Breakthrough on the Day of the Clan Competition

"What would our lives be like without the internet?"

Lin Changqiang had once pondered this question too. He'd firmly believed that for modern people, days without the internet would feel like years. But now, he realized he was wrong.

Perhaps due to the relatively primitive technology, the environment of Tianxuan Continent was quite beautiful. The air always carried the fragrance of soil. On summer nights, even the brightest moonlight couldn't obscure the countless stars.

Besides sparring with Lin Dong in martial arts, what Lin Changqiang now enjoyed most was emptying his mind, lying on the grass in a spread-eagle pose, breathing in the fresh air—watching drifting clouds by day and gazing at stars by night.

Summer passed into autumn, and time flew by unnoticed. Soon, the day of the Lin Family's junior Clan Competition arrived.

When dawn broke through the clouds and cast its light upon this land, the Lin Family instantly buzzed with activity, a lively atmosphere enveloping the entire estate.

"Thump. Congratulations, host, for reaching Body Tempering Stage Seven. The Origin Energy Seed has broken through the bone and flowed into the meridians."

"Thump. Congratulations, host, for achieving: Refining Origin into Meridians. Reward: two Lottery Draw Opportunities."

Good news lifts the spirit. Just waking from sleep, Lin Changqiang, still a bit groggy, snapped fully awake and quickly checked his personal information.

"Host: Lin Changqiang

Gender: Male

Cultivation Level: Body Tempering Stage Seven (8%)

Martial Arts: Stone Splitting Leg (First Grade), Through-the-Back Fist (First Grade), Eight Desolations Palm (Second Grade)

Cultivation Technique: None

Spiritual Power Level: None

Secret Technique: None

Spiritual Power Technique: None

Treasures: Small Horn (1), Double Experience Card (2), Double Gold Coin Card (1), Inner Demon Trial Card (1)

Lottery Draw Count: 2"

During this period, whenever Lin Changqiang found his cultivation surpassed by Lin Dong, he'd switch from Guerrilla to Blessing. When his own cultivation overtook Lin Dong's again, he'd swap Blessing back to Guerrilla. The two chased each other like this, both finally reaching Body Tempering Stage Seven.

"Not bad at all. Leeching experience feels really good~" Lin Changqiang swayed his head in admiration. "But ever since Lin Dong and I started training together, that little girl Qing Tan has gradually gotten familiar with me too. Her favorability's even risen to fifty-seven now. Sigh, what should I do?"

After a few seconds of thought with no solution, Lin Changqiang simply stopped worrying. After all, he couldn't deliberately hurt Qing Tan just for the sake of a Blessing effect.

"System, use all Lottery Draw Opportunities!"

Lin Changqiang waved his hand grandly, brimming with boldness.

"Thump. Two Lottery Draw Opportunities used successfully. Congratulations, host, for obtaining one Double Experience Card and one High-grade Spirit Treasure—Dragon Gallbladder Bright Silver Spear."

"Dragon Gallbladder Bright Silver Spear?!"

Lin Changqiang's eyes lit up. As a kid, when school required him to watch Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he'd especially loved Zhao Yun. Though he later learned the historical Zhao Yun wasn't as strong as in the novel, what did that matter? What he liked was the man who charged seven times in and out of Changban Slope in the story.

He couldn't help recalling the days of controlling Zhao Yun to wreak havoc in various games, along with those lines—some imposing, some cool.

"Only by fearing nothing can you soar through the skies."

"Single horse, single spear, breaking through encirclement; heroic spirit, sharp aura, chilling the enemy's courage."

"Don't be satisfied with who you are now—that will halt your growth."

"System, since skills, weapons, and equipment from games are all twisted, why is Dragon Gallbladder Bright Silver Spear only a High-grade Spirit Treasure?"

Lin Changqiang was a bit dissatisfied. On Tianxuan Continent, treasures were divided into Low-grade, Mid-grade, and High-grade Spirit Treasures, Earth-tier Spirit Treasures, Heaven-tier Spirit Treasures, Low, Mid, and High Pure Origin Treasures, and some even more powerful divine objects. That meant Dragon Gallbladder Bright Silver Spear's quality didn't even count as mid-tier.

"Thump. Reply to host: When the host draws a weapon or equipment, its quality is determined by the host's current level. At its highest, it exceeds the host by two major realms; at its lowest, it matches the host's current realm."

"Eh?" Even with Lin Changqiang's thick skin, he felt the atmosphere turn awkward. "So it's my own fault after all..."

After the lottery, Lin Changqiang swapped Blessing for Guerrilla, finished washing up with military speed, grabbed a quick bite to fill his stomach, and rushed nonstop to the Training Hall where the Clan Competition was held. By the time he arrived, the atmosphere was already buzzing, with a sea of heads as far as the eye could see.

Though the Lin Family wasn't the top power in Qingyang Town, it still carried considerable weight. Thus, quite a few guests had come to observe the competition—partly to build relations, partly to gauge the younger generation's abilities. For a family, excellent fresh blood was crucial.

Though not his first time seeing such a crowded scene, Lin Changqiang still felt a bit nervous. In the past, he'd always been just a spectator, but today, he had to stand on the stage and "perform."

Because he'd woken up late, Lin Changqiang missed the confrontation between Lin Dong's family and Lin Shan and Lin Hong's family. Just as he felt a bit regretful, he saw a large crowd suddenly surge into the Training Hall.

Striding at the front with vigorous steps was an old man with crane-like hair and a pine-like bearing. Dressed in brocade, he exuded a tough aura. His eyes swept across the hall, carrying an unspoken authority.

This man was the Lin Family's patriarch—Lin Zhentian. But Lin Changqiang and his former dormmates usually liked to call him Megatron.

The moment Lin Zhentian appeared, the Training Hall erupted. All the guests quickly stood up, cupping their hands in salute.

Lin Zhentian greeted the distinguished guests with a smile, chatted briefly with Lin Dong's family, then slowly walked to the main seat. The Training Hall gradually quieted down, all eyes turning to Lin Zhentian.

Under the gaze of many, Lin Zhentian calmly cupped his hands toward the guest seats and spoke in a clear voice.

"Today is the day of our Lin Family's Clan Competition. Thank you all for coming. I see many familiar faces here, so I won't waste words. Let's get straight to the point."

With that, Lin Zhentian's gaze shifted to Lin Ken beside him. The latter smiled and nodded, walked into the wide arena at the center of the Training Hall, and took out a bamboo tube filled with lots.

"Same rules as always—draw lots to decide opponents. All the little ones participating in the competition, come out and draw."

As the words fell, dozens of youths—both boys and girls—stepped out from the Training Hall, each taking a lot from the tube. Reminded of his high school days, Lin Changqiang secretly slapped Lin Dong's butt in a blind spot of the crowd, startling the latter. Lin Dong turned around, saw Lin Changqiang grinning behind him, rolled his eyes, and let it go.

"There are five arenas here, numbered one through five. Those who drew the first ten numbers, go to your corresponding arenas for the first round."

Lin Changqiang glanced at his lot marked with the number "one" and walked up to Arena One. When he got on stage, he found his opponent wasn't Lin Dong but a boy with small dimples on his face, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

It wasn't that Lin Changqiang couldn't beat Lin Dong. If he fought seriously, with Holy Light Protection, he could exhaust Lin Dong just by outlasting him. But with both of them at Body Tempering Stage Seven, having one eliminated in the first round would be too painful.