"Young brother, I see you're all alone. I'm from the Clearwind Gang. If you ever need help, come find us. If it's within our power, we'll spare no effort."
"Young brother, you've come here alone, without a familiar face in sight. We're from the White Tiger Gang. If you need anything done, just come to us. We'll see it taken care of!"
"Young brother, don't listen to their nonsense. We're far stronger than they are. We're from the Vermilion Bird Gate. Whether you need anything or not, you're always welcome to seek us out. We're determined to make a friend of you!"
"Young master, our Shui Family has a daughter just coming of age..."
"Move aside! All of you, make way for this general! Young master, I'm from the City Lord's Residence. I've come especially to..."
After the Misty Sect disciple who recorded his information left, Ming Hao remained alone for a while, seemingly without any relatives, friends, or attendants accompanying him.
The factions already hovering nearby, searching for exceptionally gifted participants to recruit, naturally refused to let such a perfect opportunity slip away. Like cats catching the scent of fish, they swiftly crowded around him!
The others who passed the trial were gradually teleported out. Those found to have performed reasonably well, especially those of humble birth,
Rogue cultivators without backing, and those who were alone, all became targets that factions great and small fought fiercely to win over.
This was their best chance to deliver charcoal in the snow! Once they missed it, they might never find another opportunity this good!
To the privileged scions of other factions, lineages, and dynasties, however, these people's behavior was utterly laughable.
They had no regard whatsoever for these so-called "minor factions," much less their recruitment efforts.
At that moment, more than a dozen factions of varying sizes had gathered around Ming Hao. Rather than organizations of any real strength, they were better described as local snakes ruling their own patches of ground.
They banded together for no other reason than to huddle for warmth.
Ming Hao attracted so much attention mainly because he had not only passed the trial of character, but had also held on for nearly three hours before being teleported out.
More importantly, he looked young, clearly a promising seedling with boundless potential for future growth!
Someone like him was undoubtedly an ideal recruitment target. If they did not hurry to win him over and build a relationship now, once he grew into his potential, even getting a visiting card delivered to him might prove difficult!
The crowd chattered incessantly around Ming Hao, scrambling to stuff their calling cards into his hands.
Grinning, Ming Hao turned no one away and accepted everything offered, all while muttering,
"All are welcome, all are welcome. One more friend means one more road..."
Before long, he had collected a whole stack of calling cards, along with some inexpensive spirit herbs, pills, and similar gifts.
After all, if a few cheap gifts could win over a heavenly prodigy with limitless potential, it would be a windfall however one looked at it...
Minor factions had their own ways of surviving, their own reasons for existing...
The sun gradually climbed to its zenith, its glaring white light pouring down like molten steel, as though it meant to melt the entire land.
The Illusion Realm Test had continued from early morning until now.
Everywhere one looked, wealthy youths leisurely summoned exquisite pavilions, filling them with fruits, delicacies, and fine wine.
Some rested with their eyes half closed, while others reclined on lounge chairs, each attended by a beautiful maid on either side.
Some maids held fans and gently fanned them; others carefully picked up grapes and fed them to their lips;
still others stood behind them, softly massaging their shoulders and backs.
The wealthy youths wore contented expressions, as though this were not the site of the Illusion Realm Test at all, but merely a scenic destination for their holiday.
By contrast, the youths of ordinary backgrounds on the other side presented an entirely different scene.
Some barely managed to find nearby trees to shelter them from the blazing sun,
but most could only sit directly on the ground or raise an oil-paper umbrella, struggling to withstand the scorching heat.
From time to time, they cast looks of envy, jealousy, and even resentment toward the wealthy youths. The scenes on either side formed a stark and striking contrast!
A voice came from an inconspicuous pavilion:
"Miss Shui, I've studied a little fortune-telling. Looking at the lines of your palm and your features, you're as warm and lustrous as fine jade, pure as ice and flawless jade, with beauty fit to grace a nation.
I dare say you'll rise straight into the clouds someday. Your cultivation will sail before a favorable wind, advancing at astonishing speed. Your name will spread far and wide, and you'll become an unrivaled goddess in everyone's hearts..."
Ying Ming Hao enthusiastically toyed with a slender, delicate hand. It was unbelievably petite, as pale as mutton-fat jade, and so tender it seemed water might spill out with a pinch!
His tongue seemed coated in honey. Every manner of praise flowed from his mouth like an endless murmuring stream, enough to send anyone floating into bliss.
The person seated opposite him was a petite, lovely girl, "graceful and slender, just past fourteen, like a cardamom bud in early spring."
She looked no more than fourteen or fifteen, fresh and unworldly as a newly opening flower bud.
At that moment, her cheeks were as red as ripe apples, so flushed they seemed about to drip blood.
Under the pretext of reading her palm, this rake had already held her right hand firmly in his, stroking it back and forth for nearly half an hour.
She had tried countless times to pull her little hand away, but Ying Ming Hao had deftly stopped her with one excuse after another, never letting her succeed.
Around them, more than a dozen handsome youths and beautiful girls sat or stood. Most were grinding their teeth in fury,
their eyes blazing and their fists clenched, the anger in their hearts threatening to erupt. They wished they could devour Ying Ming Hao alive and strip off his skin.
At that moment, the Shui Family elder seated in the place of honor wore an exceedingly ugly expression, looking as though he were constipated.
He silently lamented his plight. He had only made an offhand remark earlier, and he said the same thing to everyone he tried to recruit.
Even if he truly intended to arrange a marriage alliance, he had other suitable candidates in mind...
Yet he had never imagined he would encounter someone so utterly shameless!
The brat was like a dog-skin plaster, impossible to shake off, and acted as though they had been close friends for years.
The moment he arrived, he brazenly set his sights on the Shui Family's little princess-the pearl everyone feared dropping if they held her in their palms, or melting if they held her in their mouths.
Today, a wet-behind-the-ears brat had actually taken such liberties with their little princess. Everyone present burned with rage, itching to throw him out immediately.
Yet they could not bring themselves to act. Ming Hao was only twelve, still a child and not particularly tall, with delicate features, bright eyes, white teeth, and an innocent expression.
Most importantly, he had achieved an outstanding result in the first round's Illusion Realm Test. At such a young age, his future was truly impossible to measure!
The Shui Family had approached him first to win him over, but now they were caught in a dilemma.
If they rebuked his behavior and embarrassed him into anger, provoking an argument, how could they recruit anyone else once word spread?
But if they turned a blind eye and a deaf ear, letting him do as he pleased, how could they answer to the family?
Whether they offended him or not, the situation was thorny.
The Shui Family elder's mind raced, his head beginning to ache as he thought to himself:
Alas, I truly failed to consult the almanac before leaving today. It's as though I've stepped in dog shit.
Won't I face severe punishment when I return to the family? I must quickly think of a way to drive that wretched brat out...
Just as the Shui Family elder was racking his brains, unable to resolve the dilemma and about to fall out with him, several dozen more heavenly prodigies were teleported into the grounds.
Seven or eight scattered before their results could even be recorded, searching anxiously for something,
much to the irritation of the Misty Sect disciples responsible for recording their results. Helpless, they could only chase after them...
Seeing that a disturbance was about to break out, Ying Ming Hao reluctantly released the delicate hand, rose, and left the pavilion, raising his hand and shouting,
"Over here! Over here!"
Inside the pavilion, as the Shui Family's little princess, Shui Furong, finally escaped those demonic claws, everyone breathed a long sigh of relief!
As soon as Ming Hao left the pavilion, the Shui Family elder activated the Protective Array and said urgently,
"Guard the formation eyes tightly! Do not let that villain back in!"
The youths and girls inside the pavilion sprang up in alarm and hurried to guard the formation eyes...
"Wang Yong, where are Qing Yun and the others? Are they still inside the illusion realm?"
Ming Hao frowned deeply at the guard before him and asked in a low voice.
The broad-backed, powerfully built male guard lowered his head and cupped his hands as he replied,
"Young master, the leaders are still inside. Our strength was lacking, so the few of us came out first. We failed to reach your side in time to protect you. We deserve punishment..."
"Enough. You've already done extremely well, far better than most people here, and deserve praise. Go have the Misty Sect disciples record your results first. Don't cause any more disturbances."
Having said that, Ming Hao waved his hand and turned back.
A sudden bang rang out. Caught off guard, Ming Hao walked headfirst into the pavilion's Protective Array, making intimate contact with the formation.
"Ow! What's the meaning of this? Everything was fine just now, so why is there suddenly a formation here? Miss Shui, it's me, Ming Hao! Hurry and open the door!"...
After a stretch of silence inside, the Shui Family elder finally spoke. "Young Master Ming Hao, please forgive us. We have important matters to discuss and cannot entertain you for the moment!"
Ming Hao stamped his foot. "In that case, Miss Shui, I'll come back later to read your fortune..."
With that, he turned away indignantly and headed in another direction, muttering,
"I only ate a little of your fruit and kindly offered to read your fortunes. I'm not even charging you spirit stones. Do you really have to be so petty...?"
Wei Ze and the other guards followed behind, doing their best to hide their smiles.
Ever since their young master left the palace to temper himself, he had let himself run free in every imaginable way, doing whatever he pleased. They had long since stopped finding it strange...
Before you continue