Chapter 16: Dominating the Competition, Suppressing an Entire Generation
Several weeks quietly passed afterward.
The atmosphere within the Lu Family gradually became increasingly lively.
Almost every younger generation descendant discussed only one matter recently.
The Family Grand Competition.
And more specifically, Lu Yang’s first appearance within it.
Ever since the news of his breakthrough to the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering Realm spread throughout the clan, the attention surrounding this competition had already reached an unprecedented level.
Many people believed this year’s competition had already lost all suspense before it officially began.
After all, a Sixth Stage Body Tempering Realm cultivator beneath sixteen years old was simply too overwhelming within the Lu Family’s younger generation.
...
The day of the competition soon arrived.
From early morning onward, enormous crowds had already gathered around the central martial arena deep within the clan grounds.
Unlike ordinary training grounds, this arena was specifically constructed for clan competitions.
The platform itself was forged from heavy blackstone, capable of enduring direct strikes from most middle stage Body Tempering Realm cultivators without collapsing easily.
With the sole exception of Lu Yang, of course.
Surrounding viewing platforms rose layer after layer outward.
Many retainers, instructors, and even Spirit Awakening Realm elders had personally arrived today.
At the highest viewing platform sat the Family Head alongside several Grand Elders silently.
The atmosphere carried faint solemnity.
Meanwhile, throughout the lower viewing areas, discussions erupted continuously.
"Do you think anyone can force Lu Yang to use his full strength?"
"Impossible."
"I doubt even ordinary Sixth Stage Body Tempering Realm cultivators are his opponents anymore."
"The younger generation beneath sixteen simply isn’t at the same level as him anymore..."
Countless gazes repeatedly drifted toward the contestant area subconsciously.
At this moment, Lu Yang quietly stood there with hands behind his back.
His black robes fluttered faintly beneath the wind while his expression remained calm as usual.
Compared to the surrounding younger generation descendants who carried excitement, nervousness, or arrogance upon their faces, Lu Yang appeared incomparably quiet, as though today’s competition held no meaning whatsoever to him.
Nearby, Guard Zhou silently watched everything unfold, unable to suppress faint emotion inwardly.
Ten years ago, this youth had merely entered the main clan as a mortal branch child.
Now, he had already become the brightest star within the younger generation of the Lu Family.
Soon afterward, the competition officially began.
Because there was only one central arena, the battles naturally progressed somewhat slowly.
One younger generation descendant after another stepped onto the stage to compete fiercely.
Blood Qi erupted repeatedly while martial techniques collided continuously.
Occasionally, loud cheers and exclamations echoed throughout the surroundings.
However, despite the lively atmosphere, almost everyone’s attention still remained fixed upon one person.
Finally, after a long time.
"Next match."
The elder presiding over the competition slowly announced.
"Lu Yang."
The originally noisy surroundings instantly quieted noticeably.
Countless gazes gathered toward the arena simultaneously.
Lu Yang calmly stepped forward afterward, his movements neither hurried nor slow.
The moment he stepped onto the blackstone platform, even many elders subconsciously narrowed their eyes slightly.
Because the Blood Qi fluctuations radiating faintly from Lu Yang’s body were simply too stable.
It resembled an enormous mountain standing silently in place.
Soon afterward, another youth stepped onto the arena from the opposite side.
The moment many people recognized him, faint surprise surfaced.
Because this person was also from the same batch of mortal branch descendants as Lu Yang years ago.
And now, he had already entered the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering Realm.
Such talent was actually already considered quite good within the younger generation.
Unfortunately, his opponent was Lu Yang.
The youth revealed faint bitterness inwardly before clasping his hands respectfully.
"Brother Lu."
Lu Yang nodded calmly.
Then, after the elder announced the beginning, he merely stood quietly in place without moving.
The youth hesitated briefly before gritting his teeth suddenly.
Dense crimson Blood Qi erupted from his body instantly.
*Boom!*
His figure rushed forward explosively before unleashing a palm strike directly toward Lu Yang.
The surrounding younger generation descendants all stared carefully.
However, Lu Yang only moved after the attack approached before him completely, taking one step sideways.
The opponent’s strike directly brushed past empty air.
At the same moment, Lu Yang casually raised one hand.
*Bang!*
A muffled sound echoed outward.
The youth’s expression instantly changed drastically.
An incomparably terrifying force surged through his body immediately.
Before he could react, his entire figure had already been blasted backward off the arena directly.
The surroundings fell silent briefly.
One move, complete suppression.
The youth crashed heavily onto the ground outside the arena, blood surging faintly within his chest.
Yet moments later, he realized something.
His injuries were extremely light.
Lu Yang had perfectly controlled the force of that strike.
Otherwise, with the terrifying power displayed in that instant, his bones would likely have shattered completely already.
Shock gradually surfaced within the youth’s eyes afterward.
Meanwhile, upon the viewing platforms, several elders exchanged glances subtly.
Then, faint approval quietly surfaced within many of their expressions.
Powerful yet restrained.
That level of control was far more difficult than simply crushing an opponent directly.
At the highest viewing platform, the Internal Affairs Grand Elder slowly nodded inwardly.
Lu Yang’s temperament truly became increasingly extraordinary with age.
Meanwhile, the Family Head remained silent as always.
Only his gaze lingered upon Lu Yang slightly longer than before.
...
The competition continued afterward.
One battle after another unfolded continuously throughout the day.
Many talented younger generation descendants displayed impressive strength.
Several Fifth Stage Body Tempering Realm cultivators even attracted repeated praise from surrounding elders.
However, compared to Lu Yang, everyone else appeared slightly dimmer subconsciously.
By evening, the top ten participants had finally been decided completely.
And naturally, Lu Yang stood among them.
No one felt surprised whatsoever.
...
The next morning, the atmosphere surrounding the arena became even more heated.
Because today, the true competition would finally start.
The top ten participants would compete directly against one another.
Soon afterward, Lu Yang once again stepped onto the arena calmly.
His opponent this time was a Fifth Stage Body Tempering Realm participant from the main clan.
The youth possessed decent talent already, and after seeing Lu Yang yesterday, he directly unleashed his full strength from the very beginning without hesitation.
Violent Blood Qi erupted outward continuously.
His attacks struck fiercely one after another, yet Lu Yang merely avoided them calmly using Flowing Cloud Steps.
His movements remained smooth and effortless.
And after the third exchange...
*Boom!*
Mountain Breaking Fist erupted instantly.
The enormous force directly shattered the opponent’s defensive stance completely before blasting him backward several dozen meters.
The battle ended immediately.
Another effortless victory.
The surroundings gradually became somewhat silent.
Everyone suddenly realized something terrifying.
Until now, no one had even managed to force Lu Yang to truly become serious yet.
...
As battles continued repeatedly, the number of remaining participants gradually decreased further.
Soon afterward, the top five were officially decided.
At this point, several defeated participants still possessed the right to challenge stronger opponents for ranking positions.
However, after witnessing Lu Yang’s overwhelming strength personally, not a single defeated participant dared challenge him whatsoever.
Thus, Lu Yang advanced directly into the top three without even needing another battle.
This scene caused countless younger generation descendants to reveal complicated expressions.
Suppressing an entire generation to the point no one even dared challenge him...
Such pressure was simply too terrifying!
Finally, the last battles arrived.
And Lu Yang’s final opponent was none other than Lu Ming.
The moment Lu Ming stepped onto the arena, many people revealed faint surprise.
After all, years ago, Lu Ming and Lu Yang’s battle had once shaken the younger generation greatly.
Back then, Lu Yang had used that battle to officially rise within the clan.
And now, fate strangely caused the two to meet once more at the final stage of the Family Grand Competition.
Compared to years ago, Lu Ming had clearly matured greatly.
The arrogance and impulsiveness from before had mostly disappeared.
At the Fifth Stage of Body Tempering Realm, his strength was already considered excellent within the younger generation.
Unfortunately, his opponent remained Lu Yang.
Lu Ming quietly stared at the black robed youth opposite him.
Several years ago, he still unwillingly believed Lu Yang merely surpassed him temporarily.
But now, the gap between them had already widened beyond imagination.
Sixth Stage of Body Tempering Realm at fifteen years old.
Lu Ming simply no longer possessed the qualifications to compare.
A faint bitterness surfaced within his heart.
Yet strangely enough, there was no longer much unwillingness remaining, only helpless admiration.
Because when the gap between two people widened to a certain extent, jealousy itself gradually lost meaning.
The elder slowly announced the beginning of the battle.
*Boom!*
Lu Ming immediately erupted with full strength.
Dense Blood Qi surged violently as he unleashed his strongest martial technique directly.
However, Lu Yang just stepped forward calmly.
Mountain Breaking Fist erupted instantly like a collapsing mountain.
Lu Ming’s expression changed drastically.
The moment their attacks collided, he felt as though an enormous ancient beast had smashed directly into him head on.
*Bang!*
His entire body was blasted backward uncontrollably before crashing heavily onto the arena edge.
Blood surged within his chest violently.
Yet Lu Yang did not continue attacking afterward.
The entire arena gradually became silent.
Lu Ming slowly raised his head before staring at Lu Yang quietly.
Several moments later, he suddenly laughed bitterly.
"I lost."
His voice carried no unwillingness anymore, there was only acceptance.
Because he finally understood clearly, Lu Yang already stood in an entirely different league from the younger generation.
The elder presiding over the competition slowly inhaled before announcing loudly: "First place... Lu Yang!"
Instantly, enormous cheers and discussions erupted throughout the surroundings.
Countless gazes gathered upon the black robed youth standing silently upon the arena.
At the highest viewing platform, several elders revealed faint satisfaction and approval openly.
Meanwhile, not far away, the beautiful woman seated beside the Twin Stars slowly tightened her fingers beneath her sleeve.
Her expression remained calm outwardly, but the coldness within her eyes had already reached an extreme.
However, under the gazes of the Family Head and numerous elders present, she did not dare reveal even the slightest abnormality openly.
Meanwhile, on the arena, Lu Yang remained calm from beginning to end.
