Green Maple Valley.
The sun shone brightly, and shadows swayed beneath the trees.
Across the broad Clan Martial Plaza,
tens of thousands of Li Family Disciples stood packed together.
Every one of them had come to take part in the third Li Clan Grand Competition.
Among them,
some belonged to the Direct Lineage,
while others came from collateral branches.
They were all young.
But without exception, everyone qualified for the Li Clan Grand Competition was strong.
The more ordinary among them
had reached the Body Realm in their teens.
Those with greater talent
had reached the Qi and Blood Realm in their teens.
And among the monstrous talents,
there were even teenagers in the Innate Realm.
The young people standing at the very front
had all reached the Innate Realm.
There were young men and women among them,
all dressed in matching Dark Cyan Martial Attire.
Their backs were straight and their eyes bright.
Youthful vigor and a keen edge radiated from every one of them.
These young people
were the strength the entire Li Clan had built for itself.
They were the future of the entire Li Clan.
At the front of the plaza
stood a tall platform.
Li Clan Flags bearing the green maple emblem stood around it, snapping in the wind.
On either side of the platform
stood dozens of Li Family Elders, each with a deep, unfathomable aura.
The crowd held its breath and watched the platform.
Above it, the air trembled.
An elderly figure in purple robes slowly appeared.
Not a trace of his aura leaked out.
Yet the moment everyone saw him,
awe filled their eyes.
He was the Li Family's grand elder, second only to one man and above countless others.
Everyone bowed as one.
"We pay our respects to the grand elder!"