Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 51: Chapter 51, 18 and above

Ye Changyun scanned the returning group of youths, his brows furrowing when he did not see Ye Qingchen among them. He instinctively looked for Qin Yue from the Rising Sun Pavilion to ask but realized she was not present. When he turned and saw the Li Family’s designated spot was also empty where Li Zhe should have been, his worry deepened. Li Zhe’s absence clearly means he’s gone into the Qingyun Mountain Range to hunt down Ye Qingchen. The trial is about to end, and Ye Qingchen still hasn’t returned. Has disaster befallen him?

As he fretted, a nearby Supreme Elder’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, ”Look, Ye Xiao and Ye Ying are back!”

Ye Changyun looked up to see Ye Xiao and Ye Ying walking side by side out of the Qingyun Mountain Range. The undeniable joy on their faces was a clear sign of a fruitful harvest.

Ye Changyun hurried over to greet them. ”Did you two encounter Ye Qingchen in the Qingyun Mountain Range?”

Ye Xiao and Ye Ying shook their heads in confusion. ”We got separated right after we entered the mountains and never saw him.” Hearing their answer, Ye Changyun’s heart grew heavier.

Time ticked by, and an hour later, Huang Dayear shot to his feet ecstatically, pointing toward a young man returning from the mountain range. ”Hahaha, wonderful! Our Huang Family’s Huang Xiaoshuai is back!”

Huang Xiaoshuai quickly approached the high platform and cupped his fist towards Huang Dayear in the VIP seats. ”Father!”

”Well? Was your trial in the Qingyun Mountain Range successful?” Huang Dayear asked, filled with anticipation.

Huang Xiaoshuai’s face beamed with confidence. ”Rest assured, Father. Over these thirty days, I’ve slain many Second-Tier Monster Beasts, not to mention countless First-Tier ones. I earned a total of 8,878 points. First place is definitely mine!”

This score had broken the previous record for the Qingyun Mountain Range trials, and Huang Xiaoshuai was completely confident he would take first place.

”Good, very good! You are truly my son!” Huang Dayear was overjoyed. If he takes first place, won’t Huang Xiaoshuai have his pick of the six great sects?

At this thought, Huang Dayear couldn’t help but glance at Ye Changyun and Li Zhe’s still-empty seat, his eyes filled with arrogance and triumph. Now that the Huang Family has secured first place, how can the Ye and Li Families possibly compete?

Not long after Huang Xiaoshuai’s return, Du Pengcheng glanced at the setting sun and announced, ”There is one hour remaining before the deadline for this trial! Any participant who returns after the deadline will have their score voided!

”At that time, I will publicly announce the final results. The top eighteen participants will earn the right to join our six great sects!”

Hearing this, the elders of the youths who had not yet returned grew extremely anxious. They craned their necks towards the Qingyun Mountain Range, praying their family’s prodigies would return in time. This included Ye Changyun and the Supreme Elder.

The minutes ticked by. Every so often, another one or two youths would return. However, as time wore on, the number of returnees dwindled. In the final ten minutes, not a single person returned. The hearts of Ye Changyun and the Supreme Elder sank. To still see no sign of Ye Qingchen or Xiao Xiao at this point... we fear the worst has happened...

Huang Dayear, growing impatient, said to Du Pengcheng, ”Steward Du, there are only three minutes left. Anyone who was going to return is already back. I’m afraid those who aren’t here yet are never coming back. There’s no need to waste any more time. Shouldn’t we announce the results?”

Before Du Pengcheng could reply, Ye Changyun interjected anxiously, ”Huang Dayear, we’ve waited thirty days! Why the rush now? Can’t you wait another three minutes?” Though Ye Qingchen was late, Ye Changyun clung to a final sliver of hope. What if a miracle happens?

Hearing this, Huang Dayear snorted coldly. ”Ye Changyun, I know you’re waiting for your Ye Family’s Ye Qingchen! If he’s not back by now, he’s definitely dead in the Qingyun Mountain Range. Stop wasting the time of the stewards from the six great sects and the rest of us.”

”You’re talking nonsense!” Ye Changyun roared, glaring fiercely at Huang Dayear.

Not to be outdone, Huang Dayear glared back and was about to retort when Du Pengcheng intervened. ”Patriarchs, please, calm yourselves! Why spoil the harmony over such a trivial matter? Since there are only two or three minutes left, we will simply wait as the rules dictate.”

With that, Du Pengcheng glanced toward the entrance of the Qingyun Mountain Range, a trace of anticipation in his heart. Just over ten minutes ago, he’d seen Ye Qingchen’s score on the leaderboard increase by two points before going still. He should be rushing back right now, shouldn’t he?

Another minute passed. The entrance to the Qingyun Mountain Range remained empty. Only the final minute remained.

Is he not going to make it back in time? Du Pengcheng shook his head, pulling his gaze away from the mountain range. If Ye Qingchen returned on time, he could still recruit him for the Qingyun Sect. But if he was late, not even he could make an exception to the rules.

Just as Du Pengcheng was about to announce the time was up, a commotion erupted from the crowd.

Under the watchful eyes of all, a youth in green robes appeared, running like the wind as he returned from the Qingyun Mountain Range!

”It’s Ye Qingchen!”

”It really is him!”

Ye Xiao and Ye Ying cried out in joyous surprise when they saw the green-robed youth.

Ye Changyun and the Supreme Elder, who had been on the verge of despair, shot to their feet, overcome with excitement! Ye Qingchen... he wasn’t dead!

Thank goodness! A great weight was finally lifted from their hearts.

Huang Dayear glanced at Ye Qingchen rejoining the other youths and curled his lip in displeasure. ”So what if he made it back at the last second? It’s not like he’ll get into the top eighteen. It’s all for nothing!”

Seeing Ye Qingchen return, Du Pengcheng’s eyes lit up. He slowly stood, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he announced in a loud, clear voice, ”The deadline has passed! I hereby declare this trial in the Qingyun Mountain Range officially over! Next, I will announce the final scores and rankings!”

”First place, Huang Xiaoshuai, with a total score of 8,878 points!”

Hearing he was first, Huang Xiaoshuai instantly held his head high with undisguised pride. Many of the surrounding youths looked at him with envy.

”Hahaha, I told you! First place this time could only belong to my Huang Xiaoshuai!” Huang Dayear was overjoyed, his face beaming with pride. In the VIP seats, many of Qingyun Town’s other prominent figures began to offer their congratulations.

”Second place, Ye Ying, with a total score of 7,135 points!”

”Third place, Cheng Zhibin, with a total score of 6,959 points!”

”Fourth place, Ye Xiao, with a total score of 6,838 points!”

”Fifth place...”

”Eighteenth place, Li Teng, with a total score of 5,997 points!”

Soon, Du Pengcheng finished announcing the top eighteen.

Ye Changyun and the Supreme Elder frowned deeply, their faces filled with shock. Even Ye Ying and Ye Xiao made it into the top eighteen... so how could Ye Qingchen not be on the list?