Chapter 47 (2/2)

…

Countless voices of discussions echoed through the entire area after five minutes of endless applause.

At that very moment, the extremely handsome young lad had an inhumanly bitter look on his face. His gaze was filled with extreme sinister and malicious intent. It was almost as if Zhou Yan’s display of power had completely derailed his plans.

At the same time, that young lass clad in a green dress twitched her eyebrows. Her expression was inhumanly cold as she stared at Zhou Yan—her gaze seemed extremely complicated.

The only person without a reaction was the elder from the main branch of the Zhou family. He did not seem bothered by any of the discussions from the crowd of spectators.

It was only after these people had been silenced that he began to speak.

“Zhou Yan, have you any idea what rules are?”

The elder spoke in a cold tone and every sound from the waves of discussion was instantly and completely silenced.

Everyone’s focus was on Zhou Yan.

“As your pupil, I understand, but I do think that natural gifts trump any rules!”

Zhou Yan felt a slight twitch in his heart as he knew this elder from the main branch of his family was challenging him once more.

He was also hit by a sudden wave of realization that to enter the main branch of his family would be an extremely difficult thing to do!

Zhou Yan was uncertain of what the exact reasons were for these people to relentlessly stand in his way. He was puzzled.

However, since the young lad had come this far, he had no fear left in him even though the path ahead of him was an endless deep abyss. He would still take a leap of faith since his father was there, and his father’s ‘final wishes’ had also instructed him to go there!

Zhou Yan knew nothing about a sword named ‘Heaven-Fiend Blade’, but his father had stressed its importance to retrieve this sword from the main branch of his family. Hence, the young lad would do everything in his power to enter the main branch!

“Such an immature train of thought! You’ve already committed an act of insolence toward your elders. This time, the rules were clear. All you had to do was present what you’ve learned and demonstrate it in a hidden swordplay alchemy that I’ve set. Only the final presentation would you show your skills on the podium for all to witness!

“This test is done within my Blade’s Realm, and everyone can witness it. Cheating would be impossible!

“You’ve demonstrated your sword skill, but this would allow some people to seize the opportunity to gain some guidance from your display. Even if they initially grasped four principles, perhaps in a brief moment, they would’ve been enlightened to six different principles. Hence, even after they’ve demonstrated their sword skills, they would’ve mastered six forms under my swordplay alchemy’s records.

“Without taking the sword skill into account, this would greatly benefit their enlightenment ability!

“Your single action has ruined the fairness of this test. It isn’t fair for the other minor branches of our family.

“Hence, the results from your test of enlightenment would be disqualified! Are you willing to accept this verdict?!”

The elder had spoken with majesty, and the displeased and bitter expressions from the faces of the couple who were standing by his side had morphed into a completely delightful and satisfied one.

Zhou Yan knew in that instant thay this was deliberately done to target him once more!

The only thing was, both Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao were made a complete fool to pretend to be his father’s children.

Zhou Yan had a slight frown, but it was also in that instant he came to realize perhaps this elder was aware of this debacle and had pretended to remain oblivious. If Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao entered the main branch of his family, and since they were not the legitimate children of Zhou Wangchen, they would not cause any problems with Zhou Yuntian. Were all of these concerns deliberately taken into account for Zhou Yuntian’s sake? Thus, preventing Zhou Yuntian from being shamed?

It was the only logical reason the young lad knew. Other than that, Zhou Yan was unable to think of any other reasons for such an action.

However, although things had progressed to such an extent, Zhou Yan was not even the slightest bit bothered by it.

The heavens and the earth would be the greatest witness to his unprecedented ability to gain enlightenment. Even though the score for this test was a huge zero, it meant nothing. Could this possibly hide his impressive ability of enlightenment?

It would be impossible!

“I, as your pupil, humbly accept your verdict for you as the elder is just and fair.”

Although the young lad scoffed in his heart, Zhou Yan was able to reply in pure humility.

“Alright then.”

Since Zhou Yan had not reacted with hostility and calmly accepted his verdict, plenty of spectators in the crowd nodded since they respected Zhou Yan for being able to remain calm and not react rashly. Hence, they took another glance at Zhou Yan.

“For your tests—based on the rules previously stated—if any of you presented more than what you’ve initially learned, all of your scores will be given a zero!”

“Yes, great elder!”

The pupils of the Zhou family bowed in unison.

Zhou Lingyi, Zhou Lingyao, and the others amongst them were calm.

Zhou Xian, on the other hand, was taking joy in Zhou Yan’s situation as there were obvious hints of glee and delight in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan patiently took a deep breath as he forced his rage through the twelve divergent meridians in his body.

At that moment, the fuming boiling rage within him caused all his meridian to heat up.

Based on the prideful nature of that ancient sage, this was a major insult to him.

Even so, the young lad had to hide his anger—at least temporarily!

Zhou Yan was also aware that if he had not demonstrated his skills at this moment and only showed his skills within the swordplay alchemy, there was a possibility of an unforeseen ‘accident’ that might result in his fall!

Hence, his punishment was given in a lackluster half-baked reason. It was obvious that this elder sided heavily toward Zhou Ting and that lad, Zhou Yuntian. Therefore, he repeatedly brought troubles his way.

However, the more trouble the elder gave him, the more determined Zhou Yan was to enter the main branch of his family. He felt that after entering into the main branch of his family, he would be in a position to thoroughly crush these scums as he would have grown older and stronger!

Hence, today’s humiliation would be repaid in a hundred folds in the near future!