CHAPTER 120: CHAPTER 116: CHOOSING FOLLOWERS! YOU’RE TALENTED!

Before Chen Zhixing could ask further.

The Elder Huang Ya had already, without a word, dragged Chen Zhixing towards the Miscellaneous Task Plaza.

At the plaza, there was already a sea of people, heads bobbing in an impenetrable crowd.

In the distance, a high platform could be seen set up in the plaza.

Three people stood atop the high platform.

The person on the far left had a garlic-shaped nose and triangular eyes, with a short and plump figure and layers of fat around the neck—a yellow-robed, chubby Daoist whom Chen Zhixing had met upon first entering the Miscellaneous Affairs Department.

Through these few days of learning about the Miscellaneous Affairs Department, Chen Zhixing knew this person’s identity.

No one remembers this person’s exact name, only that he is in charge of overseeing the entire Miscellaneous Affairs Department, and many openly address him as Steward Yu with respect.

However.

Every time Elder Huang Ya mentioned this person, he would grit his teeth in anger, unable to suppress a stream of curses, claiming that this person is a heartless skinner, using whatever little power he has in his hands to exploit them, the servants.

During festivals, whoever didn’t bring some gifts to this person and indulge him with some flattering words.

Would be assigned to hard labor like manure hauling and digging.

According to Elder Huang Ya.

Even a Ten Ancient Patterners who came to the Miscellaneous Affairs Department would have to haul manure if they didn’t bring some gifts to flatter Yu Bapi.

This made Chen Zhixing’s expression somewhat strange, feeling that Elder Huang Ya implied something.

"It’s over, with this Yu Bapi here, wouldn’t he just recommend his cronies?" Elder Huang Ya said angrily with a darkened face:

"Damn Yu Bapi, just because I didn’t give him gifts last year, he assigned me to haul manure for three months!"

Chen Zhixing didn’t reply but instead looked up at the other two people on the high platform.

The person in the middle was a young woman with exceptional beauty and figure.

She wore a light purple water palace gown, her face lightly powdered, her skin as smooth as jade, her long hair like clouds.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like water, yet carrying a faint aloofness, as if she could see through everything.

Just by standing there, she exuded an aura that clashed with the chaotic and noisy Miscellaneous Affairs Department.

"Is she Li Ran?" Chen Zhixing curiously asked.

"Little Xiao, how can a person be so bad? With just a bit of small power in their hands, they go to the fullest extent to make it hard for others! No wonder people always say, those at the bottom, once given a bit of power, treat others at the bottom harsher than anyone else..."

Elder Huang Ya was speaking fervently and stopped in surprise after hearing Chen Zhixing’s question, chuckled, and said: "Who else but Saintess Li Ran could have such beauty and poise?"

He waved his hand in front of Chen Zhixing’s eyes, smiling: "Little Xiao, don’t stare too long, or you’ll lose sight of your identity and develop some inappropriate thoughts; such heavenly daughters are beyond the reach of us servants."

"How does the saying go... seeing extraordinarily outstanding people too young makes others look dull as dirt afterwards."

"...Old Huang, you know quite a lot." Chen Zhixing withdrew his gaze and glanced at Elder Huang Ya with a somewhat strange expression.

This Old Huang, he’s quite something!

"That’s right, though I, Old Huang, haven’t been to many places in my life, I’ve read a lot of books! The more books you read, the more you understand the truths within them." Elder Huang Ya chuckled.

Chen Zhixing shook his head, then pointed at the handsome young man in ink-black robes on the far right.

"And who is this?"

"This person is named Guann Tianyu, one of the three True Disciples of the South Peak. But you’re new here and might not understand, so let this old man explain it to you today."

Elder Huang Ya picked his nose, rolled the booger into a pellet, flicked it forward, then wiped his fingers on his sleeve and cleared his throat:

"Our Celestial Wave Sacred Lands is divided into North and South Peaks."

"The South Peak focuses on cultivating the spirit, while the North Peak cultivates the physical body."

"The South Peak believes that human power is limited while mental strength is infinite!"

"The North Peak thinks cultivation is like the Sea of Suffering, and the body is the treasure ship! The physical body is the beginning of the Great Tao!"

"Of course, such Great Tao debates have nothing to do with us small characters who haul manure every day; we only need to know how many loads of manure to haul each day."

"..." Chen Zhixing rubbed his forehead: "Old Huang, can we not get stuck on manure and get to the point?"

"Young people just have no patience." Old Huang twitched his nose and continued:

"The general strength division of the North and South Peaks is made up of one Peak Leader and three True Disciples each."

"Guann Tianyu and Saintess Li Ran are both among the three True Disciples of the South Peak, but because of Saintess Li Ran’s outstanding talent, she was exceptionally titled the South Peak Saintess."

"In terms of status, Saintess Li Ran is even above the other two True Disciples; however, status is one thing, and strength is another."

"As far as I know, this Guann Tianyu has already broken through to the True Self Realm, marking him as one of the truly exceptional within the True Disciples!"

At this point, Elder Huang couldn’t help but show a look of envy: "Not yet thirty and already in the True Self Realm, that’s truly extraordinary."

"People are born with the same number of limbs, so why such a huge difference? At twenty-something, he’s broken through to the True Self Realm, becoming a prestigious Tao Seed True Disciple, while I, damn it, at over eighty, still have to haul over eight hundred pounds of manure daily! It’s infuriating just thinking about it; I must curse that damn Yu Bapi again!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhixing smiled knowingly, then turned his gaze back to the high platform.

On the high platform.

The rotund and chubby Steward Yu had a smile plastered on his face, saying: "Saintess, True Disciple Guann, if you want to select followers, it shouldn’t be hard; leave it to me, and I’ll ensure you get hardworking and diligent folks..."

Before he could finish, Guann Tianyu furrowed his sword-like brows and coldly interrupted: "What my junior sister wants to choose is her own business; do we need you meddling in it?"

Upon hearing this, Steward Yu’s smile froze, and he apologized repeatedly with dry laughter, not daring to say more.

Guann Tianyu then turned to Li Ran, a gentle smile on his face: "Junior Sister, followers are not the same as mere servants serving tea; they are those who will assist you closely in the future. First, you need to evaluate strength, then potential, and most importantly, loyalty—willing to lay down their lives for you, which is extremely rare to find."

Pausing, Guann Tianyu continued: "In my view, this Miscellaneous Affairs Department is full of mediocre and unfit people; any promising individuals would have either become disciples or been taken by other True Disciples."

"It would be better if I hand over my followers to you, as they are trusted individuals who have been with me through many battles."

In a purple palace gown, Li Ran smiled slightly at his words, her voice as melodic as an oriole emerging from the valley, and shook her head: "While I appreciate Senior Brother’s good intentions, I’d prefer to personally select the followers that suit me."

With that.

Li Ran stepped forward, smiling as she announced:

"Gentlemen, if you are over thirty or have cultivation below a Spirit Nourisher, please step back."