Ling Zhan broke through his sixth meridian, and the whole family was very happy.
Meng Xiyun even specially ordered the servants to prepare a sumptuous meal to celebrate, hoping that Ling Zhan would become a Xuan Qi cultivator as soon as possible.
After the meal, Ling Zhan called Ling Xiao to the study.
"Son, thank you!" Ling Zhan heavily patted Ling Xiao's shoulder and said gratefully.
Ling Xiao waved his hand and said, "Father, you are my father. Without you, there would be no me. Is there a need to thank me?
We are a family, so don't treat me like an outsider. "
Ling Zhan looked at his son with gratification and sighed, "I thought that my life would be spent in chaos. I never thought that I would be able to cultivate Xuan Qi again. For a cultivator, this is the same as giving me a second life. As long as I can cultivate back to my peak, I don't ask for anything else." At this point, he paused and stared at Ling Xiao, "Xiao 'er, you are different from father. Since the immortal chose you as his disciple, it proves that the immortal's vision is not wrong. Your future will be greater than father's, the Ling family's, and anyone else's in Meteor City. Therefore, you must cultivate well and live up to the immortal's expectations!"
Ling Xiao listened to his father's serious instructions and did not refute. He nodded obediently and said, "Father, don't worry. I will definitely work hard to cultivate. I will not let you down. I will not let down the Immortal's expectations."
"That's good. Oh yes, three days later is the family test. You must perform well and make those who look down on us shut up." Ling Zhan said.
"Yes, father!" Ling Xiao nodded.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Ling family's annual test was held today.
Early in the morning, the large training field was already filled with more than a hundred young men between the ages of twelve to twenty.
These young men were the eighteenth generation of the Ling family. There were direct descendants and collateral descendants. As long as they passed the test, they would become the future pillars of the Ling family. Regardless of whether they were direct descendants or collateral descendants, they would receive the same treatment. They would either stay in the inner courtyard or be sent out. Today would be the day to find out.
At this moment, everyone on the martial arts field was divided into three groups. The first group was led by the clan leader's grandson, Ling Li. The second group was led by the second elder's grandson, Ling Kuang. The third group was made up of the collateral descendants, led by the strongest of them all, Ling Hu.
Among these three groups, Ling Kuang's group had the most people. The second group was led by Ling Li's group and the last group was led by Ling Hu's group.
In this continent where strength was everything, all the aristocratic families revered strength. The Ling family was no exception.
Ling Kuang was the most outstanding martial artist under the age of twenty among the eighteenth generation. He became a low-level Mystic cultivator at the age of nineteen, so he received the support of others. Ling Li was not weak either. He was eighteen years old and had the strength of a high-level Mystic cultivator. He was expected to become a low-level Mystic cultivator before the age of nineteen. He was ranked third in last year's test and was the first grandson of the Clan Leader. He had many supporters. As for Ling Hu, he was nineteen years old and had the strength of a mid-level Mystic cultivator. Although he was only ranked fifth in the eighteenth generation, he was the most outstanding one among the collateral descendants.
The three groups of supporters gathered together and chatted nonstop. Everyone was either pleasantly surprised or nervous. They were pleasantly surprised because the annual test was coming, and they were nervous because they were worried that they would not be able to successfully pass the test.
"Say, do you think Brother Ling Kuang will get first place again?
He's been first for two years in a row. He's really admirable! "
"That goes without saying. Brother Ling Kuang is already a low-level Mystic cultivator. He's the strongest in our generation. If he didn't get first place, who else could it be?"
"That's right. Although Ling Li's strength is also very strong, he hasn't broken through the Mystic Realm. He's destined to lose to Brother Ling Kuang."
"Although Ling Li might not be able to defeat Brother Ling Kuang, there's one person who can definitely threaten Brother Ling Kuang."
"Bullsh * t. Who has that kind of strength? Mystic cultivators can release their Mystic energy and cultivate their own elemental techniques. They have boundless power and are worlds apart from Mystic cultivators. Unless that person is also a Mystic cultivator."
"Didn't you hear that someone in the family broke through the Mystic Realm?"
"Could it be … Ling Bin who was ranked second last year?"
"Yes, it's her."
Everyone was discussing and the atmosphere was very lively.
Ling Xiao arrived late and found a place where no one cared to sit down.
In his impression, there wasn't anyone in the eighteenth generation that he had a deep relationship with. He didn't bother to go and just hoped that the test could be carried out quickly.
Not long after, the elders and a group of deacons finally came out from the cabinet.
Patriarch Ling Cang walked to the high platform in the middle of the training field with his hands behind his back. He said in a dignified voice, "Today, it's time for our Ling family's annual test again. Every year, this day is the time to see your strength increase. Survival of the fittest is the natural law of survival. So whether you stay or leave is in your hands. I won't talk about the rules. Just like previous years, I'm going to announce that the top five disciples of the Ling family will be able to participate in the year-end competition between the big families in Meteorite City."
When Ling Cang said this, the audience was in an uproar!
There were more than ten big and small families in Meteorite City. Every three years, they would hold a competition between the younger generation to prove the future potential of the big families. At the same time, the families would give out generous rewards. Those who could achieve good results could not only bring glory to the family, but also receive rewards from the competition. These rewards could be Mystic techniques, elixirs, or high-grade weapons that could help with cultivation …
The requirement for the competition was for the younger generation under the age of twenty-five, and it had nothing to do with those who exceeded the age limit.
Ling Cang lowered his voice and continued, "At the same time, the top five disciples will receive personal guidance from the elders and receive the same treatment as the deacons of the inner courtyard. Moreover, the Great Elder will choose a successor disciple from among the five."
"Wow …" Everyone cried out in surprise.
It wasn't to receive guidance from the elders, nor was it to receive the same treatment as the deacons of the inner court. What shocked them the most was that "the grand elder will choose a successor disciple from among the five of you."
The Great Elder had a supreme position in the Ling family, and his strength was the most unfathomable in the Ling family. His prestige in the Ling family was even higher than that of the patriarch, and he was even more famous in Meteorite City.
Ten years ago, there was a middle-level Soul Master who dared to challenge the Ling family's prestige. At that time, the elders of the Ling family were not the Soul Master's opponent, and in the end, they were beaten into meat paste by the Great Elder. From then on, no one dared to challenge the Ling family's prestige. Even the Li and Luo families, which were equally famous as the Ling family, were somewhat afraid of the Great Elder.
As long as the Great Elder of the Ling family was there, the Ling family's position would not be threatened.
One could imagine how glorious it was to be able to become the Great Elder's successor disciple. It was something worth being surprised about.
Not only would they have a high position in the Ling family, but they would also have the Great Elder's cultivation method. It would be impossible for them not to become stronger!
Whether it was the seventeenth generation of the Ling family or the current younger generation, they all respected the Great Elder. Everyone wanted to become the Great Elder's successor disciple. It was just that the former no longer had this opportunity, and the latter would go crazy for the one and only spot!
Ling Cang then casually said a few words of encouragement and announced the start of the test.
The first test was a test of martial strength.
This test was very simple. The main thing was to use the testing crystal to test everyone's martial strength. As long as the tester used all his strength to hit the crystal, the crystal would reflect the color value, and the martial strength would be determined by the color value.
This test was carried out by the Ninth Elder, Ling Fu!
Ling Fu was about sixty years old. He was thin and looked like a very ordinary old man. However, one could not treat him as an old man without the strength to carry a chicken. Otherwise, one would have to bear the consequences.
Ling Fu stood on the high platform and held the name list in his hand. He muttered, "Descendant of the eighteenth generation, Ling Yan, please come up."
As soon as he finished speaking, a fifteen-year-old, strong-looking youth separated from the crowd. With a light shout, he leaped onto the high platform with a very beautiful posture.
Ling Yan bowed to Ling Fu, then with a loud shout, he gathered all the strength in his right fist and smashed it heavily onto the testing crystal.
"Boom!"
Ling Yan withdrew his fist. The testing crystal turned from white to light gray, and then the gray became thicker. When it reached a certain level, it stopped.
Elder Ling Fu nodded and said in a clear voice, "Mm, not bad. Level eight Martial Disciple. Compared to last year, you have advanced by one level. You can continue to stay in the Inner Courtyard to cultivate and strive to break through to the Profound Realm as soon as possible!"
After receiving Ling Fu's praise, Ling Yan's face turned into a happy expression. He bowed to Elder Ling Fu and then left the high platform.
Ling Fu's voice sounded again, "Descendant of the eighteenth generation, Ling Yan, please come up."
Ling Yan was younger than Ling Yan, only thirteen years old. He looked weak and was a branch disciple.
With a slightly timid expression, he went up the stage and directly punched the testing crystal.
The testing crystal also turned from white to light gray, and then began to thicken again. However, the degree to which it reached was not as deep as Ling Yan's.
Ling Fu announced, "Ling Yan, level four Martial Disciple, can continue to stay in the Inner Courtyard to cultivate. Next is Ling Shui."
"Ling Shui, level six Martial Disciple, can continue to stay in the Inner Courtyard to cultivate."
"Ling Wen, level three Martial Disciple, has not advanced for two years in a row. He will be sent out of the Inner Courtyard to wait for arrangements."
… ….
Most of the Ling Family disciples who went up to take the test were extremely excited because they had passed the test, while the few that did not were dejected and had a sad expression on their faces.
"Descendant of the eighteenth generation, Ling Tian, please come up."
As Elder Ling Fu's voice fell, a commotion broke out below the stage.
Then, a young man about sixteen years old in white robes with a thin sword on his back let out a soft cry. He spun in the air and landed on the stage with a very graceful movement. This young man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. He looked very handsome, but his eyes were always high and mighty, full of arrogance, which made people feel uncomfortable.
Ling Tian, the grandson of the Fourth Elder, Ling Wei, had extraordinary talent. Last year, at the age of fifteen, he broke through the Martial Disciple realm and became a low-level Profound Practitioner.
"Last year, Ling Tian was already a low-level Profound Practitioner. I wonder if he broke through to a mid-level Profound Practitioner this year!"
"It's not easy to break through a small level in a year. I don't think it's possible."
"There's nothing impossible about it. Big Brother Ling Kuang also became a mid-level Profound Practitioner in sixteen years. Ling Tian's talent is not inferior to Big Brother Ling Kuang's. Looking at his smug look, he must have already broken through to become a mid-level Profound Practitioner."
…
Ling Tian ignored the discussion below the stage. He lightly curled the corner of his mouth and casually struck the testing crystal with one hand.
"Boom!"
The testing crystal turned from white to grey, and finally from grey to a faint light yellow. Finally, it stopped at a certain level.
Ling Fu's face revealed a look of praise as he nodded towards Ling Tian. "Very good. Breaking through a small level in a year. Ling Tian, a mid-level Profound Practitioner, can continue to stay in the Inner Courtyard to cultivate."
"Wow!" When Ling Fu announced Ling Tian's results, most of the people below the stage cried out in surprise. It was obvious that they were very surprised by Ling Tian's strength.
Ling Tian seemed to be very satisfied with the reaction below the stage. However, when his gaze swept to a certain corner, his face stiffened, and a trace of dissatisfaction flashed across his face before he left the stage.