Chapter 43: Water Dragon Sect’s Selection
The triennial selection of the Water Dragon Sect was considered the biggest event in the entire Yunyu Marshlands.
It was far more important than the New Year celebration, after all, the New Year came once every year, but this selection only happened once every three years.
Moreover, for many fishermen, today marked the moment that determined their future.
Because the Water Dragon Sect’s selection not only chose those at the late stage of Qi Refinement to join the sect, but more importantly… it conducted Spiritual Root Tests.
The Water Dragon Sect provided free Spiritual Root tests for every child in Yunyu Marshlands who had turned six.
Back in the day, Ji Yuan had also gone through this very moment.
The good news was that he did possess a Spiritual Root.
The bad news was… it was a Four-Spiritual Root.
Once he finished tidying up at home, the couple next door, Lin Hu and his wife, were already waiting for him.
The Wen family had already set out much earlier.
"Brother Ji, let’s go, let’s head over too."
Lin Hu spoke with great excitement.
Although today’s event had little to do with him personally, it was still wonderful to witness such a grand occasion.
"Alright."
If Lin Hu had gone by himself, he would have had to rely on his little black-roofed boat, but with Ji Yuan here, the Black Wind Boat could easily carry three people without any issue.
"Brother Ji, is this a Mid-Grade Magic Boat now?"
Lin Hu, feeling the speed of the Black Wind Boat, could not help but ask.
He remembered that Ji Yuan’s boat used to be white, but after Ji Yuan went missing for a few days, the boat had turned black.
"Mm."
The subtle aura that Ji Yuan inadvertently released also confirmed this fact.
Sitting at the rear, Wu Qin lifted her gaze to glance at his tall, upright back.
Sometimes, she just couldn’t help but imagine—if the one she had married was Ji Yuan… would her life have turned out differently?
Perhaps she wouldn’t have to go fishing every day, reeking of fish wherever she went.
The Water Dragon Sect’s selection in Zengtou Market was held right on that large open space by the Fish Market.
It was the only place in all of Zengtou Market spacious enough to accommodate such a massive crowd.
By the time Ji Yuan arrived, the place was already surrounded by layers upon layers of fishermen.
"Damn, they were camping here since last night, these sons of bitches."
After disembarking, Lin Hu cursed under his breath.
Ji Yuan put away the magic boat and walked forward on his own.
Lin Hu, knowing better, didn’t try to follow.
The noisy discussions around him entered his ears, causing Ji Yuan to slow his pace slightly as he picked out any useful information.
"I heard Han Feiyu came back from the Yunyu Marshlands. He failed the selection last time. Three years have passed since then; he should succeed this time, right?"
"He’s already at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement, it’s practically guaranteed. Dong Qian also returned from Jing’an District, and it seems she plans to join the Water Dragon Sect this time as a cultivator from our Zengtou Market."
"She’s definitely going to make it… I wonder if Old Master Qin will try again this year."
"How could he? He’s so old already. But I heard from my neighbor who works as a steward for the Qin family that Second Master Qin might be trying to join this year."
"By the way, your kid seems pretty talented. Maybe he’s a Single Earth Spiritual Root!"
"……"
Han Feiyu—a figure that lived in Ji Yuan’s childhood memories.
After all, Ji Yuan had grown up listening to this man’s stories.
His parents had supposedly been killed by enemies, and he alone had escaped into the Yunyu Marshlands.
Everyone in Zengtou Market thought he had died, but to their surprise, ten years later, he returned with a cultivation level at the mid-stage of Qi Refinement and avenged his parents.
Since then, he had been known for upholding justice in Zengtou Market.
Regardless of who asked for help, he would lend a hand in one way or another.
He had reached the late stage of Qi Refinement ten years ago and had attempted to join the Water Dragon Sect three years ago. However, he was defeated by a late-stage first-rank demonic beast and had to admit defeat.
Dong Qian was also a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator.
She had married into neighboring Jing’an District when she was just at the early stage of Qi Refinement.
In just ten short years, she had advanced to the late stage.
It was rumored that she had even personally slain a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator from Jingde District… Word had it that she had obtained some kind of mysterious inheritance.
Old Master Qin, the patriarch of the Qin family, was considered a senior figure in Zengtou Market.
It was said that his cultivation had reached the peak of Qi Refinement, but due to an old injury to his eyes, his vision had been blurry for years, which was why he had never joined the Water Dragon Sect.
Second Master Qin, named Qin Long, was Old Master Qin’s second son, and he had also reached the late stage of Qi Refinement.
"The Qin family…"
Ji Yuan muttered to himself.
The Qin family had more than just Old Master Qin and Qin Long at the late stage of Qi Refinement.
There was also an adopted son that Old Master Qin had taken in years ago… His real name was rarely mentioned.
People only knew that his surname was He, and everyone in Zengtou Market called him Third Master He.
"Three late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators… Even if Qiu Qianhai and I both reach the late stage, it would still be troublesome to deal with them. It’s best to wait until I reach the peak of Qi Refinement, and settle this grudge before joining the Water Dragon Sect."
Ji Yuan had already begun laying out the future path in his heart.
There was no doubt about joining the Water Dragon Sect.
Without joining such a major sect, he wouldn’t even be able to get his hands on a Foundation Establishment Pill.
And after joining… Naturally, he planned to live as a leisurely member, focusing on farming in peace.
It was said that after joining the Water Dragon Sect and reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, one could open up an island of their own.
That was the part that truly tempted him.
While Ji Yuan was pondering, he also found himself a spot nearby.
The open space had been divided into several zones.
The Spiritual Root Testing Area already had many children lining up.
Meanwhile, the Pill, Weapon, and Talisman areas also had cultivators waiting there, quietly anticipating the start.
Ji Yuan glanced more than once at the Talisman Area, but he didn’t see Lu Wan.
She most likely hadn’t arrived yet.
As for those relying on their strength to join the Water Dragon Sect, their testing ground was set deeper inside the Yunyu Marshlands, supervised by Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Since Ji Yuan had arrived late, he didn’t have to wait long—just about the time it took to drink a cup of tea.
Suddenly, a majestic voice echoed from deep within the Yunyu Marshlands.
"The Water Dragon Sect Selection… officially begins!"
The once noisy Zengtou Market was instantly silenced by that voice.
Ji Yuan suddenly recalled a rumor.
It was said that behind every Water Dragon Sect selection, the one in charge was always a Golden Core True Person.
Golden Core… with a lifespan of several hundred years, capable of refining Life-Bound Treasures, and traveling via Golden Core Escape Light.
For a moment, Ji Yuan’s mind was filled with endless fantasies.
Around him, exclamations of surprise rang out, followed by respectful shouts, "Greetings, Senior!"
Ji Yuan looked up along with the others and saw that, at some point, a middle-aged female cultivator had appeared in the sky, sitting cross-legged on a lotus-shaped magic treasure.
She wore a deep green robe, her hair simply tied up with a wooden hairpin. Her appearance was plain, yet she exuded an undeniable air of authority.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator… As expected, every Water Dragon Sect selection had one to keep watch over the venue.
"Carry on."
The green-robed female cultivator spoke indifferently before falling silent.
On the ground, a Water Dragon Sect cultivator rose into the air on a flying boat and announced in a deep voice, "All late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators participating in the selection, follow me."
With that, he piloted the flying boat directly toward the Yunyu Marshlands.
From the crowd, several more flying boats rose one after another, following close behind.
Having reached the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, Ji Yuan’s sharp eyes swept across the group, identifying each of the participants at a glance.
Indeed, Han Feiyu, Dong Qian, and Qin Long had all gone.
Additionally, there were two more—one was Zhu Longhu, a weapon craftsman from Zengtou Market, and the other was a middle-aged man with graying temples… someone Ji Yuan didn’t recognize.
He definitely wasn’t one of Zengtou Market’s veteran cultivators.
He was likely someone who had only broken through to the late stage within the past three years.
However, rushing into the selection immediately after just breaking through seemed a bit reckless.
But that had nothing to do with Ji Yuan. This time, he was merely an observer, silently watching the spectacle unfold.
Turning his gaze toward the Spiritual Root Testing Area, he happened to hear a Water Dragon Sect cultivator call out expressionlessly:
"Zhang Tie, Gold, Earth, Water, Fire Four-Spiritual Root, eliminated."