Skill Overwhelms the Entire Field

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lin Ming was arranged by the Clan Leader to sit beside him. Such a thing had never happened since the Family Annual Meeting began.

During the years Ice Emperor Hai Bodong had been missing, the Clan Leader had been the foremost figure in the family. Now, he had Lin Ming sit beside him, and Lin Ming had been brought here by Elder Liu. From this seating arrangement, it was obvious that Elder Liu was firmly the family's second-in-command. If both the first and second figures of the family intended to nurture someone, wasn't that a clear hint that Lin Ming would be raised as the foremost of the younger generation and the family's successor? Everyone seated here was a pillar of the family. They dealt with all sorts of people every day, and none of them were fools. Many of them had come to the same conclusion. They were all thinking that they should build a good relationship with this child in the future.

Lin Ming himself was somewhat bewildered. A junior like him was supposed to sit here? More importantly, he was not familiar with the Clan Leader, and sitting beside a stranger made him uncomfortable. Besides, the entire first row was occupied by the clan's Elders, practically a group of Old Men. He did not feel at ease sitting among them.

Lin Ming glanced at Grandpa Liu. Grandpa Liu set down his teacup and said, "Sit." Since Grandpa Liu had spoken, Lin Ming could only take his seat.

Looking at the guest seats gradually filling up and the food being served, Lin Ming knew that the Family Annual Meeting was about to begin.

Sure enough, around a quarter of an hour later, the Clan Leader rose and presided over the first event of the annual meeting: ancestor worship. This was basically the first event for every family.

During ancestor worship, every member of the family stood and listened as the Clan Leader recounted how their forebears had founded the family amid hardship, then gradually developed it into the prosperous Mite'er Family of today. This part lasted roughly two hours. After the Clan Leader prayed for their ancestors to continue blessing the family with prosperity and an unbroken legacy in the coming year, all the family members bowed three times, bringing the ancestor worship to an end.

"Honor the ancestors above, carry on the legacy below." These were the Mite'er Family's first two proceedings. This was the standard practice among nearly all Great Families. First, it tested the cultivation results of the family members over the past year. Second, it served to intimidate other families, telling them that the family had successors and that they should not entertain any crooked thoughts. Thus, the second event was to test the younger generation's cultivation.

The Clan Leader said to someone below, "Ninth Elder, begin the testing." The Clan Leader then sat down.

"Yes, Clan Leader." A man in his forties stood up from below and walked forward. With a flash from the Ninth Elder's Storage Ring, an enormous Stone Stele appeared at the center. Looking at the massive Stone Stele, Lin Ming knew it was the Magic Stone Stele used to test Dou Qi. After placing it down, the Ninth Elder said, "The testing for the younger generation begins now. Those whose names are called, come forward and test your cultivation."

"The first—"

"Wait." Before the Ninth Elder could call the first name, the Clan Leader interrupted him. Then he turned to Lin Ming beside him and said, "Xiao Ming, you go first. Remember to state your age."

Lin Ming was not surprised to hear the Clan Leader call on him first. After all, the older generation of the family had top-tier Experts such as Ice Emperor, the Clan Leader, and Grandpa Liu. The middle generation had once had Lin Ming's father, Lin Long. Although Lin Long later met with an accident, there was still Mittel Weiyuan and several others who were no weaker than those of other families. Only among the younger generation was there truly no one capable of taking on a major role.

In the original story, Ya Fei, whose cultivation was not outstanding, had represented the Mite'er Family's younger generation at a gathering hosted by the Nalan Family in the Jia Ma Empire. Although Ice Emperor and Xiao Yan had played a part in that, it was also because the Mite'er Family truly had no representative among its younger generation at the time. As one of the Jia Ma Empire's ten greatest Experts, Mittel Tengshan had been mocked several times at past gatherings, with others saying that the Mite'er Family might have no successors. At the time, he truly had no way to refute them.

Now that Lin Ming had appeared, the Clan Leader naturally wanted to give the other families a show of force and intimidate them. That was why he had Lin Ming test first and state his age. It was like in his Previous Life, when someone had always ranked last in class and been mocked for it, only to suddenly take first place one day and leave second place far behind. Naturally, he would ruthlessly return all the humiliation he had suffered.

Returning to the annual meeting, after hearing the Clan Leader tell him to test first, Lin Ming stood, cupped his fists, and replied, "Yes, Clan Leader." Then he walked onto the stage. Once there, he gave the Ninth Elder a simple bow and loudly said, "Ninth Elder, Mite'er Family member Lin Ming, nine years old, here for testing."

"Approved," the Ninth Elder replied.

Lin Ming walked before the Magic Stone Stele, extended his Right arm, and placed his hand upon it. He mobilized his Dou Qi, gathering it frantically into his Right arm. A dazzling light lit up on the pitch-black Magic Stone Stele, then condensed into several large words: "Dou Qi Stage Seven!"

The annual meeting fell silent. Then came the sound of chopsticks falling, cups shattering... but all those noises were soon drowned out by an uproar.

"Silence!" A loud shout erupted from the Ninth Elder's mouth, and every sound vanished. Looking at the annual meeting, which had once again become quiet, the Ninth Elder announced, "Lin Ming, Dou Qi Stage Seven! Rank: High-Grade!"

Lin Ming slowly withdrew his arm, gave the Ninth Elder another brief bow, and walked off the stage. Just as he returned to his seat, he saw someone from the guest section approach. The man walked before Mittel Tengshan, cupped his fists, and said, "Clan Leader Tengshan, Boren, on behalf of the Royal Family, congratulates the Mite'er Family on having a worthy successor." More people soon came forward to offer their congratulations.

"Clan Leader Tengshan, ... on behalf of the Misty Cloud Sect, congratulations to the Mite'er Family on having a worthy successor."

"Clan Leader Tengshan, ... on behalf of the Nalan Family, congratulations to the Mite'er Family on having a worthy successor."

"Clan Leader Tengshan, ... on behalf of the Mu Family, congratulations to the Mite'er Family on having a worthy successor."

Mittel Tengshan stood and cupped his fists toward them. "It is only a test among children. There is no need for everyone to take it so seriously. Please return to your seats and eat and drink to your hearts' content. If there is anything lacking in our hospitality, please forgive us." Once the guests had mostly returned, Mittel Tengshan said again to the Ninth Elder, "Ninth Elder, continue." After sitting down, Mittel Tengshan picked up his teacup and drank. Yet the expression on his face did not suggest that he truly found it insignificant.

"Next, Mittel Changlin," the Ninth Elder called.

A Youth who looked fifteen or sixteen stepped onto the stage. Shortly afterward, the Magic Stone Stele lit up again.

"Mittel Changlin, Dou Qi Stage Eight! Rank: High-Grade!"

"Next, ..."

"Lei Le, Dou Qi Stage Eight! Rank: High-Grade!"

It was not until Lin Ming heard the Ninth Elder call, "Next, Mittel Ya Fei," that he paid attention. A short while later, the Ninth Elder's voice rang out again. "Mittel Ya Fei, Dou Qi Stage Three! Rank: Low-Grade!" Ya Fei then walked down. At over eight years old, Dou Qi Stage Three was normal; by sixteen, adulthood, Dou Qi Stage Eight was about right. Before Lin Ming came along, this had basically been the situation among the Mite'er Family's younger generation. Thus, no one made any strange remarks.

Before long, the Dou Qi testing was complete. According to the usual practice of previous years, after testing Dou Qi, the young people would spar. Someone who possessed only a realm but could not display the strength that realm should bring was still trash. After all, this was a world where strength spoke. Only those with hard fists had the right to speak, and only the living had the right to voice their opinions. In the original story, Xiao Yan had killed Yun Shan, a Dou Zong, while at the peak of Dou Wang. This time, the Flame Alliance had been founded and the Misty Cloud Sect disbanded. That was the nature of this world where strength spoke.

As the Ninth Elder announced that the younger generation would head to the Training Ground to spar.

Mittel Tengshan stood and said to the guests, "Would you all be interested in watching the youngsters play around?"

Boren, the Royal Family's representative, stood and said, "Why not go together and have a look?"

"Please," Mittel Tengshan said. Then the group headed toward the Training Ground.

The Training Ground was Not Far away. After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Lin Ming saw a plaza roughly one hundred zhang in diameter, entirely paved with Blue Stone. Lin Ming knew this was where they would spar shortly.

After those on the High Platform had taken their seats, the Ninth Elder announced that everyone above twelve and below sixteen, as well as those under twelve who had already reached High-Grade Dou Qi, were to enter the plaza. Before long, About a Hundred people stood in the square.

Once everyone was in place, Mittel Tengshan, as Clan Leader of the Mite'er Family, stood and said, "You are the fresh blood of the family, the family's future. Today is the day for you to prove yourselves. Prove that the family has not raised you in vain. Prove that you can shoulder the responsibility of continuing and developing the family in the future. Can you do it?"

"Yes!" A roar that seemed capable of tearing apart the sky came from the youths below.

"Good! As expected of the sons of my Mite'er Family!" Mittel Tengshan said. Then he told the Ninth Elder, "Begin!"

The Ninth Elder stepped forward and said, "The family matches are meant for sparring. Every one of you must participate in at least one match. When someone with lower cultivation challenges someone with higher cultivation, the higher-cultivation party may not refuse unless he has just finished a match. When someone with higher cultivation challenges someone with lower cultivation, the lower-cultivation party may refuse. During a match, no deliberate injury is allowed; no medicinal pills may be taken; nor may weapons be used. Do you all understand the rules?"

"Understood," everyone answered.

"Then begin," the Ninth Elder announced.

At this moment, Mittel Changlin called out, "Xiu Shan, let us begin with the first spar! Let me see whether you have improved this year."

"Fine," Xiu Shan replied.

The people in the plaza all moved outward, making room for the Two People.

Once everyone else had moved to the edge, the Two People in the center began fighting. Since both were at Dou Qi Stage Eight, the battle went back and forth. After they remained deadlocked for a quarter of an hour, Xiu Shan proposed deciding the winner with one move. Mittel Changlin replied, "Fine."

Mountain Splitting Palm!

Hundred Forms Fist!

After each used a Dou Technique, the two figures collided. Then both staggered backward, though Xiu Shan clearly retreated two steps farther.

"I lost," Xiu Shan said.

The Ninth Elder announced, "Mittel Changlin wins."

"Continue below..."

Several more people completed their matches.

As Lin Ming was still considering whom to spar with, a voice reached him. "Cousin Lin Ming, how about your elder cousin accompanies you in a spar?"

Lin Ming looked over and saw a fat Youth of fifteen or sixteen inviting him to fight. Lin Ming vaguely recalled that this person was at Dou Qi Stage Eight and seemed to be called Lei Le. He saw a trace of malice in Lei Le's eyes. It seemed that the Clan Leader allowing Lin Ming to sit beside him earlier had made certain people jealous, and now they wanted to step on him.

At once, the people around them began whispering among themselves. Some said Lei Le was shameless. He was older and had higher cultivation than Lin Ming, yet he still wanted to spar with him. Clearly, he was just trying to draw attention to himself. Others said that one should not be too high-profile, or trouble would come knocking. Look, wasn't it here already? In any case, everyone had something different to say.

"Then please instruct me, Cousin." Lin Ming had been worrying about whom to challenge, and now someone had voluntarily stuck his face out for Lin Ming to hit. Lin Ming could only grant his wish. Since Lei Le wanted to step on him to rise higher, he would have to bear Lin Ming's intention of using him to Establish Prestige.

Lin Ming was the first to walk to the center of the plaza, and Lei Le followed. After the Ninth Elder announced the start, Lei Le launched the first attack. Perhaps he wanted to end the match immediately and prove himself.

A wave of curses immediately rose from the edge of the plaza. "Lei Le is so shameless. He is usually nothing but a spoiled wastrel. I heard he has already gotten several girls pregnant, and now he is even launching a sneak attack against someone younger and weaker than himself..."

Looking at Lei Le's attack, Lin Ming dodged it with a flash of his body. He said disdainfully, "Is that all you have?" Lei Le watched Lin Ming evade so easily and found it hard to believe. How could someone at Dou Qi Stage Seven so easily avoid an attack he had launched first? Thus, Lei Le immediately attacked again. He refused to believe Lin Ming could evade this time as well.

After easily dodging Lei Le's attack again, Lin Ming found it boring. He had thought Lei Le was supposed to be impressive, considering he had dared to come out and act as the first bird to step on Lin Ming. Yet this was all he had. After fighting for so long, Lei Le had not even touched the corner of his clothes. It was not that Lei Le was weak. At fifteen, reaching Dou Qi Stage Eight, and having only recently entered it, already made him outstanding among the Mite'er Family's younger generation. Lin Ming was simply too strong. With his current movement technique, fist technique, and blade technique all at Xuan Tier, fighting an ordinary Five Stars Dou Zhe posed no problem. Therefore, a Dou Qi Stage Eight opponent truly posed no threat to him.

"Did you train with rats? All you know is how to dodge," Lei Le said.

Lin Ming suspected Lei Le's brain was filled with shit. Did he have no self-awareness at all? If someone could easily dodge his attacks, had he never considered that the other person might be stronger than him? Yet he still dared to provoke him. Perhaps Lei Le thought that since his cultivation was higher than Lin Ming's, he could win as long as he forced Lin Ming to meet him head-on.

"Lei Le, was it? If you want a head-on clash, then I'll grant your wish." Lin Ming gave a sinister smile. Since you are seeking death yourself, don't blame me. But I can't use too much strength. If I kill him or seriously injure him, the family probably would not do much to me, but it would still be troublesome if things became a big issue. Five-tenths of my strength should do.

Hearing Lin Ming's answer, Lei Le was delighted. Lin Ming is still too inexperienced. A few words and he has fallen for it. I'll give him my full-power strike later. If I can cripple him, the family will no longer nurture him. Then I can pretend to be concerned and say that I thought Lin Ming was a genius and should have been strong. By the time I realized something was wrong, I could no longer hold back. At most, I'll probably just pay some Gold Coin in compensation. The family cannot possibly punish me, one of the younger generation's elites, for the sake of a cripple.

Startled Ape Fist! Watching Lei Le use a Yellow Tier High-grade Dou Technique and charge at him, Lin Ming also circulated Dou Qi into his Right arm, then shouted, "Explosive Thunder Fist!"

With a buzz, Lei Le's ears trembled, his face twisted hideously, and he let out an "Ah!" But their fists had already collided. There was a sound like bones cracking, then Lei Le's fat body was sent flying backward before crashing heavily onto the ground. Immediately afterward, a pig-like scream rang out. "Ah! My arm!"

The Ninth Elder's voice rang out. "Quick, carry Lei Le away for treatment." Two People came up carrying a stretcher and carried Lei Le away.

The Ninth Elder said to Lin Ming, "Do not strike so heavily in the future." Then he announced Lin Ming's victory.

Lin Ming replied to the Ninth Elder, "Yes, Ninth Elder."

Lin Ming then said to the people around the edge, "Who else wants to spar with me? Come forward. Lin Ming will accompany you now." His Words Fell, and Lin Ming swept his gaze across the entire field. Anyone caught by his gaze either lowered his head, shook his hands repeatedly, or even took several steps back in fright.

At this moment, Lin Ming's skill overwhelmed the entire field.