’I can’t possibly give up on the grand competition.’
’From what just happened, it’s clear the Cold Gang isn’t enough for me to break through my Gang Acupoint. I’ll have to rely on the higher-level Cold Dew.’
’Even though I have the Martial Arts Tree and could probably break through eventually if I waited, time is life...’
’On the Martial Arts Path, one step ahead means every step ahead.’
’There’s no reason for me to give up such a good opportunity.’
"I knew you’d want to participate in the grand competition, so I came to let you know. The clan competition actually started the day before yesterday, but the rules state that as long as the challenge matches aren’t over, any clan member who wants to participate can issue a challenge at any time."
Lin Qinghe watched Lin Yan emerge with a smile. The rules for the Lin Family’s grand competition weren’t particularly strict. The seats for the top ten were set out, and anyone confident enough could simply take one and wait for challengers.
Generally, these ten seats were occupied by two people chosen from each of the five branches. Members wouldn’t challenge those from their own branch, instead targeting the other branches. Once the challenges completely ceased, whoever remained in the ten seats would be the top ten.
Once the top ten were finalized, the most exciting part would begin: the battle for the top ten rankings.
The reason Lin Qinghe was notifying Lin Yan now was because today was the final day for challenges.
After today, the top ten would be set in stone, and no more challenges would be allowed.
Lin Yan followed Lin Qinghe back to the surface, bowed, and took his leave. A faint smile touched Lin Qinghe’s lips. ’Looks like I’ll need to find someone to cover my shift tomorrow. I have to go watch the show.’
Lin Qinghe didn’t plan on watching today’s challenge matches.
If Lin Yan failed his challenge, then tomorrow’s top ten battles wouldn’t be very exciting.
And if he won, it was still just a single match, not worth a special trip.
...
...
Below the Combat Platform, the air was buzzing with conversation.
Today was the final day of the challenge matches, meaning the top ten seats would be decided before sunset.
There were at least a thousand people below the stage, all of them members of the main Lin Clan. Not a single outsider from the vassal families was present.
The Lin Family’s youth grand competition was not open to the public; this was to protect the younger generation and keep their trump cards hidden.
As for the Lin Clan Members present, they knew it wouldn’t be long before the top ten were confirmed. As long as no one else issued a challenge, the "wait until sunset" rule was merely a formality.
All eyes were fixed on the ten chairs arranged on either side of the platform.
Ten grandmaster chairs, split between the left and right, faced the stage.
Of the ten chairs, only one was currently empty, but no clan member had any objection to its vacancy.
Lin Mingya, the number one prodigy of the Lin Family’s younger generation, had earned the right not to be present today.
Of the remaining nine, the First Branch had only one person present, Lin Mingshen. The other four branches each had two members seated.
As Lin Yan appeared at the edge of the crowd, before he could even squeeze his way in, the sharp-eyed Lin Mingye spotted him.
"Lin Yan, over here!"
Lin Yan saw Lin Mingye waving, then glanced at the area where the Third Branch members were gathered. He gave Lin Mingye a slight shake of his head; right now, he needed to stand with his own branch.
"Brother Cheng, Brother Yuan!"
Lin Yan made his way to the Third Branch’s section. His eyes swept over the crowd as he greeted Lin Mingchen and Lin Mingyuan, then he asked curiously, "Why don’t I see Brother Hai?"
"Your Brother Hai got beaten up yesterday. He was too embarrassed to show his face, so he didn’t come today."
Lin Mingchen said with a grin. It wasn’t that Minghai was truly embarrassed; it was more that he was upset about not making it into the top fifteen and was dreading his father’s punishment.
Even though the competition was for the top ten, several of the current occupants hadn’t started in those seats. Minghai had just sat down in a grandmaster chair when he was knocked out by someone from the Fifth Branch. He then challenged someone from the Second Branch but failed again.
Anyone who could hold their seat for two rounds was considered to be in the top twenty.
People like Brother Song and the others currently in the grandmaster chairs had only gone up during the final round of challenges.
Lin Yan’s gaze swept across the two sides of the platform, and he spotted several familiar faces. From the First Branch, Lin Mingye’s older brother, Lin Mingshen, was seated in a grandmaster chair. He had met the two from the Second Branch before. The Third Branch was represented by Brother Mingsong and Brother Mingcheng. And for the Fifth Branch, there was Sister Mingxi and another person he didn’t recognize...
’Well, would you look at that. All ten spots are full.’
Lin Yan began to wonder who he should challenge.
’Out of respect for my master, I definitely can’t challenge the Fifth Branch. And as for the Third Branch...’
’Never mind!’
’With the Fourth Branch right there, do I even need to think about it?’
"Brother Cheng, are those two over there from the Fourth Branch?"
"Yeah. Lin Mingzhao and Lin Mingjian. Both of them are at the Blood Exchange Fourth Transformation," Lin Mingchen said, nodding as he followed Lin Yan’s gaze.
Now that he had confirmed the identities of the two from the Fourth Branch, Lin Yan had a plan.
Meanwhile, on the Combat Platform, the referee was also someone Lin Yan knew: Lin Shouzheng, the "Fifth Uncle" from the clan’s Law Enforcement Hall.
His presence as "Fifth Uncle" was a guarantee of absolute fairness in the matches.
"Is there anyone else who wishes to come to the stage and issue a challenge?"
Lin Shouzheng’s gaze swept across the crowd. As far as he was concerned, this was just a formality. The current lineup for the top ten seats was exactly as they had anticipated.
They were all well aware of the younger generation’s strength; it was impossible for a dark horse to emerge out of nowhere.
"Fifth Uncle doesn’t even need to ask. Who else could possibly challenge those nine?"
"The few who were strong enough to challenge them have already had their turn. You can’t expect me to go up there, I’m only at the Blood Exchange Second Transformation."
"True, but you still have to go through the motions. As the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, Fifth Uncle is the one who cares most about the rules."
The clan members below the stage murmured among themselves. Seeing that no one was stepping forward, Lin Shouzheng retracted his gaze. Just as he was about to turn and leave the platform, two voices—one near, one far—rang out at almost the same time.
"Fifth Uncle, I’d like to try."
"Fifth Uncle, I want to issue a challenge!"
The two sudden voices left all the Lin Clan Members stunned, unsure of where to direct their gazes.
This was especially true for Lin Mingchen and Lin Mingyuan. The two instinctively glanced toward the distant voice behind them, but their heads swiveled back halfway to stare at Lin Yan, who was right in front of them.
"Lin Yan, was that you just now?"
PS: I forgot to title the Chapter yesterday. You can all feel Jiu Deng’s thirst for subscriptions, can’t you? My apologies. It’s the last day of the month, so please vote with your monthly tickets!

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