In an instant, a flick sent the black gong vibrating, exploding with the sound of thunder!
The wave of sound rippled out like ripples on a pond, stirring up a wild wind and spreading across the venue in the blink of an eye, silencing the crowd instantly.
"Lingnan Road Qian Yuan Divine Sect’s Yunzhou Sub-sect, the sect’s disciple assessment and selection."
"Begin!"
...
...
Fine rain drizzled, caressed by the spring breeze.
In front of the Divine Sect Mountain Gate, accompanied by the striking of the great black gong and the explosion of sound waves much like the raging waters of Nine Dragons River, the surrounding circle of parents and children fell silent.
Three successive gong strikes resonated, and the voice of a stunningly beautiful woman in red reached every corner, so clear despite hundreds of feet of distance.
Several wooden chairs were placed there, and Li Che’s group, led by Lu Chi, just managed to occupy the seats.
Besides Li Che and his family, there were a few figures in splendid attire, quietly seated with their children in their arms.
When Li Che’s family arrived, their gazes swept over impatiently, several wealthy and elegantly dressed women couldn’t help but frown at the sight of the simply dressed Zhang Ya.
By their attire, Li Che’s family clearly didn’t belong to any notable status.
What business did they have, sitting with them?
Li Che was low-key, and few in Mansion City knew of him, mostly just knowing he was a Wood Carver who survived from the sacrificed Flying Thunder City.
Even the fact that Li Che had joined the Qintian Observatory as a Third-class Guest Official was known by very few.
However, since Li Che’s group was brought by Lu Chi, the richly dressed people, although dissatisfied, held back their ire and refrained from provocation.
Li Che certainly noticed the surrounding gazes, but he didn’t mind them.
"Uncle Li, this spot was specifically reserved for you by the teacher. These people in splendid attire are from the Noble Families of the thirteen cities subordinate to Mansion City. Among them are the two Supreme Spiritual Children," Lu Chi leaned in and whispered to Li Che.
Li Che held Xi Xi and found their seats, his eyebrows arching at the mention. Was it that child... the one who was rated higher than Xi Xi by Li Qingshan?
"Huang Si Xiang?" Li Che asked softly.
Lu Chi immediately pointed out a little boy sitting about three or four seats away.
The boy, nestled next to a beautifully figured woman, was well-behaved with an unusually short haircut and a bronze complexion. Although he was only five or six years old, he exuded a composed sharpness.
Feeling Li Che’s gaze, Huang Si Xiang turned to look over, his eyes quickly falling on Xi Xi. Seeing her youthful three-year-old appearance, he immediately sneered and lifted his chin, breaking eye contact.
"A mere three-year-old child is not worth considering," Huang Si Xiang judged internally.
Xi Xi felt slighted and became irritated, "Daddy, he’s staring at me!"
Li Che rubbed his little girl’s head, "Later you can hit back. Have you learned everything Daddy taught you?"
"I’ve learned already! Now I can already throw out little kitties," Xi Xi, clenching her little fists and batting her sparkling eyes, proudly declared.
Lu Chi, standing nearby, was completely baffled. Little kitties?
What had Xi Xi been learning behind his back?
"That one is another Supreme Spiritual Child from the Thirteen Cities, besides Xi Xi and Huang Si Xiang. He’s a genius from the Liu Family of Eastern Ring City, Liu Chang Qing. The teacher’s evaluation is, he’s not as good as Xi Xi," Lu Chi pointed out.
Li Che nodded upon hearing this.
"How old are they?" Li Che inquired.
"Huang Si Xiang is six, and Liu Chang Qing is seven," Lu Chi rattled off.
The two talked for a while before falling silent because on the high platform, a woman in a fiery-red dress slowly walked to the edge of the wooden platform, holding a roster with the names of the Spirit Children selected from various cities.
"This person is Elder Hongdou, one of the four Great Elders of the sect, a Divine Minister!" Lu Chi tilted his head, introducing her to Xi Xi and Li Che.
However, no sooner had Lu Chi finished speaking than Zhu Hongdou’s piercing gaze swept over to him.
"Don’t talk nonsense. This elder is incomparably beautiful, a unique beauty of the human world, blooming like a flower at eighteen. Refrain from speaking recklessly," Li Che tapped Lu Chi’s head, seriously correcting him.
For his daughter’s sake, he didn’t mind stretching the truth.
Lu Chi, also sensing the murderous intent, belatedly realized he might have spoken out of turn.
"Now, as I call the names of the Spirit Children, come up on stage," Elder Hongdou said, as if she heard Li Che’s insincere praise, her lip curling disdainfully, yet undeniably pleased by the flattery.
"From Xianghuancheng, Supreme Spiritual Child, Huang Si Xiang!"
As her words fell.
Little Huang Si Xiang, who had been sitting obediently next to the striking woman, suddenly stood up, raising his head high, his bronze skin gleaming as if oiled in the spring rain.
With his head held high, being the first to be called, he walked forward proudly.
He, Huang Si Xiang, would always be the first.
"From Flying Thunder City, Supreme Spiritual Child, Li Nuanxi," Zhu Hongdou announced, consulting the roster once more.
"Daddy, it sounds like they called me," Xi Xi excitedly said.
Li Che set her down, smoothing away the creases on her tiny practice outfit, his tone gentle and encouraging, "Go ahead, Daddy’s cheering for you!"
He patted Xi Xi and then slipped in two "Chess Saint" chess pieces for extra protection.
Xi Xi nodded and immediately scampered towards the platform.
Three-year-old Xi Xi, so small and short, stood beside Huang Si Xiang on the platform, dwarfed by comparison.
Below, a stir arose, accompanied by many chuckles and murmurs of amusement.