Scorning Your Youth and Poverty

"Clan Leader."

"The Garrison General holds an exalted position. Even the prefect must show him some respect. I'm merely a Martial Academy disciple who hasn't even reached Sixth-Rank Martial Master—how could I possibly provoke him?" Wu Yuan asked in return.

Wu Qiming stared at Wu Yuan, trying to discern some clue from his eyes.

Unfortunately, all he saw was tranquility.

"Then why did General Xu suddenly invite me to a banquet tonight? And why did he specifically instruct me to bring you?" Wu Qiming explained the reason.

Wu Yuan immediately understood.

Li City Prefecture had four great powers: the prefect, the Prefectural Assistant, the Prefectural Commandant, and the Garrison General.

The first three were led by the prefect and controlled Li City's authority. Though the Garrison General seemingly could not interfere in local affairs, the absolute military force of the six hundred Nanmeng Army soldiers under his command made even the prefect unwilling to clash with him.

When such a great figure hosted a private banquet, he normally invited only the top ten leading lineages of Li City.

The Wu Clan? They did not even rank among the top hundred lineages!

Naturally, Wu Qiming believed Wu Yuan had offended the Garrison General. Otherwise, why would they suddenly receive an invitation?

"Clan Leader, if you insist on linking me to General Xu, it can only be because of my competition with Xu Yuanhan..." Wu Yuan said calmly, swiftly explaining his "grudge" with Xu Yuanhan.

In truth, the two could hardly be said to have any grudge. They had rarely crossed paths before.

However.

Each prefecture's Martial Academy only had one quota to enter Cloud Martial Hall each year!

This was a conflict of interests.

"Cloud Martial Hall? First place in the competition?" Wu Qiming had secured his position as clan leader through no small amount of shrewdness. In a single thought, he understood the cause and effect.

With the Garrison General's capabilities, sending his son into Hengyun Sect would be as easy as turning his hand over!

But how could an ordinary sect disciple compare to a Cloud Martial Hall disciple?

As the sect's highest-level Martial Academy, Cloud Martial Hall gave its disciples all manner of resources and martial arts manuals ten times greater than those available to ordinary disciples.

"Wu Yuan, come to the banquet with me later. No matter what happens, do not act rashly without my signal," Wu Qiming said in a low voice. "Do you understand?"

"I understand, Clan Leader." Wu Yuan smiled. "The Garrison General is someone I cannot afford to offend, and neither can our Wu Clan. For my mother and younger sister, for the lineage, no matter how great the humiliation, I will endure it."

The Garrison General? At the peak of his previous life, why would Wu Yuan have cared?

But.

Circumstances were stronger than men. No matter how superb Wu Yuan's Martial Arts Technique was, he could not overcome a gap of dozens of times in physical strength and defeat a Fourth-Rank Expert.

Therefore, when one's strength was insufficient, one had to endure what needed enduring.

What was more, Wu Yuan had to consider his family's safety.

"Wu Yuan, you needn't worry too much. The Martial Academy Grand Competition involves too many interests, so General Xu may not dare interfere," Wu Qiming said softly. "Perhaps he invited us for some other matter."

Wu Yuan nodded without arguing.

Some other matter?

The possibility was far too small!

"Let's go. We shouldn't arrive too late." Wu Qiming gestured to the coachman in the distance, who slowly drove the carriage over.

Whoosh!

With a tap of his toes, Wu Yuan leaped into the carriage compartment.

A trace of worry showed on Wu Qiming's face as he climbed into the carriage step by step using the mounting stool. As the head of a lineage, he had to maintain the proper bearing.

Xu Manor was resplendent and magnificent, brightly lit throughout.

As guests of comparatively low status, Wu Qiming consciously brought Wu Yuan early. There was none of the anticipated humiliation. The steward of Xu Manor courteously led them to seats at the end, serving tea and pastries.

Time passed. Guests came and went like clouds, and important figures rarely seen in Li City arrived one after another.

In the end.

Even the prefect and Prefectural Assistant came, and General Xu personally went out to receive them.

This banquet allowed Wu Yuan to truly witness the standards of this world's "upper society."

Music and dances came one after another, while the singing girls were enchanting without being vulgar.

All kinds of delicacies rarely seen even along the streets were brought out without end.

Even Wu Qiming, a clan leader, felt somewhat restrained at such a lavish and grand banquet. It exceeded his imagination; even the Wu Clan's main branch annual celebration could not compare to today.

Wu Yuan, however, did not care much.

As the banquet went on, Wu Yuan grew increasingly drowsy. In his previous life, he had seen song and dance a hundred times more exquisite and attended banquets more than ten times as extravagant.

"This world surpasses ancient dynasties by far. This is only a prefectural city; there are also prefectural capitals with populations of several million. Yet no matter how extravagant or grand they are, they likely cannot rival the Supernet celebrations formed through the Metaverse." Wu Yuan watched coldly from the sidelines.

The music ended and the crowd dispersed.

The banquet lasted into the night. At last, Wu Yuan and Wu Qiming received the steward's separate invitation to speak in the side hall.

Both of them understood. It had come!

Xu Manor occupied dozens of acres. Beyond the residence lay artificial hills and winding corridors, waterside pavilions and lofty towers. Yet the deeper they went, the simpler the arrangements and decorations became, and the more they carried the grim, murderous air of a military formation.

"Clan Leader Wu, Young Master Wu, this way, please." The gentle-faced Steward Xu, dressed in a purple robe, led them onward.

They entered the side hall.

Unlike the clamor of the front hall, it was rather quiet here.

"Wu Qiming greets General Xu and Dean Zhang." Wu Qiming first bowed respectfully, then straightened and bent slightly at the waist.

Wu Yuan followed suit.

The only thing that surprised Wu Yuan was that the Martial Academy's dean was here as well.

"Clan Leader Wu, you are too courteous. Please, sit."

General Xu's voice rang like a great bell. He was powerfully built, and his square face bore an eighty-percent resemblance to Xu Yuanhan's.

Though dressed in casual clothes, the invisible aura Wu Yuan sensed from him was like that of a Fierce Beast—far more terrifying than the Martial Academy dean, Zhang Da, beside him!

Hengyun Sect Law: Only Fourth-Rank Martial Artists and above may serve as Garrison Generals of prefectural cities.

The Thirteen Prefectures of the Central Land had nine ranks of martial arts!

Ninth-Rank, Eighth-Rank, and Seventh-Rank were collectively known as Martial Warriors. Ordinary people who tempered their sinews and bones had hope of reaching them.

The Sixth-Rank could be called Martial Masters, marking a true step through the gate of martial arts.

Upon reaching Fifth-Rank, one entered the hall and joined the ranks. Anywhere under heaven, such a person could be called a Proficient Expert!

As for Fourth-Rank Martial Artists?

At the peak of my previous life, even my pure physical abilities probably could not compare to this General Xu. This thought flashed through Wu Yuan's mind.

In terms of physique, humans of the Central Land World were much stronger. An adult man could easily possess the strength of a thousand jin.

"I have long heard that the Martial Academy produced a martial arts genius who experienced Aperture Awakening this year. Today, I finally get to meet him." General Xu smiled, his gaze falling upon Wu Yuan.

"In the General's presence, he does not dare call himself a genius," Wu Qiming hurriedly said.

"Brother Wu need not be modest. Among all the Martial Academy disciples I have seen over the years, Wu Yuan ranks among the very best." The Black Robed Elder, Zhang Da, chuckled from the side.

"It is because Dean Zhang taught him well," Wu Qiming said.

"A master leads one through the gate, but cultivation depends on the individual. Without Wu Yuan's own efforts, even if I wished to teach him, I could not," Dean Zhang said with a smile.

As Wu Qiming listened, he grew more puzzled.

Wu Yuan's martial arts talent was indeed dazzling. Especially over the past month or so, the speed of his progress had been simply terrifying.

But no matter how great his talent was, it was not strength. He had not even reached Sixth-Rank Martial Master, so why were the dignified Garrison General and Martial Academy dean praising him in turn?

One had to know.

These two were both genuine martial arts powerhouses!

"General Xu, Dean Zhang." Wu Qiming smiled with a touch of flattery. "Since you summoned Wu Yuan and me here, there must be an important matter. Please, give your instructions."

He went straight to the point.

"Fine, then I'll speak plainly." Dean Zhang's expression carried a trace of solemnity. "This year's Martial Academy Grand Competition is approaching. With Wu Yuan's strength, he has a great chance of taking first place and then entering Cloud Martial Hall for cultivation."

"However, if you enter Cloud Martial Hall now, you will only be an ordinary disciple."

"And next year marks the three-hundredth anniversary of our Hengyun Sect, a matter of utmost importance to the sect."

"Therefore, General Xu, the prefect, and I have discussed this. We hope that you, Wu Yuan, can give up this year's competition and cultivate for another year at the Prefectural Sect Martial Academy! A year from now, your strength will certainly be greater than it is now. You will have every chance to compete for Number One of the Four Prefectures in the Prefectures Grand Competition. When that time comes, entering Cloud Martial Hall as the top-ranked contestant will be an honor for all of Li City! You will also receive more cultivation resources, so it would be quite suitable for you as well." Dean Zhang spoke with sincerity.

After the first-place disciples from Martial Academy Grand Competitions across the various regions entered Cloud Martial Hall, they would compete once again. This was called the Prefectures Grand Competition.

The so-called Four Prefectures referred to the lands of the four prefectures once governed by Hengyun Sect.

Taking first place meant becoming the most outstanding disciple admitted by Cloud Martial Hall that year. Naturally, one would attract great attention, especially with the sect's three-hundredth anniversary celebration at hand.

Dean Zhang's words sounded grand and righteous.

But how could Wu Qiming and Wu Yuan fail to understand the deeper meaning?

Hengyun Sect Law: Those over sixteen years old may not enter Cloud Martial Hall.

Xu Yuanhan was already fifteen this year.

If this were truly for Wu Yuan's benefit, why invite the two of them to Xu Manor for a banquet? Why did the Garrison General need to personally appear? One had to know that, according to the law, the General's Mansion could not interfere in Martial Academy affairs.

All of this was merely using the banquet's imposing display to make Wu Qiming and Wu Yuan fearful, so they would not dare refuse lightly.

"Dean Zhang."

Wu Qiming gritted his teeth and lowered his head. "It is not that Wu Yuan is unwilling to bring glory to the Martial Academy, but his family is poor, and our Wu Clan is also a small household. It is difficult for us to support him with all our strength. Without external resources, even if he cultivates at the Martial Academy for another year, I fear he will struggle to contend for Number One of the Four Prefectures. It would be better for him to enter Cloud Martial Hall this year. Once he grows stronger in the future, he will still bring honor to Li City."

Wu Yuan looked at Wu Qiming with slight astonishment. The clan leader actually had the courage to refuse?

"You do not trust me?" Zhang Da narrowed his eyes slightly, and his aura subtly changed.

Sweat faintly seeped from Wu Qiming's forehead. He felt as if a fierce tiger were staring at him.

"It is not that I do not trust you. It is simply that martial arts cultivation is like sailing against the current—if one does not advance, one retreats. Entering Cloud Martial Hall a year late would have too great an impact on Wu Yuan." Wu Qiming hardened his heart.

He knew refusing would bring great trouble.

But in his heart, Wu Yuan's future was more important!

"Clan Leader Wu has made deep plans for Wu Yuan. Xu admires that." General Xu spoke, his voice gentle. "However, since Wu Yuan will bring glory to Li City, the people of Li City will not ignore his contributions. We will grant him five thousand taels of silver to provide for his cultivation needs this year."

As he spoke, General Xu swept his gaze toward the side.

Creak— The side door opened, and a servant respectfully presented a thick stack of banknotes. Each was marked "hundred taels," and the corner of every note bore the anti-counterfeiting words "Starry Group."

Five thousand taels? Wu Qiming's breathing caught!

Wu Yuan's eyes also shifted slightly.

For every branch of the Li City Wu Clan combined to gather such a huge sum, they would have to sell off their family property.

This was an enormous fortune!

"Wu Yuan, are you willing?" General Xu looked directly at Wu Yuan.

P.S. During the new book period, there will be two chapters a day.