Success

As Lei Li and the others darted out, Lin Dong let out a low shout as well. With a stomp of his foot, he shot forward and directly blocked Lei Li, while Lin Changqiang charged without hesitation toward Xie Yingying and the others.

"Lin Dong, Lin Changqiang!"

The sudden turn of events startled Lei Li. When he saw the people blocking his path, his expression turned grim.

Lei Li sneered, then violently stomped the ground and leaped into the air. From above, he drove a fist down at Lin Dong, the punch carrying a sharp whistle through the air.

"You came looking for this yourself, so don't blame me!"

Lin Dong raised his head and watched the rapidly approaching figure. From the force behind that punch alone, he knew Lei Li had indeed entered the Earthly Yuan Stage. If someone at the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering took that blow, they would vomit blood and suffer severe injuries. Yet Lin Dong neither dodged nor retreated. Expressionless, he stared at Lei Li, clenched his five fingers into a fist, and threw a punch in an instant, smashing it heavily against Lei Li's fist!

Meanwhile, Lin Changqiang had already unleashed the Five Fireball Technique. Fireballs the size of basketballs rained down on Xie Yingying and the others.

Of course, he had deliberately reduced his output of Yuan power and controlled the fireballs' strength. He did not want Lei Li to become too afraid to gamble with the Lin Family because of his overwhelming strength. Otherwise, the Lin Family would lose a Yang Yuan Stone Mine Vein, and both his and Lin Dong's cultivation speed would slow considerably.

Not only that, Lin Changqiang did not even deliberately aim. He merely blasted the open ground in front of Xie Yingying and the others with fireballs from time to time, driving them back and preventing them from approaching. That way, they would think his Fireball Technique merely had decent range but poor accuracy.

At the same time, Wu Yun and Mu Lingsha had already rushed up the rock wall, heading straight for the cubs.

With a loud bang, Lin Dong and Lei Li's fists separated as soon as they met. Yet, to everyone's surprise, Lin Dong remained utterly motionless, while Lei Li staggered as he landed. He stumbled back several steps, nearly falling to the ground.

The one who had been forced back was actually Lei Li!

Xie Yingying stared at the scene before her in disbelief, her steps coming to a halt. Lei Li, who had entered the Earthly Yuan Stage, had actually been driven back by a single punch from Lin Dong!

Having just steadied himself, Lei Li abruptly raised his head and looked at Lin Dong in horror. "You entered the Earthly Yuan Stage too? How is that possible?!"

Lei Li's words exploded beside everyone's ears like muffled thunder, even making Lin Changqiang briefly think the man had used the system-produced Little Trumpet.

"You could do it, so could I." Seeing Lei Li's ghostly expression, Lin Dong merely smiled. Luckily, Lin Changqiang had only revealed the strength of the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering. Otherwise, Lei Li might have started doubting his entire life.

"You!"

Lei Li's face twitched, and his body could not help but tremble. He had started cultivating three years ago, and only with the Lei Family's abundant resources had he barely entered the Earthly Yuan Stage two months ago. But Lin Dong? As far as he knew, Lin Dong had only been cultivating for around a year!

"Impossible!"

Lei Li's expression kept changing before he finally gathered his Yuan power once more and walked toward Lin Dong with a savage face.

"Brother Lei Li, they're trying to steal the Fire Python Tiger Cubs!" While turmoil raged in Lei Li's heart, Xie Yingying suddenly spotted Wu Yun and Mu Lingsha on the rock wall. Her expression immediately changed. She wanted to rush over and stop them, but she feared Lin Changqiang's fireballs and did not dare advance, so she could only loudly warn Lei Li.

Hearing this, Lei Li suddenly came back to his senses. When he saw the two who had already climbed the rock wall, rage erupted within him. Dense Yuan power burst from his body, accompanied by faint drifting chill. From the looks of it, he had absorbed Yin Fiend Qi and fused it with his Yuan power as well.

However, judging by the level of that chill, it was perhaps only the most ordinary natural Yin Fiend Qi found in the world.

"Lin Dong, no matter how you raised your strength, you don't have the right to use me as a stepping stone!"

Yuan power surged through Lei Li's body. Feeling that abundant strength, his confidence returned. That was right—he had only suffered earlier because he had not expected Lin Dong to reach the Earthly Yuan Stage too, and he had been caught off guard!

With a furious shout, Lei Li charged again like an arrow loosed from a bow. His hands curved slightly, descending upon Lin Dong like sharp eagle claws.

However, at that moment, Wu Yun and Mu Lingsha had already reached the three cubs. The two hurriedly took out a piece of cloth, wrapped all three Fire Python Tiger Cubs inside it, and quickly jumped down from the rock wall.

Wu Yun let out a whistle to alert Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong, then rushed into the forest with Mu Lingsha and disappeared.

Seeing this, Lin Dong stopped trading blows with Lei Li. After exchanging a palm strike with him, he borrowed the force to fly backward. Lin Changqiang released another five fireballs, slightly hindering Lei Li and the others before darting into the forest with Lin Dong.

Seeing this, Lei Li was so furious that he jumped in rage and roared viciously, "Lin Dong, Lin Changqiang, I'll kill you both!"

As he ran through the dense forest, Lin Changqiang heard the roar coming from behind and curled his lips speechlessly. "Does Lei Li really think he can beat us?"

Lin Dong could not help smiling. "Who told us not to use our full strength?"

The two moved through the dense forest like nimble apes. Several minutes later, they finally stopped beneath a large tree.

Not long after, the sound of rustling leaves came from nearby. Then Wu Yun and Mu Lingsha appeared before them.

"Haha, that went smoothly!" The moment Wu Yun appeared, he could not help laughing. Then he looked at the two with considerable envy. "We really picked the right people this time. But you two... your cultivation speed is just insane. You jumped to the Earthly Yuan Stage in around a year."

"Just luck." Lin Dong smiled without saying much, making Lin Changqiang's lips twitch slightly as he recalled those top students from his previous life who always claimed they were merely lucky.

"Let's divide the spoils first." Wu Yun smiled as he untied the garment from his back and carefully spread it over a nearby rock.

Inside the garment, three cubs still stained with blood wriggled from time to time. Their tiny forms were quite adorable.

"Then as we agreed earlier, you pick first." Wu Yun smiled and stepped aside, while Mu Lingsha beside him nodded with a serious expression.

"Lin Dong, you choose. I'm not particularly interested in tigers with snake tails." Lin Changqiang casually found an excuse and pushed Lin Dong forward.

Hearing this, Lin Dong did not decline. He extended his right hand and gently touched the three little beasts. Sensing his touch, all three curled up slightly and made soft whining sounds.

Lin Dong's palm passed over the three little beasts in turn before stopping on the one farthest to the left. A sharp glint flashed through his eyes as he stared at it, then he picked it up. "We'll take this one."

"This... Brother Lin Dong, this one looks like the weakest of the three cubs. It may even be difficult to keep alive. Are you sure you want this one?"

Wu Yun and Mu Lingsha were both stunned by Lin Dong's choice.

"It's fine. This one." Lin Dong smiled and shook his head. He was not merely pretending to be generous. Earlier, when his right hand touched the three cubs one by one, only the leftmost one had caused the Mysterious Stone Talisman in his palm to tremble slightly.

His Stone Talisman was usually extremely quiet and rarely reacted, but whenever it did, it meant he had encountered something extraordinary.

Lin Dong lowered his head and looked at the cub in his arms, which had not even opened its eyes yet. Although he truly could not see anything special about the little beast with his own eyes, he still chose to trust the Stone Talisman. After all, it was the foundation of his existence.

Lin Changqiang, standing to the side, also smiled in relief. At last, the brothers were finally all together—though one was still unconscious, and another had yet to grow up.

Ding. Congratulations, Host. Half of Main Quest One has been completed. Reward: three Lottery Draw Opportunities.