The Hunt Begins

Time always flew by during cultivation. As the hunting event drew near, Qingyang Town's bustle gradually reached its peak. Forces from within a hundred-mile radius came flocking in, bringing the town's traffic to its highest point in years.

Although the main players in the Hunting Competition were Qingyang Town's major factions, quite a few other forces took part as well. Their desire to compete was not as intense as that of the four great factions. They merely wished to use the competition to temper their younger generation.

The Hunting Competition was held at the Beast Horn Arena outside Qingyang Town. It was the town's grandest structure, occupying an enormous area and even encompassing a forest dozens of miles wide. At the heart of that forest stood a Giant Platform converted from a small mountain peak. The champion of the Hunting Competition would emerge there.

Under countless expectant gazes, time finally reached the day of the Hunting Competition. Qingyang Town's atmosphere erupted completely. Vast crowds gathered at the Beast Horn Arena, a sight that truly set one's blood boiling.

"So this is where the hunt begins?" Lin Dong stood atop a high platform, looking down at the dense forest below in surprise.

"Yeah, this is where the dream begins." Lin Changqiang was equally moved. Aside from the clan's internal conflicts, this hunt was where Lin Dong would truly make his name.

"A dream? You mean our dream of reaching the Pinnacle of Martial Arts, roaming the world unchecked, and stamping out every injustice we see?" Lin Dong suddenly grabbed Lin Changqiang's right hand and raised it between their chests. With a smile, he said something so awkward it could make Lin Changqiang dig out a three-bedroom apartment with his toes, completely unaware of it. "Then let's work hard together."

"Eugh!" Lin Changqiang hurriedly shook off Lin Dong's hand with a look of disgust and quickly retreated several steps. After all, all the Lin Family's core members were standing behind them! At the front was old master Lin Zhentian, with Lin Xiao, Lin Ken, and the others accompanying him.

Lin Zhentian watched Lin Dong and Lin Changqiang with a beaming smile, his eyes full of gratification. Their recent performances had made him value them more and more. Not long ago, he had even suggested personally teaching them martial arts, though that proposal had clearly been politely declined in the end.

"The forest below connects to the deep mountains and is filled with many fierce beasts. Everyone taking part in the Hunting Competition will receive an Identity Token, then enter it. Within that forest, you'll need to rely on your own abilities to survive the attacks of those beasts." Seeing his father laughing nonstop, Lin Xiao's mouth twitched. He could only introduce the rules of the hunt himself. "Also, you must find a way to obtain ten Identity Tokens from other people before you qualify to step onto the central Giant Platform. The hunt is not merely for beasts. More often than not, it is for people!"

Lin Dong's heart tightened, and his slightly excited mood calmed down. Qing Tan and Liu Yan beside him grew even more worried. Lin Changqiang merely blinked. "Death Forest, Heaven and Earth Scrolls, and a Central Tower? It really does resemble the Chunin Ninja Exams in Naruto."

"Hehe, with their Ninth Layer of Body Tempering cultivation, reaching the platform safely should be as easy as pie." Lin Ken smiled approvingly from the side.

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhentian's smile grew even broader. After all, aside from Lin Dong's family and Lin Changqiang, he was the only one in the entire Lin Family who knew that the two had already broken through to the Earthly Yuan Stage.

"Well, well, well, isn't this Lin Zhentian? It's only been a few days. How come you've become so pathetic?" Just as the Lin Family members were talking, a strange, mocking laugh suddenly came from nearby. Hearing it, Lin Zhentian and the others frowned, and the smiles on their faces faded.

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw a large group advancing in force. The crowd in front of them quickly scattered, clearly quite afraid.

At the head of the group, two men walked side by side. One wore a light-gray silk robe and appeared to be around Lin Zhentian's age. His eyes were deeply sunken, and his hooked nose jutted forward, making him look particularly cold and severe. The other was a middle-aged man whose face was covered in smiles, making him seem very amiable. However, those familiar with him knew that he was nothing more than a smiling tiger.

"Those two old men are the heads of the Lei Family and the Xie Family. The one who just spoke is Xie Qian, head of the Xie Family, while the other is Lei Bao, head of the Lei Family," Lin Xiao quietly introduced to the younger generation.

Lin Changqiang glanced at the two men and immediately lost interest. They were not Lei Tiger or Xie Xun, so what was there to care about?

Lin Dong, meanwhile, looked toward their longtime rivals, Lei Li and Xie Yingying. Seemingly sensing his gaze, Lei Li and Xie Yingying looked back. A playful smile rose on Lei Li's face, while Xie Yingying held her hand like a blade, drew it across her neck, and threatened the two of them.

"Hehe, I've recently been plagued by petty people. Just seeing them makes me sick." Lin Zhentian looked at the approaching members of the Lei and Xie Families and smiled brilliantly. If one ignored their voices and only looked at their expressions, anyone would have thought they were close friends.

Lei Bao gave a cold snort with a forced smile. His gaze swept across the Lin Family before finally settling on Lin Xiao. Sensing the powerful Yuan energy fluctuations coming from the latter's body, Lei Bao's brows creased almost imperceptibly. It seemed the rumors were true: Lin Xiao's strength had actually recovered.

"Every hunt costs you so many prizes. Anyone would feel stifled by that. Isn't that why you feel sick whenever the hunt comes around?" Xie Qian sneered with a fake smile.

Hearing the mockery in his words, the Lin Family members turned angry. However, Lin Zhentian waved his hand at them and smiled faintly. "I'm afraid the ones feeling stifled this time will be the Lei and Xie Families."

"I heard the Lin Family has recently produced two geniuses. These must be the two of them, then? One has a resolute face, while the other bears an extraordinary presence." Lei Bao's sunken eyes suddenly turned toward Lin Dong and Lin Changqiang. A sinister smile appeared on his aged face. "I just wonder whether they are all show and no substance."

Lin Dong felt his entire body prickle under that sinister gaze, but then he saw Lin Changqiang suddenly step forward and stand in front of him. He even cupped his hands toward Lei Bao in greeting.

"Thank you for your concern, Elder. I am Lin Changqiang of the Lin Family, and my name remains unchanged whether standing or sitting!" Lin Changqiang paused here and swept his gaze around the area. Then, without the slightest fear, he stared directly into Lei Bao's eyes. "I'm not targeting anyone. I just want to say that every single junior from the Lei and Xie Families present here is trash!"

The moment Lin Changqiang finished speaking, the younger generation of the Lei and Xie Families instantly exploded.

"Lin Changqiang! All you know is how to run your mouth! Do you dare duel me?"

"You! Come over here!"

"You have no strength! You don't even dare face me head-on!"

In the end, Lei Bao raised his hand, finally stopping the crowd's clamor. "What the truth is will become clear once the hunt begins. Your Lin Family only needs to prepare this round's prizes!" With that, he led his people past the Lin Family and into the arena.