Chapter 679 - 660: Competition

Zhan Yingluo curtsied slightly. "Brother Ang, I’m afraid I’m still too inexperienced. The fragment still presents many problems, and I haven’t been able to decipher it yet."

"It’s alright, take your time. As long as we can use it." That fragment was something Wang Ang had gone to great lengths to obtain; he had found it on the fifty-third layer of the Divine Sealing Tower in the Divine Space.

Anything obtained from the Divine Sealing Tower would bear a small mark from the Divine Tower, and a small number on the mark itself would indicate the layer it was from.

Wang Zongzheng cleared his throat twice, and everyone’s expression turned serious. It was time to get down to business.

Zhan Yuange and Zhan Yingluo sat quietly to one side. It was Zhan Yingluo’s first time attending, and she was brimming with curiosity, but it was clearly not Zhan Yuange’s.

The clan assessment began. The first to be tested was Wang Zhiquan from Celestial Essence City. His True Essence erupted, revealing the Eighth Layer of the Earth Wheel Realm. Someone off to the side recorded the results: "Wang Zhiquan of Celestial Essence City. One-year period. True Essence increased by two layers. Reward: twenty thousand gold and two batches of advancement materials."

The advancement materials were standardized according to one’s realm, including resources for personal cultivation and for one’s True Essence Beast. There were no discrepancies.

This was one area Wang Zongzheng actually managed quite well.

Every year, the family branches in Haojing and other regions would recommend disciples. Their annual improvement was thus extremely important. Those who stagnated would face certain penalties.

One by one, the family disciples demonstrated their strength. Their cultivation level was the most direct measure, and the results were quite impressive. One disciple, having reached the Twelfth Layer of the Earth Wheel Realm, was on the verge of a breakthrough. Although he had only advanced a single layer, he still received an additional reward.

The family was never stingy in this regard; as long as you demonstrated sufficient strength, you would receive greater returns.

When it came to the last five disciples, those in the Celestial Wheel Realm began to appear. Naturally, their rewards were on a completely different level. Reaching the Celestial Wheel Realm meant possessing limitless potential, and any family would invest heavily in nurturing such talent.

When it was Wang Hantian’s turn, he was already getting impatient. The last time they saw him, he already had the strength of the Ninth Layer of Earth Wheel. Today, in front of the Patriarch and all the Wang Family elites, Wang Hantian was determined to put on a good show.

With a shake of his arms, True Essence surged out powerfully, and an immense pressure filled the great hall. Even the few Celestial Wheel Realm cultivators present wore grave expressions. After all, Wang Hantian was still so young. To display such strength at his age, combined with being a direct descendant of the Wang Family, meant his future was boundless.

Earth Wheel Realm Eleventh Layer. ’It seems the boy wasn’t using his full strength last time,’ Wang Zongzheng thought, nodding in approval. He truly valued Wang Hantian’s talent for cultivation, and the family had been grooming him to develop along these lines.

In just one year, Wang Hantian had advanced six layers—he was a veritable monster of cultivation. Moreover, his rate of improvement seemed to increase annually. For him, cultivation was as easy as breathing.

Basking in the awed gazes from those around him, Wang Hantian was deeply satisfied. The reward he received was, without a doubt, the most generous one yet.

After Wang Hantian, it was Wang Meng’s turn. Wang Zongzheng looked at him. "Wang... Meng. This is your first clan assessment. Just do your best."

By doing this, Wang Zongzheng was confirming Wang Meng’s identity. In other words, from this day forward, the sordid past of Wang Rencai was not to be mentioned again, at least not within the Wang Family.

’It seems the Patriarch’s attitude is decent enough.’ Wang Meng stepped forward, bowed slightly, and released his True Essence. It was still in a state devoid of the Five Elements, which looked exceptionally strange, but his Earth Wheel Realm cultivation was unmistakable.

The hall immediately erupted in discussion. A year ago, Wang Rencai—no, Wang Meng—was still struggling at the first layer of the Profound Wheel Realm. In the blink of an eye, he had reached the Earth Wheel Realm. Such an advancement speed was simply astronomical.

And he had a Five Elements Wasted Body, no less.

Although Wang Zongzheng and Zhan Yuange remained expressionless, the flicker in their eyes betrayed their astonishment at this incredible scene. A Five Elements Wasted Body could actually advance in cultivation. Rumors abounded in the outside world that the victory at Wang City had been a grand conspiracy by the Wang Family, but Wang Zongzheng knew perfectly well that he’d had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Outside the great hall, Wang Xueyi clenched her fists in delight. ’That boy Wang Meng has really turned over a new leaf.’

She was Wang Rencai’s aunt, and the only person in the Wang Family who had ever cared for him. However, the Patriarch had issued a strict order forbidding her from helping Wang Meng.

But seeing the reborn Wang Meng, Wang Xueyi was genuinely happy. Although Wang Xueyi was an adopted daughter, she was a core figure in the Wang Family. She was an Elder in the Pill Immortal Alliance and had once gone to great lengths to find a solution for Wang Rencai’s physique.

In the Wang Family, someone like Wang Rencai’s father, despite being from the direct lineage, had been relegated to a management position due to his own lack of ability and having a son like Wang Rencai. Conversely, someone like Wang Xueyi, due to her immense strength, actually wielded power.

Without Wang Xueyi’s protection, Wang Rencai would have likely lost his life long ago.

Wang Xueyi wasn’t very old, only in her thirties, but her seniority and status were extremely high. Combined with her position in the Pill Immortal Alliance, she was one of the current powerhouses of the Wang Family. In this, she was like Zhuo Meng, who was also destined to become a core member of the family.

Although the Great Zhou Imperial Family placed great importance on bloodlines, they also understood that a family’s growth could not rely on a single surname. It was essential to constantly integrate new blood.

Of course, becoming a core member was no simple feat.

The moment Wang Meng revealed his Earth Wheel Realm cultivation, many rumors were shattered. Many people present had known the former Wang Meng, and this new one seemed to have undergone a significant transformation, becoming composed and quiet.

Master Wang wasn’t being quiet for effect; he simply had nothing in common with these people.

Zhuo Meng, however, sized up this controversial figure with great interest. His departure had caused a storm, and so had his return.

"Patriarch, I want to challenge him!" Wang Hantian didn’t beat around the bush, getting straight to the point.

Zhan Yingluo had been secretly celebrating Wang Meng’s success, but her heart leaped in alarm when she heard the challenge. Wang Hantian was a notorious brawler in Haojing, possessing ferocious combat prowess and Innate Divine Strength. The current Wang Meng...

Wang Zongzheng looked at Wang Meng calmly. "What do you say?"

Wang Meng smiled. "My younger brother wishes to ask for my instruction, and as his elder brother, it wouldn’t be right for me to refuse. However, since it’s just a spar, we should know when to stop. It would be a shame if someone got hurt."

Wang Zongzheng nodded. "We will continue with the assessment. After the first round is complete, you two may spar during the second round of Magical Combat."

Wang Ang was already at the Third Layer of the Celestial Wheel Realm. However, judging by his relaxed demeanor, he was likely holding back. Given his status, there was no need for him to compete with the others; he only needed to maintain his display of strength.

Zhuo Meng was at the Second Layer of the Celestial Wheel Realm, but everyone knew his strength was certainly greater than that. He simply had no reason to over-exert himself; there was no point in outshining Wang Ang.

The first round, the demonstration of strength, allowed many of the Wang Family elites to reap considerable rewards.

The main event had arrived: the internal clan sparring matches.

Wang Meng and Wang Hantian were not in the first match. Instead, bouts were held between cultivators of the same realm. Winners would naturally be rewarded, while losers would face penalties.

Cultivation was obviously important. In the presence of Wang Zongzheng, everyone did their utmost to perform well. Even a loss had to be a valuable one. A cultivator at the Fifth Layer of the Earth Wheel Realm facing one at the Eleventh Layer was sure to be defeated. However, if they performed well and displayed sufficient Combat Technique, Wang Zongzheng would reward them all the same. Victory was just one metric. The true purpose of the clan assessment was to gauge ability and see the disciples display their full talent and strength.

Everyone fought with all their might, True Essence flying wildly. Wang Meng watched for a while before growing bored. Sensing a gaze on him, he turned to see it was Zhan Yingluo. The moment their eyes met, she looked away like a startled rabbit, her neck instantly blushing red.

Wang Ang, sitting beside Zhan Yingluo, obviously noticed this exchange. His own gaze hadn’t left her. ’It’s been a while,’ he thought, ’and she seems even more beautiful.’

Wang Ang’s eyes tried to explore further, but her clothes blocked his view, much to his regret.

Seeing this, Wang Ang couldn’t help but worry. ’Even when Wang Rencai was a good-for-nothing, he knew how to seduce women. Now that he has some ability, I have to be even more careful. Surely nothing happened between Yingluo and that brat back in Wang City?’

At this thought, Wang Ang’s heart sank. He turned to Wang Hantian and said, "When it’s your turn, go all out. Don’t worry about anything else."

Wang Hantian cracked his knuckles. "I’ll make him regret ever coming back!"

’Slapping me in public... If Wang Ang and Zhuo Meng hadn’t stopped me, I’d have torn him apart.’

Finally, it was time for the battle between Wang Meng and Wang Hantian, the main event of the day. No one dared to challenge Wang Ang or Zhuo Meng.

Wang Meng and Wang Hantian stepped into the center of the hall.

Wang Zongzheng looked at Wang Meng. "Do you require a weapon?"

Wang Meng shook his head. He felt nothing in particular toward the Patriarch. In the entire Wang Family, if there was anyone who had shown kindness to Wang Rencai, it certainly wasn’t his own father. Only Wang Xueyi counted, but he’d been back for so long and still hadn’t seen her.

Wang Hantian clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking loudly. "Eat this!"

BANG! RAAAGH—KILL!

Wang Hantian was playing for keeps. With a single step, the might of a Power Cultivator erupted from him. His True Essence instantly flared to the Eleventh Layer of the Earth Wheel Realm, holding absolutely nothing back. With his immense strength, even a cultivator at the peak of the Twelfth Layer would be unable to withstand his punch.

Although Wang Meng had made great progress, he appeared to be only at the second or third layer of the Earth Wheel Realm. The disparity in their power was immense.

Zhan Yingluo’s heart clenched. She glanced at Zhan Yuange and Wang Zongzheng, but the two men remained seated, showing no reaction.

The fist was about to land, yet Wang Meng showed no intention of dodging. Suddenly, he extended his right hand.

BOOM...

Wang Hantian was sent staggering backward, spinning around and knocking over several disciples.

Wang Zongzheng and Zhan Yuange exchanged a look, their eyes clearly betraying utter disbelief.

Zhuo Meng’s eyes burned with intensity. "What a fine display of Taking Chestnuts from the Fire!"

Wang Meng remained standing in the same spot. Wang Hantian scrambled to his feet, fire practically shooting from his eyes. His True Essence erupted as he stomped his foot violently on the ground. An earthen-yellow, circular Array Technique appeared beneath him, and a ceaseless torrent of power surged into his body. By the time the energy reached his fists, however, it had turned a blazing red.

This was Wang Hantian’s earth-fire Dual Five Elements Physique—using the Power of Earth as his foundation and the Power of Fire for his attacks.

Feeling his body swell with power, Wang Hantian threw all caution to the wind.

"World-Dominating Fist—Slaying Dance of the Fire Wheel!"(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)