On this day, Qingyuan Ward was exceptionally lively.
This was because the annual Divine Ability Hall Meet of Qingyuan Ward was being held today.
In this world, Divine Ability Halls were the most accessible path for countless young people who dreamed of the Grand Dao of Divine Abilities. They required no family lineage or strict talent testing. As long as one paid the admission fee, regardless of their status, they could step directly onto the path of divine abilities.
Perhaps the vast majority of Divine Ability Halls were low-grade, and the divine abilities they taught were not of a high tier, even bordering on rudimentary. However, it had to be said that it was precisely because of the existence of these halls that the path of divine abilities in this world was so brilliant and prosperous.
Furthermore, though the threshold of Divine Ability Halls was low, they had also forged countless grassroots geniuses. They stood out from low-grade halls, shed their common origins, climbed step by step, and eventually became Grandmasters or achieved even higher realms!
Thus, the existence of Divine Ability Halls was an indispensable cornerstone for any region.
Qingyuan Ward was no exception.
Every year during the Hall Meet, all eligible young people in the Qingyuan Ward region would flock to the ward city. Firstly, they wanted to witness the excitement of the Hall Meet, and secondly, they naturally hoped to use the event to find the Divine Ability Hall that suited them best to join and cultivate.
Naturally, the Divine Ability Hall that stood out and secured the seat of the champion hall would become the biggest winner.
This was a true grand event.
...
South District, Qingyuan Ward.
The lake was like a mirror, the autumn wind brushing over its ripples, creating a breathtakingly beautiful view.
Today, this place was packed with people.
At the center of this great lake, a lone peak rose from the water, standing tall. The side of the peak facing the shore had been carved into a series of platforms.
This was the venue for the annual Hall Meet.
When the Hall Meet began, the various Divine Ability Halls of Qingyuan Ward would scale the peak according to their rankings from previous years, guarding their respective platforms and engaging in divine ability duels.
Since all the platforms on the mountain faced the shore, the spectators could clearly witness the fierce battles unfolding on each Duel Platform.
Numerous tower ships floated on the lake, each flying a conspicuous hall flag that fluttered in the wind. Atop these tower ships were the various Divine Ability Halls of Qingyuan Ward participating in the Hall Meet.
Positioned near the front was the tower ship flying a crimson flag of flame and lightning—the ship of Thunderfire Hall.
Today, all the disciples of Thunderfire Hall had gathered on the ship. Looking over, they resembled a sweeping crimson flame, their spirits high and imposing.
Clad in the robes of the Thunderfire Hall Master, Lu Jin slowly walked out of the cabin. The noisy tower ship instantly fell silent, and the gazes of numerous young disciples turned toward him with reverence.
“Today's Hall Meet will determine the future reputation of our Thunderfire Hall. I hope you all will uphold our hall's prestige.” Lu Jin did not indulge in empty rhetoric. His calm, deep words immediately made everyone's expressions turn solemn.
As disciples of Thunderfire Hall, they shared both honor and disgrace. Over the past month, Thunderfire Hall had undergone a massive upheaval. Everyone knew there were countless doubts about the hall from the outside, and these doubts could only be shattered through the Hall Meet.
This Hall Meet was a trial for Thunderfire Hall. If they passed it, the storm caused by Zhang Yue's departure would naturally settle. Otherwise... Thunderfire Hall might gradually fall to the bottom of the four major Divine Ability Halls.
“When we take the stage today, there will be three Divine Ability Flags on the platform. I will guard the upper flag, the Second Hall Master and Third Hall Master will guard the middle flag, and as for the lower flag, it will be guarded by Gao Yu, Yuan Da, and... Lu Ming.”
Lu Jin's gaze shifted to the youth standing at the front of the crowd, dressed in crimson hall uniform, his posture increasingly upright. A trace of gratification flickered in his eyes.
At this moment, Lu Ming was almost a completely different person compared to when he underwent Bone-Opening a month ago.
In the days since returning from the medicinal garden, Lu Ming had not slacked off in the slightest. Instead, he had cultivated even more diligently. By the time the Hall Meet began today, his third bone refining was nearing Great Perfection, just a single step away from truly achieving the Tiger-Leopard Thunderous Roar.
This was the Divine Ability Child of his Lu family!
In just a short month, going from Bone-Opening to the verge of completing his third bone refining—such a cultivation speed had never appeared in any Grade 3 Divine Ability Hall in Qingyuan Ward. Only the geniuses of deeply rooted, high-grade Divine Ability Halls and Divine Ability Clans, backed by top-tier resources, could achieve such results.
“Uphold our hall's prestige!”
The numerous disciples of Thunderfire Hall shouted in high spirits, cheering with vigor.
Dong! Dong!
Meanwhile, the sound of beating drums gradually rose across the lake, signaling that the start of the Hall Meet was drawing near.
At the best viewing spot overlooking the lake stood the majestic Lake-Viewing Tower. At this moment, the top floor was packed with the prominent figures of Qingyuan Ward.
Ward Master Zhou Xuan sat in the frontmost seat, looking calm and possessing an extraordinary bearing. On either side of him sat two others. One was a graceful and gentle woman in a purple dress—Li Yan, the matriarch of the Li family and mother of Jing Yi.
On the other side was a middle-aged man dressed in a golden brocade robe. Embroidered on the robe was a black tiger descending a mountain, radiating a fierce aura capable of swallowing mountains and rivers.
This person was none other than Yan Jing, the head of the Yan family in Qingyuan Ward.
Although Zhou Xuan, who had been suddenly appointed from above, had shattered Yan Jing's plans to secure the position of Ward Master, Yan Jing was naturally a deep and calculating man to have risen to the position of family head. He would never let such resentment show on his face.
Thus, he was currently able to suppress all his emotions, chatting and laughing merrily with Zhou Xuan as if they were old friends who regretted not meeting sooner.
“I heard that the Ward Master promised these Divine Ability Halls that whichever one secures the seat of the champion hall during this Hall Meet will have the concentration of world primordial energy at their hall increased to high-grade using the primordial energy earth veins?” Yan Jing suddenly asked.
Zhou Xuan smiled and nodded.
Yan Jing let out a sigh and said, “The Ward Master was a bit too hasty. The primordial energy earth veins are the best tool to keep these Divine Ability Halls in check. As long as you hold that high-grade primordial energy in your hands to dangle before them, you don't have to worry about them being disobedient.”
“The previous Ward Masters all relied on this to keep these Divine Ability Halls submissive. Now that you've used it as a bargaining chip, it won't be easy to take back in the future.”
Zhou Xuan shook his head and replied, “I, on the other hand, believe that once they experience the benefits of a high-grade primordial energy concentration, they will want to protect this privilege even more.”
Li Yan, who had remained silent until now, also nodded with a smile and said, “The Ward Master's words make sense. It is a matter of a different breadth of mind, so naturally, your way of doing things differs from previous Ward Masters.”
“Haha, Matriarch Li, please do not overpraise me,” Zhou Xuan laughed.
Yan Jing also smiled, casually steering the conversation elsewhere.
Li Yan occasionally chimed in. At the same time, she looked up toward a tower ship near the front of the lake, which flew the flag of Thunderfire Hall. She fell into slight contemplation, a trace of worry flickering in her eyes.
In this year's Hall Meet, Thunderfire Hall lacked a heavyweight flag guardian like Zhang Yue, which would inevitably attract the greed of other Divine Ability Halls. The others were fine, but the main threat was Red Sand Hall. They were Thunderfire Hall's old rivals and would certainly not let this opportunity slip by.
She wondered if Thunderfire Hall would be able to hold their ground.
Because of Jing Yi, Li Yan had maintained contact with Thunderfire Hall over the years. However, not long ago, she had been forced to visit Thunderfire Hall to give Lu Ming a subtle warning, which left her feeling somewhat guilty toward the boy.
Besides, her own past month had not been very peaceful either.
Having received no reply from Lu Ming, Jing Yi had gone into full-on bombardment mode. She had sent several letters in succession from afar, sparing no expense. At first, her tone was somewhat aggrieved and angry, demanding to know why Lu Ming wasn't replying.
Later, her tone grew softer and softer, even playing the pity card.
Upon intercepting these letters, Li Yan had no choice but to ignore them. Such matters could only be faded by time.
Yet she had ultimately underestimated her daughter's sensitivity and intelligence. Jing Yi had vaguely sensed something. Thus, when the most recent Flying Crane Letter arrived, the message on it was finally not addressed to Lu Ming, but to her.
It contained only a single cold and angry question from her daughter.
“Mother, did you say something to Lu Ming?”
To this, Li Yan could only guiltily choose not to reply.
Thinking of this, Li Yan rubbed her temples with a slight headache. “A while ago, I heard from Shuang'er that Lu Ming had awakened a High-grade Divine Ability Bone... That child is indeed not bad. Although his family background is a bit lacking and short on foundation, a High-grade Divine Ability Bone is still considered a decent talent. What a pity. If Jing Yi hadn't been taken to her father's side, they would actually have been quite a good match.”
However, Li Yan also understood that thinking about this now was completely meaningless.
A high-grade genius in a Grade 3 Divine Ability Hall was different from a high-grade genius in those higher-tier Divine Ability Clans. The latter could rely on top-tier cultivation resources to leave the former far behind.
Therefore, faced with her daughter's angry accusation, Li Yan could only respond with silence. Perhaps once Jing Yi came into contact with more young geniuses over there, she wouldn't be so intense anymore...
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