Baiyun City, the City Lord's estate.
The main hall was spacious and grand, with exquisitely carved pillars and a faint scent of incense drifting through the air.
Seated in the seat of honor was a middle-aged man dressed in a dark-patterned flowing cloud brocade robe. His features were gentle, carrying a scholarly air.
He was the Baiyun City Lord. His fingertips tapped idly on the desk as he gazed lazily outside the hall.
“The triennial sect selection is about to begin again,” he said casually.
“Geniuses from all over are gathering in Baiyun City. The city is going to be lively again.”
Standing beside him was a grey-robed housekeeper, his back straight and his expression respectful. Hearing this, he bowed slightly.
“What the City Lord says is extremely true. Recently, families and rogue cultivators from outside the city have been pouring in continuously, and the streets have become much more crowded.”
“My subordinates have already deployed extra patrols to monitor different sectors and strictly control brawls. We will not let any chaos affect the selection.”
The City Lord nodded, his gaze still resting outside the hall, as if looking at something, yet looking at nothing at all.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly remembered something and turned his head to look at the housekeeper.
“By the way, I've been too busy with the sect selection recently to ask. Have the tournaments of the four major families concluded? Who took first place in each, and what were their cultivation levels?”
The housekeeper was clearly prepared and replied immediately, “The champion of the Li family is Li Wanxi, eighteen years old, at the Houtian Ninth Layer. The Wang family's champion is Wang Lingyue, at the Houtian Ninth Layer. The Jiang family's champion is Jiang Chenxiao, nineteen years old, at the Houtian Ninth Layer.”
The housekeeper paused, his brow arching slightly, and added with a hint of surprise in his voice, “All three families are at the Houtian Ninth Layer, which is considered normal. Only the Ye family is somewhat unexpected.”
The City Lord's lazy expression tightened slightly. He leaned forward a bit, curiosity flashing in his eyes. “Oh? What about the Ye family?”
“In the Ye family's tournament, the cultivation levels of both the first and second place winners were only at the Houtian Seventh Layer,” the housekeeper said.
“What is even stranger is that among the top five of the Ye family, there were two veteran Houtian Ninth Layer geniuses. When they fought against them, both lost, being forcibly squeezed out of the top two.”
The City Lord's fingertips tapped the desk, making a soft clicking sound. He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
The Li family, Wang family, and Jiang family were all at normal standards, yet only the Ye family had such an anomaly.
For a higher cultivation level to lose to a lower one, either those two juniors possessed extraordinary skills, or they had deliberately hidden their cultivation.
He had seen many tournaments of the four major families. Those who could defeat stronger opponents in a tournament were either exceptionally talented or someone had deliberately set up a scheme.
“Interesting,” the City Lord murmured, the corners of his mouth curving upward. “The Ye family is hiding a trump card.”
Just as he finished speaking, a crisp voice echoed from outside the hall. “Father, are you talking about the sect selection? Can I go watch when the time comes?”
The voice arrived before the person did. Hearing this voice, the City Lord's gaze softened instantly.
Then, a slender figure trotted into the main hall. It was none other than the City Lord's only daughter, Qin Fuyue.
The girl looked to be fifteen or sixteen years old, with a beautiful and lively appearance. Her curved eyes naturally carried a gentle and spiritual aura.
She trotted all the way in, her skirt swaying gently as she rushed straight to the City Lord, her eyes filled with the vibrant curiosity of youth.
The City Lord, who had just been pondering the Ye family's background, immediately softened his expression upon seeing his daughter, most of his majesty dispersing.
He raised his hand to beckon his daughter over, his tone carrying a helpless yet doting smile.
“You girl, your ears are quite sharp,” the City Lord teased. “At this time, the city is crowded and chaotic. Why do you suddenly want to join in the fun?”
Qin Fuyue blinked her bright, almond-shaped eyes and gently tugged her father's sleeve, her tone full of anticipation.
“The entire city is discussing this selection. Geniuses from every family will be competing on the same stage. I've never seen it before, so of course I want to see it with my own eyes.”
“Only you would think of joining the fun.” The City Lord shook his head and gently tapped his daughter's forehead.
“You can go, but stay obediently by my side and no running around. Don't sneak out of the estate like last time, causing everyone to search the entire city for you.”
At the mention of past events, the playful grin on Qin Fuyue's face vanished instantly. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she stood up straight, lowering her head, her tone turning serious.
“I know my mistake. In the future, I will definitely behave and follow the rules, and I will never run around on my own again.”
Looking at her obediently admitting her mistake, the City Lord's eyes filled with fondness, and he said warmly,
“It is good that you know your mistake. During the selection, as long as you behave, follow me, and don't cause trouble, I will let you watch the matches.”
Qin Fuyue raised her head, her expression relaxing as a smile bloomed on her face. “Thank you, Father!”
She smiled very happily. Others only thought she loved excitement, but in truth, she was thinking of Ye Ling.
Since returning from the Baiyun Mountain Range, her father had grounded her for two months. Although her father doted on her, he was never lax when it came to matters of principle; when he said ground, he grounded, not a single day less.
She had only been released a few days ago. Over the past few days, she had secretly changed into plain clothes and slipped away to the Ye family to find Ye Ling.
She had gone three times, and each time she was blocked by the gatekeeper. “Miss Ye Ling is in closed-door cultivation and is not seeing visitors.”
Now that the sect selection was imminent and geniuses from all over the city were gathering, Ye Ling, as an outstanding figure of the Ye family, would definitely be present.
Anticipation was hidden in her eyes, wishing only for the competition to start sooner so she could meet Ye Ling.
On the west side of Baiyun City, at the Li family residence.
The courtyard was paved with bluestone, and flowers and trees were scattered about. In an open space, a young girl was practicing hard with a whip.
She wore a purple-black martial arts attire, her long hair tied up, holding a dark python-patterned soft whip in her hand.
When the whip lashed out, the sound of tearing wind was sharp and piercing. At times it stretched straight like a spear, and at times it coiled and spun, the whip shadows flying and filling the entire courtyard.
This person was Li Wanxi. She was strikingly beautiful, with a touch of heroic grace between her brows. Her gaze was sharp when she lashed out, and every strike was precise and ruthless.
After finishing a set of whip techniques, she retrieved her whip and stood, panting slightly, a thin layer of sweat on her forehead.
A maid beside her handed her a handkerchief. She took it to wipe herself, her gaze drifting toward the eastern part of the city.
She had long heard of the dark horse that had emerged from the Ye family this year. Fifteen years old, at the Houtian Seventh Layer, yet consecutively defeating two veteran Ninth Layer geniuses.
To the south of the city, at the Jiang family residence.
In the courtyard, a young man was practicing hard with a saber. The fierce wind of his blade swept up fallen leaves all over the ground.
He was tall and upright, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, a rugged face, and a robust build—clearly a cultivator who followed a fierce and powerful path.
This person was Jiang Chenxiao. As he slashed with his saber, a fierce wind rushed at him, and the bluestone ground of the courtyard was marked with shallow white scratches by the saber energy.
After finishing a set of saber techniques, he retrieved his saber, took a deep breath, held the long saber horizontally in front of him, and gently brushed his fingertips over the blade.
With the sect selection imminent, geniuses were gathering in the city. There was no fear in his eyes, only battle intent. The Jiang family's saber techniques never asked about victory or defeat, only whether the opponent was strong enough.
To the north of the city, at the Wang family residence.
On the martial arts practice field, a young man stood with a sword. He was handsome, with a slender build, and his features carried a hint of femininity.
Sword qi swirled around his body, and his strikes were extremely fast. The flashing sword light was dazzling.
This person was Wang Lingyue. He had practiced the sword since childhood, and his training focused entirely on speed.
Striking without sound and retrieving without a trace, often before the opponent could even see his Sword Force, the tip of his blade was already at their throat.
After finishing a set of sword techniques, he retrieved his sword and stood, his gaze dark as he looked into the distance.
To the east of the city, in the small forest.
Ye Ling was practicing her swordplay.
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