Long Jie with this sentence seemed to have nothing inappropriate.

Though coupled with his identity as a Prince, it carried a bit of a playful tone.

Xu Jie and that group of nobles couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Just as they laughed, they suddenly remembered Steward Yu’s earlier rebuke and immediately suppressed it.

Xu Jie wasn’t done, holding back laughter as he raised his eyebrows at Yang Yan, closed his fan, and bowed respectfully toward Yang Yan:

"Brother Yang, after entering the sect, we hope you will take care of us junior disciples."

Anyone could tell that what was being said was irony, deliberately mocking Yang Yan.

How could Yang Yan not understand?

He snorted coldly in his heart, but outwardly accepted their greetings leisurely, appearing quite pleased.

"Haha! Fellow junior disciples, it’s fine, it’s fine, there’s no need! We’re all part of the same sect, brothers, we should help each other."

The nobles clearly didn’t expect Yang Yan to be so clueless, not even able to see through this, their expressions turned sour as if they had eaten a fly.

After Xu Jie rose, he blatantly sneered at Yang Yan with contempt.

In his heart, he already labeled Yang Yan as a fool.

They were just looking to make fun of Yang Yan, a country bumpkin, for some amusement.

Who would have thought Yang Yan’s realm seemed higher than theirs?!

Long Jie also bared his two rows of white teeth at Yang Yan, chuckled, twisted his large belly past him, and started chatting with the group of young nobles ahead.

This group deliberately isolated Yang Yan again.

To them, Yang Yan was just failed amusement.

Seeing the few no longer entangled with him, Yang Yan was pleased with the freedom and simply stood behind them.

Those from ordinary families maintained distance from him, fearful of being implicated by these noble sons.

Thus, Yang Yan occupied the space of five or six people, somewhat standing out from the crowd.

Being upfront, a platform would usher a batch every few seconds.

With such speed, soon it was the turn of the nobles in front of Yang Yan.

From their confident looks, Yang Yan knew their talents were not bad.

They must have been tested within their respective families, assured of their standing.

Indeed, responses came quickly from the three stewards, these were all medium Spirit Bodies.

Even Steward Yu slightly eased his tight expression upon these results.

Though these noble successors had some poor traits, they had decent foundations; once polished within the sect, they would prosper.

The most important factor was their solid resources, with such talent they could become pillars within the sect.

The Cultivation Realm always respects strength, where the strong devour.

At the start of cultivation, your talent is what is recognized.

In the universe, three thousand Sacred Bodies are acknowledged.

Among these three thousand, the further upfront, the stronger the talent.

Such as the Star-Plucking Saint Body Yang Yan encountered earlier, ranked in the top ten of the Three Thousand Holy Bodies!

Though three thousand sounds plenty, many major sects might only produce one across a millennium.

The Ancient Abyss Sect is only listed seventh-tier on the Dao Sect roster and only occupies one nation, so Sacred Body doesn’t cross their minds.

Of course, beneath the Sacred Body are three tiers each for Dao Body and Spirit Body.

In regard to a second-tier behemoth like Dao Sect, its disciples are mostly of Dao Body offerings.

For a seventh-tier sect like Ancient Abyss, unveiling a lower Dao Body would be a major celebration.

"Congratulations to Hengnan Marquis Mansion’s Mr. Xu, Xu Jie! Upper Spirit Body!"

The elderly steward on the right of Steward Yu looked at the Testing Stone Monument with joy and couldn’t help announcing loudly.

The surrounding crowd erupted in exclamations.

The noble group immediately beamed, offering compliments.

Even Steward Yu wasn’t an exception.

Her jade face glanced at Xu Jie, personally inscribing "Upper Spirit Body" beside his name.

"An Upper Spirit Body qualifies for the Inner Sect."

She placed down the red pen dipped in cinnabar, speaking indifferently.

"Thank you, Steward Yu!"

Though Xu Jie presented a composed appearance, his eyes couldn’t conceal the thrill.

He knew he was an Upper Spirit Body since he was capable of remembering.

Typically nobles test the talent of the core offspring once their physical form is established at the age of one.

This decided the child’s future rank within the family and the resources they would receive.

Though it was inevitable for these nobles to enter the Inner Sect eventually, Xu Jie being admitted straight in presented a stark contrast.

"Your talents are good but in cultivation, if you do not advance, you regress. You must not be arrogant and complacent; you must not slack off. Now, you may wait aside."

Steward Yu, carrying a chilly demeanor, still responsibly gave a few words of counsel.

Outer Sect disciples upon passing simply carry their issued token to the Outer Courtyard to find the overseer to receive the season’s robes and token from the Ancient Abyss Sect.

Inner Sect disciples are different; they are escorted by several stewards directly to the Inner Sect.

"The boy remembers Steward Yu’s teachings!"

Just because Steward Yu exchanged extra words with Xu Jie, many were envious.

Even Xu Jie himself felt a bit puffed up.

Upon receiving, he respectfully retreated behind the stewards.

There, several official Outer Sect disciples immediately greeted him obsequiously, calling him senior brother.

In the Cultivation Realm, ranks are always determined by strength.

"Next group."

After Xu Jie yielded one Upper Spirit Body, Steward Yu slightly delayed the test’s speed.

Upon handling Xu Jie, the new tests commenced.

After this group, it would be Yang Yan’s turn.

Right in front of Yang Yan was Long Jie, the Third Prince.

Along with him, two other noble successors were being tested.

"Medium Spirit Body, qualifies for Outer Sect, passed."

This was the first one.

After testing an Upper Spirit Body, the elderly steward’s enthusiasm seemed spent.

Now testing another Medium Spirit Body appeared much duller.

"Medium Spirit Body, qualifies for Outer Sect."

This was the second one, even Steward Yu did not raise her head.

These two passing young noblemen were elated, holding their respective tokens, retreating aside.

Those who passed shouldn’t linger on proper grounds.

Yet, none of these nobles were monitored.

According to them, they would wait for companions to complete tests.

That small group, bearing special status, wasn’t minded by Steward Yu.

"Third Prince Long Jie, Upper Spirit Body, passed!"

The third steward called out loudly and cordially invited Long Jie to wait on the platform behind.