In the main hall of the Zi residence, a palpable tension gripped the air as Zi Haoran and his parents paced back and forth.


    Worry etched deep lines on their faces, overshadowing the confidence that had been present earlier.


    The son of the city lord had returned unexpectedly, sending shockwaves through the Zi household.


    Despite their waning confidence, the Zi n clung to hope, fervently praying to the ancestral spirits for their favor in the grueling selection process.


    Time seemed to stretch as the minutes ticked away, each second stifled by anticipation. Then, as the clock struck midnight, a sudden shift transformed the atmosphere.


    His mother''s joyous shout pierced the heavy air like a burst of sunlight breaking through storm clouds.


    The room, once burdened with anxiety, erupted into an explosion of ecstatic relief.


    Smiles bloomed on the faces of the Zi family, and Zi Haoran, overwhelmed with gratitude, enveloped his parents in a warm hug.


    It was a moment of shared triumph and the culmination of their collective hopes.


    With the ordeal finally over, Zi Haoran''s father, still caught in the euphoria, inquired about the next steps.


    "Son, what now?" he asked, eager to navigate the aftermath of the intensepetition.


    Zi Haoran, though victorious, found himself uncertain about whaty ahead. "Father, I don''t know. We can only wait for the Celestial Heavenly store''s reaction," he responded with a mix of relief and contemtion.


    His mother, radiant with pride, suggested checking the You Connect for any released news.


    Opening You Connect, the first thing that greeted them was a congrattory message from the Celestial Heavenly store''s chief judge.


    Apanying it was a video featuring a well-dressed woman with a confident demeanor.


    She announced the culmination of the prestigious event and emphasized the privileges bestowed upon the top participants.


    The video ended with an enthusiastic invitation for the city''s residents to visit the main store in the inner city to witness the official recognition ceremony.


    Conspicuously absent from the video was any mention of Ye Zhen''s daring challenge. The Celestial Heavenly store seemedpletely unaware of his act of defiance.


    This news sent a wave of excitement and anticipation through the onlinemunity.


    Many had voted for their chosen participants without ever having seen them in person. Now, this opportunity would finally allow them to meet face-to-face with their idols.


    The individuals in the top ten reveled in their aplishment.


    Out of millions in the city, they had imed their ce among the elite top ten, a source of immense pride and validation.


    However, within the City Lord''s mansion, a stark contrast in its somber mood yed out.


    In a secluded garden bathed in the cold moonlight, the City Lord''s wife stared intently at her son, a frown that etched deep lines of worry on her face.


    "What have you done? Do you realize the severity of your actions?" she demanded, her voice rising with each word.


    Ye Zhen looked at his furious mother, genuinely perplexed. "Mother, what have I done wrong?" he asked with apletely baffled expression.


    "You dare ask me that?" she shouted, her veins pulsing visibly beneath her skin, betraying her mounting anger.


    "I genuinely don''t understand what I did wrong," he persisted, his innocent expression further fueling her outrage.


    "Really?!" she spat, her chest rising and falling in indignation. She red at her son, unable toprehend the metamorphosis he seemed to have undergone.


    The Ye Zhen she knew was peaceful and calm, never seeking trouble without apelling reason.


    However, since joining the one of the most powerful n, his behavior had taken a different turn.


    Taking a deep, steadying breath to control her furious emotions, she continued, "Why would you challenge the esteemed Celestial Heavenly store? Have you lost your mind?"


    "What!" Ye Zhen eximed in shock, finally understanding the reason behind his mother''s fury.


    He had only issued a simple challenge to one of their attendants, hoping to prove everyone wrong.


    He was no ordinary Foundation Building realm cultivator, far from a weakling.


    He looked at his mother, her face contorted in anger, and tried to calm her down.


    "Mother, you don''t have to worry. I''m not challenging the whole Celestial Heavenly store. It''s just to test my strength against one of their attendants, that''s all."


    She stared intently at her son, seeing the defiance burning deep in his eyes.


    She knew that whatever she said would be worthless without him facing the consequences of his actions.


    "If you think you can fool me with such flimsy excuses, son, you''re wrong. But I won''t try to stop you.


    I know that the elder''s words broke your pride, but if you can''t learn to ept reality and that there are mountains beyond mountains, I hope you won''t regret it."


    With that, she left the courtyard, her anger palpable.


    Looking at his mother''s departing back, Ye Zhen was utterly bewildered.


    He had been led to believe the old man was merely exaggerating the Celestial Heavenly store''s power.


    However, judging by his mother''s reaction, he knew he must have bitten off more than he could chew. Still, he didn''t regret his action.


    "If I believe what everyone said, how am I ever going to be strong enough to im dominion over the entire Zizhu prefecture?" he mused with renewed determination.


    Yes, his goal wasn''t just to be the city lord of the weakest city in the prefecture; he aimed to be the Prefecture Lord himself.


    He knew such lofty goals meant a journey fraught with danger and difficult decisions, but he was ready for it.


    ….


    Meanwhile, in the Cao n estate, Su Yen practiced his swordsmanship. He was on the verge of grasping the intricacy of the Chaotic Sword Technique, pouring his heart and soul into his training.


    His sword moved in an erratic rhythm, his chest rising and falling in perfect harmony with every movement.


    Suddenly, the space around him trembled. The sword in his hand quivered, momentarily cutting through the fabric of reality.


    A chaotic sword Qi erupted, wrapping around his body and shredding everything around him into pieces.


    The sound of chaos filled the air as he continued practicing the technique.


    With thest swing of his sword, a powerful sword intent erupted, spreading throughout the Cao n.


    Finally, Su Yen had grasped the true essence of the Chaotic Sword Technique andprehended the terrifying power of a swordsman: Sword intent.