In the Spirit Testing Hall, disciples from the four great families arrived one after another, gazing reverently at the four figures seated on the high platform. These four represented the Shangguan, Mei, Xia, and Li families—the four great clans. They sat solemnly on chairs placed before a crystal ball, surrounded by four crystal pillars carved with divine beasts: Qinglong, White Tiger, Zhuque, and Black Tortoise. It was evident that they placed great importance on the strength of their family disciples.
The Yan Family, with its formidable power and status as the most significant presence in Changle Guo, did not join the four great families. However, its position could not be underestimated. Thus, while they were called the four great families, it would be more accurate to say there were five.
At that moment, an elderly man dressed in luxurious robes, with a stern expression and a graying beard, appeared. The moment he showed up, Yan Wuxin’s eyes turned cold. This was the grandfather of this body—the revered General Yan Heng, whom everyone held in awe.
The heads of the four great families stood up, welcoming him with smiles.
To think he had returned so soon. Hah!
As members of the various families noticed Yan Heng’s arrival, whispers and gossip about his family began to circulate.
“They say General Yan’s Huanli is so high, yet he has a Waste/Useless Talent granddaughter. And that Yan Wuhan is nothing but a good-for-nothing. Even if he came, he’d just be a laughingstock.”
“Afraid of being mocked, they probably won’t dare to show up. That family has been hiding like turtles for ages.”
Yan Heng’s expression darkened slightly, but he could say nothing, for it was the truth.
“Heavens, look! Fire Attribute Spirit Master Intermediate Grade!” Suddenly, someone noticed the situation on the high platform and exclaimed in surprise.
“The young master of the Second Yan Household is only fourteen, yet he’s already a Fire Attribute Spirit Master Intermediate Grade. Such talent must be incredibly rare!”
On the high platform, listening to the flattery from the crowd below, Yan Xun proudly raised his head. Yan Wuxin’s second uncle, Yan Beifeng, beamed with pride. He cleared his throat, intending to offer some modest remarks, when another wave of murmurs erupted from below.
“Is that considered rare? The Head of the Yan Family’s eldest daughter, Miss Yan Qingcheng, was already a Spirit Master Intermediate Grade when she was ten.”
“Exactly, and there’s also Young Master Mo Xuan from the Shangguan Family. He possesses both Fire and Wood attributes and is a Liandanshi!”
As soon as these words were spoken, even more people chimed in in agreement.
A Liandanshi—that was the most dazzling existence in Mingtian Dalu. Regardless of whether they could refine high-grade Danyao, they were the most unattainable and revered figures.
Seeing the crowd’s attention shift elsewhere, Yan Xun stood awkwardly on the platform, his anger growing in his eyes. As for Yan Beifeng, his fists clenched tightly. If circumstances allowed, he would have already rushed down to wring the necks of those gossiping.
“Ah, look! Isn’t that Yan Nantian and Yan Wuhan at the entrance? They actually dared to come.” Suddenly, the crowd erupted like a pressure cooker dropped into water.
Countless gazes fell upon the father and son. Yan Wuxin pursed her lips, her brow slightly furrowed.
Though she was not the original owner of this body, the memories left behind felt all too real. The frail and haggard father before her, even when enduring humiliation himself, never let her worry for a moment.
His temples were slightly graying, and his once bright, spirited eyes, weathered by the trials of life, had grown somewhat dull. Yet, his strikingly handsome face still retained its former beauty. No wonder her own features were so exquisite—she had inherited them from him.
Yan Nantian spotted his daughter in the crowd at a glance and quickly stepped forward, embracing her tightly.
Just as she was about to struggle, a trembling voice reached her ears, “It’s good that you’re safe. If something had happened, how could I explain it to your mother?”
Her nose tingled with emotion. She took a deep breath and said, “Father.”
Yan Nantian trembled as he held her close. He had thought his son was joking—how could his daughter, who had been in a vegetative state for over a decade, suddenly recover? But now… Amid his joy, his eyes were filled with worry.
Xin’er has returned. The prophecy has come true. Yan’er, what should I do?
Sensing something amiss with her father, Yan Wuxin’s heart skipped a beat. She asked, “Father, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. My Xin’er is whole again, whole again.”
Whole again? What does that mean?
As she pondered this, the crowd suddenly erupted in commotion.
“That’s Yan Wuxin! My heavens, it can’t be!”
“Wasn’t Yan Wuxin disfigured? How is this possible… And she’s so beautiful.”
“She’s even more beautiful than the number one beauty, Yan Qingcheng. It seems the title of the most beautiful is about to change hands.”
Not far away, Yan Qingcheng clenched her fists tightly, a flash of anger flickering in her eyes before dissipating. She walked over slowly with graceful steps.
“Third Uncle, Second Brother, Fourth Sister, you’ve come. Qingcheng thought…”
“Thought what? That we wouldn’t dare to come? Or that my sister had died?” Yan Wuhan raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as he stared at Yan Qingcheng.
“Yan Wuhan, you’re nothing but a waste. How dare you speak to Qingcheng Sister like that!” Yan Xun, standing beside Yan Qingcheng, immediately jumped out, displeased by the remark.
Waste!
These two words were like thorns piercing his heart over and over again, leaving it riddled with holes, yet he had no choice but to accept the reality.
Disgusted, he clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, yet he felt nothing.
He had endured countless days and nights like this. If he could, he would rather not live such a life worse than death. But he still had his sister to protect.
His mother had said that their purpose was to guard their sister. No matter how humiliating life became, he could not die.
Suddenly, a cool sensation spread across the back of his hand. He instinctively looked down and saw that his sister had taken his hand in hers.
Yan Wuhan’s heart ached.
How could he have forgotten!
The words “waste” struck Yan Wuxin even harder than they did him. Though she had been foolish in the past, whenever she heard others call him a waste, she would always step forward to refute it, enduring humiliation just to say, “My brother is not a waste.”
He opened his mouth, wanting to comfort her, but didn’t know what to say. A bitter taste lingered on his lips. He shouldn’t have shown up and embarrassed his sister.
“In my opinion, birds of a feather flock together. These siblings—one is a fool, the other a waste, and the other…”
“Don’t go too far! Their inability to cultivate has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business before criticizing others. Xin’er, Han’er, let’s go.” Yan Nantian’s face was as cold as ice, chilling to the bone.
The crowd was about to retort when Yan Heng spoke up.
“Hurry up and start the testing. With so many people, we won’t finish before dark.”
“Fourth Sister, why don’t you give it a try too? But you’re a Waste/Useless Talent—you probably wouldn’t dare, right?” Yan Xun sneered, his malicious amusement rising.
The crowd looked over with mocking smiles, but to their surprise, Yan Wuxin truly passed them by, heading straight toward the high platform. Yan Wuhan tried to pull her back but was too late, for she had already reached the crystal ball.
Yan Heng’s expression turned extremely sour, and only his angry tone could be heard as he asked, “Are you really going to test it?”