Yan Qi

Several hundred miles from Linyang City.

In a mountain forest, a youth in blue stepped out.

The youth was Su Mo.

Glancing in the direction of Linyang City, Su Mo's face turned icy.

"Wei family, when I return again, it will be the day your entire family is wiped out."

Taking a deep breath, Su Mo got his bearings and strode away.

In the south of Tian Yue Kingdom lay a vast lake called Star Water Lake. Star Water Lake was enormous, spanning more than three thousand li in every direction and occupying nearly one-fifth of Tian Yue Kingdom's territory.

Star Water Lake was tremendously famous in Tian Yue Kingdom, not only because of its vastness, but also because Wind Ling Island, one of Tian Yue Kingdom's Four Great Sects, was situated within the lake.

By Star Water Lake stood a city called Linshui City.

Linshui City was exceedingly prosperous. The streets flowed endlessly with traffic, carriages and horses packed together, with people everywhere.

"As expected of a major city. Linyang City simply cannot compare!"

As Su Mo walked through Linshui City's streets, he was like a country bumpkin entering the city, looking left and right with endless curiosity.

Linyang City was merely a remote small city with around three hundred thousand residents, while Linshui City was a major city with a population exceeding two million. The two were as far apart as heaven and earth, impossible to mention in the same breath.

At this moment, Su Mo was covered in dust from travel, his face somewhat weary.

After more than ten days of traveling, he had finally arrived in Linshui City.

Linshui City was the city closest to Wind Ling Island. At the docks outside the city were ferries that could travel directly to Wind Ling Island.

Su Mo arrived at the docks, where a sea of people had gathered—no fewer than several hundred.

The hundreds of people surrounded a large wooden sign erected at the docks, reading something on it.

When Su Mo stepped forward to look, he found that it was a notice posted by Wind Ling Island. It stated that at dawn two days later, Wind Ling Island would send a warship here to collect disciples taking the examination.

Su Mo understood. Countless people had come to Wind Ling Island to take the assessment, so Wind Ling Island naturally had to make unified arrangements.

Shortly afterward, Su Mo found an inn and rented a superior room.

He then ordered several dishes and some wine. Sitting by a window in the main hall, Su Mo enjoyed his food and drink while listening to the noisy discussions around him.

This inn was called Laibin Inn, and its furnishings were extremely luxurious.

Business at the inn was booming. The main hall was packed to overflowing, and many of the guests were young men and women, each looking road-weary. They had clearly come from afar to participate in Wind Ling Island's entrance examination as well.

"I heard Wind Ling Island has raised its standards for recruiting disciples this year?"

"Isn't that so? In previous years, the minimum requirement for Martial Soul grade was Human Grade Fourth Tier. This year, it has been raised to Human Grade Fifth Tier!"

"Wind Ling Island used to recruit a thousand disciples each time, but this year it is only taking five hundred. They seek excellence rather than numbers, so naturally the standards have risen."

Hearing the discussions around him, Su Mo could not help but feel surprised.

A Human Grade Fifth Tier Martial Soul was something rarely seen in Linyang City even once in several decades. Among the younger generation, Su Yu alone possessed a Human Grade Fifth Tier Martial Soul.

Yet among the disciples Wind Ling Island was recruiting this year, a Human Grade Fifth Tier Martial Soul was merely the minimum requirement.

Su Mo marveled. As expected of one of Tian Yue Kingdom's Four Great Sects.

At the same time, Su Mo secretly felt excited. Thinking of how he would soon contend against countless geniuses, his blood began to boil.

Just then, three young figures entered the main hall: two youths and a young woman. The moment they entered the inn, they drew everyone's attention.

The young woman wore a blue dress. Her skin was fair, her features delicate, and she was quite beautiful. The other youth was thin and dressed in splendid robes, his face brimming with arrogance.

However, the most eye-catching was the youth between them. He was around fifteen or sixteen years old, handsome in appearance, with deep eyes. The pure, vast aura around him was completely undisguised—he was clearly an expert of the Spirit Martial Realm.

Su Mo raised his brows. This person was about the same age as him, yet his cultivation had already reached the Spirit Martial Realm. He was truly impressive.

"Brother Yan Qi, it seems there are no seats left!"

The girl in blue swept her gaze across the hall and, seeing that it was already full, spoke to the handsome youth in the middle.

"That is easy enough. We will sit over there."

Seeing Su Mo sitting alone, the thin youth headed toward him.

The other two followed behind him.

"We want this seat. Go squeeze in with someone else."

The thin youth came before Su Mo and spoke in a commanding tone.

Su Mo raised his head, glanced at him, ignored him, and continued drinking.

The thin youth frowned and shouted, "Boy, did you not hear me talking to you?"

The corner of Su Mo's lips curved into a faint smile. "Oh? Is something the matter?"

"I said, move aside. We want this seat."

The thin youth's face darkened, overbearing beyond measure.

"Sorry, you should go squeeze in with someone else."

Su Mo shook his head and replied indifferently.

There really were brain-dead fools everywhere. The moment he arrived, he wanted to seize someone else's seat. What arrogance.

"You...!"

The thin youth froze, then said coldly, "Boy, you have quite the nerve. Do you know who we are?"

"Does who you are have anything to do with me?"

Su Mo raised his head and smiled disdainfully.

"I think you are tired of living!"

The thin youth flew into a rage. He then pointed at the handsome youth who had just come to stand beside him and said, "We are from the Yan family of Purple Mountain City. This is the young master of our Yan family, Yan Qi."

As soon as the youth finished speaking, a commotion immediately broke out in the hall.

"He is actually Yan Qi, the young master of the Yan family."

"The Yan family is the overlord of Purple Mountain City. I hear Yan Qi, the Yan family's young master, is a peerless genius with a Human Grade Eighth Tier Martial Soul. Having just turned fifteen, he has already cultivated to the Spirit Martial Realm First Layer."

Hearing the astonished voices around him, the thin youth lifted his chin slightly, his face full of pride, as though they were praising him.

A faint smile played on the lips of both Yan Qi, the handsome youth, and the girl in blue.

A Human Grade Eighth Tier Martial Soul?

Su Mo's eyes narrowed, and he could not help looking at the handsome youth in surprise.

"Now you know our identities, right? Why have you not gotten lost yet?"

Seeing the astonishment in Su Mo's eyes, the thin youth looked proud as he coldly shouted.

"What Yan family? What Yan Qi? Never heard of them. All I hear is a dog barking madly in front of me."

Su Mo sneered disdainfully.

Since they showed him no respect, there was no need for him to be polite to them.

"Seeking death!"

The thin youth and the girl in blue were both enraged and were about to attack, but Yan Qi, the handsome youth, stopped them.

A sharp light flickered in Yan Qi's eyes as he said coldly, "May I ask who you are, sir, to hold my Yan family in such contempt?"

Yan Qi was not some mindless fool. Seeing Su Mo remain so fearless, he secretly speculated about Su Mo's identity. For Su Mo to disregard the Yan family so completely, he likely had no small background.

Though the Yan family was powerful, it was only the overlord of Purple Mountain City. There were several families in Linshui City whose strength did not fall below that of the Yan family.

However, after examining him carefully, Yan Qi found Su Mo utterly ordinary, with nothing exceptional about him. He was likely the descendant of some small family.

"If you want the respect of others, first learn to respect others."

Su Mo glanced at Yan Qi and replied indifferently, without answering his question.

"Respect?"

A trace of mockery appeared in Yan Qi's eyes. He sneered, "Respect is built upon strength. What qualifications do you have to make us respect you?"

Su Mo's eyes narrowed. Though Yan Qi's words were harsh, they were a true reflection of this world.

Only the strong could earn reverence. The weak could only endure being trampled by others.

"Brother Yan Qi, this man has insulted our Yan family. He absolutely cannot be forgiven."

The girl in blue spoke in a soft, lovely voice, but her words brimmed with killing intent.

"That is right. This man is arrogant and wild, showing no regard for our Yan family. His crime cannot be forgiven."

The thin youth wore a sinister expression. Su Mo's calling him a dog had filled him with rage.

"Yan Xing, cripple his cultivation and let him go!"

Yan Qi nodded and spoke calmly, as though merely crippling Su Mo's cultivation was already an act of extraordinary mercy.