The year-end is approaching, and the snow is swirling over Galaxy Lake, with many disciples initiating their journey home.
In the inner area where the Primordial Energy is richest, Zhao Letian and the others have packed up and are ready to set off.
A week has passed since the end of the sect's grand competition, and when it concluded, Zhao Letian and his group took over the island that once belonged to Xiao Feng.
After a week of recuperation, Zhao Letian's injuries have completely healed, and his cultivation level has advanced even further, reaching the peak of True Martial Realm Second Layer.
Thanks to the Primordial Stone Elixir given by Zhao Letian, as well as the dense Primordial Energy on the island, the cultivation levels of Liu Wei and the five tigers of the Galaxy Sect have also advanced to the small achievement phase of the True Martial First Realm, making astonishing progress.
On the shore of the small island, Zhao Letian and the others stand on the snowfield, bidding each other farewell.
"Big Tiger, here are thirty Mid-Grade Essence Stones for you to take back and help with family expenses," Zhao Letian said as he took out thirty Mid-Grade Essence Stones and handed them to Big Tiger.
After spending time together, Zhao Letian had gained a deeper understanding of the five tigers from the Galaxy Sect's family background. Although they came from War King City, their family was not well-off, to the extent that their life was quite difficult.
Not only did they have a seriously ill father at home, but also a young sister. All the burdens fell on their mother alone, and living in War King City was expensive. With only their mother to provide, it was hard to sustain the family. Thus, as a last resort, they sent all five brothers to the Galaxy Sect.
"Master, this is unacceptable; it's too much. Since we five brothers have followed the master, we have never really exerted any effort, yet we've always been taking your kindness for granted. We're truly ashamed; we cannot accept these Essence Stones," Big Tiger said as he shook his head.
"Big Tiger, just by calling me 'master,' you have the right to accept these Essence Stones. After following me for so long, you should know my temperament well; no more refusals," Zhao Letian said in an indisputable tone.
"This... Alright, thank you, Master!" Big Tiger clenched his teeth, exchanged looks with his brothers, and finally accepted the Essence Stones. Bowing to express their thanks, they indeed needed these Essence Stones. As they could not repay him at the moment, they could only wait to serve Zhao Letian with their best efforts in the future.
"War King City is a long way from here; be careful on your journey," Zhao Letian reminded them.
"Alright, Master, we'll see you again next year," Big Tiger and the others nodded, then flew up on their flying swords, transforming into five streaks of light, and flew towards the far horizon to the northwest of the Galaxy Sect.
"Weiwei, let's go too," Zhao Letian said as he waved his hand, taking out a golden longsword that floated in front of him. This sword was a three-star low-grade Spiritual Artifact obtained from Shentu Yu.
"Mhm," Liu Wei nodded obediently, then jumped onto the golden longsword with Zhao Letian, turning into a stunning golden sword light, heading straight for Qingzhou City in the south.
The year-end is an important festival in Dajin Country. After a year of hard cultivation, many choose to return home to reunite and celebrate with their family.
The people of Qingzhou City do the same; a few days before the year-end, the city is already decorated with lanterns and streamers, presenting an atmosphere of festivity and joy, especially among the city's four major families, who start preparing for the grand celebration.
Every year, the four great families hold an annual competition to assess the year's cultivation achievements of their family members. Outstanding performers can receive rewards from the family, while those who do not strive for progress, neglect their cultivation, will be looked down upon, ridiculed, and even punished.
Following the annual competition of the four major families is the grand martial arts gathering awaited by all in Qingzhou City, the year-end Martial Meeting.
The Martial Meeting is an annual gala hosted by the City Lord Mansion, bringing together members of the four major families, as well as all young people from the city who meet the requirements to participate.
Especially for those commoners without status or background, this Martial Meeting is frankly a golden opportunity to change their fates. As long as you have astonishing talent and formidable strength, showcasing your abilities in the meeting can possibly catch the attention of the four major families, or even the City Lord Mansion, providing a chance to soar to great heights and worry no more about resources for cultivation.
Unfortunately, reality is often cruel. Through the years, the Martial Meeting in Qingzhou City has consistently been a stage for the young elites of the four major families to shine and compete against each other, almost irrelevant to the children of commoners.
Today, the bustling Zhao Mansion located in the city's thriving area is exceptionally lively, with the house servants busily cleaning and tidying everywhere, preparing for the family's annual competition.
"Guess who among our Zhao Mansion's young masters will top the list in this year's competition and stand out from the crowd?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, naturally it would be Zhao Letian. Among the younger generation, there's likely no one who can match him."
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"That's true. During the mid-year assessment, with his cultivation at the Primordial Martial Seventh Realm, he managed to defeat Miss Zhao Lingshan who was at the Primordial Martial Ninth Realm. It's quite hard to find someone among the younger generation who can contend with him."
At the Zhao Mansion's main entrance, several servants decorating the door discussed during their downtime.
"To excel among the younger generation is something, but what does it really prove? If Zhao Letian truly has the skills, he should compete against the young talents in the city's Martial Meeting."
At that moment, a disdainful voice suddenly rang out.
"The eldest young master? It's Zhao Lingfeng, the eldest young master, who has returned!"
The servants looked towards the source of the voice and saw a young man dressed in a blue robe, with a chiseled face, carrying a huge black longsword on his back, radiating an imposing Sword Intent. He is the Clan Leader Zhao Wuji's eldest son, brother to Zhao Lingshan, and the foremost youth of the Zhao Family, Zhao Lingfeng.
Zhao Lingfeng wasn't alone; two middle-aged men in blue robes with massive iron swords on their backs, exuding an even more formidable aura, trailed behind him.
"What are you blind servants gaping at? Hurry up and greet the young master and the two seniors from the Iron Sword Sect." At this moment, a manager from Zhao Mansion rushed out and sternly reprimanded the servants, showing great respect towards the trio led by Zhao Lingfeng.
The Iron Sword Sect is a powerful institution rivaling the Galaxy Sect, and Zhao Family's eldest young master Zhao Lingfeng is cultivating there. The experts from the Iron Sword Sect should not be taken lightly.
"We pay our respects to the young master and the two honored seniors." The servants hastily bowed, deeply worried, internally remarking on the prowess of the eldest young master, who had the escort of the Iron Sword Sect's experts upon his return home for the year-end, a testament to his extraordinary standing within the sect.
"Where is my sister Lingshan? Has she returned?" Zhao Lingfeng didn't even deign to give those servants a second glance and directly addressed the manager.
"Reporting to the young master, Miss Lingshan returned a few days ago, and what's more, the miss has already made a breakthrough to the True Martial Realm. In this year-end competition, she will surely overpower Zhao Letian and become the foremost among the young generation of our family, and she is even qualified to participate in the city's Martial Meeting," the manager said with a beaming smile.