“Thank you for coming.” Li Boyan made a fist-and-palm salute and smiled, as he personally saw them to the door.
“The pleasure is ours.” After some polite and courteous exchanges, Hai Yue, with the escort of the other messengers from Sea-Cloud Academy, returned to his place of residence.
Li Boyan turned around and sighed when he saw them leave. “There is only one quota for one hundred thousand people… Sigh!”
“Father, don’t blame yourself. This is out of our hands. After all, Lin Yuan City is much too remote, and the cultivation of Mystical Cultivators is generally not that high. There are only a few Mystical Grandmasters in the entire city. It’s really hard to be noticed.” Li Wang carefully supported Li Boyan by his arm.
There was someone behind the screen wall. It was Li Zhongxuan.
“Li Wang is right.” Li Zhongxuan said indifferently. “Brother, it is no use for you to request for extra quotas from the Sea-Cloud Academy’s messengers.”
Li Boyan waved his hand and sighed, “I am the governor of the city. I want to seek benefits for my people. However, there is only one quota given. I’m afraid that the Xu, Yu and Ge family will be disappointed.”
Li Yurong smiled and said, “The main purpose of this selection is to eliminate the weak and find the strong. Uncle, you don’t have to be so hard on yourself. Yurong believes that Li Wang is the best in terms of talent, perception, and strength. I can’t find a second one like him in Lin Yuan City. Those messengers were right. The quota is for Li Wang.”
When Li Yurong said that, a slender and handsome young figure appeared in her mind. She shook her head and smiled. She thought to herself, ‘Although that person is unusual, his stage is much too low. He is not as outstanding as Li Wang after all.’
There was a manor with green tiles and red walls which was comparable to the manor of Lin Yuan City’s governor. It was a small branch of Sea-Cloud Academy in Lin Yuan City.
Hai Yue and the others entered the manor and sat down in the main hall. Hai Yue sat in the middle seat while the other teachers sat beside him.
“It’s hard work for you to be on duty in this remote place.” Hai Yue looked around and stopped his gaze on the charming Le Tingyu. He smiled and asked, “Tingyun, you are in charge of the Lin Yuan City branch. Are there any talented youngsters?”
Le Tingyun tuck strands of hair behind her ear. It was an alluring action. This beautiful woman’s face turned stern when she heard his words. She took sheets of paper and gave it to Hai Yue while explaining, “The most outstanding youngsters in Lin Yuan City basically come from the three major families. Among them, Ge Weifeng, from the Ge family, with Ice-Extreme Mystical Veins is in the Intermediate Mystical Warrior stage. Yu Xuanyu, from the Yu family, with Thunder-Extreme Mystical Veins is also in the Intermediate Mystical Warrior stage. Both of them have the Upper-Four Mystical Veins so they have strong combat powers.”
Hai Yue flipped through the sheets of paper and said disappointedly, “Is the strongest one only at the cultivation of Intermediate Mystical Warrior? Xu Zhengxin… Xu Zhengchun… Chu Mingde…”
Le Tingyun said helplessly, “There is only one youngster who is the most outstanding, and he is Lord Lin Yuan’s grandson, Li Wang. His cultivation is at the Pinnacle Mystical Warrior stage. He is extraordinary as he has surpassed the others by two tiers.”
Hai Yue put away the information and sighed, “Okay, it is already considered good for a remote city to have one outstanding youngster.” He stood up and left the hall.
A Mystical Cultivator whispered to Le Tingyun, “Messenger Hai Yue seems to be unhappy.”
Le Tingyun threw up her hands helplessly. She could understand what Hai Yue was thinking. Hai Yue would be able to get a precious reward if he were able to find an outstanding or even a genius Mystical Cultivator for the Sea-Cloud Academy.
The next morning.
Xu Yang put on his new clothes and his shoulder-length hair was tied up by Xu Yu using a beautiful gold ring.
“This gold ring was left by Father…” Xu Yu murmured. “Brother, it is like father is looking at us when you put on this gold ring.”
Xu Yang patted Xu Yu’s hand. He could understand Xu Yu’s emphasis on kinship. It was easy to see that as Xu Yu did not pawn the gold ring even in the hardest of times.
“You are so handsome, Brother.” Xu Yu clapped happily and smiled after she helped Xu Yang dress up.
Xu Yang stood up and calmed himself down. He said, “It’s time to go, Xu Yu.” He held his sister’s hand and walked out of the gate.
Xu Yu turned her head and said, “Tinglan, take care of the house please.”
Chubby Ball rushed to Xu Yang and circled around his legs while making grunting sounds. Xu Yang smiled and waved his hand. An attraction force appeared and the white fluffy ball was lifted onto his shoulder.
“Let’s go!” Xu Yu shouted cheerfully and hugged Xu Yang’s other arm.
There were two Mystical Warriors standing in front of the Xu family’s main courtyard.
The street was named Xu Street and almost every house on the street was the Xu family’s property. It was the day of the Grand Family Tournament. All of the Xu family’s youngsters would have to come to the main courtyard to participate in the tournament. Hence, they had sent two Mystical Warriors to guard the gates.
“Stop.” The two Mystical Warriors walked forward and blocked Xu Yang as they did not see the seven-color Xu family emblem on his chest.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m here to participate in the Grand Family Tournament.” Xu Yang said placidly. “I’m Xu Yang.”
A voice suddenly came from the door when the two Mystical Warriors were about to let him pass after checking the name list.
“Haha. Xu Yang! I didn’t expect you to really come.”
A teenager walked out quickly, it was Xu Zhengming who had come to participate in the Grand Family Tournament.
Xu Yang ignored Xu Zhengming and walked through the gate of the main courtyard holding Xu Yu’s hand.
“You!” Xu Zhengming was suddenly frustrated and furious. “Xu Yang, how dare you be so arrogant right before your defeat?” He angrily clenched his fists.
“Young Master Zhengming, please calm down.” The two Mystical Warriors rushed forward and stopped him. “This is the main courtyard.”
Xu Zhengming put down his fist and snorted, “Xu Yang, remember that you are not allowed to use any defensive Mystical Armor at the Grand Family Tournament. Let’s see how you can defend my attacks.”
Xu Yang turned a deaf ear to his words, and walked toward the gymnasium, bypassing the front yard.
“Once a trash, always a trash. Are you afraid now?” Xu Zhengming’s words were full of sarcasm. “You dare not even say a single word. Haha.”
Xu Yang stopped in his tracks. He turned his head back and said peacefully, “It’s better for you to bark after the tournament.”
The provocative sentence made Xu Zhengming extremely livid. His face suddenly turned red and he gritted his teeth. “Xu Yang! I’ll never forgive you!”
“What’s going on, Zhengming?” A slightly sharp voice came from behind him.
Xu Zhengming turned around. He quickly rushed forward and smiled, seemingly trying to please the person, when he saw the person who had arrived. “You are here, Elder Brother Zhengchun.”
There were other branches in the Xu family aside from Xu Changling’s children and grandchildren who were the direct descendants. There were only a few direct descendants in the younger generation. Xu Qinglu only had one son, Xu Zhengxin, and Xu Qinggang did not have a child. As for Xu Qingyuan, there was no need for explanation.
There were quite a lot of descendants in the younger generation under the branched members. The most outstanding youngster among them was no Xu Zhengming but Xu Zhengchun.