Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
Wu Prefecture City's atmosphere became tense as if something big was about to happen.
Many citizens noticed that many seemingly out-of-the-ordinary youngsters were popping up along the roads. Some returned from the outskirts of the city and a few even stepped out of the many plain-looking houses.
The most eye-catching ones were undoubtedly the great clan's descendants, who wore lavish clothing and sported haughty expressions.
"Brother, is something happening? Why do I notice so many foreign faces in the city lately? They all seem to be youngsters who are barely twenty years old."
A great number of people were drinking and eating at a restaurant. At that point, a big man—who obviously came from outside the city—gazed down on the silhouettes of those youngsters. They were looking up with a somewhat serious expression, yet there were hints of hidden excitement and anticipation. It prompted the man to turn to another table and ask about it.
"My brother, is this your first time coming to Wu Prefecture City?"
The other table was filled with dressed-up cultivators who smiled rather disdainfully after hearing the big man's question. The questioner himself was perturbed by their smiles but nodded anyway and said, "I forgot to mention that."
"It's no wonder that you don't know about the annual clan gathering! This an event for the entire Wu Prefecture City that doesn't only involve the Three Great Clans. Even those slightly weaker clans will recall their descendants, regardless of whether they're still in the clan or have been sent on their way—all will return. It's also a time when these clans will see how far their descendants progressed in the past year. It's a gathering to show-off a clan's power and see the emergence of fresh blood."
The person who spoke was a handsome and suave young man who did not look like he had reached his twenties. His arrogant glance was nevertheless perceptible to those who were there. The person was surely a descendant of one of the great clans, more specifically, a descendant that formed the core of the clan and was not left to roam outside the clan.
"I see. Pardon my ignorance and narrow-mindedness."
Feeling rather pleased, the big man did not let tempers flare up despite being dissatisfied at the contemptuous gaze given by those at that table. After all, he could see that the individuals at the table were no ordinary people and certainly not someone that a rogue cultivator like him should go against.
Ruthlessness existed between martial cultivators in Cloudveil Continent and respect was given to those who were stronger. Most of them were clan descendants who attracted a lot of attention, as all the forefathers of those clans were once all-powerful masters. The bloodline they left behind and the bloodsoul they had awakened were much more refined than that of an ordinary person. They also had better resources to aid in their cultivation and more advanced martial exercises. That was what widened the gap between them and other martial cultivators.
The big man, for example, had strength that reached Martial Spirit Level Four. He looked to be around thirty years old and amongst rogue cultivators, he might be considered to have resources of an upper-intermediate level. By contrast, the luxuriantly-dressed group of young men was not even in their twenties, yet the weakest was already emitting the vital force of a peak Level Four. The level of the strongest there—which was coincidentally the one who spoke earlier—was unidentifiable!
Gap! Such was the gap between them!
Other individuals within the restaurant also noticed those youngsters whose personalities were rather unique.
The annual clan gathering was also a tournament between the younger generation! It was an important event that would decide one's fate and position within the clan for the coming year!
"He's Yuwen Tianhua of the Yuwen clan. I heard he reached Martial Spirit Level Six three years ago when he was just sixteen! Who knows what kind of state he's in right now!"
Many of those inside the restaurant were born in Wu Prefecture City and grew up there. They were all able to figure out the origin of those remarkably dispositioned youngsters. One of them whispered with envy and admiration to a friend.
Descendants of a great clan were usually on a whole other level compared to the average person. They had superb bloodlines left behind by their forefathers' and their bloodsoul was much easily awakened, thus rendering cultivation even easier.
"And the Wu clan's Wu Wenhao, who I've been told is the new generation prodigy of the Wu family. He's not even eighteen yet, but he's already reached the peak of Martial Spirit Level Five. This rumor was from a year ago and we don't know if he's managed to break through to Level Six."
Quiet murmurings were heard all around, evidently due to the extraordinary backgrounds of those youngsters at the table.
"Right. That one seems to be one of the Li clan's evildoers, Li Yue. Rumor has it that he's the youngest out of all the Three Great Clans' younger generation and also the strongest. Just half a year ago there was a rumor saying that he defeated some mercenary cultivator who was not from here and that person was at peak Level Six! Who knows, Li Yue might even have achieved Martial Spirit Level Seven now!"
No one knew who whispered that bit but everyone around simultaneously gasped. Clearly, there were not too many people who knew about it, which was why the shock factor was there.
For martial cultivators in Cloudveil Continent, a person with higher states of cultivation would have a much slower time raising their levels. Those below Level Four did not have much, if any, hurdles. Disciples of great clans could have as many as two or three breakthroughs in one year, but once they achieved Level Four, things would not be as easy as before. One or two years' worth of time might not even be sufficient for another breakthrough.
As for those with Martial Spirit Level Six and above, they would be considered a highly-skilled person in the little land of Wu Prefecture City!
"So, they're the elite descendants from the Three Great Clans! My apologies, my apologies!"
The outsider was equally shocked. As someone who roamed through many corners of the world, he knew all too well that the elitist nature and giftedness of those descendants were far ahead of an ordinary person like himself.
"You're too kind, you're too kind!"
Yuwen Tianhua exclaimed and unfurled his paper fan. He put on a snobbish air and fanned himself lightly, giving him a distinguished and scholarly feel. Paired with his handsome face, he attracted the attention of women—young and old alike—within the restaurant.
By then, everyone's attention shifted onto the Three Great Clans' elite descendants. None of them noticed the presence of an unostentatious young man who observed everything coolly from the corner of the restaurant.
His focus, in particular, was the youngest out of the three young men.
The person being eyed on was the Li clan's most well-received and gifted descendants—Li Yue. He was the grandson of the Li clan's Head Elder and it could be said that he occupied a high position within the Li clan.
Amongst the three, he was the most aloof and indifferent. Compared to Yuwen Tianhua, who was constantly fanning himself, and the ice-cube-like coldness of Wu Wenhao, Li Yue was emitting a haughtiness that made others wary of disturbing him. From time to time, his contempt-filled and narcissistic gaze swept across the masses.
The person eyeing Li Yue from the corner was none other than Li Ye. There were another two days to go before the annual clan gathering and Li Ye did not want to let such an important day slip by.
Emotions and logic both dictated that he should return.
He was not thinking about whether he could return to the family. He wanted, more than anything else, to see the look of disbelief and stupefaction when those who constantly looked down on him realized that things have changed. How wonderful a sight that would be!
'Li Ye, oh, Li Ye. Although you and I are linked by fate, you're the only one who would have such an innocent wish to return to the clan again. Never mind, since this is your last desire, how about I help you realize it?'
No one heard Li Ye mumbling to himself. Since their souls and memories were merged together, Li Ye was aware of what his former soul wanted most.
Familial acknowledgment!
In reality, it was sheer coincidence that he bumped into Li Yue at the restaurant. Despite being from the same clan, Li Yue might not recognize him. After all, there was a huge difference between a descendant that was cast aside by the clan and a wunderkind that received special attention.
Just when Li Ye was finding it hard to watch the nauseating flaunting of character there, a series of conversations made him halt his leaving footsteps.
"Brother Li, surely you've been given the honor of being the first one in the Li clan to start off this year's clan tournament?"
Each and every one of Yuwen Tianhua's movements was brimming with elegance when he fanned himself gently using the paper fan. However, the occasional glimmer of coldness was a sign to everyone that he was a far more ruthless person than his persona let on.
"Yeah. With your kind of power, Brother Li, it'll be hard to find someone of our generation who is on par with you in the entire Wu Prefecture City. It'll be even more difficult to find someone who can surpass you."
The Wu clan's Wu Wenhao smiled coolly and appeared to be flattering Li Yue—there was somehow a hint of sarcasm hidden behind those words.
Even the question that Yuewen Tianhua posed had some hidden undertones.
"Hmph! I don't care much for the tiny Wu Prefecture City! There will come a time when this small place won't be big enough for me!"
Madness!
Absolute madness!
The content of Li Yue's remarks straightforwardly conveyed several layers of meaning. The first was his complete acknowledgment of the ingratiation deluged onto him by Yuwen Tianhua and Wu Wenhao—Li Yue believed, proudly, that no one in the entire Wu Prefecture City could vie him for supremacy unless it was someone from the elder generation. Secondly, it showed his high ambitions. At that age, he already had his eyes set on much greater heights outside of Wu Prefecture City!
"Hehe, Brother Li, few people can match up to the gifts you possess!" Yuwen Tianhua chuckled. Fiendish hints surfaced within his gaze, however, and he changed the topic at once. "Still, I heard rumors that 'that particular person' from your clan is catching up. I wonder if Brother Li can keep that person under control? Brother Wenhao and I heard that her gift isn't any weaker than yours, Brother Li. She's cultivated outside all these years and no one knows what stage she's at right now!"
Wu Wenhao chuckled coldly, "Hehe." The relationship between all three youngsters was not as good as it seemed. It was nevertheless common knowledge that the Three Great Clans fought both openly and in secret. The younger generation was certainly doing the same, with each trying to outwit the other. Each person had their own hidden agendas.
Surprisingly, Li Yue's expression changed immediately after he heard that. His tone turned petulant and he asked, "Yuwen Tianhua, what are you trying to insinuate? Do you think I'm not a match for that harlot, Li Yating?"
A strong wave of vital force burst forth from Li Yue's body.
Martial Spirit Level Seven! Rays of sharp light flickered in