Lin Chen

Under the gazes of the crowd, Lin Zhentian also rose to his feet, cupped his hands toward the honored guests' seats, and said with a hearty laugh, "Today is the day of our Lin Family Competition. Many thanks to everyone for coming to lend us your support. Everyone seated here is familiar to us, so this old man won't waste words. Let's get straight to the point."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Zhentian looked toward Lin Ken beside him. The latter smiled and nodded, walked into the spacious arena inside the Trial Hall, then took out a bamboo tube filled with many bamboo slips.

"The old rules. Draw lots to decide your opponents. All you little fellows taking part in the family competition, come out and draw."

Hearing Lin Ken's words, several dozen figures gradually stepped out inside the Trial Hall, each taking a bamboo slip from the tube in Lin Ken's hand.

"There are five arenas here. Those who drew the first five numbers will begin first." Seeing that everyone had finished drawing lots, Lin Ken pointed at the five stone platforms behind him and said with a smile.

Lin Yan glanced at the bamboo slip in his hand. Written on it in white chalk was the number "three." He did not hesitate and walked straight toward the No. 3 stone platform. After he got onstage, he saw something round and chubby climb up as well, and his expression immediately turned strange.

"Lin Changqiang, it's you." Lin Yan remembered that the other party was the son of Lin Zhentian's fifth son, someone from the fifth branch. In the original work, the first match was clearly against Lin Dong. He had not expected that because of his own participation, this kind of butterfly effect would occur.

When Lin Changqiang opposite him saw that his opponent was Lin Yan, however, his eyes instantly lit up. In his impression, Lin Yan was still that skinny, sickly weakling, no match for him at all.

He had originally been worried that if he were eliminated in the first match, it would be too embarrassing, and he might even be scolded by his old man when he got home. But now, he did not need to worry.

"So it's you, Lin Yan. I didn't expect you to take part in the family competition too, and to run into me in the first match at that. Haha, looks like my luck, Lin Changqiang's luck, is pretty good after all."

Hearing this, Lin Yan chuckled and shook his head. "Whether it's bad luck or good luck, we'll know once the match is over. But don't worry. I'll go easy on you."

Looking at this somewhat simple-minded little fatty in front of him, Lin Yan bore him no malice. A simple spar would do.

As the two spoke, Lin Ken below saw that the first batch had all gone onstage. He waved his hand and shouted, "The family competition begins!"

The moment Lin Ken's shout fell, the atmosphere inside the Trial Hall suddenly boiled over. On the few stone platforms, figures flashed, then collided together, the battles instantly turning intense.

"Hehe, I also advanced to the Body Tempering Fourth Layer two months ago. Lin Yan, don't blame me if I hit hard!"

When he heard that the match had begun, Lin Changqiang chuckled. His body shook, and that fat which had originally rippled like waves actually became much firmer. Immediately after, he stepped forward and pounced toward Lin Yan like a fleshy cannonball.

Seeing this fellow's comical appearance, Lin Yan could not help laughing, yet he suddenly thought of that two-hundred-jin roommate from his previous life.

While he was laughing, Lin Changqiang had already closed in. His body abruptly halted, and his thick right leg lashed out toward Lin Dong at a rather swift speed.

"First-grade martial art, Stone Splitting Leg?"

Sensing the somewhat impressive wind from Lin Changqiang's leg, Lin Yan was a little surprised. He had not expected this fellow to have actually practiced martial arts too. He did have some ability. However, to him, it still seemed to pose no threat.

Lin Yan's arm reached out nimbly, directly bypassing the leg wind Lin Changqiang lashed over, and his palm slapped diagonally onto the latter's thigh.

"Ah!"

With one palm strike, Lin Changqiang immediately let out a miserable cry. His body lost balance, and he fell butt-first onto the ground.

After knocking Lin Changqiang over with one palm, Lin Yan raised his hand again, making as if to chop down. Lin Changqiang immediately hugged his head and hurriedly shouted, "I admit defeat!"

At the same time, Lin Changqiang's chubby face looked at Lin Yan gloomily. This fellow's strength was definitely above his own, probably at the Body Tempering Fifth Level or even higher. Good grief, he had hidden himself deeply enough.

"Lin Yan wins."

Below the stone platform, Lin Ken smiled and shook his head. Immediately after, his gaze turned somewhat surprised as he looked toward Lin Yan. Although Lin Changqiang could not be considered outstanding in the Lin family, he had, after all, reached the Body Tempering Fourth Layer. Moreover, Lin Yan's palm strike earlier had looked casual, yet it had directly struck the place where Lin Changqiang's strength was most scattered. If it was a coincidence, then it was nothing much. But if it had been deliberate, then that eyesight was truly rather impressive for Lin Yan's age.

It seemed that little girl Qingtan had not been wrong. This Lin Yan indeed had some talent. However, Lin Ken then looked toward another martial platform. That was where his daughter Lin Xia was. She had likewise defeated her opponent in one smooth, flowing move, even more cleanly and decisively than Lin Yan, making Lin Ken nod with satisfaction. Barring any accidents, the champion this time would definitely be taken by his main branch.

At this moment inside the Trial Hall, after hearing Lin Ken announce the result, some gazes also turned toward Lin Yan. Although they were a little surprised, they did not pay too much attention to it. After all, Lin Changqiang's strength could only be considered average in the Lin family. Beating him was not an overly unbelievable matter.

Lin Yan paid those gazes little heed. His eyes turned toward the other stone platforms, just in time to see Lin Dong calmly blast his opponent off the stone platform with a single palm.

After easily defeating his opponent, Lin Dong also sensed Lin Yan's gaze. He looked over at him, the corner of his mouth lifting into a faint smile. Lin Yan likewise returned the smile. But deep down, both of them regarded the other as their greatest opponent in this family competition.

In the first round, he did not encounter any overly troublesome opponents. Thus, after Lin Changqiang, Lin Yan won another match and entered the top ten in a rather uneventful fashion. Because both matches had been quite easy and he had not displayed any especially astonishing strength, many people believed that Lin Yan's success had involved a bit of luck.

On the other side, Lin Dong also easily won two matches, attracting quite a bit of attention as well.

Compared to the uneventfulness of Lin Yan's and Lin Dong's two matches, Lin Hong and Lin Xia unsurprisingly became the focus of the Trial Hall. From beginning to end, whenever the two encountered opponents, they used only a single move to defeat them. That kind of overwhelming victory made everyone understand that the strength of these two far surpassed the other younger members of the Lin family.

However, there were also some keen-eyed people who noticed Lin Yan and Lin Dong. Because in these few battles, the two of them seemed to have never used their full strength. As for these two dark horses who had suddenly emerged in the Lin family, many people were curious just how deep their strength truly went.

Just as Lin Yan was quietly waiting, Lin Ken suddenly announced from the honored guests' seats:

"The second round of matches begins. Lin Yan."

In the arena, Lin Ken turned his gaze toward where Lin Yan stood, then pointed at the large stone platform in the center. Since this was already the selection for the top ten, no matter what, it would be more exciting than the previous round. Therefore, the five matches were no longer held at once. Instead, the matches would begin one by one, so everyone could see them clearly.

Hearing Lin Ken's voice, Lin Yan's brow lifted slightly. He had not expected that the first match would actually be his. He remembered that in the original work, this match was Lin Dong's debut. Thinking this, Lin Yan strode quickly toward the stone platform.

"Brother Lin Yan, good luck."

Behind him, Qingtan had walked over at some point. She waved her little fist, cheering him on.

Lin Dong also looked at Lin Yan with a solemn expression, murmuring softly, "Don't disappoint me, Cousin Lin Yan."

Inside the Trial Hall, many gazes also turned toward Lin Yan, with a hint of curiosity and appraisal in them. Earlier, when Qingtan had said that the latter's talent was no lower than Lin Xia's, many people had treated it as a joke. But if this boy won another match in this competition, then even if he was not as good as Lin Xia, he was probably not far off.

On the honored guests' seats, Lin Zhentian and the others also fixed their eyes on Lin Yan. In their hearts, they were likewise rather curious. Just how much potential did this previously unknown branch family member possess?

Under those many gazes, Lin Yan walked onto the stone platform. As he stepped onstage, Lin Ken glanced at the match list in his hand, and his brows could not help furrowing slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he still read it out. "Lin Chen."

Hearing this name, a small uproar immediately rose inside the Trial Hall. Some of the younger fellows even looked at Lin Yan with sympathy.

Lin Yan was likewise stunned by this name. He remembered that in the original work, although this Lin Chen had not appeared onstage, if Lin Dong had not cut in halfway, he seemed to have been the one who placed third in this competition.

Thinking of this, Lin Yan's fighting spirit, which had been somewhat listless because of the previous two matches, stirred slightly with excitement.

Lin Chen, huh? Don't disappoint me too much...