Chapter 33

(Listen, listen, listen (the plot cannot be separated, two chapters combined, 5700 words, that's all for today's update.))

"Your age?"

Zhang Yuxian looked at the first person, a slightly shorter and stocky man, a member of the Warrior Reserve Camp, where most people were robust and had dark skin.

This man usually held a considerable position in the Lian Clan, and even in the Warrior Reserve Camp, he was a strong hand in terms of strength. He was honored to be the first one reviewed by Zhang Yuxian and was already eager.

"Sir, I am twenty-six years old this year. I can lift a four-hundred-pound stone mill in one go. I'm not boasting; I can lift it four or five times in one breath, just for fun. Sir, would you like to see? There's a stone mill in the village, I can lift it for you to see!"

The man confidently introduced himself, but Zhang Yuxian paid no attention to his boasting. He silently placed his hand on the man's shoulder and slowly infused him with a bit of primordial energy.

A great master who had reached the "Opening the Heavenly Eye" realm could see through a person's flesh, meridians, and bones with a single glance, thus judging whether they were suitable for martial arts.

However, Zhang Yuxian had not reached this realm, so his method of selecting people was to infuse a small amount of primordial energy into their bodies and observe how well they absorbed it.

Good absorption indicated good bones, while poor absorption indicated poor bones.

After a brief investigation, Zhang Yuxian was speechless. The primordial energy he had infused into the man was absorbed by less than ten percent, about seven or eight percent.

Such talent was truly not worth mentioning.

"Do you think lifting a stone mill can defeat the enemy?" Zhang Yuxian glanced at the man, "Your bones are very ordinary, unsuitable for martial arts."

Zhang Yuxian's words were like a bucket of cold water, and the previously boastful man was immediately stunned.

Unsuitable for martial arts? How could I be unsuitable for martial arts!

The man felt不服气 (unconvinced), but when he met Zhang Yuxian's cold gaze, he immediately wilted like a defeated rooster.

I was stronger than my peers when I was a child, and now I can lift a four-hundred-pound stone mill. If I'm unsuitable for martial arts, how could I lift such a heavy stone mill?

The man grumbled in his heart. He had practiced martial arts for many years, and Zhang Yuxian's words negated all his previous efforts.

Of course, he only thought it in his heart and did not have the courage to contradict Zhang Yuxian.

"You stand here for a moment." Zhang Yuxian did not immediately send the man home but asked him to wait.

Zhang Yuxian was aware that coming to the Great Wasteland to select people required mental preparation. The people here had grown up in a resource-scarce environment, making it difficult for experts to emerge.

A clan that had survived for generations without experts naturally found it hard to produce geniuses.

However, Zhang Yuxian soon realized that he had underestimated the barrenness of the Great Wasteland. He also understood what "there is no worst, only worse" meant.

As he continued his investigation, the man who had boasted earlier was still considered relatively good. The people who followed often absorbed energy at only six or seven percent, or even four or five percent.

It was truly unbearable to see.

Zhang Yuxian had to lower his standards repeatedly and finally decided that anyone who absorbed energy at more than six percent could stay.

"You... are barely acceptable."

Zhang Yuxian looked at a stocky man helplessly, using only the adjective "barely acceptable."

After his investigation, the elimination rate reached fifty percent.

There were only about forty members of the Warrior Reserve Camp who met the age requirement, and with such a high elimination rate, only about twenty people were left, clearly not enough to meet the standard of thirty.

"Sir Zhang is really strict. The warriors in the Warrior Reserve Camp are so powerful, and yet half of them were eliminated."

"Fortunately, I didn't go up, or I would have been embarrassed."

The first-class male laborers who had been eager to try after seeing Yi Yun sign up were now relieved.

With such a high elimination rate, how good must one's talent be to pass?

Moreover, they could see that Zhang Yuxian was not satisfied with those who passed, but he had no choice but to choose the best among the worst.

Realizing this, everyone admired Lian Chengyu even more.

Only Lian Chengyu had received the evaluation of "extremely good."

"Yun'er..." Jiang Xiaorou's small hands were intertwined, and she looked at Yi Yun worriedly. She knew that Yi Yun had been secretly practicing martial arts these days, but she never thought that Yi Yun's strength could match that of the Warrior Reserve Camp members.

Zhang Yuxian didn't even like the Warrior Reserve Camp members, so how could he possibly choose Yi Yun?

Jiang Xiaorou was still standing in the square, in an awkward position. Under everyone's gaze, her younger brother was still in the selection queue, and she didn't know whether to step back or continue standing.

Yi Yun noticed Jiang Xiaorou's worried gaze, moved his lips slightly, and said, "Sister Xiaorou, don't worry, I'll be fine."

Zhao Tiezhu laughed at Yi Yun's words, "What a liar! I could find a stray dog that's stronger than you. Even if Sir Zhang chose a dog as his disciple, he wouldn't choose you!"

In response to the ridicule, Yi Yun only gave Zhao Tiezhu a cold look and said calmly, "You should worry about yourself. As for me, you don't need to worry."

"Ha! Kid, you're getting cocky, talking to me like that! If you get selected today, I'll uproot the big locust tree at the village entrance and eat it, roots and all."

Zhao Tiezhu laughed as he spoke, and at his side, another member of the Warrior Reserve Camp chimed in, "Then I'll eat the stone mill at the village entrance!"

"Ha ha, you guys are so funny. I'll join in and drink all the water from the East River."

The members of the Warrior Reserve Camp all joined in the teasing.

Yi Yun looked at them helplessly, shrugged, and said, "Whatever."

At this moment, Zhang Yuxian had already reached Zhao Tiezhu, who immediately straightened up and stopped laughing.

Zhang Yuxian pressed his hand on Zhao Tiezhu and said indifferently, "Twenty-eight?"

Zhao Tiezhu quickly replied, "Sir, your keen eyesight is correct. I am indeed twenty-eight years old."

Zhang Yuxian frowned, clearly unsatisfied with Zhao Tiezhu, but after counting the number of people who had passed, he reluctantly said, "It barely meets the minimum standard. You can stay, just to make up the numbers."

Zhang Yuxian was increasingly feeling that holding the Divine Kingdom Selection in the Great Wasteland was a thankless task.

Zhao Tiezhu let out a deep breath and clenched his fists, "Great! I passed!"

He was extremely excited and glanced at Yi Yun with a taunting look. Although he passed with the minimum standard, he still passed!

I'm about to follow Sir Zhang to practice martial arts. When I become successful, marry multiple wives, and reach the peak of life, how can a peasant like you compare?

At this moment, Zhang Yuxian walked towards Yi Yun.

Everyone's attention was focused on Yi Yun.

Lian Chengyu sneered, "We'll see how you handle this!"

He had just thought this, but then he realized that Yi Yun was just a mentally challenged child. Even if he embarrassed himself, he wouldn't care.

Does a mentally challenged child need to worry about how to handle the situation? Making a fool of himself would be normal, and he might even think it was praise.

Thinking of this, Lian Chengyu was speechless. This was the principle that you can never defeat a complete fool because to defeat him, you would have to lower your intelligence to his level, and at that point, you would be defeated by his rich experience.

"Yi Yun, right?" Zhang Yuxian walked up to Yi Yun.

"Yes, sir!"

"Have you really never practiced martial arts?"

Zhang Yuxian looked at Yi Yun thoughtfully. Although his cultivation was only at the Purple Blood stage and he couldn't sense Yi Yun's specific level, he felt a hidden aura from Yi Yun.

The aura was restrained and not easily revealed!

"I've practiced a little." Yi Yun chose his words carefully, considering that偷学 (stealing lessons) also counted as practicing martial arts.

"Sir, this kid is lying!" Zhao Tiezhu reported, "I can vouch for it, this kid has never practiced martial arts!"

Yi Yun looked at Zhao Tiezhu as if he were a fool, "How would you know if I've practiced martial arts? I've passed by the clan training ground countless times when Coach Yao was teaching martial arts, and I've practiced along with them."

Yi Yun admitted to practicing martial arts openly. This was to prepare a reasonable explanation for when he revealed his true strength in the future, so that people would think he was a prodigy and reduce the risk of exposing the Purple Crystal.

Otherwise, where would his martial arts skills come from, and how could he explain it?

"Stealing martial arts lessons?"

Upon hearing Yi Yun's words, not only Zhao Tiezhu but also the other members of the Warrior Reserve Camp were almost laughing out loud, but they didn't dare to be too bold in front of Zhang Yuxian.

At this moment, no one pursued the crime of Yi Yun stealing martial arts lessons.

A member of the Warrior Reserve Camp said, "Coach Yao's 'Dragon Sinew Tiger Bone Fist' is profound and vast. We can't even understand a single move, and you, a silly child with no strength, can learn anything by stealing lessons?"

Yi Yun didn't bother to argue. He just wanted to leave an impression that he was practicing martial arts. When he suddenly revealed his strength in the future, it would provide a foundation and buffer.

Zhang Yuxian pondered for a moment, placed his hand on Yi Yun's shoulder, and slowly infused him with primordial energy.

In fact, Zhang Yuxian didn't have much hope. He admired Yi Yun's bravery; it wasn't easy for a child to stand up in such a situation. Of course, admiration was one thing, but practicing martial arts required more than just bravery.

However, when Zhang Yuxian's primordial energy entered Yi Yun's body and circulated, he was waiting to see how much was absorbed. But...

He suddenly found that his primordial energy had vanished without a trace!

"What is this..."

Zhang Yuxian's eyes widened. How could this be?

His eyebrows twitched, and he didn't believe what had just happened. He infused another bit of primordial energy into Yi Yun's body.

This energy, once it entered Yi Yun's meridians, was absorbed by the Purple Crystal in his heart, leaving not a drop behind.

"You..."

Zhang Yuxian was shocked. The primordial energy he infused into Yi Yun's body was completely absorbed!

Seeing Zhang Yuxian's eyebrows twitching, Lian Chengyu didn't know if Zhang Yuxian was angry. He walked up to Zhang Yuxian with a serious face.

Lian Chengyu thought, "Sir Zhang came to inspect the Lian Clan, and now such a peculiar person as Yi Yun has appeared in the clan."

Although he treated the lives of the Lian Clan members as grass, Lian Chengyu couldn't tolerate the clan embarrassing him in front of outsiders, making him look bad.

Lian Chengyu forced a smile and said, "Sir, the welcome banquet is ready. Shall we eat first?"

Lian Chengyu wanted to divert Zhang Yuxian's attention and quickly move past the Yi Yun incident. But at this moment, Zhang Yuxian suddenly grabbed Yi Yun's shoulders.

He looked at Yi Yun carefully from head to toe.

In the poor and small tribe of the Great Wasteland, such a talent could emerge?

What was even more remarkable was that this young man had a firm and brave heart in martial arts. His courage in standing up in public was already proven.

Moreover, the restrained aura of the young man made Zhang Yuxian feel a refreshing change.

"You are very good, very good! I didn't expect to find such a gem in a small tribe in the Great Wasteland."

Zhang Yuxian didn't hold back his praise. His voice was loud and carried far.

Huh?

Next to Yi Yun, Zhao Tiezhu, who was already prepared to mock Yi Yun if he was eliminated, suddenly widened his eyes. His expression was like a rooster about to crow, suddenly having its neck pinched.

What did Sir Zhang just say? I didn't hear wrong, did I!

Next to Zhao Tiezhu, Lian Chengyu, who was busy arranging for Zhang Yuxian to eat, was also stunned, completely at a loss.

Those on the outer circle who couldn't see what was happening were suddenly interested when they heard Zhang Yuxian's praise.

"Who? Who received such high praise?"

Some people in the outer circle were jumping to get a better look.

"You have the 'Immaculate Body,' even if it's just a low-level Purple Blood Immaculate Body, it's still very good! In a large clan, you would be valued!"

Immaculate Body?

What is an Immaculate Body? Including Lian Chengyu, no one had heard of this term.

But this didn't stop them from understanding Zhang Yuxian's attitude.

"Very good," "gem," "valued in a large clan"!

Even the not-so-bright Zhao Tiezhu could tell that Zhang Yuxian's evaluation of Yi Yun seemed to surpass that of Lian Chengyu!

How could this be? Zhao Tiezhu's expression was as if he had eaten a pound of feces.

The other members of the Warrior Reserve Camp were also stunned, their mouths agape, unable to close.

"Brother..."

Jiang Xiaorou blinked her big, watery eyes. She was the one who most hoped Yi Yun would succeed, but the sudden happiness made her almost disbelieve it.

She had watched Yi Yun grow from a toddler, and she had never noticed any talent in him. Could what Zhang Yuxian said be true?

Jiang Xiaorou thought it was too incredible. Could her brother's evaluation even surpass Lian Chengyu's?

"Is this kid a martial arts prodigy? How could that be!"

Lian Chengyu clenched his fists. He couldn't accept it.

Zhang Yuxian clearly favored Yi Yun more!

Lian Chengyu had always been the top talent in the Lian Clan. How could he tolerate someone surpassing him?

And that someone was just a little servant!

"Sir, you said this kid is a martial arts prodigy? Are you mistaken...?" Everyone doubted Zhang Yuxian's words, and Zhao Tiezhu, unable to hold back, asked stupidly.

Zhang Yuxian's face darkened, and his voice turned cold, "Do you doubt me?"

"Uh..." Zhao Tiezhu was startled and shook his head vigorously, "No, no, I wouldn't dare."

Zhang Yuxian gave Zhao Tiezhu a cold look and said, "I have limited time. In half an hour, those selected will gather here, and I will teach you martial arts for three days!"

With that, Zhang Yuxian walked away, seemingly not even interested in the welcome banquet.

Zhao Tiezhu, Lian Chengyu, and the other members of the Warrior Reserve Camp were left staring at each other, at a loss.

They all looked at Yi Yun as if he were a monster, unable to accept this reality!

Yi Yun passed the initial selection and received such high praise. How could this be?

"Yun'er!" Jiang Xia