Chapter Four: The Situation in Ridge Province

"I hereby declare the commencement of the second segment of the Taiyi Mountain Entrance Ceremony, the Peak Selection for the Geng-Mao year."

The second segment of the Taiyi Mountain Entrance Ceremony, the Peak Selection, was underway with fervor. During this process, those with exceptional talent were pitifully few; the most gifted had opened thirty some petals, while others had not opened a single one.

Yet, none of them were discouraged. Taiyi Mountain had already proclaimed them as disciples, and would not go back on its word. As long as one became a disciple of Taiyi Mountain, limitless possibilities awaited. On the path of cultivation, whether one has the guidance of masters makes a world of difference.

"Qian Fu of the Qian Family from the Southern Sea, Chen Wenxiang of the Chen Family, He Mengwei of the He Family." When Gu Beishan announced these names loudly once more, the atmosphere atop Taiyi Platform fell into profound silence, for these three new disciples selected for the Peak Selection were all of notable origin.

In this silence, only three youths stepped out from among the new disciples. The first, clad in fine robes and a jade belt, was plump with a round face—prosperity written all over him.

Following close behind was a youth of imposing bearing, yet what truly drew attention was his striking resemblance in appearance and demeanor to the Sword Cliff Peak Master, Chen Yuxuan.

The last youth, compared to the previous two, seemed much more ordinary in both dress and looks.

But when Qin Yi saw him, his expression grew somewhat peculiar, and he muttered, "Little uncle..."

From the memories within him, he knew that his mother hailed from the He Family, one of the three great families of the Southern Sea—and this youth was none other than the young lord of the Southern Sea He Family.

"Mm," Zhang Chen replied, evidently aware of this fact. Yet he did not rejoice at Qin Yi seeing his little uncle here; clearly, there was no small amount of familial prejudice at play.

"The young heirs of the three great families from the Southern Sea have all come to pay respects to Taiyi Mountain?" Qin Yi mused to himself.

On the continent of Shenzhou, the four races—Saint, Human, Demon, and Devil—vied for supremacy. Within the Human domain, heroes abounded. Taiyi Mountain stood south of Yun Ridge in the southern region of Lingzhou, an area equally tumultuous.

In northern Lingzhou, south of Yun Ridge, lay Taiyi Mountain; to the west, the Xijiang Martial Hall reigned supreme; to the east, the Wang Clan of East Ridge governed its territory; and to the south, the Southern Sea port was famed for its three great families.

Over the past century, under the leadership of the current patriarch Wang Haoran, the Wang Clan of East Ridge had grown ever stronger. His son, Wang Hong, was renowned among the youth of the Human race, lauded as a prodigy. The Wang Clan was flourishing as never before, threatening to unify Lingzhou. Nor did they wait idly for opportunity—they took decisive action. The first step: the three great families of the Southern Sea.

The three great families of the Southern Sea were not true regional powers; fragmented and loosely allied, they gradually leaned toward the Wang Clan of East Ridge over time.

Yet now, the young heirs of the three great families had all come to pay respects at Taiyi Mountain, seeking to establish ties.

"Wang Hong..." Qin Yi repeated the name, as though in idle conversation.

But Zhang Chen, well acquainted with Qin Yi's temperament, immediately asked, "What's wrong?"

"Ha! Nothing..." Qin Yi waved his hand with a smile, saying no more.

Zhang Chen did not press further, for he knew all too well that prying words from Qin Yi's lips, should he not wish to speak, was nigh impossible—no, far harder than climbing to the heavens.

Whenever Qin Yi thought of the Wang Clan of East Ridge, he thought of Wang Hong. In his past life, Wang Hong, he, and Jiang Yao were known as the three prodigies of Lingzhou. Yet Wang Hong was ever elitist, proud and aloof, and looked down upon the orphaned backgrounds of Qin Yi and Jiang Yao.

Moreover, if the Wang Clan wished to unify Lingnan, Taiyi Mountain and Xijiang Martial Hall would surely be the first obstacles. Thus, his relationship with Wang Hong was never cordial. He still remembered, during the calamity of the Wild Marsh, Wang Hong was the last Human prodigy to escape the jaws of the Little Swallow King. There were reasons for this—Wang Hong's strength among the prodigies was not the greatest, and there was Qin Yi's own influence.

"Ha ha ha!" Remembering these events, Qin Yi felt a touch of melancholy and burst into laughter. Why had he been as he was in his past life? Was it all for Jiang Yao? If so, why did he not let others share her fate?

"Qin Yi, what's with you today?" Zhang Chen, long aware of Qin Yi's oddness this day, finally couldn't help but ask as Qin Yi laughed abruptly.

Knowing he could not continue to brush it off, Qin Yi adopted a serious tone and spouted nonsense, "Ah, I was lamenting the prodigy of Taiyi Mountain who shares my name! Such brilliance, and yet he became a traitor to the Human race—I find it hard to believe!"

At this, Zhang Chen grew solemn. "Indeed. I've heard tales of that prodigy in the Lingzhou region, and there was never a blemish on his record. How could such a person turn traitor?"

Qin Yi feigned agreement, then looked up at the circular stone platform at the plaza's center, shifting the topic. "Oh! Looks like the heirs of the three great families from the Southern Sea aren't too shabby!"

On the circular stone platform, the young masters of the three families were undergoing their tests. The purple-gold lotus hovering before each opened around sixty petals.

"Mm! They are, after all, the young heirs of the three great families," Zhang Chen agreed. Talent in cultivation often runs in the blood.

The crowd in the plaza, seeing the results of the three heirs' tests, began to discuss:

"As expected of the heirs of the three great families—such remarkable talent!"

"Is that chubby one the young master of the Qian Family? I've heard his talent for alchemy is excellent."

"The young master of the Chen Family must be the Sword Cliff Peak master's nephew, right? I hear he cultivates the sword path like his uncle."

"I don't find it odd that the Qian and Chen boys are here, but why is the He Family's boy here?" Gu Beishan was the first to voice his doubts.

Qian Fu's talent for alchemy was no secret in Lingzhou—well-known and likely recruited by Li Ding. As for Chen Wenxiang, he likely came to Taiyi Mountain to study swordsmanship with his uncle, the Sword Cliff Peak Master, Chen Yuxuan.

But the reason for He Mengwei's presence was unclear—at least Gu Beishan couldn't recall any connection between the He Family and Taiyi Mountain. If He Mengwei was simply here to round out the trio, or to seek apprenticeship under some master, Gu Beishan thought it unlikely.

Never mind whether the Wang Clan of East Ridge would allow it—Taiyi Mountain might not have any master willing to accept him as disciple.

Gu Beishan glanced back at Li Ding and Chen Yuxuan, not far behind, only to find both looking back at him with puzzled expressions—they too seemed unaware.

Seeing their ignorance, Gu Beishan could only set his doubts aside, turning his gaze back to the three youths atop the circular stone platform.

At last, the results of their tests gradually began to emerge.