The Young Lord's Quota

Early the next morning, Lu Yuan had just opened the courtyard gate when he saw Lin Yue standing outside.

He was holding a pack of dried meat in one hand, while the other hand held a folded piece of paper.

"You're up early."

"You've arrived even earlier."

"Old Zhou just told me you want to come with me to the Black Stone Forest this time." Lin Yue tossed the dried meat to him. "Just right, the branch hall had another matter come up last night."

Lu Yuan caught the dried meat, his gaze falling upon that piece of paper.

The corner of the paper bore the seal of the Spirit Hall Branch Hall.

"What matter?"

Lin Yue didn't rush to answer, shouting into the house, "Old Zhou, come out, this concerns you as well."

Old Zhou was washing his face in the back courtyard. Hearing the voice, he came out draped in an outer robe, and upon seeing that paper, he frowned first.

"Did Spirit City send another notice?"

"It arrived last night."

Lin Yue handed the paper to Lu Yuan, casually flipping to the last page.

"Spirit City wants to select a batch of children who have just awakened from various branch halls below this year, and send them over for centralized cultivation. We get one recommendation quota here."

Old Zhou glanced at Lu Yuan.

"Him?"

"Innate full spirit power, his qualifications are naturally fine." Lin Yue paused. "However, the quota still has to be fought for downwards."

Lu Yuan lowered his head to read further.

Age not exceeding eight years.

Innate spirit power above rank seven.

Possessing at least a first spirit ring.

At the very bottom, there was also a line of remarks.

--Those with outstanding performance may enter the Elder Hall youth special training roster.

Lu Yuan's fingers paused on the three characters "Elder Hall".

Lin Yue saw it too, lowering his voice to say, "It wasn't explicitly stated above, but the person who delivered the notice yesterday mentioned offhand that this batch of people is ultimately being picked for the Elder Hall side."

Old Zhou asked, "Is the Elder Hall short of children?"

"How would I know." Lin Yue glanced sideways at him. "I only heard it has to do with the Young Lord's side."

Lu Yuan raised his head.

The weight of this paper was suddenly different from just a moment ago.

"Must I get a first spirit ring first to be eligible to apply?"

"Right."

"Then isn't that perfect."

Lin Yue was amused by him.

"You really don't stand on ceremony at all."

Old Zhou, however, didn't smile. "There's only one quota, is he the only suitable one in the branch hall?"

"Of course not."

Lin Yue put away his smile. "There is another child in the west of the city, innate rank nine, who awakened ten days or so earlier than Lu Yuan, and his first spirit ring is also being arranged. The branch hall master's meaning is very simple: whoever is more suitable in the end gets the spot."

Lu Yuan asked, "When will it be decided?"

"Five days later."

Lin Yue looked at him. "So for that trip to the Black Stone Forest the day after tomorrow, if you can't get a suitable spirit ring, this quota basically won't have anything to do with you."

Old Zhou frowned on the spot.

"For the sake of a quota, don't blindly find a spirit beast to make up the numbers."

"That's my meaning as well." Lin Yue nodded. "A spirit ring is something that stays with you for a lifetime, don't trick yourself just to rush a few days."

Lu Yuan placed the dried meat on the table.

"I know."

This trip to the Black Stone Forest was something he had to make anyway.

Now there was an extra quota from Spirit City.

And behind that notice, it was still tied to the Elder Hall and the Young Lord.

"Aside from me, who else is going this time?" Lu Yuan asked.

"Two young spirit masters who need to make up their second spirit rings, plus four people from the branch hall, seven in total." Lin Yue said. "You stick close to the team, and if you really run into a suitable spirit beast, naturally someone will help you suppress it."

"Which side do we take after entering the forest?"

Lin Yue glanced at him.

"The south side. What, you even want to manage the route?"

"Just asking casually."

"You have quite a few questions these past two days."

Lin Yue reached out and flicked him on the forehead.

Lu Yuan felt a sting and dodged backward.

"It hurts."

"If it hurts, remember not to make your own decisions after entering the forest."

Lin Yue turned and walked outward, turning his head back once he reached the door. "Arrive at the branch hall before dawn the day after tomorrow. If you get the spirit ring, I'll report your name upward for you. If you don't get it, don't force it."

Once he walked far away, Old Zhou picked up that notice and looked it over a couple more times.

"The Elder Hall's special training roster..."

Lu Yuan looked up. "You know about it?"

"Know my foot." Old Zhou slapped the paper back onto the table. "I haven't even been to Spirit City a few times. Still, being able to pick people from below is better than holing up here for a lifetime."

Finished speaking, he glared at Lu Yuan again.

"Don't lose your head just because you hear Spirit City."

"I haven't lost my head."

"Your eyes are practically growing onto the paper."

Lu Yuan folded the notice neatly and put it to one side.

There was no refuting that statement.

After eating breakfast, he made a trip to the general store near the branch hall.

The Black Stone Forest wasn't a dangerous place; hunters and low-rank spirit masters went in and out year-round. Fire starters, rope, and hemostatic cloth were not hard to buy.

The boss watched him place things onto the counter one by one, unable to help but be amused.

"Entering the forest for the first time?"

"Can you tell?"

"Veterans don't buy things this completely."

Lu Yuan took another small pack of beast-repelling powder.

The boss fished a small porcelain bottle out from under the counter.

"Do you want some paralyzing powder? Sprinkle it on after a ten-year spirit beast sees blood, quite useful."

"What about a hundred-year one?"

"That depends on whether its hide is thick or not."

Lu Yuan pushed the porcelain bottle back.

"Then forget it."

The boss was stunned for a moment. "You really know how to save."

"I'm poor."

He paid the money and carried his things back.

There was nothing else to do in the afternoon, so Lu Yuan practiced his spear in the courtyard.

The dark iron spear was taller than he was by a head, and thrusting forward wasn't too difficult; the real trouble was recovering his stance. Several times when he exerted too much force, the butt of the spear almost smashed into the top of his foot.

Old Zhou sat under the eaves and watched for a long time.

"Your father used a saber back then, who taught you this spear?"

"No one."

"Then what are you practicing for?"

"I can't exactly wait until I enter the forest to learn how to hold it."

Old Zhou grunted, though he didn't stop him again.

Lu Yuan practiced until his palms were red before stopping.

The Eye of Destiny did not appear again for the entire day, nor did he simply wait around.

When the day of departure arrived, before dawn had broken, Lu Yuan was already standing at the entrance of the branch hall.

Lin Yue was even earlier than him.

Five people were also standing before the door: two young spirit masters and three branch hall deacons, and their packs were already neatly packed.

When Lin Yue saw him, he first swept a glance at the pack on his back.

"You've prepared quite thoroughly."

"It's my first time going out, I'm afraid of missing something."

"Bringing your things complete is a good thing, just don't go getting your life lost."

Lin Yue finished tallying the headcount and raised a hand in a wave.

"Out of the city."

The seven people walked south along streets that were not yet fully bright.

Leaving the city, the farmland was gradually left behind, and the miscellaneous trees by the roadside grew denser and denser.

Lu Yuan walked in the middle of the team, raising his head to glance at Lin Yue.

That familiar layer of gray floated out once more.

[Lin Yue]

[Today, Black Stone Forest]

[Destiny Node: Death]

"In three days" had already changed to "Today".

Lu Yuan's hand gripping the strap tightened slowly.

Ahead, Lin Yue turned his head and urged them on.

"Keep up."

Lu Yuan took a few quick steps to catch up.

That notice reading "Elder Hall Youth Special Training" was still left at home, and the quota wouldn't be decided until five days later.

Yet right now, that "Death" above Lin Yue's head was closer than anything else.