Chapter 689: Exchange

Just then, a figure descended from the sky. Wearing a military uniform, the man was tall with resolute features—it was Feng Zhuohua. He landed at the entrance of the courtyard but did not immediately push the door open. Instead, he stood quietly for a moment outside the mottled wooden door before speaking.

"Xu Wuyi?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached Xu Wuyi's ears with absolute clarity. Xu Wuyi walked over and opened the door, and the two stood face to face.

Feng Zhuohua looked him up and down, then suddenly smiled. It was a complex smile, tinged with a bit of emotion and an undeniable sense of admiration.

"Good kid," he said. "You actually pulled it off."

Xu Wuyi bowed slightly. "Minister Feng."

Feng Zhuohua waved his hand dismissively. He was about to say something when he suddenly looked up at the sky.

Another figure descended. This time, it was Zhao Cizhou. He was still dressed in his usual simple, elegant long gown, his expression gentle and his breathing deep and steady. After landing at the courtyard gate, he first nodded to Feng Zhuohua, then turned to Xu Wuyi.

"Congratulations," he said. His voice was soft but incredibly sincere.

Xu Wuyi nodded back. "Uncle Zhao."

Zhao Cizhou smiled and was about to speak when a third figure dropped down.

It was Lin Jianyi. He looked exactly the same as always, clad in plain Qing cloth garments, his expression tranquil. His aura was so peaceful that he resembled an ordinary schoolteacher. However, the moment he landed, both Feng Zhuohua and Zhao Cizhou's expressions tightened with respect. They exchanged a glance before bowing slightly to him in unison.

"Grandmaster Lin."

Lin Jianyi waved a hand, gesturing for them to dispense with the formalities. He then looked at Xu Wuyi, his gaze calm and profound.

"Not bad," he said. "Faster than I expected."

Xu Wuyi offered him a deep bow. "Thank you for your guidance all this time, Teacher Lin."

Lin Jianyi shook his head. "That was your own comprehension."

As they spoke, several more figures descended from the sky. A thin, sharp-eyed old man in a black robe landed on the roof to the left of the courtyard. A burly middle-aged man with an aura as steady as a mountain touched down at the alleyway entrance to the right. A white-haired old woman leaning on a cane—appearing frail yet exuding an indescribable sense of oppression—perched on the locust tree behind the courtyard.

And there were more. Some landed on the surrounding rooftops, some stood in the distant alleys, and others hovered in mid-air. In just a brief moment, over a dozen Grandmasters had gathered around the small courtyard.

They hailed from different factions, different families, and different departments, but at this moment, they all stood silently, their eyes fixed on Xu Wuyi. No matter what undertones those gazes carried, they were all heavily tinged with unmistakable astonishment. Every single one of them knew Xu Wuyi's identity and recognized him as the Federation's newly risen Genius. Yet, no one had anticipated that he would reach the level of a Grandmaster so quickly.

Standing at the doorway, Xu Wuyi swept his gaze over the gathered Grandmasters. He had a rough idea of what the birth of a new Grandmaster meant for the Federation, and what it meant to these individuals.

Feng Zhuohua was the first to break the silence. Turning around, he cupped his fist in greeting to the surrounding Grandmasters, his voice booming. "Everyone, this is Xu Wuyi. He has just advanced to Grandmaster today, so there's no need to be so tense."

Hearing this, the expressions of the surrounding Grandmasters relaxed slightly. Although most of them recognized Xu Wuyi's face, they still needed Feng Zhuohua's confirmation to truly set their minds at ease.

The black-robed old man on the roof was the first to drop down, landing at the courtyard gate and cupping his fist toward Xu Wuyi.

"I am Zhou Boyong. Congratulations, Grandmaster Xu."

Xu Wuyi returned the gesture. "You are too polite, Grandmaster Zhou."

The old man smiled, his gaze doing a quick sweep over Xu Wuyi before he spoke. "For Grandmaster Xu to step into this realm at such a young age, the younger generation is truly formidable. I merely have a hundred years on you, yet when I broke through to Grandmaster, I was already approaching seventy. Compared to you, I am truly ashamed."

He spoke with absolute candor, his tone laced with a sigh of emotion.

Xu Wuyi shook his head. "You are being too modest, Grandmaster Zhou. During my time in Xingjing, I've heard of your reputation as well. During that great battle in the Eastern Sea Region, you took on three opponents single-handedly, slaying two Alien Race Grandmasters and forcing the third to retreat. The entire Federation knows of this."

The old man paused in surprise, then burst into hearty laughter.

"Good kid, you even know about that?" he laughed jovially. "That was decades ago. Let's not mention it."

Chuckling, he patted Xu Wuyi on the shoulder before his figure flashed, vanishing from the spot.

Immediately after, the white-haired old woman descended from the locust tree. Leaning on her cane, she hobbled shakily up to Xu Wuyi and raised her head, looking at him with clouded eyes.

"Young man, what does that Flame of yours burn?" she asked directly, without beating around the bush.

Xu Wuyi looked at her, thought for a moment, and replied, "Order."

The old woman's eyes brightened.

"Burning Order..." she repeated in a low voice, then nodded. "Good, good. I've lived for nearly two hundred years, and this is the first time I've seen a Heart Image that can burn Order. Your path won't be easy to walk, but if you make it through, it will be extraordinary."

As she spoke, she reached out a withered hand and gently patted the back of Xu Wuyi's hand.

"If you ever need anything in the future, you can come find this old woman."

Xu Wuyi bowed slightly. "Thank you, Senior."

The old woman waved him off and slowly walked away with her cane. Her steps seemed sluggish, but with every stride, she appeared dozens of meters away, vanishing at the end of the alley in the blink of an eye.

Following her departure, a few more Grandmasters stepped forward one after another. Some belonged to the military and left after exchanging a few pleasantries. Others were guest experts of major families; their attitudes were polite but carried hints of probing curiosity. There were also a few independent Grandmasters who spoke little but displayed genuine sincerity, clearly happy that the Federation had gained another Grandmaster.

Xu Wuyi handled each of them with an attitude that was neither servile nor overbearing. This process lasted for about fifteen minutes. As the surrounding Grandmasters gradually dispersed, the courtyard entrance returned to its former quiet.

In the end, only Feng Zhuohua, Zhao Cizhou, and Lin Jianyi remained.

Feng Zhuohua watched their retreating figures and chuckled. "These people usually look down their noses at everyone else. They were surprisingly polite today."

Zhao Cizhou shook his head. "At the Grandmaster level, there aren't many inherent conflicts of interest between us. Worldly possessions are at our fingertips, so there's no point in fighting over them. But on the battlefield, having one more ally might just save your life."

He paused, looking at Xu Wuyi with a touch of an elder's affection. "That's why whenever the Federation gains a new Grandmaster, the others are genuinely happy. Especially for someone as young as you. Your path ahead is still long, and your potential is vast. Who wouldn't want to get on your good side early on?"

Xu Wuyi nodded, remaining silent.