13 A New Generation Rises

Guys, just a quick announcement: I've changed the parts related to the relationship between Chen Wei and Wang Mei, so I suggest you reread chapters 11 and 10 since this change was significant and alters the story considerably.

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"Mom, mom, let's hurry! I want to see big brother fight; I bet he'll win first place!" A boy of just over seven urges his mother, who is tidying up the house before they leave.

The boy looks out the window of their house and sees the streets, beautifully decorated for the year, bustling with people despite the end-of-year cold.

"Ming Xi, didn't I tell you to calm down? If you keep this up, I won't take you to the end-of-year tournament at the academy," the boy's mother says with an irritated look after the boy continues to rush her, despite having reprimanded him for it several times.

At the same time, throughout the clan's streets, one can see various young people of the same age heading towards the clan's academy, where today's end-of-year tournament will be held.

"What do you think? I have a high chance of winning, right?" a confident boy asks his friend as they walk side by side.

"Bro, we're both only at the middle stage. Do you really think you can beat those Geniuses at the top?!" He looks at his friend, astonished, as if he were looking at a mentally challenged person.

His friend gives him a thumbs-up and nods with a big smile on his face, as if he had already won.

"Ah, this generation is becoming increasingly undisciplined and dumb!" an old gu master struggles to walk, using a cane to assist his movements, while complaining about the new generation.

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"Esteemed elder, all the students have already arrived and are now being organized for the cultivation testing ceremony," the leader of the guards kneels before the academy elder, while behind him, a dozen guards do the same.

"Good, good. This class of students was excellent, especially Chen Wei and Jin Gu. Although the former was an expected talent given his lineage, the latter was truly a great surprise," the academy elder, with his extensive understanding of the students, describes them as the ones who stood out the most.

The academy elder goes to the window and looks down at the pavilion below, where the young students are organized in orderly rows.

"Good morning, my esteemed students. Today marks your last day as students and the beginning of your new life as clan soldiers," he begins his speech, while the young people in the pavilion express enthusiasm, yet still maintain discipline without making noise or breaking formation.

"For those of you who are combat-focused gu masters, today will also be the day you fight in the academy's final and greatest competition," the academy elder's eyes scan from student to student as he evaluates them, pondering how much they have grown in this past year. "I hope that all of you have become competent gu master experts and can join a good team!" He concludes his brief speech and is greeted by the excited roar of the students.

"Take the students to the arena for the competition, and I don't want to see any mistakes, as the entire clan, as well as the elders and clan leader, are watching," the academy elder orders the guards, who will carry out his orders with the utmost care, as they could be executed if they make a mistake that embarrasses the academy elder before the whole clan.

"Hmm, this generation of students had two almost opposite stars, right?" A rank 2 gu master woman asks her team leader, a middle-aged man with slightly balding hair.

"Are you talking about the Blood Prince and the Mortal Champion?" The middle-aged man asks, stroking his beard thoughtfully. Of course, he is referring to Chen Wei and Jin Gu, who have become quite famous in the meantime.

Chen Wei has always been known as the grandson of an elder, but now he is known as one of the greatest talents the clan has produced in the last few years, and many gu masters know him as the creator of the Blood Path gus, which saved many lives in the war.

On the other hand, Jin Gu is much less known to the average gu master, but he is extremely popular among mortals or gu masters with low innate talent, as he comes from a long-standing mortal family but still surpassed almost everyone to rank second in various academy exams despite his humble origins.

In fact, Chen Wei tried to recruit him early in the academy, but the young man refused without hesitation, which made some of Chen Wei's allies want to teach Jin Gu a lesson, but they were stopped by Chen Wei himself.

"Well, we shouldn't focus on these stars but on those who are in the middle, since our team doesn't have the qualifications to recruit those with great talent," the middle-aged man says as he begins to evaluate the students he can recruit for his team.

"It is an honor for me to present the future stars of Clan He An before everyone's eyes. Please judge my work as an educator," the academy elder speaks with emotion as he greets the audience, but more specifically the elders and clan leaders.

*clap* *clap* The academy elder claps, and the guard beside him begins to call students to test their cultivation level.

"He An Ma Fei, please step forward," the young man, who is short but muscular and bronzed with black hair, steps forward to have his cultivation tested.

The academy elder checks his aperture and declares, "He An Ma Fei, D Grade Talent, Rank 1 Middle Stage!" The young man returns to stand with the rest, head held high and proud, as for someone with a D grade of 23%, this was a great achievement.

The academy elder looks at the young man solemnly; he thinks it's a pity that a hardworking and diligent student like him has such low talent. 'If only he were a C grade or more...'

"He An Zi Fei, please step forward," unaware of the academy elder's thoughts, the guard calls another young man who is one of Chen Wei's close subordinates.

"He An Zi Fei, C Grade Talent, Rank 1 Upper Stage!" The academy elder speaks, leaving some people in the audience impressed, as this is not an easy level to achieve as a C Grade.

"This is a good young man; hmm... Chen Wei will truly have many capable subordinates in the future," the academy elder, of course, knows the cultivation rank of most of the youths here by heart, so he knows that Chen Wei's close subordinates form a spectacular group.

"He An Su Ah, please step forward," the guard calls a young woman with a cute appearance and short stature who has already stolen many hearts of the students present here.

"He An Su Ah, B Grade, Rank 1 Peak Stage," the academy elder speaks fervently, looking at the young gu master with pride in his eyes as the audience erupts into cheers and applause since she is the first among the students to reach the Peak stage.

'This is a good student, and the best part is that she is focusing on becoming a gu master medic instead of a fighter,' he thinks as he admires her for putting her considerable talents into helping others rather than seeking personal glory on the battlefield, knowing that the clan always needs capable medics.

And so, the ceremony continues, with most of the students either in the initial or middle stage, and few talented ones reaching the upper stage. Until it's the turn of a young man who causes a stir among those of mortal origin.

"He An Jin Gu, please step forward," a young man of average height and ordinary appearance steps forward with strong confidence, without a hint of nervousness.

"He An Jin Gu, B Grade, Rank 1 Peak Stage," the mortals of the clan and those of humble origin make an exaggerated uproar that shocks the other people.

'Hmm... this young man truly was a pleasant surprise; I never expected him to rise so rapidly despite his mortal family background,' of course, despite his family being mortal, he is still a descendant of the first leader of Clan He An, as those mortals from different origins are not allowed to become gu masters without in the clan.

But just as the excitement is about to reach its peak, the next words from the guard silence everyone. "He An Chen Wei, please step forward."

Everyone looks at arguably the most talented and famous student present as he calmly walks up to the academy elder, who looks at him with pride and even a hint of admiration.

"He An Chen Wei, A Grade, Rank 2 Initial Stage!!!" These words from the academy elder shock everyone except him and Chen Wei's family, who already knew this result.

The commotion caused by this revelation dwarfs the one previously sparked by Jin Gu, making it seem like child's play in comparison.

Amidst all this excitement and affirmation from everyone, the main focus of shock remains calmly impassive, as if he has nothing to do with the uproar.