Under Li Zhan’s explanation, Zhang Er Gou finally understood the connection between Hua Xu and Mu Chen.
Their friendship had a long history.
There were many versions of their story. Some said the two had an unknown past experience together. Sudan Novel Network.
Others said Mu Chen had once saved Hua Xu’s life.
Later, in gratitude for Mu Chen's kindness, Hua Xu and Mu Chen formed an enviable friendship.
However, regardless of which version was true, it all indicated that Mu Chen and Hua Xu shared an extraordinary relationship.
Zhang Er Gou finally understood why the Tree Eye City held such a prominent position on the Yin Zhou Continent.
Apart from City Lord Mu Chen possessing the strength of the late Nascent Soul stage.
It also had some connection, more or less, with the Black Xuan Pavilion.
As the most mysterious force on the Yin Zhou Continent, the Black Xuan Pavilion was sought after by numerous sects and families who tried all sorts of methods to establish ties with them.
Being on good terms with Tree Eye City was one such avenue.
This was because Hua Xu, the Pavilion Master of the Black Xuan Pavilion, had never treated outsiders with the same familiarity as he did Mu Chen.
This was also the reason why those families and sects sought to align themselves with Tree Eye City.
Seizing the opportunity of Tree Eye City’s public selection of a husband for the City Lord’s daughter, these major families and sects were desperately trying to get their disciples to become the son-in-law of Tree Eye City.
However, the City Lord of Tree Eye City’s public selection naturally had its own set of criteria.
While moving with the crowd,
Zhang Er Gou and Li Zhan learned about the process of Tree Eye City’s public selection of a husband.
Firstly, the candidates participating in the selection were required to have a cultivation base no lower than the mid-Core Formation stage.
Secondly, they had to be under the age of forty.
This first condition alone caused many cultivators to retreat.
“Let’s go, Brother Er Gou, we’ll sign up,”
Li Zhan pointed to a long queue of mostly young men.
“We’ll sign up?”
Zhang Er Gou hesitated. He had come to watch the excitement.
He had only been drawn by the mention of the Wood Spirit earlier, but he had no intention of becoming the son-in-law of Tree Eye City.
“What are you thinking? There are so many cultivators in the world; how could you and I possibly be the top ones immediately?”
Li Zhan noticed Zhang Er Gou’s hesitation.
“We have nothing else to do anyway. Participating in such a selection and the subsequent competitions will also help improve our strength.”
Not many people shared the same sentiment as Li Zhan.
In fact, many did not harbor any hope of becoming the son-in-law of the City Lord of Tree Eye City. They merely wished to compete with their peers.
The opportunity to encounter so many young talents at once was rare.
They naturally would not miss such a good chance.
After Li Zhan’s persuasion, Zhang Er Gou’s heart was quickly put at ease.
He followed Li Zhan to the end of the long queue.
Although there were many people in line, the queue moved quickly.
Before long, it was Zhang Er Gou and Li Zhan’s turn.
“Name, age, cultivation?”
A middle-aged man sized up Zhang Er Gou and casually asked a few questions.
“Zhang Er Gou, twenty-four, cultivation late Core Formation.”
Zhang Er Gou concealed his true cultivation. However, even with his deliberate concealment,
he attracted the middle-aged man’s surprised gaze. This was because Zhang Er Gou was the youngest participant registered so far.
Moreover, his cultivation had already reached the late Core Formation stage.
A late Core Formation cultivator at the age of twenty-four was rare on the entire Yin Zhou Continent.
Yet, after much thought, the middle-aged man could not recall Zhang Er Gou’s name.
It was simply because Zhang Er Gou had cultivated for too short a time and had not ventured much on the Yin Zhou Continent.
The Misty Sect had also not publicized Zhang Er Gou’s achievements, hence very few people had heard of him.
If the middle-aged man knew that Zhang Er Gou had deliberately exaggerated his age, one could only imagine his reaction.
“Alright, take this jade token. It is your proof of participation in the selection. Proceed to the next checkpoint to test your cultivation strength.”
With that, the middle-aged man handed Zhang Er Gou a jade token.
Zhang Er Gou quickly took it, thanked him, and then followed Li Zhan and Liu Ya Xuan in the direction indicated by the middle-aged man.
It turned out that after registering, it was not up to the registrant to state their cultivation level.
Tree Eye City had its own method of assessment. The first stage was designed to weed out those who tried to cheat.
After turning a corner, the three saw a crowd gathered.
As they approached, they realized it was a jade pillar, apparently the place designated by the middle-aged man to test the cultivation of the participants.
When they arrived, they happened to see a black-clothed youth undergoing the test.
The black-clothed youth inserted the jade token into the slot before the jade pillar and placed his hands on the pillar.
The jade pillar instantly emitted a bright light.
“Liu Xuan, mid-Core Formation strength, passed.”
The person from the City Lord’s mansion monitoring the test immediately announced the result.
The black-clothed youth showed a look of joy.
“It’s that simple?”
Zhang Er Gou found this method of testing cultivation novel, like a curious baby entering a city for the first time.
“Brother Er Gou, you haven’t even used a cultivation pillar before, have you?”
Li Zhan truly didn’t know what to say. This guy’s cultivation was on par with his own.
Yet, he seemed to have never seen anything before, like a country bumpkin.
Zhang Er Gou shook his head. He had never seen a so-called cultivation pillar to test one’s cultivation.
He only remembered that when he first entered the Misty Sect, Daoist Chun Yang had them test their spiritual roots.
After that, there were no further related tests.
This was not entirely Zhang Er Gou’s fault.
After Daoist Chun Yang brought Zhang Er Gou into the Misty Sect, he adopted a laissez-faire approach.
Later, he became a disciple of Chi Yu. Chi Yu, being a first-time master, had no recollection of taking Zhang Er Gou for sect cultivation tests.
Furthermore, after he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, Elder Tian Dao saw through him at a glance.
Naturally, there was no opportunity for a cultivation test.
“Brother Er Gou, how have you been cultivating all these years?”
Li Zhan was genuinely curious. This fellow knew nothing, yet how had he managed to cultivate to the late Core Formation stage?
“I just cultivated casually, and then my cultivation broke through.”
Zhang Er Gou replied truthfully.
Li Zhan and Liu Ya Xuan were rendered speechless.
Listen to that! What nerve!
Before the two could speak, a mocking voice rang out from beside them.
“Such arrogance, aren’t you afraid of the wind blowing your tongue out?”
The three turned and saw a young man in opulent attire looking disdainfully at Zhang Er Gou and his companions.
“Jiang Xu, I didn’t expect to run into you, my defeated opponent, everywhere?”
Upon seeing the newcomer, Li Zhan retorted immediately.
The young man in opulent attire’s face turned green and then white upon hearing Li Zhan’s words, clearly infuriated.
“Brother Xu, that was years ago. You are now at the peak of late Core Formation, just one step away from the Nascent Soul stage. Why would you fear Li Zhan?”
Someone walked out from behind Jiang Xu and gently patted Jiang Xu’s shoulder.
Hearing that person’s words, Jiang Xu’s expression immediately softened.
After comforting Jiang Xu, that person, however, glanced at Zhang Er Gou intentionally or unintentionally.