Chapter 506 - 223: Refusing to Join! Too Proud!_4
"Still young, huh? Needs taking care of?" Yuchi muttered helplessly to himself, though he stood up honestly, "Let’s go, see if there’s anything good to eat."
"Yay!"
...
After two days, everyone had already boarded this immortal ship. It was now May 7th, and they were about to head to the Immortal Island for the final competition. This time, the number of participants had been fixed at over six thousand, just from this region alone. Who knows how many will ultimately attend the Immortal Gate Contest.
"I wonder if we can recruit new disciples." Yuchi stood on the deck of the immortal ship, surrounded by the exclamations of disciples.
Although they had flown before with Yuchi’s help, and at quite a speed, the actual experience was completely different.
The Jade Ship was inherently a flying entity and not too large, so it didn’t feel thrilling psychologically. But a large ship was different; watching it set sail was like seeing a small mountain lift into the air, a completely different sensation.
Meanwhile, Yuchi was focusing on another matter. The entire deck had many structures, as if a post station had been transplanted here. Some buildings were quite tall, so naturally, many cultivators could be seen atop the station flying.
Yuchi began assessing the talents of the cultivators, finding most had a talent of around the first or second grade. They were just here to have fun, not expecting to achieve much or gain any rewards from the Immortal Gate Contest, simply hoping for some romantic encounters.
But those truly participating in the Immortal Gate Contest must at least have a fourth-grade talent. Yuchi even saw a few with rare seventh-grade and eighth-grade talent. Seems there are hidden talents on this deck?
The performances varied between different sects; some sects were quite pitiable, with sect leaders wearing freshly bought clothes, accompanied by a young disciple. Standing hand in hand in a corner, the leader would quietly talk to the little disciple. The little disciple, having never seen such scenes, timidly hid behind the leader, afraid to speak.
Many sects were like this, a sect leader bringing along a couple of disciples, perhaps three or four for larger numbers, maintaining a low profile and clearly looking at the larger sects with envy and awkwardness.
Other major sects easily brought ten to twenty disciples, all dressed uniformly, standing there, organized, with not only the sect leaders present, but also the elders. Thirty or so stood together, forming a formidable force that intimidated surrounding smaller sects.
"This psychology is understandable; it’s like when I mistakenly changed channels from Japanese and Korean to European and American, the things I immediately saw were startling, like gazing on bewitched black donkeys."
"Only calmed down gradually later."
"... But the few Ascension Gate disciples seem quite happy?" Yuchi glanced at the five young girls nearby.
They didn’t mind others at all, standing beside their Sect Leader Senior Brother, looking at the splendid landscape below, discussing spirit beast matters, saying how beautiful spirit beasts are, wondering if they could request the Sect Leader to keep one, or marveling at peculiar sights...
They felt no inferiority about their sect; having their Sect Leader Senior Brother beside them made them feel calm.
"Not bad at all," Yuchi smiled.
His eyes casually wandering, he finally noticed an unusual young woman.
She had come alone, dressed in light purple. She wasn’t wearing a mask, had a nice figure, decent looks, but appeared a bit distracted, like she wanted someone to talk to her yet afraid of people initiating a conversation. She seemed like someone nervously starting a business for the first time.
"Her talent’s fine, a seventh-grade talent."
Yuchi temporarily left his disciples’ side, approaching her directly. When he reached her, he smiled and cupped his hands, "Fellow Daoist, are you here alone?"
Someone came to talk to me! The woman immediately held her breath, then casually said, "I am indeed alone. So, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Before Yuchi could speak, she quickly added:
"If you want to recruit me as a disciple, forget it. I’ve already turned down countless offers. I came alone this time, and I will handle everything excellently on my own. I don’t need help from any of you, and I certainly won’t be joining your sects!"
"..." Yuchi nodded, "Sorry for disturbing."
He left directly.
Her seventh-grade talent was notable, and he had intended to chat more and perhaps recruit her into the sect. However, her forthrightness ended it there. Forcing her into the sect could lead to strained relations among the sect disciples.