Chapter 70: Rumors and Requests

  What a tragedy! Recommendation tickets, where can I find them? The weather is cold and nobody wants to log in to vote anymore?

  In the living room, Da Xue Ming accompanied and chatted with the girl. Because this girl was a classmate of Da Xue Yue at Akagi Martial Arts Institute, they had met each other in the Da Xue family before, although they were not familiar with each other, but they could still chat.

  Da Xu Ming is a clever person, after chatting for a few sentences, he saw that the girl was obviously anxious, from time to time looking out the door, knowing she was worried about whether Qin Wu Shuang would see her.

  They didn't break it down at the time and just exchanged a few pleasantries.

  Just then, Da Xiyuan saw Qin Wushuang walking towards them from afar and smiled: "The host has arrived, I'll take my leave first."

  The girl saw Qin Wushuang arrive and her face lit up with joy, she also came forward to greet him, saying: "Master Qin, I thought you'd abandoned me and didn't want to see me."

  "I'm afraid I've made a fool of myself. Last time, I came and went in such a hurry that I didn't even have the chance to ask for your name, miss?" Qin Wushuang made a gesture, indicating for her to take a seat.

  "It's just now occurred to me to ask for your name, isn't it a bit late?"

  "It was indeed my negligence, please forgive me, miss." Qin Wushuang was still grateful for the information provided by this girl. If it weren't for her timely intelligence, the loss to the Qin family would be unimaginable. By the time they rushed back the next day, the Permits might have already escaped.

  "Alright, your attitude is quite sincere. I won't play dumb anymore, my name is Tong Yao, I'll only say it once, you'd better remember it."

  Tong Yao?

  Qin Wushuang smiled and said: "Miss's name is so unique, it's hard to forget."

  "There's nothing special, just a clever play on words." Tong Yao himself didn't think much of it and immediately said with a hint of implication, "Yesterday, the entire Xu family was executed at the county city execution ground, didn't you go to watch?"

  Qin Wushuang smiled calmly: "A rebel and a traitor, what's there to see? But speaking of this matter, I have to thank the young lady for her timely intelligence."

  Tong Yao gave a knowing smile and asked with a hint of pride: "Do you think you owe me one or something?"

  "Yes, that's indeed a favor for an adult." Qin Wushuang's attitude was very sincere. He thought to himself: if you're here to ask for a favor, then that's just right; after repaying it, I'll be free from debt and feel light.

  "Do you want some more?" Tong Yao blinked her eyes.

  "Miss, I'll make sure to repay this kindness as long as I, Qin Wushuang, am capable. A true man distinguishes between gratitude and resentment; for a drop of kindness, I will return a gushing spring."

  Tong Yao saw Qin Wushuang's attitude was so sincere, hesitated for a moment, opened her mouth to speak, but stopped again, lightly supporting her chin, as if thinking about something.

  "If you're still undecided, why don't you stay at Qin's village for a while and take your time to make up your mind?"

  Tong Yao shook her head, as if she had made up her mind: "Alright, I'll say it. This matter is still confidential for the time being, and I hope that after I've said it, Master Qin will be able to keep my secret."

  "I have never been interested in things like licking the root of the tongue."

  "Good!" Tong Yao lightly bit her lip, her expression very serious, and said in a low voice, "Three months later, the four major kingdoms of Baiyue will hold a nationwide martial arts trial..."

  "Oh?"

  "Don't underestimate this trial, it's different from the usual martial arts assessment. This is a special opportunity." Tong Yao's tone was filled with a sense of longing.

  "How is it different? What's so special about it?"

  "Let's put it this way. In the past, the martial arts trial was always conducted within the scope of the Baiyue Kingdom to select and send talented children to the True Martial Sacred Land for further training. For those selected martial arts children, isn't that already a step into heaven? But this time, the ultimate goal of the trial far exceeds the category of the Baiyue Kingdom. Our Baiyue Kingdom is only responsible for screening and delivering talents. If the trial results are good and the number of exported talents reaches a certain level, the Baiyue Kingdom can directly rise from a lower-grade vassal state to an upper-grade vassal state!"

  This remark caught Qin Wushuang's attention. Beyond the scope of Baiyue State, was it also related to the suzerain state of Baiyue State?

  The suzerain state of Baiyue is a mid-tier great empire, ranking second in the world and being the top existence on the entire continent.

  In this Tianxuan Continent, countries are also divided into twelve levels.

  The first class consists of great empires, divided into three grades: upper, middle and lower; the second class is free countries, also divided into three grades: upper, middle and lower; the third class is vassal states, with a similar division into three grades: upper, middle and lower; at the very bottom are slave countries and various tribes and territories of slaves, also with a three-grade division.

  Four ranks and twelve grades, forming the ruling hierarchy of the Tianxuan Continent. Like Baiyue State, it is only a middle-grade vassal state, and its status in the entire Tianxuan Continent is also considered low.

  "These are just the benefits of the country. As for individuals, once they stand out from the layers of selection, their future prospects will be even more boundless. At worst, they can enter the True Martial Sacred Land of the suzerain state to further their studies, and those who excel may even have a chance to receive a Spiritual Connection!"

  Ling Yuan? Jie Ling Yuan? Qin Wushuang's heart stirred, this was not the first time he had heard of this term. Earlier, he had also heard his father mention it, but his father didn't know much about it either and spoke vaguely.

  Although his heart was racing, Qin Wushuang remained calm and composed. This Tong Yao coming to the Qin family village was definitely not just about revealing a secret to him.

  Qin Wushuang remained silent, but Tong Yao couldn't help it: "Master Qin, why are you not saying a word? Don't you trust my information?"

  "Miss's information, I've experienced it before. However, this confidential message has not been announced by the imperial family and the Zhenwu Sacred Land, where did you get it from?"

  "Qin Gongzi, let's not mention that my family makes a living by selling intelligence. As for me, I studied at the Akagi Martial Institute and my mentor is one of the high-level decision-makers of the institute. I've always been by his side, so it's not difficult to see some confidential things. Although it hasn't been announced yet, the news has actually reached the four major kingdoms across the country. It's just that each state and county hasn't received the news yet."

  Tong Yao said that, Qin Wushuang believed a few more points. So Tong Yao wanted him to repay the favor, this favor, was it bestowed in the martial arts trial?

  Tong Yao was very thoughtful and knew that Qin Wushuang had this question in mind, so he continued: "If Master Qin is interested in participating in this trial, I'd like to ask for your help with something."

  If it were just an ordinary martial trial, Qin Wushuang might not have been interested, but since it involved the concept of spiritual fate, it undoubtedly became much more attractive to him.

  He was at the pinnacle of martial arts in his past life, but was limited by the Earth's cultivation environment and could never break through the bottleneck to enter the Innate Dan Dao.

  And this world's spiritual connection roughly corresponds to his previous life's Xiantian Golden Elixir Dao, which naturally piqued his interest.

  "How can I help?"

  "I have a younger brother who is also participating in this trial. The minimum requirement for this trial is 7th dan in martial arts, and the age limit is under 20 years old. Among the four major kingdoms, 32 states, and hundreds of counties nationwide, there are at least 2,000 people with a level of 7th dan or higher. My brother barely meets the qualification to sign up. So, I want to ask you to give my brother some help in the martial arts trial, and make sure he gets a spot in the next round."

  "This..."

  "What's wrong?" Tong Yao asked hastily as she saw Qin Wushuang hesitating.

  "It's not that I'm in a difficult situation, but if I were to take care of myself and give him some help, I believe I can still pass the trial at this level. However, your younger brother's actual strength hasn't reached that level yet, and even if he barely passes, will there be any consequences after being selected?"

  "This Qin Gongzi doesn't need to worry, the matter of spiritual affinity not only requires innate talent but also opportunity. Some martial children have strong initial strength, but are born without a spiritual root and can only wander within the realm of True Martial for their entire lives. Spiritual affinity emphasizes the importance of having a spiritual root. If Qin Gongzi is willing to help, he just needs to give some guidance during the trial, and afterwards, everything will be taken care of, without needing Qin Gongzi to worry about it."

  Qin Wushuang nodded after a moment of contemplation, "Alright, if it's just this matter, I agree."

  Tong Yao was overjoyed: "If Qin Gongzi can help with this matter, it would be a great kindness already."

  "Miss Tong, you have established a good relationship with me first, and I will certainly return a good deed in the future."

  Tong Yao smiled and said: "The specific trial rules are very complicated. If you want to participate in the trial, you must gather at the Red Wood King's territory three months later. At that time, I will tell you about the rules again. According to the rules, each martial child must participate anonymously, wear a mask, hide their identity, and completely disrupt the order. This is also to avoid martial children from the same place gathering together and forming cliques."

  "Go! As long as you can tell me how to find my brother in the trial grounds, I'll take care of everything else."

  Having obtained Qin Wushuang's promise, Tong Yao was very satisfied and suddenly changed the subject: "Rumors outside say that Daqi Daxiazi and Qin Shi Xiaojie have been in close contact. Are you not worried about Ximen Dajia? By the way, I'll give a piece of information to Qin Gongzi, Ximen Dajia has several sons of suitable age who will definitely participate, all of whom are 8th or 9th rank martial artists."

  "What does it have to do with me if Sima's family members are involved?"

  Tong Yao smiled strangely: "As the legend goes, during the battle for the hegemony of the aristocratic families, the Qin family and the Ximen clan had a falling out and had secretly clashed several times. Could it be that the rumors are false?"

  "No wind can make waves without a reason, rumors are not necessarily false, but it's also not as complicated as imagined." Qin Wushuang didn't want to discuss the Ximen family in front of outsiders.

  Although the Ximen family was a threat to the Qin family at that time, Qin Wushuang's loud voice, everyone in Lujiang County knew, but what the specific inside story was like, outsiders naturally had no way of knowing.

  Qin Wushuang was indeed not afraid of that Ximen's arrogance, but also didn't want others to see the commotion in the Qin family!