The cool and pleasant night breeze gently caressed the six-year-old child.
Ye Wushuang lay upon a giant boulder, gazing up at the starry night sky, relishing the nocturnal tranquility.
His eyes were bright and profound, revealing a maturity unbefitting his tender age.
Every time he looked up at the night sky, he could not help falling into a trance.
All of this felt like a dream.
A great, drunken dream...
He should have been dead.
Though even he found it hard to believe—how could he have died just from drinking a little alcohol?
That was right.
He did not belong to this world.
That world was called Blue Star.
And he had been a completely ordinary college graduate, having just stepped out of campus.
After struggling through the grueling civil service examinations, he should have lived a peaceful, routine life of nine-to-five stability.
Instead, he died at the welcome banquet on his very first day of work.
He rarely drank in daily life, which left him utterly clueless about his own alcohol tolerance.
Added to his inability to decline his superiors and colleagues, he had consumed quite a lot.
And just like that, he kicked the bucket.
His parents must have been heartbroken.
After all, they had no idea that their son not only survived, but had also transmigrated to another world.
That had been a bright and warm ray of light.
Enveloping his soul, it cast him into reincarnation here.
A world called the Tiangan Continent!
A genuine fantasy world!
The strong live and the weak die—this was the unchanging Law of this continent since ancient times!
Martial arts experts could move mountains and drain seas, soar through the skies and tunnel through the earth with a flick of their fingers!
Their lifespans were vast and enduring, allowing them to sit back and watch the vicissitudes of heaven and earth!
Ye Wushuang had certainly rejoiced at first.
In his past life, suppressed by the grind of survival, he had never dared to overstep a single boundary.
Since he had already died once, what was there left that he couldn't let go of?
In this lifetime, he would walk to the very end of the martial path!
He would experience the most dazzling glory this world had to offer!
To live a life of unrestrained flair—that would truly justify living a second life!
And all of this would begin tomorrow with the "Spirit Vein Testing"!
Ye Wushuang suddenly sprang to his feet, letting out a loud roar toward the endless starry sky as he vented the pent-up emotions within his heart.
Only when he grew tired did he run back home, washing up early and going straight to bed.
Deep inside, anticipation stirred: I wonder what grade my spirit vein will turn out to be...
***
Early the next morning.
Tianxuan Country, Dongyang City, the Ye Family.
Tianxuan Country was situated in a remote corner of the northwestern region of the continent.
As for Dongyang City, it was merely a second-rate city within Tianxuan Country.
Yet even this small, remote city was exceptionally magnificent, its influence radiating across a radius of several hundred miles.
The Ye Family was one of the four great clans of Dongyang City, having flourished for over a hundred years.
At this moment, the Ye Family estate was abuzz with voices, everywhere brimming with joy and excitement.
All because today was the Ye Family's annual "Spirit Vein Testing" day.
The path of martial arts was long, with no end in sight.
If one wished to walk further on this martial path, natural talent was undoubtedly a crucial factor.
A person's natural talent consisted of two parts: comprehension and spirit veins!
While comprehension was not entirely illusory, it remained difficult to measure.
Only spirit veins were possessed by everyone, forming the foundation of the martial path!
This would determine whether a person's journey in martial arts would be smooth, as well as the future allocation of family resources!
To a large extent, it even decided the height of one's future achievements!
One could easily imagine just how important the "Spirit Vein Testing" was!
Across the vast continent, whether descendants of powerful figures, scions of influential clans, or ordinary commoners, children under the age of six were rarely exposed to cultivation techniques, relying solely on medicinal baths to nourish their bodies.
Only after undergoing the "Spirit Vein Testing" at age six would they officially begin cultivation.
***
In the central square of the Ye Family estate, a massive martial arena had been fitted with a black stone stele—a special spiritual artifact used for the "Spirit Vein Testing."
The surroundings were a sea of shifting heads, the clamor of noise ceaseless.
At the back of the crowd, a gentle-mannered woman dressed in ordinary cloth robes held the hand of a six-year-old boy whose handsome features were already beginning to show.
They were none other than Ye Wushuang and his mother, Qin Suxin.
Qin Suxin had originally been a maid in the Ye Family before catching the eye of Ye Yuanshan, the second son of the family head, becoming his concubine and giving birth to Ye Wushuang.
In this world where the strong were supreme, a concubine's status was only slightly higher than that of a maid.
As she grew older and her beauty faded, Ye Yuanshan's affection for her gradually waned.
Consequently, the mother and son lived in the Ye Family like invisible figures—free from strife, their lives peaceful and undisturbed.
"Wushuang, don't be nervous. Spirit veins are important, but a person's future achievements aren't decided by spirit veins alone."
Fearing her son was under pressure, Qin Suxin said softly.
"Mother, I know."
Ye Wushuang replied with a serious expression and a childish voice.
He was reincarnated through rebirth, not spirited away by soul possession.
Naturally, he treated Qin Suxin as his biological mother.
Even so, this was the "Spirit Vein Testing" after all!
How could anyone truly not be nervous...
***
"I announce that the Ye Family's annual 'Spirit Vein Testing' ceremony is now officially underway!"
"First, Ye Wu!"
Accompanied by the voice echoing from the central circular platform, the spirit vein testing officially began...
***
High upon the elevated platform, Ye Family Head Ye Nantian sat squarely in the primary seat.
Flanking him on both sides were the nine elders of the Ye Family.
At this moment, smiles hung on everyone's faces as they chatted idly.
"I wonder how many of this year's kids will have decent spirit vein grades?"
"Bah! Seventh Elder, you are underestimating our Ye Family youths!"
"If you ask me, we're bound to see a Yellow-tier High-grade spirit vein today!"
"Hahaha, old man, you might as well just say we'll test a Xuan-tier Low-grade spirit vein!"
"Well, naturally I'd love that. It would mean our Ye Family is about to produce another Wheel Sea expert!"
"That would guarantee our Ye Family a century of prosperity!"
"Hahaha, then I shall wait and see!"
In this world, whether cultivation techniques, martial skills, spiritual artifacts, pills, or spirit veins, all could be classified into four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Huang!
Each tier was further divided into three grades: High, Medium, and Low, making a total of twelve ranks!
Do not underestimate even the smallest grade difference.
Take spirit veins, for instance: the cultivation speed between a Yellow-tier Low-grade and a Yellow-tier Medium-grade could never be mentioned in the same breath!
Those with inferior talent often had to expend several times the effort, resources, and opportunities just to bridge the gap of a single minor grade!
Certain cultivation bottlenecks were so severe that without sufficient talent, one would struggle to break through even after a lifetime!
Those who defied the heavens to alter their fate were ultimately a tiny minority—the term "phoenix feathers and qilin horns" wasn't even enough to describe how rare they were!
As the Ye Family elders laughed and chatted, the testing on the circular platform continued.
"Yellow-tier Low-grade, next!"
"Yellow-tier Low-grade, next!"
"Yellow-tier Medium-grade, not bad, next!"
...
"Ye Xue, Yellow-tier High-grade!"
The voice of the Ye Family expert officiating the ceremony suddenly rose, announcing the result with a delighted expression.
"Oho! Yellow-tier High-grade!"
"Which branch does this girl belong to? Who are her parents?"
"Splendid! It seems our Ye Family will soon have another elder!"
...
On the high platform, even Ye Nantian, seated in the primary seat, could not help revealing a hint of a smile.
The various Ye Family elders made no attempt to conceal their joy.
"Seventh Elder, what do you say? Look at that!"
"You rascal, your mouth really is auspicious!"
"I hope this mouth of yours keeps working its magic and produces a Xuan-tier Low-grade genius for our Ye Family!"
"Hahaha, I don't think it's impossible!"
...
Down on the stage, the officiating Ye Family expert looked at Ye Xue with a gentle smile:
"Very good!"
"But you must still remain humble and prudent, and cultivate diligently."
"I look forward to you becoming another pillar of strength for our Ye Family!"
Ye Xue nodded with a happy expression.
Then, amidst the praise and cheers of numerous clansmen and the thrilled, joyful gazes of her parents, she walked down like the moon surrounded by stars.
"Next, Ye Wushuang!"