Chapter 23: Ye Keqing's Breakthrough

Meanwhile, within the courtyard where Ye Keqing resided at the Ye family estate:

"Haha, Keqing! You have finally broken through to become a Martial Artist!"

The excited laughter echoing from the room belonged to none other than Ye Keqing’s father, Ye Xuan. Upon hearing the news of his daughter’s breakthrough, he had rushed over immediately. His face was filled with uncontrollable joy; a fifteen-year-old Martial Artist was not only the first in the history of the Ye family but also a top-tier talent within the entire Qingfeng Town.

Her breakthrough had come at the most critical moment, just before the Heavenly Wind Mountain Youth Trial. The greater her strength, the better her performance would be in the trial. A higher ranking would grant her access to more powerful sects and richer cultivation resources, which would be far more beneficial for her future growth. More importantly, now that she had become a Martial Artist, the fusion of Qin Lang’s Fire Dragon Martial Spirit was practically guaranteed.

"A Martial Artist... it truly is powerful!"

Feeling the strength within her, which was more than ten times greater than before, a flicker of emotion crossed Ye Keqing’s delicate features as she slowly clenched her jade-like hand. Although there was only a thin line separating the peak of the ninth stage of Martial Apprentice from the rank of Martial Artist, the gap in strength was as vast as heaven and earth. She finally understood why, in the eyes of a Martial Artist, even a peak ninth-stage Martial Apprentice was no more than an ant.

"I wonder what stage Qin Lang has reached in his cultivation now?" Ye Keqing asked softly, her red lips parting slightly as she turned to Ye Xuan.

She was pursuing a path of powerful martial arts; how could she allow herself to be delayed for a lifetime by a man like Qin Lang, who lacked grand ambitions? As for his Martial Spirit being fused into her, that was the greatest stroke of luck in Qin Lang’s life—he should feel honored!

"The informant I placed in the Qin family reports that Qin Lang has reached the seventh stage of Martial Apprentice. His progress is rapid, and the Qin family has started to take notice of him. If you intend to move against him, you must be careful," Ye Xuan said in a deep voice.

"Despite the help of a Spirit-Condensing Pill, improving from the first stage to the seventh in half a year is indeed fast. However, he is already fifteen; he has missed the golden age for cultivation, so his future achievements are destined to be limited," Ye Keqing said, a look of disdain crossing her beautiful eyes. "With that treasure, fusing with Qin Lang’s Martial Spirit will be effortless for me!"

***

With the approach of the Heavenly Wind Mountain Youth Trial, all of Qingfeng Town became exceptionally lively. The trial was the most important event in the town, held once every five years, and open to anyone under the age of sixteen. Those who performed well would be scouted by the major sects of the Zongheng Empire and have the chance to join them for cultivation.

Naturally, the four great families of Qingfeng Town—the Qin, Ye, Wang, and Huang families—valued this trial the most. Having a descendant enter a major sect of the Zongheng Empire meant not only a limitless future for the individual but also a connection for the family to a powerful sect, resulting in a double boost to the family’s strength and status. The benefits were self-evident. Even those outside the four great families placed great importance on this event. Consequently, almost every youth who met the criteria signed up. It could be said that everyone in Qingfeng Town was watching this grand event.

Ten days passed in a flash, and the day of the trial arrived. Bright sunlight spilled through the dense leaves, and birds chirped playfully on the branches; the entire courtyard was filled with vitality.

"Today is a good day!" Qin Lang, dressed in a cyan martial outfit, stepped out of his room with a face brimming with confidence.

"Young Master!" Yun’er emerged from her own room. Clad in white as pure as snow, she looked even more beautiful than before. Perhaps due to her recent cultivation, Qin Lang noticed she possessed an ethereal quality, as if she were a celestial being.

"Yun’er, you’ve broken through to the second stage of Martial Apprentice!" Qin Lang was quite surprised. In less than ten days, the little girl had actually reached the second stage. Her speed was monstrous. The cultivation speed of a Ten-Star Supreme Martial Spirit was truly terrifying.

At a massive square at the entrance of Heavenly Wind Mountain, capable of holding thousands, the area was already packed with people. At the front stood hundreds of youths—the participants of the trial. As time passed, more continued to flood into the square.

In the highest seats sat the heads of the four great families: Qin Zhanshan of the Qin family, Wang Shi of the Wang family, Ye Xuan of the Ye family, and Huang Guang of the Huang family. All four were Martial Masters, the most powerful figures in Qingfeng Town. However, at this moment, they and their elders were busy fawning over ten powerful individuals, chatting with them respectfully.

The youths below cast burning gazes at these ten people. They were the recruiters from the ten great sects of the Zongheng Empire, all of whom were at the Martial Grandmaster level—a realm above the heads of the four families. It was easy to imagine just how terrifyingly powerful the ten great sects were. They were comparable to the Imperial family itself, possessing vast influence, immense resources, and countless experts. They were the holy lands of cultivation that every martial artist yearned for. To be scouted by any of these ten meant leaping over the dragon gate and securing a limitless future.

"I heard your Qingfeng Town has produced a few good seedlings this time?" asked a tall recruiter with great interest. He was Tian Yuan, an outer sect deacon of the Wind and Cloud Sect, the number one sect in the Zongheng Empire, and the primary person in charge of the trial.

Qin Zhanshan and Wang Shi looked awkward; as far as they knew, the strongest among their youths was only at the ninth stage of Martial Apprentice—hardly a "good seedling." Wang Shi was particularly depressed; he had intended for his son, Wang Chuan, to participate, but he had discovered two days ago that his son had been killed at Heavenly Mountain. His heart bled at the thought of his son’s death; if he found the murderer, he would skin him alive and tear him to pieces!

"My son, Huang Bo, is sixteen this year and is already a first-stage Martial Artist!" the Huang family head, Huang Guang, said with a smug expression, pointing to a tall youth in the crowd.

The ten recruiters nodded slightly. Reaching the first stage of Martial Artist at sixteen was indeed impressive; such talent was enough to qualify him as an outer sect disciple.