161: Chapter 161: Paper Cranes

The Paper Cranes circled in the air for a long time.

Finally, they began to descend one after another.

One Paper Crane landed in the hands of an Outer Sect Disciple. When the Disciple opened it and saw a foundation establishment pill, he immediately wept with joy.

“A foundation establishment pill! I have a foundation establishment pill!”

“There is hope for my Foundation Establishment now.”

Another Paper Crane landed in the hands of an Inner Sect Disciple; inside was a High Grade Profound Rank longsword.

The Disciple's face turned red with excitement.

He was a poor Cultivator who couldn't afford good Magical Artifacts.

He never expected that just by attending a banquet, he would obtain one so easily.

At this moment, his admiration for Xiao Ran was beyond words.

There were many similar scenes at the site.

As one Paper Crane after another fell, some were joyful while others were disappointed.

But most people received decent items.

After all, Xiao Ran was never stingy with his gifts.

Suddenly.

A Paper Crane emitting a faint golden light drifted down from the sky.

It didn't fly toward the scrambling Disciples but headed straight for a corner.

There, a thin young man stood silently.

He hadn't participated in the scramble, just quietly watching it all.

This person was none other than Finance Manager Shen Qing.

The Paper Crane landed on his shoulder, its wings fluttering gently.

Finance Manager Shen Qing was stunned and subconsciously reached out to catch it.

He opened it.

Inside was a shimmering golden Medicinal Pill, a Seal-Breaking Pill.

This pill could break Restrictions and Seals.

Finance Manager Shen Qing trembled all over, and his eyes instantly reddened.

He naturally knew what this was.

His cultivation was precisely what had been sealed by a Restriction.

With this pill, he could...

His hands were shaking.

Countless gazes from around fell upon him, filled with envy and jealousy.

“Who is that? A Utility Disciple?”

“On what grounds does he get to have a Seal-Breaking Pill?”

“His Luck is just too good!”

Finance Manager Shen Qing lowered his head, clutching the pill tightly without saying a word.

His heart was in a state of upheaval.

Xiao Ran watched this scene and thought to himself,

“It seems Finance Manager Shen Qing's Luck is quite extraordinary.”

The golden Paper Cranes were the highest grade he had prepared, with only three in total.

Those who could obtain these three Paper Cranes all possessed extraordinary Luck.

In the mortal world, such a person would be at least a once-in-a-century Genius.

As Xiao Ran was thinking, his gaze suddenly fell upon another spot.

There, another Paper Crane emitting golden light was slowly drifting down.

Its target was a girl in plain clothes.

Lin Xue.

She stood at the edge of the crowd, also not participating in the scramble.

Yet the Paper Crane landed steadily in her palm and gently unfolded.

Inside was a longsword, pure white all over, with a faint light flowing along the blade.

Low Grade Earth Rank.

Lin Xue was stunned.

She had only come to try her Luck and hadn't expected to obtain such a supreme treasure.

A burst of exclamations erupted from the surroundings again.

“An Earth Rank Magic Treasure! That’s an Earth Rank Magic Treasure!”

“Who is this girl? Her Luck is just too good!”

“Why? A little girl who hasn't even reached the Golden Core stage, why does she get an Earth Rank Magic Treasure?”

Lin Xue gripped the sword tightly, her eyes slightly dazed.

This was the first time she owned a Magic Treasure of her own.

Xiao Ran watched this and nodded inwardly.

Both of these people had good Luck.

That Finance Manager Shen Qing was once a Genius but had been placed under a Restriction and was now reduced to a utility worker.

Once such a person turns their life around, their potential is limitless.

That Lin Xue, whose parents are both deceased, is bent on seeking revenge.

Although her cultivation isn't high, her Heart-Nature is resilient.

Such a person is also worth cultivating.

Xiao Ran silently noted these two, intending to talk to them privately after the banquet.

The Paper Cranes continued to drift down.

Another Paper Crane, emitting a crimson light, landed in the hands of a burly man.

The man opened it to find a Three-Transformation Body Tempering Pill and immediately grinned broadly.

An emerald-glowing Paper Crane landed in the hands of a female Disciple; inside was a thousand-year-old Lingzhi mushroom.

The female Disciple was so excited she almost jumped up.

One by one, the Paper Cranes fell.

Some were joyful, some disappointed, some envious, and some jealous.

But regardless, everyone had a great time.

After all, who doesn't like getting things for free?

Xiao Ran stood on the high platform, watching the scene.

The purpose of today's Soul Transformation Banquet had been achieved.

Displaying strength, winning people's hearts, and scouting for talent.

Killing three birds with one stone.

As time passed, the Paper Cranes gradually dissipated.

While some were happy and others were sad, everyone was satisfied.

Xiao Ran stepped onto the high platform again.

“Everyone, today's Soul Transformation Banquet is about to conclude.”

A chorus of reluctant sighs rose from below the stage.

Xiao Ran raised his hand, signaling for silence.

“However, before we finish, I have one more thing to announce.”

Everyone immediately pricked up their ears.

Xiao Ran looked around and said slowly,

“I am about to head to the Far North Land to develop it.”

With just that one sentence, a wave of discussion broke out below the stage.

The Far North Land was notoriously chaotic, dangerous, and desolate.

“I need a group of people. Those who have the courage and are willing to go with me can come find me.”

“The treatment will be excellent, and the rewards generous.”

“Most importantly, although the Far North Land is dangerous, it is also an Opportunity.”

“There, you can obtain resources, Cultivation Techniques, and Opportunities that you cannot get in the core regions of the Sect.”

“Whether you dare to take the gamble is up to you.”

The audience fell into silence again.

The Far North Land...

That was not a pleasant place.

Yao Beasts roamed, bandits were everywhere, and the environment was harsh.

Whether one could return alive from there was a question.

But Xiao Ran was right about one thing: where there is danger, there is also Opportunity.

In the core regions of the Sect, resources were divided up by the Elders and Inner Sect Disciples.

Outer Sect Disciples and Utility Disciples could only have the leftovers.

But in the Far North Land, as long as you were willing to fight, it was possible to make a name for yourself.

“I'll go!”

The next second.

A voice rang out.

Everyone looked toward the source; it was Deputy Commander Tie Xiong.

The burly man who was the first to go up for the martial contest.

He stood in the crowd and grinned.

“Elder Xiao, I, Deputy Commander Tie Xiong, am willing to go with you! Staying here is just staying here; I might as well go out and make a break for it!”

Xiao Ran immediately nodded happily.

“Good.”

Where there is one, there is a second.

“I'll go too!”

Captain Leng Yue also stood up.

She held her longsword, her expression cold and resolute.

“I want to become stronger. The Far North Land is perfect for tempering my Sword Dao.”

Xiao Ran naturally agreed.

“Good.”

“And me!”

Captain Zhao Wuji also stepped forward.

He carried his silver spear, looking high-spirited.

“Elder Xiao, I'm going too!”

Xiao Ran: “Good.”

One after another, almost all the Disciples who had performed excellently in the martial contest stood up.

They didn't lack strength; they lacked Opportunity.

And the Far North Land was that Opportunity.

Xiao Ran looked at them, satisfied in his heart.

These people would be his initial foundation.

Suddenly.

A voice rang out from the corner.

“My Lord, I... I also want to go.”

Everyone looked and saw it was actually Finance Manager Shen Qing.

He stood in the corner, still clutching that Paper Crane.

“Although I have no cultivation right now, I... I will work hard.”

Someone immediately burst out laughing upon hearing this.

“Finance Manager Shen Qing, what is a useless person like you going to the Far North Land for? To die?”

Finance Manager Shen Qing looked up and didn't argue.

He only expressed his determination with his eyes.

Xiao Ran looked at him without the slightest hesitation.

“Good, you come too.”

This saved him the trouble of looking for him privately later.

Finance Manager Shen Qing snapped his head up, his eyes full of pleasant surprise.

“Thank you, My Lord!”

Xiao Ran shook his head and looked at the others.

Afterward, a few more people stood up.

Seeing that it was about enough, Xiao Ran immediately called a halt.

After all, this was still a banquet, not a recruitment platform; some things shouldn't be overdone.

Xiao Ran: “Come find me after the banquet ends.”

The crowd responded in unison.

Then, Xiao Ran announced that the Soul Transformation Banquet had come to an end.

The Disciples left the venue reluctantly.