Chapter 53

Xiao Yun's appearance caused a wave of discussion.

Once, he was a world-renowned genius, and now, despite his downfall, he still attracted much attention.

However, this attention was filled with mocking and sarcastic gazes, as if people enjoyed using it to vent their pain of not being geniuses.

Now, seeing Xiao Yun still able to walk with a beautiful woman by his side, the envious gazes were as scorching as the sun.

Xiao Yun seemed quite calm about these discussions.

"They're talking about the pig rooting up the cabbage again," Yan Shifei said with a smile, her beautiful eyes twinkling as she covered her mouth.

"They're just jealous," Xiao Yun raised an eyebrow, then narrowed his eyes and said with a look of grievance, "But I haven't even rooted up your cabbage yet, so I need to collect some interest today." After saying that, he kissed the girl beside him in public.

"Don't, there are so many people," Yan Shifei blushed.

At that moment, the young men nearby all showed murderous intent in their eyes.

"How dare Xiao Yun do this in public!"

"He's showing off!" Many young men pounded their chests, their faces full of resentment, "I really want to kill him!"

Many of these people had once pursued Yan Shifei, but were all rejected. Now, seeing their former goddess treated like this, their eyes were almost spitting fire, and they were so angry that their faces turned green and their teeth chattered.

Even the young nobles on the high platform had darkened expressions.

"Hmph, what's there to be proud of? Yan Shifei is poisoned and won't live long. Let's see how long he can show off," one of them said.

"I think he must have helped Yan Shifei detoxify, which is why he got close to her," the crowd murmured.

Xiao Hong and others walked forward to the high platform.

This time, the Xiao family had brought several hundred people, with some elders and innate realm cultivators ascending the platform, while ordinary clan members watched from below, as per the rules, not everyone could stand on the high platform to watch the competition.

When the Xiao family's cultivators ascended the platform, the major clans did not show much enthusiasm.

Clearly, the cultivators of the major clans knew that the Fang family and the Xiao family had a poor relationship, so they did not dare to openly show friendliness to the Xiao family.

After all, the Fang family now had a promising future.

Once Fang Hao joined the Tianyuan Sect, with his support, the Fang family's strength would greatly increase, and who would dare to offend him?

"How is it, Brother Yuanshan didn't come?" the old man of the Lin family asked.

This old man and the old man of the Xiao family had a good relationship and did not show a cold attitude because of the Fang family.

"My father is in seclusion, so he didn't come," Xiao Hong smiled faintly, his aura restrained, his words neither humble nor arrogant, and there was a hint of confidence in his brows. After entering the True Essence Realm, his entire demeanor had changed.

"Oh, in seclusion?" The old man of the Lin family's eyes narrowed, and he sighed. Given the current situation of the Xiao family, the pressure on this old man was unimaginable. But when he glanced at the old man of the Fang family, his brows furrowed tightly. The Fang family now was not someone he could offend!

There was an empty seat on the high platform, reserved for the Xiao family.

Xiao Hong and his brother took their seats in turn.

"Xiao Yun? Seeing Xiao Yun and Yan Shifei walk over, the calm face of Qiu Yuchen revealed a hint of coldness.

Fang Hao, who had been closing his eyes, also opened them, a cold smile on his face.

"Fie'er!" When Xiao Yun and Yan Shifei passed by, Lady Yan's eyes darkened, and she called out, "Why don't you come over?"

"Mother." Yan Shifei looked hesitant, her lips tightly pressed, and her beautiful eyes glanced at the young man beside her.

"You go ahead," Xiao Yun smiled, "Don't worry, I'll prove to them that your choice was right."

"Okay." Yan Shifei nodded and walked to the center of the high platform.

"You naughty girl, to be so willful." Seeing her daughter slowly walk over, Lady Yan was furious.

"Enough." Lord Yan waved his hand, "Fie'er is here, no more talk."

Lady Yan finally shut up.

"Since the Xiao family has arrived, let's prepare for the competition," Lord Yan stood up and looked around, "The rules are the same as before, each family sends three people to participate in the competition, and the ultimate champion will gain the qualification to go to the capital for the assessment. Unfortunately, our Ziyun County City has limited resources and is not favored by the major sects, so we only have this one slot."

"Hehe, Lord, there's no need to explain. Let's start preparing for the competition," the people of the major clans said with a smile.

"Good, those who want to participate in the competition, please register," Lord Yan said.

Then, a man walked out behind him and began to register the participants from each clan.

The registration not only recorded names but also verified ages.

Anyone over sixteen years old was not allowed to participate in the assessment.

Soon, the registration for the participants from each clan was almost complete.

The man in charge of registration walked to Xiao Hong and his brother and said with a smile, "Hehe, Brother Xiao, which of your family's young masters will participate?"

"Xiao Qian, Xiao Ye, and Xiao Yun," Xiao Hong said calmly.

"Xiao Yun?" The man's eyes widened in surprise, "Young Master Xiao Yun will also participate in the competition?"

This surprised voice immediately drew the attention of many people on the high platform.

"That's right," Xiao Hong said firmly.

"Xiao Yun, the waste, is also participating in the competition?"

"It seems the Xiao family really has no one!" Hearing this, the young men and elders of the clans began to whisper.

Various mocking and sarcastic voices rose and quickly spread.

"What! Xiao Yun is also participating in the competition?"

"I think he's looking for death." Below the platform, a wave of shock and exclamations erupted.

Everyone in Ziyun County City knew that Xiao Yun had been stuck at the sixth level of the Body Tempering stage for eight years without any progress.

Even if he managed to break through by chance, what could he do? How could he compete with the cultivators of the clans?

Almost no one was optimistic about Xiao Yun, thinking he was courting death.

Even the cultivators from Ziyun County City who came to watch the spectacle sneered, openly saying the Xiao family had no one.

"Waste?" Xiao Yun's lips curled into a faint smile, his fists tightly clenched, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.

In the past eight years, he had heard countless mocking voices, and now, he was about to clear his name and make a name for himself.

He wanted to tell everyone that he, Xiao Yun, would not always be a waste.

So, while everyone was discussing, Xiao Yun suddenly stood up and walked out.

"What is he doing?" Seeing Xiao Yun walk out, everyone was surprised.

"Yes, I will participate in this competition," facing everyone's doubts, Xiao Yun was calm and composed, his eyes scanning the crowd, "Not only that, I will prove to the world that I, Xiao Yun, am not a waste, and this time, I will win the championship."

The young man's words were firm and resolute, each word piercing the heart, leaving people astonished.

"What, he wants to win the championship?" The cultivators of the clans were all surprised.

"Is he crazy?"

"A waste who hasn't progressed in eight years wants to win the championship?" Instantly, more discussions arose, the sound waves like a tidal wave sweeping out.

After a brief surprise, some elders recovered and looked at the young man with curiosity.

Looking at the young man's calm demeanor, it seemed he was full of confidence, not joking!

"Hmph, boasting, with Young Master Fang Hao here, how can this waste win the championship?" Some young men sneered.

"His aura, it seems he has entered the innate realm!" Suddenly, someone said.

This was a True Essence Realm cultivator who, upon careful sensing, discovered that Xiao Yun's aura was different.

"What, Xiao Yun has entered the innate realm." Hearing this, a wave of surprise spread.

The man's words were like a huge stone, stirring up a thousand waves, and the strong clans all sensed Xiao Yun.

"He has indeed entered the innate realm," Lord Yan's eyes narrowed as he muttered.

"Hasn't he been stuck for eight years?" Lady Yan was stunned, her face full of disbelief.

"How could Xiao Yun enter the innate realm?" Some young men frowned, their faces serious.

"He has indeed entered the innate realm," the old man of the Fang family, who had been closing his eyes, said.

"How is this possible? Was the news of his cultivation stagnation false?" Someone was puzzled.

"Probably not," someone said.

Why would a genius do that?

Once famous, one should let the world know to attract the attention of major sects.

Fang Hao did just that, which is why he gained the attention of the Tianyuan Sect.

"Didn't expect this kid to enter the innate realm," Fang Xun's eyes narrowed, and he sneered.

"So what if he entered the innate realm?" Fang Hao shrugged.

"Right, even if he entered the innate realm, he's just a waste of a martial soul," a member of the Fang family said coldly.

"Brother, you must teach this kid a lesson for me!" Fang Wei said with a sinister look.

He had been poisoned and had to take many medicines to stabilize his condition, and it was only after Qiu Yuchen brought the antidote that he recovered.

"Don't worry," Fang Hao smiled, "Anyone who offends the Fang family is destined to have no good days."

After confirming this, the man in charge of registration was also slightly stunned, then smiled, "Congratulations, Young Master Xiao Yun, for recovering your talent. Since you have entered the innate realm, it is most appropriate for you to participate in this competition."

After registering, he turned and walked to the Fang family.

"I will also participate in this competition," Fang Hao said calmly.

"What! Fang Hao is also participating?"

"It seems the championship is his for the taking."

"He is the only genius in our Ziyun County City who has awakened a martial soul!" Hearing that Fang Hao would participate, many young men of the clans looked dejected, but a few had determined looks, clearly unwilling to give up.

"Good, since that's the case, let's start the elimination round," Lord Yan announced after registering the names.

A total of eighty people were participating in the competition, including not only the geniuses of the clans but also the children of some ordinary cultivators. However, they must have entered the innate realm to participate, otherwise, they had no qualification. Although they were competing for one slot, the top ten would still receive rewards.

That was a Condensing Qi Pill.

This was the prize awarded by the Tianyuan Sect.

After Lord Yan announced the start of the competition, the eighty people gathered at the competition stage in the square.

"Start drawing lots!"

Upon the order, everyone began to draw lots for the first round of the competition.

"I hope we meet," Fang Hao smiled, looking at Xiao Yun, "I'll show you what a true genius is."

"I will defeat you," Xiao Yun said confidently, his words calm but full of confidence.