C24 The End of the Examination and the Departure.

"Enough with the nonsense!"

A soft voice echoed throughout the arena.

A hush fell over the crowd, and every eye fixed on the stage was suddenly glazed over in shock.

"Is... is that it?"

Among the stunned onlookers was Mentor Yanshan, his mouth agape, his expression one of sheer disbelief.

He had believed Chen Yi's victory wouldn't be difficult, but he never anticipated such an effortless, decisive win.

One palm strike.

Just one palm strike, and the duel he had carefully orchestrated was over?

"It can't be!"

The Honh family patriarch couldn't contain his outcry, his face a mask of incredulity.

Honh Yu, the prodigy they had so painstakingly nurtured, defeated by a single palm strike?

Impossible!

He must be mistaken!

The patriarch rubbed his eyes vigorously, but no matter how much he tried, the scene before him remained unchanged.

Chen Yi stood alone on the platform, calm and collected, while Honh Yu lay unconscious at the edge of the plaza...

The undeniable reality of the scene sent a shiver through him. He slumped into his chair, deflated, struggling to come to terms with the truth.

Whoosh!

The crowd, snapping out of their initial stupor, erupted into a cacophony of awe and disbelief.

"Unbelievable! One palm strike! Young Master Chen Yi has actually defeated Honh Yu with a single blow!"

"Is this what they call Earth Grade Talent?"

"Absolutely terrifying! A one-hit knockout!"

"Truly, Young Master Chen Yi lives up to his reputation. He's even stronger than when he defeated Wang Yun not so long ago!"

"The Chen family has indeed produced someone remarkable!"

...

Amidst the surrounding gasps of amazement, Chen Yi remained composed. He cast a casual glance at the still-dumbfounded Mentor and inquired, "May I step down now?"

"Yes... yes, you may!"

The Mentor, coming to his senses, nodded to Chen Yi.

"You're the Patriarch of the Chen family, aren't you?"

From the balcony, Mentor Yanshan turned his attention to Chen Shanheng.

Chen Shanheng quickly nodded in acknowledgment.

Though they had met before, they had not been acquainted. Mentor Yanshan had never paid much attention to the families of Willow State East and had little to do with their patriarchs, knowing them only by name and title.

Mentor Yanshan offered him a warm smile and a nod. "The Chen family is quite impressive!"

Chen Shanheng felt a jolt of excitement at the simple praise. Mentor Yanshan, who was known for his straightforwardness with family heads, was actually commending the Chen family? The honor was unexpected yet not entirely surprising, given Chen Yi's remarkable performance. Pride swelled in Chen Shanheng's chest as he watched his son below, who had brought the family unprecedented glory.

...

The last six matches concluded swiftly. Bei Yu and Du Qianyan, the two youths with Profound Grade talent, triumphed over their opponents as expected. With the final duel's conclusion, the Willow State East's enrollment assessment drew to a close.

The fourteen youths who had passed the preliminary exams stood in a line at the square's center, basking in the congratulatory gazes and applause that surrounded them. From the pavilion above, Mentor Yanshan surveyed the group, his gaze lingering on Chen Yi before he spoke clearly and loudly, "First off, congratulations on successfully passing the South Wind Academy's preliminary examination!"

The youths' hearts soared with joy at his words. To emerge from such a large pool of candidates was no small feat, especially for those with only Sixth Grade Yellow Rank talent.

Mentor Yanshan went on, "But don't celebrate too soon. The initial exam is merely the start. You'll face two more challenging tests—the retest and the ultimate assessment. Now, return home, pack your bags, and prepare thoroughly. In two days, we'll reconvene here and head to Willow State City for the final examination!"

"Willow State City!"

The mention of those three words ignited a fervent gleam in the eyes of the youths gathered in the square. Willow State City, the bustling capital at the heart of Willow State, was a place they had longed to visit but never had the chance to explore.

Some even began to fantasize about dazzling everyone at the retest in Willow State City, dreaming of making a name for themselves.

Observing the eager faces of the youths below, Mentor Yanshan couldn't help but shake his head with a hint of amusement.

He had witnessed too many scenes like this before.

Full of hope upon departure, only to return burdened with disappointment...

As he had pointed out, the initial test was merely the first step. The real challenge began with the re-examination at South Wind Academy. Passing the preliminary round was simply meeting the most fundamental criteria.

Yet, he refrained from voicing any discouragement to the young hopefuls below. It's important to leave them with some dreams, isn't it?

Even if they ultimately faced disappointment, they had at least allowed themselves to dream!

...

The preliminary examination concluded.

Chen Yi returned to his clan, and the Chen family threw a grand celebration in his honor!

The revelation of his Earth Grade Talent filled the entire Chen family with immense pride. Even though Chen Yi was the sole family member to pass this time, it was cause enough for jubilation!

With such talent, Chen Yi's admission to South Wind Academy was all but guaranteed.

For the Chen family, who hadn't seen one of their own enter the academy in over a decade, such an occasion merited a proper celebration!

But for Chen Shanheng, this event was both a celebration and a farewell.

Chen Yi's departure meant he wouldn't return for at least a year. To Chen Shanheng, who had never let his son out of his sight, the thought of letting go was unbearable.

A father's worry travels with his son.

Knowing full well of Chen Yi's capabilities, Chen Shanheng couldn't help but worry.

This was, after all, his son's first time leaving home.

Of course, that was from his perspective. For Chen Yi, who had already been away for over three hundred years, the departure was equally poignant.

To him, the past month had been like a prodigal's return after three centuries, and now he was about to leave once more. His feelings were bittersweet.

But leave he must.

To alter the course of his past life, he needed to strengthen his abilities as quickly as possible!

Amidst their shared reluctance, the celebration banquet turned into an exclusive drinking session for the father and son.

They cast aside all restraint, drinking deeply and freely, forgetting all else as they continued from dusk until the depths of the night...

After a night of heavy drinking, Chen Yi awoke to find it was already noon the next day.

"Ah, that's the stuff!" he exclaimed, reveling in the scent of alcohol that clung to him. Far from feeling any discomfort, he stretched languidly and a rare smile of contentment spread across his face. This was the best sleep he'd had in three hundred years—a complete and utter relaxation he hadn't experienced since long before.

Only in the comfort of his own home could he find such peace.

"Brother, are you up?" Chen Yi's nostalgic reverie was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"The door's unlocked, Yue, come on in!" he called out, recognizing his sister's voice.

The door creaked open, and in walked Chen Yue, clad in a yellow dress.

"Wow, you reek of booze! Just how much did you and Dad drink last night?" she asked, her hand covering her nose and mouth as she eyed him with a mix of reproach and amusement.

Chen Yi sheepishly scratched his head and chuckled, "I just let loose for once and had a bit too much."

"I made you some hangover soup. Drink it before it gets cold," Chen Yue said, rolling her eyes but handing him the soup box with sisterly concern.

"You're the best, sis!" Chen Yi grinned, grabbing the soup box and downing it in one go.

"Easy, brother! Don't gulp it down so fast—you'll choke!" Chen Yue cautioned.

But her warning came too late; Chen Yi had already polished off the soup with a satisfied belch, leaving Chen Yue torn between annoyance and laughter.

"Brother, you're about to attend South Wind Academy. Shouldn't you be a bit more composed?" she teased.

Chen Yi just laughed in response. This carefree side of him was something he only ever showed around Chen Yue. Having depended on each other for over three hundred years in their past life, the depth of their bond was beyond words.

Chen Yue smiled back at him, but her brows were furrowed with a worry she couldn't quite hide. Chen Yi knew her too well; after centuries together, he could read her like an open book. Her current unease didn't escape his notice.

He gently patted her shoulder, offering a reassuring smile, "Yue, wait for me. I'll be back in no more than a year and a half! Then, I'll help you with your constitution issue!"

"Brother, it's not that I'm worried about. It's just..."

"I understand," he said, cutting her off with a warm smile. "You're going to miss me, aren't you?"

"I..."

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink as her thoughts were spoken aloud. Indeed, she would miss Chen Yi terribly.

Since she couldn't cultivate from a young age, Chen Yue had grown up without friends. Chen Yi was the only one she could truly open up to. He was more than a brother; he was her best friend.

Now, with his impending departure, her heart ached with reluctance.

"I'll miss you too, but I must go. I need to grow stronger so I can fix your constitution," he reassured her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "Once I'm back, I'll take care of it, and you'll be able to cultivate just like everyone else."

"Brother..."

Tears welled up in Chen Yue's eyes as she bit her lip. Though she claimed it didn't matter, being able to cultivate normally was her deepest desire. Chen Yi's promise had given her a tangible hope.

"Yue, while I'm gone, practice the heart technique I've taught you. When I return, I'll make you into a genius girl. You'll outshine all the girls in the South Wind Empire, no, the entire Blue Cloud Realm. You'll be the unrivaled number one beauty!"

"Brother!"

Her tears gave way to laughter, and she playfully rolled her eyes at his grand proclamation.

Chen Yi's laughter was genuine—he wasn't kidding. He knew exactly what Chen Yue was capable of. Once her Body of Seal was lifted, her potential would be limitless. She would be a top contender, not just in the Blue Cloud Realm, but even in the Holy Heaven Realm.

The Body of Seal is certainly a unique physique, but it's precisely such uniqueness that, when unleashed, often reveals a staggering potential.

When the heavens close one door, they invariably open a window for you.

Such is the nature of the Body of Seal!

​