Lin Tian and Lin Zhen, among other top-notch elite disciples, had already arrived early. They were unparalleled in strength, and the nearby disciples all felt inferior to them.
Some of the elders of the Lin family were seated on the upper viewing platform. Many of the Lin family's outer sect disciples were the descendants of these powerful figures. Each one hoped that they would achieve a good ranking, and even enter the inner sect villa.
"Xiao Tian, the rewards for this outer sect ranking are quite substantial. There is a 'Jingyuan Pill,' which might help you break through to the ninth level of the Spirit Body realm," an old man with white hair, sizing up Lin Tian in front of him, said.
"Grandpa, the 'Jingyuan Pill' is within my grasp. Looking at the outer sect, no one is my match," Lin Tian said, looking down on everyone.
"Hmm, your strength has reached the eighth level of the Spirit Body realm. Not to mention the Lin family's outer sect, but among the outer sect disciples of the four major families, those who can keep pace with you can be counted on one hand," the old man said with a face full of satisfaction and even pride.
"With me in the Lin family's outer sect, the first place is unshakable," Lin Tian said proudly, scanning the entire area.
The disciples whose gazes were met by Lin Tian's all lowered their heads. With his eighth-level Spirit Body strength, he was indeed a prodigy, rarely meeting his match.
Lin Zhen, who was bare-chested, showed no fear of Lin Tian's gaze. Lin Zhen was like a mountain, exuding a sense of oppression. He was a genius disciple in the cultivation of physical strength. Among the outer sect disciples of the four major families, no one could match him in body cultivation.
Lin Zhen, the second-ranked disciple in the Lin family's outer sect, did not achieve his ranking by chance. In the previous outer sect ranking competition, Lin Zhen also had a stunning performance.
"Lin Zhen is also very strong. In the previous outer sect ranking competition, he only lost to Lin Tian by half a move, and it was only because the match time exceeded the limit. Otherwise, he might have been able to fight to a draw!" An elite disciple who had witnessed Lin Zhen's prowess in the previous competition said.
"Lin Xiaoran is also very strong, known as 'Ghost Shadow,' skilled in movement and leg techniques, capable of shattering metal with a single kick!" Another person looked at Lin Xiaoran, who was meditating in the distance, with a look of reverence.
"This year's outer sect ranking competition is truly stormy. The title of the top disciple is uncertain. Lin Xuan and Lin Fei have also made significant progress, ranking fifth and sixth respectively. A few days ago, we went to the mountains for training, and Lin Fei pierced the head of a mid-rank king elite beast with one spear thrust. Lin Xuan's Ice Palm technique has also reached the seventh level..." Lin Wu looked at the two young men standing shoulder to shoulder with Lin Xiaoran, with a face full of admiration.
"Hehe, Lin Tao and Lin Caiyi's strength cannot be underestimated either. This year's outer sect ranking competition is much more exciting than before," several disciples said excitedly, each one rubbing their hands, as if ready for a big fight.
"Ah... I only hope to make it into the top thirty and get a reward. My parents are watching from the platform; I can't let them down!"
"Hmph, my grandpa is also watching from the platform..."
The training ground was noisy, with each person discussing the strongest disciple in their hearts.
The top ten outer sect disciples were seated in the upper seats, responsible for guarding one of the ten platforms. To ensure fairness, the top ten disciples do not participate in the competition for the time being. This is to prevent ordinary disciples from meeting the top ten disciples too quickly.
Imagine if a mid-ranking disciple were to face a top ten disciple as soon as they stepped onto the platform, and after being defeated, their strength would be at the bottom, which would be very unfair.
The training ground has ten platforms, numbered from one to ten. For example, Platform One represents Lin Tian, the top-ranked disciple in the outer sect, Platform Two represents Lin Zhen, the second-ranked disciple, and so on.
If someone can defeat all opponents on Platform One, they then have the right to challenge from Platform Ten, then Platform Nine, Platform Eight, and so on.
Considering that there are also powerful disciples outside the top ten, each person also has one targeted challenge opportunity. If a disciple believes their strength surpasses Lin Tian, they can challenge Lin Tian. If they win, they will temporarily rank as the top disciple in the outer sect.
However, if this happens, the responsibility of guarding the platform will fall on the victorious disciple. This is something that almost no one would do, and they must also reach the top thirty before they have the right to challenge.
For a lower-ranked disciple to challenge a higher-ranked one, if they win, they can take the higher-ranked disciple's place, and the challenge opportunity will not decrease. However, if a higher-ranked disciple challenges a lower-ranked one, regardless of who wins, the rankings will not change.
For example, if Lin Hao challenges Lin Tian and wins, he can temporarily rank as the top disciple in the outer sect. However, if Lin Tian challenges Lin Hao, regardless of the outcome, he will still be the top disciple, and the rankings will not change.
Moreover, in this year's outer sect competition, it is rumored that the top ten disciples cannot challenge the top twenty, and the top twenty cannot challenge the top thirty. This is like a ladder, with the top ten forming one step, and they can only challenge disciples within the same step.
At this moment, the crowd was excited, as if filled with boundless fighting spirit. Each disciple wanted to show their skills on this stage. Some were to prove themselves, others to bring glory to their parents. Regardless of the reason, the goal was the same: to achieve a good ranking!
At this moment, Lin Xin, Lin Wu, and Lin Yan'er were standing together. Lin Wu's gaze returned from the crowd, and he asked curiously, "Lin He has returned, but why haven't we seen Lin Hao?"
Upon hearing this, a disciple sneered, "He probably doesn't dare to come. He offended Lin Tao, and yesterday he pretended to register for the competition, but today he doesn't even dare to show up."
"Hehe, this is very normal. He beat up Lin Kuan in front of Lin Tao. He might meet Lin Tao on the training ground, and he can certainly consider that. Now, where would he dare to appear?" Many outer sect disciples who were close to Lin Tao gloated.
In this outer sect ranking competition, Lin Tao, as the eighth-ranked elite, naturally had to guard one of the platforms, but he might also meet Lin Hao. At that time, he would surely humiliate him, as they had some grudges.
Not long after, a massive aura enveloped the training ground. All the disciples looked at a white-robed old man with reverence.
Lin Chen, one of the two major elders of the Lin family headquarters, had come to oversee the outer sect ranking competition today.
Even the older generation of Lin family martial artists rose from the high platform to pay respects to Lin Chen.
Elder Lin Chen was one of the three top combatants of the Lin family headquarters, having opened the third Earth Gate, with his strength reaching the peak of the Great Success realm, just a step away from the peak cultivation. He might break through to the fourth Earth Gate in his lifetime.
With Elder Lin Chen's arrival, the entire training ground fell silent. He scanned the outer sect disciples with a look of reverence, but his face showed no expression.
"Ah..." Finally, Lin Chen sighed, the hopeful light in his eyes fading.
Compared to the Wang family, one of the four major families in Liuyun City, the Lin family disciples might be slightly stronger, or at least on par. However, compared to the Yu and Luo families, the two major families, they were clearly inferior.
Take the Yu family, for example. Among their outer sect disciples, there are already eighth-level Spirit Body disciples with strong talent. Even the strongest outer sect disciple, Lin Tian, might not last a few moves against them. The inner sect is even more so, with the villa having geniuses like Ye Xunrui and Ye Wuxin, but they still fall short compared to the other two families.
Disciples are the foundation of the family. The strength of the family's disciples greatly influences the family's status and even its fortune.
"If our Lin family branch had not separated from that region, we might not have fallen to this point," Lin Chen thought, his expression somewhat gloomy.
Soon, Lin Chen's expression returned to normal, and he looked at the ten platforms: "The top ten outer sect disciples will compete first to preliminarily screen out the top ten."
Upon hearing this, the training ground was in an uproar.
In the past, the top ten of the Lin family were usually the same as the previous ranking, unless someone challenged the top ten and won, which would cause some changes. In the next ranking competition, the top ten would each guard a platform, leaving only the last ten to participate in the final, thus bringing about new ranking changes.
However, Elder Lin Chen wanted to break the tradition and first see the top ten outer sect disciples compete on the platforms.
"Perhaps... this time, Elder Lin Chen has little expectation of the disciples below the top ten, so he wants to preliminarily screen out the top ten," an older martial artist saw through the situation and sighed.
Indeed, the outer sect disciples had maintained a certain balance in strength over the past year, with no significant changes. With Lin Chen's keen eye, how could he not see that they were still slightly inferior to the Luo and Yu families?
"Unfortunately, in a few days, it will be the final selection of the outer sect king of Liuyun City by the four major families. This year, our Lin family has placed a large bet, but it is likely that we will not recover our losses."
"There's no way around it. Even if the overall strength of the disciples is insufficient, we cannot not participate in the outer sect king competition initiated by the Luo family. Otherwise, it would be said that our Lin family is afraid to fight."
The older martial artists on the platform shook their heads and sighed.
Among the four major families, the Luo family is relatively stronger. Not long ago, several top outer sect disciples went to the inner sect, so disciples like Luo Feng, who are at the mid-fifth level, have the opportunity to rank ninth in the outer sect.
"Elder Lin Chen's urgent desire to re-screen the top ten outer sect disciples is also to further assess their strength. Lin Tian and Lin Zhen are good, but compared to the top outer sect disciple of the Luo family, Luo Yue, or the top disciple of the Yu family, Yu Qingchen, they are still not enough."
The few attendants assisting Elder Lin Chen in overseeing the ranking competition also thought to themselves.
In Liuyun City, the overall strength of the Lin family's disciples is ultimately inferior to the Luo and Yu families. It is difficult for the outer sect to achieve good results, let alone the core disciples of the inner sect.
...
At this moment, Lin Hao was leisurely walking through Liuyun City. After some haggling, the three-tailed cat demon was sold for 80,000 silver taels, which surprised Lin Hao.
Currently, Lin Hao's need for medicinal pills is not great. He obtained a 'Return to Truth Pill' from Qing You Xianzi, which is invaluable. Just this one pill might help him break through to the eighth or even ninth level of the Spirit Body realm.
In the second Earth Gate, it is mainly about consolidating and enhancing basic cultivation, so the demand for medicinal pills is not high. If he wants to temper his body, that would be a different matter.
Lin Hao visited Yu Yao's residence, left 20,000 silver taels, and then returned to the Lin family. Today is the outer sect ranking competition, which is key to entering the core of the inner sect.
Half an hour later, Lin Hao arrived at the training ground unnoticed. At this moment, the platforms were emitting intense true qi fluctuations, accompanied by deafening sounds.
"Rain of Pear Blossoms!" Lin Caiyi shouted, her true qi reaching its peak, and a dense array of white silver needles appeared in the air.
Boom!
A man's figure suddenly flashed, and he was ultimately forced off the platform.
"I lost," the man shook his head. Lin Caiyi's 'Rain of Pear Blossoms' was truly terrifying. If he did not admit defeat, it would be self-inflicted suffering.
Upon hearing this, Lin Caiyi's lips curled up, her face full of pride, and she leaped off the platform.
Lin He stood in front of Lin Hao and explained the current situation.
"Initial screening of the top ten..." Lin Hao thought, and this was good. This would be a good opportunity for him to see the strength of the top ten outer sect disciples.