The Hunt Begins

Advancing to the Ninth Level had not come as much of a surprise to Lin Yan. More than two months of cultivation had already made his foundation solid enough that, even without the help of the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire, Lin Yan was confident he could break through to the Ninth Level through his own efforts within the next two months.

The strange fire had merely sped up the process greatly. The reason he had kept building up his strength, aside from consolidating his cultivation, was also partly because Lin Yan's ambition was rather large. He wanted to try charging at the Earth Origin Realm the moment he broke through to the Ninth Level.

This idea did sound a little crazy when said aloud. Although the Body Tempering Ninth Level and the Earth Origin Realm were only one step apart, the gap between them was extremely vast. To put it bluntly, an Earth Origin Realm expert could easily deal with three or four people at the Body Tempering Ninth Level. That was the difference.

When many people reached the Body Tempering Ninth Level, they cultivated steadily and methodically, waiting until the Origin Power in their Dantian had grown to a certain degree before daring to assault the Earth Origin Realm. Thoughts like Lin Yan's were exceedingly rare.

Of course, although this move was crazy, it was not completely unfeasible for Lin Yan. His Origin Power Seed was already much stronger than that of an ordinary person, and with his own hard cultivation during this period, plus the help of the strange fire, he could give it a try.

However, he had clearly failed. If he wanted to break through to the Earth Origin Realm, the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire would probably have to grow another step first.

"Hu..."

A breath of white air flowed out from Lin Yan's throat like an arrow of qi. Lin Yan's slightly closed eyes slowly opened as well. The warm feeling coming from his lower abdomen made his entire body brim with power.

"After opening the Dantian, it really is different from before..."

Feeling the changes within his body, Lin Yan's spirits grew somewhat excited. The opening of the Dantian held indescribable importance when it came to cultivation. It was the most crucial foundation in cultivation!

"Once I advance into the Earth Origin Realm in the future, I'll be able to cultivate art manuals. When that time comes, the power of my Origin Power will also increase..."

Manuals. Two simple words, yet they were enough to stir countless disputes in many places. Manuals were different from martial arts. Martial arts could draw out the power of Origin Power to the greatest extent, while manuals could strengthen Origin Power from its very foundation!

Cultivation art manuals were also divided into grades, though not nearly as many as martial arts. There were only three grades.

From low to high: third-rate manuals, second-rate manuals, and first-rate manuals. Simple and easy to understand, but very practical.

A weaker manual was like the Lin family's "Azure Origin Art." Although it could only open four hidden meridians, those four meridians led directly to the skin. During cultivation, as long as one activated the art, one could directly absorb the Origin Power between heaven and earth through those four meridians. That speed was clearly much faster than only absorbing it through breathing.

As for some so-called first-rate manuals, they could directly open dozens of meridians. Some even more miraculous manuals could use a special method to form endless vortexes within the skin, flesh, and blood. At that point, even if you were not in a cultivation state, those vortexes would continuously draw Origin Power from heaven and earth, tempering the body and enriching the Dantian.

The Lin family had a cultivation art manual, the Azure Origin Art, but it was merely third-rate. Even so, the original copy of this manual had always been personally kept by Lin Zhentian. Within the family, only experts who had stepped into the Earth Origin Realm could learn of its existence and cultivate it.

To be honest, Lin Yan did not care that much about that cultivation art manual. After all, it was only a third-rate manual that could open four meridians.

For example, the first-rate cultivation art manual Little Sable would later give Lin Dong, the Great Sun Thunder Body, refined the Copper Thunder Body at the first level, the Jade Thunder Body at the second level, and the Great Sun Thunder Body at the third level.

The first level alone could open forty-three meridians, and could even form Origin Power vortexes beneath the skin. With just a slight circulation, it could draw the Origin Power between heaven and earth into the body. The Origin Power condensed by the Great Sun Thunder Body was also called Great Sun Thunder Origin, and it also had the effect of tempering flesh and blood and forging muscles and bones.

However, Lin Dong had the major backer Little Sable, so Lin Yan no longer had that opportunity.

Thinking of this, Lin Yan subconsciously took out the Mysterious Jade Pearl he had discovered in the Scorpion Tiger King's cave more than half a year ago. These days, whenever he had time, he would study this jade pearl, yet he had never gained the slightest result. This could not help but make him suspect that he had made a mistake, that this was merely an ordinary bead. Yet the reminder from the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire had also been very real.

With a low sigh, Lin Yan observed the Mysterious Jade Pearl for another couple of glances, then helplessly put it back into his robes.

No matter what, the path of cultivation mainly depended on oneself. Even if it was only an ordinary bead, it had at least accompanied him for so long, so he might as well carry it with him.

Two months unknowingly passed. As the year's end approached, the hunting competition was also about to begin, and the liveliness of Qingyang Town gradually reached its peak.

Within a hundred li, many factions swarmed over, causing the flow of people in Qingyang Town to reach its highest point in years.

Although the main characters of the hunting competition could be considered the several major factions of Qingyang Town, quite a few other factions also participated. However, these factions' desire to compete was not as strong as that of Qingyang Town's four great factions. What they wanted was merely to use this hunting competition to raise the fame of their families or villages.

But no matter what their purpose was, the hunting competition of Qingyang Town was clearly the largest event within a hundred li in several years. The younger generation that stood out here would gain a tremendous boost in reputation, whether for themselves or their families.

The hunting competition was set for the first day of the new year, and the location was within the Beast Horn Arena outside Qingyang Town. This was the grandest structure in Qingyang Town, occupying an extremely vast area. It had even directly enclosed a forest dozens of li wide. In the center of that forest stood a huge platform transformed from a small mountain peak. There, countless gazes would gather, and the champion of the hunt would also be born there.

When the hands of time reached the day the hunt began under countless expectant gazes, the atmosphere in Qingyang Town undoubtedly boiled over completely. A vast, surging sea of people gathered toward the Beast Horn Arena. The sight made one's blood run hot.

"So this is where the hunt begins?"

Lin Dong stood on a high platform, looking down at the dense forest below from above as he spoke in some surprise.

Beside Lin Dong, Lin Yan was also standing there, though his expression at this moment was slightly unpleasant.

Although he had long expected that Lin Dong would break through to the Earth Origin Realm just like in the original work, after truly sensing the other party's deep aura, the corners of Lin Yan's mouth still could not help twitching.

When it came to luck, this fellow Lin Dong was truly one of a kind. The cold qi on Qingtan's body, paired with the Stone Talisman's devouring power, had directly sent him into the Earth Origin Realm.

At first, Lin Yan had also considered using the cold qi on Qingtan's body to help himself break through, but after thinking about it, he still gave up.

For one, for some reason, his body extremely rejected this kind of yin-cold qi and could not absorb it at all. Secondly, if he let the strange fire devour and absorb it, the cold qi energy on Qingtan's body likely could no longer satisfy the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire's needs at this point. Forcefully devouring it would not be of much use, so he abandoned the idea.

At this moment, Lin Yan looked toward the depths of the forest, a trace of desire showing in his eyes. Whether he could break through to the Earth Origin Realm would still depend on that injured Fire Python Tiger. The bones, flesh, and bloodline of the beast race were the best growth feed for the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire.

As if noticing Lin Yan's gaze, Lin Dong turned his head and smiled. "Cousin Lin Yan, what are you thinking about?"

Having luckily broken through to the Earth Origin Realm, Lin Dong was currently radiating high-spirited confidence. However, when facing this cousin and future brother-in-law beside him, who had always been unfathomable, he still restrained that edge. Of course, this was also his style in dealing with people and matters: low-key and steady. If others did not offend him, he would not offend them.

Lin Yan understood this extremely well. Looking at Lin Dong's firm, confident expression, he chuckled and said, "I was thinking, in this hunting competition, whether that Lei Li can withstand even one joint move from the Lin Family Double Heroes."

Hearing this, Lin Dong's expression turned solemn, as if he had realized something. That Lei Li was said to have already broken through to the Earth Origin Realm, while Lin Dong himself had coincidentally broken through to the Earth Origin Realm several days ago as well. It could be said that they had both crossed the most important threshold for a martial practitioner. Yet Lin Yan beside him still looked calm and relaxed. If he was not foolish and ignorant, then he was clearly confident.

At this thought, Lin Dong's expression stirred. Based on his understanding of the latter, it definitely was not the first possibility. Then it was...

Looking at Lin Yan, who stood beside him with battle intent surging, Lin Dong could not help speaking heroically as well. "Lei Li? Nothing but a clown. If Cousin is interested, I will naturally accompany you!"

Ps: Henan was suddenly struck by a rainstorm disaster. I'm from Henan too, though I'm in southern Henan, so there are no problems for now. But I do have relatives and friends in Zhengzhou. Sigh, I hope everything is safe, that our families are well, and that the people in northern Henan also pay attention to safety. Stay strong, Henan! (Students and reader friends in northern Henan, please also stay safe, remember that!)