80: Chapter 79 The Grand Competition

Rapid footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard, followed by a hearty voice.

"Brother Yan! I heard you're back!"

The door was pushed open, and a young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes barged in.

Lei Yan looked up, and a smile immediately appeared on his Face.

Lei Yi.

A brother from a branch Family, who grew up with him since childhood. Back when he was mocked by the entire clan, only Lei Yi never said a bad word about him.

Seeing him, Lei Yi laughed heartily, stepped forward, and hugged him:

"Brother Yan! You're finally back! Where have you been this past year? I thought you weren't coming back!"

Lei Yan was taken aback by the hug, but then he smiled and patted his back:

"I'm back."

Lei Yi let go of him, looked him up and down, and tutted:

"Not bad! You look different! Your complexion is good, your spirit is high—you must have been doing well out there this year, right?"

Lei Yan smiled but didn't respond.

Lei Yi didn't mind. His gaze fell on the others in the room. He paused, then looked at Lei Yan:

"Who are these people?"

Lei Yan introduced them: "My fellow Disciples: Shi Man, Junior Brother Wang Teng, and Gu Ruoxue."

Lei Yi hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting: "My apologies! You have traveled from afar; thank you for your trouble!"

Shi Man waved his hand with a smile: "Not at all, not at all. Coming out to have fun with Junior Brother Lei Yan, we're very happy!"

Zhou Ruolan watched from the side, her eyes filled with smiles.

This child was still the same as before, so good to her son.

Lei Hongyuan also smiled and said to Lei Lie, "Sit down and talk, don't just stand there."

Lei Lie acknowledged and sat down in a casual manner.

"Brother Yan, you haven't been back for a year, and the clan has changed a lot! Let me tell you about it..."

He suddenly remembered something and turned back to say to Zhou Ruolan and Lei Hongyuan: "Uncle Hongyuan, I'm taking Brother Yan out for a walk; we'll be back in a moment!"

Zhou Ruolan waved her hand with a smile: "Go on, go on. You brothers have a good chat."

Lei Yi pulled Lei Yan out of the courtyard, and the three of them—Shi Man, Junior Brother Wang Teng, and Gu Ruoxue—followed.

They walked to a quiet corner, and only then did Lei Yi speak mysteriously: "Brother Yan, you need to be careful this time you're back."

Lei Yan raised an eyebrow: "Why?"

Lei Yi lowered his voice: "Those two, Lei Chong and Lei Lie—you know them, they've always disliked you. They are both at the Golden Core Early Stage now, and they spend all day throwing their weight around in the clan."

Lei Yan nodded without speaking.

Lei Yi continued: "But they're just jumping around; they aren't the ones who are truly formidable."

Lei Yan looked at him.

Lei Yi said: "The Family Head's daughter, Lei Qingyao, you know her, right?"

Lei Qingyao.

He certainly remembered that name.

She was a year younger than him and used to follow behind him all day long when they were children, calling him "Brother Yan" with every other breath.

Back then, when he was still in his prime, she was always pestering him to take her out to play.

Later, his cultivation stagnated, and he became a Trash.

The number of times she came to find him grew fewer and fewer. Occasionally, when they met in the clan, she would only nod from afar before hurrying away.

And later, they never spoke again.

When he left a year ago, she was already at the Foundation Establishment Peak.

Seeing him lost in thought, Lei Yi quickly added: "She's incredible now—Golden Core Late Stage! She also joined the nearby Ziyu Sect. The Old Ancestor of that Ziyu Sect has the cultivation of a Saint Early Stage!"

As he spoke, a look of envy appeared on his Face.

Shi Man, listening from the side, suddenly leaned in and whispered with a wink: "Yo, Junior Brother Lei, that's a Genius at the Golden Core Late Stage. Can you handle her?"

He deliberately emphasized the words "Golden Core Late Stage," his Face full of an expression that said, "I love watching the chaos."

Lei Yan glanced at him but didn't speak.

Junior Brother Wang Teng muttered quietly from the side: "Just Golden Core Late Stage..."

Gu Ruoxue glanced at Junior Brother Wang Teng, and he immediately shut his mouth.

Shi Man chuckled and patted Lei Yan's shoulder: "Fine, fine, I won't ask. Anyway, we'll be cheering for you from below the stage!"

Lei Yi listened from the side, somewhat bewildered, not knowing what riddle these people were speaking in.

But he didn't ask further, just looked at Lei Yan and said earnestly: "Brother Yan, I'm just giving you a heads-up. As long as you know what you're doing."

Lei Yan felt a warmth in his heart and patted his shoulder: "Don't worry."

These three words were spoken in a calm tone, yet they carried an indescribable sense of confidence.

Lei Yi's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously: "Great! I knew it, Brother Yan, you're the best!"

He said it as if it were a matter of course, as if he would believe anything Lei Yan said.

They chatted for a while longer, and Lei Yi suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, Brother Yan, the Grand Competition is in three days. Prepare well these next few days; if you need anything, just come to me!"

Lei Yan nodded.

Lei Yi chuckled, greeted Shi Man and the others, and then turned to leave.

Shi Man watched him leave and remarked with emotion: "This brother of yours is a good person."

"Indeed." Lei Yan smiled.

The group turned and walked toward the courtyard.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

As the sky was just barely brightening, the area around the Lei Family Martial Arts Arena was already packed with people.

Several hundred people, both young and old, from the main and branch lines of the Lei Family, packed the viewing stands on both sides.

This kind of Grand Competition was claimed to be for internal sparring and talent selection, but in reality, everyone knew—this was for outsiders to see.

The Lei Family wanted to tell the other families in the city: My Lei Family's younger generation is full of talent, and there are successors to carry on.

This was a form of invisible deterrence.

Therefore, on this day, not only did the entire Lei Family show up, but other powers in Black Iron City also sent people to observe the ceremony.

As for the Sun Family, although the two families were at odds, they would still come on such an occasion.

Face still had to be maintained.

The heads of several small families, along with a few Disciples, sat in the guest seats to the side, whispering and discussing.

"I heard that girl from the Lei Family is now at the Golden Core Late Stage?"

"Indeed. Family Head Lei, you are truly blessed."

"I heard she even joined the Ziyu Sect? That's a Sect with a Saint!"

"Tsk tsk, the Lei Family is going to rise this time."

Just as they were speaking, someone lowered their voice: "The people from the Sun Family are here."

Everyone looked over in unison.

A group of people walked in from outside the Martial Arts Arena. Leading them was a burly middle-aged man with rugged features and sharp eyes.

The Family Head of the Sun Family, Family Head Sun Lie.

He had been fighting with Family Head Lei Zhenshan for decades, and neither would submit to the other.

Behind Family Head Sun Lie followed several Disciples of the Sun Family's younger generation. Each of them held their heads high and chests out, but their eyes were shifty; one look and you could tell they lacked confidence.

Family Head Sun Lie walked to the guest seats and sat down. His gaze swept over the Lei Family members and finally landed on the light purple figure in the center of the viewing stand.

Lei Qingyao.

Golden Core Late Stage.

He narrowed his eyes, and a flash of complexity crossed his gaze.

He looked at his own cowering Disciples and felt a suffocating frustration in his heart.

Why does that old geezer, Family Head Lei Zhenshan, get all the luck?

The two families had fought for decades; their strength was equal, and neither had been able to overwhelm the other.

But now, the Lei Family had produced Lei Qingyao, who had joined the Ziyu Sect.

The gap had suddenly widened.

Family Head Sun Lie withdrew his gaze, picked up a teacup, and gulped it down fiercely.

This tea was the spirit tea served by the Lei Family; normally, one would have to savor it carefully.

But today.

This tea tasted particularly unpleasant.

In the center of the viewing stand, Family Head Lei Zhenshan sat in the main seat, his Face stern and dignified.

Lei Qingyao stood beside him, wearing a light purple dress, her appearance elegant and her aura refined.

She stood there quietly, her aura restrained, yet it faintly revealed something extraordinary.

Many people around were stealing glances at her.

Family Head Lei Zhenshan caught a glimpse of his daughter, and a flash of satisfaction crossed his eyes.

Family Head Lei Zhenshan slowly stood up.

His gaze swept across the field below, and his voice was loud and clear, carrying throughout the entire Martial Arts Arena: "Today is the day of our Lei Family's triennial Grand Competition. Thank you to all Fellow Daoists for coming to observe."

He paused, looked toward the guest seats, and nodded slightly: "Family Head Sun Lie, and everyone else, thank you for traveling from afar. I am deeply grateful."

Family Head Sun Lie nodded expressionlessly, acknowledging the greeting.

The heads of several small families hurriedly stood up to return the salute, saying, "We wouldn't dare."

Family Head Lei Zhenshan withdrew his gaze and said in a deep voice: "The rules of the Grand Competition remain the same: opponents are determined by drawing lots, and the sparring stops at the point of contact. Any Lei Family Disciple who is at least sixteen and under twenty-five may participate."

He paused, his voice rising a few notches: "I announce, the Lei Family's triennial Grand Competition, now begins!"

As his voice fell, a cheer erupted in the Martial Arts Arena.

Lei Yan stood in the crowd, looking at the dignified figure on the viewing stand, and then at Lei Qingyao standing beside him.

He withdrew his gaze, his expression calm.

It has begun.