"What a bustling city!"

Fang Han’s gaze swept over the lavishly decorated weapons shops, the Pill Pavilions wafting the fragrance of herbs, and the bookstores displaying all sorts of Martial Arts Secret Manuals, and he couldn’t help but marvel.

Even the best shops in Liangshui City seemed utterly plain in comparison.

It reminded him of the great metropolises from his past life.

Liangshui City was like a small town from his past life, whereas Qingxuan City was a true metropolis.

"This is my third time in Qingxuan City, yet I’m still struck by its prosperity."

Fang Lingyuan remarked, equally impressed.

The two strolled along, passing through several bustling streets and alleyways and encountering many novelties.

Fang Lingyuan would occasionally point things out, describing some of Qingxuan City’s unique attractions or recounting strange tales from around the prefecture. The atmosphere lightened considerably.

As they reached a district specializing in exquisite crafts and various curios, Fang Han slowed his pace.

He thought of his parents and younger sister back home. He especially remembered his sister, Fang Ying, and the way her eyes would sparkle in anticipation of candy. His heart stirred, and he decided to buy them some gifts.

He entered a rather elegant-looking shop. Inside, it displayed many delicate trinkets, high-quality cosmetics, and specialty pastries and dried goods unique to Qingxuan City.

After careful consideration, Fang Han selected a box of fine cosmetics for his mother and a set of high-quality ink and brushes for his father. He also had the shopkeeper weigh out several types of adorable, well-made candies and pastries for his little sister.

’I have to say, prices in Qingxuan City are genuinely steep.’

He had poured his entire year-end bonus and profit share into the system panel. Thankfully, he’d received a good amount of gift money over the new year; otherwise, he would have had to borrow from the Patriarch.

After paying, he walked out of the shop with his wrapped gifts.

He saw Fang Lingyuan, who had been waiting by the street with his hands clasped behind his back, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

His sharp gaze was fixed on the surging crowd at the opposite street corner, as if he had spotted something.

"Patriarch, what’s wrong?" Fang Han asked in a low voice as he approached.

"It’s nothing. I thought I glimpsed a familiar figure, but with this chaotic crowd, it was just for a second. I was probably mistaken."

Fang Lingyuan withdrew his gaze and slowly shook his head, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Though his words were dismissive, Fang Han keenly sensed that the previously relaxed air around Fang Lingyuan had quietly become alert.

This small incident seemed to have put the experienced Patriarch of the Fang Family on alert.

"Now that you’ve bought the gifts, let’s head back."

Fang Lingyuan said to Fang Han, no longer in the mood to browse.

"Yes," Fang Han replied with a nod.

Without further delay, the two returned directly to the Keyunlai Inn.

For the next few days, Fang Han did not go out again. He remained in his room, focusing on his cultivation and suppressing the deep-seated anxiety that came with waiting.

’My cultivation can’t slacken. Even if I don’t pass the assessment, I would never abandon the Martial Dao because of it.’

’With the system panel, I’m confident I can reach the pinnacle of the Martial Dao even if I can’t join the Qingxuan Sect.’

’The path would just be far more arduous and winding than if I joined the Qingxuan Sect.’

Time finally trickled by during the long wait.

「On the morning of the third day」

Before dawn, the wide official road outside Qingxuan City leading to Qingxuan Mountain was already thrumming with the rumble of carriages and a constant stream of people.

Almost every young man and woman who had participated in the assessment, accompanied by their elders, was heading back to the Qingxuan Sect with hearts full of nervousness and anticipation.

Fang Han and Fang Lingyuan rode in a carriage, following the massive procession until they arrived at the huge Bluestone Plaza at the foot of Qingxuan Mountain.

The atmosphere in the plaza today was even heavier than on the day of the assessment.

Over a thousand people were gathered there, yet it was exceptionally quiet. The only sounds were those of suppressed breathing and the occasional clatter of hooves.

All eyes were fixed on the mountain gate of the Qingxuan Sect.

Fang Han stood silently beside the carriage, his gaze fixed straight ahead and his expression serene. Only the slight press of his lips betrayed his inner turmoil.

Fang Lingyuan stood beside him, hands clasped behind his back, his posture as straight as a pine. He appeared composed, but the occasional glance he cast toward the mountain gate betrayed an unconcealable nervousness.

After a wait of about two hours, just as the rising sun bathed the plaza in golden light, figures finally emerged from the massive mountain gate.

Leading them was the solemn-faced White Hair Elder.

Behind him, two young disciples worked together to carry a huge roll of white fabric, made of some unknown material. They walked with steady steps to a notice board that had been erected at the front of the plaza.

"Post the list."

The White Hair Elder’s gaze swept over the silent crowd below. Without another word, he gave a slight nod.

The two disciples immediately and deftly unrolled the massive scroll, securing it firmly to the notice board.

The first thing everyone saw were five powerful, inky words: "Qingxuan Sect Entry-Level Disciple Roster."

Below it were the names of the one hundred young men and women who had passed the assessment.

The once-silent plaza instantly erupted, like water thrown into a pan of boiling oil.

The crowd surged forward like a tide, everyone desperate to find their own name—or that of a loved one—among the one hundred listed.

"Let me see!"

"I found it! I found it! HAHAHA!"

"Dad! I passed! I passed!"

"How could... My name’s not on it... Why isn’t my name on it..."

Ecstatic cheers, choked sobs of excitement, dazed mumbling, and cries of utter disbelief...

All these sounds mingled together, the full spectrum of human emotion on display in the plaza.

"Fang Han, let’s go."

Fang Lingyuan said in a low voice, a hint of barely perceptible tension within it.

Fang Han took a deep breath and moved forward with Fang Lingyuan, swept along by the crowd.

His heart began to pound uncontrollably. His eyes locked onto the massive list, and he quickly scanned it from the very first name, line by line.

Each name represented a lucky soul who had ascended to the heavens in a single bound, entering the transcendent power countless people could only dream of, a carp that had leaped over the dragon gate.

Fang Han’s eyes flew past the names, some unfamiliar, others vaguely recognizable.

He saw the cold, black-robed youth, Li Feng; the young woman in the pale yellow dress, Huang Ling’er; and the girl with the purple veil, Yun Qianyue...

As expected, their names were on the list.

As his eyes moved down, the number of remaining names dwindled, and Fang Han’s heart began to sink.

’Could it be...?’

Just as he was about to reach the end of the list, his hope dwindling, his gaze suddenly locked onto one of the last few lines.

"Fang Han, Token 421, from the Fang Family of Liangshui City."

’I found it!’

An indescribable, overwhelming wave of elation erupted like a volcano, instantly washing away all his nervousness and apprehension, and sweeping through his entire being.

He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. His chest heaved violently a few times as he barely managed to suppress the triumphant shout that threatened to erupt from his throat.

He turned to Fang Lingyuan, his eyes shining with uncontrollable excitement.

"Patriarch, I... I passed!"

At almost the exact same moment, Fang Lingyuan spotted Fang Han’s name as well.

At that moment, the usual stern expression on the Patriarch of the Fang Family’s face melted away like ice in the sun, and an unprecedented light of relief and joy burst forth from the depths of his eyes.

He clapped Fang Han firmly on the shoulder, his voice carrying an almost imperceptible tremor.

"Fang Han, you did it! The Fang Family finally has someone who has leaped over the dragon gate and successfully joined the Qingxuan Sect!"

At that moment, a hundred emotions welled up in his heart. It was as if he could already see the Fang Family flourishing for decades to come.

However, at the edge of the bustling plaza, a place filled with both joy and despair, the curtain of a seemingly ordinary carriage in an inconspicuous corner was gently lifted.

Inside the carriage, two pairs of cold eyes were fixed on the two ecstatic members of the Fang Family standing before the notice board.

One of them wore the blue, cloud-patterned robes of a Qingxuan Sect Disciple, his face holding the reserved arrogance befitting his status. It was none other than Zhao Qianjun, the disciple the Lin Family had paid a fortune to connect with.

And the other person was, shockingly, the man who should have been back in Liangshui City—Patriarch Lin, Lin Yaotian!