Chapter 37: Xuan Yun Society

Chu Jianqiu quietly stood to the side, listening with interest to the discussions of the senior disciples, but he did not notice that he was standing next to Si Fengkai.

After hearing the discussions of the senior disciples, Si Fengkai felt a sense of pride, and the arrogance on his face grew even more intense. He felt as if he were the center of the world, radiating brilliance.

Especially when he saw the admiring and fearful looks from the new disciples from other counties and the admiration in the eyes of the young women, Si Fengkai felt even more gratified.

However, as he surveyed the surroundings with a proud gaze, he noticed a waste of a cultivator from Tianshui County standing next to him.

Si Fengkai's face instantly darkened. This waste from Tianshui County actually dared to stand next to him, tarnishing his glory.

Moreover, this waste at the Body Tempering stage looked so calm and composed, as if he were some kind of expert.

Si Fengkai immediately felt annoyed.

"Waste, stay away from me!" Si Fengkai said to Chu Jianqiu with a dark expression.

Chu Jianqiu didn't bother to argue with this mad dog who bit anyone he could, and he moved to a corner.

As time passed, more and more senior disciples arrived at the grand hall.

Among these senior disciples, some were inner disciples, but most were outer disciples.

After their arrival, these senior disciples began to recruit the new disciples in small groups.

"Brother, are you interested in joining our Zun Lian Society? Our Zun Lian Society gathers the elites of the outer disciples. If you join us, you will have experienced senior brothers to guide you in cultivation, more abundant cultivation resources, and support when you are bullied," one of them said.

"Little sister, our Zixia Society is a group of like-minded sisters..."

...

Chu Jianqiu watched this scene with some surprise. It seemed that the mountain and the city below were not much different, with many small factions.

The societies mainly targeted the new disciples with higher cultivation levels. The martial artists from Qingshan County and Jingtong County were the most sought after, while those from Tianshui County were largely ignored.

Si Fengkai was recruited by over a dozen societies, which made him even more proud. The feeling of being the center of attention made him feel as if he were floating.

However, although Si Fengkai was elated, he had not completely lost his head. He still remembered the instructions in his brother's letter and rejected all the recruitment offers.

In his brother's letter, it was mentioned that most of the societies recruiting today were from the outer disciples. These societies were formed by outer disciples with mediocre talent and low cultivation levels and were not worth joining.

The truly worthwhile societies were those formed by inner disciples.

However, the societies formed by inner disciples would not appear today. They would only show up after the new student assessment, extending recruitment offers to those who qualified to enter the inner disciples.

These outer disciple societies, lacking a solid foundation, competed fiercely for the new disciples. The powerful societies formed by inner disciples, on the other hand, did not bother with such tactics. With their strong foundations, many disciples dreamed of joining them, so they didn't need to actively recruit.

However, the inner disciple societies would send some members to keep an eye on things, to prevent talented geniuses from being poached by rivals.

Chu Jianqiu watched for a while and felt somewhat bored. With his cultivation at the ninth level of Body Tempering, he was too ordinary among the new disciples, and no society showed any interest in recruiting him.

"Miss, are you interested in joining our Xuan Yun Society?"

A warm voice sounded beside him, and Chu Jianqiu turned to see a handsome young man recruiting a girl from Tianshui County.

Chu Jianqiu vaguely remembered that this girl was the only True Qi realm martial artist from Tianshui County outside the four major families, named Fu Lingxue.

Facing the handsome young man from Xuan Yun Society, the Tianshui County girl was at a loss, glancing at Chu Jianqiu with a pleading look in her eyes.

Chu Jianqiu felt somewhat helpless. Although the girl had good talent, she was very timid and had been following him closely on the journey but did not dare to initiate a conversation.

Chu Jianqiu was not very willing to get involved, but out of consideration for their hometown, he decided to help.

"Brother, could you tell us more about Xuan Yun Society?" Chu Jianqiu asked with a smile.

The handsome young man saw that Chu Jianqiu was only a Body Tempering realm martial artist and that he seemed to have a close relationship with Fu Lingxue, which annoyed him. His eyes flashed with displeasure, and he said coldly, "I am talking to this sister. When did it become your turn to butt in, you waste?"

Chu Jianqiu's face stiffened slightly, and he turned to Fu Lingxue, shrugging to indicate that he couldn't do anything.

Seeing this, Fu Lingxue said timidly, "I appreciate your offer, Brother, but I don't think I am suitable for Xuan Yun Society."

Hearing this, the handsome young man's face darkened. He, Han Anyi, was famous in the outer disciples, and Xuan Yun Society was the largest society in the outer disciples. No one had ever dared to reject him when he recruited members. A new student dared to challenge his authority.

"Are you sure you don't want to join? Think carefully!" Han Anyi said coldly, his tone carrying a hint of threat.

Fu Lingxue's face turned pale, and she took a step back, her beautiful eyes welling up with tears. However, a look of defiance appeared on her delicate face.

Seeing this, Chu Jianqiu's face also darkened. This was a case of forced recruitment.

If Fu Lingxue joined this so-called Xuan Yun Society willingly, Chu Jianqiu would not interfere. But if she was being coerced, he had to step in. He didn't believe that the entire Xuanjian Sect was ruled by such people.

"So what if I don't join your Xuan Yun Society? Are you going to force me?" Chu Jianqiu stepped forward and said coldly.

Han Anyi looked at Chu Jianqiu and laughed in anger. This mere Body Tempering realm waste dared to challenge him repeatedly, truly asking for death.

"You, a Body Tempering realm waste, when did it become your turn to speak? Get lost. You won't last long in Xuanjian Sect. It's best to leave the mountain early, or you'll regret it!" Han Anyi said coldly.

The commotion immediately drew the attention of everyone in the grand hall.

"Who is this new student, to provoke Han Anyi?"

"This new student is in trouble. Han Anyi is not a forgiving person. Few who provoke him have a good end."

"Han Anyi is too domineering. I heard he forced a Zixia Society sister to her death a few days ago."

"Who can afford to offend him when his uncle is an outer disciple elder?"

...

Seeing the strange looks from the crowd, Han Anyi was not bothered at all; instead, he became even more arrogant and self-satisfied.