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Di Hong City, as the center of Great Yong, had stood on this land for over a thousand years, towering and magnificent, covering an extensive area that could be divided into the Inner City, Outer City, and Imperial City.
The Ancestor Hall was located within the Inner City, right on the central axis of Di Hong City, opposite the highest part of the Imperial Palace, the Di Hong Palace.
As the spiritual symbol of the Xiahong Imperial Family, Di Hong Palace stood nine hundred and ninety-nine zhang high, while the main hall of the Ancestor Hall towered over a thousand zhang, surpassing Di Hong Palace by a line.
It was said that the Divine Emperor chose this location for Di Hong City because the Ancestor Hall was situated here.
To show respect to the Human Ancestor, the Di Hong Palace was not built higher than the Ancestor Hall.
The Ancestor Hall stood majestic and tall, like mountains towering around it, a spectacle that only the vastness of Di Hong City could contain, inspiring a feeling of reverence from afar.
Every year on the ninth day of November, was the ti for the Outer Hall assessnt of the Ancestor Hall.
This year was especially significant, as it was also the decennial Inner Hall assessnt, attracting an extraordinary number of Martial Cultivators.
The area surrounding the Ancestor Hall was divided by high walls, and everything within a radius of twenty-five li belonged to the Ancestor Hall, resembling a city within a city. At this point, the square near the front hall was crowded with people.
Yet, almost everyone stayed within the designated boundaries; none dared to wander about freely.
Among many forces, the Ancestor Hall held a transcendent status, upholding the principles of fairness, allowing for an open assessnt that welcod oversight from various factions.
Additionally, as the oldest power, the Ancestor Hall also had an exceptionally high standard; even if so people could not pass its assessnt, it might just be a misstep, and other forces might find them valuable. The Ancestor Hall also permitted others to recruit as long as the candidates were willing.
This caused various factions to send people during the Ancestor Hall’s assessnts each year, hoping to "pick up a bargain."
This year’s Inner Hall assessnt made everyone’s attention even more pronounced.
Besides those sent by various factions were the friends, family, and attendants of the aspirants, or rely those with idle curiosity.
On the vast open ground, in front of the front hall, there lay a wide lounge chair, where a skinny old man lay, half-closing his eyes as if napping.
However, no one dared to underestimate this old man; anyone with a little knowledge knew he was an Elder of the Inner Hall at the Ancestor Hall, a Martial Arts Grandmaster, a status that could not be falsified.
Every once in a while, soone would co forward, clasp their hands respectfully, and request to participate in the assessnt.
"Grandmaster An."
At this ti, a young man with a dark complexion wearing a cotton hat approached the old man, and with clasped hands, he said, "Junior Zhao Rongyi, has long yearned for the Martial Arts Holy Land of the Ancestor Hall, and I humbly ask Grandmaster An to fulfill my wish and allow to participate in the Outer Hall assessnt."
On the lounge chair, the old man opened his half-closed eyes, glanced at the dark youth, and said coldly, "You are already thirty-one years old, and the Ancestor Hall’s assessnt allows no more than thirty years of age. Are you unaware of this?"
The dark-complexioned youth was taken aback and hurriedly said, "I was adopted from a young age, and my true age is unknown."
The old man replied indifferently, "Seeing as you did not lie, I will not trouble you. Leave quickly."
"Yes." The dark youth clasped his hands, sighed helplessly, and then departed.
The crowd observing from both sides of the vacant ground not far away began to discuss in low voices, and several individuals sent by different factions eagerly stepped forward to converse with the dark youth.
"This person being thirty-one and at the Four Symbols Peak already is quite impressive, yet he doesn’t even qualify for the assessnt?"
"Is this your first ti here? That’s just how the Ancestor Hall’s rules are. If you are over the age limit, even the Prince’s biological child is not allowed to take the assessnt."
"The Ancestor Hall always adheres to what the Human Ancestor once said, that without rules there can be no standards, so how can they break the rules?"
At that mont, another large group of people surged in from outside the high walls, clearly a large contingent of Golden Armor Forbidden Army guarding a luxurious and imposing Exotic Beast Carriage.
The carvings on the carriage, as well as the young gentleman alighting from it, imdiately startled the onlookers.
"Is that the Fifth Young Master of the Prince of Changping’s mansion?"
"The son of the Commandery Prince of Changping is actually here to participate in the Ancestor Hall’s Outer Hall assessnt?"
"What are you thinking? He surely ca for the Inner Hall assessnt."
"It’s said that the crown prince’s branch takes to martial arts cultivation, and those with high talent will try for the Inner Hall of the Ancestor Hall. The Commandery Prince of Changping is the crown prince’s third son and an impressive figure among Martial Arts Grandmasters; it’s normal for his offspring to have high martial arts talent."
"It seems the Fifth Young Master of the Prince of Changping, also has a high talent for martial arts."
"He’s probably the most prominent figure among those registering for the assessnt today, right?"
"Earlier today, there were also the Third Young Master from the Duke Heng Mansion and the Second Young Lady from the Duke Qi Mansion, but they surely couldn’t compare to the Fifth Young Master of the Commandery Prince of Changping in terms of status."
Many onlookers had been waiting from morning until now, but basically, all present were cultivators, so they naturally didn’t mind waiting for a few hours.
Also, the registration ti for the Outer Hall assessnt only started at si ti (9-11 a.m.) and ended at wei ti (1-3 p.m.), only three hours.
"Grandmaster An, I have co to register."
After alighting from the carriage, the Fifth Young Master of the Prince of Changping ca straight to the old man at the front hall entrance, accompanied by just one guard.
"Fifth Young Master?"
The old man sat up slightly from the lounge chair and asked in curiosity, "The Fifth Young Master is only twenty this year, right? Is the Commandery Prince of Changping already letting you participate in the Inner Hall assessnt?"
"My father told to give it a try, saying that even if I can’t pass, I should experience the gap." The Fifth Young Master of the Prince of Changping shook his head and said.
"Indeed."
Grandmaster An smiled and said, "Trying is good; even if you can’t pass this ti, you’ll surely manage to pass the Inner Hall assessnt ten years later."
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