Water Dragon Sect Selection

The Water Dragon Sect's triennial selection was undoubtedly the biggest event in all of Cloud-Rain Marsh.

It was far more important than New Year celebrations. After all, New Year came once every year, while this selection came only once every three years.

And for quite a few fishers, today would decide their future.

Because the Water Dragon Sect selection was not merely for choosing Late Qi Refining cultivators to join—it also had another crucial aspect... spirit root testing.

The Water Dragon Sect would test every child in Cloud-Rain Marsh who had reached the age of six for spirit roots, free of charge.

Ji Yuan had gone through that moment himself back then.

The good news was that he had spirit roots. The bad news was that he had a Four-Spirit Root.

After finishing his preparations at home, Ji Yuan found that Lin Hu and his wife from next door were already waiting for him, while the Wen Household had set out long ago.

"Brother Ji, let's go too."

Lin Hu spoke with considerable excitement.

Though today's affair had little to do with him, having such a spectacle to watch was still excellent.

"Alright."

If Lin Hu had gone by himself, he would most likely have had to squeeze aboard his little black-awning boat. But with Ji Yuan there, the Black Wind Boat could easily carry three people.

"Brother Ji, this is a Mid-Grade Spirit Vessel now, right?"

Feeling the Black Wind Boat's speed, Lin Hu could not help asking.

He remembered that Ji Yuan's previous Spirit Vessel had been white. Yet after Ji Yuan had vanished for several days, it had become black.

"Mm."

The aura Ji Yuan inadvertently revealed also confirmed it.

Sitting at the very back, Wu Qin raised her head and looked at that tall, upright figure. Sometimes, she could not help imagining: if the one who had married her had been Ji Yuan... would her life have been different?

Perhaps she would not have had to sail out every day to catch fish, carrying the smell of fish wherever she went.

Zengtou City's Water Dragon Sect selection was held on the huge open space beside the riverside Fish Pen. In all of Zengtou City, only this place could hold so many people.

By the time Ji Yuan arrived, fishers had already packed the area three layers deep on the inside and three layers deep on the outside.

"Damn it, they were waiting here last night. Bunch of bastards."

After getting off the boat, Lin Hu cursed under his breath.

Ji Yuan put away the Spirit Vessel and walked forward alone. Lin Hu tactfully chose not to follow him any farther.

Noisy discussions filled his ears. Ji Yuan slowed his steps slightly, picking out useful information from the chatter.

"I heard Han Feiyu has returned from Cloud-Rain Marsh too. He failed the last selection, but three years have passed now. He should succeed this time, right?"

"He's already at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining. He's practically got it in the bag. Dong Qian has also returned from Quiet Peace Ward. It seems she intends to join the Water Dragon Sect this time as a cultivator from our Zengtou City."

"She's definitely got no problem... I wonder whether Old Master Qin will try again this year."

"How could he? He's so old already. Though I heard from my neighbor, who works as a steward for the Qin Household, that Second Master Qin may join this year."

"Oh, right. That child of yours—I think his talent looks pretty good. He might even have an earth spirit root!"

"..."

Han Feiyu was someone who seemed to live only in Ji Yuan's memories, since Ji Yuan had grown up listening to his stories.

For instance, how his parents had died at the hands of their enemies, and how he alone had fled into Cloud-Rain Marsh.

The people of Zengtou City had all believed he was dead. Who could have expected that ten years later, he would return at the Middle Qi Refining Stage and kill his way back, avenging his parents?

After that, he had gone around Zengtou City righting wrongs and helping the weak. No matter who came to him with difficulties, he would help them to some extent.

He had already been at Late Qi Refining ten years ago. Three years ago, he had tried to join the Water Dragon Sect, but he had ultimately conceded defeat because he could not overcome a Late First Tier Demon Beast.

Dong Qian was likewise at Late Qi Refining, but she had married into neighboring Quiet Peace Ward. When she married over, she had only been at Early Qi Refining. Yet in less than ten short years, she had already reached Late Qi Refining.

It was said that she had even personally killed a Late Qi Refining cultivator from Jingde Ward... everyone claimed she had obtained some secret treasure's inheritance.

Old Master Qin was the Qin Household's head and could be considered one of Zengtou City's senior figures.

It was said that his cultivation had already reached the peak of Qi Refining. However, his eyes had been injured in his early years, leaving his vision unclear, so he had never joined the Water Dragon Sect.

Second Master Qin was named Qin Long, Old Master Qin's second son. His cultivation had likewise reached Late Qi Refining.

"The Qin Household..."

Ji Yuan muttered inwardly. The Qin Household had more than just Old Master Qin and Qin Long, father and son, at Late Qi Refining. There was also an adopted son Old Master Qin had taken in back then... few knew his real name. They only knew his surname was He, and the people of Zengtou City called him Third Master He.

"Three Late Qi Refining cultivators. Even if Qiu Qianhai and I both reach Late Qi Refining by then, killing them will still be somewhat difficult. It would be best to wait until I reach the peak of Qi Refining, then make my move before joining the Water Dragon Sect and settle this grudge once and for all."

Ji Yuan was already laying out the road ahead in his heart.

There was no question about joining the Water Dragon Sect. Without joining such a major power, he would not even be able to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.

After joining... naturally, he would become an idle cultivator and farm in peace.

It was said that once one joined the Water Dragon Sect and reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, one could open up an island of one's own.

That was what truly moved him.

While considering these matters, Ji Yuan found himself a spot nearby.

The center of the open space had been cordoned off and divided into several areas.

Many children were already queuing in the spirit root testing area. Cultivators also waited in the pill, artifact, and Talisman areas, quietly awaiting the start.

Ji Yuan glanced several more times toward the Talismans area but did not see Lu Wan.

She was most likely not here yet.

As for those relying on their strength to join the Water Dragon Sect, their testing location had been set inside Cloud-Rain Marsh, with dedicated Foundation Establishment High Persons overseeing it.

Ji Yuan had arrived rather late, and after waiting only the time it took to drink a cup of tea—

A grand, resounding voice suddenly rang out from the depths of Cloud-Rain Marsh.

"The Water Dragon Sect selection officially begins!"

The previously clamorous Zengtou City was instantly drowned out by that voice and fell silent.

Ji Yuan suddenly recalled a saying: allegedly, the person steering the ship behind every Water Dragon Sect selection was a Golden Core True Person.

Golden Core... one's lifespan could reach several hundred years, one could refine a life-bound magic treasure, and ride the Golden Core's escaping light.

For a moment, Ji Yuan's thoughts roamed without end.

A wave of astonishment rose from all around him, followed at once by loud cries. "Greetings, Senior!"

Ji Yuan looked up as well, only to see that at some unknown moment, a middle-aged female cultivator had appeared in the sky above, seated cross-legged upon a lotus leaf magic treasure. She wore a deep blue-green Dharma robe, her hair simply pinned up with a wooden hairpin. Her attire was exceedingly plain, yet she exuded an air of authority.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator... every Water Dragon Sect selection had a Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed here to hold the field.

"Continue."

The blue-robed female cultivator spoke faintly, then paid them no further attention.

A Water Dragon Sect cultivator on the ground rose aboard a Flying Boat and said in a deep voice, "All Late Qi Refining cultivators participating in the selection, follow me."

Having said that, he drove the Flying Boat straight toward Cloud-Rain Marsh.

Several Flying Boats also rose from the crowd and followed after him.

Ji Yuan, already at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, had sharp eyes. With one sweep of his gaze, he took in the identities of every one of them.

Han Feiyu, Dong Qian, and Qin Long had indeed all gone. There were two more as well: one was Zengtou City's artifact refiner, Zhu Longhu, while the other was a middle-aged man with graying temples... Ji Yuan did not recognize him.

He was definitely not one of Zengtou City's established cultivators. He was likely someone who had broken through to Late Qi Refining only within these past three years.

But joining the selection immediately after breaking through to Late Qi Refining seemed somewhat hasty.

Still, it had nothing to do with Ji Yuan. This time, he was merely a spectator and only needed to watch the show in silence.

At last, he turned toward the spirit root testing area and happened to hear the Water Dragon Sect cultivator call out expressionlessly:

"Zhang Tie. Metal, earth, water, and fire Four-Spirit Root. Rejected."