The Coming-of-Age Ceremony drew ever closer, and during this time, Yang Chen worked even harder.
Although he had satisfied Fourth Master Yang and perfectly learned the "Ba Kong Fist," he had yet to fully master the "Ba Yun Fist." Before the Coming-of-Age Ceremony began, he needed to master the Ba Yun Fist seven or eight parts out of ten.
It had to be said that this body's talent still exceeded Yang Chen's expectations. He had originally estimated that he would successfully learn the Ba Yun Fist before the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, but he had not expected to completely master it a full month before the ceremony began.
During that remaining month, Yang Chen went to Fourth Master Yang's place to refine pills and stabilize his martial cultivation, allowing his martial cultivation to advance another step...
And so, as time slipped away, the Coming-of-Age Ceremony began.
"Young Master, wear this one."
"This one. This one looks better."
Yang Caidie and Gu Mingyue helped Yang Chen choose his clothes.
Standing between them, Yang Chen said with a helpless smile, "Sister, there's no need to dress up so seriously, is there? I'm going to attend the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, not a matchmaking meeting."
"That won't do. Today is the day you become an adult. It's a big day," Yang Caidie said in all seriousness.
"Young Master, Miss is right," Gu Mingyue echoed.
Yang Caidie said nervously, "And who says the Coming-of-Age Ceremony isn't a day for matchmaking? As long as you perform outstandingly at the ceremony, heaps of girls will fight and cry to marry you. But sweetheart, you don't need to push yourself so hard. Even if you fail the assessment and no one wants you, you still have your sister."
"..."
"And me!" Gu Mingyue hurriedly cried out, afraid they might forget about her.
She was now utterly devoted to Yang Chen, her eyes brimming with admiration.
Whether it was because of her personality or because she followed Yang Caidie, she only believed in one thing to the bitter end. Yang Caidie said Yang Chen was a genius, so she believed her young master was a genius.
Yang Chen rolled his neck. "All right. Speaking of which, it's about time. We should get going."
The beginning of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony was undoubtedly the liveliest time for the Yang family.
All the young people of the clan had gathered at the Yang Family Martial Training Ground, accompanied by many of the clan's elders. Besides them, the Nine Elders who held high positions in the Yang family, as well as the Yang Family Patriarch, were all present.
The thirteen-year-old youths of the Yang family, on the verge of adulthood, had all gathered together.
Yang Chen was among them as well.
"Young Master, good luck!" Gu Mingyue waved her little hands and shouted until her face turned red.
Yang Chen stood amid the group of youths. Counting them, there were roughly more than forty people, not much different from previous years.
Like Yang Chen, Yang Heng was also among them.
Yang Heng had always been Yang Chen's old rival. The moment he saw Yang Chen here, his expression darkened. Then, hearing Gu Mingyue cheering for Yang Chen, he recalled the humiliation he had suffered at Yang Chen's hands some days ago.
Anger burned in his heart, yet his face remained expressionless as he said, "Yang Chen, I never expected your nerve to be this great. You actually dared to come participate in the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Looks like you truly intend to smash the jar and give up, ready to be struck from the family registry."
"Is that so? It seems my affairs aren't your place to stick your nose into." Yang Chen smiled faintly, calm and composed.
The more Yang Heng saw Yang Chen's expression, the angrier he became. Soon, he laughed from extreme anger. "Good, good, good, Yang Chen. I really underestimated your courage. But I'm quite curious—given your martial cultivation, how are you supposed to be happy later? Indeed, for someone like you, the result will be the same: being struck from the family registry. But during the course of this Coming-of-Age Ceremony, you'd best watch your step."
He had already made his preparations. During this Coming-of-Age Ceremony, he would find an opportunity to cripple Yang Chen.
Yang Chen's martial cultivation was a complete mess anyway. He refused to believe that if he crippled Yang Chen, the clan could truly blame him for it.
The only troublesome one was Yang Caidie.
But once he passed the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, no matter how formidable Yang Caidie was, would she dare deal with him in front of the Yang family?
At that thought, a vicious gleam flashed through Yang Heng's eyes.
Yang Chen saw that trace of viciousness clearly.
This made Yang Chen shake his head helplessly.
If Yang Heng behaved himself during the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Yang Chen would not trouble him. But if he was so blind as to provoke him, Yang Chen would not mind being ruthless and teaching him a lesson.
"All right, everyone is here." Yang Family Patriarch Yang Jinhe stood at the front, his tone stiff and stern.
The moment he spoke, the entire venue fell silent.
Though Yang Heng was furious, he obediently shut his mouth. He knew that with Yang Jinhe's announcement, the Coming-of-Age Ceremony would begin very soon.
Under normal circumstances, Yang Jinhe rarely appeared personally as the patriarch. But today was different. The Coming-of-Age Ceremony was one of the Yang family's most solemn occasions. Every year, the Yang Family Patriarch personally presided over it, because it concerned the Yang family's reputation.
Just as now, many outsiders had already gathered here.
Yang Jinhe said solemnly, "I hereby announce the beginning of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Light the fires!"
Whoosh.
Under the moonlight, torches flared to life in the darkness.
Under the illumination of the flames, the surroundings immediately brightened.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Yang Jinhe shouted again, "Bring the wine!"
Next came the second stage. A group of servants carried bowls of wine and delivered them to the young masters of their respective households. The meaning was obvious: drinking this bowl of wine signified that these youths had become adults today.
The wine was all strong liquor, but the youths had already practiced drinking it at home.
Yang Chen was no exception. Gu Mingyue had long prepared his wine at home. Watching her run over joyfully with the wine, he took the bowl and drained it in one gulp. The spicy taste entered his mouth and surged into his stomach.
The next moment, smash! The youths all hurled their bowls to the ground.
Yang Jinhe nodded in satisfaction.
"Having drunk this bowl of wine, you forty-seven are now adults. However, if you want others to acknowledge you as adults, you must still display the strength you ought to possess!" Yang Jinhe swept his gaze around and said coldly, "Next, the most basic assessment awaits you. Are you ready?"
"We're ready!"
The youths answered in unison, their voices thunderous and deafening.
Having drunk the wine, they were faintly stirred with excitement. Even Yang Chen, seasoned as he was, found his emotions roused.
A rare smile appeared on Yang Jinhe's face. "Bring out the large stones!"
At Yang Jinhe's command, massive stones were carried into the Training Field.
Clear markings were engraved on these massive stones.
"One hundred jin, two hundred jin..."
All the way up to one thousand five hundred jin.
How many jin one could lift represented how much martial cultivation one possessed.
This was the most basic assessment.
Yang Jinhe could not be bothered to explain the rules further. "You have all seen these large stones. If you can lift one hundred jin, you will have passed the most basic assessment for adulthood. Of course, the heavier the stone you lift, the more outstanding you are. As for those who cannot even lift one hundred jin, get the hell out of here. Don't stay here and make fools of yourselves."
Once Yang Jinhe finished speaking, all the youths present turned their eyes toward Yang Chen.
Clearly, they all believed they could pass the assessment.
And the one who would ultimately fail seemed to be Yang Chen alone.
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