Chapter 61: The Five Exempted Participants

That day, the sky was clear and boundless, without a single cloud in sight. Warm sunlight bathed the land, and a cool breeze drifted through the streets, leaving people refreshed and content.

On ordinary days, the citizens of Fengyue City would set out chairs, bask in the sun, or go about their daily routines.

But today was different.

No one stayed home. No one lingered idly.

Instead, the entire city surged toward one place.

Wushuang Square.

Today was the qualification test for the Western Mansion branch.

Wushuang Square lay at the very heart of Fengyue City, covering thousands of acres and capable of holding tens of thousands of people. At its center stood a massive arena, surrounded by tiered seating for spectators. Above it all rose a high platform, reserved exclusively for those of status and authority.

At this moment, the square was packed to the brim.

Warriors, young talents, common citizens, and noble figures all gathered, buzzing with excitement.

The Western Mansion qualification test was the grandest event in the city. Everyone wanted to know which young warriors would earn the right to advance to the main event.

Passing the qualification test meant a chance to enter the Western Mansion headquarters. Passing the entrance exam there meant stepping into the center of power of the Western Region. It was a path to glory, influence, and a future beyond imagination.

As per tradition, the examiner sent by the Western Mansion inner府 would first deliver a speech before officially commencing the test.

Atop the high platform, Wang Zongyao stood tall, gazing down at the sea of people below.

He cleared his throat.

The qualification test was about to begin.

A total of 1,236 people participated in the Fengyue City qualification test this year. Among the many subsidiary cities under Fengyue City’s jurisdiction, this number could already be considered grand.

Among these participants were the outstanding disciples of the twenty-five major families of Fengyue City, young elites from smaller sects, and countless independent warriors carrying dreams of rising through Western Mansion.

At this moment, apart from the spectators filling the outer stands, the more than one thousand figures standing on the vast central arena were precisely the young geniuses competing in this qualification test.

From among them, only twenty people would earn the right to represent Fengyue City’s younger generation under the age of twenty and advance to the Western Mansion headquarters for the entrance examination.

A brutal elimination rate of over ninety-nine percent.

This alone was enough to show how cruel this competition truly was.

But if one could seize that single chance and step into Western Mansion, then they would become the pride of Fengyue City, the hope of an entire generation.

Standing atop the high platform, Wang Zongyao looked down upon the sea of people below. His posture was upright, his aura vast, and a faint smile lingered on his face.

His mood was excellent.

Not only because he served as the examiner for this qualification test, nor merely because he could personally witness the rise of many young talents, but also because among them stood Ryan.

A peerless genius rarely seen in a century.

Wang Zongyao’s gaze drifted toward the crowd.

There.

Ryan had already arrived at the arena.

Although he did not participate in the first and second rounds, regulations required him to be present on-site from the beginning.

Standing among the dense crowd, Ryan was like a crane among chickens. His bearing was calm, his temperament extraordinary. Even without deliberately seeking him out, one’s eyes would naturally fall upon him.

Wang Zongyao nodded inwardly in satisfaction.

“I hereby announce,” Wang Zongyao then said loudly, smiling as he raised his hand, “the Fengyue City Western Mansion Qualification Test officially begins!”

A wave of cheers erupted across Wushuang Square.

Wang Zongyao pressed his palm downward, and the noise quickly subsided.

“Before the first round begins,” he continued, “I will call out several names. Those whose names are called, please raise your hands and step forward. These individuals will skip the first and second rounds and directly enter the third round.”

The moment these words fell, the entire square exploded into uproar.

However, this rule was not unfamiliar.

Every year, Western Mansion would reserve a small number of seed participants, those whose strength had already been acknowledged. These individuals were exempt from preliminary testing and allowed to directly participate in the final round.

Being selected was not only proof of ability but also a form of recognition from Western Mansion itself.

It was an honor.

The discussions gradually died down as everyone turned their attention back to the high platform, eager to learn who these fortunate individuals would be.

“Fan Wei.”

Wang Zongyao read out the first name.

“Here!”

A young man responded loudly and strode forward. He held his head high, his expression confident and proud.

He had sharp eyebrows, handsome features, and an outstanding temperament. The moment he appeared, cheers erupted from the stands.

“Fan Wei! Fan Wei! Fan Wei!”

“Go, Fifth Young Master!”

“Fifth Young Master, I want to marry you!”

“I knew Fifth Young Master Fan would be exempted. With his strength, entering Western Mansion is only a matter of time!”

The discussions rippled outward like waves.

“This is Fan Wei, the fifth son of the Fan Clan. He really does look impressive.”

“His cultivation has already reached the Upper Elite level. No wonder he was exempted.”

“I heard he admires Zhu Yin, the precious daughter of Lord Zhu. Only someone like her is worthy of him.”

Praise, envy, admiration—Fan Wei instantly became the center of attention.

“Yuan Qiong.”

The second name rang out.

Another young man stepped forward calmly. Though his appearance was not as striking as Fan Wei’s, his expression was steady and resolute. His cultivation had also long since entered the Upper Elite realm.

“Su Sidao.”

“Mu Xianling.”

The third and fourth names followed.

Su Sidao, the foremost genius of the Su Clan’s younger generation, had already reached the Upper Elite level before the age of eighteen, leaving others of his clan far behind.

Mu Xianling, a disciple of the Mu family, was the only woman among the four. Her beauty was elegant and refined, carrying a faint, ethereal grace that set her apart.

Three men and one woman stood side by side, each with outstanding presence.

Every one of them was a well-known young genius. Their names alone were enough to stir recognition across Fengyue City.

Then, Wang Zongyao spoke the fifth name.

A name unlike the others.

“Li Wei.”

The moment the name was announced, before Ryan even stepped forward, the square erupted into chaos.

“What? Li Wei?”

“Did I hear that right?”

“Li Wei… from the Li Clan?”

“You mean that Li Wei?”

“In Fengyue City, there’s only one Li Clan… and only one Li Wei!”

“Isn’t he the waste who couldn’t cultivate?”

“How could he possibly be exempted?”

“Shady business!”

“This has to be unfair!”

Voices of shock, disbelief, ridicule, and suspicion surged like a tidal wave.

Amidst the uproar, Ryan calmly stepped out from the crowd.

He walked forward with an unhurried pace and stood beside Fan Wei and the others.

Five figures in a line.

At that moment, Ryan stood tall in the arena, his expression tranquil, his posture straight.

Ignoring the countless gazes filled with doubt and astonishment, he simply stood there.

Unmoved.

“Really… Li Wei of the Li Clan?”

“My heavens, this is the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever seen.”

“A waste who couldn’t cultivate actually gets an exemption? Is this a joke?”

“Shady! Absolutely shady! I don’t accept this!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep