Chapter 8

Qiuhe City. The Fengyun Family's direct-line estate complex, the martial arts training ground.

The martial arts training ground, paved with hard玄武石 (xuánwǔshí - black jade), exuded a grand and expansive atmosphere.

At this moment, the training ground was surrounded by distinguished guests! With the Fengyun Family as the host, those present today included... the Fengyun Family, the He Family, the Chen Family, the Nalan Family, the Hu Family, and the Yelü Family!

The six major families of Qiuhe City!

The patriarchs and elders of each family personally led most of their disciples to gather here!

Around the training ground, six formations were arranged!

Each formation seated over a hundred people.

Today was the once-every-five-years selection competition for the Ao Han Sect, the Qiuhe City division!

For the six major families of Qiuhe City, today was a significant day, a day that would determine the future prospects of their families for the next few years!

In fact, the Ao Han Sect's selection of young talents from the six major families of Qiuhe City was not just about talent reserves and selection; it also related to the interests of the families themselves!

The reason was simple: although the city was controlled by the major families, the lifeline of the city was controlled by the sect!

Take Qiuhe City, for example, with its vast territory, numerous markets, streets, and towns; it also had various trades, including tea, timber, brewing, handicrafts, seafood, agriculture, textiles, and more.

So, how did the six major families of Qiuhe City divide these territories and trade industries?

The division was not decided by the families themselves but by their superior, the Ao Han Sect.

In terms of distribution, the Ao Han Sect was also fair. The method was simple: the more talents a family sent to the sect, the more territory and lucrative trade industries they would receive!

In the previous few selection competitions, the Fengyun Family performed excellently, sending a large number of talents, and thus received one-quarter of Qiuhe City's territory. The remaining three-quarters were divided among the other five families. In terms of trade, the Fengyun Family also dominated the most profitable industries such as tea, silk, and seafood, accumulating a large amount of wealth.

However, this was not a one-time deal. Each new selection competition marked a reshuffling!

A redistribution!

Those with more territory and trade wanted to maintain their status; those with less territory and fewer profits aimed to rise to the top.

The competition was intense!

In the Fengyun Family's camp.

Several grand chairs were lined up. Feng Yunmo, the current patriarch of the Fengyun Family, and his several brothers, who were also the family's elders, sat solemnly. Behind them stood the members of Feng Chu's generation. Further back were the younger members.

"Everyone, what do you think of our Fengyun Family's prospects for this selection competition?" Feng Yunmo, as the patriarch, was cautious and his expression was not relaxed.

"Brother, over the past five years, our Fengyun Family has worked hard to cultivate the younger generation! For the 10-12 age group, we may not expect great achievements, but for the 13-15 and 16-18 age groups, our Fengyun Family still has an advantage!" One of Feng Yunmo's brothers stroked his beard and smiled confidently, "Brother, let's take the 16-18 age group as an example. Xue'er and Gang'er have already advanced to the 6th level of the Xuan Qi realm and have mastered the family's martial technique, 'Thirteen Deadly Swords,' to perfection. We can say that the two spots for the 16-18 age group are firmly in our hands. Additionally, in this age group, Kun'er, Rui'er, and Qin'er have reached the peak of the 5th level of the Xuan Qi realm and are also strong contenders! Ha ha, I believe our Fengyun Family will maintain and even improve its position!"

Hearing this, Feng Yunmo's tense expression gradually relaxed.

"Xue'er, Gang'er, come over here." Feng Yunmo smiled and beckoned to Feng Xue and Feng Tiegang, who were standing at the back.

Feng Xue, 17 years old, at the 6th level of the Xuan Qi realm!

Feng Tiegang, 18 years old, also at the 6th level of the Xuan Qi realm!

Although they had both relied on pills to forcefully advance to the 6th level of the Xuan Qi realm, their realms were not yet stable, but among the same-age martial artists in Qiuhe City, they were considered outstanding.

"Grandfather!" Feng Xue and Feng Tiegang respectfully called out. Their eyes sparkled with a strange, eager light. Today was the critical moment that would determine their future as martial artists!

"Good children, good children... You are the hope of our Fengyun Family! You bear the mission of maintaining the interests of the Fengyun Family!" Feng Yunmo encouraged them, "Xue'er, Gang'er, listen carefully. Today, you must do your best in the competition! Show the spirit of the Fengyun Family! Show your integrity! Show your might! The rise and fall of the Fengyun Family for the next few years, and your own glory and prosperity, all depend on this competition... Good luck!"

Pre-competition pep talk!

Not just the Fengyun Family, but the patriarchs and elders of the other five families were also giving their final pre-competition pep talks!

The disciples of each family who were to compete today were all brimming with enthusiasm, ready to go, and their eyes were burning with passion!

At the other end of the training ground, three seats were set up, standing out like cranes among chickens. Three middle-aged men, dressed in splendid robes and exuding a noble aura, sat there with a distinguished air!

They had smooth skin, an ancient and refined demeanor, and were not ordinary people. They were the judges sent by the Ao Han Sect to oversee the competition in Qiuhe City!

All of them were martial artists with Xuan Qi realms reaching the 10th level of the Xuan Qi realm, just one step away from the Xian Tian realm!

Of course, these three judges were not from Qiuhe City but from other cities under the Ao Han Sect. This was to ensure absolute fairness, so the Ao Han Sect would not send judges from the same city to oversee the selection process.

The three judges held cups of tea, sipping and chatting softly.

"Ximen, Dashe, in your opinion, are there any particularly outstanding young talents among these young people from Qiuhe City?"

"Ha, Li, if I'm not mistaken, there are a total of nine young talents who have reached the 6th level of the Xuan Qi realm, but some seem to have taken pills to conceal their realms, pretending to be at the 5th level of the Xuan Qi realm. Ha ha, it's all about strategy and deceit. Some families are already using every trick in the book to secure a spot in the sect! Interesting, very interesting."

"Alright, it's not early anymore. Let's announce the start of the selection competition!"

As he spoke, the judge surnamed Ximen slowly stood up from his seat. A powerful aura radiated from his body, spreading out!

The originally noisy and bustling training ground gradually quieted down.

"Everyone, please be quiet!" Ximen said coldly. His expression was stern, and his presence was imposing without any need for anger!

His words were not loud, but everyone present heard them clearly!

In an instant, the entire venue was so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping!

No one from the six major families of Qiuhe City dared to speak, and even breathing heavily seemed to require restraint!

In front of the three judges at the 10th level of the Xuan Qi realm, all the members of the six major families of Qiuhe City were no different from ants!

Everyone was tense.

Ximen smiled satisfactorily, pleased with the effect he had created. He said in a measured tone, "Now, I will announce the rules of the selection competition according to the regulations. Listen carefully! This competition has 10 spots, to be contested by the six major families. The participants are divided into three age groups: 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18. The 10-12 age group will compete for 2 spots; the 13-15 age group will also compete for 2 spots; and the 16-18 age group will compete for 6 spots!"

From the distribution of spots, the 16-18 age group had as many as 6 spots!

However, it made sense. For example, the 10-12 and 13-15 age groups, if they failed this time, they would still have the opportunity to participate in the next selection competition in five years, as long as they were under 18 years old.

But for the 16-18 age group, this was their only chance in life!

Ximen continued, "The participants from the six major families have already drawn their competition numbers. They will compete according to their numbers, and ultimately, 10 spots will be decided. During the competition, no one is allowed to interrupt the match in any form until a winner is determined! This is not a life-or-death battle, so it's best to stop at the right moment. However, punches and kicks are merciless, and swords and spears have no eyes, so injuries or even deaths are inevitable! Therefore, after the competition, the families must not hold grudges or seek revenge! Of course, if there is any intentional harm to an opponent during the competition, and it is detected by us three judges, the participant will be disqualified!"

"Finally, I want to say that the 10 participants who win the 10 spots will not only have the basic qualifications to enter the Ao Han Sect but will also each be granted a 'Body Tempering Pill' and a 'Mind Nourishing Pill.' Alright, the competition begins!"

The competition officially began!

"Men! Fight! Give it your all! The rise and fall of the family and your future all depend on this battle today! No fear, fight!"

The patriarchs and elders of the six major families of Qiuhe City were all shouting with red faces and flushed ears!

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