Ling Zhan broke through his sixth meridian, and the whole family was overjoyed.
Meng Xiyun even ordered the servants to prepare a sumptuous feast to celebrate, hoping that Ling Zhan would soon attain Xuanzhe status.
After dinner, Ling Zhan called Ling Xiao to the study.
"Thank you, son!" Ling Zhan patted Ling Xiao's shoulder gratefully.
Ling Xiao waved his hand and said, "Dad, you're my dad. Without you, there's no me. Is there any need to thank me? We're family, so it's awkward to be so polite."
Ling Zhan looked at his son with relief and sighed softly, "I thought I would spend my life in a state of confusion. I never thought I'd be able to cultivate Xuanli again. For a warrior, this is like giving me a second life. I wouldn't ask for anything less than to be able to cultivate back to my original peak strength." He paused, staring at Ling Xiao, and said, "Xiao'er, you're different from Dad. Since the immortal has chosen you as his disciple, then..." "This proves the immortal's vision is correct. Your future will surpass that of your father, the Ling family, and anyone else in Meteorite City. Therefore, you must cultivate diligently and never disappoint the immortal's expectations of you!"
Ling Xiao listened to his father's earnest instructions without objection, nodding obediently. "Dad, don't worry. I will definitely cultivate diligently and live up to you and the immortal's expectations of me."
"That's good. By the way, the family test will begin in three days. You must perform well and silence those who look down on us father and son," Ling Zhan instructed.
"Yes, Dad!" Ling Xiao nodded.
Three days passed in a flash.
The Ling family's annual test took place today.
Early in the morning, the vast martial arts training ground was already filled with over a hundred young men aged twelve to twenty. These young men are the eighteenth generation descendants of the Ling family, both direct and collateral. As long as they pass the test, they will become the future pillars of the Ling family. Both direct and collateral descendants will receive the same treatment: they may remain in the inner courtyard or be sent out. The outcome will be revealed today.
At this moment, everyone in the martial arts training grounds is divided into three groups: one group, led by the clan leader's direct grandson Ling Li, another group, led by the second elder's direct grandson Ling Kuang, and the third group, led by the collateral descendants, the strongest of whom is Ling Hu. Of these three groups, Ling Kuang's group has the largest number of supporters, comprising almost the majority, followed by Ling Li's group, and finally Ling Hu's group, the smallest.
In this continent where strength reigns supreme, all aristocratic families revere the power of force, and the Ling family is no exception. Ling Kuang is currently the most outstanding warrior under the age of twenty among the eighteen generations. Having achieved the status of a low-level Xuanshi at the age of nineteen, he is widely supported by the others. Ling Li is also not far behind. At eighteen, he possesses the strength of a high-level Xuanshi and is expected to break through to the low-level Xuanshi before turning nineteen. He ranked third in last year's test and, as the direct grandson of the clan leader, has many supporters. As for Ling Hu, at nineteen, he possesses the strength of a mid-level Xuanshi. Although he only ranks fifth among the eighteen generations, he is the most outstanding of the collateral branches, and all the collateral branches look up to him as a role model.
The three support groups gathered separately, chatting and exchanging ideas. Each one was either excited or nervous. The excitement was due to the arrival of the annual test, while the nervousness was due to the worry that they might not pass. "Do you think Brother Ling Kuang will take first place again in today's test? He's already won first place two years in a row. He's truly admirable!"
"That goes without saying. Brother Ling Kuang is already a low-level Xuanshi, the strongest of our generation. Who else could take first place if not him?"
"That's right. Although Ling Li is also very powerful, unfortunately, he hasn't yet broken through to the Xuanshi level. He's destined to be defeated by Brother Ling Kuang."
"While Ling Li may not necessarily defeat Brother Ling Kuang, there's someone who can definitely threaten him right now."
"Bullshit! Who could have that kind of power? A Xuanshi can already release Xuanli and cultivate unique cultivation techniques tailored to their attributes. Their power is immense, a world apart from that of a Xuanzhe, unless that person is also a Xuanshi."
"Haven't you heard that someone in our family recently broke through to the Xuanshi level?"
"Could it be... Ling Bin, who ranked second last year?"
"Yes, that's her."
The crowd was buzzing with discussion, and the atmosphere was extremely lively and boisterous. Ling Xiaoshan arrived late and found a random, deserted spot to sit down. He didn't recall any particularly close relationships among the eighteen generations, and he didn't bother to flirt. He simply hoped the test would proceed quickly.
Soon, the elders and deacons finally emerged from the inner chamber.
Clan leader Ling Cang walked to the high platform in the center of the training grounds, hands clasped behind his back. With a commanding voice, he declared, "Today marks the Ling family's annual test. Every year, this day is a time to witness your growing strength. Survival of the fittest is the law of nature. Whether you stay or leave is up to you. I won't elaborate on the rules. As always, I am announcing that the top five Ling family members in this year's test will be eligible to participate in the year-end competition among the major clans in Meteorite City."
As Ling Cang finished, the audience erupted in an uproar! Meteorite City boasts a dozen or so aristocratic families, both large and small. Every three years, they hold a competition among their young generation to demonstrate the future potential of each family. Each family offers generous rewards. Disciples who achieve outstanding results not only bring honor to their family but also receive competition prizes, including profound skills, elixirs, or high-grade weapons that aid in cultivation...
The competition requires participants to be under the age of twenty-five; those older than that are not eligible.
Ling Cang lowered his voice and continued, "Also, the top five disciples will receive personal instruction from the elders and receive the same treatment as Inner Court deacons. The Grand Elder will then select one of the five disciples to succeed him."
"Wow..." Everyone exclaimed in amazement. It wasn't for the elders' guidance, nor for the same treatment as the Inner Court deacons. What surprised them most was the words, "The Grand Elder will select a successor disciple from among the five."
The Grand Elder held supreme status within the Ling family. His strength was unfathomable, his prestige surpassing that of the patriarch within the family, and his reputation was even greater in Meteorite City. Ten years ago, a mid-level spiritualist from outside dared to challenge the Ling family's authority. None of the Ling family elders were a match for him, and he was ultimately defeated by the Grand Elder. Since then, no one dared to challenge the Ling family's authority. Even the Li and Luo families, equally renowned as the Ling family, were wary of the Grand Elder. As long as the Grand Elder of the Ling family remained, the Ling family's status would be unaffected.
One can imagine what an honor and a truly remarkable event it was to become the Grand Elder's successor disciple. Not only will you enjoy a transcendental position within the Ling Family, but you'll also have the Grand Elder teaching you the cultivation methods. It's impossible not to become powerful! Whether it's the seventeenth generation of the Ling Family or the current younger generation, they all hold the Grand Elder in the highest esteem, each eager to become his successor. However, the former no longer have such an opportunity, while the latter will go crazy for the single spot!
Ling Cang then casually offered a few words of encouragement before announcing the start of the test.
The first stage is the Force Test.
This test is very simple, primarily using a test crystal to measure everyone's Force. As long as the tester strikes the crystal with all their strength, the crystal will respond with a color value, which determines the Force Level.
This stage is overseen by the Ninth Elder, Ling Fu!
Ling Fu is about sixty years old, thin, and a very ordinary-looking old man. But don't mistake him for a powerless old man, or you'll suffer the consequences. Ling Fu stood on the dais, holding the list in his hand, and muttered, "Eighteenth generation descendant, Ling Yan, come on stage."
As soon as he finished speaking, a fifteen-year-old, muscular youth separated from the crowd, shouted softly, and leaped onto the dais with a graceful leap.
Ling Yan bowed to Ling Fu, then roared, gathering all his strength into his right fist and slamming it hard onto the test crystal.
"Bang."
Ling Yan retracted his fist, and the color on the test crystal changed from white to light gray, then from light gray to darker, reaching a certain level before stagnating.
Elder Ling Fu nodded and said, "Well, not bad, an eighth-level martial artist, one level higher than last year. You can continue to cultivate in the inner courtyard and strive to break through to the Xuanzhe level soon!"
Ling Yan's face lit up at Ling Fu's praise. He bowed to Elder Ling Fu and left the dais. Ling Fu's voice rang out again, "Eighteenth-generation descendant, Ling Yan, please come to the stage."
Ling Yan was younger than Ling Yan, only thirteen years old, and looked rather frail, a descendant of a side branch. He approached the stage with a slightly timid look and struck the test crystal with a single punch.
The test crystal also turned from white to light gray, then began to darken, though not as darkly as Ling Yan's.
Ling Fu announced, "Ling Yan, a fourth-level martial artist, may continue to train in the inner courtyard. Next up, Ling Shui."
"Ling Shui, a sixth-level martial artist, may continue to train in the inner courtyard."
"Ling Wen, a third-level martial artist, has failed to advance for two consecutive years and is being expelled from the inner courtyard to await further instruction."
...
One by one, the Ling family members who took the stage for the test were overjoyed at having passed, while the few who failed were dejected, their faces shrugged with sadness. "Eighteenth-generation descendant, Ling Tian, lease come to the stage."
As Elder Ling Fu's voice fell, a roar erupted from the audience.
Then, a young man, about sixteen years old, clothed in white, carrying a thin sword on his back, gave a soft cry, spun in the air, and landed on the stage with a remarkably graceful movement. The young man, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, was a man of outstanding appearance, but his always condescending and arrogant gaze was rather irritating.
Ling Tian, he grandson of Fourth Elder Ling Wei, possessed extraordinary talent. Last year, at the tender age of fifteen, he had transcended the ranks of martial apprentices to become a low-level profound practitioner. "Last year, Ling Tian was already a low-level Xuanzhe. I wonder if he's broken through to become a mid-level Xuanzhe this year!"
"Breaking through a small level in a year is quite difficult. I don't think it's likely."
"There's nothing impossible about it. Brother Ling Kuang also became a mid-level Xuanzhe at the age of sixteen. Ling Tian's talent is no less than Brother Ling Kuang's. Judging by his boastful expression now, he must have already broken through to become a mid-level Xuanzhe."
...
Ling Tian ignored the audience's discussions, curled his lips slightly, and calmly struck the test crystal with a single hand.
"Boom."
The test crystal turned from white to gray, then from gray to a faint pale yellow, finally settling at a certain level and quietly stopping.
Ling Fu's face lit up with admiration. He nodded at Ling Tian and said, "Very good! Breaking through a small level in a year. Ling Tian is a mid-level Xuanzhe and can continue to cultivate in the inner courtyard."
"Wow!" When Ling Fu announced Ling Tian's results, most of the audience exclaimed in amazement, clearly astonished at Ling Tian's strength. Ling Tian seemed quite satisfied with the audience's reaction, but when he glanced at a certain corner, his expression stiffened, and a hint of dissatisfaction flashed across his face before he stepped down from the stage.