Hope

"My Martial Spirit?"

Ye Tian wondered in reply at the sudden question, peering at Ye Shi and the Martial Instruction Pavilion elder, noticing the expectant looks on their faces and immediately understanding their speculation.

To break through to Martial Warrior and advance to Peak Stage Level One cultivation within a month meant his Martial Spirit had to be at least Yellow Grade—this was not a difficult guess.

And no one in the entire history of the Ye Family Village had ever had a Yellow Martial Spirit, so it was no wonder that the Village Chief and the other elders were excited.

Ye Tian thought for a short moment before reaffirming his earlier decision; he had never planned to hide the Grade of his Martial Spirit. After all, he wanted to use his title of genius to make his parents happy.

Although it was shocking to have a Yellow Martial Spirit, that was simply the case in the White Cloud Town area. On the vast Shen Zhou Continent, this didn't mean anything, so no one would target him for his "talent".

Of course, if he dared to reveal that his Martial Spirit could evolve, then he wouldn't live to see tomorrow.

As these thoughts passed through his mind, Ye Tian turned his gaze to meet Ye Shi's, and before the chief's excited and expectant eyes, he slowly replied: "Village Chief, I have a Yellow Grade Martial Spirit!"

Hua!

Like water disturbed by a falling stone, a wave of murmurs surged through the crowd.

Even though some people had already guessed the truth, when Ye Tian confirmed it with his own mouth, everyone still exclaimed in astonishment.

A few of the elders even shouted out in excitement, each of their faces covered with emotion. In a single moment, they seemed to age in reverse.

Ye Shi and the Martial Instruction elder were also happy beyond compare, both of them continually laughing and saying: "Good! Good! Good…"

To the side, Ye Meng sank into a moment of stunned disbelief, shock in his eyes, but behind the shock, Ye Tian could see joy.

"So it's true!" Ye Feng's eyes gleamed as the hunter team captain clenched his fists, his face like all the others—filled with delight.

The villagers were all thrilled and moved. On this Martial Warrior-dominated Shen Zhou Continent, everyone knew what a powerhouse would bring to the village.

This was the hope of a village's prosperity!

Originally, when Ye Tian was dejected, one of the women washing clothes had sighed: "Such a good child. If it weren't for his lack of a Martial Spirit, he would've definitely become our village's most powerful Martial Artist and might've even led us away from this poor land."

Those simple and frank words demonstrated the great transformation an expert would bring to the village.

And if you wanted to become an expert, one's Martial Spirit served as the foundation with utmost importance, so when the villagers heard Ye Tian possessed a Yellow Martial Spirit, they were all joyous about their expectations for the future.

Even though the villagers had minor conflicts in their day-to-day lives, when it came to matters concerning the entire village, the people of the Ye Family Village were united. It was also partly because of this that the village was able to place in the top three within the White Cloud Town area.

Ye Shi gazed at the somewhat naive face of the young man before him, his eyes filled with praise as he seriously encouraged Ye Tian: "Child, since you have this powerful Martial Spirit, you definitely cannot waste the talent that heaven has given you. You must become a powerful expert for the future of our Ye Family Village rests on your shoulders.

Heaven? Hmph!

Ye Tian disagreed with the chief—this Martial Spirit wasn't a gift from heaven but something he fought for himself—but he didn't argue with the chief, accepting the words with earnest respect.

Ye Shi was a strong and powerful man—a Peak Stage Level Ten Martial Warrior—and one of the peak experts within his generation of White Cloud Town inhabitants. However, he was old and his face was covered with wrinkles. Sooner or later, time would hobble him, but for now, he had to stand firm and protect his village.

A solemn respect rose within Ye Tian, and he nodded while utterly serious, loudly replying: "Village Chief, Ye Tian promises to definitely become an expert. I will take the Ye Family Village out of White Cloud Town to become an established family on the Shen Zhou Continent, allowing us to become large and prosperous."

At that moment, the crowd of villagers was still heavy with astonishment at Ye Tian's Martial Spirit Grade, and so the square was covered in quiet.

And through this quiet, Ye Tian's young voice resounded loud and clear in every villager's ears.

Everyone turned in unison, every pair of eyes falling upon the young man. Ye Tian quivered slightly as he felt a thousand hearts of excitement and expectations turning towards him.

Ye Tian's promise was proud, but no one here doubted his words. A Yellow Martial Spirit represented the future, and Ye Tian had always displayed the character of a genius. If someone like him failed to become an expert, then who could succeed?

"I won't let any of you down!"

His gaze swept over the faces of the emotional villagers, his eyes steady as he closed his fists. As his strength grew, the burden he carried would grow as well, and it would soon be his turn to repay the Ye Family Village that had raised him.

"Good! Truly my son!" An excited cry filled the air as Ye Meng laughed raucously, filled with pride.

As his father celebrated in joy, a small smile crossed Ye Tian's face. All of his efforts had finally paid off.

The Martial Instruction Elder finally walked over, chuckling to himself as he spoke: "Kid, come to the Martial Instruction Pavilion more often. This old man will guide your Martial Skill progression!"

"Many thanks, Elder!" Ye Tian replied happily. This elder in charge of the Martial Instruction Pavilion was proficient in many Martial Skills and was the Martial Skill expert of the Ye Family Village. With his guidance, Ye Tian would definitely progress rapidly.

"And this old man as well!" Village Chief Ye Shi added, laughing as well. "With your talent, we will put in every effort to nurture you. Let's aim for you to become a Level Seven Martial Warrior before you're thirty."

A Level Seven Martial Warrior was already considered a top-level expert in White Cloud Town, and reaching such a realm was rare even in White Cloud Town.

Ye Shi only dared to make such a goal because of Ye Tian's Yellow Martial Spirit.

"En, I will cultivate diligently!" Ye Tian nodded.

At this moment, he had become the core of the people and was now the hope of the entire Ye Family Village.

As for this decision by Ye Shi and the Martial Instruction Pavilion elder to focus on him, no one opposed this preferential treatment. If they didn't nurture a Yellow Martial Spirit genius with their full-hearted efforts, who would they nurture?

Ye Feng stood somewhat separated from the main crowd, watching the young man greet the eager and joyous villagers, nodding quietly to himself. "I was always too worried to leave for the Blood Jade City and take the Scarlet Guard's test, but now that the kid is here, the Ye Family Village will rise with him and I can finally go to the Blood Jade City to chase my dream."

To become a true powerhouse, one's Martial Spirit was the foundation, but cultivation resources were also crucial. This was the case for everyone. For instance, if the Village Chief found a treasure to help him, he could perhaps break through to the Martial Master Realm.

Unfortunately, here in White Cloud Town and in the land surrounding this poor, remote village, there were no treasures. Even the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth was spread thin in this bitterly poor area.

So, for the Martial Warriors of White Cloud Town, the only true way to acquire these precious cultivation resources was to leave and join a strong crew.

The Blood Jade City's Scarlet Guard was the most powerful force in a five thousand mile radius and joining their ranks was the dream of countless Martial Warriors. One only needed to look at the imposing force that had visited the Ye Family Village to understand their strength.

Ye Feng's talent wasn't bad and within his generation, he was the strongest, but he understood that he would only ever reach the same plateau as the Village Chief with his talents. Breaking through to Martial Master was basically impossible.

Ye Feng was filled with reluctance and he had long wished to go to Blood Jade City and join the Scarlet Guard, but his village needed him, so he chose to stay.

Ye Feng cared deeply and wasn't willing to give up his village for the sake of strength, so he waited, waiting for a new genius to replace him so he could entrust this burden to him and leave for his dream.

And so Ye Feng stayed as Captain of the Hunter Team and the chief instructor for the village children. He had long ago understood Ye Tian's talent and had always nursed hope for the child.

Ye Tian had failed to awaken his Martial Spirit, but somehow this fortuitous twist had come about and Ye Tian still possessed his talent, completely astonishing Ye Feng.

Truly fortunate. A Yellow Martial Spirit, the dream of countless many, but with you here, the Ye Family Village will rise! Ye Feng thought, casting a somewhat envious look at Ye Tian before finally turning away and leaving.

The bustling New Year's Festival had reached its climax with Ye Tian and Ye Wei's fight.

The title of Number One Genius had returned to Ye Tian.

Moreover, he had gained a new halo—that of the village's hope.

Throughout all of this, Ye Tian appeared calm, but deep inside, he eagerly awaited his future strength. He wanted to immediately return to cultivating and to become an even more powerful warrior.

Through the turmoil of defeat and struggle, he had engraved into his soul the realization that this world only ever honored strength, and everything he wanted out of life could only be achieved through power…

The New Year Festival continued to its happy end and Ye Tian bid farewell to Ye Niu as he helped his drunk father back home.

"Son, your old man is overjoyed… those people will never dare to call you trash, never dare…" Ye Meng muttered drunkenly, clearly having over drank in his happiness.

Ye Tian helped his father walk, a sting in his eyes as he imagined how many taunts and how much mockery his father had to endure lately.

And he knew that after he had failed to awaken his Martial Spirit, his mother had basically never left the house, not wishing to hear others bad-mouthing her son.

"Father, I promise you that from today forward, I won't let you down ever again!"

Ye Tian carried his passed out father, confident eyes lifted towards the starry sky.

Through the dark night, a bright star shot through the sky, drawing a beautiful arc through the sky.

When he returned home, Ye Tian handed off his father to his mother and finally returned to his room.

"Meow!" The little white tiger napping on his bed greeted him, sensing Ye Tian's arrival and climbing over towards him.

"Hey, little guy. Did you sleep well, haha?" Ye Tian played with his little friend before sitting cross-legged on his bed and beginning to cultivate.

"Today, I've washed away all my shame, and my head and heart are clear. Perhaps I can break through to Martial Warrior Level Two!"

Ye Tian slowly closed his eyes, heart filled with confidence.

Soon, a dense, thick aura of Spiritual Qi gathered around him, funneling into his body.