Chapter 15
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Chapter 15: Ceremony Spectating
Xu Yangteng!
When these three words sounded, everyone from Lingjiang City couldn\’t help but gasp in unison. This skilled weapon maker, notoriously eccentric and disdainfully free-spirited, was actually going to attend the Lou Family\’s changing ceremony!
Then immediately, all gazes converged upon Lou Yun. News of Xu Yangteng befriending Lou Yun had spread throughout Lingjiang City. Coming to the Lou Family at such a time unmistakably meant he was here for Lou Yun!
Lou Tianzhi started momentarily before brightening visibly and exclaiming, \"Hurry, invite him in! Hurry, please invite him in!\"
Lou Runshui hurriedly whispered a brief introduction of Xu Yangteng\’s character to visitors like Liu Chi from outside Lingjiang City. Of course, he also lavishly recounted how Xu Yangteng had favored Lou Yun. While the Spirit Weapon Sect undoubtedly had its own skilled weapon maker, befriending one was always an achievement worth boasting about!
Moments later, led by a clan member, Xu Yangteng appeared before everyone\’s eyes.
Lou Tianzhi personally stepped forward, clasped his hands and said, \"We truly didn\’t know Master Xu himself would grace us today! We were neglectful just now, forgive us, forgive us!\"
Xu Yangteng waved a hand dismissively. \"No need for formalities. I heard today was the changing ceremony for my brother Lou. Naturally, I had to come and offer congratulations.\"
After speaking, he ignored the others completely, turned and swept his eyes around. Spotting Lou Yun, his face broke into a smile. He strode straight towards him, landed a firm slap on Lou Yun\’s shoulder, and laughed heartily. \"Brother Lou, you really look down on me, your old brother, ah! Such a joyous occasion, and you didn\’t even send word to me!\"
Lou Yun too was surprised yet genuinely delighted that Xu Yangteng had come for his changing ceremony. He grinned in response. \"You\’re right, Old Brother Xu! This humble brother was careless and forgot. I\’ll come offer an apology later!\"
\"Forget apologies! Was just teasing you. Alright, get back to your duties. After you\’re done, we\’ll find a spot to drink – my celebration gift for you, brother.\"
Xu Yangteng\’s bluntly forthright personality was almost too much for some, but it perfectly suited Lou Yun. He laughed loudly, \"Good! Old Brother Xu, please go sit with my father for now.\"
\"Hmm!\"
Only then did Xu Yangteng turn away. Lou Tianzhi had naturally already ordered a seat prepared. Without a trace of hesitation, Xu Yangteng plopped down, completely disregarding everyone else present. In his eyes, only Lou Yun warranted acknowledgment.
Despite Xu Yangteng\’s overt arrogance, no one, including Liu Chi, seemed displeased. After all, \’a powerful dragon wouldn\’t squash a local snake\’ – no one from Lingjiang City dared offend Xu Yangteng, so out-of-towners certainly wouldn\’t want to either.
Of course, one exception existed: Liu Yunyan. Her slightly furrowed brow clearly showed she disapproved of Xu Yangteng\’s behavior.
Although a small interruption had occurred, Lou Tianzhi was far from angry; he was pleased instead. He once again declared the changing ceremony officially commenced.
The ceremony itself was straightforward. Sets of distinctive black garments specially worn by adult Lou Family members were prepared. Lou Yun and the five other inductees changed into them, signifying their transition from childhood to becoming full members of the Lou Family.
Everyone showed little interest in this rite. Only when Lou Tianzhi announced the next part – the magical weapon tests – did the crowd\’s enthusiasm surge again.
The magical weapon test involved each participant producing their magical weapon. An examiner would publicly verify its grade before everyone – impossible to fake.
Lou Yun was scheduled last. The first five to take the stage, including Lou Chong, all possessed beginner one-star magical weapons. However, few paid them much attention, eliciting special notice only among their own relatives.
\"Lou Yun!\"
With the booming cry of the examiner, Lou Tianlei, Lou Yun finally walked forward slowly under the scrutiny of countless eyes.
Standing on the platform, he glanced around calmly, absorbing the gazes directed at him – filled variously with curiosity, expectation, and scorn. Inside, he felt an unshakable serenity.
Immediately, Lou Yun turned his gaze towards his father, offering a gentle smile and a soft nod. Lou Tianming returned his son\’s look with an equally gentle, deeply encouraging smile.
Although he disliked Lou Tianlei, respect for an elder as his third uncle prompted Lou Yun to bow politely. \"Third Uncle,\" he said quietly.
Lou Tianlei nodded curtly. \"Lou Yun! Produce your magical weapon!\" he announced loudly. Lou Tianlei knew full well Lou Yun hadn\’t manifested one; he seized this chance to shame him deliberately.
Lou Yun\’s expression remained placid. \"I have no magical weapon. Only a common weapon,\" he stated matter-of-factly, even as his words hung in the air.
Already his hand was moving, clasping the hilt of the sword at his back. With a powerful jerk, accompanied by a sharp \"Clang!\", the Stone Sword slid free of its scabbard, unveiled before everyone\’s gaze.
Though most knew Xu Yangteng had gifted Lou Yun a Stone Sword, very few had actually laid eyes on it. Now, seeing Lou Yun draw it forth, they hurriedly widened their eyes, straining for a look.
The reason Lou Yun had originally chosen the Stone Sword was its great skill in simplicity. Unless one was a skilled weapon maker, others could glean nothing from its appearance alone.
Lou Tianlei crossed his arms, a triumphant smile on his face, and announced loudly, deliberately raising his voice above before: \"Lou Yun, a direct descendant of the Lou Family, possesses no magical weapon!\"
Though nearly everyone already knew this fact, hearing Lou Tianlei declare it so solemnly still stirred a sense of schadenfreude in most. Consequently, waves of mocking laughter once again rippled through the crowd.
Lou Yun had held no expectations for the magical weapon test. His focus was entirely on the upcoming combat trials. Upon hearing Lou Tianlei announce his result, he simply smiled lightly, sheathed the Stone Sword, and turned to walk off the platform.
Lou Tianlei deliberately allowed the crowd to murmur for a while longer before loudly declaring, \"Alright, now we proceed to the next item: the combat trials.\"
The rules for the combat trials were simple: the clan head would designate a skilled fighter from the clan. Each of the six participants would spar with this fighter, and their final ranking would be determined by their performance in battle.
This method was extremely fair. Before such a large audience, the clan\’s designated fighter couldn\’t possibly go easy on anyone. Thus, the true strength of the six participants would be clearly revealed in a single fight.
According to Lou Family rules, those who performed well would be directly sent to the Elite Hall to be cultivated as key family talents. Once granted elite status, their privileges changed significantly. They earned the right to enter the family\’s Hidden Weapons Pavilion to select cultivation techniques and weapon manuals. Those who performed poorly, however, would only be considered reserve forces for the family, receiving basic cultivation techniques and weapon manuals distributed by the clan.
Normally, a clansman like Lou Yun, who hadn\’t condensed a magical weapon, would be directly assigned to the Lou Family\’s outer branch and wouldn\’t even qualify for the combat trials. However, his acquisition of three beast souls during the previous hunt, combined with Lou Tianzhi\’s strong support, ultimately secured him an exception to participate.
This year, the challenger designated by Lou Tianzhi was none other than the eldest grandson of Third Elder Lou Runhuo—Lou Fei!
Lou Fei, eighteen years old this year, was a primary three-star magical weapons master, considered one of the outstanding talents among the younger generation of the family.
Lou Fei appeared exceptionally excited. Besides relishing the feeling of being the center of attention, another crucial reason was Liu Ruyan seated in the VIP section!
Showing off in front of a woman was a common affliction for almost every man, and Lou Fei was no exception—especially since Liu Ruyan was a stunning beauty with a powerful background!
Standing on the platform, Lou Fei wore a smile and looked directly, unabashedly, at Liu Ruyan. However, he realized she wasn\’t looking at him at all. Her gaze remained fixed on the person he despised and looked down on the most—Lou Yun!
A surge of anger instantly filled Lou Fei\’s heart: \"Lou Yun, ah Lou Yun, you just got lucky last hunt. Today, I\’ll show everyone your true face. What a genius? You\’re nothing but a complete and utter waste!\"
Next, the combat trials commenced. Starting with Lou Chong, the six participants took turns ascending the platform to challenge Lou Fei. Lou Yun was, naturally, placed last again. This suited him perfectly, as he wanted to observe the strength of his five clansmen. After all, he had never properly watched others wield their magical weapons; observing them could still provide some valuable experience.
Though Lou Chong and the others hadn\’t yet gained the family\’s full recognition, their parents and elders had begun teaching them basic cultivation techniques and weapon manuals the moment they condensed their magical weapons, allowing them to start practicing. Consequently, each possessed some degree of skill.
At the very beginning, Lou Yun watched with rapt attention. However, he quickly lost interest. Whether it was the weapon techniques they employed or their control over their magical weapons, Lou Chong and the others offered nothing remotely worth watching.
Merely observing them brandish their magical weapons and launch attacks at Lou Fei, Lou Yun\’s mind instinctively conjured ways to defeat each one of them.
In other words, Lou Yun was utterly confident he could defeat Lou Chong and the others in an instant, even without unsheathing the Stone Sword.
As for Lou Fei, while he possessed genuine strength, it was unclear whether he wanted more time to showcase himself or to allow Lou Chong and the others to demonstrate more. He wasn\’t fighting seriously at all. Consequently, Lou Yun naturally lost all interest in further observation. He waited for his turn with an air of utter boredom.
At that moment, Chang Xiang\’s voice sounded: \"Kid, that uncle and niece pair from the Spirit Weapon Sect are really interested in you. From start to finish, their eyes haven\’t left you. Heh, wonder what they\’re after!\"
Lou Yun\’s heart stirred. Glancing sideways with the corner of his eye, he saw Liu Chi and Liu Ruyan indeed staring fixedly at him, paying no attention whatsoever to the ongoing fight between Lou Fei and the others.
Although most visiting guests had come specifically for Lou Yun, since he was just sitting there doing nothing, they naturally didn\’t stare at him constantly. Even Xu Yangteng was watching the fight on stage. Yet, this uncle and niece pair, Liu Chi and Liu Ruyan, had eyes only for Lou Yun, completely ignoring everyone else.
Lou Yun was just about to speak when Lou Fei\’s voice, laced with obvious mockery, rang out: \"Lou Yun brother, it\’s your turn!\"