"Summer is a time of great vitality, but now the Baiwan Kingdom is repeatedly invading our borders, and war is raging on. This is the perfect time to discover extraordinary talents among the people and cultivate the pride of Great Qing to strengthen our nation."
In the imperial court, a minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please grant permission to hold the Youth Talent Banquet to select the most outstanding talents in the land. These talents will be sent to various clans for training to strengthen the nation's power. In the future, this will also help us increase our national strength to resist the Baiwan Kingdom."
"Granted."
In the imperial court, a jade curtain hung down, obscuring the emperor's face.
The handsome man behind the jade bead spoke expressionlessly.
"Yes!"
Upon hearing this, the minister who had offered the advice immediately bowed and withdrew. However, some figures in the court were subtly moved, their gazes meeting almost imperceptibly.
The Youth Talent Banquet began the following day.
Caravans transported resources, and as people gathered, the unprecedentedly grand Youth Talent Banquet, personally permitted by the Emperor of Great Qing, slowly unfolded.
Feeling that the court lacked talented individuals, the Third Prince specially dispatched his trusted advisor Zhao Wuji to personally seek out geniuses among the common people, nurture their growth, and help the court increase its strength.
After leaving the capital, Zhao Wuji personally went to Linshan Provincial Capital and dispatched the entire Moon-Hidden Lin Family family to spread southward, clearly intending to support the southern prodigies.
When Zhao Wuji stopped in Linshan Provincial Capital, Jiang Wudi, the Marquis of Spirit Mountain Provincial Capital, personally greeted him, and they competed in martial arts and discussed the grand event of Qingxiu.
The two felt an instant connection.
From then on, Zhao Wuji announced that before the Youth Talent Gathering ended, he would not leave Linshan Provincial Capital again, and would only meet with the Great Qing prodigies that the Lin Family had collected from various parts of the south and brought to Linshan Provincial Capital.
As this unprecedentedly grand Youth Talent Banquet commenced, the main branch of the Lin Family was led by the Lin Family patriarch and the eldest young master.
Hearing that Jian Wuchen, Li Chengfeng, and Zhao Lie, who ranked first on the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking, as well as the top ten of the entire world-renowned Heavenly Prodigy Ranking, were all in Green Mountain City, Shuiyang Prefecture, he made a special trip from afar to come here.
Along the way, officials from all the prefectures, counties, and Martial Hall came out of the city to welcome him.
Talented individuals from various regions were recommended and brought along.
In July, Lin Zhen, the patriarch of the Lin Family Innate Realm martial artist, Lin Yu, the eldest son of the Lin Family Innate Realm martial artist, arrived together in Shuiyang Prefecture.
Qian Anguo, the Martial Yamen of Shuiyang Prefecture, personally went out of the city to welcome the Third Prince's father-in-law and his family.
"I've heard that Shuiyang Prefecture has produced many talented individuals, such as Guo Zhenyi, the chief of the Thirteen Linked Docks, and Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie, who are ranked first and second on the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking. Is this true?"
Inside the Shuiyang Prefecture Martial Yamen, Lin Zhen, the head of the Lin Family, dressed in a golden robe, sipped spiritual tea and smiled as he looked at Qian Anguo, who stood respectfully in front of him, before speaking softly.
" Lineage Chief Huilin, this is indeed true. Guo Zhenyi and his twelve sworn brothers, who are at the late or peak stage of the Aperture-Condensing Realm, gathered in the Thirteen Linked Docks, forming their own independent territory."
"Meanwhile, the two prodigies Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie, along with Jian Wuchen and other disciples from the first Heavenly Prodigy Ranking, are living in seclusion in Green Mountain City, intending to encourage each other and hone their cultivation."
Upon hearing this, Qian Anguo spoke respectfully. As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yu, the young master of the Lin Family and a martial artist at the early stage of the Innate Realm sitting next to him, smiled.
" The Heavenly Prodigy Ranking is truly a rare thing. It didn't exist when I was young. Now that such a novel thing has happened, it's inevitable that people are curious. I really want to see who these two Heavenly Prodigy Ranking, who are tied for first place on the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking, are?"
Lin Yu spoke with a smile, his eyes revealing the aura of the Innate Realm.
Once something like the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking appears, anyone with a discerning eye knows that it will be passed down for a long time, and if nothing goes wrong, it may even be passed down for hundreds of generations.
As the first and second place winners of the first Heavenly Prodigy Ranking, Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie, both born into commoners and with such compelling stories, will surely be remembered alongside the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking, a unique kind of legacy that will last for generations.
Such an opportunity, even if it's just something that might be mentioned in passing, is enough to pique one's interest.
Lin Yu, the eldest son of the Lin Family and a 35-year-old expert at the early stage of the Innate Realm, clearly had some ideas in mind.
" Li Chengfeng, Jian Wuchen, and Zhao Lie are all in Green Mountain City. If Young Master Lin is interested, he can simply ask them in Green Mountain City."
Upon hearing Lin Yu's words, Qian Anguo's eyes flashed, and he immediately clasped his hands in greeting, which made Lin Yu smile slightly, raise his hand to drink a cup of spiritual tea, and remain silent.
"My father and I, along with our families, have come to Green Mountain City to hold the Youth Talent Banquet, in order to cultivate outstanding talents among the common people to serve the country."
Lin Zhen raised his eyes to look at Qian Anguo and steered the conversation to the main topic. "I wonder if Qian Wuling has any talented individuals from Shuiyang Prefecture to recommend?"
"All the geniuses in Shuiyang Prefecture pale in comparison to Li Chengfeng, Jian Wuchen, and Zhao Lie, like pearls compared to the moon. But even among pearls, there are those who shine."
Upon hearing this, Qian Anguo immediately clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I have three people to recommend: Liu Yang, Xiao Yun, and Lin Yi, all of whom are outstanding talents of my Shuiyang Prefecture."
"Hmm, not bad. Then let Yu'er arrange for a guard to go and test him."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhen chuckled and said, "We have come to select outstanding talents for the country. If they are promising individuals, I will not hesitate to nurture them."
"Yes, Father."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yu immediately stood up and spoke, then looked at Qian Anguo in front of him, his expression calm. " Qian Wuling, where are the three prodigies of Shuiyang Prefecture? Take me to see them."
"How could I trouble Young Master Lin to go in person? Please wait here for a moment, Young Master Lin, and introduce me to the promising young women you have chosen. I will then go and test them out."
Upon hearing Lin Yu's words, Qian Anguo hurriedly replied, "You two are experts at the Innate Realm. With your status at the Innate Realm, how could you personally meddle in such trivial matters?"
" Qian Wuling, you are mistaken. We are here to select talents for the court, how can we shirk our duties because of the complexity of the matter?" Lin Yu looked displeased upon hearing Qian Anguo's words, and said to him seriously, "Please take me there, Qian Wuling."
Upon hearing this, Qian Anguo suddenly felt a powerful aura emanating from Lin Yu. He was immediately terrified and dared not say anything more. He hurriedly lowered his head and led Lin Yu away amidst Lin Zhen's smile.
Watching their retreating figures, Lin Zhen smiled and took a sip of tea, his eyes gleaming as he gazed at the scene of the Shuiyang Prefecture Martial Yamen before him.
Shuiyang Prefecture, Qian Anguo led Lin Yu to the outside of the government office, where they met Liu Yang, the young master of the Liu Family, Xiao Yun, the young master of the Xiao Family, and Lin Yi, the young master of the Lin Family, who were already waiting there.
Lin Yu was a powerful expert at the Innate Realm level. Even without consciously releasing his aura, his power was extraordinary as he walked.
Moreover, Liu Yang and his two companions already knew that this young master of the Innate Realm would be coming here, and had come specifically to greet him. Therefore, when they saw Lin Yu approaching the entrance from afar, they all bowed in greeting.
" Liu Yang, Xiao Yun, Lin Yi from Shuiyang Prefecture greet Young Master Lin!" The three bowed in unison.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yu smiled brightly:
"Please rise. The three of you must be the talents of Shuiyang Prefecture. You are indeed extraordinary. I wonder about your strength?"