He Xuting had always considered himself the number one genius of the Liuyun Kingdom’s Soul Master Tower. He was already quite displeased that Ye Xuan had made him wait for over half a month, but his anger truly exploded after seeing how close Ye Xuan and Yun Aoxue were. That was why he feigned a desire to get to know Ye Xuan, intending to cause him some public embarrassment.

But he hadn’t expected Ye Xuan’s words to be so sharp, instantly tearing through his pretense. Unable to hold back any longer, He Xuting revealed his true colors.

"What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Are you playing dead, or do you have nothing to say? Our Soul Master Tower may not have countless First Grade Soul Refiners, but we have at least a dozen or two, many of whom are at the Peak of First Grade. Yet somehow, you—someone who only reached First Grade a little over a year ago—got the slot. Who would believe there’s nothing fishy going on?"

He Xuting sneered relentlessly. Others wouldn’t dare say such things, but as the Soul Master Tower’s number one genius and the vice president’s son, he spoke without the slightest hesitation.

"He Xuting, what nonsense are you spouting?" Yun Aoxue snapped angrily.

"Aoxue, I’m merely concerned about the fairness of the slot distribution for the Floating Light Assembly. Of course, you’re a Second Grade Soul Refiner, so I’m certainly not suspicious of you. I’m just talking about certain people who don’t take the proper path and insist on using back-door connections. I wonder if he has the guts to accept my challenge." Unwilling to back down, He Xuting let out another cold laugh, his tone aggressive and overbearing.

In an instant, all the Soul Refiners in the Soul Master Tower’s main hall gathered around, watching the scene and whispering among themselves, their hearts thumping with excitement.

Although Ye Xuan’s reputation had recently soared in the Royal City, the slots for the Floating Light Assembly concerned the personal interests of every Soul Refiner. Seeing He Xuting actually challenge Ye Xuan set them all abuzz with excitement.

"That’s right! If you’ve got what it takes, then accept He Xuting’s challenge!"

"The slots for the Floating Light Assembly determine our Liuyun Kingdom’s standing in the Thirteen Nations Alliance and, more importantly, our eligibility to enter the Floating Light Secret Realm! The chosen representatives must be the best our kingdom has to offer. If someone tries to get a slot through connections, it’s not just about whose interests are harmed—it’s a huge detriment to the Liuyun Kingdom’s overall interests. It’s a cancerous blight!"

"Well said! He Xuting is our Soul Master Tower’s number one genius, a Soul Refiner at the Peak of Second Grade. If he’s the one testing him, we’ll all trust the result."

With He Xuting leading the charge, the Soul Refiners who were initially dissatisfied with Ye Xuan but didn’t dare speak up all started to join in the clamor.

"He Xuting, although it hasn’t been long since Ye Xuan became a First Grade Soul Refiner, since the President and the others chose him as one of the five geniuses, he must have his own unique strengths. I don’t think this test is necessary."

Just then, a man in a white robe stepped forward, smiled faintly at Ye Xuan, and spoke in a hearty voice.

"Xie Jintang, you’re speaking up for him too?" Seeing this man, He Xuting frowned and barked, "Before Yun Aoxue’s breakthrough, Xie Jintang was the only other Second Grade Soul Refiner under twenty-five in the Soul Master Tower besides me. Naturally, he was also one of the five chosen representatives."

"I’m not speaking for anyone in particular. I just feel that no matter who the President and the others chose, we should trust their judgment."

"Empty words." He Xuting gave a cold smile. "Xie Jintang, don’t try to pin that on me. I, He Xuting, don’t distrust the President’s decision. I just see that this person is so young and want to test his attainments as a Soul Refiner. After all, we’ll be representing the Liuyun Kingdom together. We should at least have some understanding of our comrades’ strength. Is that not allowed?"

Seeing someone stand up for Ye Xuan, He Xuting immediately changed his tune, his words now watertight and leaving no room for rebuttal.

At the same time, his gaze shifted to another young Soul Refiner standing nearby. "Junior Brother Li Wanpeng, wouldn’t you agree?"

This person was named Li Wanpeng, another of the five representatives chosen by the Soul Master Tower. He was twenty-two years old, a First Layer Earth Martial Artist, and a Soul Refiner at the Peak of First Grade.

Li Wanpeng hadn’t wanted to get involved in this conflict. When he saw He Xuting look his way, he inwardly cried out in alarm. It was too late to avoid it. Hearing He Xuting’s question, he could only step forward and say with great reluctance, "He Xuting is right, of course. We all know each other well, but Ye Xuan doesn’t frequent the Soul Master Tower, so we’re not as familiar with him. It’s good to get to know each other. It’s just that... since he was chosen by the President and the others, I’m sure there’s no problem."

Li Wanpeng stammered, trying his best not to offend either side.

He Xuting shot Li Wanpeng a cold glance before turning back to Ye Xuan with a sneer. "So, what do you say, Brother Ye Xuan? How about a simple contest, just to convince everyone?"

SWISH! All eyes instantly focused on Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan frowned and was about to speak when the crowd at the back of the hall suddenly parted. A commotion arose, followed by a majestic voice from behind. "What’s going on? Why is everyone blocking the way?"

The crowd parted to reveal an imposing-looking elder. It was none other than the President of the Soul Master Tower, Dongfang Yanyu. Behind him were the two vice presidents, Kuchen and He Zhen, followed by a large entourage of elders, creating a grand and imposing procession.

The Floating Light Assembly was a grand ceremony held once every decade by the Thirteen Nations Alliance. With divisions for both seasoned experts and young geniuses, it was the most prestigious competition for the Soul Refiners of the Alliance.

As such, the top Soul Refiners from the Liuyun Kingdom’s Soul Master Tower would travel to the venue to compete against the many Soul Refiners of the Thirteen Nations Alliance.

The Liuyun Kingdom had five slots for the expert group, all filled by the most elite figures in the Soul Master Tower. The team leader was naturally the current president, Master Dongfang Yanyu. Vice President Kuchen and Vice President He Zhen each took a slot as well. The remaining two slots were given to the two most senior elders in the Soul Master Tower. Both were Soul Refiners at the Peak of Third Grade, ranked among the very best in the tower and on par with Elder Kuchen before his breakthrough.

These were all high-ranking members of the Soul Master Tower who usually secluded themselves in cultivation. Ordinary Soul Refiners rarely ever saw them. Their sudden appearance together caused an immediate stir, and nearly all the Soul Refiners hurried over to bow respectfully.

"What is going on here?" President Dongfang Yanyu’s voice was cold and severe as he noticed Ye Xuan surrounded by the crowd. His sharp gaze swept over everyone, sending a chill down their spines. Then, he walked a few steps over to Ye Xuan, and his face, which had been as cold as ice, immediately blossomed into a smile. "Master Ye Xuan, you’ve arrived."

"Haha, Young Friend Ye Xuan, you’re here quite early!" Kuchen went up and gave him an enthusiastic hug.

"You must be Master Ye Xuan. It’s true what they say: heroes often emerge from the young." It was Vice President He Zhen’s first time meeting Ye Xuan, yet he also approached with a warm, flowery smile and initiated a friendly conversation.

"Master Ye Xuan, we’ve kept you waiting."

"We are ashamed to have made you wait here, Master."

The other elders of the Soul Master Tower also spoke, one after another, their voices full of warmth.

As high-ranking members of the Soul Master Tower, they were all privy to inside information. They knew Ye Xuan had cured His Majesty Zhao Jing of a chronic illness that had been untreatable for years, proving he was an incredibly powerful Alchemist. Furthermore, Elder Kuchen’s breakthrough was inextricably linked to Ye Xuan. What was even more astonishing was that Elder Kuchen, who frequently discussed things with Ye Xuan, was making daily strides in his understanding of Soul Refining. Although he had only broken through to the Fourth Grade a year ago, the techniques he displayed were already nearly on par with President Dongfang Yanyu. This made all the other elders burn with envy, each one hoping to get on good terms with Ye Xuan in order to improve their own Soul Refining skills.

And so, each one tried to outdo the other in enthusiasm, with hugs and handshakes all around.

This scene left every Soul Refiner present completely dumbfounded, their expressions frozen in shock.

’What is wrong with the elders today?’ 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

It wasn’t that the Soul Refiners present hadn’t heard of Ye Xuan. He seemed to have an excellent relationship with the royal family and was particularly close with a certain Prince. But as Soul Refiners, the noblest profession on the Celestial Profound Continent, these elders were all powerful and influential figures in their own right. They would maintain their pride even when meeting a Prince, so why were they being so incredibly warm toward Ye Xuan?

What shocked them most was the behavior of Vice President He Zhen. He was known for being impartial and incorruptible, earning him the nickname "Cold-faced Judge" in the Soul Master Tower. Any Soul Refiner who broke the rules would be severely punished without fail. As a result, nearly every Soul Refiner in the tower both feared and respected him. In everyone’s memory, He Zhen had never smiled. To see him flash such a warm, welcoming smile at Ye Xuan left them all stunned.

The person who knew He Zhen best was, of course, his son, He Xuting. Seeing the smile on his father’s face, He Xuting felt a faint sense of foreboding.

After a round of pleasantries.

"Now then, what exactly was everyone crowded around here for?"

President Dongfang Yanyu’s gaze swept over the many Soul Refiners as he repeated his earlier question.

This time, none of the Soul Refiners dared to say a word. They just stared at each other, rendered completely mute.

"President Dongfang Yanyu, it’s like this..." Seeing the situation, Yun Aoxue was about to explain, but Ye Xuan stopped her. He then said with a faint smile, "President Dongfang Yanyu, it seems the Soul Refiners here don’t approve of me getting a slot for the Floating Light Assembly. They all want to test me. I’ve thought about it, and since it hasn’t been long since I qualified as a First Grade Soul Refiner, it might be better to give my slot to one of the Soul Master Tower’s other elites. That way, I can also have some peace and quiet."

Ye Xuan said this casually, as if it were nothing.

"How can we do that?!" The moment Ye Xuan’s words fell, President Dongfang Yanyu grew anxious. He spoke hurriedly, then his expression darkened as his gaze swept across the crowd in the hall. "Who was it just now?" he boomed. "Who was dissatisfied with the slot allocation and said they wanted to test Master Ye Xuan? Step forward for me now!"