The Long Family’s family competition was similar to the Tiegu Sect’s competition, also divided by level tiers, with those of similar strength fighting together.

However.

There was also another mode—challenging someone to a duel.

Just last year, right before Long Ziyang ran away from home, a family competition had been held, and he had unfortunately been challenged countless times by many cousins.

The result, without exception, was complete defeat.

In terms of strength, he was definitely stronger than cousins who had started cultivating martial arts later, but unfortunately he had no decent martial techniques, so he was beaten extremely miserably.

Especially when Second Cousin challenged him, he had actually fled around the arena holding his head, nearly making Long Potian’s nose crooked with anger.

Mm.

After it ended, he got spanked again.

On the Xingyun Continent, a martial artist’s formidability depended not only on their own solid strength, but also on external aids.

For example, martial techniques, weapons, and treasures.

An Aperture Opening fifth or sixth stage practitioner, if they cultivated higher-level martial techniques or had decent weapons, could absolutely crush someone at Aperture Opening eleventh or twelfth stage.

The most typical example was Jun Changxiao.

Just after transmigrating, when participating in the Hundred Sects Recruitment, relying on the Initial-grade Cold Edge Sword, he had severed an arm of a Lingquan Sect elder.

Would you say he was stronger than Wei Yinu?

Just speaking from realm, he was far inferior. Being able to injure the opponent was credit to the weapon.

Long Ziyang, precisely because he had no handy martial techniques, couldn’t even defeat young cousins who cultivated the family’s martial techniques, so he could only run away from home to study martial arts under a master.

“Second Cousin.”

He said proudly, “I’m no longer the me from a year ago.”

This cousin, just like his name, had been like an insurmountable mountain before the former Long Ziyang.

Now… how very ordinary.

“Is that so?”

Long Zishan smiled, turned and left, leaving behind these words: “I hope when the competition starts, you can really open your big brother’s eyes.”

“More than just open your eyes.”

Long Ziyang clenched his fists, thinking to himself, “I’ll make you remember this for life.”

…

The Tiegu Sect became the focus of attention for the Long Family direct descendants, and Long Ziyang also became a topic of their discussion.

Many direct descendants who had abused him naturally didn’t believe that he would be very strong upon this return.

In fact, if their information was more current, they would know that in the battle at Lingquan Sect, Long Ziyang had also appeared and cleanly and neatly defeated an inner sect disciple.

“Without Little Brother Ziyang around, we’ve lost a lot of entertainment. Now that he’s back, we must play with him properly.”

“I wonder what tier the Family Head will assign him to. Could it be the ordinary group?”

“If that’s the case, we can only challenge him after it ends.”

As the Long Family direct descendants discussed, they didn’t forget to glance at Long Ziyang, the corners of their mouths bearing mocking smiles.

“Junior Brother.”

Su Xiaomo said in a low voice, “You’re truly miserable.”

“…”

Long Ziyang’s eyes flashed with anger as he said, “After it starts, I’ll make them unable to laugh one by one.”

…

Shortly after.

Long Potian walked out from the great hall, then cupped his hands toward Jun Changxiao, arranging a viewing area with a good position.

“Junior Brother, do your best!”

“Junior Brother, you’re the strongest among the Long Family direct descendants!”

“Junior Brother, don’t let us down!”

When heading to the viewing area, Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji, Su Xiaomo and the others all cheered him on.

But that statement “you’re the strongest among the Long Family direct descendants” immediately drew a wave of jeers and disdain from the Long Family direct descendants.

Because the competition was held every year, the direct descendants all understood the rules, so Long Potian didn’t waste words with long speeches and directly announced the tier divisions for the direct descendants participating in the competition.

There were three groups in total.

The strongest group, the intermediate group, and the ordinary group.

“Long Zihe, intermediate group.”

“Long Ziming, ordinary group.”

“Long Zishan, strongest group.”

“…”

“…”

“Long Ziyang, strongest group.”

Silence.

The entire martial arts arena suddenly became silent, and the gazes of the Long Family direct descendants all revealed disbelief.

Did they hear wrong?

That guy Long Ziyang entered the strongest group?

Are you kidding!

That guy joined the ordinary group last year, and now he’s directly applying for the strongest group—has his brain been kicked by a donkey?

Or after running away from home for a year, does he desperately itch for a beating and insist on finding his cousins to brutally abuse him?

The Long Family elders also all looked astonished.

The Tiegu Sect Leader was indeed very strong at guiding and instructing disciples.

But that boy was only at Aperture Opening tenth stage before leaving home. In just a year, how strong could he have become to dare enter the strongest group?

Long Ziyang straightened his back.

Entering the strongest group was something he had actively requested from his father.

Since he came, he would fight the strongest of the Long Family direct descendants. Only this way could he prove his strength!

“Cousins.”

Long Ziyang’s eyes flashed with battle intent as he said, “Tremble in fear!”

…

After the grouping, the family competition began.

The ordinary group went first. The Long Family direct descendants participating generally had strength at the Aperture Opening level, so their fights were very dull and boring.

Li Qingyang and the others sitting in their chairs were so bored they were almost asleep.

On the contrary, Jun Changxiao watched with great interest.

He wasn’t watching the fighting, but rather observing the strength of these Long Family direct descendants.

Honestly speaking, worthy of being a family comparable to fourth and fifth-rate sects, those who went on stage generally had cultivation at Aperture Opening tenth stage, and their understanding of martial techniques was also quite good.

“This is foundation, I suppose,” Jun Changxiao thought to himself.

After an hour of competition, a Long Family member at Aperture Opening twelfth stage successfully won the ordinary group championship.

Next was the intermediate group’s competition.

The Long Family direct descendants going into battle all had strength at the Wutu level, and there were even many at peak mid-to-high-level Wutu.

“Tsk tsk.”

Jun Changxiao sighed with emotion, “A great family is truly a great family.”

The intermediate group had higher strength, so the fights were quite exciting, and Li Qingyang and the others became interested in watching.

They would occasionally compare Long Family direct descendants with some fellow disciples of decent strength.

In the end, they reached the conclusion that if many outer sect junior brothers participated, they could beat the Long Family direct descendants until they were crawling on the ground looking for their teeth.

Over an hour later, the intermediate group ended, and a ninth-rank high-level Wutu won first place.

Next was the climactic strongest group competition.

The Long Family direct descendants who could enter this tier had to have at least Martial Master level cultivation at minimum.

“Long Ziyang, Long Zisong!”

Long Potian announced the first battle of the strongest group.

Li Qingyang and the others immediately perked up with interest, but seeing that the direct descendant called Long Zisong stepped onto the stage first and his emanating aura was at most second or third-rank Martial Master, they lost interest.

For crying out loud.

Can’t you get Junior Brother a somewhat decent opponent!

The Long Family direct descendants all sneered coldly.

Being able to watch Long Ziyang get abused in the very first battle of the strongest group—that would be very interesting.

“Little Brother Ziyang.”

Long Zisong smiled and said, “Not signing up for the ordinary group but coming to the strongest group to join the excitement—do you still want to be abused by your big brother like last year?”

Long Ziyang, who had walked onto the stage, didn’t say a word.

“Begin!” A Long Family elder shouted.

“Swish!”

Long Zisong executed the Long Family martial technique Dragon Swimming Steps, coming around in a flashy manner. However, during the movement, one palm sliced through the void and viciously swung over.

Smack—

A crisp sound rang out!

One could only see how flashily Long Zisong had come, and how flashily he flew out, then rotated one hundred and sixty degrees in mid-air and crashed heavily outside the martial arts arena, a bright red palm print appearing on his face.

“Good!”

Su Xiaomo, Li Fei, and Tian Qi stood up and applauded.

The Long Family direct descendants who had originally wanted to watch how Long Ziyang would be abused by his cousin were all dumbfounded.

When they came back to their senses, they saw that guy had already walked off the stage.

The elder who had just shouted “begin” had the corner of his mouth twitching. It seemed like it had only been a few seconds, right? The competition was… over?

“Hey.”

Long Zishan folded his arms, looking at Long Ziyang walking down, and smiled with interest, “This cousin of mine has really grown quite capable upon returning this time.”