Sword Rises in the Blue Lagoon, Why Are All the Sword Cultivation Families Older Than Old Six?

In Qingyun Prefecture, within the Azure Wave Palace, Ji Wushang sat high on the main seat, flanked by Luo Tianyi and Xuan Xiaozi. Below them stood ten young men and women, led by Xiao Chen.

Ji Wushang said, "The Eastern Region Grand Competition is in a year. Later, I will take you to find someone who will train you for half a year. After half a year, you will go to the Dao Palace to participate in the Eastern Region Grand Competition. This matter is classified as top secret and must not be leaked. Does anyone have any questions?"

The crowd below replied in unison, "The disciples understand."

"Very good. Time is of the essence. Prepare yourselves, and I will take you there." Ji Wushang waved his hand, bringing the group of ten to the Nine Heavens Hall. There, the First Elder of the Ye family, Ye Canghai, stood with his hands behind his back.

Upon seeing Ye Canghai, Ji Wushang bowed respectfully, saying, "Wushang greets the First Elder." This scene caused confusion among the nine disciples besides Xiao Chen. Why would the Palace Master bow to an elder with such humility? Xiao Chen understood clearly and followed Ji Wushang's lead without hesitation, bowing and saying, "Greetings, First Elder."

The remaining nine dared not hesitate and followed suit, saying, "Greetings, First Elder."

Ye Canghai smiled slightly and said, "You may all dispense with the formalities. Wushang, you may return." Ji Wushang bowed and said, "Yes, First Elder." After Ji Wushang left, Ye Canghai looked at the ten young geniuses and said, "My name is Ye Canghai. You may call me First Elder.

Later, I will take you to a Daoist sanctum for cultivation, where the flow of time is eight hundred times faster than the outside world. Half a year outside is equivalent to four hundred years inside. Once inside, you must seize the time to cultivate, hone yourselves, and strive to accumulate more foundation after reaching the peak of the Great Saint realm. Do you understand?"

The crowd replied in unison, "Understood, First Elder."

Ye Canghai said, "Good. Now, relax your minds and do not resist. I will take you there." With a wave of his hand, Ye Canghai took the ten geniuses into his inner world. In a flash, he arrived at the Chaos Dao Tower within the Ye family's territory, stepping inside and reaching the venue prepared in advance by Ye Xuan in the fourth level.

There were secluded cultivation chambers and formations for trials. He took out ten spatial rings, gave one to each person, and said that someone would lecture on the Dao once every hundred years before leaving.

More than five months later, after observation by the Ye family, the first four were recognized: Xiao Chen of the Ancient Sacred Body, and Man Qian, Fang Yu, and Ji Ruxue, who possessed extraordinary physiques.

Man Qian possessed the Heavenly Demon Body, Fang Yu the Nine Yang Body, and Ji Ruxue the Ice God Body. With Ye Xuan's permission, Ye Cangyun, the Second Elder of the Ye family, found the four and said to them, "Let me introduce myself. I am Ye Cangyun, the Second Elder of the Ye family. The Ye family sounds unfamiliar, doesn't it? Someone will explain later. The Azure Wave Palace is the Ye family's proxy force. You are all outstanding among the younger generation, especially Xiao Chen. I will give you a chance to choose: join my Ye family. Are you willing?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen's eyes gleamed. He didn't care what Ye family it was; he would join first. This was a rare opportunity. While the other three were still hesitating, Xiao Chen immediately said, "Xiao Chen is willing to join the Ye family."

Man Qian also agreed, as he was a rogue cultivator with no ties. The other two had families and were still hesitant. Xiao Chen and Man Qian looked at them, and Xiao Chen nodded. Ye Cangyun saw this and said, "You don't need to worry about anything. After joining, you will each have your own tasks. Besides these, the Ye family will not restrict your freedom. This is also a benefit for your families."

The two no longer hesitated and decisively agreed. Ye Cangyun then led the three out of the Chaos Dao Tower and into the Ye family's territory, saying as they walked, "The Ye family is divided into ten halls: Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow, Universe, Cosmos, Flood, Wilderness, as well as the War Hall and the Guardian Dao Hall. You can choose to join the Universe, Cosmos, Flood, Wilderness, or War Hall. The other five halls are not open to outsiders." As he spoke, a young man dressed as a scholar, with a gentle demeanor, approached.

Coming closer, he said softly, "Greetings, Second Elder."

Ye Cangyun introduced, "This is Ye Qiyuan, the First Sword Master of my Ye family. His strength is not as refined as his appearance suggests. Let him guide you and familiarize you with the family." After he finished speaking, he left.

Xiao Chen suddenly felt a surge of battle intent towards Ye Qiyuan, but he suppressed the surging desire and said with the other three, "Greetings, Sword Master."

Ye Qiyuan quickly returned the greeting, saying, "Greetings, fellow Daoists. You may call me Qiyuan. Now that you have joined my Ye family, you may ask me anything you don't understand, and I will answer them one by one. This is Fellow Daoist Xiao Chen, correct?" Ye Qiyuan said, looking at Xiao Chen. Then he added, "I saw the battle intent in your eyes, but I am just a scholar and do not like fighting. If you want to find someone to spar with, there are young members of the Ye family who enjoy fighting. How about half a month later? In my name, I will invite you to participate in the grand ceremony held by our Ye family's Divine Child. At that time, there will be plenty of opportunities.

Let's go, we'll talk as we walk."

Xiao Chen nodded and said nothing more. Fang Yu, who was beside him, asked, "Brother Qiyuan, I'm really curious. I want to ask, how strong is our Ye family? Is it as strong as I imagine?"

As soon as he said this, the other three, including Xiao Chen, pricked up their ears. This was what all four of them wanted to know.

Ye Qiyuan smiled and said, "Oh... then tell me first, how strong do you imagine it to be?"

Fang Yu said, "To have Heavenly Emperor realm experts guarding it, as well as many ancient Emperors and Great Emperors."

Ye Qiyuan said, "Actually, I'm not very clear about the family's experts. They rarely take action, but what I can be sure of is that it's definitely a little stronger than what you said."

Xiao Chen, who was beside him, said, "Only a little stronger? From what I feel, it seems like it's more than just a little, Brother Qiyuan. Even you, although I see that you are also at the peak of the Great Saint realm, my intuition tells me that you are very dangerous."

Ye Qiyuan smiled slightly and said, "Brother Xiao is being too serious. Once you've been in the Ye family for a while, you'll know the Ye family's rules. If there's nothing to do, I suggest you familiarize yourselves with the family rules first! In short, you only need to remember that the Ye family is very strong. From the moment you joined the Ye family, the Ye family is your backing. Half a year later, you should participate in the Eastern Region Grand Competition in the name of the Azure Wave Palace. Just show your abilities to the fullest."

After hearing this, the few felt their blood boiling. Having the protection of a major power is such unrestrained behavior.

Xiao Chen and the other three all nodded and said, "Understood, Brother Qiyuan."

The only woman, Ji Ruxue, said, "Fellow Daoist Qiyuan, the Elder just said to choose to join a hall. Can you introduce them so we can make a choice?"

Ye Qiyuan said, "That's easy to say. The duties of the Universe, Cosmos, Flood, and Wilderness Halls are intelligence, commerce, patrol, and diplomacy, respectively.

The War Hall, as the name suggests, is for external expeditions. The people of the War Hall rarely mobilize." At this point, Xiao Chen interrupted, "I want to join the War Hall."

"I also want to join the War Hall," Man Qian said.

After hesitating for a moment, Fang Yu also joined the War Hall. After all, they were all men and preferred fighting.