“Calling you candidates for the Elder Council means we all hope you will become Demigods,” Zong Kong Yang’s invisible pressure made everyone hold their breath. “We invest massive resources in nurturing you. Even if you eventually become Saint-level experts, it would be trivial for our entire Xia Clan. Only by becoming Demigods can you be considered the backbone of our Xia Clan! Yet what disappoints me is that not one of you has reached the third tier of the Myriad Dao!”
Dongbo Xueying muttered inwardly.
Their cultivation realms seem rather low.
But it made sense. Different profound insights vary in difficulty. For example, Myriad Water, Myriad Wind, Myriad Lightning, Myriad Earth, and so on… are relatively easier. However, profound insights like Spatial Dao or Life Dao are extremely difficult to reach even the first tier. Once achieved, the first tier of Spatial Dao could surpass the second tier of Fire Dao.
“Following the old tradition,” Zong Kong Yang continued, “Dongbo Xueying is new, so he will temporarily be placed in the middle rank, fifth position! Everyone else will move back one place accordingly. Based on your power changes, cultivation progress, and other factors, I will adjust the rankings anytime.”
“Ranked fifth?” Dongbo Xueying felt puzzled.
Zong Kong Yang glanced at Dongbo Xueying before adding, “Those with higher cultivation and potential receive more resources. Those who are lax in cultivation, show slow progress, and have low potential… naturally receive fewer resources! Resource allocation follows the rankings.”
Dongbo Xueying understood.
The nine extraordinary candidates received resources that changed dynamically, which ensured none of them dared to slack off.
“I will occasionally come to answer your cultivation questions,” Zong Kong Yang said. “Most of the time, Brother Gongyu will be here! Now, get to know each other.”
“Brother Gongyu, I’ll take my leave first,” Zong Kong Yang turned to the elder in yellow robes, Gongyu.
“Master Sikong, leave this to me,” Gongyu smiled.
Zong Kong Yang was a grandmaster who had forged his Primordial Divine Heart. It was already great that he visited once every year or so to answer questions. In fact, most extraordinary cultivators relied mostly on themselves, with Demigods offering only occasional guidance.
Whoosh.
With one step, golden light surged from Zong Kong Yang’s body, and then he vanished into thin air.
“Now that Master Sikong has gone, everyone can relax a little,” Gongyu smiled. “You all should get to know each other first.”
“Brother Dongbo, you’re no ordinary fellow! Killing a Demon of the Abyss and even fighting against Divine Realm weapons, we all envy you greatly,” a tall, handsome man smiled and spoke first. “I’m Situ Hong, the eldest among us, though I’m only one year older than Younger Brother Zhang, hahaha.”
A man with a mustache standing beside two other men smiled and spoke next, “I’m Zhang Peng!”
“Greetings, Senior Situ, Senior Zhang,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
“I’m Wen Yong’an,” a thin youth spoke softly, his smile capable of melting hearts.
“Senior Wen,” Dongbo Xueying said.
“I’m Dou Rourou!” a plump girl nearby called out excitedly, “Xueying Little Brother, come here, call me Senior Sister quickly.”
Dongbo Xueying felt a bead of sweat.
Senior Sister Dou Rourou was probably the least attractive extraordinary woman he had ever seen. Extraordinary cultivators usually had their bodies transformed, generally resulting in good skin, which usually meant decent looks. However, Senior Sister Dou was not only plump, but also had crooked teeth and messy hair, making her appearance rather unimpressive.
Yet, from the perspective of friendship, Senior Sister Dou seemed very straightforward and unconcerned with trivialities, likely a friend worth having.
“Senior Sister,” Dongbo Xueying addressed her.
“Why won’t you call me Senior Sister?” Dou Rourou muttered.
“Senior Sister Dou, Dongbo Younger Brother just arrived. Don’t scare the younger brother,” a jovial youth with a large mouth smiled. “I’m Puyang Bo, best at teleportation. If you need to go anywhere in the future, I’ll take you there super fast!”
Dongbo Xueying immediately felt a liking for Senior Brother Puyang.
“I’m Yu Feng!” Next to Puyang Bo stood a rather refined youth, probably the most handsome among them.
“Greetings, Senior Puyang, Senior Yu,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
“Old Wu, why so quiet?” Puyang Bo grinned at a youth beside him with wrinkles on his face, whose hair was already streaked with gray. “Younger Brother Dongbo, Old Wu is younger than me, but he cultivates the Dao of Death, so he looks like an old man. He’s always silent and rarely speaks, but he’s a really good person.”
“Greetings, Senior Wu,” Dongbo Xueying also said.
The youth with gray-streaked hair and wrinkles forced a smile, looking somewhat awkward, as if he wasn’t good at socializing.
Dongbo Xueying sighed inwardly.
Those who could comprehend the Dao of Death usually had unique personalities.
“Haha, this last one is Senior Sister Zhuo. Younger Brother Dongbo, you must already be itching to meet her,” Puyang Bo introduced.
Dongbo Xueying turned to the last woman.
She was quite pretty with a good figure, a beauty indeed. But she was only on par with Kong Youyue, clearly not reaching the level of a peerless beauty like Yu Jingqiu!
However—
Senior Sister Zhuo exuded an irresistible allure, making one desire to possess her. This attraction was instinctual, likely making ninety-nine out of a hundred men want to claim her. Dongbo Xueying had a strong will and wasn’t a lustful person, yet he couldn’t help feeling a stirring of longing and anticipation, which made him feel something was off.
“Junior Brother Xueying,” Senior Sister Zhuo smiled politely.
“Senior Sister Zhuo,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
Puyang immediately sent a voice transmission, “Junior Brother Dongbo, don’t get bewitched. Senior Sister Zhuo has awakened her ancient bloodline, possessing the ‘Yin Body.’ Not only has she comprehended the Yin Dao, but this Yin Body exerts an intense attraction on nearly every man. Unless that man… prefers men!”
“Yin Body?” Dongbo Xueying was astonished. In the past half-year in Xiadu City, he hadn’t wasted his time and had collected many books, so he naturally knew about the Yin Body.
A woman with the Yin Body, especially during her first intimate encounter with a man, releases Yin essence that nourishes the man’s body and soul, far surpassing the effects of many rare treasures, causing the soul to undergo transformation! Even drinking Oceanic Realm Stone Spirit Liquid for centuries might not match the transformation from this single encounter. Of course, this requires the man’s soul to be compatible with the woman’s; otherwise, even a Demigod-level cultivator would find transformation difficult.
“Hehe, so many want to pursue Senior Sister Zhuo,” Puyang transmitted.
…
Dongbo Xueying and the other eight exchanged a few words and got to know each other briefly.
“There are a total of twelve bamboo huts on this mountain, ranked from highest to lowest. Dongbo Xueying, you will reside in the fifth bamboo hut,” Gongyu said. “Inside the hut, there’s a book with a simple introduction. After reading it, you’ll know about the cultivation places in the Chiyun Mountain world.”
“Alright, you may all disperse now. Younger Brother Dongbo is still unfamiliar with things here,” Gongyu instructed.
“It’s simple. Later, we’ll show the junior brother around,” Situ Hong smiled.
“Junior Brother, go rest first. Tonight, we’ll welcome you at the July Tavern in Xiadu City,” Puyang Bo called excitedly.
Since they would cultivate together from now on, everyone was quite courteous.
Dongbo Xueying soon reached his bamboo hut.
The hut was built above a spring-fed lake, with bubbling springs and steaming hot water, shrouded in mist. Dongbo Xueying walked across the water directly to the hut, where a small courtyard surrounded by bamboo railings lay.
Creak! He pushed open the bamboo gate and entered the courtyard.
The courtyard was quite clean, yet beside it stood a jade pillar.
On the jade pillar were nine lines of text.
Rank 1: Wen Yong’an, Second Tier of Life Dao, completed the ‘Underground Lava River’ life-and-death mission.
Rank 2: Dou Rourou, First Tier of Time Dao, completed basic missions.
Rank 3: Situ Hong, Second Tier of Spatial Dao, completed the ‘Underground Lava River’ life-and-death mission.
Rank 4: Wu Cang, Second Tier of Death Dao, completed the ‘Underground Lava River’ life-and-death mission.
Rank 5: Dongbo Xueying, First Tier of Water and Fire Dao, no missions completed.
Rank 6: Zhuo Yi, Second Tier of Yin Dao, completed basic missions.
Rank 7: Zhang Peng, Second Tier of Spatial Dao, completed the ‘Underground Lava River’ life-and-death mission.
Rank 8: Yu Feng, Second Tier of Spatial Dao, completed basic missions.
Rank 9: Puyang Bo, First Tier of Spatial Dao, completed basic missions.
“Rankings? Right in the courtyard of the bamboo hut?” Dongbo Xueying smiled helplessly. “Looks like the Xia Clan Elders don’t want us to relax at all. But besides cultivation and completed missions, are there other factors affecting the rankings?”
Dongbo Xueying recalled what Sikong Yang had said earlier.
Those with higher cultivation and potential receive more resources.
Those who are lax in cultivation, have low cultivation, and little potential receive fewer resources.
“Is potential more important?” Dongbo Xueying vaguely understood. Because of potential, Senior Sister Dou Rourou could rank second!
“Haha… Compared to them, I seem the weakest?” Dongbo Xueying smiled. “Looks like my future cultivation days will be quite interesting.”
For Dongbo Xueying, this ranking was merely a bit of fun. What he valued more was his own progress.
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