In the scorching June of Black Water Kingdom, stood the Qiyun Sect.
Qiyun Sect, as one of the oldest cultivation sects in the history of Black Water Kingdom, had a vast square in front of its mountain gate that stretched over a kilometer in both length and width.
At this time, the square in front of Qiyun Sect's main gate was packed with a dense crowd of people.
Every person crowded here was looking out towards the path inside the mountain gate of Qiyun Sect, bursting with excitement whenever a young person, dressed in the grey clothes of a servant disciple, sprinted out from the gate, to be greeted by one or two middle-aged individuals, who then embraced them joyously.
Qiyun Sect strictly managed its servant disciples, prohibiting them from leaving Mountain Gate except for matters of great personal importance.
However, although servant disciples were not allowed to leave, their relatives could come visit once a year.
June was the only month when relatives were permitted to visit servant disciples within the sect, so from the start of June, Qiyun Sect's square was filled with relatives eager to see their children.
Even though it was already the end of June, the stream of visitors was still unending.
Among them were Ye Tiancheng and his wife.
They had sent a message as soon as the mountain gate opened in the morning, and now it was nearly noon, yet they had not seen their son, Ye Zhen.
Ye Tiancheng was managing alright, but next to him was Ye Zhen's mother, Mi Jiangxue, carrying a long sword and looking both wise and a bit heroic, who was visibly anxious and sweating profusely.
If not for the strict rules of Qiyun Sect, Mi Jiangxue might have charged into Qiyun Sect herself to find her son, Ye Zhen.
Suddenly, Mi Jiangxue grabbed Ye Tiancheng's arm tightly, and his gaze also turned to one of surprise and joy.
"Zhen'er, it's Zhen'er!"
Inside the mountain gate of Qiyun Sect, a tall, spirited young man in a grey robe, with sharp, sword-like eyebrows, was running towards them, his head covered in sweat.
The inner peak of Qiyun Sect had many ridges and vast territory. Since receiving the message from the steward, Ye Zhen had been running nonstop, but it still took him over two hours to reach the front of the mountain gate.
"Father! Mother!"
From afar, Ye Zhen saw his anxiously waiting parents and cried out with a voice filled with excitement and a hint of tears, as he sprinted towards them.
While Ye Zhen was still hesitating, Mi Jiangxue pulled her son into her embrace.
It was Ye Zhen's own decision to leave home at fifteen to become a servant disciple at Qiyun Sect.
But nearly a year away still made Ye Zhen miss his parents terribly, and his nose grew sour upon seeing them.
"Zhen'er, ah, you've become thinner and darker,"
The family moved to the nearby pavilion in the walkway, sharing their feelings of yearning caused by their long separation, especially Mi Jiangxue, who touched and looked over her son from every angle—all she could see was how much thinner and more worn he had become.
She completely disregarded the muscles that had developed on Ye Zhen's arms and his now sturdy chest.
"Zhen'er, ah, you've been at the sect for a year now. How has your cultivation progressed?" After some light conversation, his father, Ye Tiancheng, began to inquire.
At this, Ye Zhen's expression darkened slightly.
Despite believing he had worked as hard as anyone else over the past year, his cultivation progress had been frustratingly slow.
"Father, I've just broken through to the Late Stage Force Training in the First Stage of Blood Training. My strength fluctuates around a thousand jin, just barely filling my veins with blood Qi," Ye Zhen's voice was somewhat weak.
Ye Tiancheng and Mi Jiangxue both furrowed their brows deeply, with Ye Tiancheng's brows knitting into an even deeper frown.
"It shouldn't be like this. Even though your Bloodline Talent is only at Three Veins Middle Grade, in eleven months, your Blood Qi should have surged like waves, reaching the Peak of First Stage Blood Refining and your strength approaching around two thousand jin, right?"
Ye Zhen remained silent.
"Back in my days at Qiyun Sect, my Bloodline Talent was even half a grade lower than yours, only Third Grade Lower, but within a year, my cultivation had smoothly reached the Peak of First Stage Blood Refining, and I passed the Sect's annual assessment. Now, with the annual term approaching, have you been slacking off..."
As Ye Tiancheng was speaking sternly, Mi Jiangxue suddenly elbowed him sharply and glared, "What are you saying?"
"I admit, my son's talent is average. But this Bloodline Talent is what he was born with from his mother and me; it's not his fault. But if anyone dares say my son doesn't cultivate diligently or wholeheartedly, I'll fight them to the end."
Following Mi Jiangxue's glare, Ye Tiancheng could only smile wryly, "Qiyun Sect has an exam once every year. If a servant disciple doesn't reach the Peak of First Stage Blood Refining within a year of joining, they can be directly expelled from the Sect, so I'm just worried..."
Servant disciples in Qiyun Sect start at fifteen, with an exam every year and a promotion every three years.
If one's cultivation breaks through to the Peak of Third Stage Blood Refining by the age of eighteen, they can become an Outer Disciple, promising a bright future.
The Outer Disciples of Qiyun Sect are considered potential officers in the military of Black Water Kingdom.
Becoming an Outer Disciple of Qiyun Sect ensures that, even if one's cultivation progresses no further, securing at least the rank of Chiliarch in the Black Water Kingdom's army is unquestionable.
The rank of Chiliarch is considered middling in the hierarchy of the Black Water Kingdom's military.
For most people, being a Chiliarch is a massive leap forward, allowing them to establish a family and heritage with just a bit of effort.
Conversely, if one doesn't break through to the Fourth Stage of Blood Refining by the age of eighteen, they don't even qualify to be a servant disciple, let alone earn a recommendation from Qiyun Sect to enter a military position in the Black Water Kingdom.
What's more, with the Sect's strict annual exam, if a servant disciple doesn't reach the Peak of First Stage Blood Refining within their first year, they are directly expelled from the Sect.
And now, in just one more month, Ye Zhen will face Qiyun Sect's annual examination for servant disciples.
Ye Tiancheng's worries stemmed from here.
Looking at his father, who was worried about him, and then at his mother, who was fiercely defending him, Ye Zhen felt a bitter expression crossing his face.
His father's doubts were indeed his own confusions.
Since joining the Sect eleven months ago, Ye Zhen's cultivation had been anything but lazy, but his progress was exceptionally slow.
Even those from his cohort, with Bloodline Talents of only two veins, had broken through to the Late First Stage of Blood Refining two or three months ago, each boasting at least fourteen to fifteen hundred jin of strength.
His peers, who had similar Bloodline Talents, had already reached the Peak of First Stage Blood Refining.
This situation left Ye Zhen immensely baffled.
Sometimes, Ye Zhen even began to doubt whether his Bloodline Talent had been measured incorrectly.
Yet, the three and a half veins of Blood Qi he had witnessed himself during the initial assessment were undeniably real.
With this, the atmosphere turned somewhat gloomy for a time.
Suddenly, Ye Tiancheng took in a deep breath, "Son, why not come home with Dad? Staying in Qiyun Sect doesn't seem promising, and you're just suffering for nothing. Come home with me, we won't have to worry about food or clothing, why suffer here?"
"Yes, Zhen'er, although our family isn't much, with your strength, as long as you're willing to endure hardship, the girls in town, I could marry off five or six to you, no problem at all," Mi Jiangxue said, thumping her chest.
"Marrying off five or six to our son?" Ye Tiancheng was taken aback, seemingly startled by Mi Jiangxue's words.
With a sideway glance at Ye Tiancheng, Mi Jiangxue said, "Why, you're interested too?" The boldness in her eyes was unmistakable, waiting for Ye Tiancheng to take up the cue.
Ye Tiancheng hurriedly shook his head, fearing that if he denied it any slower, he would suffer.
Watching this scene, Ye Zhen couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Once the laughter subsided, Mi Jiangxue's expression turned serious, "Zhen'er, Mom is serious. Why not come home with me? Why suffer here? All Mom hopes is that you live a peaceful life."
Ye Zhen was startled, slightly tilting his head as he gazed at the clear blue sky.
Once again, the fleeting glimpse of a young girl flying overhead like a fairy reappeared before his eyes.
That scene provoked an incredibly strong impulse in Ye Zhen—he too wanted to soar through this azure sky. How carefree it would be?
A young man's impulse became Ye Zhen's lifelong, or rather, current dream and determination.
Seeing his son's expression, Ye Tiancheng, although somewhat reluctant, spoke up, "Son, even if you don't leave now, in a month, it will be the annual servant disciple's exam at Qiyun Sect, and then..."
Ye Tiancheng's implication couldn't be clearer, if he didn't leave now, he would be expelled from the sect in a month.
Ye Zhen saw clearly that when his father, Ye Tiancheng, spoke these words, his eyes were already filled with disappointment.
Ye Tiancheng himself had once joined the Qiyun Sect, but because he didn't break through to the Fourth Stage of Blood Refining within three years, he was expelled from the sect, and even a later breakthrough to the Fourth Stage of Blood Refining was in vain.
Yet, this incident had always been regarded by Ye Tiancheng as a lifelong regret.
Ye Tiancheng had pinned this hope on his son, Ye Zhen, but now Ye Zhen...
Ye Zhen's face suddenly became determined and serious, "Dad, Mom, I'm not going back. I swear, I will become an Outer Disciple of the Qiyun Sect."
"You're making a vow?"
Father Ye Tiancheng's eyes instantly widened, "Never mind if you can break through to the Fourth Stage of Blood Refining in three years, how about the upcoming sect exam in a month?"
Father Ye Tiancheng could no longer bear to say more harsh words.
"Dad, Mom, believe me, I can do it!" The moment Ye Zhen declared this confidently, he couldn't help but remember that little secret he discovered a few days ago, and his gaze suddenly became incredibly resolute.
Whether for his childhood dreams or his own desires, he had to persevere!
Just as Ye Tiancheng was about to say something else, he was elbowed by Mi Jiangxue, and the atmosphere once again grew heavy.
"Alright, if you want to stay, then continue to stay." With a snort, father Ye Tiancheng sternly said no more.
However, mother Mi Jiangxue pulled Ye Zhen aside, passing him several packages and said, "Your dad knows the ins and outs of the Qiyun Sect; many things there need extra money.
Here, this is one hundred silver your dad has earned with hard work this year. Take it, buy whatever you are lacking..."
"Inside this bundle, are a few pairs of shoes mother made for you, a few sets of new clothes, your favorite roast chicken, cured meat..."
Listening to mother Mi Jiangxue's words, Ye Zhen's eyes instantly blurred.
He was all too aware of his family's financial situation. Though they owned some farmland, living comfortably was difficult, and they were always exploited by their clan. Had it not been for his father's ability to earn some silver with tasks suited to his Fourth Stage of Blood Refining, their current life wouldn't be possible.
Not seeing them for a year, his father's temples had grown slightly grayer, clearly the result of excessive hardship.
In that moment, Ye Zhen almost felt the urge to go home with his parents.
"Here, take this." Seeing the moisture filling his son's eyes, mother Mi Jiangxue firmly stuffed the package into Ye Zhen's hands.
"Wait!"
Just as Mi Jiangxue stuffed the package into Ye Zhen's hands, Ye Tiancheng suddenly strode over and took the package from her.
Then, under the somewhat surprised gazes of Mi Jiangxue and Ye Zhen, he rummaged through it himself, pulled out two large silver ingots, and stuffed them in.
Watching Ye Tiancheng's actions, Mi Jiangxue was stunned for a moment, "Tiancheng, why are you stuffing the travel funds into it..."
She cut herself off midway, realization dawning on her as she abruptly covered her lips.
But Father Ye Tiancheng paid no attention to Mother and stuffed the package back into Ye Zhen's hands, "Zhen'er, I remember that inside the Qiyun Sect, each Blood Essence Pill costs two hundred silver, right?
I've gathered two hundred silver for you; remember to buy one when you go back.
With that Blood Essence Pill to enhance your cultivation, you'll be able to withstand Qiyun Sect's annual sect assessment."
Having said that, Ye Tiancheng, as usual, slapped Ye Zhen hard on the shoulder, "Good lad, don't let your dad down!"
Feeling the significantly reduced force of that slap and seeing his father Ye Tiancheng's now declining complexion, Ye Zhen's expression became one of concern as he suddenly grabbed his father's wrist and exclaimed, "Dad, your cultivation?"
In the past, the surging blood qi in his father's body and the thumping of his wrist veins would make Ye Zhen's fingers hurt slightly, a game he used to enjoy playing with his father when he was a child.
But now, the strength of that wrist pulse...
"Making a big fuss over nothing, your dad has not broken through to the Essence Origin Realm; as a person gets old, the blood qi declines, and naturally, the cultivation falls off..."
Ye Tiancheng withdrew his hand somewhat forcefully from his son, desperately hiding the bitterness on his face.
"Son, we're off, dad's rooting for you!"
He waved vigorously and, pulling at Mi Jiangxue, who still seemed to want to say something, walked down the mountain, leaving Ye Zhen standing there, his eyes blurred with tears.
Father is not even forty years old this year and is still in the prime of life.
If nourished properly, how could his blood qi possibly decline?
That's clearly because Father has been vigorously doing physical labor to save silver, and hesitated to eat anything good...
Watching his parents' figures disappearing into the mountains, Ye Zhen fiercely waved his hand, carrying the increasingly heavy package, and headed toward the inside of the mountain gate.
Walking on the mountain path, with his tears now dried, Ye Zhen's expression had become incredibly determined.
"I must become an Outer Disciple, only by becoming an Outer Disciple can I lighten the burden on my parents and fulfill Father's wish."
Ye Zhen knew his persistence was too stubborn.
But Ye Zhen was not the kind of person who was pigheaded and stubbornly obsessed.
Ye Zhen was very aware that with his current speed of cultivation, not to mention his cultivation breaking through to the Fourth Stage of Blood Refining to become an Outer Disciple, even smoothly passing the Qiyun Sect's annual major exam was very problematic.
Ye Zhen was very clear about this.
The reason Ye Zhen was still so persistent was that he had a little secret that no one knew about.
A little secret that filled Ye Zhen with anticipation.