Jing Hongchen's lips twitched slightly as he looked at his granddaughter.
What kind of spell had that brat Wang Chen cast on his precious granddaughter, that even after so long without seeing him, she still thought of him constantly?
Jing Hongchen said flatly,
"As long as the position of Crown Prince has not been decided, you are not allowed to meet that brat from the Wang family."
Meng Hongchen pouted, tugging at his sleeve, "Grandpa~"
But Jing Hongchen calmly poured himself a cup of tea, took two sips, and ignored her spoiled act.
"Don't act willfully. But, Grandpa can promise you this—once the Crown Prince is decided, I won't interfere with whatever happens between you and Wang Chen. For now, you're still young. What's most important is training and building your foundation. Go. Back to cultivation."
Hearing that her grandfather wouldn't oppose her being with Brother Wang Chen after the Crown Prince was chosen, Meng Hongchen instantly beamed with joy.
She failed to realize just how heavy the words 'after the Crown Prince is decided' truly were.
With the Emperor's decree, the entire atmosphere in Mingdu shifted.
But the three princes still fought relentlessly.
The only difference now was that First Prince Xu Tiannan and Third Prince Xu Tianshi had joined forces against Second Prince Xu Tianyu.
Though Xu Tianyu was the strongest in individual power, facing the combined pressure of Tiannan and Tianshi left him struggling.
Fortunately for him, the First and Third Princes didn't fully trust one another either, each constantly guarding against the other. Thus, a precarious three-way balance had formed.
While the princes waged their battle for the throne, Wang Chen's life remained calm and disciplined.
Every morning, he carved soul tool core arrays.
Every afternoon, he practiced the secret skill of Ring Tempering.
Every evening, he cultivated soul power.
Day after day, his schedule was packed, every moment put to use.
And so, in the blink of an eye, more than half a month passed.
Soon, the day of the Wang Clan's grand family tournament arrived.
During this time, Wang Chen hadn't broken through to the thirtieth rank, but his mastery of the Ring Tempering Secret Technique had increased tremendously.
At first, he needed time to prepare before he could stimulate a soul ring's energy, then control it to enhance himself.
Now, he could trigger it instantly with a single thought, tempering his body without pause.
It was polished to the point of perfection—no opponent in battle would ever be able to interrupt him.
The day of the tournament dawned bright and clear.
Clan members with no pressing duties all returned to the ancestral estate. Faces brimmed with excitement and anticipation, eager to see their children shine.
At the southern end of the clan grounds stood the Martial Arena, where the event would be held.
Its floor was paved with solid, refined steel, hardened by countless duels, gleaming with a cold luster.
Tiered stands rose on all sides, able to seat hundreds. Every spot was already filled, occupied by the elders and ladies of the Wang family.
As for the younger generation, the contestants, they stood within the arena itself.
This tournament was all about fairness, justice, and openness.
Before the eyes of the entire clan, the strongest and most outstanding of the younger generation would be chosen.
The first-place winner would gain priority access to the clan's resources—receiving the best items first, and the full support of the family in reaching higher realms.
In the center of the arena, more than a hundred Wang juniors stood in four orderly lines. At the head of each line stood a middle-aged man of notable strength.
Wang Chen stood in the center of the first line, clad in black training garb, expression calm.
His goal today was simple—first place.
And his only true rival was Wang Teng.
His eyes slid toward a youth about 1.7 meters tall, features refined, with arrogance written all over his face.
Wang Teng stood with arms crossed, chin raised high, looking down upon the other juniors like a judge surveying his inferiors. Sometimes he nodded with satisfaction, other times he shook his head.
When his proud gaze fell upon Wang Chen, however, that haughty air faded somewhat.
For Wang Teng had always regarded Wang Chen as his true competitor. Both had been born with innate soul power at rank nine—undeniable prodigies.
If not for the year's difference in their age, Wang Teng wasn't entirely sure he would surpass Wang Chen.
But reality had no "ifs." Thanks to that extra year, he had already become a Soul Elder, while Wang Chen was still only a Grand Soul Master.
The gap between the two rings and three was massive—especially since Wang Teng's third ring was a thousand-year soul ring.
The boost in attributes and physique from such a ring far outstripped anything from a century ring.
Confident, Wang Teng thought to himself that with his soul power advantage, reinforced body, and devastating thousand-year soul skill, defeating Wang Chen would be child's play.
He looked at Wang Chen with feigned regret.
"Brother Chen, it's a pity. If you were only a year older, I might not be your match."
His words sounded regretful, but his posture was already that of a victor—utterly certain of his triumph.
Wang Chen simply grinned at that arrogant face.
He almost couldn't wait to see what expression Wang Teng would wear when he lost.
Wang Teng, catching sight of that smile, suddenly felt an itch in his fist. He badly wanted to wipe it away.
"Hmph! Brother Chen, I advise you to concede. I know your cultivation is nearly at Soul Elder already.
But until you truly become one—until you absorb that third ring—you'll never be my match."
He turned his head aside, chin raised proudly, strutting like a peacock.
Wang Chen nearly burst out laughing at the sight.
"Cousin Wang Teng, don't speak too absolutely. If you lose later, it'll be quite the embarrassment."
Wang Teng's ear twitched, and he gave a dismissive snort.
"Me, lose? I, Wang Teng, am a Soul Elder. How could I lose to you, Grand Soul Masters? If I really do, I'll find a block of tofu and smash my head on it."
Wang Chen had been about to respond when a commanding shout echoed through the Martial Arena, silencing the crowd.
The middle-aged men at the head of the lines stepped forward, announcing the rules.
The Family Tournament will consist of two rounds. The first is soul tool crafting. The second will be duels, using martial souls and soul tools.