“I’ll take the second spot.”
Accompanied by a cool, arrogant voice, Ye Wushuang, dressed in blue, swaggered over the threshold and into the Lin family’s main hall.
“Ye Wushuang?!”
Lin Aotian shot to his feet, his eyes wide.
The news that Ye Wushuang had betrayed the Ye family at Famous Sword Manor yesterday had already spread throughout Clear River City.
Lin Aotian had naturally heard about it. In fact, he had secretly rejoiced that this female fiend would finally stop pestering his son.
But who could have expected that this harbinger of disaster would kick down the gates of the Lin family first thing in the morning?
“Ye Wushuang, you’re being outrageous!”
Lin Aotian shouted angrily, “You’re no longer a member of the Ye family. You’re nothing more than an unaffiliated cultivator, yet you dare barge into the Lin family’s council hall? Do you really think my Lin family has no one to defend it?”
“Patriarch Lin, there’s no need to lose your temper.”
Ye Wushuang gave a light laugh. With a clang, she drew the Yin-Yang Tai’e Sword from her back.
Black and white sword qi instantly ran rampant through the hall. A terrifying pressure descended upon everyone like Mount Tai itself, enveloping the entire room.
Lin Aotian’s breath caught, and cold sweat instantly broke out across his forehead.
“An... an earth-grade spirit sword?!”
He stared fixedly at the sword in Ye Wushuang’s hand, his heart churning like a stormy sea.
The rumors were true!
This woman really did possess an earth-grade treasure!
And the aura radiating from her... even he, the Lin family patriarch at the peak of the Profound Connection Realm, felt a hint of mortal danger.
“Patriarch Lin, I’m not a very patient person, and I don’t like wasting words.”
Ye Wushuang casually used the tip of her sword to pick at her fingernails, her tone calm. “One sentence. Are you giving it to me or not?”
Although the rumors claimed that Ye Wushuang had already reached the peak of the True Essence Realm, Lin Aotian had never entirely believed them.
Now that he had seen her in person, however, he was deeply shaken.
If he knew that Ye Wushuang had already reached the peak of the Grotto-Heaven Realm—an entire major realm above him—he would probably have been scared to death.
An eighteen-year-old at the peak of the True Essence Realm was an outstanding talent even throughout Clear River City.
If Ye Wushuang represented the Lin family in the selection, she would definitely attract the attention of the Profound Heaven Sect.
That would be a win-win situation for the Lin family. But Ye Wushuang was ultimately an outsider, and she had a history of conflict with the Lin family. If they gave her the spot, the Lin family’s younger generation would certainly refuse to accept it.
“I’m sorry, Miss Ye...” Lin Aotian said coolly. “You arrived too late. The spots have just been assigned.”
“Then remove someone from the list. Whoever refuses, I’ll beat them until they submit.”
Ye Wushuang’s tone was calm, and her expression was full of disdain.
“You can forget about it!”
Lin Langwu exploded in anger from the side.
Although he had previously stood up for Ye Wushuang, this was his only chance to change his fate. How could he possibly hand it over willingly?
He drew the long saber at his waist and charged at Ye Wushuang with a furious roar. “The Lin family’s spot isn’t for some outsider like you to seize!”
“Annoying.”
Ye Wushuang did not even look at him. She simply waved her hand.
Bang!
A streak of black sword qi struck first despite being launched later, slamming viciously into Lin Langwu’s chest.
Before he could even cry out, Lin Langwu was sent flying. He crashed heavily into the wall and passed out on the spot.
He had been defeated in a single blow!
Lin Langtian, standing nearby, narrowed his eyes slightly.
“What overwhelming power... That isn’t the strength of an ordinary True Essence Realm cultivator. How can her physical strength be so terrifying?”
As the reincarnation of the Demon Emperor, Lin Langtian possessed extraordinarily sharp judgment.
He could tell at a glance that Ye Wushuang had barely used any spiritual power in that attack. She had relied purely on the strength of her physical body.
“This woman must have obtained an extraordinary opportunity after leaving last night!”
Lin Langtian seethed inwardly.
He had been unable to attend the auction last night because his Dao injury had flared up. He had always felt that he had missed something extremely important.
Now, seeing Ye Wushuang’s strength surge so dramatically, that premonition grew even stronger.
The way Ye Wushuang acted—decisive and ruthless—was nothing like the young lady of a respectable orthodox clan.
Her conduct was practically more demonic than that of him, the Heavenly Demon Emperor!
“She’s definitely hiding a tremendous secret!”
Lin Langtian’s thoughts raced.
If he allowed Ye Wushuang to leave just like this, he might never uncover the truth about her.
Since she wanted to go to the Profound Heaven Sect, he might as well keep her under his watch and investigate her slowly.
Besides, she had swindled his spirit stones last night. He would have to find an opportunity to settle that score sooner or later!
With that thought, Lin Langtian stepped forward and blocked Lin Aotian, who was preparing to fight desperately.
“Father, calm down.”
Lin Langtian gazed deeply at Ye Wushuang and spoke in an indifferent tone. “Since Miss Ye wants the spot, give it to her.”
“Langtian, have you lost your mind?” Lin Aotian stared at his son in disbelief.
“Father, Langwu is seriously injured. Even if he went, he wouldn’t be able to pass the selection.”
Lin Langtian’s tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable authority. “Miss Ye is exceptionally powerful. If she represents our Lin family, it would be an honor for us.”
Ye Wushuang raised an eyebrow at his words and looked at Lin Langtian with an amused smile.
This reincarnated Demon Emperor certainly was quick-witted.
Was he trying to scheme against her?
Heh. With her Opportunity Panel, she could just strip him of every opportunity he had.
“The Lin family’s young master truly understands the bigger picture.”
Ye Wushuang put away her sword and smiled as she patted Lin Langtian on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Once we’re in the Profound Heaven Sect, big sis will have your back. If anyone dares covet our young master Lin’s good looks, I’ll be the first to object.”
The corner of Lin Langtian’s mouth twitched violently. Forcing down the urge to draw his sword and hack her apart, he gritted his teeth and said, “Then I’ll be counting on you, Miss Ye.”
The following day, during the hour of Chen, at the White Jade Plaza.
When the Lin family’s group arrived at the plaza, everyone’s attention instantly focused on them.
More precisely, it focused on the young woman walking beside Lin Langtian.
“Look! That’s Ye Wushuang!”
“Why is she walking with the Lin family?”
“Oh heavens, she actually took one of the Lin family’s recommendation spots?!”
The crowd erupted into an uproar.
On the Ye family’s side, Grand Elder Ye Qingtian, Ye Wuxin, Ye Wuming, and the others saw this scene, and their faces instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
“That wretch! She actually defected to the Lin family!”
Ye Qingtian trembled with rage as he pointed at Ye Wushuang and cursed, “She’s a disgrace to the entire Ye family!”
Ye Wuming’s eyes blazed with fury. His chest was still wrapped in thick bandages, and the humiliation of the previous day remained fresh in his mind.
He glared at Ye Wushuang through clenched teeth. “Bitch! So what if you got a spot? The Profound Heaven Sect’s selection is brutally difficult. With that little bit of cultivation, you’ll be eliminated in the very first round!”
Ye Wuxin merely frowned slightly as she watched Ye Wushuang with her cold eyes. An inexplicable irritation welled up inside her.
She had the distinct feeling that the current Ye Wushuang had completely slipped beyond her control.
Just then, a deafening bell suddenly rang from the spirit boat in midair.
Clang—!
The resonant bell chime instantly drowned out all the noise in the plaza.
A middle-aged man wearing the robes of a Profound Heaven Sect steward stepped down from the spirit boat through the air, and a formidable pressure spread across the entire crowd.
“Silence!”
The steward’s gaze swept over everyone below. “The Profound Heaven Sect’s disciple selection begins now!”
The first round was a test of bone age and cultivation.
Only those under twenty years of age with a cultivation level of at least the Qi Condensation Realm could pass.
The participating disciples stepped onto the elevated platform one after another and placed their hands on a testing stone. The testing stele would then display their bone age and cultivation level.
“Zhao Family’s Zhao Yan. Bone age: nineteen. Late-stage Qi Condensation. Qualified.”
“Li Family’s Li Xue. Bone age: eighteen. Qi Condensation perfection. Qualified.”
“Wang Teng of the City Lord’s Mansion. Bone age: nineteen. Early-stage True Essence Realm. Qualified.”
Wang Teng’s result provoked a wave of astonishment. Reaching the early stage of the True Essence Realm at nineteen was already an impressive talent.
The Xuantian Sect elder on the platform also nodded slightly.
It was now the Ye Family’s turn.
Ye Wuxin stepped onto the platform and placed her hand on the testing stele. In an instant, the testing stone erupted with dazzling light.
“Ye Family’s Ye Wuxin. Bone age: eighteen. Early-stage True Essence Realm. Qualified.”
“Ye Family’s Ye Wuming. Bone age: sixteen. Qi Condensation perfection. Qualified.”
Ye Wuxin calmly walked down from the platform, with Ye Wuming following close behind. The performance of the two caused no small stir as well.
