Chapter 71: Qiyao's Provocation

  After the heavy snow, the weather became even colder.

  The sky was just brightening, and Xǔ Yuè woke up. Today was the day her brother would participate in the preliminary selection of the Haiyun Academy, and the little girl was so excited that she hadn't slept well all night.

  She flipped over, and Yu Xiu stuck out a small white foot from under the covers, as if feeling the cold temperature outside. Under the pressure of the cold air, her little foot quickly withdrew at a speed ten times faster than when it came out.

  "It's so cold, but there's clearly a charcoal fire burning in the house..." Xǔ Yú whispered to Sòng Tínglán beside her.

  Song Tinglan didn't say anything and sat up to start getting dressed.

  "You get up so early, I want to sleep in for a while..." Xu Yu shrunk deeper into the blankets, like a plump caterpillar wrapped tightly in thick bedding.

  "Today Xu...Xu Yang has to get up early and leave, return to Linshui City for the preliminary round, I'll go cook porridge for him." Song Tinglan said softly.

  "That's right... I'm not sleeping either!" Xǔ Yú suddenly lost her sleepiness, jumped up in a flash, and hastily started putting on her clothes.

  Two little girls pushed open one side of Xu Yang's bedroom door and saw that the bedding was tidy, but Xu Yang was no longer in bed.

  "Brother is definitely practicing in the quiet room, let's not disturb him." Xǔ Yú pointed to the next room and whispered.

  The two little girls continued on their way to the kitchen, but saw smoke rising from it.

  Bu Yi poked her head out of the kitchen: "Xiao Yu, Ting Lan, why don't you sleep a bit more?"

  "It turns out that Bujie sister has already started cooking," Xuyu suddenly felt that she had gotten up so early for nothing, pouting her small mouth, "Okay, I'll go take a nap..."

  With a turn of her body, Xu Yu's smooth forehead hair was messed up by a big hand.

  "No more sleeping in, go practice your skills. A day's plan is made in the morning." Xǔ Yáng ended his morning training and instructed Xǔ Yú.

  "Alright..." Xu Yu pouted and obediently went to the quiet room.

  "Bao Gai, you opened up the Star Ocean yesterday. What kind of mysterious pulse was that?" Xu Yang asked as soon as he saw Bao Gai come to pay his respects.

  Bao Gai replied respectfully: "Young master, the starry sea opened up by this humble one is filled with yellow mysterious energy, and other colors are hardly visible."

  Xu Yang nodded: "The earth is extremely mysterious, it's quite pure, looks like the treasure cover talent is not bad." He handed over a low-grade Xuan stone and said: "This is an Xuan stone, you can use it to stabilize your cultivation, after absorbing the Xuan energy of this Xuan stone, your realm should be at the beginning of Xuan disciple, worthy of being called a Xuan cultivator."

  "Thank you, Young Master." Bao Gai took over the Xuan Stone.

  Bao Gai and others cultivated the "Seven Treasure Ruler" of the Xu family. In the Tian Xuan Continent, the most powerful cultivation method was called a "Classic", while the lowest level was called an "Arcane". Cultivation methods below the Arcane level were not even considered to be in the mainstream. The Xu family's "Seven Treasure Ruler" was, in Xu Yang's opinion, quite terrible, but among the Arcane-level cultivation methods, it was already quite good, so he bestowed it upon Bao Gai and other servants to cultivate.

  As for whether this matter is a taboo in the Xu family, Xu Yang doesn't care. A cultivation method like the "Seven Luminaries Treasure" can only be cultivated to the Xuanzong realm, and there's really nothing worth keeping secret.

  Next, Xu Yang pointed out a few more things about Bao Gai's cultivation, all of which were issues that needed attention. Finally, he instructed Bao Gai to pass on the teachings to other servants.

  In the backyard, apart from Brother and Sister Xu Yang, there were only Bu Yi and Song Tinglan. Bao Gai and other servants lived in the middle courtyard, and they would only come over to greet them in the morning, when Xu Yang would also give him a few instructions.

  Although it was just a casual remark, with Xu Yang's insight, this kind of guidance benefited Bao Gai greatly and saved him from taking many detours.

  After finishing breakfast, Xu Yang instructed Bao Gai to watch the house and brought Xu Yu to prepare for departure, heading to Lin Yuan City. Bu Yi had already prepared the horses and reminded them: "The road is slippery with snow, be careful, young master."

  Xu Yang let Xu Yu sit cross-legged on the horse, turned over and got on the horse, the horseshoes clanged, all the way to Linwan City.

  The arena north of Lin Yuan City has witnessed many thrilling battles over the years, with the most recent one being the battle between Qi Men Daochang and Huo Yun Daochang. However, this year's Haiyun Preliminary Competition is the most highly anticipated contest, even surpassing the attention given to previous Haiyun Preliminary Competitions.

  According to rumors, this time around, every family has produced talented individuals, and many young prodigies have emerged. In the previous preliminary selection, only Ge's family had Ge Wei Yue, who relied on his mid-term strength as a Xuan Shi to take the top spot alone. But in this preliminary selection, there are numerous young geniuses at the mid-term level of Xuan Shi.

  As soon as the sky brightened, the area around the arena was already packed with people. The north side was filled with young contestants, who had formed small circles according to their usual social interactions and were discussing this year's Haiyun preliminary round. The other three sides were crowded with throngs of people, the sound of laughter and chatter filling the air, even the chill of winter after the first snowfall seemed to have vanished without a trace.

  The second-floor warm pavilions of those wine houses and tea houses near the arena had already been snatched up by various families. It was clear that each family attached great importance to the preliminary round of the Haiyun Academy.

  "I see, this time the Ge family will win again," an old man in a hemp garment said with flying spittle. "In the previous session, young master Ge Wei Yue suppressed all his opponents and took the first treasure seat. In fact, many people are not aware that he has a younger brother named Ge Wei Feng who possesses the Ice Extreme Mystical Pulse of the Upper Four Extremes, whose combat strength is even more superior than his."

  "The genius girl of our family, Yu Jianyu, is also one of the top four extreme Xuan veins. She may not be inferior." Someone was dissatisfied.

  "Stop arguing, this time Xiao Jun Hou Li Wang has announced his participation, the Li family's ancestral teachings are profound, with a Xuan Jun-level ancestor as a teacher, how can Xiao Jun Hou fall behind others?" someone else said.

  Xu Zhengxin and three other young men from the Xu family stood together, occasionally looking up towards the crossroads.

  "What's going on? Xu Yang still hasn't arrived?" Xu Zhengchun couldn't help but say, "The preliminary draw is about to start, if he doesn't come now, it'll be considered a forfeit!"

  Xu Zhengxin smiled and looked at Xu Zhengchun with a profound meaning. The latter was taken aback, and explained in a way that added unnecessary details: "I'm not worried about Xu Yang, but I'm considering the honor of my Xu family! Originally, there were fewer people participating because he had dismissed some candidates, and if he gives up his qualification again, our Xu family will only have three participants left..."

  "Haha, could it be that the Xu family doesn't even have five people who qualify to participate?" A mocking voice came from the side, "You're just taking up space and not contributing anything, if your own family doesn't have the ability, then just give up the spot."

  Xu Zhengxin and others turned to look, but saw Ge Weifeng leading six or seven people, walking towards the three of them with a mocking expression.

  Xu Zhengchun's face sank, and he said coldly: "Ge Weifeng, even if the Xu family only has one person participating, there is no need for you to make a fuss on the side!"

  A dark-skinned youth with a sturdy build, like a stone pillar, spoke up beside him: "The Xu family has long since lost the power of the three great families, it's better to step down and yield to others."

  Xu Zhengxin furrowed his brow and swept over, saying it was Chu Mingde.

  "Chu Mingde, you've gone too far," Xǔ Zhèngxìn said coldly. "The Xǔ family's hundred-year-old reputation isn't something a nouveau riche like you can humiliate. If I had met you in the preliminary selection, I would have taught you a good lesson."

  Xu Zhengxin was a man of integrity and this was one of the few times he had spoken harshly to someone, probably because Chu Mingde's words had gone too far and provoked his anger.

  For the young masters of a noble family, their family is their root and cannot be insulted by others.

  PS: Today is the third update, thank you all brothers for your recommended votes.