The man before him was about twenty, possessing a delicate appearance and dressed in a pale cyan long gown, resembling a scholar heading to the capital for the imperial examinations. Yet, within his brow resided a subtle, almost imperceptible pressure—the inherent majesty and unshakeable confidence of a true master...
“And you are?” Ye Jingyu spoke calmly. This was Dan Yun Villa; with eighty Chiyi warriors and twenty divine archers present, he feared no one unless they were a Grandmaster or above...
“I am Huangfu Buyue of the Dragon Seizing Sect. Greetings, Brother Jingyu...” The man smiled slightly and offered Ye Jingyu a cupped-fist salute...
“Dragon Seizing Sect?” Ye Jingyu started. Before today, he might not have known the sect, but after hearing about it on the arena stage today, he had learned its profound power from Luo Ruofeng’s lips—a sect that even Luo Xiaofeng dared not provoke. But now, why was this young man calling himself from the Dragon Seizing Sect seeking him out?
“So, it is Brother Buyue. I wonder what brings you here so late in the evening?” Despite the surprise churning within, Ye Jingyu kept his tone level...
“Heh, nothing urgent. I merely came to see what kind of figure managed to defeat my junior brother...” Huangfu Buyue chuckled lightly...
“Oh? That dark-faced man today was your junior brother?” Ye Jingyu paused. The dark-faced man looked close to thirty; how could he be this man’s junior brother?
“Indeed. Huangfu Heiyou joined the sect after me, so naturally, he is my junior brother...” Huangfu Buyue replied serenely...
“Heh, I see. However, defeating your junior brother was not solely my doing. The Dragon Seizing Sect’s ultimate techniques are formidable; had he not been ganged up on, he might have won in the end. I was merely lucky, taking advantage of the situation...” Ye Jingyu said lightly. He wasn't surprised that the other man shared the surname Huangfu; just like at Baiyun Villa, where disciples adopted by the manor all took the surname Qin...
“Heh, fortune is also a form of strength. Moreover, anyone who can withstand the Heavenly Dipper Fist without injury is hardly just a lucky person. Brother Jingyu, I hope to face you in a straightforward battle on the arena next time...” Huangfu Buyue smiled faintly, then his figure darted into the darkness. Before Ye Jingyu could respond, the man had vanished into the night...
“A straightforward battle? Wasn't the young master’s victory earned honorably? Still, putting that aside, the strength of this fellow is astonishing. Even with Heavenly Eyes, I cannot discern his depth. It seems this Martial Selection Examination is truly filled with hidden talents...” Staring at the spot where Huangfu Buyue disappeared, Ye Jingyu murmured to himself, finally shaking his head and turning towards his own quarters...
Returning to his room, Ye Jingyu did not immediately sleep. Looking at the empty space, his thoughts drifted unconsciously to Jiu Feng, far away in the Southern Savage Forest, wondering if she was doing well...
Gradually, the image of Luo Ling'er’s pure, wide eyes materialized in his mind...
Sigh...
With a heavy sigh, he sat cross-legged on the bed, beginning to ponder the strange power residing within him. If it hadn't been for that force today, he might have been killed by a single punch...
What exactly was this power? Why was it not recorded anywhere?
Damn it, they call him my ancestor, yet they didn't even leave an explanation or a cultivation manual. What if I suffer a Qi deviation while practicing it?
Completely irresponsible...
Cursing under his breath, he stilled his mind, attempting to circulate that strange power within his body. However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not grasp or summon the force; he only knew it was completely fused with his cells...
Could my cultivation level be insufficient?
Confused, Ye Jingyu abandoned the idea of controlling the power and resumed cultivating the Ba Yuan Jue, hoping to quickly refine his Seven Souls. Only then could he cultivate the Heavenly Soul and Earth Soul, achieve Soul Unity, and finally move on to the Battle Technique chapter...
The night slowly settled...
Ye Jingyu entered a state of meditation. The various energies in the air continued to surge madly into the ring embedded in his chest, transforming into the purest energy that flooded every cell in his body, slowly becoming that marvelous force. Meanwhile, the True Qi within his meridians also increased at a slow pace...
To enhance his strength as quickly as possible, Ye Jingyu spent his days diligently: practicing the Thunderous Blade Art in the morning, archery in the afternoon, and cultivating the Ba Yuan Jue at night. He didn't even bother watching the matches of others. In his view, what use was watching? As long as he was powerful enough, it mattered not what exotic techniques his opponents possessed; they would not be his match—a classic demonstration of prioritizing raw strength over technique...
Time flew by. Ten days passed in a flash, and the first preliminary round had long concluded. Apart from Ye Jingyu, the other nine experts who successfully advanced were all existing at the Innate Realm. The oldest was twenty-eight, and the youngest was only nineteen...
A nineteen-year-old Innate master—such a young powerhouse—astonished everyone. However, when the crowd learned the expert’s name was Huangfu Buyue, they relaxed.
It was rumored he was the personal, direct disciple of the current Sect Master of the Dragon Seizing Sect. How could he have been accepted without extraordinary talent? Furthermore, considering the Dragon Seizing Sect once ranked among the Ten Great Sects, their cultivation methods could hardly be ordinary...
Surprisingly, neither Lian Yi nor his companion’s names were among these nine. This outcome exceeded Ye Jingyu’s expectations, and even the Third Young Master, Luo Ruofeng, was perplexed. He knew Lian Yi’s strength was comparable to the four young experts of the Separate-Body faction; yet, to not even qualify was proof that this Martial Selection Examination truly hid many masters...
What somewhat comforted Luo Ruofeng, however, was that only one of his own brothers, You Ke, had advanced. This situation salvaged some of his personal standing...
Today was the day of the second round of matches. Luo Xiaofeng had secretly issued an order to his son: no matter what, the experts they recruited must advance, ensuring at least four of their chosen masters remained in the Top Eight...
This command placed severe pressure on the four young masters, given the sheer number of formidable talents emerging in this Martial Selection Examination...
Consequently, this next stage drew immense focus from all four young masters...
The competition venue remained the Royal Family's hunting ground. The first assessment was on military strategy, a segment designed to eliminate one participant...
The examination topic was naturally set by Luo Xiaofeng. Ye Jingyu and others who knew the answers felt no worry, but the other competitors did not share this sentiment. To have distinguished themselves from the crowd, each one was an individual of extraordinary genius and would hardly concede in such a contest...