Selection Begins, Ninth-grade Talent

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the Li Family's New Blood Selection Assembly.

The Sixth Elder, Li Yanzhao, along with dozens of Li Family cultivators, had arrived at Li Family Town a day in advance.

Li Family Town was the town with the most collateral branch members of the Li Family, with a population of about fifty thousand.

Early in the morning.

Li Family members who had rushed from all directions surrounded the ancestral hall of the Li Family's collateral branches so tightly that no one could get through.

At this moment, Li Yanzhao and the others had not yet entered, but they were already excitedly chatting with their acquaintances.

"I heard that the Sixth Elder is presiding over this New Blood Selection Assembly?"

A collateral branch member, holding a child's hand, asked curiously.

"That's right. The Sixth Elder is the youngest elder in the main lineage. It's rumored in the outside world that the Sixth Elder will become the youngest Qi and Blood Realm cultivator after the Patriarch of the main lineage."

"Speaking of the Patriarch of the main lineage, he's truly remarkable. At such a young age, he can lead the main lineage and wield great power."

A slightly younger collateral branch member said enviously.

"That's true. With the talent of the Patriarch of the main lineage, even the legendary Innate Realm is highly possible. Then, the Green Maple Li Clan's reputation will spread throughout the prefectures and counties."

"Who do you think among these children has a chance to pass the main lineage's new blood selection and return to the main lineage?"

A busybody whispered.

"I think the mayor's son has a chance. I heard that at a young age, he possesses monstrous strength, and several strong adult men can't beat him. Moreover, I also heard the mayor say that his ancestors were from the same lineage as the Patriarch of the main lineage, and by seniority, he should call the Patriarch of the main lineage 'grandfather'."

"He really knows how to leverage connections. He's so old, and he's not even ashamed!"

Someone immediately scoffed.

"Leveraging the Patriarch of the main lineage is nothing to be ashamed of. He is a dragon among men. Let alone us mortals, which of those noble families doesn't want to connect with him?"

"Li Chengjia's daughter from the east of the town is also good. At such a young age, her swordsmanship is already masterful."

"Little Long from the next town also has a chance."

Outside Li Family Town.

"Xingzong, we're almost there. That's Li Family Town up ahead."

A woman carrying a bundle pointed to the town not far away and said to the young man beside her.

"I know, Mother."

Xingzong's small face was incredibly determined.

"You must strive to pass the selection, return to the main clan, and bring peace to your father's spirit in heaven."

The woman said, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Mother, don't worry, I won't disappoint you again."

Xingzong clenched his fists in secret.

Collateral Branch Ancestral Hall.

"Silence! The Sixth Elder has arrived!"

A loud voice rang out, and the previously noisy ancestral hall fell silent in an instant.

Everyone consciously made way.

Dozens of Li Family cultivators calmly walked through the crowd, hands on their waist knives, and stood on both sides of the ancestral hall.

The stern-faced Sixth Elder strode forward, first cupping his hands in a salute towards the collateral branch ancestral hall.

Then, with imposing authority, he said, "I am the Sixth Elder of the main lineage, Li Yanzhao. By order of the Patriarch of the main lineage, I will preside over this New Blood Selection Assembly!"

Although his voice was not loud, it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Greetings, Sixth Elder!"

The tens of thousands of people present bowed in unison, their voices echoing through the sky, shaking the heavens.

"I will first explain the rules of the New Blood Selection Assembly. Regardless of gender, any collateral branch member between the ages of five and ten can participate in the new blood selection."

"Participants in the new blood selection will drip their blood onto the Talent Testing Stone. If the Talent Testing Stone flashes once, it indicates inferior talent; twice for average; three times for superior; and four times means the talent is graded!"

"Those whose talent is graded can directly pass the selection, be recorded in the family tree, and receive focused training from the family."

"Those with superior talent will receive treatment equivalent to ordinary members of the main lineage!"

"Those with average or inferior talent will not qualify. However, you don't need to be discouraged. If you can break through to the Body Forging Realm before the age of ten, you can also return to the main clan."

"Do you all understand?"

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"Understood!"

Everyone said in unison.

Li Yanzhao nodded: "Now I announce, the Green Maple Li Clan's one hundred and seventy-first New Blood Selection Assembly officially begins!"

As Li Yanzhao's voice fell, the deafening sound of firecrackers erupted with a crackle.

After the firecrackers finished, the talent test began.

"First up, Li Le'an!"

A steward of the Li Family called out loudly.

A boy, about six or seven years old, walked up with a nervous expression. He tremblingly extended his hand and closed his eyes.

The Li Family cultivator responsible for the talent test pricked his finger with a needle. Blood dripped onto the Talent Testing Stone. The stone flickered once and then showed no further reaction.

"Li Le'an, lower-grade talent, disqualified! Next!"

The cultivator shook his head and announced.

His words were like the pronouncement of the god of fate, cold and merciless.

Li Le'an walked off the stage with red eyes, holding his somewhat disappointed father, and burst into tears!

"Li Ze'an, middle-grade talent, disqualified, next!"

"Li Shan, lower-grade talent, disqualified, next!"

"Li Heng, lower-grade talent, disqualified, next!"

"Li Yuzhen, upper-grade talent, qualified!"

After more than twenty children were filtered out consecutively, the first child to pass the selection appeared.

His parents were overjoyed, tears streaming down their faces.

The crowd around them also cast envious glances. With such a promising child, their future would be secure.

Li Yanzhao remained calm.

Upper-grade talent meant their potential was capped at the Body Realm, not enough to move him.

"Next, Li Zhe, middle-grade talent, disqualified!"

"...Disqualified!"

"Li Xuanzhong, upper-grade talent, qualified!"

"...Disqualified!"

"...Disqualified!"

"Next, Li Wu!"

A sturdy, robust child with a face like a tiger's head walked onto the stage. He fearlessly and proactively extended his hand.

Someone immediately recognized him.

"That's the town mayor's son!"

"People outside say this child has been blessed with supernatural strength since he was young. Now it seems those rumors weren't baseless. He's only seven or eight, but his build is like that of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old."

"What good is being strong if your talent isn't enough to pass?"

Someone said with a hint of sourness.

However, the results of the talent test quickly proved them wrong.

After Li Wu's blood dripped onto the Talent Testing Stone, it flickered four times in succession, causing an uproar!

"My goodness, his talent has a rank!"

Someone exclaimed loudly, and the crowd erupted as if a pot had boiled over.

"Ninth-grade talent! As expected, another Fourth Elder in the future!"

"The Fourth Elder was also tested with ninth-grade talent back then, and he was then heavily cultivated by the clan, becoming a prominent figure with immense power!"

"I knew the town mayor's son was extraordinary, I didn't expect him to leap over the dragon gate so suddenly!"

"That's not what you were saying just now!"

Someone teased.

Li Wu's father, the mayor of Li Family Town, couldn't believe it and slapped himself hard.

The stinging pain confirmed he wasn't dreaming.

He knelt on the ground without any pretense and cried out loud: "Ancestors, did you see? After a hundred years, my branch can finally return to the ancestral land!"

No one mocked his lack of composure; instead, their eyes held only pure envy and jealousy.

Returning to the ancestral land and bringing glory to the family was the dream of every collateral branch of the Li Family.

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