Chapter Seventeen: Choosing Techniques

  The audience below was in an uproar!

  Innumerable gazes fell on Qin Yun, filled with pity, ridicule, disdain, and schadenfreude.

  "Impossible! This is the level of Qi Refining Realm? It's not even as good as my Body Tempering Realm!"

  "I can tell he's never studied swordsmanship!"

  "I heard this person offended the second son of the direct descent of the third house..."

  "Hmph, I bet he won't last a few days in the Foreign Affairs Hall either!"

  No one had expected Qin Yun to lose so quickly and so miserably. After all, even a martial artist who had cultivated their body to the point of being able to withstand several years of sword practice could hold their own against an opponent in the Refining Qi stage for at least a few moves, let alone an opponent of the same level.

  He lost with just one move, either Qin Yun didn't understand swordsmanship at all or he deliberately let him win.

  But who can think of a reason why Qin Yun would deliberately lose, after all, the outcome of the trial determines the qualification to enter the Wu Tang, and even if it is a loss, there is no need to do so in such a humiliating manner.

  The old man with a red face on the elder's seat showed a smile, he was very satisfied that his clan had another excellent young man.

  The thin old man in the Foreign Affairs Hall frowned and looked extremely displeased.

  Although it is said that the disciples of the Refining Qi Realm who lost in the trial must all join the Foreign Affairs Hall, Qin Yun's loss was really too embarrassing. He couldn't hold his head up - he was simply a waste, at least put up a few rounds of struggle.

  "Alright!" Qin Suifeng casually sheathed his long sword and gave a stylish bow to Qin Yun.

  But the pride and contempt for Qin Yun in his eyes could never be concealed!

  Qin Yun stepped down with a bitter smile, this result was within his expectation, but he couldn't help feeling a little resentful in his heart.

  But this is also an unavoidable thing, the last move just pulled the wound, and the back and shoulder are aching, if you waste yourself for a mouthful of breath, that's the real loss.

  The contest on the wooden stage continued from morning till near afternoon when all the new sons-in-law were assigned.

  The selection of the returnees is basically controlled by three elder-level figures, and other deacons secretly select outstanding talents for their respective houses and branches to prepare for future recruitment and utilization.

  The seven main branches of the Qin family have always had open and secret struggles, never being a united front.

  Some were delighted and some were worried. To sum it up, the entire selection process was uneventful. Nearly six hundred Qin descendants from all over the country were officially incorporated into the clan.

  ………

  Qin's family, Moyang Dao General Hall.

  Muyang Dao Zong Tang is located next to the grand mansion of the Qin family's ancestral home, with towering high-rise buildings and majestic ancient stone walls isolating a solemn and dignified independent world.

  As the most central and important force of the Qin clan, Muyang Dao was like a ferocious beast crouching at the feet of a giant.

  It vigilantly gazes around, warning those with malicious intentions and guarding the honor of a thousand-year-old family.

  The Muyang Dao has seven major halls, with tens of thousands of members in the Daoist halls, and only the external affairs hall has three to four thousand people, not counting those from local branches, its power is enormous.

  The entrance of the Outer Affairs Hall is located at the west end of the main hall, with three high-rise buildings: Yangyue, Lan Yue and Zhai Xing, as well as a dedicated martial arts arena. The members entering and exiting the entrance are extremely lively, with an atmosphere comparable to that of a small school.

  "From today on, you are all outer members of Wai Tang!"

  In the grand hall of Xīng Xīng Lóu, one hundred and five newly joined young disciples of Wài Shì Táng stood in formation, listening to the teachings of their master, Qín Wú Jiù.

  Qin Wujiao was indeed the thin old man on the wooden platform during the selection, his sharp eyes scanning every young face.

  "We in the Foreign Affairs Hall are different from others, often having to go out and travel. You must remember your identity, losing yourself is not a big deal, but losing the face of our hall and family..."

  His gaze paused slightly on Qin Yun: "I will never go easy on you!"

  As the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall and the elder of the Qin family, Qin Wujiao didn't say much nonsense. He threw down a shocking warning and left with a flourish.

  The following matters were handled by the steward of the Tangmen, in fact, the young masters rarely saw the master of the hall, and the ones they dealt with most often were still the low-ranking stewards.

  Each newcomer was allocated two sets of cyan-colored shirts, which is the exclusive color of the Foreign Affairs Hall.

  In addition, everyone also received a hundred-refined iron sword, fifty taels of silver for settling down, and a black iron token representing their identity. Moreover, each person could go to the third floor of the Star-Picking Tower to choose a high-level inner energy cultivation method and sword technique that suited them.

  Qin Yun and the others had a month's time to learn new martial skills, familiarize themselves with the rules of the Foreign Affairs Hall and their own duties. After a month, they would officially take on the tasks assigned by the Hall.

  Three staff members answered everyone's questions very responsibly and had a very friendly attitude.

  In fact, compared with the highly respected Wudang, Waishi Hall is not bad at all. As long as they complete their monthly quota, the rest of the time can be allocated by themselves.

  The main hall has a special sword master who sits at the entrance, responsible for teaching and guiding the younger generation's martial arts skills. As long as they have accumulated enough family merits, they can also learn more advanced techniques and specialized guidance.

  New members can gain promotion through accumulating merits, from outer hall to inner hall, and it is possible for ordinary members to be promoted to administrators or executives.

  The most outstanding and excellent young people can even get the recommendation of their family and be accepted as a disciple by a side door or even the main door, which is absolutely boundless prospects!

  Moreover, the treatment at Waiji Temple is very good, with a monthly quota of silver and medicine being distributed. Of course, to get more and better things, one still has to rely on their own efforts.

  One who works hard will reap rewards, our family absolutely does not raise useless people. As long as you work hard and succeed, you will definitely get returns.

  "You'll know the benefits of our Foreign Affairs Hall once you've been here for a while!" One of the managers chuckled and said, "Alright, I'll take you upstairs to choose your sword manual and mental method."

  Everyone got excited when they heard about choosing a sword manual and mental method, with eyes full of anticipation.

  They all reached the Refining Qi Realm, and none of them didn't yearn to learn even stronger techniques.

  After the detailed introduction by the officials, those young men who had failed in the imperial examination and joined the Foreign Affairs Office were no longer disheartened and began to plan their own future.

  Even Qin Yun had a subtle feeling that it was probably a good thing that he unexpectedly failed to join the Martial Hall and joined the Foreign Affairs Hall instead.

  Under the leadership of Guan Shi, 105 disciples walked up the stairs one after another. Everyone passed through the heavily guarded second floor and arrived at the third floor of the Star-Picking Building.

  The scene before our eyes has shocked everyone!

  The ground was covered with thick wooden flooring, nine pillars as thick as a man's embrace supported the high vaulted ceiling, row upon row of wooden bookshelves stood in neat array, and every shelf was filled with books.

  As far as the eye can see, there are countless books stacked up, it's simply mind-boggling.

  Alongside the window were placed ten desks, behind which sat ten grey-robed attendants, busily engaged in copying books.

  "This is just the library of our Foreign Affairs Hall, and the one in the Ancestral Hall is ten times larger. Later on, as long as you accumulate enough merits, you can come here or even to the Ancestral Hall's library to borrow books, with all sorts of martial arts, sword manuals, miscellaneous notes, and insights available!"

  "With an air of pride, he introduced: 'Inside, there are even Xuan-level cultivation methods!'"

  County-level kung fu! Many of the young men's eyes lit up at once, and some even swallowed their saliva uncontrollably.

  Neijin Xinfang and Jianfa can be divided into six major levels: basic, advanced, Huang, Xuan, Di, and Tian. The higher the level of Gongfa, the more precious and rare it is, and it is the untransmitted secret of various major sects and families.

  Although having a manual of techniques doesn't necessarily mean one can learn advanced skills, even a yellow-level technique is hard to come by outside, let alone a mysterious-level technique!

  The library of the ancestral hall of the clan might have earth-grade or even heaven-grade techniques.

  This is the foundation and strength of a thousand-year-old family!

  Daaa! Daaa!

  Suddenly, a low knocking sound came from the side, and an old white-haired woman with a rattan cane slowly walked out from behind a row of bookshelves.

  She coldly swept a glance at the steward, and the steward immediately bowed his head in respect: "Auntie Sun, I brought the new disciples to choose their skills, thank you for your trouble!"

  This old woman was short and thin, as if a gust of wind could blow her down. In front of the tall and strong steward, she looked like a dwarf.

  But when he saw her, it was like a mouse seeing a cat, and his respectful posture was completely natural.

  Sun Auntie swept a glance over the new disciples and nodded, saying: "This year's newcomers in the Foreign Affairs Hall are quite numerous. That old fellow Qin Wu is definitely delighted."

  As for the host of the Foreign Affairs Department, she was not polite at all.

  The servants dare not speak out of turn, nodding and bowing with a forced smile.

  "Alright, go to the tenth row of bookshelves on that side and choose two advanced techniques each." Madam Sun picked up her cane and pointed to a nearby row of bookshelves on the right: "You have half an hour, let me review your choices afterwards."

  The manager didn't dare slack off and immediately took the new apprentices to pick out books.

  With this person who doesn't even put the head of the hall in his eyes sitting here, none of the young men dare to laugh and talk, and they start to seriously select their own skills from the bookshelf.

  There are ten rows of bookshelves with a lot of books, but in fact, there are dozens or even hundreds of copies of many books. Even if everyone chooses the same one, it's no problem at all.

  The advanced skills here are mainly divided into three categories: internal energy heart method, sword method and miscellaneous items. The internal energy heart method is further divided into the five elements of gold, wood, water, fire and earth.

  The vast majority of martial artists' martial veins are among the five elements. Fire-attributed martial veins can choose fire-based heart methods to cultivate and achieve twice the result with half the effort. If they choose metal-based heart methods, it's not impossible, but the effect is very poor.

  If you choose a water-based heart method that clashes with fire, it's simply looking for death.

  However, some people's martial veins are very special and can cultivate multiple system heart methods or special heart methods, which is another innate talent, so it cannot be generalized.

  Everyone's first choice was naturally the Inner Energy Heart Method, and most people crowded in front of the Fire Attribute Heart Method bookshelf.