Beside the family head, Lin Qixing, the original number one genius of the Lin family, Lin Yun, also froze, staring in shock at Lin Xuan.
He had already been at the peak of the ninth layer of Body Refining. With the competition approaching and being the family head’s son, he had access to ample cultivation resources, allowing him to smoothly break through to the Aperture Opening realm.
He had originally thought that after breaking through to the Aperture Opening realm, he could match or even surpass Lin Xuan.
After all, there was a vast gap between the Aperture Opening realm and the Body Refining realm.
But he never expected that in just over half a month, Lin Xuan would continuously break through, leaping all the way from the seventh layer of Body Refining to the Aperture Opening realm.
This scene left him utterly shocked and unwilling to believe it.
Yet, happening right before his eyes, he had no choice but to accept it.
Previously, Lin Xuan had fought across levels.
Now, even their cultivation realms were equal.
Thinking of this, Lin Yun, snapping back to reality, couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.
He no longer harbored any thoughts of competing.
Back when Lin Xuan was still at the seventh layer of Body Refining, he could already cross two levels to defeat him.
Now, with both of them at the same realm.
How could he possibly be a match for Lin Xuan?
At the same time, he gained a certain understanding of Lin Xuan’s talent.
Perhaps before, Lin Xuan was merely a minor genius, lacking sufficient cultivation resources to fully unleash his potential.
But after becoming a chief disciple, with a status comparable to an elder and ample cultivation resources at his disposal.
Lin Xuan had, in just over half a month, continuously broken through, crossing several major realms to reach the Aperture Opening realm.
This showed that his talent was undoubtedly extraordinary.
Far surpassing him, the so-called number one genius of the Lin family.
In truth, Lin Xuan was the true number one genius of the Lin family.
Even the number one genius of the entire Qingyu City.
Lin Yun silently thought to himself.
Toward this, Lin Yun felt no jealousy, only admiration and joy.
After all, martial arts talent was inherently innate.
Who was higher or lower was determined by heaven, and he couldn’t envy it.
He just felt a bit of admiration.
And some joy.
Lin Xuan was a disciple of the Lin family, yet his talent had reached the pinnacle of Qingyu City, unmatched by anyone.
His future achievements would inevitably be extraordinary, and surpassing Qingyu City wouldn’t be a major issue.
By then, if Lin Xuan gave back to the Lin family, as a Lin family disciple, he too could benefit greatly.
Perhaps, he could take a few more steps on the martial path?
Naturally, there was some joy.
...
“Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining shock energy +487 from Qi Gathering realm martial artist Lin Qixing.”
“Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining shock energy +500 from Qi Gathering realm martial artist Lin Qiyu.”
“...”
Lin Xuan’s expression remained calm as he looked at the attribute panel, where the energy points were steadily increasing, a smile appearing in his eyes.
Originally, the Aperture Opening realm was also a process of tempering the body and strengthening blood and qi.
If he hadn’t leaked his aura, aside from Lin Qiyuan, who was at the Whirlpool realm, none of the Lin family’s high-ranking members, including family head Lin Qixing, would have been able to detect it.
But he still let a trace slip, allowing Lin Qixing and the others to sense it.
All for the sake of harvesting these energy points.
Now, it seemed quite good, with a substantial yield.
Then, Lin Xuan said with a faint smile:
“This is nothing. Yun’er, or even the young clan leader Lin Yun, haven’t they also broken through to the Aperture Opening realm?”
He had discovered this through checking the attribute panel.
Immediately, a small stir arose among the crowd.
Many of the disciples present shifted their gazes to Lin Shiyun and Lin Yun.
But most eyes were still fixed on Lin Xuan.
Compared to the other two, Lin Xuan’s breakthrough spanned more realms, causing greater commotion.
Family head Lin Qixing, seeing Lin Xuan continuously break through realms to reach the Aperture Opening realm without any sign of arrogance or impatience, instead remaining calm and composed, was even more satisfied and said with a smile:
“It’s different this time... Now that you’ve also broken through to the Aperture Opening realm, you can give the other three major forces a taste of their own medicine during the competition.”
The surrounding Lin family high-ranking members all nodded with smiles.
Lin Xuan, even at the seventh layer of Body Refining, could cross two realms to defeat Lin Yun, who was at the peak of the ninth layer.
Now, having broken through to the Aperture Opening realm.
His strength had increased by who knows how much.
At this moment, Lin Yun had only recently broken through to the Aperture Opening realm, and the number one geniuses of the other three major forces, originally on par with Lin Yun, should be similar.
All at the same realm, and Lin Xuan was clearly the most talented.
Barring accidents, he was also the strongest.
They were full of confidence in Lin Xuan.
Even the grand elder, Lin Qiyu, who had held some prejudice against Lin Xuan because of Lin Hai, now showed a smile.
Because this time, Lin Xuan had once again displayed talent far beyond Lin Hai’s reach.
He would inevitably leave the Lin family, and even Qingyu City, sooner or later.
With that in mind, the grudges between them ceased to exist.
The original prejudice naturally vanished.
In fact, wary of Lin Xuan’s formidable talent, Lin Qiyu was even considering whether to have his grandson Lin Hai apologize to Lin Xuan to resolve their conflict.
Previously, Lin Hai had repeatedly targeted and schemed against Lin Xuan.
If Lin Xuan grew powerful in the future and sought revenge, it would be troublesome.
But as the grand elder, he couldn’t bring himself to have his grandson apologize to an ordinary clan member like Lin Xuan.
At that moment, family head Lin Qixing’s voice rang out.
“Everyone’s here, let’s set off!”
With that, Lin Qixing, wearing a smile, led the way toward the city lord’s mansion.
Third elder Lin Qiyuan, the strongest of the Lin family, followed closely behind, then the grand elder.
Next was Lin Xuan, the chief disciple.
Lin Shiyun was beside him, tightly holding his arm.
The rest of the high-ranking members and disciples followed behind.
Although Qingyu City was not small, with an area comparable to a prefecture-level city in his past life.
As the four major forces were the strongest in Qingyu City, with the Lin family ranking second among them.
They were naturally all in the core area.
Not far apart.
They arrived before long.
Entering the city lord’s mansion, the Lin family members were soon led to a square.
It was more than twice as large as the Lin family’s training ground.
This was because various competitions were held at the city lord’s mansion, so it was specially built to be spacious and sturdy.
By the time the Lin family arrived, the other three major forces—the city lord’s mansion, the Wu family, and the Chen family—had already arrived.
The arrival of the Lin family immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Now, the Lin family was the most prominent among the four major forces, with the city lord’s mansion not even half as influential.
Qingyu City’s strongest martial artist, Lin Qiyuan, was in the Lin family.
Now, even Qingyu City’s number one genius, Lin Xuan, was in the Lin family.
It could be said that the current strongest and the future strongest were both in the Lin family.
Naturally, they attracted a lot of attention.
In a corner of the square, the younger genius disciples of the other three major forces—the Wu family, the Chen family, and the city lord’s mansion’s Zhang family—were gathered together.
Their gazes were fixed on the newly arrived Lin family members.
Because the Lin family’s growing strength was threatening the city lord’s mansion’s authority.
These three forces had formed an alliance.
That’s why their outstanding younger disciples were gathered together.
“Zhang He, look, that’s Lin Xuan.”
Among them, Chen family’s number one genius, Chen Yu, said to the city lord’s mansion’s number one genius, Zhang He, pointing at Lin Xuan in the crowd.