Clan Competition Begins

Lin Yun, a member of the Lin Family, was fourteen years old. His parents had died when he was young. He had an exceptionally resilient and independent nature, spoke little, but cultivated diligently and with focus. He was at Body Tempering Stage 6.

The moment the Gray-robed Youth stepped onto the stage, information about him automatically surfaced in Lin Dong's mind.

"Lin Dong, I know you've already reached Body Tempering Stage 7, but I still wish to seek your guidance in Martial Techniques." The moment Lin Yun stepped onto the stage, his eyes locked tightly onto Lin Dong as he spoke with utmost seriousness.

"Please!" Lin Dong said no more and lightly raised his forearm.

"Ha! Lin Dong, please instruct me!"

As his low shout fell, Lin Yun shot toward Lin Dong like an arrow released from the bow. As his fists flew, they seemed like scattered boulders soaring through the sky, carrying immense momentum.

Grade 1 Martial Art, Falling Stone Fist!

"Since this is supposed to be instruction, I ought to be more serious. This is how Falling Stone Fist should be used."

Lin Dong smiled, withdrew his Throughback Fist stance, and assumed a new posture. His palms unexpectedly performed the very same Martial Technique—Grade 1 Martial Art, Falling Stone Fist. Countless fist shadows descended like endless meteors crashing to earth, their fierce force impossible to resist!

Bang!

Before Lin Yun could clearly see the path of his fists, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest and was sent flying backward.

"Cough, cough... I lost."

Lin Yun swiftly climbed to his feet. He was quite forthright, cupped his hands in salute, and directly leaped down from the platform.

Lin Dong nodded in acknowledgment. Lin Yun was indeed generous in his conduct and able to accept defeat.

Lin Dong's swift and decisive victory over his opponent also left Lin Ken, who was serving as referee, greatly astonished. It seemed the rumors of Lin Dong's profound cultivation were true. His third brother had raised a fine son.

Lin Ken muttered inwardly, but his words did not slow. "Next match, Lin Ting versus Lin Dong."

Several more rounds of competition followed, and before long, they reached the final two rounds. The matches proceeded extremely quickly.

After Lin Dong easily crushed his opponent, Lin Hong and Lin Xia's match ended in a draw. Both were at Body Tempering Stage 7, and their combat strength was evenly matched.

Just as Lin Ken was considering how the three should proceed with the final matches, Lin Xia was the first to call out, "I don't think I can beat Cousin Lin Dong, so I withdraw."

After saying that, Lin Xia ignored the countless questioning gazes directed at her and strode down from the Battle Platform with remarkable ease.

"Sigh, that daughter of mine..."

Lin Ken smiled bitterly to himself. Still, this arrangement made things simpler, so he promptly announced, "The final match will now begin: Lin Hong versus Lin Dong!"

At Lin Ken's command, the two contestants nimbly climbed onto the same Battle Platform.

"Well, well, Cousin Lin Hong. I haven't seen you for a few months, and you've improved quite a bit."

Lin Dong stood with his arms folded. Though his words sounded like praise for Lin Hong, anyone could hear the mockery in his tone.

"Hmph, Lin Dong, don't get cocky. Don't think you're the only one at Body Tempering Stage 7. I successfully entered Body Tempering Stage 7 a month ago as well. Besides, I've cultivated Martial Techniques longer than you have. I refuse to believe I can't beat you."

"Last time, I was merely careless and let you ambush me. This time, I'll defeat you cleanly and decisively, and make you concede wholeheartedly."

Lin Hong thrust out his chest, and a faint sheen swiftly emerged across the surface of his body. It was the fluctuation of Origin Energy.

Body Tempering Stage 7!

"Body Tempering Stage 7. Amazing, truly amazing."

Lin Dong lowered his arms and listlessly clapped a few times.

"Hehe, Lin Dong, do you believe that after I defeat you, I'll propose to Grandfather on the spot and ask him to betroth Qing Tan to me?"

Faced with Lin Dong's mockery, Lin Hong did not care in the slightest. Instead, he cast a burning gaze toward a certain section of the seats below, where Qing Tan was sitting.

"Lin Hong, you're courting death."

The smile on Lin Dong's face quietly vanished, and a trace of killing intent slowly spread across the Battle Platform.

"Hahaha, ashamed and enraged, are you? Be angry, howl in despair! I just love seeing that look on your face when you want to kill me but can't!"

Lin Hong immediately revealed a triumphant smile. His figure abruptly burst forward, and with a sweep of his palm, he struck toward Lin Dong's face with an incomparably fierce gust of wind.

"Idiot, you've truly angered me. Also, this is not how Grade 2 Martial Art Eight Desolations Palm is used. What a complete mess."

Lin Dong's expression remained unchanged. With a turn of his palm, he swiftly used the same palm technique. Yet within his palm wind was a balance of hardness and softness, a realm far beyond the Eight Desolations Palm used by Lin Hong.

Bang!

Lin Hong only felt a sharp pain in his wrist before his proud attack was swiftly deflected. But it was not over yet!

Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap...

Lin Dong's wrist suddenly twisted, and crisp sounds of clothing being struck rang out incessantly as blow after blow hammered Lin Hong's chest. One strike, two strikes, three strikes...

A full nine crisp sounds rang out. The wave-like assault instantly left Lin Hong dazed. No, it was not merely nine sounds. Beyond everyone's notice, Lin Dong's bones and muscles worked in perfect coordination within his body, swiftly producing a tenth sound.

Bang!

It was precisely this extremely concealed tenth sound that violently blasted the pale-faced Lin Hong off the Battle Platform. He collapsed onto the ground like a limp heap, lying there motionless.

Mysterious Gate Seal, First Layer...

In his fury, Lin Dong had already formed a strange seal with his hands.

That was right. This was the Grade 3 Martial Art Mysterious Gate Seal. The Lin Family possessed only the cultivation method for an incomplete Mysterious Gate Seal, namely its first layer. The complete Mysterious Gate Seal should have had four layers.

Because it had only the first layer, its power ranked at the bottom among Grade 3 Martial Arts. Few in the Lin Family cultivated it, as it was practically useless.

After Lin Dong entered the Earth Origin Stage, he had taken the initiative to learn this incomplete Grade 3 Martial Art from his father, Lin Xiao, then used the Ancestral Stone to restore its remaining three layers.

The first layer of Mysterious Gate Seal was a bottom-tier Grade 3 Martial Art. The second layer was a top-tier Grade 3 Martial Art, the third layer was a Grade 4 Martial Art, while the fourth layer could fully rival a Grade 5 Martial Art.

This Martial Art required one to use a certain hand seal to draw upon the Origin Energy within the body. When Origin Energy merged with the hand seal, it could unleash extremely powerful force.

One had to know that the highest-ranked Martial Art currently possessed by the Lin Family was merely the mid-tier Grade 4 Martial Art, Pure Yuan Finger. Family Head Lin Zhentian treasured it like a precious gem, and only core family members were permitted to cultivate it.

Naturally, Lin Dong had long since secretly learned Pure Yuan Finger from Lin Xiao as well.

"Hmph, I'll let you off this time."

Seeing Lin Hong fall from the Battle Platform, much of Lin Dong's anger had already been vented. He immediately dispersed the seal in his hands. Otherwise, the Grade 3 Martial Art Mysterious Gate Seal would have ensured that Lin Hong could not leave his bed for a month.

"Look, nine sounds! A full nine sounds from Throughback Fist!"

"Yes. I never expected Lin Dong, at such a young age, to cultivate the Grade 1 Martial Art Throughback Fist to perfection. How old is he? His talent truly is extraordinary."

"Tsk, tsk. Lin Dong's future is immeasurable. Lin Xiao truly raised a fine son."

When an expert made a move, one could immediately tell whether they had real skill.

When the nine incomparably crisp slapping sounds rang from Lin Dong's hands, the Lin Family clansmen in the stands immediately burst into praise.