The Lei Family's Preparations

On the high platform, behind Lin Yan and Lin Dong, all the Lin Family's core members were gathered. The one at their head was naturally the old master, Lin Zhentian, while Lin Xiao, Lin Ken, Lin Mang, and the others stood at his side.

At that moment, Lin Xiao suddenly said, "The forest below leads straight into the deep mountains, so there are many ferocious beasts inside. Those participating in the Hunting Tournament will each receive a plate marking their identity, then be thrown inside. In that forest, you'll need to rely on your own ability to escape from beneath the claws of those beasts.

"Also, while surviving under those beasts' claws, you'll have to think of a way to take ten Identity Plates from other people. Only then will you be qualified to step onto the giant platform at the center of the forest. Hunting is hunting, but what you hunt isn't only beasts. In truth, more often than not, it's people."

Hearing this, Lin Dong's heart tightened. Lin Yan also nodded with a grave expression.

Though Qingyang Town was small, this Hunting Tournament was rather well organized. Not only did they have to seize the Identity Plates in the hands of other participants, they also had to be on constant guard against the beasts in the forest. One careless move, and they might truly lose their lives here.

"There are over a hundred Identity Plates in total. In other words, in the end, at most only a dozen or so people will be able to ascend the giant platform. Many participants in the hunt will end in failure. This competition can be considered quite fierce," Lin Zhentian said, his hands clasped behind his back.

Lin Yan and Lin Dong nodded. A hundred down to ten was indeed no easy task, but it did not weigh too heavily on the two of them.

"Heh, with the current strength of the Lin Family Double Heroes, reaching the platform smoothly should be as easy as reaching out and grabbing it," Lin Ken said with a smile from the side.

Hearing this, the smile on Lin Zhentian's face also grew much richer. Half a month ago, he had heard that Lin Yan and Lin Dong had successfully stepped into the ninth layer of Tempered Body. This cultivation speed was even a notch above Lin Xiao's at his peak back then.

As for Lin Dong having already broken through to the Earth Origin Realm, aside from Lin Yan, not a single person knew.

"What place the Lin Family can take this time will depend on the performance of our Lin Family Double Heroes."

At the side, a smile could not help but surface on Lin Xiao's face as well. He patted Lin Yan and Lin Dong on the shoulders, pride and relief in his eyes.

Of these two, one was his own son, and the other was his chosen son-in-law. Both were ranked as the Lin Family Double Heroes, and whether in talent or temperament, neither had ever disappointed him. It could be said that they were simply the greatest blessing heaven had given him.

"Heh heh, Lin Zhentian, long time no see. Looks like those old bones of yours are still just as tough."

Just as the Lin Family members were talking, a laugh suddenly came from not far away. Upon hearing that laugh, Lin Zhentian, Lin Xiao, and the others all frowned, and the smiles on their faces faded somewhat.

Lin Yan had a vague guess, but his gaze still followed the direction the voice had come from. He saw a large wave of people advancing in a grand procession, and wherever this group passed, the crowd quickly scattered, their appearance showing considerable fear.

At the very front of that group walked two people side by side. One of them wore a pale gray silk robe, and he looked about the same age as Lin Zhentian. His eyes were deeply sunken, making him appear quite cold and harsh. The other was a middle-aged man whose face was always covered in smiles, making him seem as if he were extremely kind. However, only those familiar with him knew that this fellow was actually a smiling tiger.

"That old fellow is the Lei Family's clan chief, named Lei Bao. The other one is the Xie Family's clan chief, Xie Qian. Both of those fellows are enemies of our Lin Family. Neither is anything good," Lin Xia whispered beside Lin Yan and Lin Dong.

Hearing this, Lin Dong nodded slightly. Though Lin Yan had already expected as much, his gaze still lingered on the two men. He could sense the powerful strength contained within their bodies. That belonged to experts of the Heavenly Origin Realm.

After his gaze swept over the two of them, both Lin Yan and Lin Dong's eyes paused on the people behind them. There were two familiar figures there as well: Lei Li and Xie Yingying.

As though sensing the gazes of Lin Yan and the other, Lei Li and Xie Yingying also glanced at them. A trace of anger and hatred could not help but show on the former's face, then a hint of ferocity flashed across it.

"Old Lei, don't worry. These old bones of mine will enter the coffin one step later than yours," Lin Zhentian said, looking at the approaching people from the Lei and Xie Families. His smile was extremely bright. If one did not listen to their voices and only looked at the expressions on the two men's faces, anyone would think they were close friends.

"With so many things to worry about, wanting to live long isn't easy..." Lei Bao smiled faintly. His gaze swept over the Lin Family members, finally pausing on Lin Xiao. Sensing the vigorous Yuan Power fluctuations coming from the latter's body, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. It seemed it was just as the outside world said: Lin Xiao's strength had actually recovered.

"Losing a good bit of stakes every hunt would leave anyone feeling blocked up inside. And when the heart is blocked, some people don't live long," Xie Qian said beside Lei Bao, smiling without warmth.

Hearing the faint mockery in his words, the Lin Family members were all angered, but Lin Zhentian waved a hand to stop them. His voice was calm as he said, "I'm afraid the ones feeling blocked up this time will be your Xie Family."

"I hear the Lin Family has recently produced two rising geniuses? I presume it must be these two?" Lei Bao's deeply sunken eyes suddenly turned toward Lin Yan and Lin Dong, and a somewhat sinister smile cut across his aged face.

Several months ago, when he heard that his dear grandson, Lei Li, Qingyang Town's number one genius, had been defeated by the Lin Family Double Heroes, he had nearly been unable to restrain the killing intent in his heart.

The Lin Family was already so powerful that it was about to become impossible to suppress. If their next generation was this outstanding as well, then Qingyang Town could almost be said to belong to these outsiders.

Fortunately, Lei Li had soon broken through to the Earth Origin Realm, giving him some comfort. Moreover, for this Hunting Tournament, he had also prepared some unexpected gifts for the Lin Family Double Heroes. Thinking of this, an almost undetectable trace of killing intent flashed deep in Lei Bao's eyes as he looked at the Lin Family Double Heroes...

At this moment, on the Lin Family's side, being stared at by a Heavenly Origin Realm expert like this for the first time, even Lin Yan, who was usually calm, could not help but feel his skin crawl. As for Lin Dong, he was not much better off.

"The Lin Family Double Heroes have only earned a slight reputation. How could they compare to the Lei Family?" Lin Xiao stepped forward, blocking Lin Yan and Lin Dong, and said indifferently.

"Whether they can compare or not, once the hunt begins, there will naturally be a conclusion. Your Lin Family just needs to prepare the stakes this time." Lei Bao smiled unfathomably, then waved his hand and directly led his people past Lin Zhentian and the others.

Lei Li's steps suddenly paused when he passed in front of Lin Yan and Lin Dong. He glanced at the latter, as well as Qingtan, Lin Xia, Lin Hong, and the other Lin Family juniors beside them, then suddenly laughed loudly and said, "Lin Family Double Heroes, in this competition, you'd better be careful..."

As his words fell, the corners of Lei Li's mouth lifted in a cold arc. His gaze stared at the two of them like a venomous snake before he finally turned and left with confidence.

"That bastard is too arrogant!" Lin Xia and the others said indignantly as they watched Lei Li's back.

Lin Dong, however, shook his head unconcernedly. After breaking through to the Earth Origin Realm, Lei Li no longer posed any threat to him.

Lin Yan, on the other hand, quietly grew somewhat vigilant. Because of his own rise, the Lei Family's desire to suppress the Lin Family seemed to have grown much stronger.

In the original work, only after Lin Dong's rise became unstoppable did both sides truly tear off all pretense and begin a life-and-death struggle. But at the very least, for now, the Lin and Lei Families still maintained a seemingly peaceful state.

However, whether it was the trace of killing intent that had flashed through that old ghost Lei Bao's sinister smile just now, or Lei Li's indescribable confidence, neither was clearly something that could be supported by someone who had only just broken through to the Earth Origin Realm.

Barring any accidents, it seemed the Lei Family had made some unusual preparations this time, and ones that had not appeared in the original work.

Thinking of this, an unreadable smile also surfaced on Lin Yan's face as he murmured inwardly.

This Hunting Tournament seems even more interesting now. Looks like I need to hurry up and break through to the Earth Origin Realm...