novelzi Chapter 221, Qualification Grounds
Chapter 221, Qualification Grounds
Morning light spread across the Zhao Family estate like flowing silver.
Every pavilion, every courtyard, and each stone path seemed to reflect a deep sense of ancient order. White-haired disciples moved with disciplined silence, their robes spotless, their bearing impeccably upright. No one heard any idle chatter here, nor did they see any unnecessary movement.
This place was more than just a family residence.
It felt like a clan truly entrusted by Heaven itself.
Lin Yi walked along behind Zhao Yuexin as she led them down a wide avenue. Spirit trees lined the path, their leaves shimmering with a faint, visible frost energy.
Her long white hair swayed gently as she moved, her pace steady, neither too fast nor too slow.
"You caused quite a stir yesterday," she remarked, not bothering to turn around.
"You arrived, then you drew your blade against me, and you even managed to make Elder Zhao personally intervene." Zhao Yuexin continued. "That’s already more excitement than this place usually sees in three months."
Lin Yi simply smiled.
"Then perhaps I should apologize for bringing such life to your home."
Zhao Yuexin finally glanced back at him, a fleeting, faint trace of amusement appearing on her otherwise cold face.
"You truly are shameless."
They soon reached the central region of the estate.
Ahead of them stretched a massive plaza, hundreds of meters across, paved with black stone. Ancient formations had been carved into the ground, radiating a solemn pressure that pressed down on the air. At the far end, nine giant stone pillars rose toward the sky, each one intricately engraved with a different celestial beast.
Above the plaza, two words, formed entirely from spiritual light, hung suspended in the air.
’Qualification Grounds’
Dozens of Zhao Family juniors were already gathered there.
The moment Lin Yi stepped into view, countless gazes immediately landed on him.
Some were simply curious.
Others held open dismissal.
A few were sharp, almost hostile.
A handful even sneered openly.
"So this is the outsider?"
"The level 230 guest?"
"He dares to come to the mountain when he’s under level 250?"
Lin Yi, for his part, ignored them completely.
Zhao Yuexin led him forward toward an elevated platform, where three elders sat behind a long jade desk.
The elder in the middle had snow-white brows that reached almost to his shoulders, and his eyes seemed to glint like frozen blades.
He looked at Lin Yi once.
"Name."
"Xu Mu."
"Age."
"Younger than I look."
Several juniors in the plaza nearly laughed aloud.
The elder’s expression, however, remained completely unchanged.
"Cultivation level."
"230."
This time, the entire plaza erupted into a wave of whispers.
The elder raised one hand, and the murmurs instantly faded into silence.
He looked at Lin Yi once more.
"Do you know the minimum qualification required to attempt Ninefold Heaven Gate Mountain?"
"I know."
"And yet you still came."
Lin Yi nodded.
"I came first. The leveling can be done afterward."
A few disciples scoffed openly.
The elder’s gaze seemed to deepen slightly.
"That’s an interesting answer."
He tapped the desk once. A formation immediately lit up beneath Lin Yi’s feet, scanning his aura.
Moments later, the elder spoke, his voice cold.
"Confirmed. Level 230."
He then declared for everyone present to hear:
"Below the required standard."
The plaza became lively with chatter once more.
"As expected."
"Did he truly believe he could just walk straight in?"
"Such arrogance."
Zhao Yuexin frowned subtly, but she said nothing.
The elder continued, his voice carrying a weight that seemed to settle over the entire plaza. "According to the ancient celestial appointment law, those who seek temporary residence on Tianyuan Star, may do so only if they are directly sponsored by a recognized member of the ruling clans." His gaze, sharp and assessing, then drifted, settling pointedly on Zhao Yuexin.
"It was you who brought this individual here. As such, the full burden of responsibility for his conduct and presence falls squarely upon your shoulders."
Zhao Yuexin, ever composed, acknowledged his words with a subtle dip of her head.
"Understood," she replied.
The elder then shifted his attention, fixing his piercing stare on Lin Yi. "You are hereby granted temporary guest status," he declared, his voice resonating with an unyielding authority, "a privilege that extends for precisely one year." As he spoke, a small, luminous jade token, intricately carved, detached itself from his palm and zipped through the air with surprising speed, arcing directly towards Lin Yi.
Lin Yi’s hand moved with practiced ease, his fingers closing around the surface of the token as it settled securely in his grip. He turned it over, examining the finely etched script that adorned its polished face. The words, clear and precise, confirmed his temporary standing:
’Temporary Residence - 1 Year’
The elder’s voice, now amplifying slightly, carried across the vast expanse of the plaza, reaching every corner where disciples and clan members stood listening.
"During this designated year," he announced, "should you prove capable of reaching Level 250, you may then present yourself again. At that time, you will be eligible to formally register and undertake the first gate trial, a pivotal step towards Ascension." A subtle change in his tone, a hardening that sent a ripple of unease through the gathered crowd, marked his next words. "However, if, after the full year has elapsed, you find yourself still short of this stipulated qualification..."
His eyes narrowed perceptibly, twin slits of stern judgment. "Then, without delay or exception, you will be required to immediately evacuate Tianyuan Star."
Zhao Yuexin, having carefully observed the exchange, moved gracefully to stand beside Lin Yi, her proximity a silent gesture of support.
"Beyond the eastern forest," she began, her voice a low, guiding murmur meant only for him, "there are expansive beast regions, teeming with various creatures. To the north, you’ll find the deep abyss ravines, treacherous but rich with experience. And scattered throughout the western mountain range are ancient spirit ruins, often filled with forgotten treasures and powerful challenges. These locations, though perilous, would likely offer your best chances if your aim is to level up swiftly."
She then turned her head, casting a sidelong glance at him, her expression a mix of pragmatism and veiled concern. "But to advance from Level 230 to Level 250 in a mere single year..." Her voice trailed off, a subtle, undeniable note of doubt weaving through her words, barely concealed despite her usual composure. "That is hardly an easy task, you must understand, even for those truly heralded as genuine geniuses."
Lin Yi, meanwhile, continued to idly turn the cool jade token over and over in his hand, a thoughtful look on his face. "One year?" he mused aloud.
Then, a faint, almost imperceptible laugh escaped him, a sound that seemed utterly out of place in the solemn atmosphere.
"That’s quite generous, indeed," he murmured, his eyes still fixed on the token.
His casual remark, however, struck several nearby disciples like a physical blow. A sudden ripple of indignation stiffened their postures, their faces hardening with outrage.
Generous? The word hung in the air, an insult to their long struggles. Did this newcomer honestly harbor the belief that ascending twenty levels, especially within the arduous pre-ascension stages, was a trifling matter? Did he truly consider it a simple, easily accomplished feat? Their collective disbelief was almost palpable.
One young Zhao disciple, his face contorted with anger, impulsively stepped forward, his voice tight with barely contained fury.
"Arrogant fool!" he spat, his gaze burning with contempt. "Do you even comprehend how many skilled cultivators remain hopelessly trapped at Level 249 for decades, unable to break through that final, insurmountable barrier?"
Lin Yi merely tilted his head slightly, granting the agitated disciple a fleeting, almost detached glance. His response, delivered with an unsettling calm, seemed to float above the fray.
"Then I sincerely hope your future endeavors prove to be more fortunate."
The disciple’s face, already flushed crimson with indignation, deepened to a fiery red. His jaw clenched, and he began to sputter,
"You—!"
"Enough," Zhao Yuexin interjected, her voice cutting through the tense air with a sharp, decisive edge that brooked no argument.
The young disciple, though still seething, instantly retreated, his anger momentarily overridden by his ingrained respect for her authority. Zhao Yuexin then turned her narrowed eyes back to Lin Yi, her usual composure fractured by a flicker of genuine curiosity, perhaps even a hint of challenge.
"You truly believe this will be easy, don’t you?" she pressed, her voice lower now, seeking a real answer.
Lin Yi met her gaze, his own expression serene and unruffled. He answered with the same quiet conviction,
"I think difficulty, at its core, is merely a matter of perspective, nothing more." He gestured vaguely with the hand still holding the jade token. "To some people, a formidable mountain simply appears as an insurmountable obstacle, blocking their path entirely." His gaze sharpened slightly, a deeper understanding dawning in his eyes. "But to others, that very same mountain only serves to mark the very beginning of their climb, a challenge that promises growth and new horizons."
Even the elders, who had maintained their impassive expressions throughout the exchange, looked at him for a long moment, their collective faces remaining utterly unreadable, their thoughts carefully concealed. Finally, the middle elder, a figure of ancient wisdom, slowly closed his eyes, a silent gesture that signaled the end of the audience.
"Take him away," he murmured, his voice soft but absolute.
Zhao Yuexin let out a quiet, almost imperceptible exhale, a small release of tension.
"Come," she said, her voice regaining its customary, practical tone. "I’ll personally guide you to the eastern hunting grounds. It’s best you start there."
Lin Yi, without another word, turned and followed her, his stride even and unhurried, as they departed from the bustling plaza.
As the crowd watched his retreating back, a low murmur instantly swelled, quickly erupting into a clamor of discussions.
"He’s insane," someone muttered, shaking their head in disbelief.
"He’ll be dead in a month, for sure," another voice predicted with grim certainty.
But a different perspective emerged from the throng.
"No... people who speak with such unwavering confidence usually have something truly solid backing them up," a more thoughtful voice interjected, sparking further debate.
Far above the plaza, nestled almost imperceptibly among the wisps of drifting clouds, an old man remained utterly still, observing the scene in profound silence. His ancient gaze, piercing and unwavering, remained fixed on Lin Yi’s diminishing figure until it was no longer visible.
Then, a faint, almost inaudible murmur escaped his lips. "One year?" he whispered, the question hanging in the ethereal air around him.
A strange, slow smile, a peculiar mix of amusement and profound anticipation, began to spread across his aged face, crinkling the corners of his eyes "I wonder," he mused, the words barely a breath, "if even Tianyuan Star itself will ultimately prove to be enough for you."
Far below, seemingly oblivious to the scrutiny from the heavens, Lin Yi continued his journey toward the formidable beast territories, his steps steady and unwavering, each one purposeful and resolved. Inside the depths of his eyes, no trace of hesitation could be found, no flicker of doubt or fear. Instead, they glowed with a singular, intense emotion: pure, unadulterated anticipation.