2 days later, Zhou Manor
"Today is the day" Zhou He looked outside the window while playing with his fingers. "I hope Qiu'er doesn't get beat down too badly." He smiled before heading outside the door and started walking towards the dining hall.
"sect master, the guests and elders are waiting in the dining hall. The tension is really intense, It almost feels like a war could break out at any moment." The servant tried to warn Zhou He.
"Don't worry, those bastards won't do anything until the youth ceremony is over." He laughed and walked into the hall.
"Hahaha Zhou Feng, Liu Huai, Hei Xie, Yu Bing I have arrived." Zhou He's robes fluttered in the slight breeze of his movement as he had a big curve on his face. Zhou Feng was the Grand elder of the Zhou sect and was also one of the two brothers of Zhou He, the other being Zhou Ye. Yu Bing was also a leader of the Ice crystal faction, and she was always loyal to the Zhou Sect no matter what happened to them because Zhou He had helped her escape the demon poison when she was little girl during the great calamity. Naturally Liu Huai and Hei Xie were the leaders of the Golden pupil faction and Black Jade faction respectively.
"Zhou He, you seem confident this morning. I wonder what has changed your attitude?" Liu Huai spoke in an annoying tone.
"My daughter will be competing in the youth ceremony this year. Speaking of which, elders I would like to ask, if my daughter can enter the top 10 can she be allowed to enter the Bronze Qi circulation pool regardless? As she has just recently begun truly training." Zhou He asked the elders sitting around the table.
"She doesn't need it, she will be able to reach the top 5 without a problem" Zhou Ye appeared next to Zhou He and whispered in his ear.
"HAHA, You don't even have faith in your own daughter?" Liu Huai Laughed out and provoked Zhou He.
"its not that-" Zhou He tried fixing his words.
"Halt!" an elegant voice boomed in the dining hall as the doors opened once again. A young girl wearing a dark red dress with golden accents that almost perfectly outlined her figure walked in. "I don't need any compromises, If I am not able to be ranked 5th or above then it is truly my fault for not training enough." As she finished talking, the aura of destruction dissipated and was gathered back into her.
"Xinqiu.." Zhou Ye and Zhou He's eyes were wide open in shock, when did she become so overbearing and crazy.
"Hehe, You have grown more beautiful since the last time I've seen you. You really are a great match with my son, Liu Yan." Liu Huai's face contorted into a mischievous smile as he clapped his hands in excitement.
"Not interested" She indifferently raised her voice confidently.
"Hmm I wonder when this young lady become so overbearing? Speaking in such a manner to her elders?" Hei Xie's eyes flashed a black light as he tried to peek into her soul using a special technique. At that moment, Zhou Xinqiu's eyes also flashed a red glow and blocked the soul attack. "Interesting, she is able to block my soul searching technique"
"Elders please head to spirit stage where we will begin the youth ceremony." Zhou Feng tried to relieve the tension by changing the subject.
"Qiu'er come here" Zhou He called her over but using a sweet tone.
After the elders all left the dining hall, Zhou He, Zhou Ye, Zhou Feng, and Zhou Xinqiu all sat on a small table facing each other.
"Xinqiu, you crazy girl, what if your words provoked someone by accident and you got injured?! You cannot depend on us to protect you all the time!" Zhou Ye smashed his fist on the table angrily.
"Uncle, I am not depending on anyone to protect me. Naturally you know the most that I don't need this compromise. Therefore, I wanted to speak my own opinion about this matter." she calmly replied
"haha good good, well you should know that you will be representing our Zhou family in this youth ceremony, and therefore I would like to give you this Spiritual Jade Family Pin." Zhou Feng handed over the jade pin to her which had 'Zhou' written on it.
"I am representing the Zhou Family?.." She hesitated in taking the pin and softly spoke.
"Unless? Your previous overbearing tone was a lie?" Zhou Feng laughed and insisted on her taking the pin.
"Ok, I will make Uncles and Father proud!" She finally took the pin and placed it on her chest.
"You should also already know about the rebelling factions, and since you are wearing this pin, they might target you more than the others, so you should be a little more careful." Zhou Ye explained to her.
"Got it"
"Alright lets head to the Spirit stage" Zhou He stood up with a tear in his proud eyes and together they all exited the Dining hall as well.
----
"Welcome to this decade's Zhou Sect Youth Ceremony" Zhou Feng levitated in the sky and took a look at all the people in the crowd.
Zhou Xinqiu came here with Zhou Ye while Zhou He and Zhou Feng went to the spirit stage earlier.
"Xinqiu, the contestants of this year are a little more troublesome than the previous years, especially since the rebellion caused the factions to increase themselves and their disciples' strengths" Zhou Ye warned.
"First, let me have the representative disciples come up onto the stage when they are called and then the first test in the beastial mountain will begin." Zhou Feng infused Qi into his voice in order to make sure everyone would be able to hear.
"First, Black Jade Faction, Hei FengJue" A black robed man with his face covered with a mask leaped up onto the stage.
"Hei Fengjue is the Young master of the Black Jade faction and is currently at the 9th level of the body tempering stage. He is also known for the same cunning and sly techniques of the leader of the Black Jade faction. He is definitely one of those that you have to look out for." Zhou Ye explained to Zhou Xinqiu while she nodded her head and listened carefully.
"Golden Pupil Faction, Liu Yan" A young man wrapped in robes of gold and riches walked up onto the stage."
"Liu Yan, Young master of the Golden Pupil Sect, also at the 9th level of the body tempering stage and probably Hei Fengjue's only rival. He practices the hidden pupil art which allows him to peer into the mind of anyone in a realm under him, along with many other gold proficient techniques. He is a lot less mysterious than Hei Fengjue and is a lot more open. Another one of those that you have to be careful about." Zhou Ye continued explaining the contestants one after another
"Zhou family, Zhou Xinqiu"