The morning sun climbed above the eastern peaks, bathing the Ye Clan in warm light.
The previous day's excitement had not faded.
Every courtyard echoed with the same discussion.
"The Thunder Eagle Clan is recruiting."
"Only a few will be chosen."
"Do you think Ye Ming will be selected?"
"I heard Ye Jun has a chance as well."
"What about Ye Luo?"
"The one who never stops eating?"
"You'll laugh until he punches you."
The disciple immediately lowered his voice.
"I was only joking…"
Ye Fu stood alone in the Third Branch training yard.
His breathing remained steady.
His father's footwork flowed naturally beneath his feet.
One step.
Pivot.
Slide.
Turn.
The movements looked ordinary.
Yet each step wasted almost no energy.
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
Again.
Again.
Again.
His father had taught him something important.
"A technique isn't mastered by understanding it once. It's mastered by repeating it a thousand times."
Ye Fu repeated the movements until his legs trembled.
Only then did he stop.
A slow clap came from behind.
"You've improved."
Ye Fu turned.
Ye Chen stood beneath the old plum tree, his hands folded behind his back.
Although his cultivation had declined years ago, his eyes remained sharp.
"The turns are smoother."
"But you're still lifting your shoulders whenever you accelerate."
Ye Fu immediately corrected his posture.
Ye Chen nodded with approval.
"Good."
"A bad habit becomes an instinct."
"A good habit becomes a weapon."
Before either of them could continue—
Dong…
A deep bronze bell echoed across the Ye Clan.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Every disciple froze.
The Council Bell.
It only rang when every member of the clan was required to gather.
Minutes later…
Hundreds of disciples filled the central square.
The Silver Leaf banners danced gently above their heads.
The Patriarch stood upon the stone platform.
Beside him were the elders.
Standing slightly behind them…
Elder Han.
His calm expression revealed nothing.
The square gradually fell silent.
The Patriarch stepped forward.
"Yesterday…"
"Our honored guest observed the examination."
"After careful discussion…"
"A decision has been reached."
Every disciple held their breath.
"The Thunder Eagle Clan has granted our Ye Clan…"
"…three recommendation slots."
The square erupted.
Only three.
Out of dozens of young disciples.
The competition had only just begun.
The Patriarch raised his hand, restoring order.
"The selected disciples are…"
He unrolled a small jade scroll.
"Ye Ming."
No surprise.
The crowd applauded.
"Ye Jun."
Again…
The announcement was expected.
Ye Jun bowed calmly.
A long pause followed.
Many eyes shifted toward Ye Luo.
Others looked at Shen Kai.
A few even glanced at older disciples.
The Patriarch continued.
"The third recommendation…"
"…belongs to…"
Ye Luo scratched his head.
"I hope this doesn't interrupt lunch."
Ye Fu nearly laughed.
The square remained silent.
"…Ye Luo."
The silence shattered.
"What?"
"The glutton?"
"How?"
"Did Elder Han make a mistake?"
Ye Luo himself looked around in confusion.
"Me?"
He pointed at his own chest.
The Patriarch smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"You."
Ye Luo shrugged.
"Oh."
Then he calmly walked forward.
Several disciples stared at him in disbelief.
One muttered,
"I don't think he realizes how important this is."
Ye Fu felt no jealousy.
Only happiness.
His brother deserved it.
Then…
Something unexpected happened.
Elder Han stepped forward.
For the first time since arriving…
He addressed the younger generation directly.
"My clan offered three official recommendations."
He paused.
"But…"
"My journey here was not only for recruitment."
The square became silent once more.
"I was also instructed to search for something else."
His sharp eyes slowly swept across every disciple.
Not with pressure.
But with careful observation.
"A quality…"
"…that cannot be measured by talent."
"…cannot be measured by cultivation."
"…and cannot be measured by victory."
His gaze briefly rested on Ye Fu.
Only for a heartbeat.
Then it moved on.
"A person who continues walking…"
"…even when no one believes in them."
Ye Fu felt a strange sensation.
Was Elder Han speaking to everyone…
Or to someone in particular?
The old man smiled.
"That person may not be chosen today."
"But the road of cultivation is long."
"Sometimes…"
"The disciple who finishes fifth today…"
"…surpasses the disciple who finishes first twenty years later."
The words echoed across the square.
Many dismissed them as simple encouragement.
Ye Chen did not.
He quietly looked at Ye Fu.
For the first time in years…
Hope shone in his eyes.
As the gathering dispersed, Ye Fu stood beneath the Silver Leaf banners, watching his brother and the others surrounded by congratulating relatives.
He was happy.
Yet somewhere deep inside…
A quiet determination took root.
He had not been chosen.
Not this time.
But his journey had only just begun.
Far beyond the mountains, the world waited.
And one day…
He would step into it—not because someone selected him, but because he had earned his place.