Chapter 43: The Inner Court Selection Begins

She recognized Veyron’s voice immediately, but the fact that he could communicate with her through mind transmission left her momentarily speechless.

Before she could gather her thoughts or question him about how he had accomplished such a feat, his voice sounded in her mind once again.

"Don’t overthink it for now. I’ll explain everything to you later. Just sit back and enjoy the selection."

Although Xialyn was still surprised by everything that had happened, Veyron’s reassuring words instantly put her heart at ease. Her tense shoulders relaxed, and the worry that had been weighing on her gradually faded away.

Even so, her heart was still beating rapidly as she looked at her Little Vey, who seemed to have undergone a remarkable transformation during his three months of seclusion.

For some reason, he looked even more handsome than before. His newly matured aura, striking crimson eyes, and stylish black-and-crimson robes complemented his appearance perfectly.

Even his slightly unruly hairstyle gave him an irresistible charm that made it difficult for her to look away.

Xialyn couldn’t help feeling a little proud as she admired him. After all, that handsome young man was her beloved junior brother!

Ding!

[ Xialyn’s Bonding has increased by 10%! ]

[ Xialyn’s Current Bonding: 79% ]

Veyron smiled upon seeing the notification. It seemed that his transformation had made quite an impression on his beloved senior sister.

However, he quickly shifted his attention back to the selection. Another notification from the system had appeared, listing several potential bonding targets in the surrounding area, but he chose to ignore it for the time being.

He couldn’t possibly pursue every woman who caught his attention. He had more important things to deal with right now, and the Inner Court selection was one of them.

Turning his gaze toward Elder Leo, Veyron noticed that the man was still standing on the arena, while the assembled Outer Court disciples continued staring at him with expressions ranging from surprise and confusion to undisguised hostility.

Some were astonished by his sudden breakthrough, while others seemed reluctant to accept that someone who had been at the fourth rank of the Spirit Initiate Realm just three months ago could have advanced so far.

Veyron merely smirked at their reactions before turning back toward Leo.

"I made it on time, right?"

His casual question caught Leo slightly off guard. The Assistant Elder had been just about to announce Veyron’s disqualification, and now the young man had appeared at the last possible moment, completely overturning the situation.

"A-Ah... yes, you made it in time, Disciple Veyron," Leo replied after briefly collecting himself. "Although you arrived very close to the deadline, you haven’t been disqualified."

He cleared his throat and continued, returning to his official duties. "You may now take your position among the other participants. We’ll be starting the selection shortly."

Veyron nodded casually before making his way toward the gathering of hundreds of Outer Court disciples.

As he approached them, several disciples instinctively moved aside, their eyes following him with curiosity and uncertainty.

After all, Veyron was now at the second rank of the Spirit Adept Realm. However, compared to the other participants, his cultivation wasn’t particularly extraordinary.

Quite a few disciples had already reached the third, fourth, or even fifth rank of the Spirit Adept Realm. In terms of cultivation alone, Veyron wasn’t necessarily the strongest participant present.

However, the circumstances surrounding his breakthrough made the situation entirely different.

Just three months ago, he had been at the fourth rank of the Spirit Initiate Realm. His Spirit Veins had only recently been repaired, and many had doubted whether he could cultivate normally again, let alone reach the Spirit Adept Realm in such a short period.

Yet here he was, standing among the participants with cultivation that had surpassed everyone’s expectations.

That was what truly astonished the crowd.

Veyron’s achievement wasn’t impressive merely because he had reached the second rank of the Spirit Adept Realm. It was impressive because of how far he had come in just three months.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Now that the final ten minutes have passed, we will officially begin this year’s Inner Court disciple selection!"

Elder Leo’s Spirit Energy-infused voice echoed throughout the Azure Battle Grounds, reaching every corner of the enormous arena.

"I don’t need to explain why becoming an Inner Court disciple is such a wonderful opportunity for an Outer Court disciple of the Azure Sky Sect. Everyone here already understands what it means to take this step forward!"

He paused briefly, allowing his words to settle before continuing in a firm voice.

"However, I must remind you that the selection will not be easy. A high cultivation realm alone will not guarantee your success.

We seek only the finest candidates, individuals who excel in every aspect and possess the qualities necessary to become Inner Court disciples of the Azure Sky Sect, the most powerful sect in the Sunmoon Empire!"

As Leo’s words rang throughout the arena, the audience erupted into enthusiastic cheers. Excitement swept through the stands as countless disciples began cheering for their favorite participants.

After all, several exceptionally talented geniuses were taking part in this year’s selection, and everyone was eager to see how they would perform.

The deafening cheers continued for several moments before Leo turned his attention back toward the participants.

"You may have already heard from your seniors about the assessments involved in the Inner Court selection. The process remains the same every year, yet despite knowing what awaits them, many disciples still fail to pass!"

His expression grew slightly more serious as he continued explaining.

"The selection tests several important qualities. First and foremost is your cultivation—the higher, the better. However, cultivation alone is insufficient.

You must also possess strong willpower, excellent control over your Spirit Energy, and, of course, the courage and confidence required to face difficult challenges without backing down!"

The participants listened attentively to Leo’s explanation, and many nodded in agreement.

There was nothing particularly surprising about his words. The selection criteria remained unchanged every year, and most disciples had already learned about the assessments from their seniors.

Furthermore, many of the participants weren’t attempting the selection for the first time. They knew all too well what awaited them and understood just how difficult it was to pass.

Nevertheless, knowing the requirements and successfully meeting them were two entirely different matters.

Despite this, the participants remained confident in their abilities. Each of them had worked hard to reach this point, and none had come to the Azure Battle Grounds without believing they stood a chance.

For them, this was more than just a selection.

It was an opportunity to prove their worth, rise above their peers, and take another major step forward on their cultivation journey.

Leo smiled slightly as he noticed the excitement and anticipation among the audience.

Even the Elders seated on the elevated platform seemed interested in seeing how many new Inner Court disciples would emerge from this year’s selection.

After allowing the anticipation to build for a moment, he continued. "Alright, then. Let’s see what challenges await you!"

**

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