The young maiden seemed to be not much older, around eighteen or nineteen years of age. Her graceful figure was delicate, and her beautiful face appeared unusually pale, giving her a somewhat sickly appearance… Of course, what caught Xiao Yan’s attention was not the girl’s appearance but the round emblem on her chest. He had seen this emblem when he arrived in Holy Pill City, emblazoned on the mysterious snow-white carriage, so he understood that this emblem was one of the Five Great Families in the Pill Region, the emblem of the Dan Family.
“Are… are you alright?” The young maiden supported herself from the ground, timidly glanced at Xiao Yan, and whispered.
Hearing her voice, Xiao Yan’s mind finally shifted from the Dan Family’s emblem. He stared at the girl with a startled gaze. The earlier terrifying scene had caused his heart to beat wildly. He distinctly felt that an extremely strange suction force had burst out from within the girl’s body, and under this suction, even the soul within his body showed signs of being extracted, a horrifying sensation.
Xiao Yan rubbed his hands together, subtly taking a step back. Although the girl looked no more than seventeen or eighteen, she exuded an eerie aura, and she was also from the most low-key Dan Family. This made Xiao Yan cautious.
“It’s fine…” Seeing Xiao Yan shake his head, the girl sighed in relief, but her gaze towards Xiao Yan was strange, as if she were surprised that he could be unharmed after coming into contact with her…
“That… I’m sorry…” The girl scanned Xiao Yan’s face, apologized, and then, without waiting for his response, turned and sprinted away, disappearing into the crowd.
Watching the girl’s peculiar behavior, Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed involuntarily. He sensed that this girl was not simple…
“Xiao Yan, come with me…” As Xiao Yan was deep in thought, Ye Zhong’s voice suddenly echoed in his ear. Xiao Yan quickly snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Ye Zhong, whose brows were slightly knitted. “Can we go now?”
“Yes…” Ye Zhong nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “I’ve smoothed things over and can let you use the special testing room. However, there are others in the testing room right now. I think… should we come back tomorrow?”
Seeing Ye Zhong’s somewhat dejected expression, Xiao Yan raised his brow and asked, “From other families?”
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhong was stunned for a moment, then reluctantly nodded and sighed, “The Bai Family and Qiu Family are also testing. In the past, these two families were always suppressed by the Ye Family, but now that they have risen, they naturally feel smug. Every time we meet, they use the opportunity to mock us. My old face is thick, but I am worried about what they might say to you.”
Xiao Yan smiled, patted Ye Zhong’s shoulder, and said, “We’re already here, how can we leave empty-handed?”
Seeing this, Ye Zhong hesitated for a moment and finally nodded, “Alright, just pretend you can’t hear anything they say…”
With that, Ye Zhong turned and walked toward a special passage, with Xiao Yan following closely behind. Amidst the curious glances from the surrounding crowd, they smoothly entered the special passage. After passing through a slightly dim corridor, a bright light appeared in front of them. They followed the light and soon found themselves in a spacious and quiet room, with no sound from the bustling outside. At the moment, nearly ten people were standing in the room, and their gazes were all fixed on Xiao Yan and Ye Zhong.
“Haha, Elder Ye Zhong, I didn’t expect you to bring someone for the test again. It seems the others know this is a disgraceful task,” a sharp, sarcastic laugh rang out as Xiao Yan and Ye Zhong entered the room.
Xiao Yan’s expression remained unchanged, and he followed the voice to see an old woman in gray robes, with yellow, crooked teeth, looking at them with mockery.
Behind the gray-robed old woman stood three young people in white robes, two men and one woman. All three had good appearances, especially the woman, who had a slender, sexy figure, very attractive. The two men by her side constantly gazed at certain parts of her body, their eyes filled with heat and greed.
The white-robed woman seemed extremely proud, casting disdainful and mocking glances at Xiao Yan and Ye Zhong. The Ye Family had already lost its status among the Five Great Families, which was indeed embarrassing…
“That nagging old hag is from the Bai Family,” Ye Zhong gritted his teeth and whispered to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan nodded slightly, turning his gaze to another place where three others stood. One was a yellow-robed elder, and behind him were a man and a woman. The man was handsome, and the woman was beautiful. Though they did not mock anyone, their dismissive glances were more infuriating.
Though Ye Zhong did not introduce them, Xiao Yan knew they must be from the Qiu Family.
“Hehe, the Ye Family has arrived too…” A white-haired elder in a purple alchemist robe greeted Ye Zhong with a much more genuine smile, indicating a bit of acquaintance between them.
“Thank you, Elder Han Li,” Ye Zhong bowed politely to the white-haired elder.
“Ah, no need to be so formal,” the elder named Han Li sighed.
“Alright, Ye Zhong, stop the nonsense. I don’t want to waste time because of you. Is this boy the one your Ye Family sent this time? Why doesn’t he even have a grade emblem? Has he never received one from the Pill Tower?”
Impatiently waving her hand, the gray-robed old woman glanced at Xiao Yan and sneered.
“I have never received a grade emblem from the Pill Tower… This is my first time here,” Xiao Yan replied honestly.
“Hehe, as expected…” Hearing this, the gray-robed old woman smirked. The cold, beautiful woman beside her also looked at Xiao Yan disdainfully and said in a flat tone, “This special testing room is only for those testing for a grade higher than fifth. Did Elder Ye Zhong not know this?”
“Mind your own business, the Bai Family’s manners are getting worse and worse!” Ye Zhong’s face darkened, and he rebuked.
Hearing Ye Zhong’s cold rebuke, the white-robed woman’s expression changed slightly, and she snorted.
“Hehe, it’s been a few years, and Ye Zhong’s temper has grown. But if your Ye Family doesn’t make it to the top three this time, you might have to give up your name as one of the Five Great Families,” the gray-robed old woman sneered.
“Enough, this is Holy Pill City, not your territory! If you have any complaints, go elsewhere to test!” The white-haired elder frowned and spoke sternly.
At the white-haired elder’s words, the room finally quieted down.
“According to the order of arrival, Qiu Family, you go first,” the white-haired elder turned to the three members of the Qiu Family and said indifferently.
Hearing this, the man and woman behind the Qiu Family elder stepped forward, bowing respectfully to the white-haired elder.
“What grade emblem are you two testing for?” the white-haired elder asked casually.
“Sixth grade, intermediate level,” the two replied.
Hearing this, the white-haired elder’s eyebrows rose in surprise. For such young people to test for sixth-grade intermediate was quite impressive. It seemed the Qiu Family had produced some capable individuals in recent years.
“You two wait here. You will be tested inside the mystic gate shortly,” the white-haired elder pointed to the second door on the left.
The man and woman, pleased with the elder’s surprise, nodded and stepped back, exchanging a look of satisfaction.
“Bai Family…” Seeing the white-haired elder’s gaze, the two men behind the gray-robed old woman stepped forward and announced, “Sixth grade, intermediate level!”
The two spoke loudly, causing the earlier Qiu Family pair to frown and emit low snorts.
Following them, the cold, beautiful white-robed woman stepped forward and declared, “Sixth grade, advanced level.”
Hearing this, the Qiu Family elder’s expression also changed, while the gray-robed old woman wore a smug smile.
“Not bad…” The white-haired elder nodded slowly. The Bai Family was full of talent, far surpassing the Ye Family. Thinking this, he sighed inwardly, turned to Ye Zhong, and said, “Ye Zhong, it’s your turn.”
As he spoke, the gazes in the room focused on Xiao Yan, all filled with faint disdain. The Ye Family had lost a lot of face over the years.
Under the many gazes, Xiao Yan slowly stepped forward, glanced at the white-haired elder, and asked, “Is there a limit to the highest testing grade here?”
The white-haired elder was taken aback, and the others laughed sarcastically.
“The highest test I can administer is sixth grade, intermediate level, as I am only a sixth grade, beginner. What grade do you wish to test for?”
Xiao Yan nodded slowly and said casually, “Then I’ll test for sixth grade, intermediate level.”
Upon hearing this, the room’s mocking laughter abruptly ceased.
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