The young girl beside Lin Dong was the petite Qing Tan, dressed in a delicate green outfit with twin pigtails and bright, curious eyes. Her presence immediately drew attention.
"Brother Lin Xuan!" Qing Tan called softly, waving happily.
Lin Xuan gave a slight nod, maintaining a polite distance, as she was still very young.
Lin Xiao and the children entered the seating area. Passing Lin Mang from the second branch, tensions flared.
Lin Mang mocked Lin Xiao in front of the crowd. Lin Dong's eyes darkened, and his small fists clenched inside his sleeves. Little Qing Tan bit her lip, clearly offended.
Watching the children's reactions, Lin Xuan smiled. Lin Dong had been bullied as a child due to his father's misfortune, and now he was holding back, waiting for the chance to prove himself in the competition. Young people were naive, but passionate.
Just as they settled, a group of people entered the hall, surrounding an older man with white hair and a commanding presence....Lin Zhentian, the head of the Lin family. Behind him were Lin Ken and Lin Xia.
Lin Zhentian greeted the guests warmly. Seeing Lin Xiao, his expression turned complex;
the once-promising son had become reclusive after his injury.
After exchanging a few words, Lin Xia's gaze found Lin Xuan, and she winked at him discreetly.
As everyone took their seats, Lin Zhentian gave a brief opening speech and announced the start of the competition. Lin Ken would host.
"Same rules as always. Draw lots to determine opponents. All young participants, come draw your numbers."
More than a dozen eager youths came forward. Lin Xuan joined them to draw his lot.
The competition's method was simple: draw lots, fight, determine the top five, then repeat matches to finalize rankings.
Challenges could be made against higher-ranked opponents to improve one's position.
Lin Xuan drew number seven. He would face whoever also drew number seven.
The first matches began. Lin Dong drew number four and stepped onto the fourth stone platform.
His opponent, Lin Changqiang, was at the fourth level of Body Tempering and a devoted admirer of Qing Tan.
Lin Dong's strength, at the fifth level, easily overpowered him. Using Tongbei Fist, he defeated Lin Changqiang, earning cheers from Qing Tan.
"Numbers six to ten, come on stage," Lin Ken announced.
Lin Xuan stepped onto the second stone platform. His opponent was a youth in black...Lin Shan.
Lin Xuan couldn't help but smile. It seemed fate had placed a formidable enemy right in his first round. Lin Shan's face darkened as he realized his luck.
Half a year ago, he couldn't challenge Lin Xuan. Even now, at the fifth level of Body Tempering, he was no match.
Admitting defeat publicly was unthinkable. He clenched his teeth. "
Fine, I'll take this beating," he thought.
Qing Tan, seated nearby, giggled at Lin Shan's pale expression.
Lin Dong grinned as well, swept up in her amusement. Only Lin Mang and his son Lin Hong looked displeased.
On the platform, Lin Xuan calmly studied his task.
For him, the opponent didn't matter as much as the reward.
Mission: Defeat Lin Shan. Reward: One Rank 3 Qi and Blood Pill.
Rewarded with just a single pill… does the system really look down on me this much?" Lin Xuan grumbled inwardly.
Previously, Qi and Blood Pills were given in bottles, but now he was only rewarded a single pill.
Still, a Third-Rank Qi and Blood Pill was nothing to sneeze at. After all, the mission was against a small fry like Lin Shan, someone he could defeat effortlessly. Any reward, big or small, was a gain.
"If you're so capable, don't use Yuan Power!" Lin Shan sneered.
He knew that even without Yuan Power, he couldn't match Lin Xuan.
The only reason he taunted him was that Yuan Power made hits more painful.
"Heh!" Lin Xuan smiled faintly, ignoring the childish provocation.
Not using Yuan Power when available was foolish; as for capability, being powerless without it was true incompetence.
"Falling Rock Fist!" Lin Shan shouted, launching his fists with heavy force.
Over the past months, he had diligently practiced Falling Rock Fist, hoping that without Yuan Power, he might at least survive.
"Still just Pebble Fist," Lin Xuan shook his head. With a single, rapid punch, he met Lin Shan's fists.
Though it was the same Falling Rock Fist, Lin Xuan had mastered it to perfection. Every strike carried the essence of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.
He didn't need flashy movements...simple hits could unleash the full power of the technique.
For someone like Lin Shan, this was more than enough.
With one exchange, Lin Shan's tightly clenched fists loosened, his arms numb, and his body's power disrupted, unable to channel to his limbs.
Lin Xuan pressed the advantage, raining Wing Chun-style strikes across Lin Shan's chest. The punches were not overly heavy...
just enough to teach him a lesson.
"Bang!"
Finally, after the last punch, Lin Shan tumbled off the stone platform, looking miserable.
Lin Hong hurried forward to help him, bringing him to Lin Mang's side. Lin Mang examined his son grimly.
Fortunately, the injuries were superficial...no bones were broken.
"Hmph!" Lin Mang snorted coldly at Lin Xuan.
It was clear Lin Xuan had only intended to teach a lesson, but his son wasn't someone Lin Xuan should handle.
"Find a chance to draw him later and teach him a lesson too," Lin Mang whispered.
"Understood, Father," Lin Hong replied with a smirk.
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