I'm only one year old, what the heck is a Overturning System?!

"Martial arts techniques not up to standard, will not be accepted!"

On the vast and neatly paved Guest Reception Square, built of bluestone, the somewhat immature voice of Xiao Xuanzhen echoed.

She was dressed in a black Daoist robe, with the emblem of a white-striped mountain tiger of the Grand Void Sect embroidered on her chest, and a black brocade belt with an Eight Diagrams Jade hanging to the side.

Though similar in stature and age to the many children who came to seek apprenticeship, her every move commanded respect.

Especially with the Daoist palace known as "Taihe Hall" as a backdrop, she appeared even more majestic and imposing.

However, most people's attention was focused on those three sentences, from which it was not hard to infer that the entrance examination for the Grand Void Sect would be based on these.

——Innate talent, temperament, Martial Arts Cultivation, and techniques.

"The results of the first examination are out. Step forward one by one; those who pass may enter the Taihe Hall behind me."

Saying so, Xiao Xuanzhen casually pointed to the person on her right, "Starting with you."

The named child shuddered and quickly stepped forward to salute.

"From Xijiang Prefecture, Fang Zhongyong pays respect to..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Xuanzhen had already found the roster with his portrait and assessment of innate talent, speaking indifferently:

"Inferior innate talent!"

"Without innate spiritual energy, no special bloodline, nor manifested gifts; your Cultivation is at the lower stage of the Ninth Grade Mortal Realm, with slow progress."

"Assessment, not passed!"

Not, not passed?

The child's face turned deathly pale, staring blankly at Xiao Xuanzhen.

"Could there, could there have been a mistake?"

"Escort him down the mountain."

Xiao Xuanzhen offered no further explanation and after speaking, she pointed to the next child.

"Next one."

Behind her, one of the senior brothers and sisters stepped forward, taking the struggling child down the mountain.

As his cries faded away with distance, tension gripped all the children present.

Lin Xueru subconsciously clutched at Chen Yi's clothing, drawing slightly closer.

Du Yan leaned towards Du Yanqing.

Even Hua Youxiang dutifully stayed at Hua Xianzi's side, protecting the lowered head of Hua Yourong behind her.

Wang Yongnian was also very tense.

However, looking to his left at people like Chen Yi and Du Yanqing who were drawing close to each other, and to his right at the Hua sisters huddling together, his face couldn't help but break out in a thin sheen of sweat.

In the end, he could only imitate Wei Letian and Wei Xiaoyun and hold his head high in a forced show of composure.

Amidst the nerves, a strange thought suddenly popped into his head.

Everyone had come together, so why did he feel so isolated and out of place, as if he were standing alone?

Chen Yi, on the other hand, wasn't nervous, but unlike the Wei siblings, he was certain he would pass the assessment from what Xiao Xuanzhen had said.

"Innate spiritual energy" is recorded in "A Brief Commentary on the Path of the Grand Void."

It refers to a kind of spiritual energy inherent at birth that enhances the speed of cultivation.

Special bloodlines refer to people like Gongye Shou, who possess either the bloodline of the Barbarian Clan or ancestral blood passed down sporadically.

As for the Martial Arts gift, that was where Chen Yi's confidence lay.

With his Sword Dao expertise reaching the Small Success Realm, he would surely be considered exceptionally gifted.

At least compared to the mere entry-level Martial Arts techniques of Du Yanqing and others, his advantage was far too great.

However, as time passed, with more than thirty children gone by and the paucity of those who passed, the complexion of the children in the crowd turned increasingly pale.

Soon, it was Chen Yi and the others' turn.

Du Yanqing patted Du Yan's hand and boldly stepped forward.

"From the Capital City Prefecture, Du Yanqing!"

Xiao Xuanzhen glanced at him, flipped through the portraits, and calmly recited:

"Superior innate talent, born with innate purple qi, no special bloodline, no manifested talents, Ninth Grade Mortal Realm upper stage."

"Assessment, passed!"

After speaking, a disciple from the Grand Void Sect came forward, gesturing for Du Yanqing to stand below the Taihe Hall, where merely two joyous individuals stood.

Du Yanqing turned to give Du Yan a reassuring glance, gestured twice to Chen Yi and the others, then walked towards them.

A slight relief washed over the tense mood in the crowd, with a few murmurs.

"The third one to pass has appeared."

"So many people failed to pass, it truly is worrisome."

"Deserving of someone from Kyoto Prefecture. Top-tier talent, the highest of today. I hope I can achieve that too."

Without mentioning others, Du Yan swiftly stepped forward.

"Kyoto Prefecture, Du Yan."

"Talent: First-rate... assessment passed."

Soon, it was Chen Yilin and Lin Xueru's turn.

Chen Yi softly reassured with, "I'll wait for you there," before stepping forward first.

Lin Xueru's face revealed a hint of nervousness, her hands intertwined together, as her gaze firmly fixed on him.

Brother Yi, you will definitely make it!

Chen Yi stepped forward and stood in place, looking directly into Xiao Xuanzhen's eyes, his expression calm, fearlessly and loudly declaring:

"Kyoto Prefecture, Chen Yi!"

Xiao Xuanzhen took a deep glance at him, his head lowered as he recited the information from the register.

Is this the Sword Dao genius that Uncle Gu and Senior Sister Ning mentioned?

To reach the Sword Dao Small Success Realm at the tender age of less than four years old, he indeed possesses exceptional talent.

But that's all.

"Chen Yi, talent: Exceptional!"

"Born without innate spiritual energy or a special bloodline, Sword Dao talent extraordinary, Cultivation at the Ninth Grade Mortal Realm, Upper Stage."

"Assessment, passed!"

Exceptional, exceptional?!

As Xiao Xuanzhen's words fell, a gasp of astonishment swiftly traveled through the crowd.

Out of nearly thirty disciples seeking mentorship, only four had passed.

Among them, two were mediocre, two first-rate, leaving others already green with envy.

And now, a person with exceptional talent has emerged.

Their feelings are probably, perhaps, possibly more jealousy than envy...

"Chen Yi? Could he be the 'Little Sword Immortal' from Kyoto Prefecture that was rumored recently?"

"'Little Sword Immortal'?"

"Yes, it is said that he is the son of Duke Wuan, with astonishing Sword Dao talent, able to defeat the Grand Void Sect's Sword Dao inheritor."

"There's such a monster?"

Even the Grand Void Sect's disciples, on hearing the name "Little Sword Immortal," especially the news of his victory over a fellow Sword Dao inheritor, couldn't help but glance at Ning Xue not far away.

Impossible, right?

Even if his Sword Dao talent is truly astonishing, how could Senior Sister Ning lose with such a disparity in Cultivation?

If they knew it was just a Swordsmanship contest, they wouldn't...

Still impossible!

There is a difference of more than a decade in age!

And the surrounding discussions nearly broke Chen Yi's calm demeanor.

We're already at the Grand Void Sect, can we stop mentioning that "Little Sword Immortal" business?

While inwardly cursing the gossips, Chen Yi turned back and made a fist gesture towards Lin Xueru and others who hadn't been assessed yet, then joined up with siblings Du Yanqing.

"Brother Yi, impressive," Du Yanqing gave him a thumbs-up.

"Exceptional talent, wow, Brother Yi," Du Yan's tone lifted, "I knew you were way stronger than a certain Princely Heir."

"..." Du Yanqing helplessly looked at her: "We have similar talent, you know."

"But this girl here is a Commandery Princess."

Listening to the siblings' usual banter, Chen Yi looked to Lin Xueru, who was following up next, and heard Xiao Xuanzhen say in a slightly commendatory tone:

"Talent: Exceptional, born with innate spiritual energy, possesses special bloodline, assessment passed!"

A special bloodline?

Chen Yi was slightly stunned, but before contemplating further, he saw Lin Xueru running over and hugging his arm, her joy uncontainable.

"Brother Yi, I passed the assessment."

"And like you, I am exceptional."

"Congratulations."

Chen Yi's congratulatory words made Lin Xueru's smile even more radiant.

In this way, she would have the chance to protect Brother Yi in the future!