Unparalleled Value! A Promise Forged in an Instant

At the Cao Family's seat, Cao Ying, who had been lazily playing with the jade beads, suddenly tightened her slender fingers!

"Smack!"

With a soft crack, the smooth and resilient jade bead was instantly crushed into dust by the sudden burst of power she unconsciously unleashed! Yet, she was completely unaware of this!

At this moment, Cao Ying's eyes, which were originally full of demonic charm and seemed indifferent to everything, were now wide open. All her laziness and casualness had disappeared, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity, astonishment, and even... a hint of shock that she herself was unwilling to admit!

Her gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, was fixed on Lin Ming, who stood in the eye of the storm before the Stone Stele, his figure somewhat blurred due to the Space Distortion.

This time, she not only misjudged him, but completely miscalculated! The Soul Power hidden by this young man Lin Ming had reached such an exaggerated and unbelievable level! It was not just surpassing her, but reaching a height that even she found somewhat suffocating!

An invisible Soul Storm caused an uproar throughout the venue, and everyone was shaken to their core by this sudden and astonishing phenomenon.

After a long while, the raging Soul Storm gradually subsided like a tide, and after several tens of seconds, it finally dissipated completely, leaving only the slightly distorted and slowly calming space, proving that everything just now was not an illusion.

The moment the Soul Storm completely dissipated, Lin Ming slowly withdrew his hand that had been touching the Stone Stele Mirror Disk.

A careful observer might notice that, in the instant he withdrew his hand, a tiny crack, finer than a hair, appeared in the center of the incredibly hard Soul Testing Crystal Tablet Mirror Disk, which was said to be able to withstand the full force of Dou Venerate's attack. It flashed by in an instant.

But at this moment, no one cared about such a trivial detail! Everyone's gaze was fixed on the smooth Mirror Disk, as if frozen in place, filled with endless shock and bewilderment!

There, a blood-red number, seemingly formed from boiling blood, remained frozen in time, clear and startling, like a brand.

2499!!!

The blood-red numbers, radiating a chilling light, struck the hearts of everyone present like an invisible hammer!

The entire hall fell into an even more deathly silence than when the Soul Storm had swept through!

All eyes seemed to freeze in that instant, fixed on that unbelievable number, unable to look away even a fraction. The only sound in the air was the heavy, disordered breathing of those utterly shocked.

The deathly silence lasted for a full moment in the hall before being broken by a series of gasps filled with extreme horror!

"Hiss--!"

"Two... two thousand four hundred and ninety-nine?!"

"My God! Am I seeing things?!"

"This... how is this possible?! It's more than twice as high as Miss Cao Ying's record from back then?!"

"A monster! This is a true monster!"

Countless gazes, filled with undisguised shock and awe, turned in unison to the slightly gaunt figure before the Stone Stele. At this moment, no one thought his previous question was a publicity stunt; it was clearly a statement of fact based on absolute power!

2499!

This number not only far surpasses Cao Ying's record of 976, but also reaches a height that leaves later generations feeling hopeless!

This is no longer just breaking a record; it elevates the record to an awe-inspiring, almost mythical level!

When Cao Ying's gaze fell upon the blood-red, almost purplish number, her delicate body trembled violently. The shock on her exquisite face froze for a long time before she mechanically and stiffly turned her neck to look at Lin Ming, who had already withdrawn his hand and regained his composure. Her red lips parted slightly, and with a trembling voice that even she herself could hardly believe, almost speechless, she murmured:

"This... this... this is really a level of soul power that a human... can achieve?"

Cao Dan, standing behind him, was already dumbfounded, staring at the numbers on the Stone Stele like a clay sculpture, his mind completely blank.

It wasn't until he heard Cao Ying's incredulous murmur that he snapped back to reality, his heart clenching as if gripped by an icy hand! He knew Cao Ying's extremely aloof personality all too well; to have someone of her generation so utterly disoriented and unable to believe it... Lin Ming was absolutely the first! And the only one!

At the Ye Family's table, Ye Zhong, who had been on edge the whole time and almost crushed the armrest, and Xin Lan, whose palms were sweating profusely with nervousness, were also utterly shocked by the dreamlike numbers before them. Their mouths were agape, and they couldn't close them for a long time.

However, unlike the pure shock of the others, beneath that unparalleled awe came a torrent of ecstasy and relief! The heavy burden that had been weighing on their hearts, almost suffocating them, was utterly shattered at this moment by this dazzling, almost unreal number!

"That's great... that's great! The Ye Family... the Ye Family is saved!!!" Ye Zhong was so excited that tears streamed down his face, and his whole body was trembling uncontrollably. All the worries, humiliations, and despair he had felt over the past few days finally vanished completely at this moment!

He believed that with Lin Ming's extraordinary and almost monstrous level of skill, getting into the top three in the remaining two assessments would be a piece of cake! The Ye Family was saved!

Beside the Stone Stele, Elder Sheng stared blankly at the blood-red "2499," remaining motionless for a long time, as if he had turned into a statue.

After a long while, he finally turned around with difficulty. His eyes, which had seen the vicissitudes of life, now looked at Lin Ming with an unusually hot and burning gaze, even... carrying a hint of indescribable excitement!

2499!

Most of the younger generation present might not fully understand the terrifying meaning behind this number, but as Eight Great Elders of the Pill Tower, Soul Realm had already entered the Spirit Realm for many years, he understood it all too well!

This value indicates that Lin Ming's Soul Power has not only entered the Spirit Realm, but is by no means a beginner! The strength and quality of his Soul Power are probably... no less than that of a veteran Spirit Realm Soul powerhouse like himself!

Moreover, what made Elder Sheng's heart pound the most was Lin Ming's age!

To have one's soul reach such an astonishing level at such a young age is an extremely rare occurrence in the entire history of the Pill Tower! What does this mean?

This means that after discovering the Demoness Cao Ying, Pill Tower has unexpectedly encountered an even more monstrous and terrifyingly talented prodigy!

This child has limitless potential! He will surely stir up a storm on this Dou Qi Continent!

Elder Sheng's gaze was as if he were looking at a rare treasure. He had already made up his mind that no matter what, he would firmly tie this boy to the Pill Tower! The fate of the Ye Family had already undergone a tremendous reversal because of this boy's appearance! And the future of the Pill Tower might also be even more glorious because of him!

"Haha! Good! Good! Excellent!"

Elder Sheng's loud laughter, brimming with barely suppressed excitement and joy, echoed like a resounding bell within the hall, shattering the deathly silence brought about by the terrifying Soul Value.

He said "good" three times in a row, his wrinkled face flushed with excitement, and he kept stroking his long, snow-white beard. The way he looked at Lin Ming was as if he were looking at a rare treasure, full of undisguised admiration and amazement.

"At such a young age, to have reached such an astonishing level of Soul Power is simply unheard of and unseen! If this achievement were reported to the Tower, even those old fellows who have been in seclusion for years would probably be alarmed!" Elder Sheng's mind raced, already foreseeing the enormous shock that the name Lin Ming would cause among the higher-ups of the Pill Tower.

He barely suppressed his excitement, turning his gaze to the other four examinees on the field, whose faces were still somewhat pale and whose eyes held complex emotions. His voice regained its usual composure, but anyone could hear the lingering astonishment within it:

"First item, the soul test, let's continue. However..."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over Dan Xuan, Cao Xiu, Bai Ying, and Qiu Ji, then looking at the still glaringly red "2499" on the Crystal Stone. A meaningful smile appeared on his face as he slowly said:

"I think that even if the people from your Four Great Families haven't started testing yet, the result... shouldn't be able to surpass Lin Ming, who represents the Ye Family, in first place, right?"

The question was asked calmly, yet it felt like an invisible needle piercing the hearts of the four. A bitter, helpless smile appeared on Dan Xuan's lips, Cao Xiu slowly loosened his clenched fist, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and Bai Ying and Qiu Ji lowered their heads, not even having the courage to meet Elder Sheng's gaze.

Surpass? What can they possibly surpass? It's a number that makes their necks ache just looking up at it! It's a complete, utter, and utterly crushing defeat!

Elder Sheng took in the four people's reactions, understood, and continued with a smile, "Furthermore, I must also congratulate my young friend Lin Ming. You have created a record that is unprecedented in the history of the Five Great Families Assessment, and I'm afraid... it will never be repeated!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a solemn declaration. "In my opinion, this record, let alone a hundred years, even hundreds or thousands of years from now, will never be broken by anyone in this test! It will become an eternal legend!"

Elder Sheng's words, like the final hammer blow, struck the hearts of everyone in the hall. The crowd looked at each other, their faces filled with shock and complex emotions. They gazed at the composed and independent young man in the blue robe in the center of the hall, and then at Ye Zhong and Xin Lan, who were so excited they were almost fainting, on the Ye Family's side. An indescribable feeling welled up in their hearts.

The Ye Family is truly like a centipede that doesn't die easily! At this seemingly hopeless juncture, they somehow managed to summon such a terrifyingly incomprehensible ally from who-knows-where!

Judging from the phenomenal Soul Power he displayed in this first test, the next two tests will probably just be a formality for him. Entering the top three? That's a foregone conclusion!

If the Ye Family passes this assessment and retains its position as one of the Five Great Families, it will be like a withered tree coming back to life, regaining time to breathe and develop, and possessing the capital and strength to continue to survive!

Just as everyone was lost in thought, pondering how the fate of the Ye Family would be altered and how the landscape of the Pill Region might undergo subtle changes, a delicate voice, uniquely magnetic yet crystal clear, suddenly broke the silence.

Elder Sheng.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, and the one who spoke was none other than Cao Ying, the alluring and aloof woman in a black dress sitting at the Cao Family's table.

At this moment, Cao Ying had sat up straight again, the shock and astonishment on her face had faded, and she had regained her usual languid and unfathomable demeanor.

However, when she looked at Lin Ming with her long, narrow, beautiful eyes, there was less of the previous condescension and more of a genuine, serious gaze.

She parted her red lips slightly, her voice soft, yet instantly drawing everyone's attention. "I don't think there's any need to continue the assessment."

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over Cao Xiu in the arena, before turning back to Elder Sheng, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable resolve:

"I, Cao Ying, on behalf of the Cao Family, hereby concede defeat to Lin Ming in this Five Great Families Assessment!"

"Whoosh--!"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the audience!

The Cao Family! The Cao Family, currently the most powerful and influential of the Five Great Families! They actually conceded defeat to the Ye Family after only the first part of the assessment?! And it was Cao Ying, Demoness proud and arrogant leader of the younger generation of the Cao Family, who personally made the offer!

This is absolutely unprecedented!

However, something even more unexpected happened next.

The moment Cao Ying finished speaking, Dan Chen, the quiet and delicate girl who had always been as innocent as a white flower, slowly stood up from the Dan Family's seats.

She seemed a little uncomfortable being watched by so many people; a faint blush rose on her fair cheeks, and her small hands nervously gripped the hem of her clothes. But when she raised her eyes and looked at Lin Ming in the arena, her clear eyes were unusually firm.

She took a deep breath and, with her timid yet exceptionally clear voice, tried her best to make her voice carry throughout the hall:

"I... I also represent the Dan Family to concede defeat to Lin Ming in this assessment."

Although Dan Chen's voice was soft, the meaning it contained was no less than Cao Ying's admission of defeat! The Dan Family, an ancient family that was as famous as the Cao Family and whose foundation was unfathomable, had actually chosen to admit defeat directly!

No one in the Cao Family seats dared to voice any objection to Cao Ying's actions, and Cao Dan kept his head down, not daring to make eye contact with anyone.

Upon hearing Dan Chen's statement, the Dan Family members, including the gentle Dan Xuan, merely sighed slightly. Although their faces showed helplessness, they did not object. They knew very well that in the face of an absolute difference in strength, forcibly struggling would only lead to humiliation.

With the Cao Family and Dan Family, the two strongest families, conceding defeat one after another, the outcome is no longer in doubt! The Ye Family, represented by Lin Ming, has at least secured a top-three position! This fully satisfies the core condition for the Ye Family to retain its Elder Seat!

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the leaders of the Bai Family and Qiu Family families exchanged glances, both seeing the bitterness and determination in each other's eyes.

The man from the Bai Family named Bai Ying took a deep breath, stepped forward, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Elder Sheng, saying, "Elder Sheng, the Bai Family... concedes defeat."

Immediately following suit, Qiu Ji of the Qiu Family also chimed in, his voice hoarse, "The Qiu Family... also concedes defeat."

They knew very well that even the Cao Family and Dan Family had bowed their heads. If they didn't know what was good for them, not only would they not be able to change the outcome of the Ye Family retaining their seats, but they would also appear overconfident and needlessly offend the rising Lin Ming and the Cao and Dan families who had voluntarily conceded defeat. Naturally, they wouldn't do something so foolish.

At this point, of the Five Great Families that participated in the assessment, the other four all collectively admitted defeat to Lin Ming after the first soul test!

The entire hall became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. All eyes were fixed on the young man in the blue robe in the center, their gazes filled with awe, wonder, and disbelief.

Just one round of testing! Just one demonstration of that terrifying Soul Power!

Lin Ming, with such an overwhelming and bloodless manner, preserved the vital position of the Five Great Families Elder Seat for the Ye Family, which was on the verge of collapse!

He fulfilled his promise to Xin Lan and the entire Ye Family!

Elder Sheng stared at this dramatic scene for a moment, then a smile of immense satisfaction and delight spread across his face. His gaze swept over the four families who had conceded defeat, finally settling on Lin Ming, and his booming voice resounded throughout the hall:

"Since the Cao Family, the Dan Family, the Bai Family, and the Qiu Family have all admitted defeat, then I hereby announce—"

"The Ye Family has emerged victorious in this Five Great Families Assessment! They have successfully retained their Elder Seat!"

"And in this assessment, the one who ranks first overall is Lin Ming, the representative of the Ye Family!"

As the voice faded, the suppressed joy and excitement at the Ye Family's seats finally erupted like a volcano! Ye Zhong, tears streaming down his face, trembled all over and bowed deeply in Lin Ming's direction! Xin Lan was overjoyed and wept, her pretty face radiating unprecedented brilliance and hope.

Lin Ming stood in the center of the arena, feeling the countless gazes converging upon him, each with its own distinct meaning, yet his face remained calm and serene. It was as if this result, which was enough to shake the entire Pill Region, was merely a trivial matter to him.

His gaze swept across the crowd, met Xin Lan's eyes, and he smiled slightly.

The promise has been fulfilled. His journey is far from over. This Pill Region, and indeed the entire Middle Continent, will surely be made more vibrant by his example!