The Sixth Elder, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. Looking at the bright-eyed little boy on the platform, he broke into a smile.
In high spirits, he turned to a Li Family steward beside him and said, "Ninth-grade talent. I'd say this child looks promising."
The steward smiled and readily agreed. "That's right, Elder. The last time we found a child with ninth-grade talent was twenty years ago."
"Pity that child died while out gaining experience. Otherwise, the family might have another elder by now."
The Sixth Elder sighed regretfully.
The talent testing continued in full swing.
Unfortunately, an hour passed without another child displaying talent of any grade.
"Mother, why hasn't our turn come yet?"
Xingzong held his mother's hand and asked anxiously.
"We arrived late. It'll be our turn soon."
The woman stroked Xingzong's head and spoke gently.
Another quarter of an hour passed.
"Next, Li Xingzong!"
At the sound of his name, mother and son both perked up.
"Go on, Xingzong. You're your father's son. Don't let him down!"
Xingzong nodded and, encouraged by his mother's gaze, strode forward with his head held high and his chest puffed out.
"That child's no ordinary one. With so many people watching, he isn't the least bit nervous."
Someone praised him.
"That's right. Quite a few little ones before him were so nervous they burst into tears."
The needle pricked his finger. As Xingzong watched his blood drip onto the Talent Testing Stone, his heart pounded.
I have to pass!
I have to pass!
Xingzong stared fixedly at the Talent Testing Stone without blinking.
The talent stone began to flicker, glowing faintly red.
Once.
Twice.
Three times!
Four times!!
Five times!!!
"It flashed five times! It flashed five times! Am I seeing things?"
The Li Family cultivator in charge of the test rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"Eighth-grade talent! It's the legendary eighth-grade talent!"
Someone shouted first, and the atmosphere in the Branch Clan Ancestral Hall exploded.
Countless branch clan members began cheering wildly, waving their arms and dancing with joy.
Even the usually composed Sixth Elder was so startled that he sprang to his feet.
With a single leap, he landed on the talent testing platform, grabbed Xingzong's hand, and pressed it against the Talent Testing Stone.
The Talent Testing Stone flashed again—five times in a row.
Li Yanzhao trembled all over, scarcely daring to believe it. "Eighth-grade talent! It really is eighth-grade talent!"
"It seems Heaven truly favors the Green Maple Li Clan!"
"Child, your name is Li Xingzong, correct?"
Li Yanzhao asked, his voice trembling.
"Yes, Elder. My father named me Li Xingzong. He hoped I would bring honor to the clan."
Thinking of his father, who had met his end in a tiger's jaws, Xingzong's eyes reddened.
"Good child."
Li Yanzhao stroked Xingzong's head, his face filled with satisfaction.
"Your father has raised a pillar of our Li Family!"
With eighth-grade talent, Xingzong's advancement to the Qi and Blood Realm was all but certain, barring an untimely death.
After the family head, they now had one seventh-grade talent and one eighth-grade talent. The Li Family had a bright future ahead.
Xingzong rushed into his mother's arms. She had covered her mouth, unable to believe what was happening.
"Mother, I did it! I didn't let Father down! I'll work hard to grow stronger. I'll become someone who can help the family!"
The woman held Xingzong close and wept uncontrollably.
My dear, can you see? Your child has made something of himself!
A quarter of an hour later.
With the last child eliminated, this year's New Blood Selection Assembly officially came to an end.
The selection had yielded:
One eighth-grade talent (Li Xingzong)
One ninth-grade talent (Li Wu)
Eleven upper-grade talents (unnamed extras...)
All these children would be taken back to Green Maple Valley, and Li Xingzong and Li Wu would also be entered into the clan genealogy.
"Elder, this year's New Blood Selection Assembly has yielded more than any in previous years."
"In past years, it was considered good if the branch clans produced a few children with upper-grade talent."
"Last year, there were only three with upper-grade talent."
Children born to two ordinary people had an extremely low chance of possessing talent of any grade.
The steward marveled in astonishment.
"Ever since the family head took office, our Green Maple Li Clan has truly gone from strength to strength."
Hearing this, the Sixth Elder nodded in agreement.
Though the family head was only as old as his own son, the Sixth Elder admired and respected him immensely.
"By the way, Elder, shouldn't we take these new bloods back to the family at once?"
The steward suggested gravely.
The Sixth Elder suddenly realized the danger, and his expression turned somber.
"You're right. Good thing you reminded me. Send word to the family and have someone come to escort us. Also, relay my order: we return to the family immediately."
Eighth-grade talent was astonishingly rare.
The Li Family already had a Li Xinge who had grown into a powerful cultivator. If another, like Li Xingzong, appeared, many people would likely be unable to sit still.
Although the Li Family was powerful now, there were always people willing to take desperate risks.
After all, a genius who hadn't yet grown up wasn't a genius.
The party made no delay, racing back to the family with this batch of new blood.
Meanwhile, in a certain corner,
a flying eagle sped toward a distant destination.
White Wave Valley.
The home of the Baibo Song Clan.
A flying eagle landed atop a pavilion.
A middle-aged man came over, untied the message tube from the eagle's talon, and took out the secret letter inside.
He unfolded it. "The Li Family's new blood includes one eighth-grade talent and one ninth-grade talent. They have returned to Green Maple Valley."
The middle-aged man's pupils contracted. His face turned pale, then flushed.
The Song Family Council Hall.
Eight elders sat in orderly rows, their auras imposing and their expressions solemn.
The family head, Song Tianbo, sat in the main seat, his brows furrowed.
"Greetings, Family Head!"
The eight elders saluted in unison.
"This is an emergency, so let's dispense with formalities. Our informant reports that the Li Family's New Blood Selection Assembly produced a genius with eighth-grade talent!"
Song Tianbo spoke gravely.
His words instantly stunned several Song Family elders.
The Song Family's First Elder even plucked out a tuft of his white beard.
"What do you think our Song Family should do?"
The Song Family's Second Elder slapped the table and shouted, "What's there to think about? Family Head, this child absolutely cannot be allowed to live. One Li Xinge is already enough to leave us gasping for breath. If there's another, will our Song Family still have a place in Baihe County?"
"The Second Elder is right. Our Song Family has always been at odds with the Li Family. If the Li Family grows stronger, we'll be the first to suffer. Why not finish them off once and for all and wipe out this batch of new blood?"
The Fourth Elder made a slicing gesture across his throat.
"Family Head, I'm willing to go myself and cut down this looming threat!"
The Song Family's Second Elder clasped his fists and volunteered.
He was at the Great Perfection of Body Realm. In his eyes, the Li Family's Sixth Elder was no match for him.
"Family Head, if we attack, there'll truly be no turning back from a fight to the death with the Li Family."
The Song Family's First Elder spoke with deep concern.
"First Elder, you think too much and worry about every little thing. If we don't strike, do you think the Li Family will spare us once they gain the upper hand?"
The Second Elder rebuked him angrily.
"But the Supreme Elder is in seclusion and hasn't emerged yet. Shouldn't we wait until he comes out before deciding?"
The First Elder frowned.
"The Supreme Elder has been in seclusion for months. By the time he comes out, the day will be long gone."
"Exactly. We can't wait any longer. Family Head, give the order!"
Several elders spoke at once.
In the main seat, Song Tianbo drew a deep breath.
The elders watched him in silence, saying nothing more. They all understood that the decision their family head made now would determine the rise or fall of the Baibo Song Clan!
"Kill!"
Song Tianbo gritted his teeth.
The First Elder sighed. "Since the Family Head has made his decision, this old man will support him. Then we'll kill them. I'll make the trip."
As the Song Family's First Elder, his strength was naturally formidable. He was the third strongest, after the Song Family's Supreme Elder and Song Tianbo.
Song Tianbo waved a hand.
His gaze turned icy, killing intent surging. "I'll go myself!"
The other elders were startled.
Was it really necessary for a Qi and Blood Realm Cultivator of Song Tianbo's stature to deal with Li Yanzhao, who was only at the Body Realm? Wasn't that using a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken?
As if he had read their thoughts,
"Even a lion uses all its strength to hunt a rabbit. Now that we've decided to strike, we must ensure success. My going is the safest choice."
Song Tianbo's eyes gleamed.
"The Family Head is wise!"
Before you continue