Chapter 342: Choice

After Master Luo finished speaking, he stood up to say his farewells.

“Little Ink Mister, I’ll take my leave now. You can think carefully about this matter, there’s no need to rush your decision.”

After speaking, he sighed again and said: “The path I proposed is one I feel is not bad, but it’s not necessarily the best. You have many choices, just choose the best one and follow it.”

Master Luo was indeed considering things for Ink Painting.

And after several days, Ink Painting also understood what Master Luo meant by "many choices."

Small and large sects and families from nearby state boundaries all sent invitations to Ink Painting.

Some invited Ink Painting to teach array methods; some directly promised to make Ink Painting an elder; some forces wrote passionately, inviting Ink Painting to "discuss great undertakings together and plan to create feats";

There were also some families who wanted Ink Painting to marry into their family, and in the invitations, they included portraits of several young female cultivators, some pure, some charming...

Ink Painting didn’t say anything, but Liu Like Painting was particularly angry.

She threw all these portraits into the stove and said to Ink Painting:

“This kind of crooked idea, families that use beauty to tempt others, are not proper families, absolutely cannot go!”

“If you find a dao companion, you need to find a proper, pure girl.”

Ink Painting said somewhat helplessly: “Mother, it’s still early...”

“Better safe than sorry!” Liu Like Painting said seriously.

“Alright then...”

Several days later, Zhang Lan also came to find Ink Painting.

“I have a few things to tell you.”

Zhang Lan sat in his usual spot in the food shop, ordered a pot of wine, several meat dishes, and while drinking, he spoke to Ink Painting.

“You don’t also want to win me over, do you?” Ink Painting asked doubtfully.

Zhang Lan was caught off guard, choked on a mouthful of wine, thought for a moment, then nodded, "To put it subtly, it's called forming good karma, but to be straightforward, it is indeed just winning you over."

“Zhang family?”

Zhang Lan sighed and said: “Not just that.”

After speaking, he first took out a document, "This is a personal document from the old chief officer. You can join a sect directly affiliated with the Dao Court."

“Dao Court affiliated?”

“It just means it directly belongs to the Dao Court, a sect that cultivates talent for the Dao Court. You must have an internal connection to the Dao Court to enter. Even a city chief officer has recommendation quotas, but only a very few...”

“That’s very precious then.”

“That’s natural.” Zhang Lan nodded and said, "This is also a small gesture from the chief officer. If he has any difficulties in the future, you absolutely must not stand by and watch."

“Rest assured, I have a good relationship with the chief officer, I will definitely help him!” Ink Painting guaranteed.

Zhang Lan nodded with satisfaction.

“After finishing learning at the sect, can I enter a Dao Court department?” Ink Painting asked.

“Not necessarily.”

Ink Painting was slightly startled.

Zhang Lan explained: “That also depends on the situation. Generally speaking, as long as you cultivate seriously, have a decent heart, and your conduct isn’t extreme, you can all enter a Dao Court department to take a post after finishing your studies.”

“Furthermore, there are no identity restrictions.” Zhang Lan looked at Ink Painting and said, "Outside, relying on your scattered cultivator identity, it would be very difficult to enter a Dao Court department, but entering from these Dao Court affiliated sects is much easier."

“So many pathways...” Ink Painting couldn’t help but complain.

“That’s natural.” Zhang Lan took a sip of wine, his gaze slightly condensed as he said:

“Those who set the rules will leave some pathways to benefit themselves. Cultivators below who don’t know the rules can’t get around the thresholds and can only hit them hard until their heads break and blood flows.”

“Cultivators above, familiar with the pathways, can cross these thresholds as easily as pie.”

“So the news for bottom-level scattered cultivators is not readily available, even if they have talent, they might not necessarily do as well as family cultivators with mediocre talent but smooth access to information.”

Ink Painting nodded.

He simply wouldn't have known these things if Zhang Lan hadn't told him.

“What if it’s not the general situation then?” Ink Painting asked again.

“This is divided into two situations.” Zhang Lan replied, "One kind is having too poor aptitude, learning too poorly, the kind that's like mud that can't support a wall."

“This kind of person can enter a Dao Court affiliated sect, all relying on connections. Unless they use connections again, don't even think about getting a job in a Dao Court department.”

“Another kind is having too good aptitude, and learning well. This kind of cultivator is possibly able to directly enter the Dao Court.”

Ink Painting said in surprise: “The Dao Court, not a Dao Court department?”

“Correct.” Zhang Lan nodded, “It's the central Dao Court, not a local Dao Court department.”

Following this, Zhang Lan sighed and said: “However, you shouldn't think about this.”

“Is my spirit root too bad?”

“Yes.” Zhang Lan was a little regretful, "Your talent in array methods is actually extremely good..."

“Good to a degree I don't know how to praise...”

Zhang Lan silently said in his heart, then continued:

“But, your spirit root and flesh body are indeed... a bit poor...”

Zhang Lan spoke relatively euphemistically, but Ink Painting saw his expression and knew that when he said "a bit poor," he actually meant "very poor."

However, Ink Painting didn’t blame him, he was self-aware and knew that his spirit root and flesh body were indeed shortcomings.

After Zhang Lan finished these, he changed his tone and said:

“This is an invitation from the Dao Court department. Whether to go or not is up to you. Below is me recruiting you on behalf of the Zhang family...”

Zhang Lan wasn’t polite and spoke directly about some conditions: including what status the Zhang family would give him, what prospects he would have, which inheritance in array methods he would receive, etc.

“There’s also the marriage matter. If you stay in the Zhang family, marriage is probably unavoidable.”

“However, with a normal marriage, your dao companion can only be found in a side branch, and your child will also take your surname.”

“But if you are willing to marry in, you can marry a direct line female disciple. You and your future children will need to change your surname, but conversely, the family will treat you as their own, and you will truly become a Zhang family member...”

Zhang Lan told Ink Painting everything about joining a family, leaving nothing out.

After finishing, Zhang Lan’s words took a turn, “These are the matters I, as a Zhang family disciple, should do, the words I should say...”

“The following words are just me speaking to you personally.”

Zhang Lan looked at Ink Painting, his expression solemn as he said:

“Don’t marry in, and if it’s not absolutely necessary, don’t cling to a family!”

“Marrying in is equivalent to giving up your surname, losing yourself, and exchanging it for your rise to power... Unless there are genuine hardships, it’s best not to do this.”

“If you don’t marry in, relying on your own abilities, the cultivation world is vast and boundless, you can go anywhere; if you marry in and join a worldly family, you step into a deep, stagnant pool with no bottom.”

“Better to be a wandering crane than a fish or dragon trapped in stagnant water.”

“Furthermore, in my eyes, there is no family in this world that is worthy of you marrying into, even if it is my Zhang family!”

Ink Painting’s expression was astonished. He hadn't expected Zhang Lan to think so highly of him, and in his heart, he was also grateful for Zhang Lan's goodwill.

Just as Ink Painting was gradually firming up his determination not to join a worldly family or marry in during his lifetime, who knew Zhang Lan’s words would turn again:

“Of course, if you really want to marry in, then still marry into my Zhang family...”

Ink Painting looked at him with a complex expression.

Zhang Lan said helplessly: “Don’t let good things go to outsiders...”

“What you’re saying isn’t quite appropriate...” Ink Painting said speechlessly.

Zhang Lan waved his hand, “These are all small matters, as long as the meaning is clear, it’s fine, don’t mind the details.”

“If it really doesn’t work, you can look for the next best option... The next, next option, you can also consider the Yang family...”

Zhang Lan’s expression showed a bit of dislike.

Ink Painting said doubtfully: “Do the Zhang family and Yang family not get along?”

“The Zhang family and Yang family have a very good relationship, it’s just that I don’t get along with that Yang Ji Yong kid.”

Zhang Lan said seriously, “Yang family disciples are brave and good at fighting, they’ve been on the battlefield for a long time, they are worthy of admiration...”

“Except for that Yang Ji Yong kid...”

“You are proficient in array methods. On the battlefield, you can greatly contribute. Joining the Yang family, with the Yang family backing you, you can also do very well in the Dao Soldier department.”

“It’s just that following the Dao Soldiers on expeditions will be harder and much more dangerous.”

“You should consider these yourself...”

After Zhang Lan finished speaking, he also told Ink Painting to consider it carefully and not rush his choice. After quickly finishing the wine and meat, he stood up to say his farewells.

He was a standard officer in the Dao Court department. Normally he could be lazy, but now that Feng Xi had appeared in the world and cultivators were moving cities, he had many things to be busy with.

Zhang Lan said goodbye to Ink Painting and then left.

Only when he said goodbye, he turned his head and looked at the food shop, his mood could not help but feel a little heavy.

Eating and drinking at this food shop had already become a habit for him.

After the city move, he would also have to leave.

He was a disciple of a worldly family, it was impossible for him to follow the scattered cultivators of Tong Xian City to move away. The high probability was that he would return to his family or seek another, more promising position.

After leaving, perhaps he would never feel this kind of simple yet lively atmosphere again.

Perhaps he would never be able to eat this wine and meat again, and perhaps there would be no small cultivator like Ink Painting to joke and chat with him again...