Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 43 Selection of the Water Dragon Sect

The selection process of the Water Dragon Sect, held every three years, is arguably the biggest event in the entire Yunyuze.

It's far more important than the Lunar New Year, since the Lunar New Year comes once a year, but this selection only happens once every three years.

Moreover, for many fishermen, today is a pivotal moment that will determine their future.

Because the Water Dragon Sect's selection process not only involves choosing those who have reached the late stage of Qi Refining, but also includes a very important aspect: spiritual root testing.

The Water Dragon Sect will provide free spiritual root testing for every child in Yun Yuze who turns six.

Ji Yuan also experienced this moment back then.

The good news is that it has spiritual roots; the bad news is that it has four spiritual roots.

After he finished packing at home, the Lin Hu couple next door were already waiting for him, while the Wen family had already set off early.

"Brother Ji, let's go too."

Lin Hu said excitedly.

Although this matter has little to do with him, it's still great to have something interesting to watch.

"it is good."

If Lin Hu were to go by himself, he would most likely have to row his small awning boat, but with Ji Yuan around, the Black Wind Boat could easily carry three people.

"Brother Ji, is this a mid-grade magic ship?"

Feeling the speed of the Black Wind Boat, Lin Hu couldn't help but ask.

He remembered that Ji Yuan's Dharma boat was white before, but it turned black a few days after it went missing.

"Um."

The subtle aura that Ji Yuan inadvertently revealed also illustrated this point.

Sitting at the back, Wu Qin looked up at that tall, straight back. Sometimes she couldn't help but fantasize: if Ji Yuan were the one she married... would her life be different?

Perhaps they wouldn't need to go out fishing every day, and instead, they'd be surrounded by the smell of fish wherever they go.

The selection process for the Water Dragon Sect in Zengtou City takes place on a large open space by the fish market on the shore. Only this place in the entire Zengtou City can accommodate so many people.

By the time Ji Yuan arrived, the place was already surrounded by layers upon layers of fishermen.

"Damn it, they've been waiting here last night, a bunch of bastards."

After disembarking, Lin Hu muttered curses.

Ji Yuan put away the Dharma boat and walked forward on his own. Lin Hu wisely chose not to follow.

Hearing the cacophony of voices around him, Ji Yuan slowed his pace slightly, picking out the useful information from the conversation.

"I heard that Han Feiyu has also returned from Yunyuze. He failed the selection last time, but now that three years have passed, he should be able to succeed this time."

"He's already at the eighth level of Qi Refining, so it's almost certain. Dong Qian has also returned from Jing'anfang. It seems she's going to join the Water Dragon Sect as a cultivator from Zengtou City."

"She's definitely fine... I wonder if Grandpa Qin wants to try again this year."

"How could he possibly be? He's so old. But I heard from my neighbor who's in charge of things at the Qin family's place that Second Master Qin might join this year."

"By the way, your kid seems quite talented; he might even have an earth-elemental root!"

"..."

Han Feiyu is a character who seems to live only in Ji Yuan's memory, since Ji Yuan grew up listening to stories about this person.

Like when his parents died at the hands of his enemies, he fled alone into Yunyuze.

The people of Zengtou City all thought he was dead. Unexpectedly, ten years later, he returned with the cultivation level of mid-stage Qi Refining to avenge his parents.

Since then, he has continued to uphold justice in Zengtou City. No matter who it is, as long as they are in trouble, he will help them in some way.

He had already reached the late stage of Qi Refining ten years ago. Three years ago, he tried to join the Water Dragon Sect, but he was no match for the late-stage demon beast and eventually gave up.

Dong Qian was also at the late stage of Qi Refining, but she married into the neighboring Jing'anfang. When she married there, she was only at the early stage of Qi Refining, but now, in just ten years, she has already reached the late stage of Qi Refining.

I heard she even personally killed a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator from Jingdefang... It's rumored that she obtained some kind of secret treasure inheritance.

Old Master Qin is the head of the Qin family and can be considered a senior figure in Zengtou City.

It is said that his cultivation has reached the peak of Qi Refining, but his eyes were injured in his early years, and his vision is not very clear, so he has never joined the Water Dragon Sect.

Master Qin, whose real name is Qin Long, is the second son of Master Qin. His cultivation level has reached the late stage of Qi Refining.

"The Qin family..."

Ji Yuan muttered to himself, "The Qin family's late-stage Qi Refining experts aren't just Old Master Qin and his son Qin Long. There's also an adopted son that Old Master Qin took in back then... Few people know his real name, only that his surname is He. People in Zengtou City call him Third Master He."

"Three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Even if Qiu Qianhai and I both reach the late-stage Qi Refining stage, it will still be difficult to kill them. It would be best to wait until I reach the peak of Qi Refining and make a move before joining the Water Dragon Sect to settle this grudge."

Ji Yuan had already begun to plan his future path in his mind.

There's no doubt that he'll join the Water Dragon Sect; without joining this powerful force, he wouldn't even be able to get his hands on Foundation Establishment Pills.

After joining... naturally, one can become a leisurely employee and focus on farming.

It is said that once you join the Water Dragon Sect and reach the Foundation Establishment stage, you will be able to create your own island.

That's what truly moved him.

While considering the matter, Ji Yuan also found a location nearby.

The open space was divided into several areas in the middle.

There were already many children queuing up in the spiritual root testing area, and cultivators were also waiting in the pill, artifact, and talisman testing areas, patiently awaiting the start.

Ji Yuan glanced around the talisman area a few more times but did not see Lu Wan's figure.

They probably haven't arrived yet.

As for those who want to join the Water Dragon Sect based on their strength, the testing location is set in the Cloud Rain Marsh, where a Foundation Establishment Master is in charge.

Ji Yuan arrived late, and they only waited for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Then they heard a magnificent sound coming from the depths of Yunyu Marsh.

"The Water Dragon Sect selection process officially begins!"

The previously extremely noisy Zengtou City was instantly drowned out by this sound and fell silent.

Ji Yuan suddenly remembered a saying that the person in charge of the Water Dragon Sect's selection process was always a Golden Core cultivator.

Golden Core... can extend lifespan to several hundred years, can refine natal magic treasures, and can control the Golden Core's escape light.

For a moment, Ji Yuan was lost in thought.

A gasp of astonishment rippled through the crowd, followed by shouts of "Greetings, Senior!"

Ji Yuan looked up and saw that a middle-aged female cultivator sitting cross-legged on a lotus leaf magic weapon had appeared in the sky. She was wearing a dark blue robe and her hair was simply tied up with a wooden hairpin. Her attire was very simple, but she exuded an aura of majesty.

Foundation Establishment cultivators... Every time the Water Dragon Sect selects cultivators, there will be Foundation Establishment cultivators here to oversee the selection process.

"Let's continue!"

The female cultivator in the green robe said something indifferently and then ignored him.

On the ground, a Water Dragon Sect cultivator rose from a flying boat and said in a deep voice, "All late-stage cultivators who wish to participate in the selection, follow me."

After saying this, he steered his flying boat and headed straight for Yunyu Marsh.

Several flying boats also rose from the crowd and followed him closely.

Ji Yuan, who was already at the sixth level of Qi Refining, had sharp eyes and his gaze swept over them, taking in their identities in a single glance.

Han Feiyu, Dong Qian, and Qin Long did indeed go, along with two other people: Zhu Longhu, a weapon refiner from Zengtou City, and a middle-aged man with graying temples... Ji Yuan didn't recognize them.

He's definitely not a veteran cultivator from Zengtou City; he probably only broke through to the later stage in the last three years.

It seems a bit hasty to participate in the selection process so soon after breaking through to the later stages.

But it has nothing to do with Ji Yuan. He's just an observer this time, quietly watching the show.

As he turned to look at the spiritual root testing area, he happened to hear the Water Dragon Sect cultivator shout expressionlessly:

"Zhang Tie, with the four spiritual roots of metal, earth, water, and fire, was not selected."

(End of this chapter)