Legend of Mir 2: Seeking the Truth in Marfa

The next morning, three figures appeared in the field. They walked side by side, heading towards Ginkgo Village at a leisurely pace.

"We've reached the last village on this journey. Haoyun, you haven't received any Taoist disciples along the way. How are you going to report this to the City Lord?" said a large man in a cloak and silver-gray armor. "The population is shrinking, and talent is dwindling. Finding a disciple who perfectly meets the requirements is becoming increasingly difficult. Why not lower your standards? Don't be so demanding as before. Just get by."

The man who spoke was named Baili Feijian. He was responsible for selecting warrior monks and was one of the examiners this time.

A woman next to him, with a noble temperament, wearing a gorgeous red robe and holding a white staff, shook her head and said, "It's better not to force it. If the admission standards are lowered, and he encounters a demon beast in the future and cannot defeat it, wouldn't that be harmful to him?"

The woman's name was Shangguan Yanling, the examiner for this round of mage selection. The two of them had already recruited several young men with talent as warriors or mages from the village ahead. However, the other examiner, responsible for selecting Taoist priests, either due to excessive strictness or bad luck, had failed to find any.

"Both of you have a point." The last man, wearing a blue-white Taoist robe, named Situ Haoyun, said calmly, "Everything depends on fate. If the City Lord blames me, I have my own reasons to explain."

Behind Situ Haoyun followed a stout yet majestic divine beast. The occasional demonic beasts that appeared nearby, either sensing the powerful aura of the three or intimidated by the beast's pressure, scattered and fled.

While this time was to select monks for Bi Qi, Situ Haoyun was even more interested in taking on a disciple for his own legacy. Talent was important, but character was even more important. He had made preparations for the succession, but the disciple he had chosen had yet to appear.

"I have prepared some small top-grade equipment for my disciples. Look." Situ Haoyun took out a package, which contained a cloth garment with 0-2 magic, an ebony sword with 0-2 magic, and some low-level jewelry.

"A small treasure with magic power? Haoyun, are you giving it to your Taoist disciple or my magic disciple?" Shangguan Yanling was puzzled.

"It's used to wear cast iron rings to increase protection. It will be safer in the early stages." Situ Haoyun said.

"You've thought it through. See what else is there? Skill books, magic potions, teleportation scrolls, eh, isn't this your note?" The three of them were obviously familiar with each other. Shangguan Yanling came forward and started searching.

"Yes, I have been busy fighting monsters these years and have not gained much, so I just recorded these things. If I can find a disciple, I plan to pass it on to him. The monsters have come this time, and the demonic energy feels stronger than before, so there will definitely be a fierce battle. The three of you and I have been fighting for many years, and I don't know if we can get through this safely." Situ Haoyun put away the package, looked at the red star in the north, and said slowly.

After several battles, their comrades were killed one after another. The original combat team of more than 10 people was now reduced to only three of them.

What is there to say about life and death? I only cherish the feelings of old friends.

The three of them were silent for a moment. Finally, Baili Feijian broke the silence and said softly, "Before the battle, let's go pay our respects to the captain and his men and have a nice drink with him. Let's go, hurry up and return to the city to report."

The three of them quickened their pace.

By the time the three arrived at Ginkgo Village, dozens of villagers had already gathered in the village square.

"Sir, you are finally here. Ginkgo Village has been waiting for a long time, please~" The head of Ginkgo Village saluted with his fists.

"Okay, everyone, the assessment will begin now. Young talents aged 16 to 18, please come forward." Baili Feijian clasped his fists in return and started the recruitment assessment directly.

In the crowd, Brooke let go of the hand that was supporting Uncle Fu, walked out of the crowd calmly.

"Only one person?" Baili Feijian and the other two gasped.

"Ginkgo Village has a small population, and the only young person who meets the requirements this year is Brooke. I hope you will forgive me," said the village chief.

Baili Feijian and the other two exchanged a look, feeling helpless. There was no choice; it had to be him. However, in public, even if the standards were lowered, the process still had to be followed.

Baili Feijian and Shangguan Yanling both looked at Situ Haoyun and exchanged glances. Since there was only one person, they both wanted Situ Haoyun to take the assessment first, preferably to pass the Taoist assessment, so as to avoid the embarrassing situation of not recruiting a single Taoist disciple.

Situ Haoyun shook his head and refused, saying he needed to observe for a while. Brooke, however, paid no attention to the three examiners and instead stared at the divine beast behind Situ Haoyun.

Mage Shangguan Yanling took the lead, raised his staff, and said, "The test begins. Step forward and place your hand on the staff orb."

If you possess magical power, placing your palm on the orb will cause it to emit light. The stronger the magical power, the brighter the light.

Brook withdrew his gaze from the beast, took a few steps forward, and placed his hand on the staff. After a moment, the orb showed no reaction.

"I have no magic power. I failed the mage test." Shangguan Yanling retracted his staff and took a few steps back. He didn't have a trace of magic power.

The warrior Baili Feijian stepped forward and asked, "Boy, you seem to be light on your feet, agile, and in good shape. What do you usually do in the village?"

"I'm the pharmacy owner's assistant. I usually collect herbs nearby." Brooke answered truthfully.

"I only have one request: Can you endure hardship?" The original warrior assessment required a strong physique, requiring one to wield a 50-jin (-pound) broadsword with one hand. Now, with only one person in the village, and Baili Feijian quite optimistic about this young man, the standards were lowered. As long as the young man could endure hardships, he would pass. After all, he was still young, so even if his strength wasn't up to par, he could slowly train.

"Oh, this... the first half requires it to be edible, which is fine. But the second half requires it to be bitter, which is not possible." Brook said weakly.

Baili Feijian's mouth twitched. What a smooth-talking little fellow! He must have done it on purpose. "Ahem. Since you can't endure hardship, you've failed the warrior assessment." He'd consciously lowered his standards to recruit someone, only to have to shoot himself in the foot. Brook had rejected him. Being open-minded by nature, he didn't take it seriously and returned to his original position.

Brooke watched Baili Feijian turn around and walk back, saying sorry in his heart. He then turned back to the crowd and nodded slightly to Uncle Fu, indicating that he could rest assured.

All of this was seen by the white-robed Taoist priest Situ Haoyun. He glanced at the owner of the Xu family pharmacy who was leaning on a cane in the crowd, and then came to Brooke.

"Hello, Brooke. I am Situ Haoyun, responsible for this Taoist selection and assessment." Situ Haoyun said with a smile.

According to the rules of the Marfa Continent, everyone reveals their name, displayed on their waist. So, without having to ask for their name, they can tell at a glance, which is quite convenient. Of course, they can also choose to reveal other titles, such as Xu Fu, who reveals himself as the owner of the Xu Family Pharmacy, or Gu Li, who reveals himself as a guard.

"Hello, sir. Excuse me, is the divine beast behind you your pet?" Brook, the candidate, was the first to ask the examiner a question.

Situ Haoyun nodded and said, "As long as a Taoist priest is strong enough, he can own a divine beast." Then he paused and continued, "Let me ask you a question. I hope you can answer it correctly."

Brook stared at the Taoist priest in white robe in front of him, feeling the man's kindness and goodwill, but then he couldn't help but lower his head and not look into Situ Haoyun's eyes.

"If jade is not carved, it will not become a useful object. If people do not learn, what will happen next?" asked Situ Haoyun.

"I don't know." Brooke lowered his head and answered. He really didn't know.

"The answer is correct." Situ Haoyun stared at Brook murderously and said.

Huh? Brooke was a little confused. What was going on? "Sir, I really don't know what your question is."

"But you're right, the answer is I don't know."

"Oh~ I just happened to do that."

"A coincidence is also a correct answer. Tao follows nature, and it all depends on chance."

"Sir, I don't want to leave Ginkgo Village. I have elders at home who need to be taken care of." Brooke told the truth helplessly.

As expected. Situ Haoyun nodded slightly and continued, "Although this is a selection for Marfa monks, it also means I, Situ Haoyun, am accepting you as my disciple. Since you work at a pharmacy, don't you want to learn the skills to heal and save lives?"

Brooke's mind moved, and he asked, "Sir, you must be proficient in medicine and have great magical powers. Can you help my uncle Fu to regenerate his broken leg?"

Situ Haoyun shook his head and said, "If it was a recent injury, it might be healed; but regenerating a severed limb now is beyond human ability."

Seeing Brook's disappointed expression, the white-robed Taoist priest Situ Haoyun changed the subject and said, "It's not completely hopeless. Perhaps there are senior masters with profound Taoist skills who can cure it. Moreover, there are many rare herbs and precious treasures on the Marfa continent that may be able to bring the dead back to life. You know, everything is possible in this world." Situ Haoyun paused and said, "As far as I know, there is a legendary ancient artifact called the Resurrection Ring. Wearing it can bring you back to life even if you are on the verge of death."

"Really?" Brook exclaimed. If it is possible to resurrect from the dead, is it also possible to regenerate a broken leg?

Absolutely, it is possible. If life can be reborn, then legs can certainly be reborn too!

It seemed as if a door opened before Brook's eyes, allowing him to see a new world.

"Sir, do you know where I can find this ring?" Brook asked excitedly.

Situ Haoyun shook his head slightly and said, "It might be somewhere, perhaps acquired by a master, or occupied by a powerful monster. But it must exist. Because the wise Mage Tianhong has an ancient artifact defense ring."

Brook's eyes brightened. He understood what Situ Haoyun meant. If a defense ring really existed, there must also be a resurrection ring. It just hadn't been discovered yet.

Situ Haoyun looked at Brooke with a blazing gaze and said slowly, word by word, "Now, are you willing to become a Marfa monk and take me as your master?"

Brooke took a deep breath, turned back and looked at Uncle Fu deeply. Then he turned around again, knelt on his knees and kowtowed, "Disciple is willing to meet Master."

"Once you become a Marfa monk, you'll need to complete many difficult missions, such as slaying monsters, gathering intelligence, exploring unknown territories, and fighting the enemy on the battlefield... It's both dangerous and arduous. Didn't you say you can't endure hardship?"

"Well, this disciple is very hard-working!"

Situ Haoyun laughed heartily and stopped talking. He stretched out his right hand and pressed it on Brook's head. A warm current flowed through Brook's body, making him feel warm and comfortable for a moment. Suddenly, a golden light flashed all over his body, and Brook rose from level 0 to level 1.

While Brooke was considered agile, his mental power was actually zero, and he lacked the physique of a Taoist. The forced infusion of mental power employed by Situ Haoyun could only be performed by extremely powerful cultivators. With Situ Haoyun's current strength, he could only perform it once, and it could only raise Brooke's mental power from 0 to 0. But this 1 to 0 increase was a decisive step.

Situ Haoyun's face was already pale. He withdrew his palm and said, "Master has already opened up your Taoist physique. You are now a level 1 Taoist."

He helped Brook up, took out the package he had prepared long ago and handed it to him: "This is a gift that the master prepared for you. Wearing it can enhance your attributes."

Situ Haoyun leaned closer to Shao Shao and whispered to Brooke, "The package contains my notes and experiences. You must study them carefully. The monsters are attacking, and I have other tasks to attend to. I cannot bring you along for training. Follow my instructions and put on your equipment when you return. The monster tide is about to arrive. When Master Tianhong summons warriors from other worlds to fight against the monsters, you will take this opportunity to improve your strength as quickly as possible. For now, you can only rely on yourself."

Situ Haoyun didn't want to be a hands-off boss, but the war was imminent and he couldn't stay out of it. He would definitely be sent to somewhere in Marfa to resist the beast tide.

"Yes, Master. How can I find you after the beast tide?" Brook asked.

"I'll be waiting for you in Biqi City. If you can't find me, you can go to the Biqi Palace and ask. They'll know where I am." Situ Haoyun said as he took out a long, curved sword. "This is the Dragon Pattern Sword. It's my weapon. I'm giving it to you now."

Brooke took the dragon-patterned sword. The blade emitted a faint glow, and the hilt was engraved with a dragon pattern, with the dragon's head pointing downwards and the body extending upwards, finally covering the end of the sword with its tail, a golden brilliance that was truly beautiful.

"If you give me the weapon, how will you deal with the invasion of monsters in the future?" Brook asked.

Situ Haoyun looked into the distance and said, "We'll talk about the future later." He patted Brook's shoulder and said, "I'm leaving. Disciple, level up well, practice well, and live well."

Situ Haoyun turned back to Baili Feijian and Shangguan Yanling, feeling somewhat relieved, and said with a smile, "You two, I've finished my work."

This Situ Haoyun not only gave away his notes, but also his weapons? And that little guy named Brook is really lucky.

The two of them were both impressed and envious. They envied both Brooke and Situ Haoyun. This was a successor!

Baili Feijian took one last look at Brook, who could not endure hardship at one moment, but could endure it at another. He withdrew his gaze and said, "Okay, let's go back and report. Use the scroll."

Each of the three men pulled out a scroll, crushed it, and a small circle of light appeared around them before vanishing in a flash. As fast as they came, they left even faster.

The beast tide is coming, and the three said that they should take time to pay tribute to their former comrades before the war.

If these three people also died this time, who would come to commemorate them?

What is the way to die, the body is the same as the mountain.