Chapter 161

161. Chapter 159: Soul Seizure

Ding Huan and Lou Buzhi slept in a street corner with a monkey, which was perfectly unremarkable.

Throughout Ducheng, everywhere were outsiders.

On almost every street, both sides were packed with people at night.

Those lucky enough found a street corner; the unlucky had to sleep on the main road.

Ding Huan and Lou Buzhi had decent luck—they found a street corner right away.

Ding Huan knew this place might have talisman brushes for sale, but he had no money and couldn't be bothered to wander around the mall, so he simply squatted in the corner studying Great Computation Art.

Lou Buzhi was naturally restless; after just half a day, he greeted Ding Huan and wandered the entire city.

Few were like Ding Huan—staying put in a corner.

But it wasn't unheard of; beside Ding Huan, another man also guarded a different corner, facing him across the way.

Ding Huan didn't move from the corner because he had no money and couldn't buy anything outside.

The fellow across from Ding Huan didn't move either, likely because he truly didn't want someone else to take his hard-won corner.

Ding Huan had arrived several days early; when he came, securing a corner wasn't unusual.

With only one day left before the Dao Cultivation World sects came to select disciples, corners had become rare.

Ding Huan watched people fighting over corners and thought inwardly: What's so special about these corners?

Isn't sleeping by the roadside for one night enough? Won't you still be allowed to join the disciple selection tomorrow?

Perhaps because they sensed two people on Ding Huan's side, no one came to snatch his corner.

Not only was Ding Huan's corner untouched, but the youth across from him also kept his ground unchallenged.

Early the next morning, after reciting the Dust-Removal Spell and rising, Ding Huan noticed the youth across from him had also gotten up.

Seeing Ding Huan look over, the youth smiled at him:

"Good morning, friend."

Ding Huan nodded: "Morning."

"Ah, so you're not from Changjue Village—you've actually claimed a good spot here!"

A sudden voice interrupted Ding Huan's conversation with the youth.

Ding Huan turned and saw a boy staring at him and Lou Buzhi, his eyes showing irritation.

"Ku Yue, don't speak nonsense—this friend arrived here first."

The youth immediately rebuked the boy.

After scolding the boy, the youth apologized to Ding Huan:

"I'm Ku Qi, this is my younger brother Ku Yue. My brother speaks without tact—please don't take offense."

"Oh, it's fine."

Ding Huan waved his hand; he had already noticed the group behind Ku Qi.

Only then did he realize—the spot he'd taken belonged to Changjue Village. No wonder no one had tried to snatch it.

Ku Qi hadn't been wrong: Ding Huan really had arrived before him.

He had secured this spot before Ku Qi came.

"Friend, you're also here for the Dao Cultivation World sect disciple selection, right? Why not go together?"

Ku Qi seemed friendly toward Ding Huan and invited again.

Ding Huan replied:

"Sure, let's all go together. I'm Ding Huan, this is my friend Lou Buzhi."

Saying they'd go together, in truth, Ding Huan and Ku Qi were followed by a large group—over a dozen people.

Had the entire village come out to join the Dao Cultivation World sect disciple selection?

…

Ducheng was the capital of Zhenye Empire; Ding Huan had never toured it and didn't know how large it was.

But the Immortal Fortune Square in Ducheng was truly vast—he dared not scan it with his spiritual sense.

Estimating visually, millions of people dumped into this square wouldn't make it crowded—it would still feel empty.

The square's order was excellent; Ding Huan guessed this wasn't just because the city patrol kept constant watch, but more importantly because Dao Cultivation sects were selecting disciples here.

Who would dare cause trouble when Dao Cultivation sects were involved?

The Ducheng authorities might restrict you through laws, but if you offended a Dao Cultivator and were killed without reason, you deserved it.

The banners of all major sects had been raised.

Ding Huan glanced around; the scene resembled Earth's job fair.

The sects occupying large areas were probably major sects; those with small plots were minor sects.

"Brother Ding, do you have a sect in mind?"

Ku Qi noticed Ding Huan looking around aimlessly, guessing he hadn't decided which sect to join.

Ding Huan shook his head; Lou Buzhi, wanting to join a pill-refining sect, had bought some sect introductions from shops.

Ding Huan had also looked at them—he knew nothing about any of these sects.

But he didn't care much; the final decision on entering a sect lay not with them, but with the sects themselves.

Even if he chose a sect, if his talent didn't meet their standard, it was meaningless.

For him, as long as he entered a sect, he was satisfied; which one didn't matter. Even just entering the Dao Cultivation World would please him.

Lou Buzhi saw Ding Huan's expression and knew he had no research on this—he volunteered:

"Brother Ding, the largest sect recruiting here is said to be Yanyue Sect. This sect demands extremely high talent—ordinary people can't get in.

I don't recommend going there, because major sects don't necessarily train disciples better."

The sect that best cultivates its disciples here is Shuanghun Sect; once you enter this sect, they spare no effort in nurturing their disciples—I plan to join Shuanghun Sect.

Before Ding Huan could speak, Lou Buzhi chimed in:

"That's right, Brother Huan, I've seen it too. The sect introduction I bought clearly says this sect spares no effort in nurturing new disciples."

"Most famously, this sect cultivated a newly admitted disciple into a sect elder within a year."

Is there really a sect like this?

Isn't it true that even the most gifted newcomers must complete sect tasks after joining?

Why would they spare no effort nurturing new disciples? Are the sect's resources gathered by old masters while newcomers sit back and enjoy the benefits? That doesn't make sense.

Ding Huan was deeply puzzled and unconsciously performed a divination for Ku Qi.

To his shock, he seemed to glimpse Ku Qi's future, struggling desperately—as if his body were being fought over. This was strange.

One's own body should be under one's own control; why would others fight over it?

Unfortunately, his divination technique now faced a major problem: he could barely make out Ku Qi, but everything else was blurred beyond recognition.

Body snatching?

Ding Huan suddenly realized.

Ding Qi had previously warned him: the powerful were recruiting prodigies across the Four Directions Starlands for body snatching.

Shuanghun Sect clearly exists for body snatching.

Thinking of this, Ding Huan couldn't help saying:

"Brother Ku, I know a little about physiognomy—if you trust me, don't join Shuanghun Sect…"

"Why?" Ku Qi looked at Ding Huan in surprise.

Ding Huan patted Ku Qi's shoulder but gave no answer, instead leading Lou Buzhi away.

He had made himself clear enough; further explanation might put himself in danger.

"Brother, what did that guy just say?" Ku Yue caught up, asking as he stared at Ding Huan's back.

Ding Huan had spoken too softly, and Ku Yue had been behind him—he hadn't heard.

Ku Qi shook his head:

"He said nothing. He just hoped we could find a good sect."

Yet inside, he wondered: why had Ding Huan said that if he trusted him, he shouldn't join Shuanghun Sect?

To be honest, both he and his brother's goal was Shuanghun Sect.

He didn't understand, but he felt Ding Huan had no reason to deceive him.

"Brother Huan, I think Shuanghun Sect is great—why…"

Lou Buzhi's words were cut off by Ding Huan:

"This sect is indeed excellent—you have a chance to enter it, but my talent is probably not good enough to qualify."

This guy was openly discussing Shuanghun Sect in such a crowded place. If Shuanghun Sect members overheard, he'd be asking for death.

Ding Huan quickly left—he didn't want to be near this Bai Chi.

Lou Buzhi saw Ding Huan walking away and hurried after him.

He felt Ding Huan's words sounded like sarcasm.

Still, his first choice was Dan Yao Sect.

A beautiful woman watched Ding Huan and Lou Buzhi's backs, a faint smile curling at her lips.

It seems Shuanghun Sect still has a strong reputation—many people want to join.

Of course, this young man has some insight; Shuanghun Sect isn't for just anyone.

To enter Shuanghun Sect, two conditions must be met: first, of course, top-tier talent—the higher the better.

Second, one must be handsome or beautiful.

At that moment, three cannon blasts echoed from the direction of Daye City's Palace City.

This signaled the official start of the Daoist Sect's disciple selection.

The first step in sect selection is obtaining a talent certification.

The talent certification is simple: pay one thousand Zhenye coins at the Xianyuan Testing Hall on the edge of Xianyuan Square for a talent assessment.

After the assessment, you receive a talent certificate.

With this certificate, you may apply to your desired sect.

This creates a split: for example, to join a major sect like Yanyue Sect, you must meet a minimum talent threshold.

If Yanyue Sect requires a minimum of dual-element talent with purity above eighty percent, but you have triple-element talent with only sixty percent purity, you lack even the eligibility to apply.

Ding Huan and Lou Buzhi entered the Xianyuan Testing Hall.

Many people came for talent assessments, so there were many testing stations.

The two waited only half an hour before their turn came.

The artifact used to test elemental talent was similar to what he had divined in Sifang City—the only difference being this one was taller, standing three zhang high.

When it was Lou Buzhi's turn, he stepped onto the artifact and placed his hands in its recesses.

As the artifact activated, a beam of light two zhang tall shot upward.

The light was composed of two colors: one green, one red.

The tester pulled out a talent parchment and handed it to Lou Buzhi, then called out:

"Next."