After all, even if we can't compete for first place, we can still compete for second or third.

They were all proud young people; who would be willing to admit they were worse than others?

How would they know without a fight?

"Xin'er, has Lei'er still not returned?"

Wan Zhentian said worriedly.

As the Wan family's Core Formation experts, they naturally didn't need to squeeze together with the younger generation around the perimeter.

They were all sitting at the main gate of the Wan family mansion, the best viewing area.

Wan Hongxin shook his head and sighed, "I don't know. He didn't come with us on this trip to Guannan Prefecture.

Inside, I did encounter him and Sui Xiaohang after they had disguised themselves. They were accompanied by that girl from last time, as well as a Foundation Establishment cultivator I'd never seen before.

At that time, they were being chased by Duanmu He. I stopped Duanmu He and let them escape.

I asked Duanmu He and found out that Lei'er and the others had killed Duanmu Ao. That stinky brat is really good at causing trouble."

Saying this, a hint of a smile appeared on Wan Hongxin's lips, but it quickly disappeared.

"What? Being chased by Duanmu He?"

Sui Potian, who was on the other side, immediately frowned, "What happened after that?"

"After I stopped Duanmu He, I fought with him for a while and injured him before he escaped.

By that time, Lei'er and the others had already escaped far away, but I haven't seen them since."

Wan Hongxin shook his head and said.

"If they really were killed by Duanmu He, I would risk my life to kill that old Duanmu He bastard.

Hmph, shameless bastard, a Core Formation expert actually attacking juniors!"

Sui Potian was furious.

"By the way, speaking of this, I heard from the clansmen that the day after that, someone saw four people who looked like Lei'er and the others.

At that time, they were being besieged by the people of Guannan Prefecture. The person who looked like Lei'er defeated the girl from the Qingyuan family but was injured by Qingyuan Liu, that scoundrel.

Fortunately, Wan Liuchuan arrived in time and stopped Qingyuan Liu."

Wan Hongxin said.

"Another shameless bastard, relying on his cultivation to bully the younger generation. People like that deserve to be cut into a thousand pieces.

By the way, after that, was there any news of them?"

Sui Potian asked.

Wan Hongxin frowned and shook his head, "In the month that followed, there was no news of them, and no one could find the so-called Lightning Refinement Pool.

Later, some families didn't want to look anymore and left one after another. Some people were unwilling and wanted to continue searching.

Because the Grand Competition was about to begin, I couldn't wait any longer, so I brought the Wan family back first.

After all, these young disciples have to participate in the competition."

"So you just left them there? That's too dangerous. It's a mixed bag there, with all kinds of people. What if they encounter shameless people like Duanmu He and Qingyuan Liu again?"

Sui Potian glared at Wan Hongxin and said angrily.

"Hey, after the Grand Competition, I'll go there alone again. This time, I won't stop until I find Lei'er and the others.

In short, alive or…"

Wan Hongxin ultimately didn't say the words, "dead or alive."

"I'll go too."

Sui Potian grunted twice and turned his head away.

Wan Zhentian sighed, stroked the beard on his chin, his eyes deep with worry:

"Well, Lei'er probably has his own opportunities. It doesn't matter if he doesn't come to this Grand Competition. With his Foundation Establishment lower stage cultivation, facing Wan Liuchuan… hey, why humiliate himself? It's fine if he doesn't come."

Wan Hongxin glanced at his father, opened his mouth as if to say something, but only sighed.

Yes, Wan Liuchuan was already at the Core Formation stage. With his aptitude, even Core Formation middle stage experts were no match for him.

Lei'er was only at the Foundation Establishment lower stage a month ago. Even if he was still alive now, even if he had grown, how much could he have grown?

Grown to the Core Formation middle stage?

That was simply impossible.

Although Wan Zhentian and Wan Hongxin had no hope for Wan Lei in this Wan Southern Prefecture heir competition, it would still be a pity if he really didn't participate.

Unlike before, Wan Lei had no cultivation at all in the past and was just a good-for-nothing. Wan Hongxin couldn't possibly let him participate in the Grand Competition.

But the current Wan Lei was different. He knew how to improve himself, he also had cultivation, and he had even awakened the same Innate Lightning Body as the Lightning Emperor Ancestor, which was perfect for cultivating the Lei Di Jue (Lightning Emperor Manual).

If he didn't try, there would always be regrets.

Even if he couldn't get first place and couldn't defeat Wan Liuchuan, he could still try to move up the ranks, preferably into the top ten or top five.

That would look better.

Wan Zhentian could also secretly take Wan Lei to meet the patriarch and tell him about Wan Lei's Innate Lightning Body, perhaps even obtaining the Lei Di Jue to cultivate.

Now, it was all for naught. The Grand Competition had already begun, and Wan Lei had disappeared, his life or death unknown.

He couldn't even participate in the Grand Competition.

"Are the rules for this competition the same as the last time I competed?"

Wan Hongxin asked.

Wan Zhentian nodded and said, "Yes, they are the same. The disciples compete in pairs, and the top ten, top five, and first place are finally decided."

"Wouldn't Wan Liuchuan's participation affect the fairness? No matter how talented someone is, encountering him early on will result in a黯然下场 (ànrán xiàchǎng - dismal end), making it impossible to achieve a high ranking."

Wan Hongxin frowned and said.

"The clan has taken this into consideration, so Wan Liuchuan is not allowed to participate in the elimination rounds. He will only enter the arena after the first place has been decided, to compete against the first place."

Wan Zhentian said.

Wan Hongxin sighed upon hearing this.

There was no way around it; his strength deserved this treatment.

Even if the first place was decided, he probably wouldn't be able to last a single round against Wan Liuchuan.

Thousands of miles away, inside the Lightning Refinement Pool.

Wan Lei panting, put down the Thunder God's Hammer, relaxed his muscles, and smoothed out his meridians. This time the Heavenly Tribulation was considered over, although he suffered some injuries, his cultivation has improved.

To his disappointment, there was no sign of loosening of his base platform, although the lightning force inside had long risen, he still had not been able to break through to the Core Formation stage.

"It's okay, Lei-shao (Young Master Lei), you are now only one step away from the Core Formation, presumably you can break through to the Core Formation after another Heavenly Tribulation tomorrow."

Sui Xiaohang comforted him.

Wan Lei nodded, not speaking.

He knew his situation best, this Heavenly Tribulation was so large this time, and it will not be much stronger tomorrow.

This time it only improved his cultivation a bit, and tomorrow's Heavenly Tribulation would not be enough for him to break through to the Core Formation stage.

Wan Lei turned to enter the Lightning Refining Pool, this time he had progressed another li (Chinese mile), but he was still a full three li away from the Jin (Metal) Lightning. Even with Lightning Evasion, it would be difficult to take the Jin Lightning away before he died.

Qi Manyao looked at Wan Lei's dejected back, and bit her silver teeth secretly, making up her mind.