185: Chapter 185 The Grand Tutor's Bell Rings! The Provincial Capital is in an uproar!

As the Wanjian Heavenly Altar stood tall,

countless gazes filled with shock and anticipation were cast toward it.

"Is this the Grand Tutor Level examination hall? It is truly extraordinary!"

"How grand! How spectacular! To be able to move floating Peaks and restructure space—such methods are unheard of!"

"Today is truly an eye-opener! To witness the opening of the Wanjian Heavenly Altar with my own eyes, I can die with no regrets!"

The crowd looked up at the miraculous creation in the sky, letting out bursts of exclamation, their excitement beyond words.

However,

amidst this clamor,

"Dong—!"

A heavy, distant toll of a bell, seemingly originating from the ancient primordial era, rang out without warning from deep within the Wanjian Heavenly Altar!

The sound of the bell lingered without dissipating, containing a strange penetrating power that instantly drowned out all the noise, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present and spreading further into the distance.

"Dong—!"

"Dong—!"

The bell tolled at five-second intervals,

ringing steadily and continuously,

one toll after another,

like an ancient deity announcing something.

This sudden tolling left many of the younger generation and uninformed onlookers stunned, their faces showing confusion.

"This bell sound is...?"

"Where is it coming from? It feels so unique; it makes my heart race!"

"Could it be the signal for the start of the assessment?"

In the crowd,

some elderly, well-traveled Appraisers and veterans of great families, after a brief moment of shock, seemed to recall some long-forgotten records. Their expressions changed drastically, and an unbelievable light erupted in their eyes!

A white-haired old Appraiser was so excited his beard trembled, and he cried out in shock,

"The grand tutor bell! This is the tolling of the grand tutor bell! It is recorded in historical texts that when the Grand Tutor Level Assessment hall, the Wanjian Heavenly Altar, opens, there must be nine tolls of the bell to announce it to the whole city! This... this record is actually true!"

"The grand tutor bell tolls, and the provincial capital is stirred! Heavens, to think that in my lifetime, I would hear this Legendary bell with my own ears!"

Another Elder was also incredibly excited.

"Nine tolls of the bell mean the Grand Tutor Level Assessment is about to begin. This is an invitation to the experts of the entire provincial capital to come and observe the ceremony!"

"Quick! Inform the Family immediately! The grand tutor bell has rung! Today, the Appraisers Guild will surely reach its Peak of glory!"

The crowd was in a complete frenzy.

The legends regarding the grand tutor bell's tolling quickly spread through the crowd, triggering an even greater sensation and heated discussion.

Jiang Yun stood at the edge of the heavenly altar that was about to become his new battlefield. Listening to the heavy tolls that seemed to cleanse the soul, a hint of shock and doubt couldn't help but rise in his heart.

This display...

seemed even grander than he had imagined.

Seeing this, Elder Mo Yuan at his side explained with a smile, "Little friend Dong Xuan, there's no need for doubt. This is the grand tutor bell. According to the regulations of our Appraisers Guild, nine tolls signify the formal commencement of the Grand Tutor Level Assessment. The sound contains the power of a special Formation and can spread throughout the Core Area of the provincial capital. It is both an announcement and an ancient ritual."

Elder Qing Xuan added,

his tone carrying a hint of emotion.

"Now that the bell has rung, it won't be long before the truly top-tier forces and experts in the provincial capital sense it and arrive one after another at the Wanjian Heavenly Altar to observe the ceremony."

"It showcases the rallying power of our Appraisers Guild!"

Hearing this, Jiang Yun's brow twitched slightly under his mask.

He seemed to have still underestimated the status of a Grand Tutor Level Appraiser in this region.

This spectacle was simply too high-profile!

He couldn't help but ask, "Elders, with such a massive commotion, if... if the assessment fails, wouldn't it be... a complete loss of face and hard to settle?"

When Elders Mo Yuan and Qing Xuan heard this,

a hint of awkwardness immediately appeared on their faces.

Elder Mo Yuan gave a dry cough.

"Ahem... Little friend Dong Xuan, there's something you don't know. Generally speaking, those who are qualified and have the courage to apply for the Grand Tutor Level Assessment are all veteran Appraisers who have spent decades at the Peak of the High Grade, accumulating a deep foundation and believing they have absolute certainty. To them, failing in such a setting would indeed be too shameful to face anyone. That pressure... is no small matter."

"But at the same time, it's also an opportunity to showcase themselves. Under the observation of many powerful forces, if they succeed, their value and status will surely skyrocket! To put it another way, this assessment is a living advertisement for a Grand Tutor Level Appraiser to build their own brand."

Elder Qing Xuan took over,

looking at Jiang Yun with a complex gaze.

"Therefore, for someone of your age to stand before the Wanjian Heavenly Altar is truly... an unprecedented exception. In the history of the Appraiser path... it's a first..."

He seemed to want to ease the atmosphere,

shifting the topic, "Speaking of which, the last time the Wanjian Heavenly Altar opened and the grand tutor bell tolled was over a hundred and thirty years ago. The examinee back then was the current helmsman of the Qian Sheng Chamber of Commerce, the Head of the Qian Family, Qian Guangquan!"

"Head of the Qian Family was also a famous appraisal Genius in our province back then, brilliantly talented. But even so, he went through many hardships during that Grand Tutor Level Assessment and almost failed at the last step, only barely passing in the end. This shows that its difficulty is terrifying and far beyond imagination."

At this point,

Elder Qing Xuan's tone softened, looking at Jiang Yun with comfort.

"However, little friend, you don't need to worry too much about the pressure. Even if you don't succeed this time, it's perfectly normal. After all, you are only sixteen; you have a long future ahead. Even if you fail, given your talent, it's only a matter of time. Think of it as building your brand in advance! When Qian Guangquan took the test back then, he was already nearly seventy years old."

Jiang Yun nodded slightly,

indicating he understood.

He actually didn't feel much pressure; the ability of Manifestation of All Things Entries gave him enough confidence.

How difficult it was for Qian Guangquan back then,

what did it have to do with him?

Seeing Jiang Yun remain steady,

the appreciation in the two Elders' eyes grew even stronger.

Elder Mo Yuan smiled and said, "Alright, the bell has tolled, and the Wanjian Heavenly Altar is ready. Little friend Dong Xuan, come up with the two of us and wait for the President and Vice President to arrive in person!"

With that,

the two Elders' internal Qi shifted slightly, and they each summoned a majestic-looking flying royal beast.

Elder Mo Yuan made a gesture of invitation to Jiang Yun. Jiang Yun didn't stand on ceremony either, his body landing lightly on the back of the royal beast.

The next moment,

the two royal beasts spread their wings and carried the three of them into the air. Under the gaze of countless envious and excited eyes below, they slowly ascended toward the magnificent platform suspended in the sky.

They flew toward the Wanjian Heavenly Altar.

"Look! Great Master Dong Xuan and the Guild Elders are going up!"

"Let's go up too! Find a good spot; we can't miss such a grand event!"

"Let's go!"

As the Elders and Jiang Yun stepped onto the altar,

the crowd below also became restless.

A halo of light swirled around the Wanjian Heavenly Altar.

A soft yet powerful levitation force radiated out, lifting everyone as if they were on an invisible staircase, ascending one after another to the tiered viewing seats rising around the edge of the platform.

In the crowd,

Su Qingxue's beautiful eyes flickered.

She seemed to sense that the number of powerful individuals around her was increasing.

She had even perceived several beings whose strength surpassed her own.

Thus, after concealing her presence,

she followed the flow of people and quietly ascended the altar.

She found an inconspicuous spot to sit down,

her gaze turning toward the center of the platform with interest.

In another area,

Qian Rongrong met up with her brother, Qian Luoyun.

Because the Grand Tutor Level Assessment hall had opened,

all assessments below this level had been temporarily suspended.

"Brother! You really came!"

When Qian Rongrong saw her brother,

a bright smile appeared on her face as she walked forward quickly.

Qian Luoyun looked at his sister,

his eyes filled with doting as he nodded slightly.

"I've been here for a while."

Hearing this, Qian Rongrong's smile grew even sweeter.

"Brother, you're so good! You really came to support me! But unfortunately, the assessment has been paused..."

Her tone carried a hint of regret, but then, as if remembering something, her eyes lit up with curiosity and a trace of subtle inquiry.

"It's all because of that guy named Dong Xuan! He's just too arrogant! He just finished the High Grade assessment and immediately wanted to take the Grand Tutor Level Assessment! I've never seen anyone so bold. Brother, did... did you notice him?"

As she spoke,

her gaze involuntarily scanned the bustling crowd, seemingly looking for that specific black-robed figure. Her tone, compared to when she usually discussed other Appraisers,

was a bit more lively and focused than usual.

What kind of person was Qian Luoyun?

With his meticulous mind, he immediately noticed this subtle abnormality in his sister.

He felt a bit surprised. His sister was usually devoted to appraisal and had a cold personality. Except for Family and a very few close friends, she was indifferent to others, especially men her age. When had she ever taken the initiative to ask about someone?

Not to mention showing such an inquiring expression.

It seemed

that the Heaven-Defying appraisal talent Dong Xuan displayed

had indeed piqued Rongrong's competitiveness.

Or rather... it had caught her special attention.

Qian Luoyun thought to himself.

Thinking of Dong Xuan's Prodigy-like appraisal talent,

he attributed his sister's abnormality to the mutual attraction and attention between geniuses and didn't think further on it.

He smiled

and pointed toward the Wanjian Heavenly Altar already floating in the air.

"That person has already been personally taken up to the Wanjian Heavenly Altar by two Elders of the Appraisers Guild. He will undergo the Grand Tutor Level Assessment shortly."

Qian Rongrong looked in the direction her brother pointed.

Looking at the magnificent platform floating among the clouds, a hint of subtle disappointment flashed through her beautiful eyes, which was immediately replaced by even deeper curiosity.

"Let's go."

Qian Luoyun patted his sister's shoulder.

"We should go up too. This Grand Tutor Level Assessment is a once-in-a-century event, and it concerns the birth of a Prodigy who might influence the layout of the provincial capital. It cannot be missed."

"Maybe Father will also come in person by then."

"Mm!"

Qian Rongrong nodded vigorously.

Suppressing that inexplicable emotion in her heart, she and her brother followed the surging crowd, carried by the levitation force, and ascended toward the Wanjian Heavenly Altar in the sky.

Meanwhile,

the heavy and distant sound of the grand tutor bell continued to toll one after another, echoing unwaveringly between heaven and earth, penetrating the clouds and crossing the mountains. Its invisible sound waves, centered on the Appraisers Guild, quickly spread to every corner of the provincial capital.

Every single district!

"Dong—!"

"Dong—!"

Nine tolls of the bell, each one shocking the heart, startled countless experts, awakened the leaders of many great families, and stirred the seemingly calm undercurrents of the provincial capital.

A storm sweeping through the top forces of the entire provincial capital began its prologue with this ancient bell sound.