The morning sun had yet to rise.
However, the Ye Clan was already awake.
Today was no ordinary day.
Today was the annual clan examination.
For the younger generation, it was the most important event of the year.
Many disciples had spent months preparing for this moment.
Some hoped to gain recognition.
Some hoped to obtain cultivation resources.
Others simply wished to prove themselves.
Ye Fu stood outside his family's residence, staring toward the center of the clan.
His stomach felt strangely tight.
"Are you nervous?"
A voice sounded beside him.
Ye Fu turned his head.
His mother was smiling gently.
"A little."
"A little?"
A familiar laugh sounded nearby.
Ye Luo appeared carrying a meat bun in one hand and a roasted chicken leg in the other.
Ye Fu stared.
"Brother…"
"What?"
"It's still early."
Ye Luo took another bite.
"Cultivators need energy."
Ye Fu immediately gave up arguing.
His mother laughed softly.
For a brief moment, the nervousness in his heart eased.
Soon, the family began walking toward the examination grounds.
Along the way, countless disciples could be seen heading in the same direction.
The atmosphere was lively.
Some disciples were discussing their chances.
Others were boasting confidently.
As they approached the central square, Ye Fu noticed something unusual.
Several large carriages stood near the entrance.
They did not belong to the Ye Clan.
Groups of unfamiliar youths were gathered nearby.
Their clothing was similar to ordinary cultivators.
Yet there were subtle differences.
Some carried silver badges.
Others wore jade ornaments.
A few possessed an air of confidence that immediately distinguished them from ordinary disciples.
Ye Fu quietly observed them.
"Who are they?"
Ye Luo glanced over.
"Guest clans."
"Guest clans?"
"They come to observe every year."
Ye Fu was surprised.
The Ye Clan actually invited outsiders?
Before he could ask more questions, several disciples nearby began whispering.
"The White Bear Clan has arrived."
"I heard they're much stronger than us."
"Look over there."
"That's someone from the Silver Viper Clan."
Ye Fu followed their gaze.
A group of youths stood together.
Their expressions were calm.
Their eyes seemed to observe everything around them.
For some reason, Ye Fu felt uncomfortable under their gaze.
It was as if they were evaluating everyone present.
Suddenly, another commotion erupted.
"The main branch is here!"
The crowd immediately parted.
Several young disciples walked forward confidently.
At their center was Ye Ming.
His expression remained calm.
Yet the admiration in the surrounding crowd was obvious.
Some disciples looked at him with envy.
Others with respect.
Ye Fu silently watched.
The gap between them still felt enormous.
Ye Ming's gaze swept across the crowd.
For a brief moment, his eyes landed on Ye Fu.
Then moved away.
As though he wasn't worth remembering.
Ye Fu clenched his fists.
Beside him, Ye Luo suddenly spoke.
"Don't compare yourself to him."
Ye Fu looked up.
His elder brother had somehow noticed what he was thinking.
Ye Luo took another bite of his food.
"People spend so much time staring at the mountain."
"They forget to walk their own path."
Ye Fu remained silent.
Then slowly nodded.
At that moment, a loud bell rang throughout the clan.
Dong!
Dong!
Dong!
The conversations immediately stopped.
Every disciple turned toward the grand platform.
One by one, the clan elders began taking their seats.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The examination was about to begin.
Ye Fu took a deep breath.
This was the moment he had prepared for.
Whether he succeeded or failed…
Everything would begin today.
And somewhere among the crowd of visiting clans, several pairs of eyes had already begun paying attention to the younger generation of the Ye Clan.
The storm was coming.
And none of the youths present knew that their lives were about to change.
Dong!
Dong!
Dong!
The final bell echoed across the clan grounds.
The bustling crowd gradually fell silent.
Even the visiting clans stopped their conversations.
All eyes turned toward the grand platform.
One after another, the elders of the Ye Clan took their seats.
Their expressions were solemn.
Their gazes swept across the younger generation gathered below.
For many disciples, this examination would determine their future standing within the clan.
Soon, a powerful figure appeared.
The crowd immediately straightened their backs.
"The Patriarch!"
Ye Fu looked up.
At the center of the platform stood a tall elderly man dressed in dark robes embroidered with silver patterns.
His white hair flowed down his back.
Though he looked old, his posture was as straight as a spear.
The moment he appeared, an invisible pressure seemed to fill the arena.
This was Ye Shan.
The Patriarch of the Ye Clan.
The strongest cultivator within the clan.
At least, the strongest that Ye Fu had ever seen.
Even the visiting clan elders nodded respectfully toward him.
The Patriarch slowly sat down.
Only then did everyone breathe easier.
Ye Fu couldn't help but stare.
Beside him, Ye Luo yawned.
"Brother."
"Hm?"
"How strong is the Patriarch?"
Ye Luo scratched his cheek.
"No idea."
Ye Fu blinked.
"You don't know?"
"No."
Ye Luo shrugged.
"I've never asked."
Ye Fu almost choked.
How could someone not be curious about something like that?
Fortunately, another voice answered.
"The Patriarch is in the Spirit Manifestation Realm."
The voice belonged to their father.
Ye Fu immediately turned around.
His father and mother had taken seats among the spectators.
His father's eyes remained fixed on the platform.
"But…" his father continued, "that doesn't mean he's invincible."
Ye Fu frowned.
The strongest person in the clan wasn't invincible?
Seeing his confusion, his father smiled.
"Fu'er."
"The world is much larger than the Ye Clan."
Ye Fu remembered Elder Han's lessons.
The White Bear Clan.
The Silver Viper Clan.
The Thunder Eagle lineage.
Compared to them…
The Ye Clan was merely a small clan within a small city.
For the first time, Ye Fu truly felt the vastness of the world.
Suddenly, an elder stepped forward.
His voice boomed across the arena.
"Welcome, everyone."
"Today marks the beginning of our annual examination."
A wave of excitement swept through the younger generation.
Many disciples clenched their fists.
Others tried to calm their breathing.
This was their chance.
Their opportunity to prove themselves.
The elder continued.
"As always, the examination shall consist of three stages."
"The first stage will test your foundation."
"The second stage will test your combat ability."
"The third stage will determine the final rankings."
Immediately, discussions erupted.
Some disciples looked confident.
Others became nervous.
Ye Fu felt his heartbeat quicken.
Three stages.
He had prepared.
Yet he still couldn't help feeling anxious.
Beside him, Ye Luo had somehow found another meat bun.
Ye Fu stared.
"Brother…"
"What?"
"When did you buy that?"
Ye Luo looked confused.
"I prepared it before coming."
Ye Fu suddenly understood.
His brother had been planning his snacks more carefully than the examination.
A chuckle sounded nearby.
Several disciples from the main branch had overheard them.
One of them smirked.
"Only Ye Luo would think about food during the examination."
The others laughed.
Ye Fu's expression darkened.
However, Ye Luo simply smiled.
He took another bite.
As though he hadn't heard a thing.
The disciples eventually lost interest and turned away.
But one of them whispered loudly enough for nearby people to hear.
"Like father, like sons."
"None of them will ever amount to much."
For a brief moment, silence filled the area around Ye Fu.
His fists tightened.
The familiar anger rose within his chest.
Yet before he could react, a large hand landed on his shoulder.
Ye Luo.
His elder brother was still chewing calmly.
"Ignore them."
Ye Fu lowered his head.
"But—"
"Do you know why dogs bark?"
Ye Fu blinked.
"What?"
"They bark because they want attention."
Ye Luo grinned.
"If you stop every time a dog barks, you'll never reach your destination."
Ye Fu couldn't help laughing.
The anger in his heart eased slightly.
At that moment, another figure caught Ye Fu's attention.
A young man stood beside one of the visiting elders.
He appeared no older than sixteen.
His clothing was simple.
No expensive ornaments.
No flashy symbols.
Yet nobody dared approach him.
Even the disciples of the White Bear Clan seemed cautious around him.
The young man's gaze casually swept across the arena.
For a brief moment…
His eyes landed on Ye Fu.
Then moved on.
It lasted only a second.
Yet Ye Fu felt as though he had been examined from head to toe.
A strange chill ran down his spine.
"Who is that?"
Ye Fu asked quietly.
This time, even Ye Luo's expression became serious.
"I don't know."
"But whoever he is…"
"He isn't ordinary."
Far above them, the Patriarch slowly rose from his seat.
The arena immediately fell silent.
The examination was finally about to begin.