"Do you think our son would have made significant improvements within a year at the Dragon Roar Sect?"
"Absolutely! Our son is so intelligent. When his bloodline talent was tested, he was of the three superior veins, a talent far superior to mine at his age. After a year of cultivation, his practice should have allowed him to reach at least the peak of the first layer of Qi Condensation Realm."
Xiao Zhengtian is extremely excited as he's confident that his son would become stronger after the hard training at the Dragon Roar Sect for a year. He believes his son could even pass the annual exam of the Dragon Roar Sect, bringing honor to their Xiao family!
"It's almost noon, why hasn't our son appeared yet?"
Xiao Hongxia, standing aside, looks worried.
As soon as the mountain gate was opened, they had sent a message. But it was already noon, and they still hadn't seen their son, Xiao Yun!
Xiao Zhengtian can still patiently wait; however, his wife, Xiao Jiangxia, carrying a large blade on her back, emitting a heroic aura, seems quite anxious.
She rubs her hands restlessly, her gaze sweeping across the entrance of the Dragon Roar Sect, not missing any detail.
If it weren't for the rules of the Dragon Roar Sect, Xiao Jiangxia would've already rushed in to search for her son.
Suddenly, Xiao Jiangxia grabs onto Xiao Zhengtian's arm, extremely animated.
A smile creeps up Xiao Zhengtian's face too. Their son is coming out!
"Yun! Yun!"
A youthful hero, tall and sturdy, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, dressed in a grey robe, runs out from the mountain gate amidst a shower of sweat.
The Dragon Roar Sect holds a vast tract of land and is one of the three ancient sects in the Tianya Kingdom. It is named based on its location at Dragon Roar Mountain.
Upon the receipt of the bronze token from the steward, Xiao Yun had immediately started running towards the mountain gate. Yet, it still took him two hours to eventually emerge from the mountain gate.
"Dad! Mom!"
Xiao Yun immediately ran towards them. Seeing her son, Xiao Jiangxia was overjoyed and hugged him tightly in her arms.
He had left home at the age of fifteen to join the Dragon Roar Sect, becoming a menial disciple.
Although it was Xiao Yun's own choice, being away from home for over a year made him miss his parents deeply. His nose turned sour at the thought of them.
"Yun, look at you, you're so thin, and you've become tanned."
The family gathered in a pavilion, discussing their longing for each other, especially Jiang Hongxia. Seeing her son thinner and darker in appearance saddened her greatly.
As for the arduous training Xiao Yun had undergone in the past year, the bulging muscles on his arms, the sturdy chest, they were overlooked.
"Yun, it's been a year since you joined the sect. What achievements have you made in the past year?" After some casual conversation, Xiao Zhengtian asked.
Hearing this, Xiao Yun's face immediately darkened. Throughout this year, he had been working hard and diligently, but his progress in cultivation had been exceptionally slow. In fact, it could be said that he was just treading water!
"Dad, I just broke through to the first level of Qi Cultivation, and my strength is about 1,700 jin. My bloodline is just being filled."
Hearing this, both Xiao Zhengtian and Xiao Jiangxia frowned.
"It doesn't make sense. Even though your bloodline talent is only upper-level among the three veins, with more than a year's time, you should have been full of vitality, reaching the peak of the first level of Qi Cultivation, and your strength should be close to 3,000 jin."
Xiao Yun remained silent.
"Back when I was with the Dragon Roar Sect, my bloodline talent was even less than yours, yet I worked hard and reached the ninth level of Qi Cultivation within a year, passed the first annual assessment of sect. Now, the year is almost up, tell me, have you been slacking off?"
Xiao Zhen Tian's face was rather displeased. Seeing this, Xiao Jiang Xia nudged his foot and gave him a look, "Look at what you're saying, is our son that kind of person?"
"Even if our son's talent is average, I don't think that's a big deal. But the bloodline talent is something that we both gave him. If we were to blame, then the two of us would bear the greatest guilt. And remember, if you dare scold our son in the future, don't blame your old mom for turning her back on you."
At Xiao Jiang Xia's glare, Xiao Zhen Tian could only give a bitter smile, "The annual assessment of the Dragon Roar Sect, if the menial disciples do not reach the peak of the first level of Qi Cultivation a year after entering the sect, they will be expelled from the sect. That's why I'm worried..."
The menial disciples of the Dragon Roar Sect join at the age of fifteen, they take one examination every year and progress every three years.
If the cultivation level has reached the peak of the third level of Qi Cultivation by the age of 18, they can become an outer disciple, and there is a chance to become an inner disciple in the future.
Most importantly, most of the outer disciples of Dragon Roar Sect will eventually join the Tianya Kingdom, becoming officers of various levels.
Therefore, as long as one becomes an outer disciple of the Dragon Roar Sect, even if their cultivation is interrupted in the future, they can at least hold a General position in the Tianya Kingdom.
This rank of General is considered middle-tier in the Tianya Kingdom, serving as the key link between the top Generals and the various lower-ranking Chieftains.
For most people, it can be regarded as an opportunity for rapid advancement, and with a little development, they can establish a small clan.
On the contrary, if by the age of eighteen the cultivation hasn't reached the fourth heaven of Qi Cultivation, they will be expelled from Dragon Roar Sect and everything will vanish into thin air.
The first test to become an outer disciple is, within a year of joining the sect, a menial disciple's cultivation must reach the peak of the first level of Qi Cultivation, or else they will be directly expelled.
Now, there is only one month left, and Xiao Yun is about to complete a year since he joined the sect, which means he is facing the once a year major examination.
This is the cause of Xiao Zhen Tian's concern.
Seeing his parents arguing because of him, Xiao Yun felt a twinge of guilt.
Nearly a year into joining the sect, he had been diligently cultivating, but his progress was painstakingly slow.
Those who joined the sect with him, whose bloodline talents were less than his, had already broken through to the first layer of the Qi Cultivation Realm two months ago, with a strength of at least around 2000 catties.
His peers, with similar bloodline talents, had already reached the peak of the first layer of the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Xiao Yun was utterly confused and began to doubt whether something was wrong with his own bloodline talent.
But during the initial talent test, three bloodlines had indeed appeared, which everyone had seen with their own eyes.
Thinking about this, Xiao Yun felt very heavy-hearted. Xiao Zhen Tian and Xiao Jiang Xia also seemed downcast, and the atmosphere suddenly became solemn.
Suddenly, Xiao Zhen Tian let out a sigh. "Yun'er, why don't you come home with Dad? We won't participate in that test anymore. We have money at home and won't starve. There is no need for you to suffer here".
"Yes, we have plenty of money at home, as long as you behave. Mom will find you ten or eight good girls for marriage, and then you can have more grandchildren for your old parents. How about we live this way?"
At this moment, Xiao Jiang Xia also tried to persuade Xiao Yun.
"Marrying ten to eight women for my son?"
Xiao Zhen Tian was stunned. This was straight out of Xiao Jiang Xia's idea.
"What, you can't do it? Or are you thinking about marrying ten or eight women too?"
Xiao Jiang Xia gave Xiao Zhen Tian a look, her eyes filled with anger, waiting for Xiao Zhen Tian to respond.
Xiao Zhen Tian quickly shook his head. If he dared to agree, he'd probably kneel on the washboard tonight!