Chapter 74: Yuanchu Mountain The Day of Assessment

The morning of the twenty-first day of the twelfth lunar month.

Meng Chuan sat on his bed, gently stroking the blade of his saber. It was cold and sharp.

"Twelve years of cultivation, all for this day," Meng Chuan murmured softly. The day of the Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination had finally arrived; he had waited too long for it.

At this moment, Meng Chuan thought of many people: his father, mother, great-aunt, clan leader, Third Elder, and many other elders of the clan. So many people were hoping he would be able to enter Yuanchu Mountain.

In the room next door, Meng Dajiang was looking at a painting hanging on the wall; it was a portrait of his wife.

"This day has finally come," Meng Dajiang said, gazing at the portrait. "I've done everything I could. I taught Chuan'er the fundamentals of saber techniques, I sparred with him, I found him suitable academy teachers... I even exchanged all the merits I'd accumulated over the years for the Iceheart Fruit, which I gave to Chuan'er. I've given everything I could! I, Meng Dajiang, might be an ordinary person, but I've raised a son like him. He is my greatest pride of these past years! Nianyun, our son will definitely enter Yuanchu Mountain."

Meng Dajiang was just as nervous at that moment.

Suddenly, a voice from outside called out: "Young Master Meng, Young Master Yan, the Marquis has gathered everyone. It's time to depart."

"Time to go?" Meng Dajiang quickly wiped the corners of his eyes, stepped out of his room, and called out repeatedly, "Chuan'er, Chuan'er, it's time to go."

*Creak.*

Meng Chuan emerged from his room, his saber at his waist, and smiled at his father. "Let's go."

Meng Chuan, Meng Dajiang, and Yan Jin met and proceeded to the main hall of the Wuzhou Guild Hall. Although it had snowed heavily yesterday, the paths within the guild hall had already been swept clean. Only snow on trees and rooftops remained.

"Young Master Meng."

"Young Master Yan."

Everyone in the hall greeted them familiarly. Of the twelve young people, only Yan Jin was alone. The others were accompanied by family elders.

"Everyone's here. We'll leave now," Marquis Nanyun said after entering the hall and surveying the group. He then walked straight out, and the others naturally followed.

In a spacious garden of the guild hall, the fiery-red flying beast awaited. One by one, they leaped onto its back. Meng Chuan, Yan Jin, and Meng Dajiang sat together in a corner on the beast's back.

"Go," Marquis Nanyun commanded.

The fiery-red flying beast immediately ascended, soaring over Yuanchu City. Looking down from above at the city's streets and magnificent buildings indeed offered a unique perspective.

At this moment, in Dongning Prefecture, at the Meng family estate, Great-aunt Meng was kneeling on a prayer cushion in the ancestral hall, her hands clasped together, silently praying.

"Ancestors, please bless my Meng family descendant, Meng Chuan, so he may pass the Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination and be accepted." Great-aunt Meng's face was ashen, showing signs of impending death. The demon invasion earlier in the year had caused severe damage to her body, which was now failing. If not for her powerful resolve, she would not have survived to this day. Meng Chuan was the hope of the Meng family. If she were to die, Meng Chuan would become the future pillar of the family. That's why she was waiting; only upon hearing the news of Meng Chuan's entry into Yuanchu Mountain could she close her eyes in peace.

"A'Chuan." On a peak in Yuanchu Mountain, Liu Qiyue was looking at a book but her mind was elsewhere. Her gaze drifted through the window to the vast sea of clouds, a little nervous. "A'Chuan is taking the Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination today, isn't he? He's sure to pass!"

"The Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination is on the twenty-first of the twelfth lunar month, which is today. Will he enter Yuanchu Mountain?" Yun Qingping was practicing her sword in the morning, but her thoughts began to wander. She quickly shook her head. "Why am I thinking about this?" She then resumed her sword practice.

Meng Chuan and the others rode on the back of the fiery-red flying beast, which soared about a hundred zhang (approx. 333 meters) above Yuanchu City. Its moderate speed allowed them to admire the city's scenery. After a short while, the beast flew for several tens of *li* (approx. 5-10 km) before finally descending slowly. It landed at a vast palace, above whose main gate were three large characters: "Lieyang Palace."

"Go," Marquis Nanyun said softly to his mount after delivering Meng Chuan and the group. The fiery-red beast then shot skyward, flying towards Yuanchu Mountain.

"Please follow me, everyone," said a steward from the Wuzhou Guild Hall who had accompanied them. He smiled, "The Marquis has his own affairs. Just follow me."

The steward explained with a smile, "Lieyang Palace is an annex of Yuanchu Mountain, and the registration for the annual Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination takes place here. Of course, our twelve geniuses from Wuzhou have already been registered by the guild hall. Please just follow me inside and wait. We estimate that the Yuanchu Mountain Godfiends will arrive in about half an hour, and then the examination will officially begin."

"Thank you, Steward Wang," some family elders immediately said, approaching him for conversation. Meng Chuan and his group also followed them into Lieyang Palace.

Passing through the palace gate, they entered a large square. Many young men and women had already gathered there, most accompanied by elders or servants.

"Hmm?" Many people looked over.

"They're from Wuzhou," a purple-clad woman said after a glance. "That one in the dark green robe with a saber at his waist is Meng Chuan. It's said he can kill a demon grand commander with a single saber strike, and he's consecutively slain two, showing immense strength. Of the twenty slots at Yuanchu Mountain, he's likely to take one. And the young man in white beside him is also more powerful than an ordinary Core Condensation master; he's also the seventh son of the Anhai Wang family."

"The seventh son of the Anhai Wang family? Are you sure?" the tall man beside her asked in surprise.

"How could the princess's information be wrong?" another golden-robed youth beside her chuckled.

"This was originally a secret, but after King Anhai's sword seal saved all of Dongning Prefecture, our imperial family discovered that King Anhai's mysterious seventh son had arrived in Dongning Prefecture under the alias 'Yan Jin'," the purple-clad woman explained. "You don't need to worry too much. The Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination doesn't care about your status; it's about whether your strength is sufficient and if you have enough potential. This time, there are many formidable geniuses: Meng Chuan from Wuzhou, Ning Yibo from Jiangzhou... there are nearly ten with great reputations, and perhaps some who have hidden their strength. Some might have even made breakthroughs. Even I am not confident I can secure a spot."

"Princess, your archery skills are unparalleled among the younger generation in the capital. You will certainly enter Yuanchu Mountain," the golden-robed youth flattered.

Meng Chuan and the others from Wuzhou naturally gathered together, waiting.

Suddenly, there was a great commotion outside the palace gate. A barefoot, red-robed youth walked in, followed by a large group of people, all trailing behind him. Among them, five had terrifying auras, clearly identifying them as Godfiends.

"Don't all follow me! What's there to see?" the red-robed youth said impatiently.

"Haha, Tong'er, this is the day of your Yuanchu Mountain examination. We're all very concerned, of course we want to see it."

"Your grand-uncle just wants to see you enter Yuanchu Mountain," the group of family elders behind him chuckled.

The red-robed youth was helpless. Following him were his parents, grandparents, and several other highly esteemed family members.

"That's Yan Chitong, Yuanchu City's top genius," someone whispered. "He's Marquis Xihai's only son, exceptionally talented, and only thirteen years old this year, having just comprehended 'potential'! Because he's so young, even if he ranks outside the top twenty, Yuanchu Mountain might grant him a separate spot."

"I hope he ranks outside the top twenty! He's only thirteen; why should he compete with us for a spot?"

"The Yan family, with one King and one Marquis, nearly twenty Godfiends in their clan, and now another genius... they are truly flourishing," marveled the descendants of ancient Godfiend families. Even the great clans in the capital and Yuanchu City had to look up to the Yan family!

Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang merely perked up their ears and listened. Their information was too limited, so they didn't understand many of the families mentioned. After all, the Meng family was just an ordinary Godfiend family from Dongning Prefecture, and their ancestor, Great-aunt Meng, hadn't even managed to enter Yuanchu Mountain. It was normal for them to be less informed.

As time passed, more and more people gathered in the square. Especially locals from Yuanchu City, many were accompanied by three or five elders.

"Rumble!" Finally, the palace gates of Lieyang Palace began to close. Time was up; no one else was allowed to enter.

"It's about to begin," Meng Chuan and the more than three hundred young people felt their hearts tighten.