The next day, Zhang Ergou, along with Hua Xu and Mu Chen, left the Western Regions where the Jiang family resided.
With matters here concluded, they naturally had no reason to linger.
As for Jiang Yu, who had been possessed by demonic energy, and Jiang Feng, the patriarch of the Jiang family, they were left for Jiang Tai to deal with himself.
When Hua Xu and the others departed, they also brought the Demon Lord with them.
After all, they were uneasy about leaving such an unstable element behind.
Although Zhang Ergou's realm did not advance during this enlightenment, his comprehension of the forces of heaven and earth deepened by another step.
He also gained new insights into the Great Dao pursued by cultivators.
Previously, he might have pursued advancement in realms and cultivation of techniques. From now on, his cultivation path would fundamentally shift.
This was considered the greatest gain from this enlightenment.
For Zhang Ergou, this harvest was indeed the most significant. It not only consolidated his recently breakthrough cultivation but also provided him with crucial insights into cultivation, which was the most important aspect.
Hua Xu, Mu Chen, and Bai Youran's gathering in Tree Eye City this time was not solely to select a husband for Mu Chen's daughter, Mu Xian'er.
Under the guise of choosing a husband for Mu Xian'er, their primary objective was to select a group of outstanding young individuals to supplement the Dao Protector Alliance.
This was to prevent the alliance from facing a succession crisis in the future.
Every ten years, the Dao Protector Alliance dispatched various elders and outstanding disciples to different parts of the Yinzhou Continent to select suitable candidates.
Mu Chen, Hua Xu, and Bai Youran were assigned to oversee the northwestern region of the Yinzhou Continent.
Coincidentally, Zhang Ergou arrived just in time for this selection.
These were things Hua Xu told Zhang Ergou after leaving the Western Regions.
Upon returning to Tree Eye City via the teleportation array, Zhang Ergou discovered that the cultivators who had previously come to Tree Eye City had not left.
Instead, they were all waiting in Tree Eye City for Mu Chen and the others, as if they had predicted their return.
Indeed, they had waited, and it had cost them more than ten days.
Fortunately, cultivators had long lifespans and did not mind these few days. When they heard that Mu Chen and the others had returned to Tree Eye City, the waiting cultivators once again flocked to the plaza in front of the City Lord's mansion.
Among the dozen or so young cultivators who had passed the previous trials, all except Zhang Ergou and Jiang Yu appeared on the plaza immediately.
In the crowd, Zhang Ergou naturally spotted Li Zhan.
Mu Chen did not explain the reason for their sudden departure to the young cultivators or the elders from various sects and families who had come to offer congratulations.
They did not dare to ask further questions; in this world, strength was paramount.
Mu Chen's cultivation was far superior to theirs, and he naturally had his reasons for acting as he did, with no obligation to report to them.
Consequently, those individuals did not dare to harbor any resentment, which was the power of having overwhelming strength.
On the contrary, the elders from various sects and families smiled broadly upon seeing Mu Chen return, acting as if they were the hosts.
Zhang Ergou observed all of this, which further solidified his resolve to become stronger.
He particularly noticed Li Kongcai and Yuan Yue from the Liuhai Sect fawningly greeting Mu Chen, Hua Xu, and Bai Youran, only to receive a mere nod in response.
This made Zhang Ergou's desire to grow stronger even more intense.
If he possessed the cultivation of Mu Chen or Hua Xu, he surmised, those two old pests would not be clinging to him like sticky candy.
Contrary to Zhang Ergou's thoughts, when the young cultivators and the congratulatory elders from various sects and families saw Zhang Ergou following behind Mu Chen and the others,
they were all shaken beyond words.
When Mu Chen, Hua Xu, and the others had left previously, they had taken Zhang Ergou and Jiang Yu with them.
Now that they had returned, Jiang Yu was nowhere to be seen, yet Zhang Ergou seemed to have a good relationship with Hua Xu and the others.
This immediately stirred the minds of everyone present.
Could it be that Zhang Ergou had already been chosen as the son-in-law of Tree Eye City?
The faces of the young cultivators were filled with complex emotions, especially those who had successfully advanced to the third round.
Although Zhang Ergou's performance was indeed slightly better than theirs, the fourth round of selection had not yet taken place.
However, the news that brought joy to the young cultivators was that Mu Chen announced the selection would continue, but Zhang Ergou and Jiang Yu, for special reasons, would no longer participate in the remaining final round of selection.
Upon hearing this news, the young cultivators did not know how to describe their current feelings.
This roller-coaster of emotions was simply too exhilarating.
After confirming the authenticity of this news, cheers erupted from the plaza.
Hua Xu, Mu Chen, and Bai Youran, in unison, glanced back at the low-key Zhang Ergou standing behind them.
Their expressions held profound meaning.
Zhang Ergou had not expected such a reaction from these people, and he couldn't help but touch his nose. It was truly an embarrassing situation.
He had intended to remain an invisible person, but with this commotion, it was impossible for him not to attract attention.
In the subsequent selection, with Zhang Ergou and Jiang Yu no longer participating, the cultivation gap between the young cultivators was not significant.
The selection matches became a tense tug-of-war, and finally, after three days and three nights of selection, ten young cultivators were chosen.
Li Zhan, naturally, was among those who successfully advanced.
As to why ten people were selected, the young cultivators were puzzled, and everyone else was even more bewildered.
However, Mu Chen did not explain this in public.
The next day, in a rustic great hall, stood ten young cultivators, naturally, the ten young individuals selected the previous day.
"Brother Li, what do you think City Lord Mu wants us here for?"
The ten youngsters surveyed the rustic great hall, and one young man quietly asked Li Zhan beside him.
Li Zhan, utilizing his unique knack for knowing everything, had gotten along well with the other youngsters over the past few days.
Upon hearing someone ask Li Zhan, everyone else also stopped surveying the hall and listened intently to what Li Zhan had to say.
"Do you think City Lord Mu will give us one last test? After all, to become the son-in-law of the City Lord of Tree Eye City, loyalty must be examined..."
Before Li Zhan could speak, a young cultivator in black robes spoke first.
"Brother Chen's words are reasonable."
The others nodded in agreement, finding the black-robed young man's words somewhat plausible.
However, Li Zhan, who had already inquired about the reasons, scoffed at this.
He silently belittled the other fellow and then mentally recited, "Next, I shall show off."
Then, everyone saw Li Zhan walk out from the crowd with a profound expression.
He then turned back and cast a deep look at the black-robed young cultivator, causing the latter to blush.
"Have you all ever heard of the Dao Protector Alliance?"
"The Dao Protector Alliance?"