Recruitment

Of all the provisions, the part Wei Yuan cared about most was the Martial Assessment. Zhang Sheng had never mentioned it.

The Martial Assessment gathered all the examinees in a Cave Heaven Illusory Realm and randomly divided them into two teams to fight one another. Each team had a strategic stronghold. Wiping out the enemy counted as victory, as did capturing and holding the enemy's stronghold.

After reading the provisions, Wei Yuan still had plenty of questions. For instance, how would the two teams be divided in the Martial Assessment? Who would command them? How would the disciples get to know one another and learn to cooperate? Would they be issued weapons? Would their equipment be properly balanced? Though Wei Yuan had read about many real battles in history and studied a little military strategy, there were far too many unknowns to work out any plans.

Wei Yuan mulled it over again and again. It seemed he could only adapt to circumstances during the test. The score was based on how many enemies one eliminated, after all; he would just take out as many as he could. Wei Yuan, who had fought off refugees with his own hands at the age of three, certainly wasn't afraid of a fight.

Just then, there came a soft knock at the door.

Wei Yuan opened it and saw several boys standing outside. The one in the middle had delicate features and wore elegant blue robes. He was only slightly shorter than Wei Yuan. By the standards of the mountains around Ye County, the boy looked to be eleven or twelve.

Every one of the boys bore an air of dazzling nobility between his brows. Some took in Wei Yuan's tall frame, then glanced at his coarse clothes, and let disdain show on their faces.

The boy in the middle, however, looked Wei Yuan up and down and brightened. "I'm Li Zhi, eldest son of Duke of Grace of Southern Qi. How should I address you, senior brother?"

Wei Yuan was a little surprised. The boy's noble status was obvious at a glance, but he hadn't expected him to be the son of a State Duke of Southern Qi.

Wei Yuan had never heard of Duke of Grace, but he understood the official systems of the various states. The title wasn't merely that of a State Duke; its holder was also a member of the Imperial Clan. What was more, Southern Qi was currently powerful, and in its recent battles it had routed Ji State.

But why had the son of a State Duke of Southern Qi traveled thousands of miles to take an examination in Fengyuan Commandery, Ji State?

At Li Zhi's question, Wei Yuan remembered the young Daoist's warning. "I'm very sorry. The Daoist said earlier that I mustn't reveal my name or identity."

A boy beside Li Zhi snickered. "You think those rules can restrain us? Senior Brother Li found you—that's your good fortune! If you don't seize your chance, someone else will take it in a moment. You're so old and so dull-witted. Don't tell me you're really a local from Fengyuan. Haha!"

Another boy said, "Judging by his clothes, he must be. The few locals from Fengyuan we saw earlier were all dressed in rags, too."

Wei Yuan fell silent.

Li Zhi didn't stop the two boys, but neither did he join in their mockery. Instead, he glanced into the room and spotted the provisions on the desk. Smiling, he said, "So senior brother is diligent. But the provisions are full of useless talk. I, Li Zhi, don't like beating around the bush. I sought you out because of the Martial Assessment."

The Martial Assessment? Wei Yuan's interest stirred. "I'd be glad to hear more."

Seeing that Wei Yuan had finally reacted, Li Zhi perked up. "The Martial Assessment is really a test of how to rally a group. On the surface, the provisions say that each person will be evaluated according to his actions during the assessment. The victors aren't necessarily guaranteed high scores, and the defeated aren't necessarily guaranteed low ones. But think about it: if you really lose, how high can your evaluation possibly be? So the key to winning the Martial Assessment lies in what happens before it."

This was something Wei Yuan had never considered, so he listened intently.

Li Zhi continued, "Why gather us in the dormitories ahead of time, yet allow us to meet one another? It's so we can organize and coordinate among ourselves during this period, and establish who leads and who follows. I'll use the army's structure during the Martial Assessment, assigning positions like general, Guerrilla Commander, and Vanguard in advance. Everyone else will serve as soldiers. The moment we enter the assessment, we'll assemble and follow military orders—commands obeyed without fail. That way, we can plan ahead and move as one, like an arm obeying its hand! Our crack troops will face their rabble, so how could we possibly lose?"

As he spoke, Li Zhi looked Wei Yuan up and down and smiled. "From the looks of you, senior brother, you'd be perfect as our Vanguard! If we win the Martial Assessment, I can guarantee you a place in a third-grade Blessed Land. And if you distinguish yourself in battle, even a second-grade Cave Heaven isn't out of reach."

Wei Yuan was stunned. He hadn't expected the Blessed Land and Cave Heaven places that were usually so precious to be things Li Zhi could casually offer.

Wei Yuan remembered his father, Wei Youcai, telling him before he left that his greatest hope was for him to join the Crimson Tide Sect and set foot on the path to immortality, so he could live a few decades longer. But in Li Zhi's eyes, places at a sect like the Crimson Tide Sect were so paltry that he hadn't even bothered to offer one.

Wei Yuan was still young. At that moment, he only felt a strange oppression in his heart, though he couldn't understand why. Still, he had another question, and Li Zhi was willing to answer. "What if I accept your offer, senior brother, but end up on a different team?"

Li Zhi smiled. "You aren't a few years older for nothing, senior brother. That's a good question. The teams are assigned by a great power, and I don't know who will end up where. If you're assigned to the other team, you can simply turn against them at a critical moment. Your evaluation might drop a little for it, but everyone else on your side would score even lower, so your rank would actually rise. And even if your final score is poor, I'll compensate you separately. At the very least, a place in a third-grade Blessed Land is guaranteed. So, senior brother, are you willing to tell me your name now?"

Wei Yuan shook his head. "The provisions say that revealing your name and background before the examination is strictly forbidden."

Li Zhi's smile froze.

He forced a smile. "Rules are chains when they're placed on ordinary people, but in our hands, they're whips to drive others. Since you're following me, senior brother, there's no need to worry about rules."

"If Senior Brother Li has nothing else, I'll keep reading the provisions." Wei Yuan cupped his hands to Li Zhi, returned to his room, and closed the door.

The boys around them could hardly contain themselves. Those with better manners scolded Wei Yuan for being too blind to recognize a True Immortal; those with worse manners simply cursed him out.

In their eyes, Wei Yuan was nothing but a backwater native, and he was old to boot. Getting into the Crimson Tide Sect at all was already a stroke of unbelievable luck. At a fourth-rate sect, not even the core True Disciples had the right to speak with them. Now Li Zhi was willing to bestow a third-grade favor on him, and he actually dared not prostrate himself and give thanks?

Li Zhi didn't get angry. He said calmly, "It's fine. There'll always be people who think they're above it all. Once they see their final scores, they'll regret it."

Li Zhi passed Wei Yuan's room and headed for the next door. Before he could knock, it opened on its own, and a boy rushed out, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm Lü Duan, from Linghe Commandery in Yongzhou... No, Fengyuan Commandery! I'm willing to follow in your footsteps, senior brother!"

The next door opened as well, and a girl came out and bowed gracefully. "Wang Siqiao, from Yan Province. I'm willing to follow Senior Brother Li."

Then several more doors opened in succession, and a number of boys and girls came out.

"Duan Qian is willing to follow you, senior brother!"

"Cao Wan is willing to join you in battle, senior brother!"

Li Zhi's smile blossomed. He helped each of the boys and girls to their feet, offering them warm words and promises. His voice was gentle as a spring rain, and he managed to stage a little drama of ruler and subjects in perfect harmony.

Inside his room, Wei Yuan continued reading the provisions.

Li Zhi's claim that rules were chains for others but whips in his own hands wasn't wrong in itself. It might fool other people, but it wouldn't fool Wei Yuan, who had read his history books. Li Zhi had a special status; he could openly break the rules without consequences. But if Wei Yuan revealed his name and identity before the examination, that alone would immediately disqualify him from the unified assessment. If he had answered Li Zhi just now, he would have handed him a weapon that could decide his fate.

History books were full of examples like that. How could Wei Yuan fall for it?