Chapter 11: Lin Family Annual Clan Competition Begins

'It's not over yet. Now that the Yuan Dan breakthrough process has been completed, I should begin to break through to the third level of the Seal Symbol Master realm.'

Once Lin Dong thought this, the mental energy within his NiWan Palace began to become active. One of the two ancient seal symbols cracked and split into two within his NiWan Palace. The new symbol however was still somewhat transparent. Lin Dong immediately had his mental energy within his NiWan palace crazily poured into the new ancient seal symbol making it more solid. 'I have become a Third level Seal Symbol Master!' With the accomplishment of breaking through to this realm, the storm of mental energy that was swirling around just now slowly stopped.

His eyes slightly opened with crow's feet wrinkles around the corners along with upturned corners of the mouth; his arms spread out upward in an open manner as he basked in the majestic feeling of the power flowing in his body. 'I am now an Initial Yuan Dan Realm Powerhouse with a Nine-Star Yuan Dan and a Third Level Seal Symbol Master. With these, my current strength will allow me to face off a Perfect Yuan Dan Realm Powerhouse and have an eighty percent chance of winning.'

…

The just-risen sun shone softly on the streets and pathways of the Lin Clan family territory, bringing with it a flurry of early-morning activity. A new day has begun and the entire clan slowly became fired up as today is the Annual Clan competition where all the new generation Lin disciples show their talent, strength, abilities, and mentality off to the rest of their family.

Countless fathers and mothers with their child/children rush to the Trial Hall, which is located in the eastern part of the inner district in the Lin Clan territory, to either attend or participate as the audience or contestants in this grand event. This includes Lin Xiao, Liu Yan, Lin Dong, and Qing Tan.

Just as the family of four enter, they catch the attention of a thin figure who was standing at the entrance of the Hall. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, "Third Brother, you finally arrived. I was waiting for you." 'I can't sense his cultivation any higher than the Earthly Yuan realm, but based on Lin Hong's and Lin Shan's conjecture, he may very well be hiding it. After all, he walked into the building with his hands in his pockets but with his thumbs sticking out. This could mean a variety of emotions, but I can't shake the feeling that it means he has gained power and confidence. A stark contrast to what I saw of him six years ago.'

Lin Xiao stopped in his tracks and looked up at his second brother, Lin Mang, with a hint of disdain while answering "Why? All these years you sent your son to try and bully my son. Do you think that I and my family entering this competition is a disgrace to the clan?"

Lin Mang paused slightly before shaking his head from left to right before responding softly, "Sorry third brother. In the past, I was jealous and envious of your talent in cultivation. Then when you were half-crippled six years ago, I let my feelings turn into disdain and treated you with disrespect just to feel superior. I was wrong. It was wrong of me not to teach my second son properly. The reason why I called out to you just now is to apologize and hopefully rekindle our relationship, after all, we are brothers, family." 'I will have to lower myself now. No need to further antagonize him as that will not bring my family any benefits. I will most likely lose some of my power as it is obvious Third Brother will reveal his strength to father during or after the competition.'

Lin Xiao slightly widened his eyes and his mouth opened slightly before responding "Second brother. As you said, we are family. I am willing to put the past behind us since you are sincere. Thank you." Lin Xiao clapped his palms against Lin Mang's shoulders and hugged him right after he stated that. Lin Mang also circled his arms around Lin Xiao and clapped his palms against his back slightly, saying "Good…good…thank you for accepting my apology, third brother…Third Brother, why don't you all head inside now?"

Lin Xiao stopped and stepped back and said "Yes, second brother we will go inside now."

The family of four slowly walked to the arena where the competition will be held in the Hall today. Eventually, they found some seats and began to sit down. As Lin Dong sat in his seat he asked his father curiously, "Father, why did you accept Second Uncle Mang's apology? I do not think he is being sincere. All these years he would throw words behind our backs and support others' oppression of us. I mean he only broke through to the Heavenly Yuan realm two years ago. He obviously enjoyed the power he got from taking charge of the Lin Clan family's financial section that he slacked in cultivating."

Humming slightly, Lin Xiao replied to not only his son but also his daughter "Yes, my second brother did all that. He most likely is not completely sincere. However, you must know one important thing. Your second uncle is a man who respects strength and looks down on the weak. However, he is also not someone who underestimates the weak. He understands that someone who is weaker in cultivation may become stronger in the future. Before I became half-crippled, he was indeed respectful to me due to my cultivation rank, but he was also very competitive for resources and power. Now, before this meeting, his two sons fought and spoke with you. They were most likely taught the same principles your second uncle has cultivated and observed your and Qing Tan's behavior. They most likely told your second uncle what they perceived.

This means that the reason why he spoke to us immediately upon our entry into the Hall was to test me. If I had the same attitude as six years ago when I became half-crippled, he would have killed or crippled both you and Qing Tan when given the chance to remove the threat of losing his power and resources which he gives to his sons. He has known me for so many years that he was able to tell from my attitude just now that I was not faking it. Hence, he became respectful and put away any notion of antagonizing us.

Hence, you both will not have to worry about him, Lin Hong, and Lin Shan troubling and/or annoying you. You both also do not have to worry about your second uncle working with another and trying to scheme against you as he will focus on the full picture meaning the benefits of the Clan before his own. Only if I ever lose my strength once again due to an outsider, will he start to think of harming us."

Coughing slightly into his fisted palm, Lin Xiao then swept his gaze to the entrance of the arena and met the gaze of his father who came in with several other people. He quickly stood up and gathered his family to welcome them.

Lin Zhentian, his father stood straight with a majestic air surrounding him and dressed in a brocade robe and black ankle pants with brown leather shoes staring at his third son whom he was once so proud of with a complicated gaze "Old Third, you finally gave up staying in the remote area and come out to see me…"

Standing straight with his arms at his side showing a bright smile with a lofty and elegant aura surrounding himself, Lin Xiao replied "No father, I was not hiding from you. I simply wanted to find a quiet place for my children to be raised in."

Looking at the huge change in the attitude of his third son from half a dozen years ago to now, Lin Zhentian was surprised. He can tell his son has gained the same confidence and pride as before he was injured. His gaze then turned to his grandchildren who were standing next to his son and daughter-in-law. "It seems a lot has happened since you moved to the remote mountain. I heard that four months ago, your son was able to utilize martial art to a high degree to the point of defeating Lin Shan who is in the same realm as him in one move. I also heard that your daughter defeated Lin Shan and his four friends all by herself. It seems that you've indeed trained your son and daughter well these past years."

Lin Dong and Qing Tan immediately stepped forward and bowed with their palms facing each other and together "Grandfather!"

Lin Zhentian smiled and then praised them for some time. He then led Lin Ken his first son and father to Lin Xia to the main seat. The Trial Hall arena room was incredibly nosy for quite a while longer before Lin Ken received a gesture from his father to start the competition. Lin Ken immediately clapped his hands to quiet down the crowd and loudly stated with a fist in the air "This year's annual Lin Clan family competition has officially begun!"

With the order from Lin Ken, the Trial Hall immediately became lively again. One by one all the Lin family's younger generation who were going to participate in the competition this year lined up to draw lots to see who fights who. For a while, several areas within the audience were filled with humming and hawing sounds.

On one stone platform, Lin Dong was looking across from him at a round youth. This youth was having a bit of a difficult time climbing onto the platform. With a wry smile on his face, he asked "Lin Changqiang, are you sure you want to compete with me?"

Coughing gently into his open palm, Lin Changqiang answered his brother "Ahem…No, I do not want to compete with you. You have already shown that you can defeat those relatively easily in the same realm as you. I myself am at the Fourth level of the Tempered Body realm, so there is no point in competing in a losing battle.

I ADMIT DEFEAT!" He stated the last statement with some righteousness to the crowd.

Silence immediately spread throughout the arena. Everyone cast their eyes over at Lin Changqiang as he admitted defeat just a minute, not even, after the opening of the competition. It goes to say that Lin Changqiang's admittance of defeat has broken the record for the fastest to be defeated in the competition, no matter how he was defeated.

Lin Ken had an incredibly odd expression on his face and waved his hand as if he was disgusted by Changqiang's decision "Since you have admitted defeat, come down quickly."

As for Lin Changqiang's father, the Fifth brother of the Patriarch's family, he had the urge to find a hole and bury himself within it due to the amount of shame his son brought him due to his decision today. If not for the presence of his father, he would have left immediately. 'This rebellious son…If he wanted to admit defeat, then he can do so. Why did he have to yell it out so loud? Also, with such a righteous tone? Admitting defeat is not a crime but admitting defeat without even trying to compete as this is a competition between family members is disgraceful! Besides, there are many other important guests who came to watch this competition, are you not afraid that they do not know that you are the son of the Fifth master of the Lin Family?... Tonight, you will be shown just what strong fatherly love is!!'

[So, I was trying to find out what Lin Chang Gun's father's name was but was unable to find it. I did find out that Lin Chang Gun is not his name though. It is Lin Changqiang. So, from now his name will be that. I will try to change the remaining times I previously made the mistake.]

Lin Changqiang ran off the stone platform and came to his father when he noticed his father's strange expression "Father, are you okay? What is with the ugly look on your face?"

His father, the fifth master of the Lin Family, resisted the urge to beat his rebellious son on the spot and reluctantly showed a forced doting fatherly smile and said "It is fine. Just concentrate on the clan competition. I have a surprise for you once we go home tonight."

Lin Changqiang did not think much of it any longer and happily responded while sitting down next to his father "All right. Thanks for the surprise, Father!" He then started to observe his brother Dong. 'I did not expect to get a surprise from father, after all, I admitted defeat without even trying just now. Maybe I should do so from now on to get more surprises?'

Lin Ken announced the next match loudly "Second Match: Lin Dong vs. Lin Yun!"

A silent and calm youth who is the same age as Lin Dong nimbly jumped onto the stone platform across from Lin Dong. His name is Lin Yun and is an elite among the younger generation of the Lin Family. Both his parents were from the Lin Clan but had died at the hands of bandits. He had reached the Sixth level of the Tempered Body realm.

Cultivation Ranks:

Rank 1: Tempered Body – 9 Stages – (1-9)

Rank 2: Earthly Yuan – 3 Stages – (Early, Middle, Late)

Rank 3: Heavenly Yuan – 3 Stages – (Early, Middle, Late)

Rank 4: Yuan Dan – 3 Stages – (Initial, Advanced, Perfect)

Rank 5: Form Creation – 2 Stages – (Initial, Advanced)

Rank 6:

Rank 7:

Rank 8:

Rank 9:

Rank 10:

Rank 11: Samsara – 3 Stages – (Ordinary Samsara, Ultimate Samsara, Reincarnation Enlightened Samsara)

Mental Energy Ranks:

Rank 0: Beginning Training – NiWan Palace opened

Rank 1: Seal Symbol Master – 4 Stages – (1st-4th Seal Symbol Master)