A total of one thousand two hundred and thirty-six people were participating in Fengyue City’s qualification exam this time. For a small city like Fengyue, it was a truly massive event.
Among them were disciples from the twenty-five Noble Families of Fengyue City, young experts from smaller sects and schools, and countless ordinary Martial Artists with dreams in their hearts.
At this moment, aside from the spectators in the outer stands, the thousand-plus people standing on the large Martial Arts Arena in the center were the young geniuses participating in this qualification exam.
From among them, only twenty lucky individuals would be chosen to represent Fengyue City’s younger generation—those under twenty years of age—and travel to the West Mansion Headquarter for the House Entrance Examination.
With a ninety-nine percent elimination rate, the intensity of the competition in this qualification exam was clear.
If they were fortunate enough to enter the West Mansion, they would become the pride of Fengyue City.
Wang Zongyao looked down upon the crowd below, his heroic spirit soaring. He was in an excellent mood.
This wasn’t just because he was this year’s Chief Examiner, able to look down on a crowd of young geniuses. It was also because he had met Tang Yi here—a peerless, once-in-a-century talent.
Wang Zongyao glanced toward Tang Yi’s location. Tang Yi had also arrived at the Martial Arts Arena. Although he wasn’t participating in the first and second rounds of the examination, regulations required him to be present and ready from the very beginning. Wang Zongyao’s gaze found him, and he felt a deep sense of relief. ’Tang Yi is still Tang Yi.’ His aura was extraordinary. Even standing in a dense crowd, he was impossible to miss.
"I declare this qualification exam officially open!" Without any further ado, Wang Zongyao announced the start with a smile and a grand wave of his hand.
After a wave of cheers, Wang Zongyao gestured for the crowd to quiet down. "Before the first round begins," he announced, "I will call out some names. If your name is called, please raise your hand and step forward. These individuals will be exempt from the first and second rounds and will proceed directly to the third."
The crowd erupted upon hearing this.
However, it had been a long-standing tradition for the West Mansion to grant exemptions.
This allowed them to save certain ’seed’ contestants for the final rounds, exempting them from competing against the ordinary participants in the first two.
Those chosen as seed contestants for exemption were, without exception, the cream of the crop, their strength already recognized by the West Mansion.
They were chosen because the West Mansion believed they were 100% guaranteed to make it to the third round, thus sparing them the preliminary competition.
To be chosen was to have one’s strength officially recognized, and it meant they had an extremely high chance of securing one of the qualification spots.
It was a matter of immense honor.
The crowd murmured for a moment before falling silent, eagerly listening to Wang Zongyao to see who the lucky, exempted individuals would be.
"Fan Wei."
Once the crowd was silent, Wang Zongyao read the first name.
"Here!"
A young man who heard his name called out in response. He then stepped out from the crowd to stand before all the other participants, his head held high and his chest puffed out with pride.
The young man was handsome with refined features and an exceptional air about him, making him quite popular with the ladies. The moment he appeared, he was met with a roar of approval from the audience.
Furthermore, receiving an exemption was a testament to his strength, which only served to skyrocket his popularity.
"Fan Wei! Fan Wei! Fan Wei!!"
"Go, Fifth Young Master Fan Wei!"
"Fifth Young Master, I want to marry you!"
"I knew the Fifth Young Master would get an exemption! With his strength, he’s guaranteed to take first place and get into the West Mansion, no problem!"
These were the voices of those who knew Fan Wei.
And those who didn’t know him were buzzing with discussion.
"So that’s the Fan Family’s Fifth Young Master, Fan Wei. He’s so handsome."
"If I could win Young Master Fan Wei’s favor, I could die happy."
"Get real. You think someone with your looks could win the Fifth Young Master’s favor? Heh. Let’s not even get into whether you’re pretty enough. The Fifth Young Master’s strength has already reached the Battle Grandmaster Level. In the future, he might enter the West Mansion and become a peerless expert. Why would he waste his time on a plain Jane like you?"
"I heard the Fifth Young Master deeply admires Master Zhu’s treasured daughter, Zhu Yin. Only someone with Zhu Yin’s beauty could ever catch his eye. I’d say you should just give up."
"This Fan Wei really is something else. No wonder he got an exemption."
It had to be said that Fan Wei’s entrance had completely captured the crowd’s attention. He stood out brilliantly, even among all the young geniuses participating in the qualification exam.
And by receiving an exemption, his strength had been officially acknowledged by the Chief Examiner. This undoubtedly placed him in the spotlight, basking in boundless glory.
"Yuan Qiong!"
Wang Zongyao proceeded to call out the second name.
And so, the second young man, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, calmly walked out to stand before them.
This young man was very Stable. He wasn’t as handsome as Fan Wei, but his expression was resolute. His strength was also said to have reached the Battle Grandmaster level, and he had apparently achieved it quite some time ago.
"Su Four Sabers!"
"Mu Xianling!"
The third and fourth names left Wang Zongyao’s lips, and two more young geniuses with extraordinary auras stepped forward.
Su Four Sabers was the foremost genius of the Su Family’s younger generation. Though not yet eighteen, he had already reached the strength of a Battle Grandmaster, far surpassing that other member of his Clan, Su Jian.
Mu Xianling, a disciple of the Mu Family, was the only girl among those Wang Zongyao had called so far. She was exceptionally beautiful. While not a peerless beauty capable of toppling nations, she possessed a transcendent grace, as if imbued with Immortal Energy.
Three young men and one young woman. The four of them stood in a line at the front, cutting an impressive figure.
Each one possessed incredible strength, having surpassed the older generation at a tender age.
Each one had an otherworldly aura, clearly set apart from the masses. They were all destined for greatness.
Each was also a long-famous young genius from one of the great Noble Families. The mere mention of their names commanded respect.
And then, the fifth name left Wang Zongyao’s lips. Unlike the previous four, this name was...
"Tang Yi!"
The name had barely been spoken, and before Tang Yi could even step out from the crowd, an enormous uproar erupted.
Hearing the name Tang Yi, the crowd began to buzz, every single person in shock.
"What? Tang Yi? What the hell?"
"No way. Did I hear that right? Was that really the name ’Tang Yi’?"
"Tang Yi? From the Tang Family? It can’t be the one I’m thinking of, can it?"
"I think it is the one you’re thinking of!"
"In Fengyue City, the only ones with the surname Tang belong to the Tang Family, and there’s only one person named Tang Yi!"
"Isn’t Tang Yi that piece of trash who can’t cultivate? How did he get an exemption?"
"This is rigged!"
"This is impossible, right? A piece of trash who can’t cultivate is here for the qualification exam?"
Just then, Tang Yi took a step forward. He came to stand before all the other participants, forming a line with Fan Wei and the other four.

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