"The Mu Household's grand competition begins now!"
Soon, the Mu Household's higher-ups announced the official start of the competition. Every young member of the Mu Household was brimming with spirit, eager to show off their strength.
On the raised platform, the Mu Household's higher-ups discussed the youngsters' performances with relish.
"Tingting is truly impressive. She defeated her opponent in one move and still had strength to spare. That means she hasn't reached her limit yet!"
"That lad Mu Kun is good too. He defeated an opponent at the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm in a single move. He couldn't have made it look easier!"
"With them around, our Mu Household has a promising future!"
The higher-ups chatted and laughed, save for a middle-aged man named Mu Lei, whose expression was dark. Mu Lei was Mu Yan's father.
At this moment, the Mu Household's first elder said, "Our Mu Household must devote more resources to nurturing these geniuses."
"What a shame. If our earlier resources hadn't all gone into nurturing a piece of trash, Mu Kun and Tingting could have grown even faster!"
The first elder's words carried a pointed meaning, his tone dissatisfied. Wasn't the piece of trash he spoke of none other than Mu Yan?
The Mu Household had indeed devoted considerable resources to nurturing Mu Yan before.
At these words, many of the Lineage's higher-ups nodded, as though they couldn't see Mu Lei's increasingly ugly expression.
The second elder snorted coldly. "That brat Mu Yan wasted far too many of our resources. Had we known it would turn out this way, we should never have focused on nurturing him!"
"Exactly. And to think we believed he could lead the Mu Household to glory. Who knew he wouldn't be worth a damn?"
The other higher-ups also mocked Mu Yan without mercy. Back then, Mu Yan had shone so brightly that he eclipsed many others, and quite a few members had actually resented him.
"Good thing he's already gone. Otherwise, he'd still be living off the Lineage for free. Wouldn't that waste even more of our resources?"
"Heh, at least the brat had a little backbone. He made it sound so nice, saying he was going out to temper himself and regain his strength. But who knows whether he's even still alive?"
The first elder, second elder, and several others all laughed mockingly. Beside them, Mu Lei had endured the fire of rage in his chest to his limit. He couldn't listen any longer!
"Enough! All of you, shut your damn mouths!"
His Golden Core Realm cultivation erupted, silencing everyone.
Mu Lei's eyes were bloodshot as he glared at them in utter fury and shouted, "When my son was a genius, he made many contributions to the Lineage too. He more than repaid the resources spent on him long ago!"
"Why are you making these cutting remarks now? My son will return alive, and he will shine brilliantly once more!"
Mu Lei had never lost faith in his son.
He firmly believed that when Mu Yan returned, everyone in the Mu Household would have to look up to him!
Watching Mu Lei tremble slightly with rage, the first elder rebuked him in displeasure. "Mu Lei, today is the Lineage's grand competition. Do you want to disgrace yourself on such an important occasion?"
The first elder spoke coldly. "So what if he was once a genius? All I know is that he's trash now. To the Lineage, he's useless garbage. The Lineage doesn't feed idlers!"
The second elder spared him no courtesy either. "Then let's talk when your son returns someday. When that happens, we'll consider entrusting him with important responsibilities again!"
Despite their words, none of them believed Mu Yan could return.
What other end could there be besides death for a piece of trash who couldn't cultivate and had left the Lineage?
Several other higher-ups also urged Mu Lei to calm down.
Left with no choice, Mu Lei could only warn them not to speak carelessly about Mu Yan again, or they couldn't blame him for turning on them without regard for their ties!
While they argued on the platform, the competition in the courtyard reached its most exciting stage.
As expected, the last two remaining were Mu Tingting and Mu Kun. They stood in the arena, drawing everyone's attention.
"Little Sister Ting, your big brother won't hold back!"
A faint smile rested on Mu Kun's handsome face.
Mu Tingting defiantly puffed out her youthful but already budding chest and called out, "Brother Kun, I'll give it everything I've got too. Take this!"
As soon as she finished speaking, they both unleashed their moves and clashed.
Both were heaven's chosen, and their battle was truly spectacular. Powerful presences spilled from their every movement, making even the space above the arena appear somewhat distorted.
The Mu Household's higher-ups were also extremely pleased with their performances.
After dozens of exchanges, Mu Tingting gradually fell behind. At last, Mu Kun knocked her out of the arena with a palm strike, bringing the Mu Household's grand competition to a successful conclusion.
"Brother Kun is mighty! Brother Kun is invincible!"
"I told you! Brother Kun is the Mu Household's number one genius. Who could possibly be his match?"
"Tingting did well too. She took second place!"
Cheers rose from below the arena.
A satisfied smile spread across the first elder's face. With a flicker, he appeared in the arena beside Mu Kun.
"The winner of this year's grand competition is Mu Kun!" the first elder announced loudly.
The cheers below grew even more fervent.
Mu Kun held his head high with pride, accepting the cheers and screams that belonged to him. So being the Lineage's number one felt this good?
"I wonder what Mu Yan would think if he came back and saw that his former little follower had become the Lineage's number one?"
The thought suddenly occurred to Mu Kun.
With his strength, he could give Mu Yan a thorough beating. Their standing and strength had both undergone earth-shaking changes.
He actually hoped Mu Yan would return. That way, he could trample the former genius underfoot and savor that pleasure to his heart's content!
At this moment, Mu Lei also watched the lively scene from afar, his heart filled with unwillingness.
"If... if nothing had gone wrong with Yan'er, he would be the one standing in the arena now, wouldn't he?"
Just then, a familiar voice came from the sky.
"Everyone's here? Looks like I, Mu Yan, haven't come back too late!"
The voice reached everyone's ears, and they immediately looked around in surprise. That sounded like... Mu Yan's voice?
"Mu Yan?"
Mu Kun's expression changed drastically as he searched everywhere for the source of the voice.
"He's really back?"
A look of disbelief also appeared on Mu Tingting's delicate face.
Mu Lei froze for a moment before becoming overjoyed. He wasn't hallucinating. He had really heard his son's voice!
Soon, the Mu Household's members saw two figures plummeting from the sky. Just as they were about to land, their bodies suddenly became as light as falling leaves, and they settled gently on their feet.
Who else could the young man standing in front be but Mu Yan?
Only upon seeing that familiar, handsome face did everyone confirm in astonishment that Mu Yan had truly returned!
Looking at the familiar Lineage, Mu Yan felt somewhat moved as well. He had finally returned. This time, he would thoroughly wash away the mockery and humiliation he had borne!
"First elder, why are your eyes so wide? Don't recognize me anymore?"
Mu Yan teased with a hint of coldness.
The first elder narrowed his eyes, glints of cold light flashing within them. "What did you come back for, brat? You're not qualified to participate in the Lineage's grand competition! Besides, it's already over. There's no need for you to come back and make a spectacle of yourself!"