Invincible Divine Doctor of the Beautiful Lady-Chapter 947 - 921: Selection Begins

It was still the same tavern as last time. After settling in and ordering the dishes, they began drinking.

Tomorrow would mark the beginning of the Yanshan Sect’s disciple selection, naturally pleasing everyone.

The tavern is bustling with business, the noise reaching the sky.

Suddenly, a figure approached, stopping beside Tangyu, with an unruly smile on his lips: "Tangyu, how about giving me a drink?"

Tangyu looked at the person. He was about the same age as himself, dressed in simple linen clothes. His appearance was fresh and pretty, especially those deep eyes that made one feel he was not simple. The smile on his face also had a touch of grandeur, giving a very good impression.

Moreover, Tangyu could sense that the person’s strength was definitely not weak - the aura he emanated was enough to make one think he should be a master with that demeanor.

Zi Cang and the others also focused their gaze on the newcomer. Baldheaded Strong looked at him, raising his eyebrows slightly, clearly unfamiliar with the person.

Tangyu chuckled, gesturing as if inviting, saying: "A friend coming from afar does not need to ask; if you want to drink, just sit down and drink. There’s wine."

"Haha, a friend from afar, then I won’t be polite." The person laughed heartily, sat down, poured himself a full cup of wine, drank it in one gulp, then smiled at Tangyu: "I am Zhuang Qian."

Tangyu replied: "It seems I do not need to introduce myself. These two are my sworn brothers, the eldest brother Zi Cang, second brother Yu Feng, and my friend Luo Xiaobing. This is Baldheaded Strong."

Zhuang Qian merely glanced at others, nodded slightly as a gesture of greeting.

After several glasses of wine, Zhuang Qian said: "Tangyu, I heard your strength is formidable. Seeing you today confirms it. Although I haven’t fought you before, I can tell you are a worthy opponent. Yanshan City rumors that you will be the biggest dark horse in this disciple selection, but I think I can compete with you."

Zhuang Qian’s casual words felt earnest, and from his tone, it was clear he was serious, truly considering Tangyu as his opponent.

"Oh." Tangyu’s expression shifted, looking seriously at Zhuang Qian, sensing his immense confidence, stemming from faith in his own strength.

Zi Cang and the others glanced at each other, astonished, looking at Zhuang Qian. For someone to say such words, it indicated Zhuang Qian was not simple.

Baldheaded Strong was even more puzzled. Was there still a strong figure in Yanshan he hadn’t heard of? Maybe he was from elsewhere?

Tangyu said: "So, this time I will meet a rival. Haha, this is interesting; I look forward to a battle with you."

Zhuang Qian nodded: "Yes, at least you won’t be lonely as a master, and I look forward to battling you."

Tangyu laughed, and Zhuang Qian laughed too, as if they were in sync.

Zhuang Qian stood up: "Thanks for the wine, see you tomorrow." With that, he turned and left.

After seeing off Zhuang Qian, Luo Xiaobing asked Baldheaded Strong: "Who is he?"

Baldheaded Strong shrugged helplessly: "I really don’t know, maybe he came from elsewhere. Anyway, I haven’t heard of such a person. But judging by appearances, he seems formidable."

Luo Xiaobing also worriedly looked at Tangyu: "Is he coming for you?"

Tangyu chuckled dismissively: "I doubt it. I feel Zhuang Qian is a character, possibly seeking a hero’s appreciation, anticipating a battle with him."

Tangyu rarely encountered rivals who truly excited him; yet Zhuang Qian’s appearance ignited Tangyu’s fighting spirit, unprecedentedly eager to fight him.

Zi Cang frowned slightly: "Third brother, I feel this person is extraordinarily powerful, and he exudes an unfathomable aura. So, third brother, be cautious."

"Yes, don’t worry, I won’t lose easily." Tangyu nodded, more determined for the disciple selection.

Whether he would become a dragon or phoenix, whether his future path would be smoother, might depend on this.

------

As dawn emerged on the distant horizon, Yanshan City became lively, and shadows rushed towards the city outskirts.

Tangyu and his team had already woken early, packed their things, and prepared to depart. Baldheaded Strong was not eligible to accompany them, so he only cheered: "Young Master Tang, I wish you victory and triumphant return."

Tangyu casually tossed a Qiankun Bag to Baldheaded Strong: "Thanks for your hard work all these days. Handle the house for us, and the rest is for you."

Accepting the Qiankun Bag, Guangtou Qiang was pleasantly surprised and felt an immense gratitude in his heart, saying, "Young Master Tang, you are too kind. This is what I should do."

Only after watching Tangyu and the other three walk away did Guangtou Qiang look away, grinning broadly, "Haha, I’ve been mingling in Yanshan City for so long, and this time I finally got some luck. Being able to associate with such a talent is definitely something I, Guangtou Qiang, will be proud of for a lifetime."

Guangtou Qiang opened the Qiankun Bag and was astounded to find two thousand lower grade Pure Yang Stones inside. His fees had long been paid, and these were entirely an extra gift.

"This... this, Young Master Tang is so generous. Such a talent, yet so approachable. If there’s a chance, I’d be willing to run errands for him for a lifetime," Guangtou Qiang mused to himself.

Tangyu and the others quickly left the city. A mile east of the city gate was a large open space, which at that moment saw people from all city gates converging towards it. Tangyu and the others also walked in that direction.

Earlier on, two to three thousand people had already gathered on that open space.

Logically, the number of participants in past selections was around two thousand, but this time it was clearly going to exceed that number. Merely those who have arrived now are already close to two thousand. The atmosphere was bustling, with small groups of twos and threes standing around, each imbued with a vibrant spirit.

This feeling reminded Tangyu of the college entrance exams on Earth, which were also an event of unparalleled scale.

Tangyu jokingly smiled, "Big Brother, Second Brother, are we returning to the exam hall?"

"Haha, I don’t feel that way," Yu Feng replied with a hearty laugh.

The arrival of Tangyu naturally drew a lot of attention.

As Tangyu scanned the crowd, he noticed a distinct group—Luo Jiguang and the other three from Yang City. They stood out like a crane among chickens in the crowd, so radiant that they were instantly recognizable.

Luo Jiguang and his group’s gazes also turned towards Tangyu, each with a slightly sharp look.

In a corner, Zhuang Qian walked over, "Here we are."

Tangyu nodded and smiled at him, "Here we are."

Then both of them fell silent, quietly waiting.

"It’s here!"

Someone suddenly exclaimed, and instantly all eyes turned in unison to look. A streak of light flew from the sky, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a giant paper crane flapping its wings. On the paper crane stood an elderly man with a stern face, clad in white robes, with white hair and beard, eyes like sharp knives, and brows like the starry sea. He carried a green sword on his back, exuding an ethereal and sage-like aura as he stood upon the paper crane.

The white paper crane didn’t land but hovered steadily in the air. The old man’s gaze swept downwards. As his eyes passed over them, everyone couldn’t help but lower their heads, not daring to look.

This gaze was terrifying, inducing a deep sense of dread.

"What a terrifying gaze. Just one look and I feel my mind falter. In front of such a powerful figure, one face-off is enough to kill me several times over." Tangyu thought to himself. In comparison, his own strength was indeed too weak.

This Immortal Paper Crane was also extraordinary; clearly made of paper, yet it seemed real and could fly through the sky and shield the land. Truly a wonder.

The Cultivation World is unlike Earth, with significant limitations. So Tangyu and the others, who could originally have soared into the skies and walked on air on Earth, found they couldn’t fly at all upon arriving in the Cultivation World. At most, they could leap up ten zhang, but no higher.

Being able to fly and shield in the Cultivation World was definitely a symbol of power.

The previously bustling scene instantly quieted down, so silent that one could hear a falling leaf.

The majority of people lowered their heads, and only a few, including Tangyu, dared to look at the sage-like old man.

The old man on the paper crane also glanced over at Tangyu and the others, but his expression remained unchanged. His voice, though not loud, was incredibly clear in everyone’s ears, "You all have passed the tests and are here to participate in this Yanshan Sect Disciple selection, but I can tell you in advance. This selection will be much more difficult than before and extremely dangerous. That is to say, there is always the risk of losing your life."

"If you think yourself weak, you can choose to withdraw voluntarily. Otherwise, if you die during the selection, you can only blame your incompetence. I can clearly tell you, if all of you were to participate, about thirty percent would likely perish. You have the chance to choose to stay or leave now. Once the selection starts, there’s no turning back."

What?

The old man’s words on the paper crane stirred a huge commotion in people’s hearts, inciting gasps of surprise. Many faces showed an unprecedentedly shocked expression.

In past selections, although there was some danger, the number of people who actually perished was minimal. Logically, the risk of such selections wasn’t high.

But this time, stating that thirty percent might die was too frightening. It indeed made some people’s hearts waver, considering retreat.