Tattling

Once the distribution was done, smiles spread across everyone's faces. Compared to this haul, the Hunting Competition's prize seemed almost insignificant.

"We should head to the stone platform too." Wu Yun carefully cradled the cub in his arms, speaking with a smile.

Lin Dong nodded as well. Though he and Lin Changqiang were still four Identity Tokens short of meeting the requirement, that was clearly a trivial matter for them.

"I won't be going." Mu Lingsha hesitated for a moment, then ultimately shook her head.

The others paused briefly before catching on. Glancing at the little beast in her arms, they nodded thoughtfully.

A beast cub capable of growing to the Heavenly Origin Stage was extremely valuable. Given her strength, she wasn't likely to rank well anyway, so giving up the competition to send the cub back first was a wise move.

Mu Lingsha shot them a grateful look, offering her first smile since they'd met. "If you ever have time, you can come find me at Mu Family Village. I'll treat you well."

"Haha, no problem." Wu Yun and Lin Dong both nodded with smiles. Only Lin Changqiang shot Lin Dong a disdainful glance. This kid agreed fast enough, but in the early stages he'd been crazily chasing Lin Langtian, in the middle stages he'd been crazily chasing Ling Qingzhu, and by the end he'd never even gone to see her.

Seeing no objections, Mu Lingsha didn't linger. Wrapping the cub in cloth, she bid them farewell and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Lin Changqiang's eyes lit up with a sudden idea. He grabbed Mu Lingsha's arm and said cheerfully, "Since you're not competing anymore, just give us your Identity Tokens. Saves us the trouble of finding more."

Mu Lingsha's mouth twitched, but she didn't argue. She pulled five Identity Tokens from her chest and handed them to Lin Changqiang without hesitation, then turned and leaped onto a tree branch, darting out of the forest like an agile leopard without looking back.

"Thanks!" Lin Changqiang shouted after her, then turned and waved at Lin Dong and Wu Yun, who were staring wide-eyed. "Come on, we've got enough tokens now."

With that, Lin Changqiang ran straight toward the forest center, already eager to claim his reward. Lin Dong and Wu Yun quickly followed.

The sunlight wasn't scorching, just warm and pleasant. Around the Beast Horn Arena, countless gazes had already converged on the central Giant Platform.

"By my estimate, the contestants should be taking the stage soon." Lin Zhentian squinted, looking expectantly at the platform.

"Father, there's no need to worry. With their strength, as long as they don't run into Lei Li of the Lei Family, getting ten Identity Tokens should be a breeze." Lin Ken, misunderstanding Lin Zhentian's concern, quickly offered reassurance.

Lin Zhentian just chuckled lightly, nodded, and said nothing more.

Suddenly, cheers erupted from the Beast Horn Arena. Several figures flashed onto the Giant Platform, among them Wu Yun, Lin Dong, and Lin Changqiang.

As they landed on the stone platform, a few referees hurried over, checked the number of Identity Tokens, nodded, and stepped back.

Not long after the three took the stage, two more figures jumped up from nearby. The moment they appeared, their faces were dark with anger as they glared at Lin Changqiang and the others.

Lin Changqiang seemed utterly unbothered by Lei Li and Xie Yingying's furious stares, chatting and laughing with Lin Dong while inwardly already impatient.

"Finally here, huh."

"Don't think you're taking those cubs away!" Seeing their smiles, Lei Li burned with rage. He spun around, facing the viewing stands where the Lei and Xie families sat, and channeled Yuan Power as he shouted, "Grandfather, Uncle Xie! Earlier, Yingying and I encountered a wounded Fire Python Tiger in the forest, along with three newborn cubs. We fought it for a long time before wearing it down, but at the last moment, Lin Dong and his crew ambushed us and stole all three cubs! Please, Grandfather, get justice for us!"

Lei Li's sudden outburst stunned everyone, and then the whole arena erupted in uproar.

"What?!"

In the audience, Lei Bao, Xie Qian, Lin Zhentian, and Luo Cheng all changed expressions drastically.

They knew well how dangerous a Fire Python Tiger was. Three cubs meant three future Heavenly Origin Stage experts—a force no family could ignore.

"Three Fire Python Tiger Cubs?!" Lei Bao's face flushed red instantly. He exchanged a glance with Xie Qian, their eyes flickering, before he stood up with righteous indignation. "Is this true?"

On the Giant Platform, Lin Dong and Wu Yun's expressions shifted. They hadn't expected the other side to just go crying to their elders.

"What nerve." Lin Changqiang shot Lei Li a disdainful glance, expertly stoking the flames. "Fought it for a long time? That Fire Python Tiger was already on its last legs. Even if you'd left it alone, it would've died soon enough. What did you actually do?"

"Just say it straight—we all found those cubs, and we all wanted them for ourselves. You just weren't good enough to take them from us. Why dress it up with all that high-and-mighty talk?" Halfway through, he casually blocked Lin Dong, who was about to join the fight. "Forget what you said at the Trade Fair, did you?"

"Exactly!" Wu Yun's eyes flashed with ruthlessness, then he laughed loudly and lewdly. "Fire Python Tiger Cubs were never anyone's property. Does seeing them first mean they're yours? If that's the case, I'll take a stroll through your Lei and Xie estates tomorrow. Any unmarried woman I see becomes my wife or concubine!"

Wu Yun's shameless words drew laughter from the crowd. Even Lin Changqiang was stunned by the man's thick skin and grand ambitions.

Some nodded, thinking the words crude but not without reason. The Fire Python Tiger belonged to no one. By rights, whoever had the skill to take the cubs owned them. There was no first-come-first-served rule.

"Enough with the sophistry!" Lei Bao's face darkened as he glared at Wu Yun.

"Bang!"

Just then, Luo Cheng slammed his hand on the table, the force shattering it to pieces.

He grabbed the long saber at his waist, his voice icy cold. "Lei Bao! When your Lei family speaks, it's the truth, but when someone from my Mad Saber Martial Hall speaks, it's sophistry? Are you saying my hall is easy to bully?"

"Exactly. Treasures of heaven and earth go to those fated to find them. Let the younger generation settle their own disputes. Lei old man, you're not thinking of interfering, are you?" Lin Zhentian set down his teacup and rose slowly, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable authority.

Seeing the Lin Family and Mad Saber Martial Hall instantly unite, Lei Bao narrowed his eyes, then growled, "The Fire Python Tiger may be ownerless, but Lei Li and the others still put in considerable effort. In the end, you took all the benefits. Today, even if your two families join forces, you must give me an explanation!"

From Lei Bao's tone, he was digging in his heels, clearly unwilling to let the Lin Family and Mad Saber Martial Hall take the cubs easily.

"Explanation? You planning to take them by force?" Luo Cheng's face twisted savagely as he tore the black cloth from his saber, drawing it with a sharp ring.

"Hall Master Luo, don't let things get out of hand. That won't do anyone any good." Xie Qian, seeing Luo Cheng ready to fight at the drop of a hat, twitched his mouth and quickly stepped in. "How about this—we settle it with a duel. Whoever wins takes the cubs. What do you say?"

"Ridiculous! These cubs are already ours. Why should we compete with you? If we win, we get what's already ours; if we lose, we lose nothing. Where in the world is there such a good deal?" Lin Zhentian sneered. He knew Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong had both broken through to the Earthly Yuan Stage, but Lei Li was surely no slouch either.

"I'll stake my Lei Family's Ironwood Manor. If we lose, Ironwood Manor is yours, Lin Family. But if your Lin Family loses, you hand over the Fire Python Tiger Cubs to my Lei Family! Lin Zhentian, do you dare take that bet?!"