I See the Aura of the Great Emperor in All My Disciples

Chapter 1697: Chapter 1697: The Inspection Begins, No Audiences Allowed!

A top aristocratic family not only needs to designate a direct lineage for concentrated resource allocation, but also must maintain the cultivation enthusiasm of other direct lineages.

The inspection of cultivation techniques thus serves as a motivation for other direct lineages.

If during the inspection a member of a direct lineage surpasses the one favored with resources, they can replace all the privileges of the other in the Xu Family.

In this way, it also prevents other direct lineages from losing their martial arts training spirit.

However... while Xu Yuan was still alive, his talent and purity of bloodline made him the absolute prodigy among the Xu Family’s younger generation, such that other direct lineages could hardly muster the desire to compete with him.

But, when Xu Yuan fell, and Xu Luo inherited Xu Yuan’s privileges, the rest of the direct lineages began to grow restless.

Xu Luo’s talent may be second only to Xu Yuan, but the gap between him and the other direct lineages was not impossibly wide.

As a result, practically all direct lineages were eyeing Xu Luo with covetous intent.

They also believed that he did not deserve to monopolize the Xu Family’s resource allocation all to himself.

When Xu Yeming, accompanied by Hong Ying and Blackie disguised as maids and guards, arrived at the scene, he immediately felt dozens of gazes shooting towards him.

These gazes were rather unfriendly.

However, for Xu Yeming, such gazes were inconsequential and didn’t affect him at all.

At this time, Xu Qing and Xu Han also came together and approached Xu Yeming.

Xu Qing cracked a smile and lifted his chin, ”Brother Luo, have you made any breakthroughs during these days of closed-door cultivation?”

Upon hearing the word ’breakthrough.’

Xu Han’s expression tightened, and she hurriedly laughed, ”It’s only been three days. How could there possibly be a breakthrough with the Eclipse Netherworld Record?”

If anyone least wanted to see Xu Luo make a breakthrough.

It wasn’t Xu Qing, nor any other direct lineages.

It was Xu Han.

After all, Xu Han had followed Xu Luo since childhood but ultimately abandoned him for Xu Yuan, believing that relying on Xu Yuan with his superior talent would offer her a better future. Thereafter, she grew very close to Xu Qing.

If Xu Luo were to make another breakthrough, surpassing Xu Qing or the other direct lineages again, wouldn’t it mean that her decision was wrong? Wouldn’t that negate all her previous efforts?

It was then that Xu Yeming laughed.

”You come to probe me at this time, could it be you lack confidence in yourselves?”

Upon hearing ”Brother Luo’s” mockery, Xu Qing’s face instantly soured, as if a sore spot had been hit. However, after taking a deep breath and managing not to lose his composure, he could only force a smile and say, ”Oh? Brother Luo seems so at ease. Does this mean you feel extremely confident about this time?”

Xu Yeming no longer bothered with Xu Qing. The more one says, the more mistakes one makes.

Instead, he walked past him with Hong Ying and Blackie, arriving at his own place under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

Xu Qing snorted coldly, ”I really want to see what he’s going to use to compete with me this time! Come on, Xu Han, let’s go too.”

Xu Han nodded and cast a glance at Xu Yeming’s retreating figure, her eyes filled with doubt and curiosity.

The usual Xu Luo, constantly being compared to Xu Yuan by the family, would not show such confidence.

But this time, Xu Luo’s confidence, does it signify that he...

At this thought, Xu Han quickly shook her head.

Impossible!

Xu Luo had been stuck at the third level of the Eclipse Netherworld Record for quite some time and had been unable to break through. How could he possibly have an epiphany in just three days?

Even the other direct lineages were waiting to see Xu Luo’s embarrassment.

”Xu Luo is probably still stuck at the third level, right? If that’s the case, he might have his privileges revoked this time.”

”If that’s indeed the case, it’s inevitable. The family has already been very dissatisfied with Luo. Despite being given so many resources, although his realm has improved, he has been stuck at the third level of the Eclipse Netherworld Record for five years now, hasn’t he?”

”Right, it’s up to Xu Qing and Xu Chen now; their talent isn’t really much worse than Xu Luo’s.”

Listening to the surrounding conversations.

Hong Ying said, ”It seems the identity Xu Junior Brother is assuming is not well-received.”

Blackie laughed and said, ”They just don’t know someone else has taken over the role. If it were still the same person, I’m afraid it would really be as they wish.”

As soon as the two finished speaking, three elders appeared in front of all the Direct Lineage members.

At that moment, the entire cultivator ground fell into sudden silence.

Leading them was an elder holding a walking stick, also known as the Sixth Elder.

Behind him were the Seventh and Eighth Elders.

Xu Yeming could clearly feel that the Elder with the walking stick and the other two elders all paused their gaze on him for a moment.

After moving their gaze away, the walking stick Elder spoke loudly, ”As always, all Direct Lineage disciples will come forward and demonstrate the Eclipse Netherworld Record. Those who make a breakthrough will be rewarded with family resources. If someone surpasses everyone else, they will receive an even greater allocation of the family’s resources.”

As he said this, the walking stick Elder looked at Xu Yeming and stated, ”Of course, if you are surpassed by other disciples, then Xu Luo, you will lose your privilege.”

Xu Yeming nodded.

”Alright, let’s begin.”

The assessment of cultivation techniques had no particular order, so the order of participants was quite casual.

The first Direct Lineage member to approach the three elders looked rather immature.

Yet, he had already cultivated the Eclipse Netherworld Record to the first level.

When he swung out a palm, he could actually summon the Moon Netherworld Energy!

The walking stick Elder slightly nodded, ”You’ve broken through to the first level in just half a year; you have great talent. Next.”

Right after that.

A tall and aloof man stepped forward.

Everyone was slightly surprised to see him: ”It’s Xu Chen.”

Xu Chen seemed indifferent to the attention from those around him and gave a respectful bow to the three elders.

The three elders also displayed a bit more seriousness when they saw Xu Chen.

”Begin.”

Xu Chen nodded and with a light shout, his hands formed seals.

Behind him, a malformed black crescent moon slowly congealed!

The crowd exclaimed: ”Indeed, Xu Chen has broken through to the second level!”

To conjure a black crescent moon was the sign of entering the third level of the Eclipse Netherworld Record!

The walking stick Elder nodded in satisfaction, ”You’ve only taken two years to break through to the third level, very good! Nearly the same amount of time it took Xu Luo!”

As this statement was made, many looked towards Xu Yeming with mocking expressions.

Following that.

Another dozen or so people went up.

Among them was Xu Han.

However, of those who performed their cultivation techniques, even Xu Han, the one with the highest level of cultivation, had only reached the second level of the Eclipse Netherworld Record.

Xu Qing seemed to be intentionally waiting for the others to finish their demonstrations first.

And it appeared the other Direct Lineage members also wanted to leave Xu Luo and Xu Qing last, to let them face off against each other.

When only Xu Qing and Xu Yeming remained.

Xu Qing looked over and smiled, ”Brother Xu Luo, shall I go first? I hope it doesn’t put too much pressure on you.”

”Xu Chen has already reached the same realm as you, but... I happen to be a bit stronger than him!”