“Li Mo! Get out now!”
At eight in the morning, Yang Hongying was yelling outside his home.
Li Mo walked into his yard.
“This is for you.” Yang Hongying threw him a piece of paper.
Li Mo caught it and found it to be an invitation. It had a small sword and a bell on one side and two words on the other, Experts Alliance.
The invited was the soul cultivator ‘Li Mo’.
The invitee, the second level soul cultivator Yang Hongying.
The Experts Alliance was the oldest of the three organizations on Earth. It had appeared during antiquity and had operated ever since.
The average man couldn’t even contact the Experts Alliance. The only two ways to enter was through a recommendation from another member after passing a test, or when a higher-up vouched for you.
Li Mo was startled as he looked over the invitation.
Earth’s Retaliation, Experts Alliance, and TS were the three organizations that stood up to the alien invasion. Li Mo had his way of getting into them even without Yang Hongying’s invitation.
It was out of his guess that Yang Hongying would up and extend him an invitation.
“Only experts are allowed entry. Once inside, there are many benefits.”
“What are they exactly?”
“Able to get items you can’t see on the open market. Cultivation resources, rare items, magic treasures, magical items. Whatever you want, the Experts Alliance can provide.”
Li Mo nodded, “Alright.”
“Get ready, I’ll drop by at noon for your test.”
At noon, Li Mo and Yang Hongying got in a cab, on their way to the Experts Alliance’s base in Shenjing.
“Here we are.”
Yang Hongying pointed once they got out.
Before them was one dazzling sign, Experts Hot Pot.
Li Mo followed Yang Hongying in silence.
He had been here once before when he was small, unaware at the time this was a base of operations for the Experts Alliance.
They passed through a corridor and took the elevator underground.
Stepping out of the elevator, Li Mo found his world perspective changed by not a small amount.
This place was a mahjong circle, with thick smoke drifting around the six filled tables of enthusiastic players.
Yang Hongying snorted, “I used to be the second strongest soul cultivator in Shenjing Province. Then you came along and beat me every time, while also taking my spot in the rankings.”
Li Mo was puzzled, “If you wanted to keep your rank, why invite me then?”
“I am a selfless person.
“Whatever, I won’t argue with you. I invited you so that I can get a soul stone.
“Having five referrals join the alliance allows me to chose a third level reward. I had four people already invited and only need you to pass the test to get a soul stone.”
“You’re a soul cultivator as well and should know what a soul stone is.”
Li Mo nodded. He was no soul cultivator but was aware of the soul stone’ importance. A stone both a rare and a special treasure. It was said to originate from the Underworld River and could nourish the soul. Wearing it would greatly increase soul cultivation.
“Since I’m using you, there’s no need for thanks. With the soul stone, I will get back my rank from you in a year, becoming the second strongest again.”
Yang Hongying led Li Mo to a merchant looking middle-aged woman.
“She is Lan Yi, the person in charge of Experts Alliance’s base in Shenjing Province.”
Li Mo spied with his little Celestial Eye and found the merchant looking middle-aged woman in the 7th layer of Spirit Driving Stage.
Li Mo handed the invitation and Lan Yi presented a black stone the size of an egg, to the sight of the sparkly-eyed Yang Hongying.
This black rock was the soul stone she yearned for so long.
“Put your hand on the stone.”
Li Mo complied.
The soul stone barely glowed after a long time.
Lan Yi said, “Don’t control your soul power and release it all, or the test won’t be accurate.”
Li Mo grumbled, “I already did.”
“No way!” Yang Hongying jerked.
Yang Hongying took the soul stone and it glowed with a glaring light.
Lan Yi smiled, “Little Ying’s soul power rose again, reaching the true second level.”
“Really? Really? Ha-ha-ha!” Yang Hongying cackled.
Lan Yi eyed Li Mo, “But your friend’s soul power is weaker than even the first level. He does not qualify to enter the Experts Alliance.”
Yang Hongying was shocked, “That can’t be. His soul arts are stronger than mine.”
“The soul stone doesn’t lie.”
“Sorry, but he doesn’t qualify and will have to have today’s memory erased before leaving.”
A transparent spiritual qi flew from her raised palm.
Spiritual qi color pointed at its attribute, with the transparent color meaning it was attributeless.
Lan Yi was no soul cultivator, but a gifted. Her gift was to send her spiritual qi into the target to read or wipe his memories.
“Wait, I just realized I got it all wrong before.” Li Mo said suddenly.
Lan Yi was startled.
Li Mo put his hand on the soul stone, which glowed. It was weaker than Yang Hongying’s, but a stark contrast from the previous attempt.
“Such soul power qualifies you as a fist level soul cultivator.”
“What gift is this? Why is it that the left hand worked when the right failed?” Lan Yi expressed her doubt.
Li Mo chuckled, “I haven’t the faintest clue. It’s been like this for as long as I can remember.”
Lan Yi looked at him then at Yang Hongying. Then wrote something on the invitation.
Barely passable.
“Congratulations on being admitted into the Experts Alliance. Here are your expert guidebook and your expert badge.”
Lan Yi gave him a book and a crest. The back of the crest had the same logo as on the invitation, while the front was pitch black. But if he supplied it with spiritual qi, it would light up and show Li Mo’s qualification.
Name: Li Mo. Type: first level soul cultivator. Strength: barely passable…
“This is yours.”
Lan Yi gave the soul stone to Yang Hongying, who was overjoyed as she hung it around her neck.
What escaped Lan Yi’s notice however, was that Li Mo hid a talisman in his left hand.
He was no soul cultivator and his soul power was flimsy. Hence, he had to turn to cheating to pass.
Naturally, if Li Mo didn’t want to cheat, he could’ve taken other tests. But he was a person that disliked adversity. The less trouble he had the better. Either way, getting in the alliance was a done deal for him regardless.
Li Mo and Yang Hongying left the base and Yang Hongying approached him on a harsh tone, “Spill it. Do you have a soul treasure to boost your soul power?”
“I do.”
“State your price.”
“10 billion.”
“An IOU is enough?”
“What do you think?”
“Hey, don’t walk away. I’m your sponsor and we should talk this out…”
