Chapter 29

Chapter 29: The Three Elites of the Lin Family

On the day of the Lin Family tournament, the sky was clear and the breeze gentle.

To fight for the single spot to enter the South Sea Academy, the young men and maidens of the Lin Family gathered around the clan’s martial arena.

There were 2,355 registered participants. At a glance, most were mid-stage Foundation Establishment and above.

But most eyes were fixed on the ten disciples standing at the very front—the first tier.

Without exception, all ten were at Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment.

This was the foundation of the Lin Family as one of the noble houses.

And among those ten, the three in the middle drew the most attention.

On the referee’s platform, Lin Mang looked at the three of them and felt both pride and unease.

Before he could speak, the Seventh Elder smiled and said, “Clan Chief, why hasn’t Third Miss returned yet? Could it be she’s afraid?”

Lin Mang let out a cold laugh. “No need for the Seventh Elder to worry. Has the tournament started yet?”

The Seventh Elder didn’t press. He simply looked toward one of the three in the center.

A handsome boy in green brocade stood with arms crossed, basking in flattery. His features were slightly delicate, and his expression was carefully composed into modest confidence. But when he glanced toward the athletic youth beside him, a shadow flickered in his eyes.

Someone beside him flattered loudly, “Young Master Yuan broke through to the twelfth level of Foundation Establishment a year ago and is already stepping toward the Enlightenment stage. This tournament should be easy for you.”

Lin Yuan looked pleased but restrained himself in front of the elders. He lowered his head and cupped his hands modestly. “There are many talents in this tournament. I won’t say it’s easy. I’ll just do my best.”

That performance earned another wave of praise.

The Seventh Elder nodded repeatedly, pride plain. He turned to Lin Mang. “Family Head, what do you think of my little grandson?”

Lin Mang gave an objective assessment. “Not bad. His character still needs polishing.”

The Seventh Elder’s smile soured. “Then who does the Family Head favor more?”

Lin Mang looked at the athletic youth beside Lin Yuan. “Lin Long. He’s only been at the twelfth level of Foundation Establishment for half a year, but his aura already shows he’s half a step into the Enlightenment stage.”

Then he looked at the young woman beside Lin Long. “And Lin Ya is also good. She entered the twelfth level over half a year ago as well.”

These three were the most promising in this tournament. The younger generation called them the Lin Family’s Three Elites.

Lin Zhao’s earlier performance had been shocking, but in the clan’s eyes she was still one step behind them.

Nearby, Lin Yi stood close to Lin Ya and complained softly, “Sister Ya Ya, you have no idea how outrageous Lin Zhao is. It’s such an important day, and the tournament hasn’t even started—does she plan to be late?”

Lin Ya glanced at Lin Yi, expression blank, clearly unwilling to waste attention on this.

Lin Yi bit her lip and pushed harder. “And she’s entangled with Young Master Su Bai too. She hasn’t even cut things clean with Yao Chi Sacred Land. How can she be with Young Master Su?”

Lin Ya frowned and snapped, “Who Lin Zhao is with is her business. It isn’t time yet, so she isn’t late.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Instead of nitpicking nonsense all day, focus on raising your strength.”

She wasn’t defending Lin Zhao. She simply didn’t consider Lin Zhao qualified to be her opponent yet. In Lin Ya’s eyes, only Lin Long and Lin Yuan mattered.

As time passed, the incense marking the start of the tournament burned lower and lower.

Lin Yuan flicked a glance at someone nearby.

The person understood at once, slipped down to the attendant in charge of incense, and tucked something into his hand.

The attendant sprinkled something at the base of the incense.

The incense began to burn faster.

Lin Yuan’s lips curved. He spoke up, voice mild but pointed. “Family Head, the incense is about to burn out, and Third Miss still hasn’t returned. Shouldn’t those who haven’t arrived be declared forfeit?”

Lin Mang’s face darkened instantly.

The Seventh Elder’s hostility toward him was old. Lin Mang hadn’t expected it to extend into the juniors as well.

The Great Elder and Second Elder seemed to sense something, but since it didn’t concern them directly, neither spoke.

Just as the incense reached its end, a sharp whistle cut through the air.

A maiden in a sky-blue gown descended like a fluttering butterfly and landed precisely on the platform carved with her name.

“Lin Zhao of the Lin Family,” she said clearly, “reporting in!”

Her words fell.

The incense burned out.

She had made it at the last moment.

A shadow flashed through Lin Yuan’s eyes. Then he sneered.

So what if she arrived?

He refused to believe a late Foundation Establishment cultivator could match him.

The only people he needed to worry about were Lin Long and Lin Ya.

Thinking of what his grandfather had prepared, Lin Yuan looked toward the flag marking first place, confidence blazing in his eyes.

The spot at the South Sea Academy would be his.

Once he earned it, he would use his status to help his grandfather seize the position of family head.

He would make the Lin Family understand—Lin Yuan was the number one genius, not some love-sick waste who had lost her Phoenix Fortune.

Lin Long and the other disciples cupped their hands toward Lin Zhao. “Young Lord.”

Although Lin Long shared the Lin surname, he wasn’t direct-line. He had built his strength step by step from a branch line, and his respect for Lin Zhao was genuine.

Lin Zhao returned the greeting. Feeling the dangerous steadiness in his aura, she thought, not without a flicker of admiration, that even a starved camel was bigger than a horse. Even in decline, the Lin Family’s younger generation still had worthy people.

Lin Ya also nodded to Lin Zhao. She had heard some things about Lin Zhao from the Second Elder.

Compared to Lin Yuan’s contempt and hatred, Lin Ya seemed more reflective.

“I know you sacrificed a lot for the family,” Lin Ya said. “But this opportunity is just as important to us. We can’t yield to you. This world is the law of the jungle. We’re all working for the Lin Family.”

Lin Zhao’s lips curved into a half-smile. She didn’t refute it.

“Right,” Lin Zhao said. “We’re all working for the Lin Family.”

Lin Ya let out a quiet breath, relieved by Lin Zhao’s calm response. Then she glanced at Lin Yi and shook her head slightly.

She could sense Lin Zhao’s current strength—around the eleventh level of Foundation Establishment. For someone Lin Zhao’s age, it was top-tier.

But today, in this arena, it still seemed short.

Lin Zhao didn’t notice Lin Ya’s last look. Spiritual energy surged full and clean in her inner palace. With the Bone Sword in hand, she was already eager to test the edge of her new strength.

The referee stepped onto the platform and announced the rules.

“This tournament lasts three days. Day one is the elimination round, day two is the points round, and day three is the arena round. Now, all disciples, step onto the martial arena.”

His voice carried across the crowd.

“There are 2,355 registered participants. The elimination round will leave only 235 to advance. The first-round rule is simple: use any means to ensure you remain on the stage—and make others leave it. When only 235 remain, the match ends.”

He paused, then added, “Sword Flight may not rise higher than ten zhang above the stage or move farther than ten zhang from it. Leaving that range counts as falling off.”

The horn sounded.

“Elimination round—begin!”

The next moment, everyone was teleported onto the stage, and the massive battle platform in the martial arena erupted into chaos.