Though the trio had swiftly departed Qiling Province with the power of the earth veins, they could still sense the immense rumble and tremor coursing through the subterranean currents.
It was like a colossal wave crashing from behind. Even Lin Ling, shielded by the power of the Earth Vein Ancient Tree, was forced to wobble and veer off her original course.
One could only imagine just how horrifying the commotion within Qiling Province itself must be.
It shook not only the neighboring provinces, but even the distant Congyun Sea felt a faint tremor.
On Haixuan Island.
The Congyun Sea Mutual Aid Association, which now boasted eighteen cultivators, had been engaged in a lively discussion about the organization's future plans.
In an instant, complete silence fell over the room.
The cultivators exchanged uncertain glances, filled with surprise and doubt.
"Huh? That wasn't just my imagination, was it?" He Zhenghao asked, sounding unsure.
Fellow Daoist He was truly a wise man who understood the times.
Though he had missed the opportunity to join during the first recruitment, the moment he confirmed that Pei Tuo had genuinely ascended to the Nascent Soul realm, he immediately paid another visit to Ji Shaoli.
Even after being turned away at the door for seven straight days, he never gave up.
Instead, with relentless perseverance, he kept sending messages, professing his fervent desire to join.
In the end, Ji Shaoli was moved by his sincerity.
Thus, He Zhenghao became one of the eleven cultivators in the second cohort to join the Congyun Sea Mutual Aid Association.
Ji Shaoli stroked his beard without a word.
Pei Tuo, who possessed the highest cultivation among them, gazed toward Qiling Province with a grave expression. "It wasn't an illusion. Even from here, we can feel the earth trembling slightly. It seems something major has happened."
"Frightening. Who knows how many cultivators perished in this catastrophe?"
"Could warfare have erupted once more?"
...
The crowd buzzed with speculation.
In the end, it was Ji Shaoli—who constantly kept an eye on the Alliance's developments—who read out the official announcement the moment it was issued.
"An earthquake has occurred in Qiling Province. Dao Integration cultivators have already rushed to the scene."
"The tremors have gradually subsided, and no casualties among cultivators have been reported."
"Preliminary investigations have ruled out the possibility of subsequent disasters."
"There is no need for alarm..."
After slowly reading through it, Ji Shaoli looked at the gathered crowd. "Everyone, what do you make of this?"
Xiang Xin sneered. "A disaster of this scale, yet they claim no cultivators died? Who would believe that?"
Another cultivator immediately chimed in, "Indeed. In my view, the Alliance is whitewashing the truth yet again to project an illusion of peace."
"They are getting more shameless by the day. Can't they even be bothered to invent a plausible lie?"
...
The crowd's reaction was well within Ji Shaoli's expectations.
If his true body and companions hadn't been the very instigators behind the earthquake in Qiling Province, he too would never have believed the absurd claim that a calamity of such terrifying scale resulted in zero casualties.
However, he had no intention of stepping forward to correct them.
Ji Shaoli smiled faintly and said, "Very well, let us end the discussion on this matter here. It does no harm to speak of it among ourselves, but once outside, you had better keep it to yourselves. Otherwise, it could easily invite unnecessary trouble."
None of the people present were reckless novices. They nodded in agreement at once.
Ji Shaoli then steered the conversation back to the main topic.
"It is not that the organization distrusts you all. It is simply that this matter is of utmost gravity. Should the slightest word leak, every single one of us sitting here would likely not escape death."
"Therefore, all of you must swear an oath before the statue of the Savior from Plight and Hardship, the Compassionate True Immortal of the Mortal Realm."
Ji Shaoli placed a red covenant, radiating an eerie aura, before everyone.
Without the slightest hesitation, Pei Tuo was the first to swear a binding oath and carve his name upon the covenant.
The others followed suit one after another.
Ji Shaoli nodded in satisfaction and put the red covenant away.
He asked, "What do you all think of the upcoming Alliance Grand Examination?"
The crowd froze slightly, momentarily at a loss as to what Ji Shaoli meant.
Every one of them already held an official post within the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals' hierarchy.
Though this grand examination was being held on a grand scale, expanding recruitment by half as many positions, it had nothing to do with people like them.
Unless...
Unless they resigned from their current posts right now and took the exam anew without official rank.
Such things were not unheard of in the past.
Only cultivators who were thoroughly dissatisfied with their current duties, saw no hope of promotion for a prolonged period, and harbored grand ambitions would do so.
After all, the grand examination was arduous. Who could guarantee that after relinquishing their original post, they would successfully test in again?
Moreover, doing so would offend their former superiors.
If they failed to pass the examination again, they would probably have to consider fleeing far away into exile to seek refuge.
Without absolute confidence, virtually no one would choose such a desperate gamble.
Seeing that everyone remained silent, Ji Shaoli did not explain right away.
Instead, he distributed jade slips to each person.
After inspecting the contents, the cultivators knitted their brows in unison.
Naturally, they could tell that the contents within the jade slips were formatted exactly like the questions of the grand examination.
"Could it be..."
Recalling Ji Shaoli's mysterious behavior earlier and the fathomless, terrifying background of the Mutual Aid Association, a conjecture inevitably surfaced in their hearts.
"Is that even possible?"
Soon, they all shook their heads inwardly, rejecting their own thought.
The questions for the Alliance's induction examination were top secret among secrets.
Even though they often grumbled in private about the Alliance's corruption, over all these years, none had ever heard of the examination questions being leaked.
Although the Mutual Aid Association was undoubtedly backed by a formidable faction, still...
The room fell dead silent for a moment.
It was Ji Shaoli who spoke up, confirming the guess they hadn't dared entertain.
"Unless something unforeseen happens, the questions for this year's grand examination should all be within these jade slips."
His voice was calm.
Yet to the ears of the crowd, it was nothing short of a thunderclap.
On the spot, several cultivators leaped to their feet, staring at Ji Shaoli with dropped jaws.
"Brother Ji, are you serious?"
"When have I ever deceived you?" Ji Shaoli replied resolutely.
A brief silence followed, granting everyone time to absorb the colossal shock.
Observing the varied expressions on He Zhenghao and the others, Ji Shaoli spoke again. "Though with our organization's support, your cultivation is bound to progress by leaps and bounds in a short time, securing promotions relying solely on that remains rather difficult."
"After all, those willing to join our Mutual Aid Association do not possess powerful backings to begin with."
"Furthermore, the Congyun Sea is a remote backwater. It cannot compare to the thriving central provinces of the Alliance."
...
After explaining his reasons for wanting to help them, Ji Shaoli asked, "The authentic exam questions are right before you. I wonder which fellow Daoists are willing to stake it all on a bold gamble?"
The moment these words left his mouth, a deathly silence fell over the hall.
From the looks on their faces, the turmoil within their hearts was plain to see.
"This is merely assistance offered to you all. The decision rests entirely with yourselves; nothing is forced," Ji Shaoli added with a smile.
Chapter 838