Chapter Seven: Respite in Moon City

"Old Lu, to be honest, over the past three days, I used my ability several times to help Zhang Qiang advance from mid Foundation Establishment to early Spirit Quietude. Based on his aptitude, that would normally take eighty-five years. In fact, each time, my power can at most span ten years, and I need to rest in between. Also, I can only bring up to ten people each time. My ability isn’t all-powerful," Tang Yi said seriously to Old Lu.

"Well... I know it’s not easy for you. How about this: everything has its price. As I said, just name your terms," Old Lu replied, clearly not convinced by Tang Yi’s explanation.

"Alright, since you’re so sincere, I’ll give priority consideration to your Divine Sword Sect. Of course, I’ll also look after the cultivation community on Earth as a whole," Tang Yi chuckled.

"Tang Daoist, are you planning to—" Old Lu’s brows twitched, but before he could finish, Tang Yi interrupted him.

"Some things cannot be revealed prematurely. Let’s wait until after this Ten-Year War before we speak further."

City of the Moon—

Beside a teleportation array leading to the Earth’s Talent Selection Peak.

"Ugh, ugh..." Someone was retching violently. "Are you alright, Brother Tang?" Zhang Qiang patted Tang Yi’s back with concern.

"I’m fine... ugh... I’m fine. I just didn’t expect this teleportation dizziness to be worse than seasickness! But I believe in one thing: keep throwing up and you’ll get used to it. See? I’m fine now," Tang Yi finally finished.

"Greetings, Senior Tang. The chief commander requests all team leaders to assemble at the Moonward Pavilion," a guard approached Tang Yi and said.

"Ahem, understood. Lead the way," Tang Yi wiped his mouth. "May I ask your name, Daoist friend?" he inquired.

"I wouldn’t dare. My name is Liu Mingde. Senior Tang may call me Xiao Liu, or simply Mingde," Liu Mingde replied respectfully.

"Oh, I see. Xiao Liu, which sect or school are you from?" Tang Yi continued.

"To answer Senior Tang, I’m just a lone cultivator without any affiliation. That’s why I work as a steward here at the Moonward Pavilion," Liu Mingde replied respectfully.

"Is that so? I see you have decent aptitude. For a lone cultivator to reach mid Spirit Quietude in just one hundred and thirty years, you’re quite the prodigy. How about it—would you like to follow me from now on?" Tang Yi intended to recruit Liu Mingde as a subordinate.

Liu Mingde was inwardly shocked. This Senior Tang seemed to know his cultivation level so precisely. It felt as if this was their first meeting, and as a lone cultivator, though somewhat talented, he shouldn’t have drawn particular attention. So, this Senior Tang could see through him at a glance, even knowing his cultivation time. Normally, this would require special secret techniques. Clearly, this Senior Tang was even more remarkable than the rumors suggested.

"Senior Tang... would you really accept me as your disciple?" Liu Mingde could hardly believe it—a legendary figure wanting him as a disciple.

After Tang Yi’s battle with Blood Fiend Sect’s master Su Xiong, his fame had spread throughout the cultivation world. Gossip, as always, had exaggerated things. Though Tang Yi had conceded defeat, no one believed he truly lost. Thanks to all the buzz, Tang Yi was now a legendary figure.

"No, no, I’m not taking you as a disciple. I’m simply inviting you to work with me. For you, it’s just changing your employer. Of course, being with me means better pay, benefits, and treatment than you get at Moonward Pavilion. Give it some thought. By the way, from now on, call me Brother Tang, not Senior Tang, understood?" Tang Yi still disliked being called “senior.”

"Yes, yes, Brother Tang, I’ll think about it seriously and give you an answer by tomorrow at the latest... This is the Moonward Pavilion, Brother Tang, please!" Liu Mingde gestured to a five-story building of blue stone. In his heart, he thought, “This Senior Tang—no, Brother Tang—is truly as extraordinary as they say.”

"Good, think it over well. Wow, not bad, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a tall building. Huh, half in daylight, half in darkness—how interesting. Is there anything fun around here?" Tang Yi asked, intrigued by the sight.

"Brother Tang, you must visit the rooftop when you come to the City of the Moon. Only then can you say you’ve truly been here," Liu Mingde explained.

"Oh, then I must take a look. Let’s go now, since not everyone has arrived yet," Tang Yi said, already hurrying upstairs.

"Wait, I feel like I’ve seen this before... Right, isn’t this the scene I glimpsed in my vision of the future? So this is what it was," Tang Yi mused to himself.

"Brother Tang, what do you think of the view? Honestly, I’ve been up here many times, but every time I see the blue Earth, I’m deeply moved," Liu Mingde said with admiration as he stood beside Tang Yi, gazing at the beautiful planet.

"Come, it looks like most people have arrived. Let’s head down," Tang Yi said.

"Seriously, Brother Tang? I just got up here and you want to leave?" Zhang Qiang rushed up, only to hear Tang Yi announce their departure.

"Who’s to blame? You’re the one who kept dawdling," Tang Yi laughed.

"This City of the Moon is truly magnificent, especially that ancient teleportation array—a work so grand it astounds even the ghosts and gods... Wow, the view of Earth from here is gorgeous. Let me take a few more glances!... Hey, hey..." Before Zhang Qiang could finish, Tang Yi dragged him downstairs.

In the middle of the third floor of Moonward Pavilion was the New Year Hall, a large conference room with a stage and seats for about a hundred people. Tang Yi sat among the audience as the chief commander began to speak on stage.

"Team leaders, now that everyone is here, we will begin the pre-battle assembly. The first part: selection of team members. There are 300 cultivators at the Spirit Quietude stage, divided into ten teams of thirty each. There are 100 at the Nascent Soul stage, split into five teams of twenty. The Out-of-Body stage has thirty people, divided into three teams of ten. Now, will the team leaders from these three levels please draw lots from the records. These records contain each person’s profile. Please familiarize yourselves with your members, so you can better lead your teams on the battlefield," the chief commander reminded the new leaders.

After each Ten-Year War, those who survived as team leaders received generous rewards. Most then chose to enter secluded cultivation, often for centuries, because the rewards were bountiful and included spoils of war. Thus, almost every Ten-Year War saw new team leaders, though a few veterans sometimes returned.

There will be two updates today—another chapter tonight.