Ye Qingxuan, a Peerless Genius of Her Generation

"This is Xiao Chen? The Qilin Child who fell from grace at Zhenbei King Manor? How is a cripple like him here to take the assessment?"

"I heard he was expelled from Zhenbei King Manor. He's probably upset about it and came here to cause trouble!"

"Heh, he really is thick-skinned. Zhenbei King Manor already threw him out, yet he still came here to make a fool of himself. Does he think he's still that peerless genius with the Born King Physique?"

Quite a few people instantly cast scornful looks at Xiao Chen.

The people from the five great academies and Sword Immortal Academy also noticed the commotion below, a hint of shock appearing in their eyes.

Naturally, they knew Xiao Chen's name. He had once been an exceptional seedling their academies had dreamed of obtaining.

But three years ago, his dantian had shattered, turning him into a cripple.

Coming to take the assessment today—wasn't that simply asking for humiliation?

The Zhenbei King, Xiao Lingtian, and his wife were also present, seated alongside the people from the five great academies.

Naturally, they too saw Xiao Chen below.

Seeing her missing eldest son appear, a flicker of excitement passed through Wen Wanrong's eyes. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly rose and walked over.

"Chen'er, have you come to admit your mistake to your father and mother? It's all right. As long as you sincerely repent, you'll still be Father and Mother's good child."

Wen Wanrong forced out a smile and spoke softly. Just as she reached out to take Xiao Chen's hand, he lightly sidestepped and said coldly, "Wen Wanrong, you and I no longer have any relationship. Please stay away from me."

The moment those words came out.

Everyone present was stunned.

Xiao Zhentian was so furious his face turned green. With a flash, he vanished from his seat, seeming to teleport as he appeared directly before Xiao Chen.

"Unfilial son, what nonsense are you spouting? Is that how you treat your mother when you see her? And you still want to return to my Zhenbei King Manor? Dream on!"

Xiao Zhentian rebuked him.

Wen Wanrong stared at Xiao Chen in shock, a knife-like pain cutting through her heart.

The Xiao Chen of the past had revered and loved her deeply. Even when he spotted her from afar, he would eagerly rush over to greet her. Yet she would usually only nod in response, never even offering him a smile. But even so, Xiao Chen would be as thrilled as a child.

But now.

Mother and son had become this cold toward each other!

Was this the retribution she had earned for neglecting Xiao Chen back then?

She felt a little miserable!

It was as though needles were piercing her heart.

Xiao Chen, meanwhile, looked coldly at Xiao Zhentian. "Xiao Zhentian, what nonsense are you talking about? Didn't I sever ties with you long ago? Who said I wanted to return to your Zhenbei King Manor?"

"Wretch, you truly intend to sever ties with us?"

Xiao Zhentian's expression darkened as a terrifying martial aura radiated from him, crushing the surrounding crowd until they could barely breathe.

"Xiao Zhentian, I, Xiao Chen, am an upright man. A man's word is as good as a nail hammered into wood. When I say it's over, it's truly over! I won't be as hypocritical as you!"

Xiao Chen sneered.

Xiao Zhentian was far too narcissistic.

He actually thought Xiao Chen had come to reconcile.

A beastly family like this—even a dog wouldn't go back!

"Xiao Chen, if you didn't come to reconcile, why did you appear at the assessment grounds? Don't tell me a cripple like you is here to take the assessment too?"

Xiao Lingtian said with a look of contempt.

"You got it right. I came to take the assessment. Is there a problem with that?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

"What? A cripple like him came to take the martial academy assessment? Who is he trying to insult?"

"Exactly! Does trash with a shattered dantian like him deserve to contend with us?"

"He's simply despicable, vile, and shameless!"

The instant those words were spoken.

The crowd erupted.

Nearly ten thousand examinees all looked at Xiao Chen with contempt.

Seeing the situation, Xiao Zhentian's face alternated between red and white. Feeling that he had lost all face, he hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and saying in a deep voice, "Everyone, this wretch has already severed ties with my Zhenbei King Manor. Whatever he does today has nothing to do with Zhenbei King Manor."

After saying that, he dragged the still-persuading Wen Wanrong back to the square.

Seeing this, everyone present was dumbfounded.

At a time like this, he simply cut ties and left, letting his crippled son bear the pressure at the heart of the storm?

Was that something the Zhenbei King, whose name shook the world, should do?

"Isn't this Zhenbei King far too irresponsible? He just left like that?"

"I think it's a bit excessive too. As a father, he actually just abandoned his son like this!"

"I heard Xiao Chen was beaten and injured back then to save his younger brother, yet now the Zhenbei King and Xiao Lingtian are treating him like this. That's a little too heartless!"

Some people spoke up in indignation.

"Everyone, silence. The assessment will now continue. Those whose names are called, come forward for testing."

"Next, Li Dayong."

Just as the discussion grew increasingly heated, Zhao Cang's icy voice rang out, pulling everyone back to the assessment.

And so, the assessment resumed.

The testing proceeded extremely quickly.

Almost one person every few seconds.

"Next, Ye Qingxuan."

Suddenly, Zhao Cang called out a name. A breathtakingly beautiful young woman in a white dress slowly stepped out from the crowd, like a fairy descending to earth, dazzling and radiant.

Ye Qingxuan stepped onto the square and placed her jade-white hand upon the Martial Purity Instrument. At once, the instrument emitted a brilliant green glow, and the terrifying energy fluctuations made the surrounding students' hearts tremble.

Shock also appeared on the faces of the experts from the various academies.

"Th-this is top-tier Earth Rank talent?"

"The Ninth Princess is incredible!"

Countless cries of astonishment rang out.

The red, orange, green, and cyan lights emitted by the Martial Purity Instrument respectively corresponded to Yellow, Profound, Earth, and Heaven Rank aptitude.

The dense green light that appeared during Ye Qingxuan's test meant her aptitude had reached top-tier Earth Rank. She could be called a peerless prodigy of her generation.

"Ye Qingxuan, top-tier Earth Rank talent, Martial Disciple Realm Sixth Level cultivation!"

Zhao Cang said excitedly.

Top-tier Earth Rank!

With such exceptional talent, she would surely soar into the heavens one day.

The Martial Hall might be gaining a true phoenix today.

"Ninth Princess, Profound Yellow Academy invites you to join us."

"Overlord Academy invites you as well."

"Zhenkun Academy..."

"Southern Mausoleum Academy..."

"Sword Immortal Academy..."

All five academies apart from Saintly Wasteland Academy immediately extended invitations to Ye Qingxuan.

Seeing that Saintly Wasteland Academy had made no move, a trace of disappointment flashed through Ye Qingxuan's eyes.

Saintly Wasteland Academy truly held itself above all others. Could even her top-tier Earth Rank talent not move them?

She was not particularly surprised by her own talent.

Ordinary people had no way to test their aptitude, but as someone born into the imperial family, she had naturally been tested long ago.

Still, seeing the envy in the eyes of countless examinees, she could not help feeling a little pleased with herself.

Top-tier Earth Rank was only a hair's breadth away from Heaven Rank. It was already more than good enough!

"I choose Zhenkun Academy."

Ye Qingxuan quickly made her choice.

Among the five great academies, Zhenkun Academy was the strongest aside from Saintly Wasteland Academy.

Excitement appeared on the face of Zhenkun Academy's instructor. He walked up to Ye Qingxuan and handed her an identity plaque. "Ninth Princess, report to Zhenkun Academy in three days with this plaque!"

"Yes, Instructor!"

Ye Qingxuan respectfully accepted the plaque, then turned and walked over to Xiao Chen. Haughtily, she said, "Xiao Chen, do you understand the gap between us now? I broke off the engagement for your own good. Someone like me is not someone you can aspire to."

"Heh... merely Earth Rank, and you dare strut around in front of me? You truly don't know your own limits!"

Xiao Chen sneered.

"Damn it, you trash, how dare you speak to the Ninth Princess like that? Do you think you're still that Born King Physique from back then?"

"Hurry up and kneel to apologize to the Ninth Princess!"

"How could a fairy like the Ninth Princess possibly be someone you deserve? Even I wouldn't dare reach so high, yet trash like you is acting this arrogant?"

In an instant, Xiao Chen came under attack from several bootlickers.

Whether in beauty, figure, background, or talent, Ye Qingxuan was exceptional in every regard.

There were countless people who liked her.

"Xiao Chen, I hope you face reality and stop harboring improper thoughts about me!"

Ye Qingxuan frowned as well.

In her eyes, Xiao Chen's uncharacteristic aloofness was merely playing hard to get, an attempt to draw her attention.