You promised yourself to be a caged bird, but you became the supreme young master?

Chapter 100 The Butterfly Effect, Quota Selection

"No problem."

Lu Qingyan responded to Lu Heng's request, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

"I'm not sure if this will work out either. You've probably seen the recent daily newspapers."

My grandfather said that something big is very likely to happen in the Great Qi Dynasty, and even in the world.

If it weren't for all these recent events, my grandfather's request would have been easily fulfilled.

"Are these things really that impactful? Have they already affected Qingzhou so quickly?"

Lu Heng, who had asked the question subconsciously, no longer cared too much about joining the sect. If he could succeed, all the better; if not, he wouldn't really be in dire straits.

It's impossible for him to obtain enough resources and environment to advance to the Mystic Refining Realm peacefully within the Lu Clan.

However, he is currently only a cultivator in the Body Refinement Secret Realm.

Even if one could achieve a perfect breakthrough at any time, one would still only be a cultivator at the early stage of the Qi Refining Secret Realm.

Even if he completes the breakthrough with the foundation of the Perfected Body Refining Method, Lu Heng is confident that he will not stay in the Qi Refining Secret Realm for too long.

However, this "too long" is only in comparison to others. No matter how fast it is, Lu Heng cannot sacrifice his future to gain his current strength.

That would not only be short-sighted, but also a case of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

One year.

This is the time Lu Heng has reserved for himself in the Qi Refining Secret Realm. In the past six months, he has accomplished so much.

There was still a whole year left, and Lu Heng didn't believe that he, with the panel, wouldn't find a way to break the deadlock.

Therefore, compared to the matter of joining the clan, Lu Heng inquired about the more important current situation of the Great Qi Dynasty.

"I'm not too sure about that either."

However, the timing of the two major events—the Universal Covenant and the assassination of the Princess—was so close.

"And it was all published in the Daqi Daily. My grandfather said it couldn't be a coincidence," Lu Qingyan explained helplessly.

How could she know so much?

Like most people, she was just a girl from a branch family of the Lu clan. If it weren't for her grandfather's requirement to read the daily newspaper and summarize the information she considered important, she would have been a very ordinary person.

They probably won't even pay attention to this information. If the sky falls, there's always someone tall enough to hold it up. If even those at the top can't hold it up, those below will probably be crushed to death.

In plain terms—

Most people are unaware that some quietly occurring events could very well unleash a storm that shakes the Great Qi Dynasty and even the world.

This is also known as the butterfly effect.

"I think so too," Lu Heng said thoughtfully, sharing the same view as the Second Deacon.

Those who rely on themselves, start from scratch, and climb to the top are all indeed shrewd.

He made the connection between these recent major events because of the hints in the panel logs and some vague guesses.

Otherwise, he would probably be like most people, indifferent to the matter and treating the Daqi Daily as just a pastime.

They probably won't take these things that happened in the distant capital to heart.

But the two deacons truly managed to see the whole picture from a single glimpse.

"Why think so much? Even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. Don't worry unnecessarily."

Instead of doing that, you might as well prepare for the selection of spots in the secret realm later.

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If you can gain something from this, many things will naturally fall into place.

The selection process for the secret realm slots is very simple: it is decided through actual combat.

However, members of the main family who are qualified to enter the secret realm do not need to participate in actual combat because they have mastered the secret techniques.

Therefore, your future opponents will only be members of the branch families from the outer courtyard.

Don't worry about encountering any members of the Lord's family.

Because of my grandfather, I don't need to participate in this practical exercise.

I asked him, but he said he could only help me.

Making another move would cross the line.

Seeing that Lu Heng seemed to be lost in thought again, Lu Qingyan spoke up.

But the problem is—

By then, I'll most likely be tall.

We can't wait until then to start preparing.

Lu Heng thought to himself helplessly, but didn't say it aloud. Instead, he nodded in agreement with Lu Qingyan's idea.

There are no specific rules for actual combat; it's just that it's very realistic.

In addition to requiring a certain level of strength to avoid being too weak and embarrassing oneself, the selection process for obtaining a spot in the secret realm also needs to be carefully considered.

That's enough.

For the important figures of the main family, it was impossible to actually let the peasants from the branch family fight against the young men of the main family.

That would be too undignified.

The same applies to True Immortals of Spirit Refining; the main family is the foundation.

The young masters of the main family, each possessing secret techniques, are unlikely to perform too poorly, no matter how they act.

"I see."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Qingyan seemed to remember something, and took out a long sword from the storage bag at her waist and handed it to him without any room for argument.

After Lu Heng took the longsword, the girl spoke, "None of your opponents this time are not at the peak of the Body Refinement Secret Realm, and they all definitely have high-grade spiritual weapons."

If you continue using your sword, it might get broken during a fight.

The bonus from the Qi and Blood Battle Technique is limited.

There's no way to turn the rotten into the miraculous, to turn fallen leaves into blades, or flying blossoms into swords.

The qi and blood seeped into the longsword in his hand, clearly telling Lu Heng that this was a high-grade spiritual weapon. For ordinary cultivators, such a high-grade spiritual weapon was something they could only dream of, and it might take half a lifetime of effort to obtain. Yet he could get it with ease.

But what can be obtained easily often means it is useless.

Given Lu Heng's actual strength, when facing a cultivator in the Body Refining Secret Realm, there would be no difference between his longsword, the mortal weapon "Qingming," and a high-grade spiritual weapon.

The "Basic Body Refining Method" at the Perfect Realm, plus the "Basic Sword Technique" at the Perfect Realm.

Aside from rare special circumstances, even disregarding the characteristic of perfected cultivation techniques, Lu Heng had already reached the limit of the Body Refining Secret Realm long ago.

However, Lu Heng accepted Lu Qingyan's kindness. His true level had indeed reached an astonishing level compared to cultivators in the Body Refining Secret Realm.

But alas, it cannot be expressed.

Otherwise, he could have really shown Lu Qingyan what it meant to cut through a high-grade spiritual weapon with a mortal weapon.

External objects are ultimately just aids; the true essence of a cultivator ultimately returns to themselves.

If a "Basic Sword Technique" at the perfect level cannot achieve this step, it is not qualified to be used as a basic combat technique.

Time flew by and it was noon.

Due to the participants' reasons, the selection process for the secret realm in the outer courtyard martial arts arena has begun.

Compared to the previous atmosphere, the atmosphere in the training ground has quietly become solemn and dignified.

The reason is simple: Lu Guhong was not in charge of selecting participants for this secret realm.

Instead, they were three cultivators whose auras had reached at least the late stage of the Qi Refining Secret Realm.

Furthermore, the absence of the caged bird mark between their eyebrows proves that they are not from a branch family, but genuine practitioners from the main family.

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