186: Chapter 186 The Bell Rings, Shocking the Entire City! Major Figures Gather!

Qian Sheng Chamber of Commerce Headquarters.

In the top-floor office.

A man dressed in luxurious robes, with an elegant yet authoritative face, was looking down from the top floor at the bustling city below.

He was none other than the head of the Qian Family.

The leader of the Qian Sheng Chamber of Commerce, and also one of only two Grand Tutor Level Appraisers in S Province.

Qian Guangquan.

Elder Hai stood respectfully behind him, having just finished reporting in detail the astonishing events concerning Dong Xuan at the Assessment Tower.

Qian Guangquan slowly turned around.

His face held an expression of disbelief mixed with a sense of absurdity.

"Medium Grade, High Grade... cleared in seconds? A sixteen-year-old wants to take the Grand Tutor Level Assessment?"

He murmured the key points and shook his head.

"Elder Hai, you are an elder of my Qian Family, I trust you. But this matter... it sounds too fantastical to be true."

He walked back to his large desk and tapped his fingers on its surface.

"I know all too well how difficult the Grand Tutor Level is, having experienced it myself. It's not just about accumulated knowledge, but comprehension of Laws, of the essence of all things. It requires forging a new path, completing appraisals that previous Grand Tutors could not. A sixteen-year-old boy... Perhaps he is just a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger, seeking sensationalism and attention with such an outrageous claim."

"I am quite certain President Yun Xi will not allow this youth to proceed with the Grand Tutor Level Assessment."

Qian Guangquan was very confident.

As a business magnate.

He understood such tactics all too well.

However.

He suddenly shifted the topic.

A flash of regret for talent passed through his eyes.

"However, achieving High Grade at sixteen... such talent truly deserves to be called Prodigy. It might even surpass Rongrong's. It's just that his behavior is too... brash, lacking refinement. I... strongly dislike it..."

Qian Guangquan pondered briefly.

And quickly made a decision.

"I will not go personally. Let Yun'er be there, assess the situation, and act accordingly. If possible, try to see if he can be drawn from the Appraisers Guild to join my Qian Family. Such excellent material, if it can be brought under our banner, the future is promising."

He was indeed deeply interested in the High Grade strength Jiang Yun had displayed.

But given his status and position.

A sixteen-year-old High Grade Prodigy was still not enough to make him, a Grand Tutor Level Appraiser and Qian Family head, personally step in to recruit.

After all.

Prodigies still need time to grow.

And there are too many variables during the growth process.

Elder Hai, upon hearing this, bowed and replied, "This old servant understands. I will send word to the Eldest Young Master..."

However.

Before his words could finish.

"Dong——!"

A heavy, distant bell toll, as if traversing a hundred years of time, pierced through the multiple soundproofing barriers without warning, echoing clearly within this top-floor office!

Qian Guangquan's tapping finger abruptly stopped!

He sharply raised his head, his eyes instantly erupting with an incredulous brilliance!

Almost instinctively.

He shot up from his seat!

"This... this is the grand tutor bell! The grand tutor bell is actually ringing!"

His voice carried a barely noticeable tremor, his face filled with extreme shock and... a trace of reminiscence!

This sound was too familiar to him!

It was even engraved in his bones!

Over a hundred years ago.

The Qian Family was just an inconspicuous second-rate Family in the provincial city.

It was he, Qian Guangquan.

Who resolutely participated in that highly anticipated Grand Tutor Level Assessment back then.

When this grand tutor bell tolled across the provincial city.

He stood upon the Wanjian Heavenly Altar.

Feeling the gaze of the province's powerhouses upon him!

It was precisely that standout performance which garnered him the attention and initial cooperation of various major forces, laying a solid foundation for him to later establish the Qian Sheng Chamber of Commerce with his exceptional business acumen, monopolizing nearly forty percent of S Province's resources and economic lifelines!

One could say!

This bell toll marked the starting point of the Qian Family's path to glory!

"After a hundred years... I actually hear this sound again..."

Qian Guangquan muttered to himself.

A complex and indescribable emotion flashed in his eyes, as if seeing his younger self, nervous yet full of ambition, standing on the Wanjian Heavenly Altar.

But the next moment.

He jolted awake from his reminiscence!

The grand tutor bell tolls! The Wanjian Heavenly Altar activates!

This means one thing.

The Grand Tutor Level Assessment has truly begun!

"Could it be... that kid was actually allowed to take the Grand Tutor Level Assessment?!"

The shock on Qian Guangquan's face deepened.

"Why? What are President Yun Xi and that old fox Lin Yan thinking? How could they agree to let a sixteen-year-old brat set foot on the Wanjian Heavenly Altar?!"

His heart was filled with bewilderment and doubt.

"Is this an intentional opportunity to let this youth show his face early, to be tempered by the elements? Or... does this kid truly possess some Heaven-Defying appraisal method, making Yun Xi and Lin Yan believe that he possesses... the strength to pass the Grand Tutor Level Assessment?!"

Once this thought emerged.

Even he felt it was absurd.

But the grand tutor bell toll still echoed in his ears.

He could not help but believe it!

An intense desire to investigate and an indescribable feeling, as if witnessing history, surged in his heart.

He instantly changed his mind.

"Let's go!"

Qian Guangquan waved his hand decisively.

His tone was resolute, no longer the calm from before.

"Elder Hai, accompany me to the Appraisers Guild! I want to see for myself who this little fellow is, daring to set foot on the Wanjian Heavenly Altar a hundred years after me!"

Elder Hai was taken aback.

Just moments ago, the Family head said he wouldn't go.

Now, with the bell toll... He dared not ask more, quickly responding.

"Yes!"

Qian Guangquan did not delay further, striding out of the office with a majestic air, his figure flashing, transforming into a stream of light shooting towards the sky.

Elder Hai followed closely behind...

At the same time.

At the edge of the provincial city.

Within a majestic, cloud-shrouded mountain gate.

War Beast Sect.

Atop the main peak.

An old man with white hair and beard, dressed in simple hemp clothes yet exuding an immortal Aura, stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of a cliff. His gaze was sharp as lightning, directed towards the Starfall District. Faint beastly shadows circled around him, his presence merging with the entire mountain range.

"Hmm?"

The old man raised his white eyebrows slightly, showing a hint of surprise.

"The grand tutor bell, silent for a hundred years, tolls once more? It seems another Grand Tutor Master is about to emerge. I wonder who possesses such courage and strength? Could it be that old fox Lin Yan?"

"Ancestor! Ancestor!"

Just as the old man was puzzled.

A middle-aged man with a fierce Aura, faint water vapor swirling around him, urgently flew up from below the peak riding a waterspout, his face filled with excitement.

"The grand tutor bell tolls! The Wanjian Heavenly Altar has opened!"

He ran forward and said quickly:

"Ancestor, in recent years, our War Beast Sect has been constrained by others in appraising high-quality beast companions and related resources! If we can seize this opportunity to draw this newly ascended Grand Tutor Master into our War Beast Sect, establish an appraisal hall, it will greatly enhance our foundation and competitiveness!"

Upon hearing this, the hemp-clothed old man slowly nodded.

His voice was calm but carried unquestionable authority.

"Go, bring generous gifts, and be sure to show the utmost sincerity of our War Beast Sect. Even if we cannot invite the Master into our mountain gate, we must do our utmost to befriend him and establish a good relationship!"

"Yes! This Disciple will not fail the mission!"

The middle-aged man's spirits were greatly lifted. He bowed deeply, then the waterspout beneath his feet roared, lifting him as he transformed into a blue stream of light, piercing through the air, heading straight for the Starfall District!

...At the same time.

In the center of the provincial city.

Within an extremely vast estate, its architecture as grand as an imperial palace.

Feng Family.

In a tranquil courtyard planted with exotic flowers and herbs, with a spiritual spring flowing.

An awe-inspiring middle-aged man in dark golden robes was instructing a young man with a cold, sharp gaze in beast companion training.

The young man's brows bore some resemblance to the middle-aged man's.

Clearly father and son.

And the middle-aged man was the current head of the Feng Family.

Feng Xiao.

The young man was the Eldest Young Master of the Feng Family.

One of the top Prodigies among the younger generation in the provincial city.

The first place on the Heavenly Ranking.

Feng Xingyun.

Just as the two were conversing.

The bell toll suddenly came.

Father and son both paused their movements simultaneously.

The young man frowned slightly.

"What a profound bell toll... it seems to contain a trace of... Law Aura?"

A flash of approval appeared in Feng Xiao's eyes.

"Your perception grows ever sharper. The vastness of your spiritual sea likely already surpasses ordinary Brick Stone Rank."

"You are right. This is the grand tutor bell toll of the Appraisers Guild. The bell body itself is engraved with Law runes, propagating via soundwave Laws, penetrating all things. Its toll naturally carries a rhythmic Law pattern."

"The grand tutor bell?"

Upon hearing this name.

The young man was first startled.

Then, as if remembering something, his expression changed slightly.

"Father! If I recall correctly from ancient texts, the toll of the grand tutor bell is the announcement of the opening of the Grand Tutor Level examination venue, the Wanjian Heavenly Altar! Could it be... someone is about to take the Grand Tutor Level Assessment?"

The Feng Family head nodded with a solemn expression.

"Indeed, the Wanjian Heavenly Altar has opened. It seems the appraisal world of S Province will welcome another Mount Tai and Big Dipper-like figure."

His tone carried a trace of emotion.

"A Grand Tutor Level Appraiser... their influence is enough to change a Family's foundation and future. The Qian Family a hundred years ago is the best example. One Grand Tutor is worth thousands of troops and tens of Eclipsing Moon Rank Beast Tamers."

He looked at his son, earnestly advising.

"Xingyun, remember this: if you ever encounter a Grand Tutor Appraiser while traveling, you must never antagonize them. Such beings, even within the entire Central Region of the Human Federation, number no more than a hundred. Their status is transcendent, they have connections with countless powerhouses; a single move affects the whole situation."

The young man named Feng Ming nodded seriously.

"I understand, Father."

A satisfied smile appeared on the Feng Family head's face.

"The emergence of a Grand Tutor concerns the Family's future. I must go personally and try my best to compete for an opportunity. Would you like to accompany me and witness this once-in-a-century spectacle?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Xingyun pondered briefly.

But shook his head in refusal.

"Father, the Molten Fire Grotto Secret Realm is about to open. I've heard Qian Luoyun's beast companion has already broken through to the middle stage of Amethyst. I dare not slack off in the slightest. For this trial, I must still suppress all the Prodigies of the provincial city, let my beast companion grow with an invincible Aura, cultivate an invincible belief contract, seize the top spot in the trial, and spread the prestige of my Feng Family!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Xiao's eyes were full of gratification and pride.

"Good! Truly worthy of being my Feng Family's Kirin child! With such ambition! With you here, why worry that my Feng Family cannot rise? In the future, surpassing all families and becoming famous throughout the Central Region is not an unrealistic hope!"

He patted his son's shoulder.

"Then you can cultivate your beast companion in peace. Sometimes you can return to the War Beast Sect and let your teacher sharpen you properly. Only then can you grow rapidly. Enough, I must go now."

As his words fell.

The Feng Family head's figure dissipated like a breeze in place, leaving only faint energy ripples...

As the nine tolls of the grand tutor bell finished.

The strange fluctuations it contained had already spread throughout the major areas of the provincial city.

Within the Su Family estate.

Family head Su Chengtian, upon hearing the bell toll, also immediately ordered people to prepare generous gifts and prepared to personally head to the Starfall District.

"Even if we cannot recruit him, getting acquainted and leaving a good impression will benefit my Su Family!"

For a time, winds and clouds gathered.

Not only the major families.

But also numerous large and small families.

And even some Hidden Families in the shadows began to stir.

Whether it was streams of light riding flying beast companions.

Or luxurious carriages on the ground.

Representatives from all sides of the provincial city, numbering nearly ten thousand, began to converge!

Like rivers returning to the sea, they streamed from all directions towards the Starfall District!

Everyone was filled with excitement, curiosity, and anticipation, wanting to witness the Wanjian Heavenly Altar with their own eyes, wanting to see the Master daring to challenge the Grand Tutor Level.

Wanting to witness with their own eyes.

If a new Mount Tai and Big Dipper, capable of influencing the provincial city's power structure, would truly emerge!

The Starfall District.

At this moment, became the center of attention for the entire S Province!