A broken blade pressed down on the ground while a dragon soared through the sky. Although it didn't give off any pressure, anyone who saw it was shocked. Below the dragon, the Xia family proudly walked towards Xia Xing to pay respects to their ancestors. Not far away, Xia Zhitong's group of twelve knelt on the ground. They were all sinners and would be judged on the day of the ceremony.
At this time, Xia Xing looked at Lu Yin and nodded.
Lu Yin took a deep breath and walked out. The Xia family had already given him an explanation, so he had to walk out.
Wu Yao narrowed his eyes and stared at Lu Yin, feeling uneasy. This person had already agreed to join the Frigid Immortal Sect, but now he was participating in the ceremony in front of everyone without discussing it with Wu Yao. Had he already told Ancestor Bai?
Half-Ancestor Chai frowned as he watched Lu Yin walk out. Was he participating in the ceremony because he was still the Xia family's son-in-law, or had he already expressed his stance?
The Xia family's ceremony wasn't a big deal; at least to outsiders, they were more concerned about Lu Yin's attitude.
"Sir," Nong Siniang couldn't help but speak up. She had spoken to her family over the past few days, and her family's intention was to prevent Lu Yin from joining the Four Way Scales, but she didn't know what to do.
Lu Yin looked back at Nong Siniang and smiled. He then glanced at the Food God, Mister Tang, Mister Wei, and the other students. "I'll be back soon." He glanced at Wu Yao and then continued walking towards Xia Xing.
Wu Yao and Lu Yin exchanged glances, but he couldn't tell what Lu Yin was trying to say. However, a glance at Lu Yin was enough to make Wu Yao feel more at ease.
However, Half-Ancestor Chai and Sir Yu also noticed Lu Yin's glance. They exchanged glances and then looked at Wu Yao. What did this Yu Hao mean?
They glanced at Wu Yao alone. Had he joined the Frigid Immortal Sect or something?
No one understood Lu Yin, not even Xia Xing, who was working with him.
Lu Yin walked towards Xia Xing step by step. His status as the son-in-law of a branch family wasn't enough for him to walk very far. He should have stood behind all the other branches of the Xia family, and there were over a thousand of them who were qualified to attend the ceremony.
However, he still walked past them step by step until he reached Xia Shenguang's side. He then continued walking forward.
Xia Shenguang's dissatisfaction, but he didn't show it.
In the past, Yu Hao was naturally not qualified. But now, Yu Hao was different. His status in Shenwu Heaven was no lower than Xia Shenfei's.
Lu Yin walked all the way to Xia Shenfei's side before stopping. He didn't overtake him, but he didn't fall behind either.
Xia Shenfei looked at Lu Yin. He hadn't drunk any alcohol today, so he felt exceptionally refreshed. "Congratulations on completing the Beyond Heaven trial. Perhaps even the Forefather will accept you as a disciple."
Lu Yin smiled. "I hope so."
"Do you want to become sworn brothers?"
Xia Shenfei suddenly said.
Lu Yin was surprised. "You're becoming sworn brothers again?"
"It's a pity that we didn't form it back then," Xia Shenfei said regretfully.
Lu Yin's eyes flashed. "Sure, when?"
Xia Shenfei's eyes flashed. "Now, with our blood, we'll form a brotherhood. From now on, we'll treat each other with absolute sincerity and live and die together."
Lu Yin moved his finger and looked at Xia Shenfei.
Xia Shenfei also looked at Lu Yin, and their gazes met.
This oath of brotherhood was not an ordinary oath of brotherhood, but rather, a blood oath. The blood that flowed through his veins was that of the Lu Clan.
Every clan's bloodline had its own unique characteristics. For example, the Xia Clan's bloodline could be traced back to the Xia Clan's cultivation techniques. Xia Xing said that Ancestor Chen had found Jiu in his bloodline.
The Xia Clan's bloodline was powerful, but the Lu Clan's bloodline was even stronger.
If the Lu Clan's bloodline suppressed the Xia Clan's, Lu Yin's identity would immediately be exposed. Even an idiot would know that the Yu Clan's bloodline could not compare to the Xia Clan's; it was just a very ordinary bloodline.
The only clan in the universe that could suppress the Xia Clan with their bloodline was the Lu Clan.
Furthermore, Lu Yin believed that the Xia Clan's bloodline would not be unfamiliar to them.
Xia Shenfei was testing him, as the last test before worshipping the ancestors.
"Alright," Lu Yin agreed.
Xia Shenfei's eyes flashed; he had always been suspicious of this person. Even if a Half-Ancestor had said that this person was not pretending, and even if this person had mentioned that they had almost become sworn brothers, Xia Shenfei was still suspicious. Too many things had happened since this person had appeared, and this person's innate talent and cultivation had increased too quickly.
One coincidence was a coincidence, but ten coincidences were inevitable.
Xia Shenfei liked to drink, as he was more clear-headed and could see things more clearly when he was drunk.
He had seen through Wu Taibai's intentions, which was why he had almost killed him. But now, he couldn't see through Yu Hao, which didn't make sense.
No matter how much a person changed, they couldn't escape from a certain level. This Yu Hao was like a dragon swimming in the sky, surpassing them step by step.
"Shenfei, it's time to pay respects to the ancestors. Even if you want to become sworn brothers, you have to wait until after the ceremony," Xia Xing said. He knew Lu Yin's identity, and once they became sworn brothers, Lu Yin's identity would definitely be exposed.
Xia Shenfei said, "Father, we can punish sinners during the ceremony, but we can also become sworn brothers. Isn't it better to add glory to our Xia Clan's ancestral ceremony?"
"Nonsense, you want to become sworn brothers? Wait until after the ceremony. Besides, the Ancestor might take Yu Hao as a disciple, and your seniority is different. We can discuss it then," Xia Xing said sternly.
Xia Shenfei looked at Xia Xing strangely. Xia Xing shouldn't have rejected this suggestion, so why had he rejected it twice in a row?
Xia Ziheng was also puzzled. "Sect Master," Xia Xing raised a hand. "Nothing is more important than the ancestral ceremony. We can talk about it after the ceremony." He then looked at Yu Hao. "Yu Hao, stand aside and watch the ceremony. We'll deal with those people after that."
Lu Yin respectfully replied, "As you wish, Sect Master."
He heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Xia Xing was on his side, or else he would have been exposed during the ceremony again.
Was he in conflict with the ancestral ceremony?
Or were the ancestors of these clans really watching?
He had been exposed during the White Dragon Clan's ancestral ceremony, and he had almost been exposed during the Xia Clan's ancestral ceremony.
The reason the Xia Clan's ancestral ceremony was so frequent, and they held it once every ten years, was because of the Drawing Ceremony. This ceremony had been going on for countless years, ever since the Xia Clan had obtained this broken blade.
The so-called Drawing Ceremony was to pull out the broken blade, which had originated from the Xia Clan's Ancestor, Xia Chan. The Xia Clan believed that as long as one could pull out the broken blade, they would be acknowledged by the Ancestor, and this also represented the Xia Clan's innate talent and ability.
Since ancient times, only one person in the Xia Clan had ever pulled out the broken blade, and that was Xia Shenji. During the era of the Daosource Sect, he had been a genius of the same generation as Nine Mountains and Eight Seas. Although Xia Shenji wasn't from Nine Mountains and Eight Seas, he was the only one in the Xia Clan who had managed to pull out the broken blade in countless years. Even Hellwyrm had been suppressed by him.
Although he wasn't from Nine Mountains and Eight Seas, in the hearts of the Xia Clan, he wasn't any weaker than Nine Mountains and Eight Seas.
The broken blade was the Xia Clan's belief.
Lu Yin stood in his original spot.
Xia Shenfei also stood in his original spot. A group of the Xia Clan's younger disciples walked towards the broken blade, including Xia Shenguang.
"Brother Xia, aren't you going to try?"
Lu Yin asked.
Xia Shenfei laughed. "I've tried many times, and I've been able to pull it out the first time. If I can't pull it out the first time, I won't be able to pull it out in the future."
Lu Yin looked at the broken blade in the distance. It was so huge that it could pierce through the clouds. One by one, the Xia Clan's disciples climbed up and appeared beside the broken blade's hilt. They tried to grab it with both hands, but no matter how they looked at it, it was futile. Lu Yin couldn't figure out how Ancestor Xia Shenji had managed to pull it out.
"When I tried to pull it out for the first time, the moment I touched the hilt, I knew that I couldn't pull it out. This blade doesn't acknowledge me." Xia Shenfei took out his wine gourd and started drinking, his eyes turning hazy once more.
Lu Yin asked, "Is it a mysterious feeling?"
"Yes, as long as you touch the hilt, you'll experience that feeling. How should I put it? If you ask a normal person to move mountains and fill seas, will they be able to do it?
It's that feeling. Compared to moving mountains and filling seas, time might be able to do it, but this blade … even if I reach the Progenitor realm, I still won't be able to pull it out. It's so despairing. "Xia Shenfei sighed.
He watched as the Xia Clan's disciples walked out one after another, each one filled with hope and apprehension as they tried to pull out the blade, only to return in disappointment. The difference wasn't that great, as they all knew that they couldn't pull it out. Countless years had passed, and how many people had been born in the Xia Clan?
Regardless of whether they were direct descendants or collateral descendants, over a thousand people would try to pull out the blade during the ceremony every ten years, but all of them failed. After countless years, this number was terrifying.
Xia Shenguang went up. He had also tried, but he wasn't willing to give up.
The Frigid Immortal Sect had a trial in Heaven's Beyond, and anyone who completed it had a ninety percent chance of becoming a Progenitor. The Xia Clan also had a ceremony where anyone who pulled out the broken blade would be given all of the Xia Clan's resources.
Lu Yin was suddenly curious as to whether or not Progenitor Chen had tried to pull out the blade. He wanted to ask, but he didn't dare, as he was afraid that the Xia Clan would flip out. Asking about Progenitor Chen during a ceremony was a clear slap to the Xia Clan's face.
Xia Shenguang failed and walked down with a disappointed expression. He was the Xia Clan's most outstanding disciple, but even he had failed. He wanted to surpass the Fourth Young Ancestor and surpass Xia Shenfei. When he thought of this, he couldn't help but look at Xia Shenfei, who didn't even look at him.
"Did you really want to become sworn brothers with me?"
Xia Shenfei asked.
Lu Yin replied, "Of course. You were once the Fourth Young Ancestor, and now that you've broken through Boundless, your name has spread throughout the universe, so becoming sworn brothers with you will increase my chances of becoming a Progenitor. Who can guarantee that nothing will happen in the future? There were eight people before me who completed the trial, but not everyone can become a Progenitor."
Xia Shenfei gulped down another mouthful of wine. "I truly want to become sworn brothers with you, and that's enough for me. After the ceremony, I'll look for you."
Lu Yin nodded. "I'll be waiting."
One by one, the Xia Clan members tried to pull out the blade, but they all failed.
Over at Yi Xian Academy, Bai Weiwei and the others didn't even look at the ceremony. They only stared at Lu Yin. In any case, it was impossible to pull out the blade, and this was even more ridiculous than the Frozen Immortal Sect's trial.
In fact, there was a rumor circulating in the Astral Tree that Xia Shenji hadn't pulled out the broken blade at all. The broken blade hadn't even been stabbed into the ground, and it had just been placed in the Xia Clan's residence. Xia Shenji had merely borrowed it. He had used the broken blade to suppress the Hellwyrm before stabbing it into the ground. After that, even he himself couldn't pull it out.
Of course, this rumor wasn't necessarily accurate. The Xia Clan's history proved that the broken blade had always been stabbed into the ground. The only reason it couldn't be pulled out now was because it had something to do with suppressing the Hellwyrm. If it hadn't been suppressed, then anyone could have pulled out the broken blade.