C33 The Young Generation

The enthusiastic cheers from the crowd on the high platform left Wei Bochen deeply disappointed in his son. Yet, his spirits lifted when he thought of Wei Lulin, who had recently returned to the fold. It seemed that fortune had smiled upon the Wei family by bestowing upon them a genius of unparalleled talent.

As the Wei family patriarch, Wei Bochen always made time to keep an eye on Wei Lulin, no matter how busy he was. But given his responsibilities, he couldn't monitor Lulin's every move, so he arranged for his most trusted subordinates to watch over him discreetly. One of these was a guard at the Silent Elegance Pavilion, and the other four were servants, all loyal to Bochen.

Wei Bochen was well-informed about Lulin's actions since his return to the family. Naturally, the goings-on within the sealed training room were beyond his knowledge, as there were no means to surveil that space.

In comparison to Wei Luchong, Wei Lulin was leagues ahead. Lulin's Cultivation Talent surpassed Luchong's by tenfold, if not more. His hard work and accomplishments had certainly garnered Bochen's approval.

If Wei Bochen had to choose between Wei Lulin and Wei Luchong for the family successor, he would unhesitatingly select Lulin, prioritizing the family's welfare over personal interests.

With this in mind, Wei Bochen's gaze instinctively found Wei Lulin at the edge of the crowd, his eyes reflecting pride and admiration. After over ten days of relentless swordsmanship practice, Lulin had challenged the guards to reveal their true skills in battle. His strength had improved yet again, but the extent of this growth would only be clear after several life-or-death encounters.

Having been away from the Wei family for a year, Wei Lulin had confined himself to his courtyard since his return, never venturing out. Consequently, many of the Wei's disciples in attendance did not recognize him.

Wei Lulin, who had made a few friends during the talent test, now stood unnoticed behind a crowd that had gathered around Wei Luchong. Far from being dissatisfied, Lulin was quite content with not being the center of attention. By avoiding the spotlight, he wouldn't draw the attention of others, which could give him an edge in the upcoming competition.

Lulin had heard of Xie Jutong and Jiaang Que but had never met them. Thanks to the Hunting Competition, he finally got the chance to see two of the most prominent young figures in Yao Country. The third was his nemesis, Yao Yafeng, the Fifth Prince from the royal family.

Before the competition, Wei Ying had provided Lulin with detailed information on the contestants, including Yao Yafeng. With a Middle Level Grade Eight Cultivation Talent, a fearsome strategic mind, and a willingness to risk it all, Yao Yafeng's abilities had reached the pinnacle of the Qi Refining Stage Level Seven Perfection.

The royal family's lineage was far older than that of the three great families, and they had produced a super expert in the past. Their profound heritage included numerous secret methods for rapidly enhancing one's strength. The true extent of Yao Yafeng's power, augmented by such secret techniques, would likely only be revealed when Xie Jutong and Jiaang Que faced him in combat. Wei Luchong, on the other hand, was likely no match for Yao Yafeng.

The Xie family was founded on a unique bloodline, which they referred to as the King's Bloodline, a term that served to obscure the true origins of their lineage. Their bloodline was a hybrid, resulting from the union of the King Storm Bear, a Grade Six Magical Beast, and the blood of the Xie family's ancestors.

Magical Beasts varied in kind and in their stages of evolution. Typically, a Grade Seven Magical Beast could undergo Shape Transformation, adopting a human appearance and gaining the ability to cultivate just like humans.

Some unique magical beasts, like the King Storm Bear, require the strength of Grade Six to undergo a shape transformation into human form. Take the Nine-Headed Snake, a serpent-type magical beast; it demands even greater power to transform. Essentially, the more potent the magical beast, the more formidable the strength required for transformation.

The manner in which the Xie family's ancestor united with the King Storm Bear and subsequently bore a child remains the Xie family's most closely guarded secret. Aside from a select few at the pinnacle of the Xie family hierarchy, it's likely that even their core descendants are unaware of the details.

Xie Jutong has a robust build and a rather plain face. At just eighteen, his beard is so full that he resembles a man in his forties. This rapid facial hair growth after reaching adulthood, ranging from three months to half a year, seems to be a common trait among the Xie family, possibly linked to their ancestral lineage.

Despite his unremarkable looks, Xie Jutong exudes a powerful presence that can be quite intimidating.

Jiaang Que, on the other hand, has refined features and an impressive appearance, marred only by his serpentine eyes. Without them, he would undoubtedly be the heartthrob of countless young women.

While Wei Bochen was observing Wei Lulin, and Wei Lulin was watching Xie Jutong and Jiaang Que, unbeknownst to them, a resentful glare was fixed upon Wei Bochen.

The source of this envious stare was Wei Luchong.

The enthusiastic cheers of the crowd left Wei Luchong feeling deeply humiliated. He was aware that he didn't command the same respect as Xie Jutong and Jiaang Que, but he hadn't anticipated it being quite so negligible.

Concerned about his father's reaction, Wei Luchong hastily shifted his attention to Wei Bochen. To his chagrin, Wei Bochen seemed oblivious to him, focusing instead on someone else. Following Wei Bochen's line of sight, Wei Luchong quickly spotted Wei Lulin.

Upon laying eyes on Wei Lulin, Wei Luchong's fury reached a boiling point.

Although Wei Lulin's return to the Wei family was understated—so much so that the majority of the clan remained unaware of his presence—the once exiled member to Lindorin Town was back, but Wei Luchong was not among the uninformed. Determined to understand why the Wei family had bestowed the Silent Elegance Pavilion upon Wei Lulin, Wei Luchong had exhausted all his resources. Eventually, he learned the full story from a pharmacist's assistant in the town.

Previously banished to Lindorin Town due to damaged meridians that prevented him from cultivating, Wei Lulin had risen once more. His exceptional talent had regained the upper echelons' attention, which put Wei Luchong on edge.

Wei Luchong, with two years of cultivation under his belt, knew all too well the significance of innate talent. Wei Tingxuan, who had been tested alongside Wei Luchong, possessed a cultivation talent just shy of his, rated as Low Level Grade Eight. Despite cultivating for twice the duration and tripling his efforts compared to Wei Luchong, Wei Tingxuan had only reached Qi Refining Stage Level Six, still a considerable way from Qi Refining Stage Level Seven.

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