Chapter 68

In the vast Jing Family Square, people were bustling about.

"Have you seen Jing Yan?"

"No, he doesn’t seem to have arrived yet. There’s still about an incense stick’s time before the competition starts."

"Hehe, I think he might not dare to come?"

"Why wouldn’t he dare to come? He even defeated Li Tianfu from the Extreme Battle Association. He’s bound to rank high in the competition."

"Hmph, did you forget that three months ago, he accepted Tianlong’s challenge? After the family competition, he was supposed to fight Tianlong. Think about it, shouldn’t he be hiding like a turtle in its shell now? How could he dare to show his face?" A young man with triangular eyes sneered.

"Since Jing Yan dared to accept the challenge, he definitely won’t hide. Just wait and see, he will definitely show up." Another person frowned, firmly believing that Jing Yan would participate in the Jing Family competition. He was clearly on Jing Yan’s side.

"Fine, let’s wait and see." The triangular-eyed man sneered disdainfully.

At this moment, not far from the square, a figure in a green dress was pacing anxiously.

"Where could he have gone!"

"He’s not in the private residence either."

The woman in the green dress muttered to herself.

She was Jing Ziqi, the daughter of Jing Chengye, the head of the Jing Family.

Jing Ziqi entered the Red Lotus Academy, one of the three major academies in Lanqu County, five years ago and had been training there ever since. She rarely had time to return to the family.

Before Jing Ziqi left Donglin City, she and Jing Yan had a very close relationship.

She was about five or six years older than Jing Yan.

When Jing Yan was still young, Jing Ziqi often took him to play around in Donglin City.

Recently, after Jing Yan’s realm dropped and he was expelled from the Divine Wind Academy, returning to the Jing Family, Jing Ziqi had been writing letters to her father, Jing Chengye, asking him to take good care of Jing Yan.

This time, she returned because she was worried about Jing Yan. She already knew about Jing Yan’s challenge with Jing Tianlong.

This morning, she rushed back to Donglin City. As soon as she returned to the family, she went to look for Jing Yan, but she didn’t even see her father. However, she couldn’t find Jing Yan in the small courtyard where he lived.

Jing Yan was also nowhere to be seen in the square.

"If he really avoided it, that would be fine." Jing Ziqi muttered to herself.

"But, Jing Yan’s personality... he wouldn’t back out at the last minute." Jing Ziqi frowned, knowing Jing Yan very well.

"Hmm? Sister Ziqi?"

Jing Yan and Jing Qingyan were walking towards the square when they suddenly saw a familiar figure. Their eyes immediately focused, and Jing Yan spoke softly.

Jing Yan saw Jing Ziqi, and Jing Ziqi also saw Jing Yan.

Her figure flashed, and she quickly rushed towards Jing Yan.

"Sister Ziqi, how did you find time to come back?" Jing Yan smiled.

Thinking about it, he hadn’t seen Jing Ziqi for over a year. The last time they met was when Jing Yan passed the Divine Wind Academy’s assessment and entered the academy.

"Jing Yan, are you going to fight Jing Tianlong today?" Jing Ziqi, being impulsive, ignored Jing Yan’s question and asked directly.

"Yes, I heard about it too." Jing Yan nodded.

"You’re being foolish! How could you agree to fight Jing Tianlong? Jing Tianlong is very strong. Even I might not be his match." Jing Ziqi shook her head repeatedly.

Jing Ziqi and Jing Tianlong were both in the Red Lotus Academy, so she knew Jing Tianlong’s strength very well.

"Who will win or lose is still uncertain. Sister Ziqi, this battle can’t be avoided." Jing Yan’s gaze hardened.

"The competition is about to start, I need to register quickly, or I’ll miss it." Jing Yan glanced at the square and continued.

At the registration desk for the family competition!

"Master Jing Yan!" The registrar, upon seeing Jing Yan, immediately stood up and greeted him.

"I want to register for the competition." Jing Yan smiled.

"Sure, I’ll register you right away." The registrar nodded.

After registering Jing Yan’s information, he gave him a purple wooden badge with his name on it.

After registering, Jing Yan also came to the square.

"Brother Jing Yan! Sister Ziqi!"

"Hello, Sister Ziqi, hello, Brother Jing Yan!"

When Jing Yan and Jing Ziqi appeared in the square, many young members of the Jing Family greeted them.

Of course, many others quickly turned away when they saw the two.

And those who thought Jing Yan wouldn’t show up now had grim faces and closed their mouths.

"Haha, didn’t you say Jing Yan wouldn’t dare to participate in the competition? What do you have to say now?"

"Hmph, if he came, he came. He’s just asking for death. Let’s see how long he can last." Another person stubbornly retorted.

...

"Jing Yan, you’re just too stubborn!"

"This time, listen to me. After the competition, when you fight Jing Tianlong, just admit defeat. If Jing Tianlong attacks again, my father will definitely stop him." Jing Ziqi was still trying to persuade Jing Yan.

Jing Yan also showed a helpless smile.

Jing Ziqi was still as impulsive as before. Jing Yan remembered when he was young, if he was bullied outside, Jing Ziqi would directly beat the bully until they begged for mercy.

Jing Ziqi always protected him.

At this moment, on a high platform on one side of the square, several figures appeared.

At the front were Jing Chengye, the head of the Jing Family, and the various elders.

The Jing Family had a total of eight elders, and all eight were present today.

This showed how much the family valued the once-every-five-years competition.

Following the head and the eight elders were numerous family managers, about dozens of them. All of these managers were at the Ninth Heaven of Martial Dao. They, along with the elders and the head, formed the first-tier combat force of the Jing Family.

Of course, the Jing Family had many more Ninth Heaven Martial Dao practitioners, including some hired Ninth Heaven guards, totaling over a hundred.

In addition to the high-ranking members of the Jing Family, there were also some outsiders on the platform.

These people were guests, mostly important figures from various families in Donglin City, including family heads and elders.

It was a custom in Donglin City for families to invite important figures from other families to observe their competitions. This included the first family of Donglin City, the Zhao Family.

Of course, smaller families would invite fewer guests, far less grand than the three major families.

After about another incense stick’s time,

Jing Chengye walked to the edge of the platform.

His gaze slowly swept across the entire square.

"Jing Family disciples!" Jing Chengye, using his yuan qi, his voice boomed like a bell, echoing over the entire square.

As soon as he spoke, the previously noisy chatter came to an abrupt stop. All eyes turned to him.