C17 The Competition Began!

No sooner had he finished speaking than the surrounding disciples' faces registered shock as they turned to look where Chen Yu was pointing.

Lin Xuan was celebrated as Green Jade City's premier prodigy, outshining them all, and they were keenly interested in his every move.

"He's incredibly strong!"

Wu Qilee, the top talent of the Wu family, remarked with a grave tone.

He couldn't discern whether Lin Xuan had advanced to the Enlightenment Stage, but even from a distance, Lin Xuan exuded an aura that Wu Qilee perceived as threatening.

He could no longer afford to underestimate Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan truly had skill.

"Who is Lin Xuan?"

A voice tinged with confusion cut through the air.

The disciples turned to the speaker with curious looks.

"Zhang Hee, Lin Xuan has usurped your title as Green Jade City's top genius. You're telling me you don't recognize him?"

Chen Yu's gaze landed on Zhang Hee with an odd twist to his expression.

Zhang Hee remained silent, his eyes also finding Lin Xuan amidst the Lin Family crowd.

Of course, he was aware of Lin Xuan; in fact, he was quite familiar with him.

Lin Xuan's fame had long since echoed through the entirety of Green Jade City.

Moreover, Zhang Hee had acquired Lin Xuan's portrait and a wealth of information about him.

Before Lin Xuan's emergence, the four prodigies of Green Jade City were equally matched.

Zhang Hee himself had been lauded as the foremost among them, the city's unparalleled genius.

But Lin Xuan, at the Seventh Level of Body Refining, had vanquished Lin Yun, a fellow prodigy at the pinnacle of the Ninth Level.

Thus, Lin Xuan ascended as the Lin Family's leading genius.

He also claimed the title of Green Jade City's new number one genius, surpassing the original quartet of prodigies.

Zhang Hee had been monitoring him closely for quite some time.

Lin Xuan's ascent had instilled a palpable sense of urgency within the City Lord's Mansion.

He had also garnered a substantial cache of resources for cultivation.

Over the past fortnight, he had not only made a breakthrough to the Enlightenment Stage but also successively unlocked five acupuncture points.

Now, in the nascent stages of the Enlightenment Stage, he was already considered a formidable practitioner.

At this moment, Zhang Hee's expression was a complex tapestry of emotions.

Upon his first encounter with Lin Xuan, Zhang Hee couldn't help but adopt a grave demeanor.

He could sense that Lin Xuan would prove to be a formidable adversary.

Yet, despite Lin Xuan's renowned talent, Zhang Hee harbored immense confidence for the upcoming Four Major Forces Competition.

His family had recently bestowed upon him an incomplete martial art—the Boiling Blood Technique.

Though merely a Rank 2 martial art, it enabled him to boil his vitality, thereby temporarily boosting his strength.

With his robust vitality, activating the Boiling Blood Technique could propel him to the Late Enlightenment Stage, allowing him to unlock over fifty acupuncture points in a brief span.

Even with Lin Xuan's prodigious talent, advancing to the Enlightenment Stage within a fortnight was commendable; reaching the prowess of the Late Enlightenment Stage was out of the question.

Naturally, the Boiling Blood Technique, a Blood Dao martial art, was as potent as it was flawed.

He would require an abundance of vitality-replenishing elixirs and herbs, followed by a recuperation period exceeding a month in bed.

However, should he secure the top spot in the grand competition...

Such injuries would be a trifling concern.

Led by Lin Qixing, the Lin Family made their entrance into the plaza.

Officials from the City Lord's Mansion promptly greeted them, ensuring the Lin Family was comfortably accommodated.

Encircling the plaza were two grandstands.

The eastern grandstand was occupied by representatives of the four major forces, while the western one hosted members from Green Jade City's other factions.

Beyond the plaza, a throng of onlookers had amassed.

In this martial arts-dominated world, still steeped in the traditions of a feudal dynasty, entertainment was scarce.

The Four Major Forces Competition was heralded as Green Jade City's premier event.

Scores of martial artists purchased tickets for a chance to witness the spectacle.

Others, less fortunate, were relegated to standing outside the plaza for a glimpse of the action.

Adjacent to the eastern grandstand stood an elevated platform.

Here, the Drifting Cloud Sect's martial cultivators and the preeminent warriors of the four great forces sat in judgment over the competition.

"Congratulations, Host, for receiving an astonishing 457 points of Qi from Qi Gathering Stage Martial Cultivator Zhang Quan!" announced the Host.

"Congratulations, Host, for acquiring an astonishing +178 energy points from Enlightenment Stage warrior Liu Wen."

At the eastern grandstand, Lin Xuan lounged in his seat, hand in hand with Lin Shiyun. A glint of happiness flashed in his eyes as he watched his energy points climb at an accelerated pace. Such a grand event was the perfect opportunity. He had barely arrived and was already reaping a wealth of energy points.

Lin Xuan then surveyed the entire plaza, his gaze revealing attribute panels as it passed over the crowd. Despite his confidence in the upcoming competition, he prudently checked on the status of the other participants, just to be safe. However, disappointment soon clouded his expression. Among the other three major forces, only three disciples had advanced to the Enlightenment Stage. And only Zhang Hee, the top talent from the City Lord's Mansion, had managed to barely stabilize his realm. The remaining two were clearly recent breakthroughs, their fluctuating auras betraying their instability. They posed no threat to him. It seemed he would be without rivals in this competition.

Lin Xuan's attention then shifted to the other warriors, specifically targeting the influential figures from the major forces who possessed valuable treasures. But after a brief scan, he withdrew his gaze, disheartened. Having duplicated Lin Qiyuan's attribute panel, he had ascended to the same level, save for a lesser cultivation base. None of the major forces' leaders measured up to Lin Qiyuan. Their capabilities didn't justify the expenditure of his energy points for duplication.

Still, the effort wasn't entirely in vain. He had at least identified Zhao Quxin, the Drifting Cloud Sect's recruitment officer, as an early Condensation Spin Stage cultivator with an attribute panel slightly superior to Lin Qixing's. However, due to his lower cultivation level, his duplication range was limited to within ten meters, putting the stage beyond his reach. He would have to bide his time for the right moment.

Of course, Lin Xuan intended to perform to his utmost in the competition. It was an opportunity to gather energy points, and he would seize the right moment when it came.

No one could discern Lin Xuan's thoughts.

"Brother Lin Xuan, what's the matter?"

Lin Shiyun's gentle voice floated over.

"It's nothing."

Lin Xuan offered a slight smile.

He and Lin Shiyun struck up a conversation.

Time slipped by quietly.

Fifteen minutes ticked away.

The clear sunlight beamed down. It was time.

Atop the elevated stage, Zhang Wenyong, the esteemed Lord of Green Jade City seated at the place of honor, rose to his feet and surveyed the crowd: "Quiet, please!"

A hush fell as the imposing aura of the Qi Transformation Stage unfurled.

The assembly instantly grew still.

All eyes were drawn to the stage.

Zhang Wenyong then declared: "I hereby announce the commencement of the Four Major Forces Competition!"