.

There are usually only one or two First-class Experts in an entire prefecture.

In the Central Land World, scholars can take imperial examinations and have the potential to become Prefectural Governors, whose status is comparable to First-class Experts.

But in the end, the terrifying power of Martial Dao experts, individual might surpasses the collective.

Scholarship is merely an aid; the Martial Dao is the core!

"Clan Leader, although I will be home for a while, I will depart for the Sect Headquarters after returning from Nanmeng Prefecture," Wu Yuan said softly. "The mansion is vast, and my mother's vision is ultimately insufficient. I will have to trouble you to look after it. I will go with you to the banquet that the Prefect and others are holding these two days."

"Wu Yuan, you can rest assured," Wu Qiming said solemnly upon seeing Wu Yuan finally express his intentions. "I will pay close attention to your mother's health, and I will also do my best for Yijun's education."

Wu Yuan smiled.

He believed Wu Qiming was a smart person, and there was no need to say certain things explicitly.

The weak need the help of their clan, but for top Martial Dao experts, the clan is actually a burden.

Wu Yuan bringing Wu Qiming into the banquet was a statement.

Most of the authority that originally belonged to 'Wan Qin' will be handed over to 'Wu Qiming'.

In the future, Wu Qiming will represent 'Wu Yuan' in Li City. It is foreseeable that the Wu Clan's influence will expand rapidly.

If nothing else, with Wu Yuan's backing, as long as Wu Yuan is alive and his status in the Sect continues to rise, all the government offices in Li City will not trouble the Wu Clan excessively in the future.

This alone can save the Wu Clan a large amount of money and trouble in their business.

And what Wu Qiming needs to do is to take good care of Wan Qin and Wu Yijun!

"Brother, the courtyard here is so, so big, even bigger than the Clan Leader's courtyard," Wu Yijun said, hopping and skipping out of the mansion, appearing incredibly excited.

"Haha," the members of the Wu Clan couldn't help but laugh.

The Wu Clan's ancestral home was comparable to a medium-sized mansion in the eastern part of the city.

But in terms of value? It couldn't even compare to a small mansion!

Let alone a large mansion in the eastern part of the city?

Being able to live here represents entering the ranks of Li City's 'top elites'!

...Wu Yuan made arrangements for various parts of the mansion.

The outer courtyards were basically handed over to the 'Wu Clan' to manage, while the inner chambers would be where Wan Qin and Wu Yijun lived.

"Mother, I've asked the Clan Leader to handle these matters. Are you dissatisfied?" Wu Yuan asked.

"Why would I be dissatisfied?" Wan Qin shook her head and sighed, "Today alone, over a hundred invitation cards were sent, all from wealthy and influential clans. As an uncultured housewife, how could I possibly handle them? I can't even remember all the names."

"It's a good arrangement to have the Clan Leader deal with them," Wan Qin said with a smile. "Besides, the Clan Leader and the clan have helped us a lot over the years. One must not forget their roots."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

In the process of his rise, he would always need people.

Rather than using outsiders, it was better to trust his clansmen!

"Mother, you two get familiar with the environment here. If you have any thoughts, just tell the managers directly. I'll take the Clan Leader to the banquet first," Wu Yuan said as he stood up.

To celebrate Wu Yuan's special recruitment, Prefect Jiang Dongque specifically arranged a grand banquet at the Prefect's Mansion to entertain him.

This was a symbol of the Wu Clan truly entering Li City's high society.

It wasn't until late at night that the guests began to disperse.

Outside the Prefect's Mansion.

Jiang Dongque watched the Wu Clan's carriage disappear into the distance and around the street corner before finally lowering the smile on his lips.

"My lord, although Wu Yuan is a specially recruited disciple, he is currently only a Martial Master. In the future, he will likely only become a Second-class Expert," the Clerk beside him said, confused. "What impact can he have on us? Why such a grand celebration?"

"Four or five months ago, he was merely an Eighth-Rank Warrior," Jiang Dongque said calmly. "And he is only fourteen years old this year!"

The Clerk was stunned.

What shocked them most about Wu Yuan was his terrifying rate of progress.

"His strength or weakness indeed has little impact on me, but who knows what his future achievements will be?" Jiang Dongque said. "If he becomes a First-class Expert and wishes to return to his hometown in the future, he could potentially serve as a General or Guard General!"

"That would be of no benefit to me, but what about my Jiang Clan?"

The Clerk nodded, still feeling that Jiang Dongque was making a fuss over nothing.

There were many First-class Experts in the Sects, yet how many of them could become Generals or Guard Generals?

Jiang Dongque glanced at him, too lazy to explain further.

'Gao Yu, a Protector of the Finance and Engineering Hall, is so famous. For him to value Wu Yuan so highly, could he be an ordinary specially recruited disciple?' Jiang Dongque thought to himself.

His grand celebration used Sect resources, and he lost nothing.

Why not?

At the General's Mansion.

"General, almost all the officials and major families in the city attended," Liu Ye said with a slight bow. "As you ordered, several of our commanders also went to offer congratulations."

"Good, I know. You may rest," Xu Shouyi said softly.

Liu Ye withdrew.

'This Wu Yuan has indeed become a specially recruited disciple. Jiang Dongque's solemnity... does he know something behind the scenes?' Xu Shouyi felt a surge of annoyance. 'This Wu Yuan is truly a threat.'

Although the assassination attempt last time was carried out very carefully, leaving no possibility of direct exposure of his identity.

But Xu Shouyi knew in his heart that Wu Yuan most likely guessed it was him!

"Hmph!"

"So what if he hates me?" Xu Shouyi's eyes turned cold. "No matter how high your talent is, even if you become a First-class Expert in the future, you can't deal with me without evidence."

In an inconspicuous mansion in the southern part of Li City, there were many men with stern expressions, clearly well-trained.

In the main hall.

Whoosh! A short, stout, and strong man walked in.

"Junior Brother."

The elegant man in white robes inside turned around and smiled, "You're finally back."

"These past few days, I've been searching in the towns and villages around Li City, but I haven't found any trace of that mysterious spearman," the stout man said, picking up a kettle and taking a big gulp of water. "And according to the intelligence purchased from 'Stellar Tower' and 'Seven Stars Tower', there are no martial arts powerhouses similar to him in the entire Nanmeng Prefecture."

"How was your search within the city?" the stout man asked.

"Gao Yu has arrived." The elegant man in white robes said.

"What?" the stout man exclaimed in surprise. "Why would he suddenly come to Li City? Could it be that the Hengyun Sect also knows about the Chu Jiang Token?"

"It's possible!"

The elegant man in white robes nodded. "However, it's also possible it's for another matter. Today, the Hengyun Sect specially recruited a disciple in Li City named Wu Yuan. He has the strength of a Martial Master at just fourteen years old."

"A fourteen-year-old Martial Master?"

The short, stout, and muscular man said indifferently, "His talent is decent. If he works hard, he has a chance to become a First-class Expert before he's thirty."

The refined man in the white robe nodded. He also didn't pay much attention to Wu Yuan.

A First-class Expert?

More than one First-class Expert had died at the hands of his and his senior brother's.

"Let's search for a while longer," the refined man in the white robe said. "If we still can't find any clues, we'll return and report to our Master."

Inside an inconspicuous manor about twenty li outside Li City.

It looked ordinary on the surface, but how could outsiders know? This was a stronghold of the Great Jin Empire secretly established within Hengyun Sect.

"Special recruitment disciple? A Martial Master at fourteen? He's a little genius!" the Youth in Blood-Red Clothes murmured to himself, listening to his subordinate's report.

"Guo Liu, according to your rules, what will you do?" the Youth in Blood-Red Clothes looked at the Middle-aged Man in Black Robe standing respectfully beside him.

"Sir!"

The Middle-aged Man in Black Robe gave a wry smile. "Our division mainly focuses on 'intelligence gathering.' Our combat strength isn't high, with only a few Third-rate martial artists. For a special recruitment disciple like this, Hengyun Sect will definitely provide strong protection. We usually just report the intelligence and wait for orders from above."

"Wait for orders?"

"Waiting for orders for everything... the Chu River has already flowed into the sea!" The Youth in Blood-Red Clothes shook his head slightly. "Fine. Since I'm passing by, I'll just conveniently eliminate a genius from Hengyun Sect and clear some obstacles for my Great Jin's unification of the world."

"For the next few days, mobilize all your forces and fully investigate Wu Yuan's whereabouts."

"When the opportunity arises, I will personally take action."