Chapter 1036: Great Sovereign

Ye Guan glanced at the distant grand hall, falling into deep contemplation. A sense of unease was weighing him down, but he knew that this was only the tip of the iceberg.

As Ye Guan and Fang Yu continued their conversation, more and more people began entering the hall. Each entry signified one fewer spot available. Before long, twenty-two people had already entered the hall, leaving only eight spots.

There were now a hundred or two hundred thousand people vying for just eight spots.

In the crowd, countless young cultivators were filled with resentment, but no one dared to speak out. No one could afford to offend the top clans.

This was their privilege! Would they dare air out their grievances?

At best, they would die. At worst, their entire clan would perish.

The Guanxuan Laws existed, but the powerful clans always had a thousand ways to destroy those beneath them; they could do it without anyone noticing.

It was simply impossible to oppose them.

Next to Ye Guan, Fang Yu looked at the distant hall and sighed deeply. There was anger in his eyes, but his eyes were mostly filled with helplessness. The anger faded quickly as well.

As a member of a noble clan, Fang Yu understood all too well that in a place like this, even a single word or glance could bring disaster upon oneself or one's family.

Ye Guan's gaze shifted to the grand hall. With his strength, he could clearly see everything happening inside, including the conversations taking place.

The grand hall was filled with food and wine. There were beautiful ladies dancing to entertain the guests.

Ye Yun was sitting on one side, holding his sword and resting with his eyes closed.

Nalan Gu of the Nalan Clan was on one side, and a group of Nalan Clan members were standing behind him.

There were others present, and they were either of noble birth or had strong backing, but none of them could compare to the power of the Nalan Clan and the Ye Clan.

The two clans weren't the most powerful in terms of overall strength, but they held the most special status in the entire universe region.

Nalan Gu turned to look at Ye Yun, who was sitting not far away. "Brother Ye, care for a drink?"

Nalan Gu raised his cup.

Ye Yun opened his eyes and glanced at Nalan Gu. Without refusing, he lifted his own cup and drank it in one gulp.

At that moment, a young man in the distance raised his cup with a smile. "Brother Yun, Brother Gu, allow me to toast the both of you."

Ye Yun glanced at the character on the young man's chest, and then he averted his gaze, closing his eyes once more.

The Nanling Clan!

The Nanling Clan had once been relatively unknown, with no significant strength to speak of in the Guanxuan universe. However, their clan had one extraordinary individual—Nanling Yiyi!

Nanling Yiyi was a member of the Guanxuan Committee. Although she had never acknowledged her connection to the Nanling Clan, no one could be certain of her true feelings. As a result, people became cautious and gave the Nanling Clan some respect, never pushing things too far against them.

After all, Nanling Yiyi wasn't just a member of the Guanxuan Committee. She also had ties to the Academy Master.

Despite that, the Nalan Clan and the Ye Clan had never viewed the Nanling Can as equals. They only had one Nanling Yiyi, so how could they compare to the Ye Clan and the Nalan Clan?

Nalan Gu ignored the Nanling Clan member and drank by himself.

The Nanling Clan member's face flushed with embarrassment, but he dared not show any anger. Instead, he forced a smile and found a way to back down gracefully.

The higher up the ladder, the more exclusive the circles would become. If someone wasn't qualified, or if the forces behind someone weren't strong enough, there'd be no way to join their ranks.

The other young men eager to make connections backed off and sat in their seats quietly upon seeing the Nanling Clan member's outcome. Compared to the Ye Clan and the Nalan Clan, their own backgrounds were as insignificant as ants.

Just then, an elderly man in a black robe entered the grand hall.

The young talents quickly stood up and bowed respectfully. "Commander Shi!"

The Commander of the Outer Guanxuan Guards.

The Guanxuan Guards were divided into the Inner Guards and the Outer Guards. The Inner Guard consisted of top-tier elites and was the main fighting force of the Guanxuan Academy.

The Outer Guards, on the other hand, was a reserve force. Once they were strong enough to pass the assessments, they could join the Inner Guards.

There were nine commanders in the Outer Guards, and each one was incredibly powerful.

Even Nalan Gu and Ye Yun stood up and bowed in respect.

Commander Shi nodded and walked to the main seat. He didn't sit down but instead glanced at everyone present and said, "Congratulations to all of you."

Those in the hall had already been selected, so he didn't bother hiding the truth, as there were no outsiders. Hearing his words, the young geniuses smiled. Although the Guanxuan Guards were far less prestigious than the Main Guanxuan Academy, it was still a great honor for them to become a part of it.

With abundant resources and status, they were set for life. If they were lucky enough to join the Inner Guard later, it would mean truly striking gold.

Commander Shi glanced at the group and finally set his eyes on Ye Yun and Nalan Gu. He nodded slightly in greeting at them.

The two immediately nodded back, acknowledging his gesture.

Although Commander Shi's rank was far lower than those of their own clans, they weren't foolish enough to make unnecessary enemies, especially since he held a position of authority.

As noble clan members, they could make mistakes—many, in fact—but they could never afford to be foolish.

Commander Shi said, "In the final trial, don't strike to kill. Show mercy."

Nalan Gu said, "Don't worry, Commander Shi. We understand."

This was an affair that couldn't be blown out of proportion.

As long as no one died, the matter would never escalate.

Commander Shi said no more, rising and leaving immediately. He was the chief examiner of this trial and couldn't stay too long. His early visit had only been to forge some connections with these guys, something beneficial to him as well.

After he left, smiles appeared on the faces of the young geniuses in the hall.

Their efforts to establish connections hadn't been in vain!

Outside the hall, Ye Guan retracted his gaze and fell into deep contemplation for a long time.

Connections...

Ye Guan sighed quietly. He had been away from the academy for a long time and hadn't been able to afford the time or energy to manage its affairs. He knew that the Guanxuan Academy would eventually face issues, but he hadn't expected them to surface so soon.

He also hadn't expected that such issues had already grown to such an extent.

"Brother Yang," Fang Yu said, "Our turn is coming up soon."

Ye Guan looked ahead. There were only about ten people left in their row before it was their turn.

"Brother Yang, is this your first time participating in this trial?"

Ye Guan nodded with a smile. "Yes."

"Then let me explain the trial rules to you."

"Thank you."

"

Haha.

" Fang Yu chuckled. "It's nothing. The trial isn't complicated; it's divided into three stages. The first stage tests one's aptitude. It's a brutal process of elimination. Aptitude is ranked from level one to nine; those above level nine are considered geniuses, and those beyond are labeled as monsters or anomalies. As long as you're considered a genius, you will pass it."

Ye Guan asked, "And the second stage?"

"The second stage is about withstanding the pressure of martial intent. Those capable of withstanding it for one stick of incense's worth of time will pass the second stage. This stage will eliminate at least ninety percent of participants, as it tests not only one's aptitude but also their willpower and true strength."

"I understand. What about the third stage?"

"The third stage is combat," Fang Yu replied, "Those who remain will be paired off and will fight. The winner advances."

Ye Guan frowned. "As for those preselected... Can they really defeat every participant?"

Fang Yu laughed. "If it comes to that, someone will approach you for a talk."

Ye Guan's expression darkened. "What if I refuse?"

Fang Yu shook his head. "If you don't want to keep your dignity, they'll help you take it away."

Ye Guan fell silent, and his eyes flickered with complicated thoughts. Fang Yu, thinking Ye Guan was nervous, offered some reassurance. "Don't be nervous, Brother Yang. It's your first time, so you'll gain experience for the next time."

Ye Guan smiled and nodded. "Alright."

The two chatted a bit more about the trial, and Ye Guan listened with interest.

Soon, it was Fang Yu's turn. After collecting a token, he waved at Ye Guan with a smile. "See you later, Brother Yang."

With that, he entered a nearby teleportation array, which activated and transported him away.

Ye Guan stepped forward, collected his token, and entered the teleportation array. As it activated, he was transported into a vast virtual spacetime created by a powerful array.

A stone pillar with twelve slots stood before him.

"Step forward, place your right hand on the pillar, and circulate your spiritual energy!"

Following the instruction, Ye Guan stepped forward and placed his right hand on the pillar. The pillar trembled slightly, and the lowest orb lit up. When the tenth orb lit up, Ye Guan stopped circulating his spiritual energy. He was already considered a genius at this point.

Ye Guan withdrew his hand.

"Pass!" A voice reverberated, and Ye Guan was instantly transported to a massive martial arena. Upon arrival, he saw dozens of people around him. He recognized Ye Yun and the group from the grand hall. They were all standing together in the distance, away from the others.

Ye Guan glanced at the group before turning to his right.

Fang Yu was walking toward him with a smile. "Brother Yang, how many orbs did you light up?"

"Ten," Ye Guan replied with a smile.

Fang Yu nodded approvingly. "A genius—very impressive. Soon, a Great Sovereign will unleash their martial intent. If it becomes overwhelming, don't push yourself too hard. If you force it, your fleshly body can shatter, and your soul can suffer irreparable damage."

Ye Guan nodded solemnly. "Understood."

Soon, more participants arrived. In no time, over twenty thousand people had gathered on the field. Everyone here had passed the first stage test; they were top talents in their respective regions.

Just then, the stone platform ahead of them trembled.

A teleportation array shone in the middle of it.

"The second test is starting," Fang Yu whispered urgently, "I wonder which Great Sovereign will oversee the trial this year..."

Before he could finish, a phantom materialized from the teleportation array.

When Ye Guan saw the phantom, he froze in disbelief.