The assessment sites of the Five Great Families are located within a dedicated hall in the inner district of Saint Dan City—a venue established by Dan Tower throughout the generations, underscoring Dan Tower's high regard for these evaluations. The assessments are not held in secret but are semi-public. Several qualified factions regularly arrive at the venue at the start of each session. The Five Great Families' positions are always closely watched, as everyone knows this is a direct pathway to the Dan Tower's upper echelons. Once a family secures a connection with Dan Tower, its influence and reputation will undoubtedly surge dramatically. The five leading families today are in peril—should the current assessment fail, the Ye family will lose its status as one of the five. Once that position is gone, other powers that have long been eyeing them will surely move in en masse. Consequently, many forces seeking entry into the upper echelons of Dantai are closely watching the evaluation process of the five families. "Let's go..." Ye Zhong gazed at the massive examination hall, his fist subtly trembling within his sleeve. This place held deep memories—each examination had left him with profound humiliation. As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Zhong stepped forward toward the hall's entrance, followed closely by Xiao Yan and the others. The sudden emergence of Ye Zhong and his companions immediately drew the attention of the surrounding crowd. As they caught sight of the family emblems on the chests of Ye Zhong and his companions, murmurs began to rise throughout the outer area of the hall. "Look! They're from the Ye family!" "Heh, if they fail again, the Ye family might drop out of the top five clans. Without the Dan Tower's protection, their future prospects won't be very promising." "Oh, yes. Back then, the Ye family was truly magnificent—among the Five Great Families, only the Dan family could rival them. Alas, now...” "Ah, the winds of fortune do turn..." Hearing the murmurs around him, a wistful bitterness stirred in Ye Zhong's eyes. The decline of the Ye family had undoubtedly been his greatest blow. He had poured everything into the family's rise, and now, with all his hopes pinned on Xiao Yan, he was gambling everything on a single stake. Should they lose once more, the Ye family would be truly finished. Though they harbored a certain disdain for the Ye family, the guards dared not openly hassle them. With a casual wave of their hands, they stepped aside and shouted loudly toward the inner hall: "The Ye family is here!" Ye Zhong remained expressionless, as if completely unaware of the guards' condescension, leading Xiao Yan and the others steadily forward, and then fading into the midst of the countless eyes watching from outside. Upon entering the hall, soft light poured down. As the light fell upon their bodies, Xiao Yan noticed that a series of glances—each carrying different nuances—were now directed toward them as well. He slightly lifted his gaze, his eyes sweeping across the hall. At the seating areas surrounding the hall, numerous figures were present, many of whom radiated strong presences—clearly representatives from powerful clans or influential factions. While these figures from all directions cast their glances upon him, Ye Zhong paid them little mind. He knew that most of them were anticipating that Ye Family’s assessment would fail, thereby securing them a prime spot. "Right at the front are the seats of the Four Great Clans of the Dan Office—the Bai Qiu families," Ye Zhong said softly, leading Xiao Yan and his party toward the Ye Family's designated seating area. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's gaze followed suit and indeed he spotted four seating areas at the very front of the hall. However, currently only representatives from the three major families were present, bearing the insignias on their robes—clearly the Dan, Bai, and Qiu families. Xiao Yan's eyes first lingered at the most understated Dan family seat, then suddenly paused, and he emitted a soft expression of surprise. For among the Dan family representatives, he spotted a familiar, petite figure—exactly the girl he had encountered during the Tower Division Test, who had seemed rather unusual at the time. When Xiao Yan caught sight of her, she too became aware and turned her head, meeting his gaze briefly before quickly averting her eyes, appearing shy and gentle. "This girl does seem a bit unfamiliar, but the fact that she's standing there suggests she must hold a fairly respectable position within the Dan family..." Ye Zhong's gaze lingered on the young woman, his brows slightly furrowed before shifting to the blue-robed man standing beside her. His expression changed, and he murmured, "Dan Xuan? I didn't expect him to be here as well... It seems the Dan family's assessment will now be handled by him. Well, that's a pity." Seeing Ye Zhong's concerned expression, Xiao Yan followed his gaze and noticed the tall, straight blue-robed man standing beside the girl. The man had a notably handsome appearance, with a gentle demeanor evident in his features—though this warmth seemed to be directed primarily toward the girl beside him. Still, even so, the blue-robed man carried an air of refined elegance and grace. "Danxuan..." Xiao Yan murmured softly, just as the blue-robed man turned his head and met his gaze with a warm, kind smile. "This man possesses an exceptionally strong talent for alchemy. Even among the Dan family, he ranks among the very best—outshining Cao Dan of the Cao family by a significant margin. Within the Cao family, only the family's own female prodigy might be able to challenge him. Should he step forward, he will undoubtedly secure one of the top three positions." Hearing Ye Zhong's quiet assessment, Xiao Yan slowly nodded. As he prepared to speak, he felt a sense of cold, focused attention upon him. He slightly turned his head and noticed the gaze directed at him—clearly emanating from the White family's seating area. At the White family's seat, the elderly woman who had previously been severely reprimanded by Xiao Yan stood with her eyes blazing with fierce resentment, her expression full of deep animosity—so intense that it seemed she would leap up and devour him whole. As for the withering gaze she was casting at him, Xiao Yan seemed entirely unimpressed. His eyes shifted and settled upon a white-robed man standing at the very front of the Bai family. The man exuded a subtle chill, his face stern, and with each movement of his gaze, a glint of cold light flashed, making it difficult for anyone to meet his eyes. "He is Bai Jia's most promising young talent—Bai Ying. Ah, Bai Jia truly has sent him out..." Upon seeing the stern white-robed man, Ye Zhong sighed. Clearly, the Bai family was determined not to give Ye Jia a chance to rise. Xiao Yan nodded slightly, and for a few moments, their eyes locked, each forming a cold, adversarial arc at the corners of their mouths. While they were speaking, they reached the seating area of the Ye family, where they settled into their seats. Compared to the other families with their bustling, well-attended gatherings, their presence seemed rather modest and understated. "Danxuan and Bai Ying have both already reached the mid-seventh rank of alchemical artisans, and this time they will surely be your strongest rivals. Qi family is still manageable—only a low-seventh rank artisan, not posing a significant threat. Still..." As he spoke, Ye Zhong's gaze shifted toward Cao family's seat. Though this family currently shines brightly in the Alchemical Domain, no representative has yet taken their place. "Who will Cao family send? Cao Shan, perhaps?" Xiao Yan also understood Ye Zhong's concerns, speaking softly. "There are three outstanding figures in the Cao family, hailed as the pillars of its future. Among them, Cao Ying, the strange young woman, leads the way, while Cao Dan is the least accomplished. Above them stands another—Cao Xiu. Though Cao Xiu's skill in alchemy is no weaker than Cao Dan's, his temperament is far more composed. After coming of age, he went on a solo journey of training and returned home after seven years, already reaching the seventh rank. Based on my assessment, he should now have attained the mid-seventh rank. Following Cao Dan's previous defeat at your hands, the Cao family will likely send Cao Xiu this time." Ye Zhong explained. Xiao Yan nodded slowly. Indeed, the Cao family truly produces prodigies—such prestige is well earned. Compared to them, the Ye family truly falls short. "The Cao family is here!" Just as Xiao Yan was about to sigh, a clear and resonant voice suddenly echoed from outside the hall, then reverberated throughout the hall. At the moment the sound of the drink was heard, a wave of activity rippled through the hall. Many of the previously seated factions hurried to rise, their faces beaming with smiles—Gao's current status was indeed sufficient to warrant their deference and admiration. Xiao Yan turned his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the hall entrance. There, the closed doors slowly opened, and then a graceful figure stepped forth, moving with quiet elegance from the shadows. Many in the hall were enchanted by her graceful charm, yet at the delicate curve of her slender lips, a faint arc gently rose... At the very instant this arc emerged, the clear, graceful face—once slender and charming—blossomed with an ethereal radiance.