331: Chapter 331 Nangong Yu

Just then, nine heavy, melodious bell tolls rang out from the direction of the Huangji Hall. The sound of the bells cleansed the mind, and the commotion on the square gradually subsided.

"The time has come!" An old eunuch dressed in purple robes with an unfathomable aura appeared on the steps of the Huangji Hall. His voice spread throughout the entire venue, "By the decree of Your Majesty, the registration for the current Great Yan Youth Supreme Ranking competition begins now!

All team leaders, hold your credentials, bring your Disciples, and proceed in order to the Sky-Peering Instruments to register and receive your identity spirit pendants!"

As his voice fell, four pillar-like Magical Artifacts rose from the east, west, south, and north of the square. Each was three zhang tall, silver-white, covered in stars on the surface, and had a strange, flickering crystal floating at the top.

This was undoubtedly the Sky-Peering Instrument, used to verify bone age and cultivation, prevent cheating, and generate unique identity spirit pendants.

The various factions began to proceed in an orderly manner to the nearest Sky-Peering Instrument.

The Liuli Xuan Sect was assigned to the third one on the west side.

The registration process was quick.

Disciples only needed to place their hands on the designated position of the Sky-Peering Instrument and inject a trace of True Essence. The instrument would then shine with a corresponding light, displaying their bone age and approximate cultivation level (accurate to the minor Realm).

The crystal at the top would shoot out a beam of spiritual light, condensing into a jade spirit pendant about half the size of a palm. The front bore the contestant's image and name, while the back featured the words "Great Yan Supreme" and a unique serial number.

The spirit pendant needed to be bound with a drop of blood. It was the sole proof of participation and also possessed simple functions for messaging and positioning (limited to areas related to the competition).

The Liuli Xuan Sect Disciples stepped forward one by one.

Yun Wuji went up and placed his hand on it. The Sky-Peering Instrument shone with brilliant silver light, and the crystal at the top shot out a dazzling golden radiance. The condensed spirit pendant was actually pale gold with cloud patterns on the edges, clearly of the highest quality, drawing a gasp from those around.

Next were Feng Xuan and Yu Miaoqing; their spirit pendants were silver-white.

When it was Ye Tian's turn, he placed his hand on it. The Sky-Peering Instrument's silver light remained steady, displaying a bone age of nineteen and a cultivation of True Martial Tenth Stage Peak. The spiritual light shot from the crystal at the top condensed into a bronze-green spirit pendant with a warm texture, corresponding to the ranking list.

Afterward, Pei Tieshan, Shui Qingdie, Dongfang Xinghe, Tang Yun, and even Leng Feng, Lei Zhen, Luo Qiushui, Liu Ruyan, and Jiang Chuxue from the inner sect, among others, received spirit pendants that were mostly bronze-green or the more common white.

After registration was complete, everyone retreated to the side to wait. Xing Tiexin and Elder Qinglan went to handle other formalities.

"Look, that Ye Tian from the Liuli Xuan Sect has a bronze-green spirit pendant."

"It's the bronze thread rank, so that's normal. Yun Wuji's is pale gold, that's the top tier."

"A nineteen-year-old at the True Martial Tenth Stage Peak is a Prodigy elsewhere, but here... it's just above average."

"I heard he was quite indifferent to Nangong Yu yesterday. He certainly has some guts, though I wonder if it's genuine confidence or just putting on an act."

There was still some hushed discussion around them.

Nangong Yu had also finished registering. Holding a silver-white spirit pendant, he walked toward the Liuli Xuan Sect, surrounded by a group of aristocratic descendants, a provocative smile on his Face.

"Brother Yun, Brother Feng, Senior Sister Yu, and Fellow Daoists of the Liuli Xuan Sect, greetings."

Nangong Yu approached and cupped his hands toward Yun Wuji, Feng Xuan, Yu Miaoqing, and the others. His etiquette was thorough, but his gaze lingered deliberately when it swept over Ye Tian. "Junior Brother Ye, we meet again."

"We had a brief meeting at the Cloud Viewing Terrace yesterday and didn't get to talk much. Seeing Junior Brother Ye registered today with a bronze-green spirit pendant, it is certainly well-deserved. I wonder what expectations Junior Brother Ye has for this Supreme Ranking?

Are you thinking of rushing into the top five hundred, or... the top three hundred?"

His tone was relaxed, as if he were asking 'Have you eaten?', but the disdain in his words was audible to everyone.

In his mind, Ye Tian, a 'potential rising star' of the bronze thread rank from the Northern Region, would be doing well to break into the top five hundred; the top three hundred was already an overestimation.

He said this deliberately to make Ye Tian lose Face in public.

The aristocratic descendants beside him also chimed in with low laughter, looking at Ye Tian with mocking eyes.

The expressions of the Liuli Xuan Sect members turned somewhat unpleasant.

Pei Tieshan's eyes widened like copper bells, and he was about to speak, but was stopped by a look from Feng Xuan. Yun Wuji acted as if he hadn't heard anything. Yu Miaoqing's cold Face remained expressionless.

Ye Tian looked at Nangong Yu, showing neither anger at the provocation nor any rush to refute.

He spoke slowly, his voice as calm as ever: "Young Master Nangong is joking. Rankings are not something one can obtain just by wishing for them. One only needs to do their best and have no regrets in their heart.

As for Young Master Nangong, with a silver-glow spirit pendant and being a Prodigy of an aristocratic family, I assume your goals are lofty, aiming for nothing less than the top ten of the golden gate list, right?"

He did not answer Nangong Yu's question directly but instead lightly tossed it back, pointing out that the other party had a 'silver-glow spirit pendant' and mentioning the 'top ten of the golden gate list'. His tone was flat, but it contained hidden barbs.

You, Nangong Yu, are only on the silver glow list, far from those true top experts on the golden gate list. What qualifications do you have to judge me?

The smile on Nangong Yu's Face faltered slightly.

He hadn't expected Ye Tian to respond this way. Not only did he not take the bait, but he had also 'trapped' him with a veiled retort.

If he said his goal was the top ten of the golden gate list, wouldn't it be a slap in the Face if he failed? If he said it wasn't, it would make him look like he lacked confidence.

"Hmph, the top ten of the golden gate list is naturally what people like us strive for." Nangong Yu quickly regained his composure, lifted his chin slightly, and said arrogantly, "However, Junior Brother Ye, you are new here and probably don't know how deep the waters of this Supreme Ranking are.

The competition for the top five hundred is already extremely fierce. I advise you, Junior Brother, to know your limits and not be overly ambitious. When the time comes... losing too ugly will be a disgrace to the Liuli Xuan Sect."

These words were a mockery that practically tore off all pretense of civility.

Many gazes around them gathered, waiting to see how Ye Tian would respond. Even Disciples from other factions nearby cast curious looks.

Yet, Ye Tian remained in that calm state, with even a faint, almost invisible curve at the corner of his mouth, as if he had heard something interesting.

He shook his head gently, his gaze passing over Nangong Yu to look at the towering Huangji Hall in the center of the square, his tone understanding: "Those who cultivate must have the heart to overcome thorns and obstacles. I know the path ahead is fraught with danger.

However, where the heart points, the sword follows. As for winning, losing, or Face..."

He withdrew his gaze and looked back at Nangong Yu, "Those are merely the opinions of others. What do they have to do with my Dao?"

His words were unhurried, without passionate declarations or tit-for-tat counterattacks, only a clear understanding and firm conviction regarding his own path.

It was as if Nangong Yu's biting sarcasm had absolutely nothing to do with him.

The smile on Nangong Yu's Face completely vanished.

He felt that his provocation was like punching into thin air—there was nowhere to apply force, and instead, he felt a tightness in his chest.

The other party's attitude of being impervious to all persuasion, always as calm as water, gave him the illusion of being completely ignored!

This was even more infuriating than the angry rebuttal he had expected!

"Good, what a 'where the heart points, the sword follows'!" Nangong Yu's eyes turned cold, and his tone carried a chill, "It seems Junior Brother Ye is very confident in himself.

Since that is the case, why don't we have a small 'spar' right here? Consider it a warm-up for the upcoming competition. Let this Senior Brother see where exactly Junior Brother Ye's sword points, and... just how much weight it carries!"

As his voice fell, the aura of the Seventh Stage of True Martial Realm around his body erupted violently. A wave of scorching heat spread out from him as the center, and red-gold True Essence formed a flame projection on his body surface. The surrounding temperature rose abruptly.

He was actually going to attack Ye Tian directly here on Huangji Square, in full view of everyone!

Although he called it a 'spar', everyone knew this was an attempt to give Ye Tian a humiliating blow in public, or perhaps even to severely injure him and make him lose his competitiveness before the Supreme Ranking competition even began!

"Nangong Yu! What are you doing!" Feng Xuan's expression sank, and he took a step forward. Elder Qinglan was not there at the moment, and Elder Xing Tiexin had not returned; as one of the older Disciples among the core Disciples, he had to step out.

"Senior Brother Feng, there is no need to be nervous." Nangong Yu sneered, his eyes fixed on Ye Tian.

In his view, Ye Tian's so-called True Martial Tenth Stage Peak must have been achieved through Medicinal Pills or some unorthodox secret method. As soon as a fight started, his true colors would be revealed!

"It is just a friendly spar between peers, stop when it's enough. What's the matter, Junior Brother Ye? You were just spouting heroic words, and now... are you afraid?"

He deliberately emphasized the last two words, full of provocation.