Fire Python Tigers—I'll Take Them All

If the birth of an Origin Power Seed opened the gates to the Martial Dao, then the Earthly Yuan Realm meant truly stepping into its grand hall.

In Qingyang Town, an Earthly Yuan Realm cultivator was already a pillar of any faction.

Those who could advance to the Earthly Yuan Realm before turning twenty were exceedingly rare.

Lin Yun and Lin Dong were only sixteen or seventeen.

And that was not even the most important part. As far as she knew, Lin Dong had only begun cultivating this year—at most, he had cultivated for a single year. Lin Yun had started cultivating long ago, but given his family background, he had practically no resources to speak of.

Compared to Lei Li, their circumstances were not even on the same level. They could not even compare to her.

Yet, despite such conditions, the two of them had actually broken through to the Earthly Yuan Realm.

Lin Xia was deeply shaken and found it hard to believe. Although she had already gained a thorough understanding of their talents, she still could not accept it so quickly.

That was the Earthly Yuan Realm! For her, it would take at least another year.

Seeing Lin Xia's expression as though she were questioning her entire life, Lin Yun had no way to console her... The world of cheat users was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Lin Yun and Lin Dong exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.

They both knew that the other had secrets, but neither asked about them. They simply developed quietly and competed in secret, each hoping to astonish the other.

As more and more groups arrived, the Beast Horn Arena gradually became packed with people, and the atmosphere grew lively.

Before long, a commotion broke out as the Lei Family and Xie Family contingents arrived.

These two local Qingyang Town families had dominated the area for many years and wielded tremendous influence, drawing everyone's attention.

In recent years, the rise of Mad Blade Martial Hall and the Lin Family had forced the Lei Family and Xie Family into an alliance. Coupled with their marriage ties, the two families were now inseparable.

At this moment, they entered together.

The heads of the Lei and Xie Families walked side by side at the front of their procession.

Standing beside Lin Yun and Lin Dong, Lin Xia introduced the important members of the Lei and Xie Families to the two homebodies.

"The one walking on the left is the Lei Family's patriarch, Lei Bao."

Lin Yun looked over. The man was an elderly figure in a light gray satin robe, seemingly not much different in age from Lin Zhentian. His deeply sunken eyes gave him a rather cold and harsh appearance.

"The middle-aged man beside Lei Bao is the Xie Family's patriarch, Xie Qian."

Xie Qian seemed to wear a smile at all times, appearing exceptionally kind and amiable.

"Don't be fooled by that old man's friendly face. He's vicious and crafty. He has a nickname: Smiling Tiger."

Lin Xia muttered in a low voice.

How could anyone who became the head of a family be simple... Lin Yun secretly sized up the two men. From them, he sensed an imposing aura—the pressure of Heavenly Yuan Realm experts.

Neither of them had deliberately concealed their aura, evidently to display their strength.

Behind the two patriarchs, Lin Yun spotted two familiar figures: Lei Li and Xie Yingying.

By then, the two families had reached the front of the Lin Family.

Lei Bao said, "Hehe, Lin Zhentian, long time no see. It seems these old bones of yours are still quite sturdy."

"Old Lei, don't worry. These old bones of mine will enter the coffin later than yours." Lin Zhentian replied with a smile.

The two exchanged pleasantries, both wearing bright smiles as though they were having a pleasant conversation. Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought they were close friends.

Yet every word they spoke carried barbs.

"There are too many things to worry about. Living a long life isn't so easy." Lei Bao smiled faintly.

His gaze swept over the Lin Family members, lingering first on Lin Xiao. He seemed to sense the dense Origin Power fluctuations emanating from the latter's body, and his brow creased almost imperceptibly.

Clearly, he already knew that Lin Xiao had recovered his strength.

He was quite wary of the Lin Family gaining another Heavenly Yuan Realm expert.

His gaze continued onward and landed on Lin Yun.

Four months ago, after the conflict between Lin Yun and Lei Li, he had personally questioned Lei Li about it.

Lei Li's assessment had been, "He has some talent in martial arts, but he's nothing to worry about."

"So this is the recently renowned genius of the Lin Family?" Lei Bao's sunken eyes fixed on Lin Yun like a venomous snake as a powerful aura pressed down upon him.

Although Lei Li had said he was confident of defeating Lin Yun, Lei Bao did not entirely believe him. Lei Li had struggled so much even against someone at the Body Tempering Eighth Layer; this Lin Yun was clearly no ordinary person.

"Hm? This old dog..." Lin Yun felt Lei Bao's pressure and frowned slightly, but did not feel much discomfort.

Though the other man was a realm above him, such pressure was nothing to Lin Yun, who carried three hundred jin daily and possessed a mental attribute of 17. It was utterly insignificant.

Still, Lin Yun did his best to play his assigned role.

To cooperate with him and achieve the effect he wanted, Lin Yun timely displayed immense pressure, wearing a panicked expression.

This boy truly is nothing to worry about... Lei Bao's brow immediately relaxed, and he felt that compared to his own Lei Li, Lin Yun's shortcomings were obvious.

"Hmph!" Lei Li, standing behind Lei Bao, snorted proudly. After breaking through to the Earthly Yuan Realm, he could now face even the pressure released by his grandfather with composure.

Lin Zhentian quickly noticed it. Frowning, he discreetly stepped in front of Lin Yun and said blandly, "Old Lei, you flatter him. Lin Yun has only gained a little reputation; he cannot compare to your Lei Family's Lei Li."

"Heh, whether we can compete or not, we'll find out once the Hunting Event begins. Your Lin Family just needs to prepare the prize money," Lei Bao said with a hearty laugh as he walked past the Lin Family.

When Lei Li passed Lin Yun, he suddenly paused. Glancing at Lin Yun and the younger Lin Family members beside him—Lin Dong, Qing Tan, Lin Xia, Lin Hong, and the others—he suddenly chuckled in a low voice. "Lin Yun, there are plenty of Demon Beasts in the hunt. You'd better be careful. Don't fail to even reach the central Giant Platform. I'll be waiting for you there."

After breaking through to the Earthly Yuan Realm, Lei Li felt capable again and had forgotten the humiliation Lin Yun had inflicted on him before.

The younger members of the Lin Family wore ugly expressions as they glared resentfully at Lei Li.

"You should worry about getting onto the Giant Platform yourself first," Lin Yun said blandly, utterly unaffected by Lei Li's words.

He no longer regarded Lei Li as a worthy opponent. His hypothetical enemy had become Lei Li's grandfather, Lei Bao.

What Lin Yun was thinking now was how to use the Hunting Event as an opportunity to deal with Lei Li first and rattle the Lei and Xie Families.

As a member of the Lin Family, he was destined to become enemies with the Lei and Xie Families. Naturally, he would not pass up any opportunity to weaken their strength.

"Hmph!" Lei Li sneered and followed the Lei Family's group.

"Mad Blade Martial Hall is here!" Another burst of commotion arose at that moment.

A group dressed in clothing embroidered with mad sabers swaggered onto the Beast Horn Arena.

The master of Mad Blade Martial Hall was Luo Cheng, the wielder of the Raging Thunder Saber.

He was a ruthless man. It was said that when he had first arrived in Qingyang Town to establish himself, he fought Lei Bao, took three of Lei Bao's palm strikes head-on, and slashed Lei Bao across the chest. His desperate, all-or-nothing style had directly frightened the Lei and Xie Families.

Only then had he managed to gain a firm foothold in Qingyang Town.

The people of Mad Blade Martial Hall all conducted themselves in much the same way as Luo Cheng.

When Luo Cheng arrived before the Lin Family, he and Lin Zhentian exchanged warm, friendly words. Although the two sides had not formally formed an alliance, under pressure from the Lei and Xie Families, they tacitly maintained friendly relations.

"So, are you confident you can handle that pair of dogs, Lei Li and Xie Yingying?" Wu Yun asked with a snicker as he came to Lin Yun's side.

"You'll find out when the time comes," Lin Yun said mysteriously.

"That pair of dogs isn't so easy to deal with. If you need my help, just say the word." Wu Yun patted Lin Yun on the shoulder, looking as though he were waiting for an invitation.

"Not for now. Thanks," Lin Yun replied indifferently.

He had no intention of working with Wu Yun.

Because he already had another plan.

"You brat, I'd like to see how you deal with them when the time comes."

Unable to get a response, Wu Yun walked away grumbling. As the Chief Disciple of Mad Blade Martial Hall, he would not beg anyone for help!

At worst, after Lin Yun was defeated by Lei Li, he would take Lei Li on head-on himself.

"Lin Yun, why did you refuse Wu Yun? That guy may be arrogant, but he's quite strong. With him along, we'd have a better chance against Lei Li," Lin Xia asked in confusion.

Lin Dong and the others also looked at Lin Yun with some puzzlement.

"I have my own plan." Lin Yun gave a mysterious smile and did not explain further.

In the original story, Lin Dong and Wu Yun had indeed worked together to set Lei Li and Xie Yingying up.

However, three Fire Python Tiger cubs would appear during this Hunting Event. Lin Yun had no intention of sharing the Fire Python Tigers with anyone else.

He wanted all three cubs for himself—or perhaps even four!

At that moment, the opening ceremony for the Hunting Event began. Lei Bao stood up to speak, droning on for a while as he broadly introduced the rules.

Next, Identity Tokens were distributed, and the participants climbed onto the Beast Horn Arena.

When Lei Bao announced the start of the event, everyone leaped down from the platform and entered the forest.

"I'll be going on ahead!" Lin Yun called to Lin Xia and the others. Before they could react, he jumped straight into the forest.

As soon as the forest concealed Lin Yun's figure, he immediately used the Flowing Wind Movement Technique, transforming into a blur of light and shadow as he overtook everyone.

Lin Yun's Flowing Wind Movement Technique had now nearly reached perfection. His speed was so great that, let alone these juniors, even among Earthly Yuan Realm cultivators, few could compare with him.

Lin Yun sped ahead alone, and before long, no one could see his figure anymore.

As he raced deeper into the forest, Lin Yun carefully surveyed his surroundings. His mental perception could now cover a radius of five hundred meters.

There were quite a few Demon Beasts in the forest, but Lin Yun passed each of them by without provoking them.

His target was clear: the Fire Python Tiger.

A short while later, Lin Yun arrived at an open stretch of rocky ground. Through his mental senses, he discovered four Demon Beast auras within a cave beneath the rocks.

One was strong, while the other three were weak. The three weaker auras were faint to the point of nearly vanishing; if Lin Yun's spiritual attribute had not been higher than that of ordinary people, he might not have sensed them at all.

There was no doubt that this was the Fire Python Tiger family of four.

An adult Fire Python Tiger possessed strength comparable to a Heavenly Yuan Realm expert.

Lin Yun knew the plot. At this time, the mother Fire Python Tiger was severely injured and simply could not display the strength of the Heavenly Yuan Realm.

He cautiously approached the Rock Cave.

Roar!

The moment he neared the cave entrance, a tiger's roar rang out from within.

A fiery shadow burst out. It was a Demon Beast over ten feet tall, its entire body covered in flame-like fur. Its head was that of a tiger, savage and ferocious, while its tail coiled over its back, its forked tongue flicking out like a fire python.

It was undoubtedly a Fire Python Tiger.

However, this Fire Python Tiger, which should have been imposing and majestic, looked exceptionally weak. Blood continuously poured from its body, staining the soil beneath it crimson. It was clearly gravely injured.

On top of having just given birth to cubs, it had already weakened to the extreme. Without treatment, it likely would not last much longer.

It was only holding on by sheer force of will to protect its cubs.

Lin Yun began creating a mission.

Mission: Rescue and adopt the Fire Python Tiger family. Reward: one bottle of Fifth Grade Returning Spring Pills; elite-grade spiritual cultivation manual, "Beast Taming Art."

PS: Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Today's update is finished. Tomorrow's update may come a little later, so please check back in the evening.