At Fangmu Mountain martial arts arena, the grand tournament started off with heated enthusiasm, with every member of the Lin Family giving their all.

Even the cultivators who weren''t participating in the tournament were exceedingly joyful.

One reason was that the tournament would select the new "Five Heroes of the Lin Family", and at the same time, the Lin Family was reinstating the double and triple salary reward system!

Lin Shiming arrived at the sparring stage for the mid-stage Qi Cultivation competitors, and while he felt the vigorous spirit of the Lin Family, he was also observing the Lin Family''s Shi-generation cultivators, as well as a few from the Ze generation.

The tournament had already begun at this point.

The mid-stage, late-stage, and early-stage Qi Cultivation matches were all happening simultaneously in three different arenas.

Apart from the late-stage Qi Cultivation arena, which required the protection of some hall masters and Foundation Establishment Elders from the family, the mid-stage and early-stage Qi Cultivation arenas were both guarded by late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators from the family to prevent accidental injuries due to not holding back.

The late-stage Qi Cultivation arena didn''t have many competitors; most of the Shi-generation cultivators were in the mid-stage.

The few who were in the late stage were only at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Cultivation.

As for the Ze-generation cultivators, although there were quite a few at the late stage and ninth level, most of them were already over sixty or nearing sixty and did not participate.

It is worth noting that the oldest among the Shi generation, Lin Shijie, was also nearing fifty.

Lin Shilei, as one of the younger Shi-generation cultivators, was particularly outstanding at this moment. His Thunder Hook technique was rarely matched among the Lin Family''s younger generation, and there were few cultivators who could force Lin Shilei to use his full strength.

In addition to him, Lin Shizhong and Lin Shiyun also performed well.

After watching for a while, Lin Shiming came to the mid-stage Qi Cultivation arena, keeping his Divine Sense on two outstanding Ze-generation cultivators, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng.

The former had dual Spirit Roots of water and wood, slightly better than his own. He was cultivating the Qing Mu Art as well.

After more than a decade, the flickering Spirit Light of the Qing Mu Art involuntarily brought back the methods of cultivating the Qing Mu Art to his mind, filling him with a multitude of emotions.

Lin Zekong''s opponent was a Shi-generation cultivator with four Spirit Roots, at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation.

Lin Shiming did not pursue the conversation and simply sat down as well.

After a while, Lin Zekong suddenly spoke up:

"Uncle Seven, with the fourth level of a wood-based Cultivation Technique, how can one defeat someone at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation?"

Lin Zekong''s voice held a trace of helplessness. As a favored son of the heavens and a dual Spirit Root genius, he was cultivating the Qing Mu Art that Lin Shiming once practiced. He was only seventeen and already at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation, not far from the fifth level.

"What, do you think the family tournament rules are unreasonable?"

"Or do you find the Qing Mu Art not as strong as you imagined?" Lin Shiming questioned in return.

Lin Zekong didn''t answer, but his expression spoke volumes.

"So, you were waiting here for me to exonerate you?" Lin Shiming spoke again and abruptly stood up.

Without looking back, he walked away into the distance.

Lin Zekong was visibly panicked and immediately stood up:

"Uncle Seven, Zekong wouldn''t dare!"

"First reflect on what the family means to you, and when you have the answer, come find me!" Lin Shiming said, pausing briefly before adding another comment.

"Also, to correct you, I wasn''t good at leapfrog challenges during my Qi Cultivation Stage either!"

Lin Shiming felt somewhat disappointed—of course, not in the latter''s talents or combat abilities, but in his temperament.

...

The next day, as Fangmu Mountain''s great formation activated once more, clouds and mist enveloped the entire mountain.

A gigantic Spirit Boat shot towards Lingnan County, breaking through the sky.

Along with the departure of the Spirit Boat, news also spread throughout the entire Yunzhou and Lingnan County''s marketplaces that the Lin Family''s auction was about to be held.