The Undying Immortal System-Chapter 302: Life 76, Age 29, Martial Grandmaster Peak

While it should have been clear to everyone that changes had come to the Wastes, we maintained a loose facade that everything was normal.

Yes, GuiAi’s teams were building several new cities. Yes, ShouLi had implemented several policies to encourage people to have more children. Yes, the official lord of Dragon Gate City was changing every few years. But we didn’t announce the fact that we were generating karmic energy, and none of the outside forces came to ask us about it.

So, while the powers surrounding us likely knew what was going on, everyone was pretending they didn’t.

As such, we continued with one of the Wastes’ most important traditions: The Dragon Gate Festival.

Not long after I turned 29, Dragon Gate City was decorated in bright reds and golds, and vendors packed the streets to sell snacks and souvenirs. At the center of this celebration was a large stage where people would be able to display their talents in the hope of being recruited by a powerful outside force.

While we were now able to generate karmic energy, and while the powers surrounding the Wastes had to be aware of this, it was not yet common knowledge among most of the locals. Even if it were, the amount of karmic energy available was limited, and it was all reserved for use within the clan. So, talented Grandmasters were still looking outward for the hope of advancement.

Shortly before the Festival began, three sets of carriages arrived bearing the envoys from the three major powers that surrounded the Wastes: the Rising Sun Empire, the Verdant Forest Sect, and the Flowing Mountain Sect.

Each group was led by a Grandmaster who still had hopes of rising to Lord before stagnation set in.

The recruiter for the Verdant Forests Sect was a tall, beautiful woman wearing a light green hanfu. The Rising Sun Empire had sent a younger man who looked like a peacock, and the man from the Flowing Mountain Sect was a well-built man who reminded me of Emperor Shen. He looked like a craftsman who had no desire to involve himself in petty politics.

If my memory could be trusted, these were the same three recruiters who had been sent the first time I had attended this festival.

The festivities started off with competitions between Disciples. First, there was a showcase of crafting and non-combat skills. Then, there was a small tournament. The three recruiters could award prizes to anyone they saw value in, but as the host, the Su Clan was responsible for providing the bulk of the rewards.

As I had expected, the recruiters didn’t pay much attention to the contests between Disciples. Instead, they used the time to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves.

However, when they saw the lavish prizes that we were offering this year, their behavior shifted.

After one of the boys displayed a superb talent in herbalism, the host announced that he would be given a Peak-Profound cultivation technique and access to a complete inheritance for Rank 1 herbalism. When, a few people later, a girl was awarded a similar prize for formations, the man from the Flowing Mountain Sect couldn’t hold himself back.

Looking at the host, he spoke in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “I would like to see what kind of ‘formation inheritance’ the Su Clan is able to provide.”

The host bowed to him. “Honored Representative of the Flowing Mountain, I do not have the authority to grant this request. Please discuss this with one of the clan’s elders.”

The Flowing Mountain’s recruiter narrowed his eyes. “I’ll do that.”

The woman from the Verdant Forest also seemed to take a small bit of interest in this topic, but the man from the Rising Sun just waved it away as unimportant.

However, the next day, when the prizes for the Disciples’ martial tournament were announced, his jaw dropped open in shock.

“What!? You’re giving away refined weapons? To random nobodies? You dare?”

Again, the host bowed. “Honored Representative of the Rising Sun, I am only following the orders of the Su Clan. If you have any concerns, please direct your inquires to one of its elders.”

The man clenched his fists in anger but sat back down without another word.

While the Rank 1 prizes had surprised the representatives, when they found out that the Martial Masters would be given similar rewards, they were truly shocked. Upon seeing the Rank 2 refined weapons that would be given to the top five finishers of the tournament, all three of them stopped breathing.

In contrast, almost no one in the audience saw anything amiss with the situation. Warriors were being given weapons. These might be slightly better weapons than normal, but none of them understood the implications of handing out so many refined weapons.

Finally, after a week of celebration, it was time for the Grandmasters’ non-combat demonstrations.

The first person to step forward was an old man. After walking to the center of the stage, he faced the judges and gave a martial salute.

“My name is Murong NaYun. I am 273 years old this year. In my youth, I traveled the world in search of a path for advancement, but I never succeeded. If you grant me a chance to ascend to Martial Lord, I will serve loyally for my remaining days, no matter how long that is.”

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At the end of his short speech, he gave a deep bow to the judges and straightened into a firm stance with both hands balled into fists.

“My blessing has benefited me greatly.” Sparks of lighting began to emerge from the old man’s arms. “I am no longer sure exactly how high my lightning affinity is, but I know that it is at least six-star.”

He began to juggle a bolt of lightning, showing his adept control of the erratic element. “However, that is only the merest fraction of my blessing. Each time I have ascended a realm, I have been granted a legacy in the art of talisman crafting. I can currently be considered a Peak Rank 3 Talisman Artist.”

After saying this, he demonstrated his abilities with talismans. When he was done, he gave a final bow and planted his feet as he waited to hear how he had been judged.

The woman from the Verdant Forest Sect was the first to speak. “You are indeed skilled, Grandmaster Murong, but my sect cannot provide a proper place for someone with your talents.”

The man from Rising Sun gave a contemptuous smirk. “You may join my empire. We will allow you to craft for us, and if you do a suitable job, we may allow you an opportunity to ascend in due time."

The man from the Flowing Mountain tapped on his armrest and nodded. “The Flowing Mountain Sect will offer you a position. As long as you teach our disciples well, we will grant you a temporary position as an elder that will allow you to advance. Whether you can keep this position will be up to you.”

The man from the Rising Sun looked like he was about to say something, but before he could, I stepped forward from the other side of the arena.

“Grandmaster Murong, I would like to offer you a place in the Su Clan. If you join us, I guarantee that you will be able to ascend to Martial Lord. Your time will be yours to do with as you please. If you wish to teach, you may. If you wish to craft, you may. Nothing will be required of you, but you will receive rewards commensurate with your contributions.”

For a long moment, everyone froze in shock.

Then, a voice broke the silence.

“What!?” The young man from the Rising Sun glared at me. “How dare you challenge the might of the Rising Sun Empire!?”

I waved a dismissive hand. “I have no interest in challenging anyone. I am simply offering Grandmaster Murong another option. He may choose it or disregard it at his leisure.”

Snarling, the young man turned to one of his guards. “Kill him.”

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Immediately, the guard rushed at me.

I smiled and pulled off my outer robe, revealing the Rank 3 refined armor underneath. Then, I reached down and picked up a Rank 3 refined staff.

Seeing this, the three recruiters gawked in horror, but the guard didn’t even pause. He just continued his charge.

With a single, light swing of my staff, I knocked him senseless.

Then, I turned to the man at the center of the arena. “Grandmaster Murong, please make your choice. Don’t worry, I won’t compel you to follow me.”

Murong NaYun stared at me. He had said he had traveled outside the Wastes in his youth, so he likely knew what my weapon and armor represented, at least a bit.

He glanced at the Flowing Mountain recruiter and then back to me. “Are you certain that you can help me advance to Martial Lord?”

I nodded. “I guarantee it.”

Clenching his fists, he stood there in silence for several long minutes as he considered my offer.

Finally, he bowed. “Very well, Grandmaster Su. I will follow you.”

Each of the recruiters looked like they wanted to say something, but I only glared at them before leading Murong NaYun away.

Once we were out of sight, I pulled Grandmaster Murong into my inner world and sent him to have a talk with a couple of my Revered Elders. Then, I circled back to watch the rest of the day’s events.

After we disappeared, the host and the recruiters did their best to return a sense of normalcy to the proceedings, but an underlying tension remained.

Several more hopefuls stepped forward to show off their skills, but only one ended up being recruited. That lucky person was a middle-aged man who was dressed like a hobo and looked like he hadn’t bathed in weeks. However, I was likely the only person who knew this since he was covered in a thick layer of light and dark qi, making him invisible.

When the Rising Sun’s recruiter saw this person, he chuckled evilly and glanced at where I attacked his guard. Then, he immediately offered the man a position in his retinue.

After that, the day’s festivities came to an end.

I spent that night in a house on the outskirts of the Su Clan’s palace complex.

The next day, the Grandmasters’ martial tournament began. With a full day having passed, the tense atmosphere created by me recruiting Grandmaster Murong had dissipated, and people were able to enjoy the fighting.

However, when the recruiters saw the prizes on offer, they turned green with envy.

Perfect Rank 3 pills, Profound- and Earth-Rank combat techniques, and high-quality Rank 3 refined weapons. Even in their powerful factions, only the best of the best would have access to such items.

In a usual year, only two or three of these competitors might have had a shot at being recruited. This time, however, every single person who placed in the top 10—everyone who had received a prize—was offered a position in the Rising Sun Empire. A couple of them were smart enough to reject this offer, but most of them took it, even knowing that it would mean forfeiting their winnings.

That night, I returned to my lonely house on the outskirts of the Su Clan’s complex and sat down in the middle of my room to cultivate.

After hours of waiting there, I was starting to worry that my guess had been incorrect.

However, shortly after midnight, I was knocked to the ground by a hard kick to my chest.

Two long steel rods impaled me on either side of my body and pinned me to the floor.

I turned on energy vision and scanned my surroundings, but I didn’t see anything.

“Interesting…”

Something slapped my face, and an ominous voice echoed out around me. “Where did the Su Clan get access to so many high-quality items?”

When I didn’t respond immediately, something kicked me in the ribs. “Answer, now. Otherwise, I will kill you.”

Silently, I nodded and flicked my hand, sending out a wisp of qi to activate the room's formations.

“What? What have you done!?”

Ignoring the voice, I mentally tugged on the two rods impaling me and sent them into my inner world. Then, I looked at the corner of the room.

Using energy vision, I stared and tried to make out any details that I could. However, no matter how hard I tried, I saw nothing.

“Interesting. Your blessing gives you absolute invisibility? During the competition, were you just using light and dark qi to mask your true capabilities? What are your limitations? They must exist, right?”

“What… What do you want?” The voice was frantic, and I could sense that this person was trying to free himself, not that it mattered. He had no chance of escaping from my Rank 5 formation.

I smiled at the empty air in front of me. “You should know, there were formations in place to stop you from killing me. You never had a chance. Your employer sent you here to die.”

“What…”

I shook my head sorrowfully. “Be more honest in your next life and don’t offend those you can’t afford to offend.”

Pulling out a sword, I slashed at the empty air.

Suddenly, an unkempt, middle-aged man appeared in front of me, suspended in the air.

I sent a wisp of qi to deactivate the formation, and a headless corpse toppled to the ground.