Martial Conquest of the Nine Desolates

Boom!

Upon the assessment square, all the Elders rose from their seats, looking up at the Heavenly Dome.

Indeed, they caught sight of the Taiyi Palace Master striding across the air, each step rippling the void like myriad waves upon the surface of water, his profound eyes brimming with endless Divine Light.

The Taiyi Palace Master was a renowned powerhouse throughout Central State!

In the eyes of the numerous Disciples surrounding the square, expressions of admiration and respect were evident.

"Greetings to the Palace Master!"

First, the Ten Law Enforcement Elders from the Main Hall and the Heavenly Hall uniformly made a gesture of respect with clasped fists toward the Holy Palace Master.

All the Disciples present promptly followed suit with clasped fists: "Greetings to the Palace Master!"

"Hm, the Disciples of the Heavenly Hall who are participating in the assessment, you may step forward now." The Holy Palace Master descended from above, landing at the forefront, his majestic gaze sweeping across the crowd as he spoke.

But soon after, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Xiao Ye, hasn't returned?" the Holy Palace Master communicated telepathically to a Law Enforcement Elder of the Heavenly Hall.

The Elder could only offer a wry smile.

He was aware of the degree of the Holy Palace Master's consideration for Xiao Ye, thus for the past few days he had been paying attention to the activity at the sect's gate, unfortunately, Xiao Ye had still not returned.

"Yes, Palace Master, Xiao Ye has not yet returned to the Holy Palace." This Elder hurriedly communicated telepathically.

"This darned kid, clearly in the Taiyi Domain yet not returning, has he forgotten that today is the day I scheduled for his participation in the Holy Palace Main Hall assessment?" The Holy Palace Master was extremely dissatisfied, but did not show it, sitting in silence, leaving no one knowing what he was thinking.

The multitude of Disciples stood there, stunned.

Wasn't the Holy Palace Master here to preside over and observe this assessment? Why after uttering only a word, was there no further activity?

It was a Law Enforcement Great Elder from the Main Hall who understood the Holy Palace Master's thoughts, coughed dryly and stood up with authority, saying: "Due to certain reasons, today's assessment will be postponed for a while, please wait patiently a little longer, Disciples."

Whoosh!

At these words, all Disciples were immediately stunned.

The pre-determined time had been delayed; what on earth was going on?

It was said that this time for the assessment was personally set by the Holy Palace Master, and now was he going to overthrow it?

"Perhaps it is for Xiao Ye," guessed a few of the top Disciples from the Heavenly Hall, clenching their fists resentfully.

The degree of the Holy Palace Master's concern for Xiao Ye had far surpassed their anticipation, invoking their immense jealousy.

They had entered the Holy Palace for more than a decade to achieve such accomplishments.

Yet Xiao Ye, having entered the Holy Palace for merely two or three years, had risen spectacularly and was now receiving such attention from the Holy Palace Master; naturally, they were not reconciled.

Just for Xiao Ye, they were made to wait here doing nothing?

But in front of the Holy Palace Master, they dared not show their discontent, only standing their ground and waiting.

However, this wait turned out to be a full two hours, the sun already high in the sky.

Not only the numerous Disciples were growing impatient, but the Law Enforcement Elders from the Heavenly and Main Halls were also becoming restless.

If Xiao Ye did not return this time, were they to keep waiting indefinitely?

"Palace Master, it's about time," the Grand Elder of the Main Hall communicated with power, reminding the Holy Palace Master.

"Good, let us begin then." The Holy Palace Master inwardly heaved a reluctant sigh before announcing aloud.

That kid Xiao Ye, it seems he really plans to miss this assessment; wait until he comes back and see how I'll settle this with him, the Holy Palace Master thought to himself.

"Dear Disciples, the Holy Palace Main Hall's assessment now officially starts."

"Any disciple of the Heavenly Hall may participate in this assessment. If you perform excellently, you will have the opportunity to become a Main Hall Disciple, henceforth becoming a Devilish Disciple, enjoying the bounty of Cultivation Resources from the Holy Palace, and a noble status to go with it."

"However, there are only two spots available in this assessment, meaning only two among all Heavenly Hall Disciples will pass."

The Law Enforcement Great Elder from the Main Hall stood up, solemnly explaining the rules and content of the assessment. His authoritative voice revitalized the many Disciples; it had finally begun!

Boom!

Just at that moment, the space started to tremble violently; a ferocious imperial Martial Suppression swept across from afar.

What!

Everyone was slightly startled; who was arriving in the space of the Taiyi Palace at this time?

Heads turned skyward, and there was a collective gasp.

A black-robed youth was seen tearing through the spatial Barrier, walking through the air. His black hair billowing wildly, his eyes sparkling with sharpness, and that face was all too familiar to everyone.

"Xiao Ye!"

"It's Xiao Ye, he's come back!"

...

An exclamation arose from the Disciples at the square.

"Could it be that the Holy Palace Master postponed the assessment just to wait for Xiao Ye to return?" Some astute Disciples swiftly connected the two events, taken aback by the realization.

How much sway did Xiao Ye have, to make even the Holy Palace Master give special treatment, making them all dry-wait together.

"This darned kid, finally back!" A hint of a smile surfaced on the Taiyi Palace Master's face.

When his profound gaze fell upon Xiao Ye, it suddenly froze, surprise thick within his eyes.

"This kid's Cultivation, how has it surged by so much? Truly a Monster; it seems he had extraordinary encounters during his travels."

As a being with profound Cultivation, the Taiyi Palace Master was an absolute powerhouse in Central State, his vision exceptionally sharp, able to discern Xiao Ye's Cultivation at a glance.

"Greetings to the Palace Master, greetings to the Elders, I am sorry for my late arrival." Xiao Ye descended, gesturing with clasped fists towards the Holy Palace Master and the Elders.

In the recent months, although he had been in the Taiyi Domain, the distance to the Holy Palace was considerable; coupled with time spent breaking through his Cultivation, he ended up arriving belatedly.

"You are the only one we've been waiting for," said the Law Enforcement Great Elder of the Main Hall, his tone lacking warmth.

You didn't just come late, you came way too late.

Scratching his head awkwardly, Xiao Ye then took his place in the line with the Heavenly Hall Disciples.

Instantly, Xiao Ye felt several hostile and piercing gazes directed at him.

"Hm? These people seem to have issues with me." Xiao Ye glanced over, slightly taken aback.

These were all Disciples from the Heavenly Hall, where he had spent no more than a month in total, and held no grudges with these Disciples; why would they look at him with animosity?

"Probably because of competition," Xiao Ye murmured to himself, shifting his gaze away.

At that moment, the Law Enforcement Great Elder from the Main Hall continued to introduce the rules and content of this assessment.