At dawn, light like a gentle tide washed over the upturned eaves of the Lin Family estate, dispersing the last lingering thread of night. The enormous lineage, dormant through the night, gradually stirred back to life like an awakening beast.
In the dilapidated little courtyard, Lin Chen had not slept all night. Yet not only was he not the least bit weary, he looked exceptionally spirited, his eyes bright and gleaming as though burning stars lay hidden within them.
Last night's reconnaissance and discoveries had ignited a blazing fire in his heart, filling him with anticipation and absolute confidence for the coming "hunt." The unimaginable abilities of the Myriad Dao Furnace gave him boundless assurance.
But he did not immediately put his plans into action.
After a night of calm reflection, he realized that directly sneaking into Leopard Garden to steal Crimson Sun Grass and any other possible resources, though highly feasible, still carried risks. No matter how badly injured Lin Bao was, he was still a Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer Peak martial artist, with followers at his side. If Lin Chen were discovered, a vicious battle would be inevitable. More importantly, if he failed or left behind even the slightest trace, drawing the thunderous fury of Great Elder Lin Zhenhong, he would be doomed beyond redemption.
"I have to reduce the risks to the lowest possible level, and... I need a perfect 'alibi.'" Lin Chen's gaze flickered as his fingers lightly tapped against his knee, his mind racing at full speed.
He needed an opportunity—one that would allow him to approach Lin Bao openly, or at the very least give him a reasonable explanation for his whereabouts during the time something happened to Lin Bao.
And that opportunity seemed... not far away.
Lin Chen raised his head and looked toward the Lin Family training grounds.
According to lineage custom, when roughly five days remained before the official Family Test, there would usually be a small-scale "preliminary assessment" or "internal selection." Its purpose was to weed out those disciples whose strength was too poor, who were merely making up the numbers, while also giving the elders a general understanding of the younger generation's overall ability, allowing them to better allocate resources and slots during the official test.
In previous years, such preliminary assessments had meant nothing at all to a "waste" like Lin Chen. He had not even been qualified to participate.
But this year seemed somewhat different.
For one thing, he had already "luckily" broken through to the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer, barely reaching the minimum threshold to take part in the test.
For another, the matter of his broken engagement with the Su Family, his head-on clash with Wang Teng, and even the military pledge he had made in the council hall had already spread like wildfire throughout the lineage. No matter how much the elders despised him inwardly, in order to display the lineage's "fairness" and silence the clamor of public opinion, they would likely have no choice but to give him an opportunity to participate in this preliminary assessment.
And this was precisely what Lin Chen needed!
The preliminary assessment would certainly be held publicly at the training grounds. When the time came, nearly every young disciple of the Lin Family, including the elders, stewards, and perhaps even the family head, might be present to watch.
This would be a stage under the gaze of all!
He could use this opportunity to do many things!
For instance, during the test, he could reveal a little of his "strength," but not so much that it shocked the world. He could continue maintaining the image of someone who had "just broken through to the third layer, had decent potential, but an unstable foundation." This would both answer for his previous military pledge and temporarily shut up those waiting to see him make a fool of himself, while also numbing Lin Zhenhong and Wang Teng and making them lower their guard.
Or, during the test, he could look for an opportunity to "spar" with Lin Bao or his followers! Ideally, he could "accidentally" injure them, further weakening their strength and creating more favorable conditions for the coming "hunt"! Of course, this would require extremely high levels of skill and control. He had to injure them without appearing deliberate, and he absolutely could not expose his true Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer cultivation.
He could even make use of the confusion among the people at the training grounds during the test, when everyone's attention was drawn elsewhere, to manufacture evidence of his "absence" or create interference for his nighttime operation!
One bold and meticulous plan after another sprang up in Lin Chen's mind like bamboo shoots after the rain.
"Then that's what I'll do!" A crafty gleam flashed through Lin Chen's eyes, and a cold curve lifted at the corner of his lips.
He hesitated no longer and immediately began making final preparations for the coming preliminary assessment—if it truly happened—and the subsequent "hunt."
First came strength!
Although he could not obtain new high-quality "fuel" for the time being, he could still circulate the optimized Basic Qi Refining Art, absorb Spiritual Qi, consolidate his Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer cultivation, and continuously temper his control over his own strength. Again and again, he simulated the movements of punching, kicking, dodging, and blocking, striving to use every fraction of strength just right—able to unleash tremendous power while perfectly concealing his aura without leaving a trace.
He even began trying to recall several rudimentary martial skills he had encountered three years ago. Back then, he had held his head high and looked down on these basic martial skills, never bothering to cultivate them seriously. But now, with the assistance of the Myriad Dao Furnace, he tried to "smelt" and integrate those fragmented memories.
Although he could not directly obtain complete inheritances and optimizations as he could by smelting cultivation manuals, the furnace seemed capable of providing a certain degree of "sorting" and "inspiration." Some crucial points in techniques that had once been vague gradually became clear; some movements that appeared clumsy faintly revealed the key to exerting force.
"Fierce Tiger Fist... Mountain Splitting Palm... Willow Catkin Movement Technique..." As Lin Chen recalled them, he shifted, twisted, and darted about within the cramped courtyard, practicing these most basic martial skills.
His movements were initially somewhat raw and stiff, but as time passed, supported by the abundant true qi within his body, they gradually became smooth and natural. Although these martial skills were low-grade and limited in power, something was better than nothing. At the very least, they would give him more means to face enemies during the coming preliminary assessment and better match the performance expected of a "normal" Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer martial artist.
Besides cultivating and practicing martial skills, Lin Chen did not forget to prepare for his nighttime exploration of Leopard Garden.
Using the seemingly useless plant residue left after he had smelted and purified it in the courtyard, along with some common materials found everywhere, he began trying to make several crude tools.
For example, he gathered some tough vines and used a special method to weave them into a rope that looked inconspicuous but was exceptionally sturdy. At one end of the rope, he tied a simple grappling hook carved from hard wood. This was for easier climbing and dealing with certain special terrain.
For another, he collected some herbs with mildly numbing or irritating odors. These herbs were common in the Lin Family and were usually used to repel insects or as medicine, so they would not arouse suspicion. Then he carefully used the Myriad Dao Furnace to smelt and purify them with extreme precision!
The process consumed immense mental energy and was extraordinarily dangerous! The slightest mistake could destroy the herbs' medicinal properties or even create unpredictable toxicity!
Yet with his increasingly powerful control over the furnace and a will of iron, Lin Chen actually succeeded!
From those ordinary herbs, he successfully extracted a small pinch of colorless, odorless powder with a mild numbing effect, as well as another medicinal powder that gave off a faintly irritating scent and could temporarily interfere with one's sense of smell and mental focus!
These items were not particularly potent and could not deal with genuine experts, but against the Body Tempering Realm Third and Fourth Layer guards of Leopard Garden, they might produce unexpected results at a critical moment by creating chaos or briefly numbing the enemy!
By the time he had completed all these preparations, it was already noon on the third day.
Over these three days, Lin Chen had barely closed his eyes. Other than the necessary eating and drinking—still the coarse meals delivered by Lin Fu, which he did not care about—he spent all his time cultivating, practicing, and preparing tools.
Although his cultivation had not broken through again, his Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer had been completely consolidated, and his control over his own strength had reached a level of consummate mastery. He was confident that, even without using the Myriad Dao Furnace, relying solely on his cultivation realm, physical strength, and those few rudimentary martial skills, he could easily handle an opponent at the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer Peak!
Yet the aura he emitted on the surface was still perfectly controlled at the early to middle stages of the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer. It even appeared somewhat "unsteady" due to his "hard cultivation," making it all the more deceptive.
Just as Lin Chen felt that all preparations were complete and only waited for a suitable opportunity to descend—
Dong—dong—dong—
A deep, resonant peal of bells suddenly rang out from the central area of the Lin Family estate, spreading throughout the entire lineage!
This was the bell summoning all Lin Family disciples to the training grounds! It was normally rung only during important ceremonies or announcements of major events!
Lin Chen's heart stirred, and his eyes instantly lit up!
It had come!
The opportunity he had been waiting for had finally come!
He immediately stopped cultivating, straightened his clothes, and adjusted himself back into his "actor" state—three parts apprehension in his eyes, three parts expectation, and four parts awkwardness and unease at the prospect of facing everyone.
Then he pushed open the courtyard gate and merged into the stream of people flowing toward the training grounds.
Along the way, nearly every Lin Family disciple he encountered unconsciously took an extra look at him, their gazes complicated.
There was mockery, disdain, curiosity, sympathy, and even a faint trace of... inexplicable anticipation?
Clearly, the matter of his military pledge and the approaching "preliminary assessment" had become one of the focal points of attention throughout the Lin Family.
Everyone wanted to see whether this former genius and current waste had truly gone mad, or whether... he really possessed some unknown trump card. Was his so-called "Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer" real or fake? And how long could it last?
Lin Chen took all of this in, sneering inwardly, while allowing just the right degree of nervousness and awkwardness to appear on his face. He lowered his head and silently followed behind the crowd.
Before long, the enormous training grounds came into view.
The training grounds were already packed with people and bustling beyond measure.
At the center of the training grounds stood a raised platform. On it, family head Lin Xiaotian sat in the middle. To his left and right sat Great Elder Lin Zhenhong, Second Elder Lin Zhenshan, Third Elder Lin Zhenyue, and several core lineage stewards.
Below the platform stood a dense mass of Lin Family young disciples, numbering several hundred! They were roughly separated into different areas according to age and cultivation, each holding their heads high and rubbing their fists, their eyes brimming with excitement and anticipation.
At the front of the crowd, several young people with especially powerful auras stood out like cranes among chickens, drawing everyone's eyes.
One of them was tall and straight, handsome in appearance, with sharp eyes. He was Lin Yan, the publicly acknowledged number one among the Lin Family's younger generation! He stood quietly there, naturally radiating powerful confidence and authority.
Another was a white-clad young woman with a graceful figure and beautiful features. Her aura was cold and aloof, like an icy lotus atop a snow-capped mountain. She was Lin Xue, famed alongside Lin Yan.
And among the crowd close to Great Elder Lin Zhenhong's side, a pale-faced young man with sinister eyes stood surrounded by several followers. Who else could he be but Lin Bao?!
Lin Chen's gaze immediately locked onto Lin Bao!
He carefully observed Lin Bao's complexion and fluctuations in aura. As expected! Though Lin Bao had tried hard to conceal it, several traces of abnormal pallor could still be seen on his face. His aura was also somewhat unsteady and floating, nowhere near the condensation expected of a Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer Peak martial artist!
It seemed the news of his injury was true! And his injuries were not light either!
Lin Chen's heart settled completely, and an imperceptible curve rose at the corner of his mouth.
At that moment, Lin Bao seemed to notice Lin Chen's gaze as well. He abruptly turned his head, and their eyes met in midair!
Lin Bao's eyes instantly filled with venom, hatred, and undisguised killing intent! He even viciously made a throat-slitting gesture at Lin Chen!
Lin Chen sneered inwardly, but immediately put on a "panic-stricken" expression, as if terrified by Lin Bao's ferocity. He hurriedly lowered his head, avoided Lin Bao's gaze, and blended into the crowd.
This "cowardly" display naturally drew a round of snickering and even more contemptuous looks from Lin Bao and the followers around him.
"Hmph! A waste is still a waste! You dared glare at me? Once the test starts, just watch how I deal with you!" Lin Bao muttered viciously, completely unaware that he had already become a fat sheep awaiting slaughter in someone's eyes.
On the platform, family head Lin Xiaotian swept his gaze over the dark mass of people below, cleared his throat, and spoke in a deep voice.
"Disciples of the Lin Family!"
His resounding voice contained true qi and clearly spread across the entire training grounds, instantly suppressing all the noise.
"Three days from now will be our Lin Family's annual Family Test ceremony! This test concerns not only your future allocation of resources and your standing within the lineage, but also whether the Lin Family can achieve outstanding results in the Qingyang Town Three Great Families Competition half a month from now and raise the prestige of our Lin Family!"
"In order to better select the true elites of our Lin Family, and to allow everyone to adapt to the atmosphere of the test in advance, an internal preliminary assessment will be held today!"
"All disciples who are at least twelve years old and have cultivation at Body Tempering Realm First Layer or above may participate! The assessment consists of two parts: cultivation verification and practical combat!"
"For cultivation verification, the elders will personally inspect you and determine your level. For practical combat, opponents will be determined by drawing lots. You will fight in pairs; the winners advance, and the losers are eliminated!"
"In the end, those who perform exceptionally in this preliminary assessment will not only receive priority in the official test, but will also be awarded additional lineage resources!"
Lin Xiaotian's words were like a massive boulder dropped into a tranquil lake, instantly stirring towering waves among the crowd below!
There really was a preliminary assessment! There would even be practical combat! And additional resource rewards!
The eyes of every young disciple instantly burned with fierce battle intent and desire!
Especially those talented youths who considered themselves quite capable—they rubbed their fists and itched to try, eager to shine brightly on this stage and prove themselves!
As for Lin Chen, when he heard the key phrases "practical combat" and "opponents determined by drawing lots," an imperceptible glint flashed through his eyes!
An opportunity! This was practically an opportunity tailor-made for him!
Drawing lots? Heh. If his luck were "good" enough to draw Lin Bao or one of his followers as an opponent... would that not give him a perfectly legitimate chance to "spar" with them?
An even more complete—and even more thrilling—plan began to take shape in his heart!
"Enough! No more nonsense!" Lin Xiaotian waved a hand. "The preliminary assessment begins now! First, cultivation verification! All participating disciples, take the stage in order according to your cultivation level and undergo inspection!"
At the family head's command, the atmosphere at the training grounds instantly reached its peak!
Under the gaze of all, an assessment concerning honor, resources, and future destiny officially opened its curtain!
And amid the crowd, the seemingly inconspicuous, even somewhat "cowardly" youth in black had the gleam of a hunter in his eyes.
His stage was about to begin as well!
This time, he would let everyone know that once the "furnace slag" that had lain dormant for three years began to burn, its brilliance would blaze across ten thousand miles!
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