"Go ahead!"
Qin Suxin said gently with a warm smile on her face.
"Mm!"
Ye Wushuang nodded, stepping onto the stage under the gaze of many clan members.
"Whose child is that? Why does he look so unfamiliar?"
"I think he's the second young master's son, born to a concubine."
"Oh, so he's a concubine-born son. That explains it."
"You old fogey! What century is this to still be making distinctions between legitimate and concubine-born sons?"
"As long as his innate talent is high enough, never mind being a concubine-born son, even if he were a little beggar from the roadside, he could still soar straight to the heavens!"
"Heh! I was just making conversation!"
...
On the high platform, several Ye Family elders were also chatting casually.
However, they clearly were not paying all that close attention.
After all, though the Ye Family had many descendants, there were never all that many six-year-olds having their spirit veins tested each year.
The appearance of a Yellow-grade Upper-tier spirit vein this year was already a rare occurrence.
From here on out, there probably wouldn't be any major surprises.
"Place your hand on the stele, relax, and don't be nervous."
The Ye Family expert conducting the ceremony said.
Ye Wushuang did as told, and now that he was up on the stage, he actually felt rather calm.
The Ye Family expert channeled spirit energy into the stele and activated it.
Instantly, Ye Wushuang felt a warm current flood into his body.
Right after that, a domino effect seemed to ripple across the stele as streams of light lit up one after another!
Bang!
On the high platform, Ye Nantian abruptly stood up, his grip so fierce in his agitation that he smashed his seat to pieces!
His face was painted with absolute shock!
The crowd erupted in an instant uproar!
"Seven streams of light?!"
"Earth-grade Lower-tier Spirit Vein!!!"
"A peerless prodigy! A peerless prodigy!"
"This... how is that possible? Could the testing stele be broken?"
"Are you out of your damn mind? Do you hate seeing our Ye Family produce a genius?"
"Ah, ah, Brother, calm down! I was just too shocked for a moment!"
The scene instantly plunged into chaos, with cries of shock echoing endlessly.
The Ye Family expert conducting the ceremony stood there in a daze, his eyes practically popping out of his head!
"Where are the Shadow Guards?"
"Seal off the entire area!"
A roar infused with spirit energy rang out, instantly drowning out the clamor of the crowd!
Figures clad in black robes and masks appeared in response, forming a loose perimeter around the entire plaza!
The Ye Family expert conducting the ceremony felt a blur before his eyes as a figure appeared in front of him. Recognizing who it was, he hurriedly bowed and saluted:
"Patriarch!"
Ye Nantian paid him no mind.
His gaze was fixed on Ye Wushuang, his eyes filled with overwhelming joy and shock.
An Earth-grade Lower-tier spirit vein!
How many years had it been since one had appeared in the entire Tianxuan Country!
As long as he didn't perish halfway, this was a peerless prodigy destined to reach the Three Days Realm!
As everyone knew, the path of martial arts progressed from bottom to top through: Body Tempering Realm, Meridian Opening Realm, Spirit Gathering Realm, and Wheel Sea Realm!
These were the Four Realms of Humanity!
And each realm could be divided into nine layers!
Ye Nantian himself was at the First Layer of Wheel Sea Realm!
He already ranked as one of the four great family heads of Dongyang City!
Above that lay the Three Days Realm, also known as the Three Transcendent Realms!
Unfortunately, Ye Nantian knew very little about these three realms.
He only knew that the first realm of the Three Days Realm was called: Heavenly Sun Realm!
Even looking across the entire Tianxuan Country, figures in the Heavenly Sun Realm were titan-level existences, every single one of them an extraordinary heavy hitter!
Wheel Sea and Heavenly Sun were separated by a mere single realm, yet it felt like the difference between heaven and earth!
One could say it was the gap between mortals and gods!
A Heavenly Sun Realm expert could traverse the skies and shatter mountains, boasting a lifespan of a thousand years—they were truly transcendent in the literal sense of the word!
How many geniuses trapped themselves at the Ninth Layer of Wheel Sea Realm, unable to take that final step forward!
And now, was his humble little Ye Family about to produce such an expert?
At this moment, tears streamed down Ye Nantian's weathered face as shock and joy intertwined within him.
He looked at Ye Wushuang with a gratified expression, his gaze brimming with utmost doting.
Ye Wushuang felt somewhat uncomfortable being stared at like this by the man who was nominally his grandfather.
After all, growing up, he had interacted with Ye Nantian only a handful of times, seeing him merely a few family banquets.
Naturally, Ye Nantian had never paid much attention to this grandson born to a concubine.
At the same time, a faint trace of doubt lingered in Ye Wushuang's heart.
An Earth-grade Lower-tier vein could hardly be considered trash.
Yet, he somehow felt that his spirit vein hadn't been fully tested out yet...
...
Several Ye Family elders leaped into the air, landing beside Ye Wushuang with warm smiles on their aged faces as they began to shower him with concerned questions.
Below the round platform, countless Ye Family members were also conversing in low voices, their expressions filled with joy and elation.
With such a genius among them, in a few years' time, the Ye Family was bound to become the top aristocratic clan in the entire Tianxuan Country!
And they would share in that glory as well!
After his initial surge of joy subsided, Ye Nantian furrowed his brows slightly, his mind racing as he thought deeply.
Although he had ordered the area sealed off, news like this could ultimately not be kept under wraps for long.
Who knew, it might have already leaked out through various channels by now!
With spirit tools, spirit talismans, and the like, there were simply too many ways to transmit a message.
The clansmen below wouldn't think that far ahead.
Discovering a genius within their own family, overcome with shock and delight, someone might have already shared and flaunted this "good news" to their close friends.
Even if they hadn't, just the tidal wave of gasps that had erupted moments earlier made it hard to prevent outsiders from hearing.
And once the other three great families of Dongyang City found out...
They wouldn't feel joy; they would feel terror!
If the Ye Family produced such a genius, where would the rest of them find a foothold in Dongyang City in the future?
Putting himself in the shoes of the other three great families, Ye Nantian's expression gradually grew solemn and sharp.
If it were him, he would use every means at his disposal to nip Ye Wushuang in the bud!
Otherwise, was he supposed to just sit back and watch Ye Wushuang grow up and eventually force them to bow in submission?
What to do, what to do...
As his thoughts spun rapidly, an immature idea gradually took shape in Ye Nantian's mind...
"Elders, gather the spirit tools and medicinal pills, and follow me to the Qin Family!"
A sharp shout snapped the Ye Family elders out of their joyous shock.
"Patriarch, what is the meaning of this?"
An elder looked at Ye Nantian and asked in confusion.
"Everyone, what do you suppose will happen once the other three great families learn that our Ye Family has produced a genius with an Earth-grade Lower-tier spirit vein?"
"What will they do?"
Ye Nantian swept his gaze over the crowd and asked.
The elders' expressions shifted simultaneously.
They were not fools; they quickly thought it through.
"Patriarch, then why are we going to the Qin Family?"
A smile surfaced on Ye Nantian's face as he uttered two words:
"To propose marriage!"
Ye Wushuang, standing off to the side: ???
...
Soon, Ye Nantian, accompanied by Ye Wushuang and nine elders, rushed toward the Qin Family estate at top speed.
"Isn't that the Ye Family Patriarch?"
"And the nine Ye Family elders—what an impressive lineup!"
"That horse the Ye Family Patriarch is riding has such an imposing aura!"
"That's a Tier 3 demonic beast, a Fire Lion Horse!"
"I heard it once kicked a Spirit Gathering Realm expert to death!"
"Hiss! Damn it, why didn't you say so sooner? Let's get back!"
"What are they trying to do? The entire Ye Family has practically turned out in full force!"
"Who knows? Whatever it is, a major event has definitely happened!"
...
The four great families each occupied a corner of Dongyang City and stood quite far apart from one another.
However, the mounts ridden by the Ye Family members were all extraordinary and moved at a terrifying speed, soon arriving before the Qin Family estate.
The two guards at the Qin Family gates felt a jolt of shock upon seeing this sight, breaking out in instant cold sweats.
What was going on?
They hadn't had any conflicts with the Ye Family recently!
Was there any need for such a massive display of force?!
One of them hurriedly rushed inside to report, while the other stepped forward with trembling legs:
"Patriarch Ye, esteemed elders, please wait a moment. Our Patriarch will be right out."
Ye Nantian nodded, holding Ye Wushuang by the hand as they waited outside the gates.
Before long, a group of people walked out briskly from within the Qin Family estate. The man in the lead called out loudly from a distance:
"Hahaha, Brother Ye, what a rare visitor!"