The blazing sun hung high in the sky. At the summit of the highest mountain in the Hun Clan stood a colossal structure spanning 9.99 million square meters. This building, more than ten times larger than the Forbidden City, was where the direct descendants of the Hun Clan resided.
The entire mountain seemed as though it had been sliced flat by a blade. At its foot lay the Hun Clan's Imperial Capital, which its members also called the Sacred City. From the edge of the mountain, one could take in the endless beauty of the Sacred City at a glance.
At this moment, inside the highest palace atop the mountain, nine men and eight women stood trembling in two rows, looking up at the middle-aged man seated upon a nine-tiered platform.
"Clan Leader, these are the Hun Clan descendants who awakened bloodlines above the Ninth Grade in this round of testing. Among them, Hun Feng, Hun Yutong, and Hun Jianhao have not only entered the ranks of Dou Zhe, but also possess Divine Grade Bloodlines!"
Below the nine steps, the elderly Hun Clan man in charge of the testing lowered his head slightly and reported with utmost respect to the middle-aged man seated on the jade throne.
"Mm."
The middle-aged man's tone was calm, yet he radiated unquestionable authority. "Not bad. Three people have obtained Divine Grade Bloodlines this time. You three, raise your heads and let me have a proper look."
Upon hearing this, the two men and one woman standing in the front row raised their heads slightly, gazing up at the middle-aged man seated on the jade throne.
As they met the middle-aged man's gaze, beads of sweat emerged on their foreheads. Though he had done nothing, his eyes seemed like a vortex, devouring their very minds. A terrifying pressure, like an invisible mountain, pressed down upon the depths of their hearts and nearly suffocated them.
"Mm, very good!"
The middle-aged man continued in an even tone, "According to the rules, the three of them shall henceforth become first-sequence descendants of the Hun Clan and receive priority access to all resources."
"Understood!" The elder in charge of the testing bowed to accept the order.
"As for those whose cultivation meets the standard and who possess Ninth Grade Bloodlines, they shall henceforth become second-sequence descendants of the Hun Clan," the middle-aged man continued.
"Understood!" The elder in charge of the testing bowed again.
The Hun Clan possessed the Heavenly Flame Nihility Devouring Flame. Ever since the last Clan Leader of the Tunling Clan, the Spirit Devouring King, had been devoured by Nihility Devouring Flame, the Hun Clan no longer needed to worry about its Dou Di Bloodline running dry.
Within the vast Hun Clan, Divine Grade Bloodlines would not alarm the truly powerful. After all, bearers of Divine Grade Bloodlines were born almost every year. As for Ninth Grade Bloodlines, they did not even have the right to raise their heads before Hun Tiandi. Those with Eighth Grade Bloodlines were not even qualified to enter this Sacred Hall.
As for descendants with bloodlines below the Eighth Grade but above the Fifth Grade, an "Imperial Decree" would be delivered to their homes. Their bloodline and cultivation levels would determine which sequence of descendants they became.
If, at the age of six, their cultivation failed to meet the standard and their bloodline was below the Fifth Grade, the fate awaiting them would be exceedingly miserable. Those with status and backing would, out of consideration for certain people's dignity, be assigned to govern a region. Those without significant status or backing would be conscripted into the Hun Clan's army.
Joining the army at the age of six—wasn't that absurd? They were all just children!
Yet as a superpower of the Dou Qi Continent, the Hun Clan's laws of survival were this harsh.
To the Hun Clan, having children enlist at six would better cultivate their loyalty and turn them into killing machines who knew only slaughter and struck wherever they were directed.
The elderly Hun Clan man in charge of the testing waved his hand, signaling his assistants to take all the children away. However, he himself remained in the hall.
"What is it? Do you still have something to say?"
Hun Tiandi rose from the jade throne and was about to leave when he noticed that the Hun Clan elder had not departed. Looking at this capable aide before him, he asked the question aloud.
The Hun Clan elder hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. Finally, as though making up his mind, he said, "Clan Leader, there is one more Hun Clan descendant who awakened a Divine Grade Bloodline during this test!"
Hun Tiandi was not surprised. He asked curiously, "Then why was he not brought here to see me?"
In the vast Hun Clan, even an ordinary clansman, let alone one with a Divine Grade Bloodline, was qualified to come to this Sacred Hall and meet Hun Tiandi as long as he awakened a Ninth Grade Bloodline.
The Hun Clan elder wore a strange expression. "It is just that his cultivation is only Fighting Qi, First Stage?"
Upon hearing that someone had awakened a Divine Grade Bloodline yet possessed only Fighting Qi, First Stage, Hun Tiandi remained extraordinarily calm in the face of such a bizarre matter. He merely gave a soft "Oh."
The Hun Clan elder froze slightly and pondered for a while, unable to read the thoughts of the middle-aged man before him. Moreover, the man had his back to him.
The Hun Clan elder glanced toward the doors of the Sacred Hall. His heart softened, and he added, "His name is Hun... Han!"
As soon as the words fell, the temperature in the air seemed to drop by several degrees. A light breeze blew into the Sacred Hall, and the Hun Clan elder could not help but shiver.
Hun Tiandi did not turn around and continued to face away from the Hun Clan elder. His tone carried a trace of impatience. "You may leave now!"
"Clan Leader!"
Seeing Hun Tiandi's attitude, the Hun Clan elder said, "He is kneeling outside right now. He has no other request. Before leaving the Imperial Capital, he merely wishes to see you once. After this, who knows when he will be able to return? Why not grant him a meeting?"
Hun Tiandi still did not turn around. He said indifferently, "Enough. You may leave now!"
Hearing this, the Hun Clan elder grew even more anxious. "Although he awakened a Divine Grade Bloodline, his cultivation does not meet the standard. Even if you refuse to make an exception for him, you should at least see him once. After all, he is your child!"
Hun Tiandi became displeased. He turned around, glared at the Hun Clan elder, and rebuked him, "Elder Eighteen, have you gone senile? Have your ears stopped working? I already said it. You may leave now!"
Seeing Hun Tiandi like this, the Hun Clan elder still spoke bluntly, "Clan Leader, Young Master Hun Han has already said that if you refuse to see him, he will remain kneeling forever!"
"Hmph. If he likes kneeling, then let him kneel. If you try to persuade me again, do not think I would not dare break your legs!"
After saying this, Hun Tiandi fiercely flicked his sleeve. Without even glancing at the doors of the Sacred Hall, he turned and left.
"Sir, where are you going?"
"Where am I going? Young Master Hun Han has already been kneeling outside for an entire day. In the past, I received favors from his mother. If not for her, I would have died a thousand years ago. If this is Young Master Hun Han's heartfelt wish, then today, I must fulfill it for him!"
"Summon Young Master Hun Han for an audience!"
As a resounding voice rang out, Hun Han rose from the White Marble Slab. Looking up at the Hun Clan's Sacred Hall before him, he could not help feeling excited. What reward would I receive if I checked in on Hun Tiandi, one of the five strongest experts?
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