C11 Important Points

In the morning, the world was bathed in sunlight.

Every inch of the earth shimmered with a golden brilliance that quickened the pulse.

The martial arts field of the Ye Family bustled with activity.

True to its reputation as the Marquis Mansion, the Ye Family's training field, a thousand steps in length and width, could accommodate ten thousand martial artists. Weapons and training equipment of all kinds were arrayed across the field.

The Ye Family's leading figures included the patriarch, Ye Yongqing, his three sons—Ye Xingyun, Ye Xingyue, and Ye Xingyang—along with five Grand Elders and four Captains of the Profound Warrior Regiment. They presided over the scene from their elevated platform.

Arrayed below were over a thousand Profound Warriors of the Ye Family, not counting those unable to leave their jobs or the bodyguards who had ventured far from home.

To the west, a contingent of two to three hundred individuals gathered. These were the candidates and their families, hopeful to pass the Ye Family's Profound Warrior assessment that day.

Their parents and even grandparents had come, all wishing for their children to excel and lift the family to a better life.

For them, joining the Ye Family was not just a leap towards the heavens but a step into their ideal existence.

Therefore, the occasion was taken with utmost seriousness.

On the platform, before the thirteen distinguished members of the Ye Family, stood two jade instruments—one to measure Profound Strength and another to gauge talent.

Patriarch Ye Yongqing rose to his feet, his tall and robust frame and dark complexion marked by the dignity of long-held authority.

He cleared his throat and announced, "To all the Profound Warriors of the Ye Family gathered here, today marks the day our ranks will be bolstered with fresh faces. Two centuries ago, our forebears aided the Emperor in conquering the world and subduing the feudal lords, earning the illustrious title of Marquis Zhenhai."

"As heirs to the Marquis, we must embody the spirit of our ancestors. The Emperor has decreed that if the Ye Family's younger generation places in the top three of the Martial Examination in two years' time, our ancestral honor will be revived. The Emperor will bestow upon us the title of Marquis Zhenhai, to endure for seven generations."

"Despite the Jiuzhou Empire's strict age limit of eighteen for Martial Examination candidates, all of you must still ramp up your training efforts and strive to restore the ancestral glory of the Ye Family."

The crowd below was stirred by these words.

"The Emperor has decreed that if the Ye Family secures a spot in the top three rankings, we will be reinstated as the Marquis Zhenhai. It's within our reach."

"We must give it our all."

"The Ye Family has to break into the top three and reclaim the Marquis Zhenhai title."

"The resurgence of the Ye Family is tied to the future of our descendants and the well-being of us all."

Ye Yongqing allowed the buzz of conversation to continue, knowing it would boost the morale of the Ye Family's Profound Warriors and ignite a fervent passion for training within them.

After a quarter of an hour, when the voices had settled, Ye Yongqing addressed the crowd, "Profound Warriors of the Ye Family, the moment for our destiny to shift is nearly upon us. It's up to you whether the Ye Family will rise to greatness or continue to decline. Seize this chance, and the Ye Family will flourish; miss it, and we will sink even lower."

Ye Yongqing's words were far from fearmongering. Since the last Marquis Zhenhai passed away a century ago, the Ye Family's status had drastically fallen. In Black Tortoise County, there were the Five Marquis' Mansions: to the north, the Yue family as Marquis Fenghai, followed by the Hong family as Marquis Konghai, to the south, the Yun family as Marquis Yuhai, and further south, the Lee family as Marquis Zhihai. The Ye Family, by comparison, was in decline.

Both the Marquis Konghai to the north and the Marquis Yuhai to the south harbored ambitions to annex the Ye Family and were actively pursuing their schemes.

Should they seize the Ye Family's control over the trade and territory of Zhenhai City, securing food, drink, and resources for cultivation would become an immediate and significant challenge, pushing the Ye Family perilously close to disintegration.

Ye Xiangzhong rose, his expression fervent, "Patriarch, rest assured. We will spare no effort in our cultivation, risking everything to win honor for the Ye Family."

Ye Xiangzhong's statement ignited a wave of excitement among the crowd. Bound by their loyalty to the Ye Family, they echoed his sentiment with fervor, declaring, "We will bring honor to our Ye Family!"

"In six months, the Ye Family will host a grand competition open to all Profound Warriors under sixteen. We will select the top ten for intensive training, and in a year, they'll compete in the Black Tortoise County Martial Examination. Every Profound Warrior is the backbone and protector of the Ye Family, and each one must strive with all their might."

"Today, we are selecting a new cohort of Profound Warriors. Let's see how much new blood you can infuse into the Ye Family."

"I declare the testing officially underway."

A thunderous applause erupted, as Chief Ye's words resonated deeply with everyone present. For the Ye Family, for themselves, and for the future of their own children, they were united in their support for Chief Ye Yongqing.

The Fifth Elder, exuding an air of grace, took his place by the Profound Strength Testing Device, while the Third Elder stood by the Talent Testing Device.

The Third Elder was strikingly handsome with his beard, though his eyes somewhat marred his appearance.

Ye Xingyang rose to announce, "Ye Xiangzheng, you're up first for testing, followed by Ye Xiangda. Ye Xiangfei, stand by."

Ye Xiangzheng, a twelve-year-old boy, approached the Profound Strength Testing Device and placed his hand on its palm imprint. A red line crept up from the base of the black stone device, soon followed by a second.

"Profound Strength is satisfactory!" proclaimed the Fifth Elder.

Following the announcement, pride and joy were unmistakable in the eyes of Ye Xiangzheng's parents. Their faces beamed with excitement, knowing their days of toil were behind them, and a new chapter was beginning.

Tears streamed down their cheeks, marking the end of years of hardship.

Ye Xiangda, fourteen, stepped up to the Profound Strength tester, and watched as three red lines ascended.

"Test passed."

The crowd burst into another wave of exuberant applause.

"Ye Xiangzheng has achieved Grade 1 in the talent test, with potential for further advancement," commented the Third Elder.

He had indeed passed the test.

The family would allocate half of their cultivation resources to them, allowing for another attempt at the test next year. And there was still a challenge segment to come; perhaps they might even earn a place within the family.

Ye Xingyang announced, "The last candidate for the test, Ye Xiangyang, please enter the arena."

All eyes were on Ye Xiangyang as the Profound Warriors watched him intently. They recognized his extraordinary talent; ever since his abilities were first assessed, the Patriarch had confined Ye Xiangxiao and Ye Xiangti for his benefit. He nearly crippled Ye Xianghui's hands without facing any repercussions from the family. He had also bested Ye Xiangming. Moreover, he had arranged to duel with Ye Xianghui's brother, Ye Xiangguang, after today's examination.

Ye Xiangyang was certainly not to be underestimated.

Ye Xiangxiao sneered, "Whether he'll pass is still up in the air."

"Exactly, it'd be quite the joke if he ended up failing."

"And even if he passes, he's no match for Ye Xiangguang."

Unperturbed by the murmurs around him, Ye Xiangyang offered a faint smile.

He gently positioned his arm on the palm sensor of the Profound Strength Testing Machine, channeling all his Profound Strength into the device.

One red line ascended, followed by another, and yet another.

The crowd watched in astonishment as the young man on the platform began his test, their eyes filled with amazement.

The Fifth Elder's normally serene face betrayed his excitement; the young man was on the verge of attaining the Profound Warrior Two Star level.

The Fifth Elder was profoundly moved.

Ye Yongqing watched Ye Xiangyang with joy, stroking his beard and exclaiming with delight, "The Ye family must prioritize his development."