DING!
[Congratulations to the Host for gaining +6 Mana from detecting someone bragging.]
DING!
[Congratulations to the Host for gaining +6 Mana from detecting someone bragging.]
DING!
[Congratulations to the Host for gaining +6 Mana from detecting someone bragging.]
...
System notifications chimed one after another in his mind.
Very quickly, Wang Xiu felt the Mana in his Dantian surge, breaking through yet another mystical barrier.
Foundation Establishment Stage—Third Heaven!
Awesome!
To think, Wang Xiu had only just broken through to the second level of the Foundation Establishment Stage yesterday. By his own estimates, he would have needed to farm braggarts for another week or two before his Cultivation Level could advance again.
He never expected that the senior brothers from the various branches at the recruitment fair would be such prolific boasters. Their efforts were so potent they pushed him straight to the Third Heaven.
This is practically taking off like a rocket!
Truthfully, if the Divination Sect wasn't so despised and the other branches kept their distance, Wang Xiu would have seriously considered sending those senior brothers some fruit and tea.
"Excuse me," a crisp voice sounded just as Wang Xiu was reveling in his gains, "is this the recruitment spot for the Divination Sect?"
It was a young girl, about thirteen or fourteen years old, wearing a sea-green dress. Her features were delicate and ethereal, and her pure, flawless eyes made her seem like a sprite who had wandered out of a deep, secluded valley. Just looking at her was enough to stir a feeling of protectiveness in one's heart.
A string of small jade bells hung from her left wrist, shimmering beautifully as they caught the sunlight.
"It's her!"
"Jiang Ling'er, the genius with the high-grade water Spiritual Root!"
"With that kind of talent, she could easily become an Inner Sect Disciple in the top three sects! In the lower-ranked branches, she might even have a shot at a True Disciple position."
"What is she doing over at the Divination Sect? Don't tell me she actually wants to join them?"
...
Since time immemorial, beautiful young women have always been the center of attention, especially a girl as pure, lovely, and talented as Jiang Ling'er. She was the perfect Dao companion in the eyes of countless prodigies, an absolute dream girl.
At this moment, seeing Jiang Ling'er approach the Divination Sect's table, disciples from four or five nearby branches scrambled to surround her.
"Calm down! Junior Sister Ling'er, calm down! The Divination Sect is not the place for you!"
"That branch is called the shame of the Sanqing Immortal Sect! It could be shut down at any moment. Joining them would be a complete waste of your time and talent!"
"Junior Sister Ling'er, you should join our Talisman Sect instead! Your grace and Danqing Calligraphy are a perfect match."
"What's so great about those scribbles? Our Sonic Sect is a much better fit for Junior Sister Ling'er! From zithers and lutes to flutes and suonas, what better way is there to enrich the spirit than music?"
...
The girl turned a deaf ear to the recruitment pitches from the other branches. She looked at Wang Xiu curiously. "Senior Brother, they're belittling the Divination Sect so much. Aren't you angry?"
Belittling? He'd gotten used to it over the years.
A faint smile touched Wang Xiu's lips. "Why should I be angry? Everything they said is the truth."
"Our Divination Sect is in decline. Here in the Sanqing Immortal Sect, we are indeed the weakest branch, and we could be disbanded at any time. We are nowhere near as powerful as the others.
"Junior Sister," he continued, "I suggest you join a stronger branch like the Talisman Sect or the Sonic Sect. They are much more suitable for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, smiles blossomed on the faces of the disciples from the Sonic and Talisman Sects. Even the way they looked at Wang Xiu was less hostile. This Senior Brother Wang from the Divination Sect is pretty sensible!
Jiang Ling'er blinked. "If the Divination Sect is in decline, why haven't you switched to another branch, Senior Brother? I heard you can change branches within the Sanqing Immortal Sect."
Change branches? Any support and subsidies from other branches would never land in my hands. Besides, if I changed branches, my master's grave would probably explode on the spot. The consequences of that... would be world-shattering.
Wang Xiu sighed. "I'm different from you, Junior Sister. I was adopted by my master as a child and grew up on Spirit Turtle Peak. To me, the Divination Sect isn't just a school of teaching; it's my home. A child does not scorn his mother's appearance, a scholar does not despise his family's poverty, and a gentleman never forgets his roots. No matter how desolate and bleak the Divination Sect becomes, I could never bring myself to abandon it."
A child does not scorn his mother's appearance!
A scholar does not despise his family's poverty!
A gentleman never forgets his roots!
The moment Wang Xiu's words fell, the surrounding disciples from the major branches looked at him with newfound respect. The disdain and rejection in their eyes slowly gave way to sympathy.
They had to admit, while the Divination Sect was the shame of Sanqing, it really had nothing to do with Senior Brother Wang Xiu. Eight hundred years ago, he hadn't even been born.
All these years, Senior Brother Wang Xiu had quietly stayed on Spirit Turtle Peak. He never went out to swindle people or engage in charlatanry; he kept an extremely low profile. It truly wasn't fair to transfer the animosity for the Divination Sect onto him.
Considering he had lived alone on Spirit Turtle Peak since he was six, single-handedly holding up the banner of the Divination Sect, his sense of responsibility and commitment alone meant he deserved no insult.
Of course, respect was one thing, and joining was another. They would definitely never join the Divination Sect. After all, cultivators were a superstitious lot, and that Spirit Turtle Peak was just too ominous.
It was said that Spirit Turtle Peak was an ill-fated place cursed by the Heavenly Dao. Anyone associated with it was destined for misfortune and bloody disaster.
When it came to such matters, it was better to be safe than sorry!
...
"Senior Brother, I want to join the Divination Sect."
The flicker of sympathy the disciples had just begun to feel for Wang Xiu was utterly extinguished by the young girl's next words.
As they watched the innocent girl, pure as a lotus blossom, gaze at the Divination Sect and Wang Xiu with a look of pure yearning, countless hearts shattered.
Just imagine it. After cultivating in the Divination Sect for a few years, this pure girl would be wearing a black robe, holding a gaudy divination banner, and saying things like, "You bear an ill omen, an omen of great disaster!"
That mental image is just too horrifying!
"Junior Sister, be rational!"
"The Divination Sect is a trap! A total trap!"
"Junior Sister, name your price! I'll do anything, just don't join the Divination Sect!"
"Ling'er is about to be snatched away by the Divination Sect! Someone, go get the Eldest Senior Brother! He's the best at bragging. If we're too late, it'll all be over!"
...
Staring at Jiang Ling'er's determined, serious face, it was clear she wasn't joking. Even Wang Xiu was a little stunned. "You want to join the Divination Sect?"
Jiang Ling'er nodded. "Mm-hm!"
Wang Xiu was utterly bemused. "But what for?"
The girl's face was a mask of innocence. "For the peace and quiet."
That... was actually a solid reason. With only two people on the entire peak, how could it be anything but quiet?
Taking a yellowed form from his Storage Bag, Wang Xiu smiled. "Fill out this application form, then sign it and add your handprint. Once you complete the process, you'll officially be a member of the Divination Sect."
With that, he turned to the indignant disciples from the other branches, his face a picture of "sincerity."
"Honestly, I don't want to accept her either, but according to Sect rules, choosing a branch is a completely democratic process."
"So," he urged, "before this young lady signs, you all should quickly brag about—I mean, explain—all the advantages your branches have. It'll be too late if you wait any longer!"
Everyone's eyes lit up. Senior Brother Wang Xiu was right! Right now, Junior Sister Jiang was clearly acting on impulse; she wasn't being rational at all. As long as she truly understood how much of an advantage the other branches had over the Divination Sect, she would surely come to her senses and change her mind.