...
At the foot of Dazhou Mountain, a sprawling complex of buildings stretched for twenty li. This was the home of the Seven Profound Martial Mansion and the Celestial Fate Martial Mansion. Today was registration day for the Seven Profound Martial Mansion's entrance exam, and a bustling crowd had gathered in the plaza before its main gate.
Lin Ming and Lin Xiaodong had intentionally delayed their arrival, but when they reached the plaza, they realized they had still underestimated the number of applicants. Three lines had formed, each dozens of meters long. At this rate, it would take them the better part of an hour to get through.
"Might as well wait," Lin Xiaodong sighed, resignedly taking his place at the end of a line.
"Yeah," Lin Ming nodded.
"Huh? There are hardly any people over there." Lin Xiaodong pointed to a small, nearby gate. Only a few people were scattered around it, and a red carpet was even laid out on the ground.
"That's the nobles' area..." Lin Ming said, noticing the words written on a sign.
Since the Seven Profound Martial Mansion was established in Tianyun Country—using its land, buildings, and resources—it was only natural that they would show some deference to the powerful and noble classes. They even delegated many of the Martial Mansion's affairs to them, such as today's entrance registration.
"Damn it," Lin Xiaodong muttered unhappily. Nobility required an official title from the Royal Family, a hereditary honor. The Lin Family, though wealthy, were not nobles.
Lin Xiaodong was about to curse the noble parasites to make himself feel better when the gate was pushed open. Two young men walked out. One of them, dressed in blue robes with an exquisite longsword at his waist and a golden treasure crown in his hair, was exceptionally handsome.
Lin Ming's brow furrowed slightly when he saw this man. It was none other than Zhu Yan.
A daughter of the Zhu Family had married into the Royal Family and become the Emperor's favored consort. Because of this, the Zhu Family had indisputably become the number one family in Qingsang City and been ennobled. This was how Zhu Yan had the power to guarantee Lann Yunyue a spot in the Seven Profound Martial Mansion.
"Shit, must not have checked the almanac before leaving home. Ran into a ghost," Lin Xiaodong grumbled.
Zhu Yan walked out shoulder-to-shoulder with the other young man, followed by several attendants who had been waiting outside the nobles' area. From the looks of it, Zhu Yan was taking the young man to register. The pair headed straight toward Lin Ming; if they continued on their path, a confrontation was inevitable.
Given Lin Ming's status and strength, he would likely be at a disadvantage in a confrontation. However, Lin Ming didn't shy away, simply watching calmly as Zhu Yan approached.
Zhu Yan stopped short, his eyes landing on Lin Ming and Lin Xiaodong. A flash of surprise crossed his face, quickly replaced by a frown. The sight of Lin Ming infuriated him. Although he had already won Lann Yunyue's hand, she refused any form of intimacy before their marriage. It was obvious that her heart still held a place for Lin Ming, and she felt a certain guilt. She had chosen him solely for the sake of the Seven Profound Martial Mansion. No man could tolerate his future wife having another man in her heart, and Zhu Yan was no exception.
"You're Lin Ming, right? I never thought you'd actually follow me all the way here. With your Body Cultivation First Layer cultivation, you think you can test into the Seven Profound Martial Mansion?"
The sarcasm in Zhu Yan's voice was palpable. He would never allow Lin Ming to enter the Seven Profound Martial Mansion. Even though Lin Ming's strength was utterly insignificant to him, as long as that guy was at the Martial Mansion, it would be impossible for Lann Yunyue to forget him.
"Whether or not I pass is my business. I didn't follow anyone here. I came to the Seven Profound Martial Mansion only to pursue my Martial Arts."
"Martial Arts? A brat with mere above-average talent dares to speak of pursuing Martial Arts? What arrogance!" As Zhu Yan spoke, his knuckles cracked. Then, the longsword at his waist seemed to come alive, leaping from its scabbard on its own! Zhu Yan grasped the sword and slashed through the air. With a piercing shriek of Sword Qi, a ripple, faintly visible to the naked eye, shot out and cleanly sliced off the top half of a large, distant tree's crown.
With a RUSTLE, a shower of branches and leaves fell to the ground. The onlookers' eyes went wide. Most of them were around the same age as Zhu Yan, or just a few years younger, yet his Martial Arts Realm was so far beyond them it was disheartening.
Zhu Yan had unleashed that strike to intimidate Lin Ming, to make him understand the gulf between them. "I have Fourth-Grade Talent. I began my Martial Cultivation at twelve and have consumed countless Miracle Elixirs. Now, I am entering the Celestial Mansion's Sword Sect within the Seven Profound Martial Mansion, my cultivation at the Peak of Body Cultivation Third Layer. Even so, I have barely glimpsed the threshold of Martial Arts. And you, a mere Body Cultivation First Layer, dare to speak so presumptuously of Martial Arts!"
Zhu Yan's words were domineering, and Lin Xiaodong flared up. "You, surnamed Zhu! You were only born two years earlier than us! What's there to be so arrogant about? If we were the same age, I could take you down with one hand!"
Zhu Yan frowned and turned to face Lin Xiaodong. He took a casual step forward as his True Essence erupted from his body. "And who are you?"
"I..." Lin Xiaodong felt suffocated by Zhu Yan's momentum. The words caught in his throat. He took a step back, swallowed hard, and puffed out his chest. "This young master is Lin Xiaodong! You'd better remember it!"
"Lin Xiaodong? Hmph. I can count the disciples of the Lin Family worth remembering on one hand. What right does a dancing clown like you have to speak to me? Not just you, but you too, Lin Ming! If it weren't for Lann Yunyue, you wouldn't even be qualified to talk to me! Let me offer you a piece of advice: a man must know his own limits. Lann Yunyue is not someone you are worthy of."
In Qingsang City, there were very few girls who had both reached Third-Grade Talent and possessed exceptional looks and disposition. Most were concentrated in the major families. However, these major families had severe conflicts of interest with one another. Why would they marry off an outstanding daughter to another family, strengthening a rival's bloodline? Most would instead demand the groom marry into their family. This was the reason for Zhu Yan's words.
"One thousand taels of gold. Don't ever appear before me again!" Zhu Yan said, pulling a stack of gold notes from his sleeve.
The crowd gasped. One thousand taels of gold! This was an absurdly large sum, enough for a Martial Artist in the Body Cultivation Stage to use high-grade medicinal herbs freely for two or three years.
"One thousand taels of gold? Are you trying to get rid of a beggar?" Lin Xiaodong shoved the gold notes back. In truth, he was just puffing up his chest to look strong; one thousand taels of gold was an immense fortune to him as well.
Zhu Yan's hand trembled, and a powerful rebound force sent Lin Xiaodong flying. He then turned his cold gaze on Lin Ming, waiting for his answer.
Lin Ming took a deep breath and spoke slowly, forcefully. "Zhu Yan, in terms of talent, I am not your equal. In terms of family background, I am even less so. But Martial Cultivation is not just about talent and financial backing. There is something more important—a heart for the martial way!"
"You cultivate for wealth, status, and vanity. I cultivate to pursue the pinnacle of Martial Arts. The path of martial arts does not belong to the talented, nor does it belong to the powerful and rich. It belongs to those with a heart dedicated to the martial way! One day, I will surpass you!" Lin Ming enunciated the last sentence, his voice clear and bright, ringing out for everyone nearby to hear.
'Someone with Third-Grade Talent wants to catch up to someone with Fourth-Grade Talent, and with such a huge gap in their family backgrounds? This kid must be insane!'
Hearing Lin Ming's declaration, Zhu Yan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Good! Very good! I'll be waiting!" With that, he put away the gold notes. With a clear HUM, his longsword returned to its scabbard. Zhu Yan gave Lin Ming one last, deep look, then turned and walked away.