After Huang Yi went up, many others followed suit.
"The Gao Family's Gao Li actually lifted the 6th Layer!"
"Gao Li is only eighteen this year, and his strength is truly impressive. To think he's already reached the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Heaven!"
"Looks like Gao Li has a good chance of passing the assessment this year."
Wen Qingye merely gave these so-called geniuses a passing glance, naturally not paying them much mind.
Just then, a figure walked up to the stone disc, nodded at Wu Jing, and placed his hand on the 7th Layer stone disc.
Wen Qingye recognized the man. It was Wen Hai, who was also nineteen this year and at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Heaven. Ever since they were young, he had looked down on the cowardly Wen Qingye, always sticking with Wen Tongyu. Despite being older, he still called Wen Tongyu "Brother Tongyu."
Surging Primordial Qi gathered in Wen Hai's hands, and the massive stone disc began to loosen. Then, with a great shout, the crowd watched as the 7th Layer disc started to move.
An uproar swept through the crowd.
"It seems the Wen Family has produced another genius."
"To think Wen Hai lifted the 7th Layer stone disc at just nineteen! Truly incredible!"
...
Wen Hai walked down smugly. When he saw Wen Qingye, a mocking smile appeared in his eyes.
"Wen Qingye, you came to participate in the assessment this year too?"
Wen Qingye's gaze didn't waver, as if he hadn't seen Wen Hai at all.
Wen Hai frowned. "What? Now that you're the Zhang Family's son-in-law, you won't even acknowledge your own Wen Family kin?"
"Block my view again, and watch your life."
Wen Qingye stared straight ahead, not even sparing Wen Hai a glance.
Wen Hai froze, then stared blankly at Wen Qingye. The few Wen Family disciples behind him also watched in disbelief. 'Those aren't words Wen Qingye should be able to say.'
But one person, upon seeing Wen Qingye, immediately gave him a wide berth and hurried away. That person was Wen Hao. Others might not have known how formidable Wen Qingye was, but he knew all too well. It was a trembling that came from the depths of his heart, a fear that shook his very soul. He would never forget the sight of Zhang Jian's gruesome death.
"Let's go over there," Wen Qingye said to Zhang Xiaoyun with a smile.
"Wen Qingye, who do you think you are? Compared to Brother Tongyu, you're worse than a dog! Just wait until Brother Tongyu comes back, and then you'll learn the difference between heaven and earth!"
Seeing Wen Qingye's indifference, Wen Hai seethed with anger. But with so many people around, and the examiners present, he didn't dare to make a move.
Suddenly, Wen Qingye felt the person in his arms begin to tremble.
Wen Qingye asked, "Yun'Er, what's wrong?"
Zhang Xiaoyun gripped Wen Qingye's arm tightly, her eyes filled with timidity and fear. She whispered, "Husband, can we please just go over there?"
Wen Qingye looked ahead. Not far off was the area where the Zhang Family members had gathered. Many of their disciples were looking over, pointing and muttering.
Wen Qingye nodded. "Alright, Yun'Er. We'll go over to the Zhang Family's side. My grand-uncle is just over there."
But just then, a group of Zhang Family disciples surrounded them.
"Sister-in-law, where are you off to? You're one of us Zhangs, after all," the man in the lead chuckled.
"That's right. You're our Zhang Family's live-in son-in-law. You married our family's *beautiful* eldest young lady."
"Hahaha! Wen Qingye, you're already nineteen and still trying to take this assessment? Hurry back to the mansion. The Zhang Family can't afford this embarrassment!"
Wen Qingye's expression remained unchanged, as if he were completely oblivious to the voices around him.
Upon seeing the man, Zhang Xiaoyun seemed to be seized by an immense fear, and she stumbled backward repeatedly.
Zhang Xiaoyun murmured, "Don't come any closer… Don't come any closer… I'm begging you, let me go… Let me go…"
Seeing Zhang Xiaoyun's reaction, Wen Qingye looked coldly at the man and said, "Who are you? What did you do to Zhang Xiaoyun?"
The man's eyes roved greedily over Zhang Xiaoyun's figure as he laughed. "You don't even recognize me? I suppose that makes sense; I'm not in Phoenix City often. My name is Zhang Chuan. Remember it. As for what I've done… heh heh."
Wen Qingye's expression turned cold, and a flash of killing intent appeared in his eyes. 'So this is the one named Zhang Chuan.'
When Zhang Chuan met Wen Qingye's eyes, a chill shot through his heart, and his smile vanished instantly.
Zhang Xiaoyun's small hand tugged on Wen Qingye's arm. "Husband, he… he was about to do… that to me. I fought him with everything I had and fainted. He thought I was dead, so he ran away. My mother found me and carried me home. Nothing… nothing happened. Let's just go, quickly."
Zhang Chuan heard Zhang Xiaoyun's voice and snapped out of his stupor. 'Even though the little vixen's face is ruined, her figure is absolutely top-notch,' he thought. An expert like Zhang Chuan could tell at a single glance.
'Zhang Chuan.' Wen Qingye silently repeated the name twice. It had just been added to his kill list.
"Anyone else for the assessment?" Wu Jing shouted from the stage. "I'll ask one last time. If there's no one else, we will proceed directly to the second round!"
Wen Qingye said to Zhang Xiaoyun, "Wait for me here. I'll be right back."
"Mm," Zhang Xiaoyun nodded.
After speaking, Wen Qingye strode purposefully toward the stage.
"Is that the Wen Family's eldest young master, Wen Qingye?"
"Heavens, he's here for the assessment? Isn't he twenty already?"
"No, he's nineteen this year, turning twenty next year. This is his last chance."
"But does he have any hope of passing? I doubt he'll even clear the first round. Other people stop coming after they fail, but this Wen Qingye shows up every year, and every year he fails the first round."
"Wen Qingye's life is pretty tragic, isn't it? He took Wen Tongyu's place as the Zhang Family's live-in son-in-law and married their ugly daughter, while Wen Tongyu married the Zhang Family's famous and talented beauty, Zhang Hui, as a mere concubine. What a cruel twist of fate for two brothers."
"Tell me about it. The Wen Family Patriarch has two sons—one is a dazzling, peerless talent, while the other is an utter coward with pathetic strength."
Hearing the crowd's whispers, Zhang Xiaoyun felt all her strength drain away. Tears welled up, blurring her vision. Her heart didn't ache for what they said about her, but for what they said about Wen Qingye.
Zhang Hua's eyes narrowed as he watched Wen Qingye. He turned to Wen Xu, who was beside him, and said, "We're truly going to be family now. Look at this situation with Wen Qingye and my daughter…"
Zhang Hua's meaning was clear: he wanted Wen Qingye to take Zhang Xiaoyun and return to the Wen Family.
A cold sneer flashed through Wen Xu's heart, but his face remained impassive as he said, "Since he has already become a live-in son-in-law, how can we go back on the arrangement now?"
Liu Tianli couldn't help but frown. He glanced at Wen Xu and sighed, "Wen Xu, no matter what you say, he's still your son."
Wen Xu stared at Wen Qingye's back and said coldly, "I know. That's why I raised him to be this old."
"But…"
"Say no more. It is worthwhile for him to sacrifice for Tongyu, is it not?"
Zhang Hua felt a surge of anger, but quickly suppressed it. 'Best to let it go,' he thought. 'After all, Wen Tongyu is not the man he once was. He's the future Prince Consort of the Celestial Martial Country. I should just behave and secure this connection. Besides, my own daughter was the one who offered to be his concubine; I imagine she won't be treated poorly.'
Just as Wen Qingye stepped onto the stage, Situ Haoming's eyes snapped open. He looked at Wen Qingye and said, "I am Wen Tongyu's martial uncle. You must be the brother he speaks of?"
Situ Haoming's words held a hint of teasing, laced with mockery.
But Wen Qingye's expression didn't change. He walked over to Wu Jing and asked, "May I begin my assessment?"
Wen Qingye had completely ignored Situ Haoming. The onlookers were stunned, sweat beading on their foreheads.
This was Situ Haoming, the chief examiner from the Purple Sun Prefecture! With a single word, he could ensure Wen Qingye would never enter the Prefecture. Yet Wen Qingye had ignored him completely.
A cold light flashed in Situ Haoming's eyes, but his expression remained unchanged.
Zhang Chuan sneered at Wen Qingye. "What's this? Giving up all hope and deciding to act recklessly?"
Liu Ling looked at Gao Yuerou and said, "So this Wen Qingye thinks he's something special now, ignoring even Situ Haoming? Situ Haoming is a master of the Refining Spirit Realm. Wen Qingye probably knows he's not strong enough to pass and has just given up completely."
Gao Yuerou stood beside her, head lowered and somewhat absent-minded. She was still puzzled by the Wen Qingye who used to pester her. 'How could he possibly be a Third-Grade Alchemist?'
Wu Jing was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "You may. Of course, you may."