Chapter 1629

The two figures gradually receded into the distance.

"What on earth are these two doing?" Everyone was puzzled, wondering why Ye Xiao had suddenly left, while Yang Yu followed behind him.

"Hey, isn't that Ye Xiao? He's tailing Yang Yu." Suddenly, someone cried out, drawing the attention of all nearby; in an instant, countless voices erupted in chatter, creating a lively commotion.

Ye Xiao heard the various murmurs around him; he furrowed his brow and abruptly stopped walking.

"Something's wrong!" Ye Xiao's gaze turned icy as he spun to face Yang Yu, his voice frosty: "Speak. Who are you? Why are you impersonating me?"

Ye Xiao's demeanor was grave; he always felt a faint sense of familiarity from this man, yet he couldn't recall where he'd seen him before.

"You really want to know?" Yang Yu's lips curled into a strange smile.

"Don't waste my time!" Ye Xiao's eyebrows shot up, a cold, sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "If you won't talk, I won't mind sending you to Guixi!"

"Heh, I advise you not to act rashly—you can't kill me!" Yang Yu sneered. "Let me tell you: I am the one you've been searching for—the personal disciple of the Lord of Cangqiong Palace—Yang Yu!"

"What? He's the personal disciple of the Lord of Cangqiong Palace?" Ye Xiao's face changed drastically.

"How is that possible? He's so young! How could he possibly be the personal disciple of the Lord of Cangqiong Palace?"

"Is this information even true?"

"I don't believe it—it's definitely rumor. A brat with no experience couldn't possibly be a disciple of the Lord of Cangqiong Palace!"

"…"

The moment Yang Yu finished speaking, the square erupted in chaos; every face was filled with shock and disbelief.

This news was too explosive!

This boy was the personal disciple of the Lord of Cangqiong Palace? He was a figure the entire Imperial City had gone mad over!

Though the claim sounded absurd, no one doubted it.

"Yang Yu?" At that moment, a tall, slender youth clad in blue, a long sword strapped to his back, stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Yang Yu, a faint smile on his lips: "You're the newly recruited examination disciple?"

"Who are you?" Yang Yu raised an eyebrow; the youth radiated an extremely sharp, piercing sword intent—clearly no ordinary man.

"Ximen Wudi." The youth smiled faintly. "We've met before, but seeing you again now is somewhat unexpected."

1398 Crossing from Mortal Martial to Spirit Martial

"Ximen Wudi?" Yang Yu's pupils contracted.

Ximen Wudi!

This name ranked among the top three on the Eastern Xuan Region's Storm List—a supreme prodigy said to be in seclusion, breaking through into the Primordial Martial Realm, even aiming for the peak of Primordial Martial, one step away from transcending Mortal Martial and Spirit Martial, ascending to a higher plane and becoming a true transcendent—an extraordinary genius that countless factions would fight to the death to claim.

"No wonder his sword intent is so dense—he's a disciple of the Lord of Cangqiong Palace," Yang Yu thought bitterly.

"Scared?" Ximen Wudi smiled slightly.

Yang Yu's lips twitched. "What do you want?"

"Nothing." Ximen Wudi shook his head coldly. "I merely tested your loyalty on behalf of the Lord. Since this is how it is, leave. From now on, I, Ye Xiao, sever all ties with you!"

"You!" Yang Yu was furious—he never imagined the man he faithfully served would cast him out of the Zong Sect, even going so far as to impersonate him. He hated himself—why had he been so foolish? If he'd known, he never would've gone to such lengths to please Li Yuchan.

Too late now.

"What? You dare to defy me?" Ximen Wudi sneered, his eyes brimming with contempt. "I don't care about your origins, nor do I bother investigating them—but you should never, ever have impersonated me!"

"You…"

"Enough. Get out!" Ximen Wudi waved his hand.

Hearing this, Yang Yu's face twitched; he gritted his teeth. "Ximen Wudi, you'll regret this!" Then he swiftly vanished into the distance.

"Regret? Hahaha! I, Ximen Wudi, have never feared anyone in my life!" Ximen Wudi threw back his head and laughed, his tone utterly dominant. "When I break through into Primordial Martial and reach the Transcendent Realm, even the Lord himself won't scare me!"

…

Yang Yu returned to his family in a daze, Ye Xiao's defiant face still haunting his mind.

He finally understood why, after entering Cangqiong Palace, he'd always felt watched, living in constant fear of exposure—but now, that threat was gone, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"No. I can't just wait to die. I must work twice as hard!" Yang Yu clenched his fists tightly, his eyes gleaming with resolve. "I won't lose this year's Qianlong List!"

Yang Yu knew his talent was decent, but winning first place was impossible—every prodigy competing in the Qianlong List possessed a Nine-Star Physique; his Nine-Star Physique couldn't even match an ordinary Six-Star Physique, let alone the Eight-Star Prodigies.

Thinking of this, Yang Yu couldn't help sighing: "If only I had the Five Elements Divine Physique—then Cangqiong Palace wouldn't even be worth a second glance."

"Sigh… the Five Elements Divine Physique—what an extraordinary physique! Even across all of Nanling, there's hardly a second one to be found. How could I possibly stumble upon one?" Yang Yu shook his head inwardly. "I must find another way."

Yang Yu knew he had to seize this final chance—only by breaking through to the Primordial Realm could he earn the Zong Sect's rewards, and only then could he qualify as a disciple of Ye Lingkong. For him, this was a path to heaven.

"Yang Yu, let's go," Li Yuchan said lightly.

"Hmm." Yang Yu snapped out of his thoughts and followed Li Yuchan as they sprinted away.

Watching Yang Yu and Li Yuchan depart, many frowned.

"This Yang Yu… isn't ordinary," some whispered, their eyes holding a trace of wariness.

"Not only is his talent formidable, but his resolve is sharp—he's no ordinary vessel."

"No wonder he's Yang Yu!"

…

"This Yang Yu is indeed extraordinary. No wonder the Lord assigned him as the newly recruited examination disciple—it seems the Lord anticipated this all along, and wasn't unprepared." Inside a palace, Ximen Wudi's eyes narrowed. "This makes it more interesting. But if you truly believe such tricks can fool me, you've vastly underestimated Ximen Wudi."

With that, Ximen Wudi turned and left, leaving the stunned disciples behind.

They hadn't expected Ximen Wudi to brush off Yang Yu so casually—as if he didn't care at all. After all, in past years, Cangqiong Palace always eliminated threats completely, without exception.

Yet this year, Ximen Wudi had changed the rules!

"Could it be because the Lord authorized it?"

"Probably. Otherwise, how could Yang Yu have dared act so boldly?"

Some speculated, but paid little mind—they figured Yang Yu couldn't escape; he'd be executed by the Lord sooner or later.

…

Meanwhile, deep within a tranquil bamboo grove lay a vast lake, its waters crystal-clear and still, and in the pavilion at its center sat two figures.

One of them radiated an ancient, weathered aura; his eyes resembled abysses, instilling dread in all who gazed upon them.

"My lord," Ximen Wudi stood respectfully beside him, his tone deferential: "You summoned me specifically—have you discovered something?"

The owner of this figure was none other than the Grand Master of Cangqiong Hall—Ximen Wudi!

He was not only the Grand Master of Cangqiong Hall, but also a supreme powerhouse of Superb Realm Level Four, among the very pinnacle of strength throughout the Dongling Imperial Dynasty!

"You're clever," Ximen Wudi smiled.

"Thank you for your lordship's praise," Ximen Wudi replied humbly. "I humbly beg your lordship's instruction."

"Instruction is too much to ask—I merely tell you this: the enemy you face is a hundred times stronger than you imagine!" Ximen Wudi said solemnly. "Do you know that this examination has eighteen slots? My Cangqiong Hall's disciples hold seven of them. The remaining six are contested by outstanding disciples nominated by the Four Regions' Wang Fu and the noble houses. Among them, the weakest possess the combat power of Innate Realm peak; the strongest are on the brink of Transcendence."

"What?" Ximen Wudi's eyes widened in disbelief.

He had known the competition was fierce—but never imagined it would be this extreme.

"My lord," Ximen Wudi took a deep breath and asked, "you just said… among the eighteen candidates, the weakest are on the brink of Transcendence?"

"Correct," Ximen Wudi nodded.

"This…," Ximen Wudi froze. "Then… I have no chance at all?"

Before Ximen Wudi could finish speaking, he fell silent—he suddenly realized something, his expression changed drastically, and he snapped his head up, his gaze fixed on Ximen Wudi: "My lord, are you implying that among our batch of disciples, there is a hidden master?"

"What do you think?" Ximen Wudi glanced at him with deep implication.

Ximen Wudi fell silent. Long moments passed before he spoke bitterly: "If that's true… how can we even compete?"

"Do you think our batch of disciples can win this examination?" Ximen Wudi continued.

Top 1400

"No chance—probability is negligible," Ximen Wudi sighed. "Perhaps only the top three stand a chance."

Ximen Wudi's words held truth: this year's disciples were mostly at Body Refinement Realm, though all had reached Bone Tempering Stage—yet how could such a level possibly rival the Innate Realm?

Among them, the most brilliant was Yang Yu, whose cultivation had reached the peak of Body Tempering—just one step away from breaking into Innate Realm early stage.

But Innate Realm early stage remained utterly out of reach for them.

"This examination is your best chance to prove yourselves!" Ximen Wudi paused, then spoke slowly. "Talent relies on bloodline, spiritual pills, and martial techniques. Martial techniques are the very foundation of a warrior's survival—without them, even the greatest talent is useless."

Hearing this, many around him nodded in agreement: martial techniques were the fundamental pillar of a warrior's growth; without them, no matter how superior one's talent, one could never rise.