The Protagonist Is in the Right Position to Get Along With the Villain
Chapter 65
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While the two of them were hesitating whether to use a secret technique to cover their spiritual roots, the old voice rang out again, “The cultivators with three or more colors are also invited to leave on their own.”
As soon as these words rang out, the crowd of cultivators went in an uproar discussing this regulation of the Myriad Red Clouds Sect. They didn’t know yet what status in the sect would be granted to them, so it was stipulated that those with four or five spiritual roots were to be eliminated…
Could it be that those cultivators with four or five spiritual roots weren’t even able to become outer sect disciples?
“Ah, my Purple Bamboo Jade!” Below, a charming female cultivator shouted in alarm, and exclamations from all over the hall followed in succession…
Li Jinzhi looked in their direction, and saw that the Purple Bamboo Jades with mottled color in their hands were slowly disappearing, eventually fading away…
The palace gates slowly opened, and the cultivators without Purple Bamboo Jade seemed to be pressed by a great force. However, once they went out, this great force dissipated on its own. Although they were unreconciled, there was nothing to be done. Who wanted their spiritual roots to not even enter the eyes of the sects, and regret that they were not a child of a great clan…
Once that group of cultivators left, the entire hall became rather empty. An air of negativity pervaded among those who remained.
Ye Yu swept his eyes over the circle of cultivators in the air, frowning slightly though it was unknown what he was thinking about.
Li Jinzhi asked, “What’s wrong?”
“The cultivators at our level might not be up to the standard either.” Ye Yu shook his head.
Stunned, Li Jinzhi stared back, and just as he was thinking about it, he heard that voice again, “In the first level, cultivators with one or two colors, go up one level.”
As if they had anticipated this, the cultivators below were quite calm. After doing as instructed, the old voice echoed once again, “The second level cultivators, measure your spiritual roots.”
Li Jinzhi looked down at the cultivators testing their spiritual roots, the colors were still quite mixed; there were equally as many cultivators with four or five spiritual roots. For the moment, some people rejoiced while some grew worried.
“The cultivators with five spiritual roots, leave on your own. Cultivators with four spiritual roots can choose to leave or move down one level.” The old voice stated, the restrictions were relaxed a bit. The cultivators with four roots just moved down, and were not asked to leave. And the cultivators with three spiritual roots could still stay on the second level.
Those with four spiritual roots who stayed on the second level hardly thought about it, and went down to the next level, jokingly thanking the heavens they were able to stay. It didn’t matter if they were on the third or second level…
The five spiritual roots were really too inferior. Although unwilling, they had no choice but to leave…
“The highest level cultivators, please test spiritual roots.” The old voice rang again.
Hearing this, Li Jinzhi closed his eyes and let the Qi in his Dantian to slowly flow out; it followed the meridians in his arm until gathering in his palm. At last, it unhurriedly trickled into the Purple Bamboo Jade. The pure jade gradually emitted an icy-white color…
“Because of your excellent ability to react and outstanding initiative when encountering trouble, cultivators with four spiritual roots can go down one level; cultivators with five spiritual roots can go down two levels; and cultivators with three and two spiritual roots stay…” There was a slight pause, followed by a soft cry, “Oh? This year there is actually a cultivator with a single spiritual root? Hss… there’s another one?!”
As soon as this was said, the people in the entire hall became restless, and looked towards the highest level…
Li Jinzhi glanced at the Purple Bamboo Jade in his palm, the sleek jade emitted an ice-white halo, while beside him, from Ye Yu’s hand, interspersed in the ice-white glow was a faintly demonic red hue.
Obviously, the old man was talking about the two of them.
Although he had just recently considered hiding, since they were able to guard their cultivation bases, it seemed not a big problem to expose their aptitudes without revealing their true strength.
After all, the purpose of this trip was to get the thousand-years-old Bone-Forging Milk. It would be more beneficial to expose their advantages a little.
Everyone’s gazes were fixed on the Purple Bamboo Jades in their hands. Envious, jealous, calm, everyone’s expressions were different, but most of them were jealous. After so many cruel rounds of elimination, all of which were due to the lack of one’s aptitude, seeing the favored Heavenly Spiritual Roots… they were naturally exceptionally envious.
Li Jinzhi just curled his lips, then turned his eyes away. With a glance, he caught Ye Yu staring at him, and the other party’s faint voice rang in his Sea of Consciousness, “Don’t worry. These people are nothing to be afraid of, if someone makes trouble.” After a pause, the other’s cold voice became somewhat intimate, as if a little embarrassed, “I will protect you—”
Li Jinzhi nodded in agreement. He really didn’t want to cause trouble, but under the premise of absolute suppression of strength, these people were really nothing to be afraid of. However, after hearing the second half of the sentence, Li Jinzhi’s eyebrows rose, “Why aren’t I the one protecting you? Wasn’t it me who protected you when you couldn’t change back to your original form?”
“…” Ye Yu pursed his lips, and retreated half a step under Li Jinzhi’s intimidating eyes. But, when the female cultivator spoke, he took another step forward to block Li Jinzhi.
“It turns out that you two are exactly the one-in-ten-thousand Heavenly Spiritual Roots.” She inclined her head, and looked at the two of them with slightly raised eyebrows. Stroking her chin with one hand, a look of suspicion on her face, “Why didn’t you say so?”
Inclining his head, Li Jinzhi looked at the female cultivator. However, there was no expression of envy or jealousy on the other party’s face, “There’s nothing to brag about when it comes to Heaven’s favor.”
The female cultivator was taken aback. Thinking over the words carefully, the suspicion on her face faded a lot. About to say something, she noticed that the other side’s position didn’t seem right, “Hey, I say, why are the two of you in such a strange position? What are you always blocking him for?!” The second half of the sentence was directed at Ye Yu.
Li Jinzhi glanced at the black figure in front of him, and stretched out his hand to push him aside.
Ye Yu stepped back to block the other, and said in an extremely serious tone, “I’m afraid she’ll do something bad to you.”
“…”
The female cultivator rolled her eyes. Looking around, she saw that there were still many cultivators who cast their sights at them. The corner of her lips twitched involuntarily. “You are really lucky to have Heavenly Spiritual Roots.”
Li Jinzhi didn’t reply. He didn’t know if he was blessed with a good life, but the enduring truth since time immemorial had always been that he had to depend on himself to fight for the things he wanted. Besides, with his natural abilities, he’d have been cannon fodder in those novels in the mortal world. Fortunately, he had transmigrated as the protagonist…
At that moment, the old voice sounded again, “Now, the selection of the disciples of the Myriad Red Clouds sect has been completed. The cultivators at the ground level are the outer disciples of the Myriad Red Clouds sect. With the help of the Purple Bamboo Jade you can find Elder Ding of the outer sect. The cultivators on the second level are disciples of the inner sect, reporting to Elder Ruan. The disciples at the highest level have the opportunity to become personal disciples of the Elders, yet the individual opportunity still depends on whether you can seize it. You can go directly to the main hall in a while.”
As soon as the old voice stopped, all the magic power restrictions in the entire hall disappeared. The Purple Bamboo Jade in everyone’s hands also turned into jade tokens of varying colors.
Li Jinzhi glanced at his hand; he roughly guessed that the colors were distinct because of the different grades.
In a spell, the sky spun and the earth went round; the whole palace seemed to be moving rapidly. After quite some time, it slowly came to a stop. The palace doors unhurriedly opened, and the crowd of cultivators flocked out, afraid that if they were even a moment late, a good opportunity would be seized by others.
Having been forced to the rear, Li Jinzhi and Ye Yu were not in a hurry; waiting leisurely at the end.
Li Jinzhi looked at those cultivators scrambling to get ahead, then turned his head and saw Ye Yu frowning from being shoved so violently. Reaching out to grab Ye Yu’s wrist, he transmitted in a whisper, “We will just go out later.”
Then, he watched the surging crowd. Those cultivators having such reaction was understandable; it was already extremely difficult to be able to advance up to this point being a rogue cultivator. With no family to rely on, and no sect to seek protection from, with such a good opportunity at this time, no one would be willing to lag behind.
In addition, these cultivators were a bit more ruthless and unscrupulous than those who grew up in sects; they also had less sense of a sect’s reputation. While the Myriad Red Clouds sect needed them, they were wary of them as well.
After the people in front had all left, Li Jinzhi dragged Ye Yu out slowly, only to realize that they were already in the Myriad Red Clouds Mountain Range. Looking around, the mountains were surrounded by an endless sea of clouds, with countless palaces of various colors on the mountain peaks. Quite spectacular.
As it was evening, the glow of the setting sun shined upon the endless sea of clouds, coloring them a beautiful orange-red. As the sea of clouds rolled, a boundless momentum poured out, making people give birth to some lofty ambitions out of thin air.
They happened to be on a mountain that was not that high, and Li Jinzhi, who was hesitating where to find the main hall, was stopped by an old voice—
“These two young friends, please stay and wait for this old man.”
Around them the light scattered, and an old man with white beard and hair slowly stepped out of the palace, his robes fluttering. He seemed like an immortal returning home with the wind.
Li Jinzhi perceived the other side’s cultivation base with his Divine sense, and discovered that he was also an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Looking the other’s appearance up and down once again, his pupils shrank, and a few words popped in his mind: Taibai Jinxing.
“…”
Li Jinzhi stood in place, watching Taibai Jinxing sign a spell at the palace. Afterwards, the palace shrank little by little, and was put in the sleeves of the other’s robe. Then, he walked towards them.
“He he, two young friends, I am the elder responsible for recruiting disciples, my surname is Bai.” Elder Bai’s cheeks were slightly flushed, he beamed, “My name is Jinxing, courtesy Taibai.”
“…” Li Jinzhi opened his mouth; originally he wanted to greet the other, but was shocked by his name, and swallowed back the words that rose to his mouth. He felt that his whole person was not well.
Ye Yu nodded at the other, and said, “Elder Bai, this younger generation’s surname is Ye, first name Yu.” He also pointed at Li Jinzhi, “This is this junior’s companion, surnamed Li, first name Jinzhi.” As he spoke, his brow furrowed inadvertently, then he turned his head as if nothing had happened.
Li Jinzhi thought his expression didn’t seem right. In the past, when encountering such situations, he wouldn’t have been distracted. Could it be because he had just addressed the other as his companion?
Jinzhi shouldn’t be so narrow-minded. It was simply an address, nothing more. Besides, calling him a companion wasn’t too excessive, and he didn’t call him a Dao companion…
“Are these two young friends planning to go to the main hall?” Elder Bai stroked his whiskers and inquired.
“Just so. The two of us are planning to go to the main hall in order to become disciples of the elders.” Ye Yu followed the other’s meaning and continued, “Only, we don’t know where the main hall is located.”
“Hehe, the two young friends don’t have to look for it, it’s only for the cultivators with Double Spiritual Roots. Both of you have Heavenly Spiritual Roots, mutated Ice Spiritual Roots at that. Naturally, you need to find a better master to guide you.” Elder Bai suddenly lowered his voice. “It’s also not necessary for you to seek fortuitous encounters at all, the opportunities will find you by themselves. We have within the sect an old monster in the early-stage of Deity Transformation, who hasn’t been able to find a disciple—”
Li Jinzhi and Ye Yu glanced at each other, feeling rather alarmed.
“Early-stage Deity Transformation?” Li Jinzhi was aghast, “Then how could they possibly look upon us?”
Elder Bai smiled mysteriously, twirling his white beard pretending to be enigmatic, “You will know when the time comes.”
Looking back at Ye Yu, Li Jinzhi saw the expression of worry mirrored in the other’s eyes. Would a cultivator of this level see through their ruse? Their cultivation base, this matter, could it still be hidden?
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