Ji Li spent some more time with Rong Xi to deepen their relationship of Servant and Master. He seemed very inclined and happy, so his cold face softened slightly, surprising Rong Xi, but making him understand that the cold face was just for strangers, and he already went past that stage.
Before Ji Li sent Rong Xi away, he mentioned shortly "Talk about the recruitment with your elders, and tell them how it went, as well as the benefits. From now on, you will have the right to fight for benefits, and I will give you some too. But remember to keep the recruitment a secret to all but the elders. I want to see how many will try to recruit you over the course of the next days. They won't be able to offer what I did, but I am still interested in how far they'd go."
Rong Xi bowed in understanding and then left, thinking about how he would make sure that the elders all would know of the recruitment. He had to think of why it was the best decision.
…
Shortly after, Rong Xi arrived in the Town Hall, his aura deeply hidden and showing off just a few wisps of the previous aura. Ji Li had helped conceal the aura till after the competition. He still wanted to use the town chief as a bait and see how many would truly try to act in a place where the Eunuch Palace called to shots.
The town hall was filled with the elders that had waited for Rong Xi, they knew he would visit Ji Li today once again, and only wondered why it took so long. Still, they waited till the town chief sat down. Rong Xi sent away all the servants and tapped on his table, to which many characters came out and formed a formation all around the room, serving as an anti-spying measure.
The elders, not knowing what had happened, took a serious stand, ready to defy the Eunuch Palace if they did something really bad. Contrary to their thoughts, Rong Xi only took a piece of iron he found on the road before and put it on the table. He then used his condensing ability, and the iron became a small round pellet. The elders were astonished as the speed and fluidly of it was very fast. They would also be able to do that, but they'd need longer and close contact with the iron. Seeing such a scene, they were for sure that their town chief was one step closer to the Talent Refining realm and were about to congratulate him, when they were interrupted.
Rong Xi was happy about their reaction as he explained "I have already stepped into the Talent Refining realm, and this is a minor ability of my Talent. You can't sense any changes because I have a concealment on me, shielding from any aura leaking and keeping the previous aura steady."
This confused and shocked the five elders more, so Rong Xi just said the facts outright to give them some time to think about it, instead of talking around the bush "Intermediate Eunuch Li asked for our servitude, and in exchange I would get a Nature's Gift. I promised him my servitude alone and planned to wait and watch how and when he would give Nature's Gift and decide then if I would tell it to you all. But he surprised me and directly gave me the fruit, as well as the promise that all elders would be allowed to fight for the chance of earning one with their own contributions".
Rong Xi saw how more and more faces brightened up, happy not only because their town chief was so meticulously and cautious even when he promised someone his loyalty, but also happy because they would also benefit from it eventually. Eating a Nature's Gift, no matter what, would make the process of going from Essence Awakening to Talent Refining much faster. Otherwise, no matter if Intermediate Eunuchs had sixteen or thirty-two years, they wouldn't be able to become Talent Refining Cultivators, and with that Senior Eunuchs.
"Congratulations Town Chief! The decision was made very well! We can't be happier! Our town will finally become a city, and we shall expand even more! We can work on the other three workshops!"
Contrary to Rong Xi's expectations, no one was mad at him for being selfish. He teared up a bit as he happily discussed their future with all of them, telling them that it wouldn't be long before their town became a large city and the centre of the Imperial Regions smiths! The Imperial Capital was just too large to house everything peacefully, and the dwarf region was too far away for many!
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After some chatting, the town chief came back to the important part as he told them about Ji Li's plan, to which all of them agreed. They knew that none of the children that came would be able to offer them Nature's Gift, but they still were curious what the other options would have been if they didn't already swear loyalty. All of them already thought of themselves as Ji Li's vassals, and they would also swear loyalty later when the opportunity arises.
…
The next day, start of the competition! Ji Li had just eaten and was on his way down with his brothers. The competition would be starting in just half an hour, but he was in no haste. Only on the 4. Day, where the finals for each stage are announced, would he truly look at the competition.
Ji Li entered his humble carriage that was pulled by four mist walker horses while four horses were in the back. Shixuan and Qianyu entered afterwards but didn't close the door. The one to enter last was Rong Xi, who was already at the Branch Yard before breakfast. He would have to enter last and exit first from now on, as he became a servant and his other status wouldn't enable him to step in just after Ji Li, but he wasn't unhappy in the least.
Inside the carriage, it was quiet but not cold like the last time Rong Xi drove together with them, so he didn't feel too uncomfortable. He asked in a low tone, fearing that someone might hear "Lord, should I take any last-minute precautions for the competition?"
Ji Li nodded internally at the quick-wittedness of Rong Xi, but there wasn't much to do, so he simply said "Later, I will let Shixuan come to you with a list of people you should observe, if they are any good, just tell them to visit my tent in the competition camp. I will be testing them and recruit them before they go any further. They will be under your clan, so make sure that you find the right ones."
The carriage soon drove out of the town, into the encampment. The carriage drove in, making people avoid and follow it. The carriage didn't stop till it was at the competition ground. In the centre of the competition ground, there was an even higher platform that would only fit ten people.
Inside, Rong Xi stood up, wanting to step out, when Qianyu stopped him and went out with Shixuan first. There was no need to make people suspicious because of such a small detail. Rong Xi understood that he was too eager, was a bit embarrassed but quickly went out with a composed and stern face. Soon, Ji Li stepped out with a cold expression. Without looking back, he strode forward up the platform till he was in the middle but didn't say anything.
Qianyu took out a large scroll and held it up for all with keen senses to see, while Shixuan shouted the words aloud "The rules the Jewellers Competition will be as follows:
1. Do NOT, under NO circumstance, try to hide your abilities. Punishment: instant disqualification.
2. Follow the instructions given, don't try to play tricks. Punishment: instant disqualification.
3. Answer questions if you are given any, don't lie. Punishment: instant disqualification."
The last question was for cases where Ji Li or the others needed to test the competitors, they would be done discreetly while other questions will be given to random participants. The first and second rule were only Ji Li's personal taste, he just didn't want anyone to try and play low-key, wasting his time and making it harder to find the talented ones.
After that, Shixuan was the one that took out a large scroll, while Qianyu put away his and shouted the words aloud "For the first stage, you will be tasked with something simple that tests the basic understanding of yours:
- Make a small metal plate
- The metal plate has to be 1cm thick and 5x5 cm in size.
- You have to engrave the Eunuch Palace's symbol on it
- You are only allowed to use the given tools
From now on, you have an hour. Select a station, you have a minute before the stage begins!"
Ji Li, who didn't say anything, just looked around with his extreme sharp sense over all participants. He looked at how they took stations, how some panicked while others rushed and threw people around. In truth, there were more than ten thousand participants, and also more than enough platforms to house all of them. But Ji Li decided to stop at ten thousand, all those that fell off were truly just waste that couldn't even get a platform at such a large scale.
Shortly after, Shixuan and Qianyu announced the beginning of the stage, and then turned around. Ji Li did the same even before them, leaving only the town chief there to watch all.
Inside of the carriage, Ji Li wrote on a scroll all the platforms that would have potential talents. Shortly after, Shixuan left, gave it to Rong Xi, came back and knocked at the wall to let the carriage ride out. They just went to the border of the competition ground, where a large tent was stationed. Ji Li and his brothers went in, while the guards waited outside.
They kept quiet and mediated, not really interested in the stages of the competition just yet. At most the top ten would be decided now, he would only be interested in the top five that would be decided in the first stage of the finals.