C79 The Reward for the Competition

Even though it was his own son he faced, Lin Chongzhi couldn't shake off a sudden wave of anxiety under Lin Ao's piercing gaze.

"No, no, of course not," Lin Chongzhi hastily denied, eager to clarify his stance.

"Such a thing would never happen," Lin Ao stated, closing his eyes again. "I'm not singling anyone out, but let's face it—the so-called elite youth of Evergreen Town's great clans are nothing but trash. Therefore, until I secure the Profound Moon Sect's spot, losing is out of the question."

Lin Chongzhi felt a twitch in his eyelids at Lin Ao's bold declaration—a sentiment he himself could never voice.

"Enough, Father. I need to continue absorbing the blood essence. You should go back now. Just wait peacefully for me to claim the top spot in the Lin family tomorrow," Lin Ao dismissed his father without a hint of courtesy.

"Oh, certainly!" Lin Chongzhi nodded hastily.

It was only after stepping out of the building that he noticed the cold sweat on his back, now chilling him in the night breeze.

The night flew by.

For the Lin family members, it was a night of anticipation before the family selection. For Chu Yan, it marked the culmination of three intense nights of training.

Emerging from the temporal prison at daybreak, Chu Yan had his breakfast and then made his way to the Lin family's martial arts field.

The field was already teeming with Lin clan members. At its center stood a massive stage, measuring over fifteen meters in both length and width, with clan members crowded around it.

Nearby, a raised platform had been erected, lined with chairs.

The Lin family patriarch, Lin Chongtian, and other leaders sat there, poised and dignified.

Chu Yan, however, was intrigued by a small pavilion set up to one side of the platform. It was draped with white gauze curtains, obscuring the view inside, where one could barely make out the silhouettes of a seated figure and another standing.

At the training grounds, a palpable sense of anticipation and tension hung in the air, causing Chu Yan's gaze to briefly sweep over the small pavilion before wandering elsewhere.

He spared the pavilion no second glance, yet at that very moment, someone inside caught sight of him.

"Miss, I see him, I see him!" Fu Rui exclaimed, her face alight with excitement.

"Keep it down. What if we're discovered?" Lin Miaoran chided with a sidelong glance. "Where is he?"

"Look, Miss, you're curious too, aren't you?" Fu Rui giggled, pointing out. "There's Chu Yan, standing right over there. He sure knows how to keep his cool, showing up just now when the selection is about to kick off."

Lin Miaoran didn't respond to Fu Rui's comment, instead turning her attention to Chu Yan. She had seen the portrait of Chu Yan countless times before, but this was her first encounter with the man himself. At just a glance, she involuntarily let out a small gasp.

It wasn't just that Chu Yan's presence was strikingly different from his painted counterpart; standing there, he also evoked an inexplicably familiar sensation in Lin Miaoran. It was odd, considering this was supposedly their first meeting.

Fu Rui, oblivious to Lin Miaoran's reaction, continued cheerfully, "Miss, what do you think? He's nothing like the timid figure in the painting, right? But even so, he's still far from a match for you, my lady."

"Let's save that discussion for later," Lin Miaoran interjected abruptly.

"Eh?" Fu Rui's mouth hung open in surprise. "But, Miss, wasn't it you who said that today you'd have a serious talk with Chu Yan, to tell him he's not even on par with your sparring partner and to abandon any hopes of marrying you?"

"We'll see after today's competition results. It's about to begin," Lin Miaoran said, her gaze drifting back to Chu Yan, her mind elsewhere.

"Oh, I see," Fu Rui muttered, watching her mistress's peculiar demeanor. Her eyes darted about, and a sly smile crept across her lips, her thoughts a mystery to all.

A brief pause later, a Lin Clan elder rose on the dais and began to announce the rules for the day's family selection event.

This time, two members of the Lin Family would be selected to compete for the coveted entry slots into the Profound Moon Sect. However, the underlying purpose was also to assess the cultivation levels of the younger generation. Thus, all family members aged twelve to sixteen who had reached the Genuine Force Stage were required to take part in the selection tournament.

With Chu Yan included, the total number of participants was precisely sixty-four.

The competition rules were straightforward: contestants would draw lots for one-on-one bouts, with the winners advancing to the next round. Although the Lin Family would ultimately send two representatives, the internal rankings of first and second place would still be determined.

"After deliberation by the Patriarch and the Elders Council, we have unanimously agreed to bestow substantial rewards upon those clan members who excel in this Clan Selection," announced the elder.

The mention of rewards immediately sparked a gleam in everyone's eyes.

The elder briefly paused before elaborating, "The top eight contenders will earn the opportunity to select a low-grade Mortal Realm martial skill; those making it to the top four will have the chance to pick a mid-grade Mortal Realm martial skill, in addition to receiving a bottle of Blood Marrow."

"Blood Marrow!"

"To think you'd get a bottle of Blood Marrow for reaching the top four!"

The young clansmen eligible for the selection trials were visibly excited, their eyes widening in anticipation.

For them, even consuming wild beast meat to boost their vitality was considered a luxury, let alone Blood Marrow—a body-strengthening elixir beyond their wildest dreams!

In an instant, a fiery determination ignited within the eyes of these youthful Lin Family members.

Their fervor was not lost on the older clansmen who had reached the Genuine Force Stage, who couldn't help but show their envy.

Yet, amidst the excitement, only a handful managed to stay composed—one of whom was Chu Yan.

In recent days, the amount of Blood Marrow he had ingested was not merely a single bottle, as offered by the Lin Family, but rather counted by the hundreds.

Even though this Blood Marrow wasn't sourced from the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce, the value was still remarkably high.

Thus, Chu Yan remained unfazed by the mention of Blood Marrow as a prize. His expression remained unchanged, a detail not missed by Lin Miaoran, who observed him from behind the curtain.

Seeing Chu Yan's unflappable expression, Lin Miaoran couldn't help but strategize silently.

"Now, we will announce the awards for first and second place," the Elder announced, coughing to clear his throat. The room fell into a hushed anticipation.

The prospect of the top four receiving Blood Marrow was tantalizing enough, but the crowd was even more eager to learn what lay in store for the top two.

"The runner-up in the family competition will be granted access to the Martial Skill Pavilion to select a superior Mortal Realm martial technique. Additionally, they will receive three vials of Blood Marrow and a mid-grade weapon."

The Lin family members gasped at the announcement, the second-place prize far outshining those for third and fourth.

Now, all eyes were on the Elder as the moment to reveal the first-place prize approached. The silence was so profound you could hear a pin drop. Even Lin Ao, who had previously seemed detached, now fixed his gaze on the elders presiding over the stage.