Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

It's a shame that he can't activate it on his own.

"Is this the hidden reward for ranking in the top three?"

Zhang Jing was secretly astonished.

When these identity jade pendants flew down, he noticed keenly that his jade pendant, which he shared with Chen Xiandao and Shen Qingqing, was a different color from the ones others received.

And it wasn't only them.

If he wasn't mistaken, the identity jade pendants of those ranking in the top twenty or top thirty were also somewhat different.

...

...

"The pendants really are different!"

Chu Lingyun had just received her identity jade pendant, and when she compared it with Deng An's, she exclaimed.

"Of course, didn't you notice that the identity jade pendants of Brother Zhang and the other two are pale purple?"

"When I saw it, I wondered if the thing would be different because of the different rankings."

Deng An explained with a smile.

However, when his gaze wandered to Zhang Jing standing on the stage, his smile slowly disappeared, replaced by a strong disbelief.

Back then, on the back of the Spirit Crane.

The image of this man following behind Ji Bochang was still vivid in his mind.

But who would have thought that, in just a short month, he would grow to this extent, leaving them far behind.

And it's safe to say that the gap between them will only get larger and larger in the future.

With this thought.

Deng An couldn't help but recall the advice he gave Zhang Jing in Wu Mingyuan's courtyard. Looking back now, it was profoundly awkward.

"Maybe, back when we were on the back of the Spirit Crane, Brother Zhang saw our actions as some kind of joke."

"I wish Brother Ji had warned us back then. But hehe, he probably didn't foresee this scene either."

Deng An mumbled, his eyes filled with melancholy.

Next to him.

Chu Lingyun sensed the mood change and fell silent too.

She clearly knew what Deng An was thinking about at this moment.

After a while.

She bit her lip lightly and whispered:

"Brother Deng, don't think about it anymore. Brother Zhang who ranked third... He's in a different world from us now."

"Yes~"

Meanwhile.

On a certain stone platform above.

"Senior Brother, are we still going to try and recruit Junior Brother Zhang Jing to our Hundred River Squad?"

The man who first tried to recruit Zhang Jing turned his head and asked the person behind him timidly.

"If you had managed to recruit Junior Brother Zhang for our squad at that time, how great would that have been? The team leader would probably wake up laughing in his dreams."

"As for now, even if we want to, would those titans agree?"

The speaker's face flashed with regret. He pointed ahead, answering dispiritedly.

Looking in the direction the man was pointing.

The ten stone platforms on the outermost front were no longer as quiet as before.

"Everyone, I think Coiling Dragon Squad can——"

The man with the bald head on the far left began with a grin, but was immediately interrupted by the gentlemanly man in the third seat:

"Senior Brother Lu, please, enough."

"Your Coiling Dragon Squad has already recruited a top-tier monster. Now you want to get your hands on that junior brother too? Look, even Senior Sister Liu Nanshu from Yanxia Squad hasn't spoken up."

The moment his voice fell.

Liu Nanshu's face flushed, and she spoke softly:

"Junior Brother Zhang, in fact, Sister would also like to——"

"No, Sister, you don't."

The gentlemanly man disagreed without any hesitation, then turned his gaze to the seven stone platforms to his right and asked in a deep voice:

"Everyone, should our Luodu Squad get the first chance to recruit that junior brother, with the rest of the top ten picks going to you all? How does that sound?"

There was silence.

"The way Brother Zhang puts it, it seems like your Luodu Squad has given up two top-tier monsters for free. But didn't we trade away our right to first-contact recruitment of future top exam results for this deal?"

The bald man retorted coldly.

Liu Nanshu at his side nodded in agreement.

"Well, in that case, our Luodu Squad will forfeit this condition. The recruitment of the top exam result goes to whoever does best."

The gentlemanly man said decisively.

"Haha, Junior Brother Zhang, if only you had said this earlier! Given that, this Senior Brother has no objections."

"Senior Sister has no objections either."

Hearing this, the gentle young man quickly realized.

The Coiling Dragon and Yanxia Squads probably guessed that he would not give up, yet lacked the determination to compete to the end. So they used this opportunity to pressure his Luodu squad into renouncing their thirty-year priority touching test first condition.

Despite this realization, the gentle young man had no regrets.

Although that junior brother was a little weaker than the top monster, overall, the top three in this test had far exceeded the normal level in terms of strength and talent.

The possibility of such talents re-emerging among the next ten batches of newcomers was really low.

It's worth it!

With that thought, the gentle young man rose to his feet and walked directly towards the third practice stage.

His action seemed like a signal.

Dozens of figures rose together, closely following the gentle young man.

...

"Here they come!"

Zhang Jing, standing on the practice stage, felt a slight thrill in his heart, but his face remained calm.

"Junior Brother, how should I address you?" the gentle young man slowly walked up to Zhang Jing and asked with a smile.

"This Junior Brother's name is Zhang Jing; I am glad to meet you, Senior Brother."

Zhang Jing replied with a smile as well, neither haughty nor humble.

Noticing the demeanor of the junior brother in front of him, the gentle young man nodded approvingly.

Extraordinary talent, excellent temperament, truly a seed for the Inner Academy!

The next moment.

"So it's Junior Brother Zhang Jing. How coincidental, my surname is also Zhang, and my name is Yangchu. Just call me Senior Brother Yangchu."

"So you are Senior Brother Yangchu."

Zhang Jing saluted him.

"Haha, there's no need for these courtesies between us junior brother. Brother Yangchu would like to ask you, have you agreed to join any task squad before?"

Upon addressing the main point, Zhang Yangchu looked serious.

"Senior Brother, I have not joined any task squad yet."

Zhang Jing answered frankly.

"Oh?" Zhang Yangchu was momentarily stunned, and then his gaze towards Zhang Jing grew odd, "So Junior Brother, you actually haven't accepted any resources from other squads for your cultivation?"

Zhang Jing nodded.

At once.

What a bargain! This time they hit the jackpot!

Zhang Yangchu exclaimed excitedly in his heart.

Who could have imagined that this Junior Brother Zhang Jing, who performed so splendidly on the practice stage, had never accepted cultivation resources from any squad.

Monster!

After a pause, he saw Zhang Yangchu ask expectantly.

"There must have been task squads contacting you before, why have you not agreed?"

Hearing this, Zhang Jing was about to reply.

Before he could, he heard Zhang Yangchu's voice again, "Wait, don't say it, let Brother Yangchu guess. Should be – those thirty percent merits?"

Huh? How does he know?

Zhang Jing looked at the other party, puzzled.

"Haha, I knew it would be so." Zhang Yangchu laughed. "Such things, no talent would accept."

"What about you, Senior Brother Yangchu?" Zhang Jing started to ask.

"Junior Brother Zhang Jing, let Senior Brother introduce you."

Zhang Yangchu said confidently:

"The team I'm in is the Luodu Squad, ranked third in the Outer Academy."

"As long as Junior Brother Zhang Jing likes to join, from today on, we will provide you with a Purple Spirit Pill every month for your cultivation. Aside from that, we can provide you with one middle-grade legacy exchange opportunity."

"Well, let Brother Yangchu think about that."

"Right, we also have an unused cave dwelling on Luodu Island, we will give it to you, Junior Brother. As for merits, naturally there is none."

"Junior Brother Zhang Jing, are you willing to join the Luodu Squad?"

Zhang Yangchu was looking at Zhang Jing with a big smile.

Hearing these conditions, Zhang Jing couldn't help but be taken aback.

Was this the arrogance of the third-ranked squad in the Outer Academy? He admitted, they won.

"I am willing, Senior Brother!"

——

Today I drove my sister to her university for registration. I was out for the entire day, so I'll add the overdue 4k words the day after tomorrow. Terribly sorry QAQ!