Ye Guan, Nalan Jia, and Xiao Ge walked to one side and sat down. All three were gazing into the distance.
Waiting for Sun Xiong!
However, an hour passed, and Sun Xiong still had not appeared!
The faces of the three gradually turned somewhat grim!
At that moment, Xiao Ge suddenly said, “Do not worry. Inside here, if someone forfeits automatically, the academy will retrieve them! Therefore, he should be fine!”
Ye Guan nodded slightly. He looked towards the end of the distant plain. Although he had not interacted much with Sun Xiong, he still hoped the other could pass this trial.
After all, they came from the same place!
However, as dusk approached, Sun Xiong still had not shown up!
Yet people from other prefectures had arrived!
Since they reached this place, around twenty more people had trickled in!
Now, only half an hour remained until the end of the assessment!
Beside Ye Guan, Xiao Ge looked towards the grey-clothed man in the distance. “This one is from Yong Prefecture. He is the genius of Yong Prefecture, named Jun Mu.”
Ye Guan turned to Jun Mu. This person had arrived here even earlier than them.
At that moment, as if sensing Ye Guan’s gaze, Jun Mu also looked over and grinned.
Ye Guan gave a slight smile in return.
The two had thus exchanged a greeting!
Then Xiao Ge continued, “I have counted. People from nineteen prefectures are here. If no one from a new prefecture comes, that means nineteen prefectures competing for ten spots.”
Ye Guan nodded slightly. He looked towards the end of the distant plain, but no one else appeared there!
Just then, Luo Zhaoqi suddenly materialised in the field!
Seeing the newcomer, everyone knew the second round of the martial exam had ended!
At that instant, Xiao Ge suddenly pointed into the distance. “Look, you two!”
Ye Guan turned to look far away. At the end of the plain, a man was running towards them with great difficulty.
The man’s face was pale. His right hand clutched his abdomen, blood continuously seeping from between his fingers!
Everyone watched the approaching man in silence.
Luo Zhaoqi watched him without speaking.
Under the crowd’s gaze, the man reached Luo Zhaoqi. He forced a grin, his smile exceedingly pallid. “I… I am not late, am I?”
Luo Zhaoqi replied calmly, “You are late!”
The man froze, then gave a bitter smile.
Just then, Luo Zhaoqi added, “However, an exception can be made this once!”
An exception this once!
Everyone was slightly stunned, then understood!
In truth, whether late or not was simply a matter of Luo Zhaoqi’s word.
Yet Luo Zhaoqi was willing to give this man a chance!
Hearing this, the man immediately bowed deeply. “Many thanks, Chief Luo!”
Luo Zhaoqi smiled, then turned to the crowd. “Everyone, next comes the third trial. The third trial differs from the previous two. It involves competition between people. A friendly reminder: choose your flag carefully, because if you choose wrongly and your opponent is too strong, you will have no chance to choose again!”
As she spoke, she raised one finger. “You have one night to heal. Tomorrow morning, you will be teleported to the wilderness. There, people from all three hundred and sixty prefectures will witness your splendour. Moreover…”
At this point, her lips curved slightly into a smile, truly enchanting and alluring. “This time, besides senior figures from the Central Prefecture Academy watching personally, a great elder from the Shen Ge Clan, one of the six great clans of the Holy Land, will also attend in person.”
The six great clans of the Holy Land?
Many in the field looked somewhat bewildered!
Clearly, they had never heard of them!
Luo Zhaoqi smiled. “It is normal that you have not heard of them. These six great clans of the Holy Land are ancient aristocratic families, with inheritances lasting at least tens of millions of years. Their foundations are extremely profound. One could say they are the six strongest families besides the Guanxuan Universe. If you can be selected by them, that would be an immense stroke of fortune.”
As she spoke, she glanced at Nalan Jia nearby.
The Central Divine Prefecture Academy would certainly select only one person. But being chosen by one of the six great clans of the Holy Land would also be a tremendous opportunity!
The resources up there were incomparable to those below!
Everyone present understood this principle and grew exceedingly excited!
Luo Zhaoqi smiled but said no more. She turned and departed!
The crowd sat cross-legged on the ground, faces filled with excitement.
They had passed the second trial!
Those who reached the third trial were no mediocrities.
From over a thousand people, now fewer than thirty remained!
To have come this far was already remarkable!
Ye Guan and the other two sat together, surrounding a campfire. Ye Guan took out a chicken and began roasting it.
They had not yet reached the stage where they needed no food!
After a while, Ye Guan tore off a chicken leg and handed it to Nalan Jia.
Under the firelight, Nalan Jia’s stunningly beautiful face gained a touch of earthly charm, making her beauty indescribably captivating.
Nalan Jia accepted the leg and asked, “Tomorrow, what ranking shall we aim for?”
Xiao Ge immediately looked at Ye Guan.
Truthfully, aiming for first placed enormous pressure!
That was Qing Prefecture!
Moreover, Zuo Fu would certainly vie for first as well!
Ye Guan smiled. “First!”
First!
Nalan Jia stared at Ye Guan. After a moment, she smiled radiantly. “I will accompany you!”
Xiao Ge said gravely, “Then let us do it!”
After finishing the chicken, Ye Guan lay back on a nearby boulder, hands pillowed behind his head, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, lost in thought.
At that moment, a fragrance wafted over. Nalan Jia lay down beside him.
Ye Guan turned to Nalan Jia and smiled faintly.
Nalan Jia smiled. “What are you smiling at?”
Ye Guan replied, “Nothing. I just feel happy!”
Nalan Jia said softly, “So do I!”
The two lay there quietly, chatting about everyday matters, life, and the future.
Time passed unknowingly. The earth grew silent. The bright moon hung high, stars filling the sky.
Ye Guan turned to look at Nalan Jia beside him. At this moment, she had fallen asleep.
Ye Guan removed his long robe and gently draped it over her. Then he lay beside her. Just then, Nalan Jia leaned closer and rested her head on his arm.
Ye Guan’s body stiffened slightly, but he soon relaxed. His right arm lightly encircled Nalan Jia. Looking at the beauty in his embrace, seeing her expression calm and natural, he smiled faintly. His heart held no other thoughts, only warmth.
Ye Guan slowly closed his eyes, then said inwardly, “Tower Master, are you asleep?”
After a moment, Little Tower replied, “No!”
It paused, then added, “I do not need sleep!”
Ye Guan was puzzled. “Why?”
Little Tower said, “Get to the point!”
Ye Guan hesitated, then asked, “Tower Master, is my Ye Clan one of those six clans of the Holy Land?”
Little Tower replied, “No!”
Ye Guan was slightly stunned. “It is not?”
Little Tower said, “It is stronger than the six clans of the Holy Land!”
Ye Guan said gravely, “That powerful?”
Little Tower replied, “In the Guanxuan Universe, it is among the very, very strongest! So you must work hard, understand?”
Ye Guan was silent for a moment, then said, “If, just if, I could become as strong as that Plain Skirt Sister, would I still need to fear the Ye Clan?”
Little Tower was silent for a long while before replying, “If you reached her level, I think the Ye Clan would, more or less, give you a little face.”
Ye Guan said softly, “Plain Skirt Sister is a Great Sword Immortal… Tower Master, I will also strive to become a Great Sword Immortal…”
Little Tower: “…”
…
