The next day, as dawn broke, the sun was still on the rise when Old Master Tang was already standing outside the gate.

This was the seventh consecutive day Old Master Tang had been up at this early hour.

The weather had shifted to late autumn, edging towards early winter. Even with his strength at the peak of the Yellow Grade Ninth Rank, Old Master Tang still wore a cotton robe to shield himself from the chill.

As the hours passed, Old Master Tang's hair and eyebrows were damp with dew, but he didn’t care to wipe them off. His expression grew increasingly anxious.

Today was the day for the selection of participants for the Eastern Domain Grand Competition, but his grandson hadn’t returned yet.

It wasn’t that Old Master Tang was worried about Tang Yan missing the competition; rather, based on their previous agreement, his grandson should have been back by now. It had already been two months with no word from him. What if something had happened?

For a moment, Old Master Tang regretted hastily agreeing to Tang Yan’s request two months ago.

At the hour of the snake, Mo Bo walked out from the courtyard and softly said, “Old Master, the young master’s strength has reached the Yellow Grade Seventh Rank. The second-tier spirit beasts won’t pose much of a threat. Even if he can't win, he should be able to escape. Moreover, the young master said his master would secretly protect him. He will definitely return.”

"Ah, two months..." Old Master Tang sighed, not hiding his concern in front of his old companion.

"Perhaps the young master lost track of time. If he’s not back tomorrow, we’ll send our elite forces to search for him on Cangyun Mountain," Mo Bo suggested.

"We’ll have to do that," Old Master Tang agreed, glancing at the sky. He then ordered, "The Eastern Domain Grand Competition selection is about to begin. Although Tang Yan isn’t here, we must still attend this important event. Let’s prepare and head over together."

The two old men, accompanied by some servants from the Tang family, boarded a carriage heading towards the Cloud Stage in the center of Cloud City.

The Cloud Stage, located at the heart of Cloud City, was a two-thousand-square-meter arena made of shattered iron rock, incredibly sturdy and capable of withstanding full-force strikes from Heavenly Grade experts.

The stage was rarely used, and even for events like the Mid-Autumn Festival, it hadn’t been employed.

It was reserved for extremely significant events or those concerning Cloud City's honor.

The atmosphere around Cloud City was filled with excitement. Most of the residents had temporarily abandoned their work, flocking to the Cloud Stage.

There were only three spots available for the competition, and the people of Cloud City were sure that two spots would go to the Liu family's Liu Zhi and the City Lord’s daughter, Lin Dongxue.

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The biggest point of interest was who would take the last remaining spot, with candidates like Qin He from the Qin family, Wu Feiming from the Wu family, and Tang Yan of the Tang family, all in the running.

This was also the first time that Tang Yan’s name was being mentioned alongside talents like Qin He and Wu Feiming. After all, Tang Yan's previous duel with Liu Zhi had stunned everyone. Despite being only at Yellow Grade Sixth Rank, he had fought evenly with someone at Yellow Grade Ninth Rank. Such courage and strength were extraordinary.

There were also other names among the crowd’s expectations, such as Qian Rulong from the Qian family, Zhao Chen from the Zhao family, and Li Xingfeng from the Li family. These young talents were said to have reached Yellow Grade Sixth Rank as well.

By the time Old Master Tang arrived, members of the other four prominent families had already gathered.

As one of the Four Great Families of Cloud City, the Tang family's position was now quite delicate. Once ranked last, the Tang family was now seen as the only family capable of challenging the Liu family.

When the Tang family arrived, the crowd immediately parted to make way.

However, as the crowd noticed, the highly anticipated Tang Yan was nowhere to be seen. This realization quickly spread, and whispers filled the air as people kept glancing at the Tang family's seats.

It seemed that most people still held onto the impression of Tang Yan as the spoiled young master. While they had been stunned by his battle with Liu Zhi, many now speculated that he might be too afraid to compete.

Rumors circulated that Tang Yan's true strength was not even Yellow Grade Sixth Rank, and that he had only managed to fight on par with Liu Zhi by relying on some magical artifacts. Since those artifacts were now depleted, he no longer had the strength to participate.

Others whispered that Tang Yan had been missing for two months due to severe internal injuries from the battle with Liu Zhi, and may have even died.

As time passed, these strange rumors spread through the crowd, and some even began to believe them.

By the time the crowd had gathered, the City Lord, Lin Xiao, ascended to the Cloud Stage.

After scanning the crowd, his gaze lingered on the Tang family’s seats. He, too, felt a tinge of curiosity. Where could this young Tang Yan have gone? The spies had reported that they hadn’t heard from him in two months. It was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth. Could the rumors be true, that he had indeed perished?

But recalling his past dealings with Tang Yan, Lin Xiao felt this was absurd. Although Tang Yan appeared incredibly young, his actions were mature beyond his years, and his sharp mind made him an extraordinary individual. There was no way someone so gifted would just die easily.

Tang Yan had not arrived, and Lin Xiao could not afford to wait for him. Clearing his throat, he addressed the crowd, "In one month, the Eastern Domain Grand Competition will take place. This is a test for the younger generation from all the cities in the Eastern Domain, and it is of great importance for the honor of Cloud City."

"Cloud City will have three spots for the competition. These spots are not just for Cloud City's young talents but for the pride of our city. The final chosen ones will represent Cloud City in the competition!"

“If we achieve good results in the Eastern Domain Grand Competition, not only will it bring honor to Cloud City, but we will also be rewarded handsomely!"

Lin Xiao’s impassioned speech ignited excitement in the crowd. For many young people, this was a dream come true—fighting for the honor of Cloud City.

"This selection is open to everyone, regardless of status or wealth. If you’re from Cloud City and have confidence in your strength, come and sign up!" Lin Xiao announced.

Back at the Tang family residence, the atmosphere was much calmer.

"Ah!" When Tang Yan finished refining the pills, took a bath, changed clothes, and was about to look for his grandfather, he was startled by a high-pitched scream.

The piercing voice caught him off guard, and he scowled at the source. "What are you yelling about in broad daylight?"

"Young master! Is that really you?" Xiao Cui’s eyes widened as if she had seen a ghost.

Hearing Xiao Cui’s words, Tang Yan retorted, "It’s only been two months. Have you forgotten who I am already?"