Chapter 29

The Jing family residence, the patriarch's courtyard!

"Fourth Elder, what brings you here today?" Jing Chengye smiled when he saw Jing Tianying.

Jing Chengye was the current patriarch of the Jing family, dressed in a white robe with a refined appearance. He knew that Fourth Elder Jing Tianying was responsible for hosting the monthly strength assessment for the family's young members today, so he was slightly surprised to see Jing Tianying come over.

"Patriarch, I am here for Jing Yan." Jing Tianying glanced at Jing Chengye, then shifted his gaze to another person in the room.

"First Elder is also here." Jing Tianying nodded at the purple-robed elder sitting in the chair.

This elder was the First Elder of the Jing family, named Jing Chunyu.

"Jing Yan?"

Jing Chengye's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded, saying, "Jing Yan participated in the family's strength assessment this month again? This child... has quite a bit of resilience."

"Yes, Jing Yan participated in this strength assessment." Jing Tianying nodded and said.

"Old Patriarch invested a lot of resources in Jing Yan, but in the end, Jing Yan disappointed us. At this point, he still takes the strength assessment; I wonder what he's thinking." Jing Chunyu interjected at this moment.

Hearing Jing Chunyu's words, Jing Tianying's brows furrowed slightly.

He also knew that Jing Chunyu had always been somewhat displeased with Jing Yan. The reason for this was not just because Jing Yan's realm had fallen, but mainly because there was some resentment between Jing Chunyu and Old Patriarch, who was Jing Yan's grandfather.

Back then, Jing Chunyu and Jing Yan's grandfather had competed for the position of patriarch. Jing Chunyu lost that competition, and Jing Yan's grandfather became the patriarch, while he became the First Elder.

So, when Jing Yan was the number one genius of Donglin City, Jing Chunyu's attitude towards Jing Yan was still acceptable. However, once Jing Yan's realm started to decline, Jing Chunyu never gave Jing Yan a good face.

"First Elder, you can't say that. Jing Yan was once our Jing family's number one genius and deserved more resources for cultivation. Old Patriarch did nothing wrong." Jing Chengye shook his head and said, looking at the First Elder.

No family could possibly distribute resources equally among all its members. Those with higher potential receiving more resources was not a problem.

"Fourth Elder, you don't know, I just received a letter from Ziqi. She also inquired about Jing Yan's situation. This is the fifth time she has sent a letter back to the family. If she had the time, she would have definitely come back to see Jing Yan long ago." Jing Chengye smiled and continued to Jing Tianying.

Jing Ziqi was Jing Chengye's daughter, and her martial talent was also astonishing, making her one of the most outstanding young members of the Jing family in the past decade.

Lanqu County has three major academies. Previously, Jing Yan entered the Divine Wind Academy, one of the three. Jing Ziqi is currently cultivating at the Red Lotus Academy, another of the three major academies.

In the entire Lanqu County, the three major academies are like behemoths. It is extremely difficult to enter these academies for cultivation.

Almost all young martial artists dream of entering the three major academies.

Once you enter one of the three major academies, you not only gain the coveted resources but also earn an enviable status.

In any part of Lanqu County, martial artists who enter the three major academies receive great respect.

However, the number of young martial artists who can truly enter the three major academies is very few.

"I have also considered Jing Yan's situation. I think Jing Yan should go to Donghe Town. There is a Jing family mine in Donghe Town, and Jing Yan can manage it. Perhaps leaving Donglin City might be a good thing for Jing Yan." Jing Chengye pondered and said.

"The Patriarch is right. If Jing Yan stays in Donglin City, not only will people outside mock him, but it will also have a negative impact on our entire Jing family. If Jing Yan leaves, over time, people outside will naturally forget about this matter." The First Elder, Jing Chunyu, added.

Hearing Jing Chunyu's words, Jing Tianying's expression changed slightly.

Leaving the family compound?

Only those family members who have no hope in martial arts are forced to leave the family compound.

Once Jing Yan leaves, he will likely have no hope of returning for the rest of his life.

"This is probably not appropriate!" Jing Tianying's expression changed, and he immediately spoke up.

"Fourth Elder, what do you mean? I know you are close to Old Patriarch and have special feelings for Jing Yan. But in Jing Yan's current situation, should he stay in the family forever?" The First Elder's aura condensed, and he asked Jing Tianying with some dissatisfaction.

"First Elder, you don't need to be so hasty. You don't understand the full situation yet." Jing Tianying frowned and glanced at the First Elder.

"Ha ha... Is that so? I don't understand enough!" The First Elder sneered.

"Fourth Elder, what is your opinion?" Jing Chengye's tone was calm.

"My opinion? I don't have any particular opinion, but I came to see the Patriarch today to discuss Jing Yan's situation." Jing Tianying glanced at the First Elder, Jing Chunyu.

"Jing Yan just participated in the assessment, and his realm is no longer at the third level of martial arts." Jing Tianying said.

"Fell again? I knew it! It won't be long before Jing Yan's realm drops completely, and he becomes an ordinary person." The First Elder's tone was somewhat disdainful.

"First Elder, you are wrong. Jing Yan's realm did not fall again; it advanced." Jing Tianying was also somewhat annoyed, looking at Jing Chunyu.

As the First Elder of the family, you hold a high status and power second only to the Patriarch. You are an elder, yet you are so eager to drive a junior out of the family, and this junior is Old Patriarch's grandson. Such behavior is somewhat despicable. Even if you don't like Jing Yan, you don't need to be so hasty, do you?

"Advanced?" Jing Chunyu was taken aback.

He never expected Jing Yan's realm to advance.

Jing Yan had plummeted from the innate realm all the way down to the third level of martial arts. Last month's assessment confirmed he was still at the third level. Throughout this process, Jing Yan had never advanced in realm.

"Fourth Elder, you say Jing Yan's realm advanced. Did he return to the fourth level of cultivation?" Patriarch Jing Chengye was also slightly surprised.

Not only the First Elder, but he also did not expect it. When Jing Tianying mentioned that Jing Yan's situation was no longer at the third level of cultivation, he naturally assumed Jing Yan might have fallen to the second level.

"So what if he returns to the fourth level? Humph!" The First Elder rolled his eyes and coldly snorted.

"Patriarch, today's family young members' strength assessment was hosted by me and Sixth Elder. Just now, Jing Yan participated in the assessment, and his strength, confirmed by me and Sixth Elder, has returned to the sixth level of martial arts." Jing Tianying's lips curled slightly, and he said with a light smile.

As he spoke, Jing Tianying's gaze was on Jing Chunyu, not wanting to miss the expression on Jing Chunyu's face when he heard these words.