C16 Nature's Mystery Stone

Upon returning from the back mountain, Han Le caught sight of Zheng Yuan pinned to the ground, his face involuntarily twitching at the sight.

Lee Qingyun noticed and released Zheng Yuan.

Catching Lee Qingyun's eye, Han Le deftly steered the conversation elsewhere. "Sect Master Lee, following the sect's evaluation, Twin Rage has officially been recognized as a two-star sect. We can now inscribe information on the Nature's Mystery Stone at the Stormford branch of the Nature's Mystery Pavilion to attract disciples and even elders from Wildwallow City. What message would you like to leave?"

Lee Qingyun, taken aback, pondered how disliked Zheng Yuan must be. He had given Zheng Yuan a thrashing, yet Han Le, having witnessed it, hadn't uttered a single word of protest. It was unthinkable to question Han Le's character; a man of poor integrity wouldn't remember the kindness Lee Qingyun's parents had shown him years ago. Clearly, Han Le had his reasons...

"Sect Master Lee? What message do you intend to inscribe on the Nature's Mystery Stone?" Han Le prompted, noticing Lee Qingyun's distraction.

"Ah, let me think..." Lee Qingyun mused, "Let's say... Twin Rage Sect is in dire need of a significant number of Foundation Establishment Elders with at least a top-grade Dao Foundation, as well as Qi Disciples possessing nine spiritual roots or more."

Han Le cleared his throat, "Ahem, that requirement might be a bit steep..."

"Then let's add, 'limited to one position only'... That should do it."

Han Le hesitated, "This..."

Lee Qingyun interjected, "Brother Han, no offense intended. While Twin Rage is indeed seeking talent, recruiting individuals who fall short of our needs serves no purpose to our sect."

Lee Qingyun's words were firm, but internally he was in turmoil. These weren't his own thoughts; they were the system's demands. The system had prompted him just as he was about to speak: "Be advised, the lowest standard for the strongest outer sect disciple is nine spiritual roots. The criteria for Foundation Establishment Elders may be temporarily lowered to top-grade Dao Foundation."

Resigned, Han Le conceded, "Very well. It appears you have your strategy, Sect Master Lee. I shall refrain from further comment. Take care."

With that, Han Le excused himself.

"Hey, why not stay for a quick bite?"

"No, that's not necessary."

"Okay then, let me walk you out."

...

After seeing Han Le off, Lee Qingyun returned to the main hall and took a seat. Judging by Han Le's behavior, it was clear he had a past with Lee's parents. He wouldn't have bent the rules for him otherwise, upgrading the sect to two stars and granting a two-month grace period to expand their territory. That must have been the extent of his authority.

Lee Qingyun didn't voice his gratitude, but he etched this favor deep in his heart. When the time came for him and his sect to soar, he wouldn't forget the one who lent a hand during tough times.

Even Han Le, who had witnessed Twin Rage's Spirit Gathering Formation and Mountain-protecting Formation, held little hope for the sect's advancement to three stars within two months. Nonetheless, Lee Qingyun was determined to try. The system had already assisted him a few times, enabling his recovery from an unranked sect to two stars. Advancing to three stars in the next two months wasn't out of the question.

It was crucial to reach three stars. The three hundred miles of territory would yield a wealth of resources, far surpassing the meager one-ninth offered by a hundred miles.

More critically, losing the right to the three hundred miles meant losing access to Deepmere. Without it, there was no chance of entering the city.

There were two methods to reclaim the three hundred miles: elevate the sect to three stars within two months or regain control of Deepmere, winning back the hearts of the majority there.

Considering the current circumstances, earnestly developing the sect to reach three stars seemed the most viable approach. Especially since the Soul Capturing Sect was on the rise, rumored to possess the might of a four-star sect, though not yet officially recognized as such. They were still considered a three-star sect. For Twin Rage, with its present strength, to directly confront the Soul Capturing Sect and vie for Deepmere would be a suicidal endeavor.

However, this didn't mean that Lee Qingyun had given up on his ambitions to rival the Soul Capturing Sect. According to his strategy, he would focus on strengthening his own sect first. As for Deepmere City... that could wait.

Two months... he was sure he could do it!

Especially since he was quite intrigued by the rewards Nature's Mystery Pavilion had in store for sects on the rise.

...

At the Wildwallow City branch of Nature's Mystery Pavilion, designated as a meeting-level division.

The branch's edifice was a grand seven-story tower with ornate flying eaves and intricate walls, a sight to behold. Yet, the group gathered outside had no interest in the architecture; their attention was fixed on a white stone standing at the tower's base.

Shaped like a wall, the stone was covered in tiny, densely packed characters that the onlookers were scrutinizing with intense focus.

Suddenly, a sentence emerged in the middle of the stone.

"Wow, there's been a shift in the two-star sect zone. Could it be that another one-star sect has ascended to two stars?"

"Let's check it out."

The crowd quickly moved to the relevant section of the Nature's Mystery Stone.

One person read aloud:

"Stormford Sect Ranking: 37th, Twin Rage Sect, Sect Master Lee Qingyun. Overview: Once a top-tier three-star sect, it fell into decline after a calamity three years ago. Under the new leadership of Sect Master Lee Qingyun, the sect has rallied and risen to two-star status."

"Wow, that's impressive. A two-star sect with a three-star legacy is definitely worth considering."

"Absolutely, the foundation of a former peak three-star sect can't be weak."

"Let's see if the Twin Rage Sect is recruiting. We should inform our friends and relatives to see if there are any suitable youngsters in our families."

Their eyes traveled further down the stone.

What they read next left everyone astounded:

"The Twin Rage Sect urgently requires a large number of Foundation Establishment Elders with at least top-grade Dao Foundations, as well as Qi Disciples with nine spiritual roots or higher. Limited to one position."

After a moment of stunned silence, someone remarked, "Am I reading this right? Are these really the recruitment standards for a two-star sect?"

One person scoffed, "Looks like Sect Master Lee Qingyun of Twin Rage thinks he's running a nine stars sect."

"Exactly. With options like that, why would anyone choose a two stars sect over a better four or five stars one?"

"Haha, I was ready to share this as great news with friends and family, but now it's just going to be a punchline. Hahaha."

"..."

The crowd nearly unanimously ridiculed the message for its naivety.

Just then, from the back of the crowd, a woman's voice inquired, "Hello, is this where I can find the Nature's Mystery Stone in Wildwallow City?"

"Ah, yes." The man addressed by the woman paused, then responded.

His hesitation was partly because the woman's accent didn't seem local to Wildwallow.

But more so, it was the sight of her that left him speechless...

Clad in a red dress with daring slits at the waist, she showcased her shapely thighs and delicate calves, drawing fervent glances from the men who turned to look.

Yet, she seemed oblivious to their stares, accustomed to such attention, and focused solely on the information displayed on the Nature's Mystery Stone.

The men nearby began murmuring amongst themselves, exchanging sly glances.

Eventually, the woman in red fixed her attention on the "Stormford Sect Ranking," and moments later, her eyes brightened. She left the crowd with a smile, leaving them bewildered.

"Her? Was she just looking at the recruitment info for Twin Rage Sect?"

"What of it? It's not like she's actually going to join."

"Yeah, right..."