Dominic Chu sat at the table and casually poured a cup of tea for Evan, then said, "Are the other families planning to move against our Chu Family?"
"This world is a place where the strong prey on the weak. Whoever holds the most power gets to call the shots. Aside from the Lin Family, the other three great clans all have the desire to swallow up our Chu Family—especially lately, it's become even more obvious." Dominic Chu's eyes flashed with anger.
"Evan, these days there are quite a few people in the Chu Family with rebellious intentions. Tell me, have you seen your second uncle lately?
According to the information our clan members have gathered, he's been getting very close to the Gongsun Family. Your second uncle has had his eye on my position as patriarch for a long time. He strongly opposed this marriage alliance with the Lin Family, but for the sake of the clan, I had no choice but to go through with it.
Everyone knows about Roxanne Lin's looks. Asking you to marry her really is making things hard for you. I just don't understand—when you clearly had the chance to choose Second Miss Lin, why did you end up picking her instead?" Dominic Chu slowly shifted the conversation to the engagement.
Evan Chu's heart was in turmoil too. So the peaceful surface of the Chu Family was actually his father swallowing his pride and compromising for survival.
"Dad, Roxanne isn't what you think she is. She may be ugly now, but she definitely won't be in the future. I can't tell you the exact reason, but just trust me. And as for any family that dares to have designs on our Chu Family, I'll make sure they regret it!"
"I trust you, son. But your cultivation level is a mystery to everyone. Evan, just what stage of the Xuanwu Realm are you at now?"
Evan found himself in a bit of a bind. If he said he was still stuck at the first level, Dominic Chu would be terribly disappointed.
But the massive stellar force he displayed during the duel with Leon Lin couldn't be explained if he was only at the first level. The first level of the Xuanwu Realm definitely couldn't produce such power. Yet saying he was at the fifth or sixth level felt a bit unrealistic too.
"Can't answer? Or is there something you can't say?"
"No, that's not it! Dad, right now I'm at the peak of the fifth level of the Xuanwu Realm—almost ready to break through to the sixth. But so far, I haven't practiced any offensive martial techniques. If something happens to the clan, I can't contribute much!"
Evan Chu hurriedly explained, his desire for martial techniques stronger than ever. But in this world, true martial arts were incredibly rare.
Martial techniques are generally divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Heaven-tier techniques are the highest, found only in powerful hidden sects, and there are even legendary Divine-tier techniques. Earth-tier comes next, sometimes appearing in major sects or royal families.
Even Profound-tier techniques are extremely rare. In a second-rate city like Flowing Cloud City, there are no more than five Profound-tier martial arts in total.
Yellow-tier martial techniques are a little more common. Both Heaven and Yellow-tier techniques are further split into upper, middle, and lower grades.
Most clans only have access to lower-grade Yellow-tier martial techniques, but even those can cost hundreds of Spirit Stones. And a single Spirit Stone is worth a normal family's monthly expenses, showing just how precious martial arts are.
"Evan, the highest martial technique our Chu Family possesses is the lower Profound-tier Exquisite Sword Art. But only the patriarch can practice it. Later, you can go to the Book Repository and take a look."
"There are some middle and lower Yellow-tier martial techniques there. Take my token and go inside—no one will stop you."
With that, Dominic Chu took out a black token. Evan saw the character 'Ba' engraved on it.
The Chu Family's Book Repository was one of the most important places in the clan. Normally, dozens of guards watched over it, and ordinary people couldn't enter unless they had the patriarch's personal token. Otherwise, anyone who tried to force their way in would be killed without mercy.
With Dominic Chu's token in hand, Evan could enter the Book Repository without danger. "Thank you, Dad. I promise I won't let you down!"
"Evan, the reason I called you here today is actually for the clan trials in three months. Every three years, Flowing Cloud City holds a family competition."
The purpose is to let the most outstanding youths enter Heavenly Dragon Academy to train. That place is said to have Earth-tier martial techniques.
As long as you get into Heavenly Dragon Academy, there's a chance to learn Earth-tier martial arts. When that happens, the whole clan could be transformed." Dominic Chu's eyes clouded with deep worry.
"Dad, do you want me to take part in this clan trial?" Evan already knew the answer but still asked.
"That's right. I hope you can earn a spot in Heavenly Dragon Academy. If you do, our Chu Family can buy some time to recover."
After all, the clans that look down on us will hesitate if you get into Heavenly Dragon Academy. For now, that's the best solution we have."
"Dad, how many spots are there for Heavenly Dragon Academy?"
"Three. The top three can enter. Our Chu Family hasn't had anyone qualify for years, which is why the other clans are so eager to swallow us up." Dominic Chu sighed, feeling the weight of it all.
"Don't worry, Dad! I'll definitely earn a spot in Heavenly Dragon Academy!" Evan's eyes shone with confidence.
"Alright, that's settled then. Here are some low-grade Spirit Stones—they'll help you in your cultivation. I hope you can create a miracle for our Chu Family!" Dominic Chu handed over several Spirit Stones to Evan.
It was Evan's first time seeing Spirit Stones, and his heart surged with excitement. He left the room soon after.
"I have to get into Heavenly Dragon Academy. Only by learning Earth-tier martial arts can I keep the clan safe—and earn the qualifications to seek the Iceflame Crystal for Roxanne." Evan silently vowed as he walked.
Watching Evan's departing figure, Dominic Chu turned to the portrait of the woman on the wall and murmured, "Lana, I don't know if what I'm doing is right or wrong. I just hope you won't blame me in the future."
Back in his room, Evan found Lily Lin waiting. "Lily, I'll be focusing on martial arts training for a while. If it's not something important, don't disturb me!"
"Understood, Young Master Evan!" Lily Lin had plenty of questions—why hadn't he gotten engaged to Sophia, why choose Roxanne?—but she kept quiet and gently closed the door as she left.
This chapter doesn't end here ^.^ Click next page to continue reading!
Evan sat on his bed, took out one of the low-grade Spirit Stones Dominic Chu had given him, and examined it closely.
The Spirit Stone pulsed faintly with spiritual energy. He knew absorbing the energy from these stones was similar to drawing in stellar force—both could help him advance his cultivation.
But Spirit Stones mostly increase the spiritual force within your body, while stellar force boosts offensive power. Each has its own use.
The higher your cultivation, the more stellar force you can absorb. It's said that once you reach the Earth Martial Realm, you can condense an Earth Star Pellet inside your body, unleashing tremendous power—enough to defeat ten peak Xuanwu cultivators at once.
At the Heavenly Martial Realm, you can form a Heaven Star Pellet, and your strength grows even greater. Destroying a city or flying through the sky becomes possible—those who reach that level are like legends.
Once you reach the Divine Martial Realm, you can open a Star River within your body. At that point, you could wipe out mountains and sever rivers with a single blow. But people at that level are only found in stories.
Evan pushed aside distracting thoughts and began absorbing the Spirit Stone in his hand. The first time he drew in its spiritual energy, he felt a surge of excitement.
At first, a gentle warmth flowed through his body, gradually merging into his dantian and fusing with his spiritual force.
He had never felt anything like this before. When he finished absorbing the Spirit Stone, he could clearly sense his spiritual force growing stronger, and a deep comfort spreading through his limbs.
Opening his eyes, Evan's face brimmed with confidence. "I never thought absorbing Spirit Stone energy would have such great effects. I wonder if refining all of them will let me break through to the next realm."