Rewards

After Lin Changqiang and Lin Hong stepped down from the platform, Lin Dong did not issue any further challenges. Lin Guangjiang, at Body Tempering Stage Six, knew he was no match for the others either, so the Clan Competition quickly came to an end.

The final results were naturally Lin Changqiang in first place; Lin Xia and Lin Hong tied for second; Lin Dong was third; and Lin Guangjiang was fourth.

In a hall in the Lin Family's rear courtyard, several figures sat upright. At the head sat Lin Zhentian, smiling broadly. Below him were Lin Ken, Lin Xiao, and Lin Mang. Last came Lin Changqiang and the others who had placed in the top five of this Clan Competition.

"Today, the Lin Family has been blessed with two happy events." Lin Zhentian cheerfully stroked his beard, his eyes narrowing into slits. "First, Xiao's strength has recovered to the Heavenly Origin Stage. Then Changqiang and Ah Hong showed outsiders—and certain people—what true brotherly affection looks like."

Having said that, he looked at his second son, Lin Mang, and third son, Lin Xiao, with an expression of disappointment. Lin Mang awkwardly turned his head away, while Lin Xiao could only stand to one side with a wry smile.

Lin Changqiang and Lin Hong, meanwhile, looked at their noses as though nothing had happened, tacitly pretending to be deaf and mute. They did not dare interrupt the elders' business.

"Back when the Lin Clan held its Clan Competition, Xiao was defeated by Lin Langtian in a single move and beaten into a near-cripple, shattering our Qingyang Town Branch Family's hopes of returning to the clan..." At this point, Lin Zhentian could not help sighing, seeming to age several years at once. Only before his own people would he reveal such a demeanor. "But at the time, Xiao was already the most outstanding genius of our Branch Family. If he could not do it, could any of you?"

Under Lin Zhentian's gaze, Lin Mang slightly lowered his head, his breathing growing heavier. Lin Xiao and Lin Dong, father and son, clenched their fists tightly.

"It is one thing for outsiders to blame Xiao, but how could you blame him too? You even caused the younger generation to become hostile toward one another. He is your own brother, your family!" After saying that, he glared irritably at Lin Xiao beside him. "And you, you stubborn ox! You actually thought the same way yourself, gave up on treatment out of despair, and nearly angered me to death back then!"

Lin Xiao could only nod with an awkward smile.

"No matter what, it is good that you have pulled yourselves together. From now on, the two of you should learn from Changqiang and Ah Hong. If I catch either of you causing trouble again, do not blame me for showing no mercy!"

After giving these instructions and seeing that neither Lin Xiao nor Lin Mang voiced any objection, Lin Zhentian nodded in satisfaction. He then looked kindly at Lin Changqiang and the others, saying with a smile:

"Grandpa is happy today. All five of you will receive rewards from the Clan Competition, and Lin Changqiang's reward will be doubled. Furthermore, from now on, you may browse the family's Martial Arts Hall as you please. If you need anything, just tell Grandpa. Strive to make another breakthrough before the Qingyang Town hunt, so that our Lin Family can raise its standing there."

Upon hearing that they could freely browse the family's Martial Arts Hall, Lin Dong and the others, who had been sitting quietly to the side, had their eyes light up almost instantly. Seeing Lin Dong and Lin Hong's eyes gleam, Lin Changqiang was delighted inside as well.

The night was deep and quiet. A round moon hung high like a bright mirror, its gentle radiance spilling across the earth.

"A hunting event? If I remember correctly, Xiao Yan, Lin Dong's future close brother, will appear this time, right?" Lin Changqiang sat cross-legged on his bed, trying hard to recall the plot.

The triennial hunting event was Qingyang Town's liveliest occasion. Many people even came from outside Qingyang Town to join in the excitement.

Speaking of the hunt, one had to mention Qingyang Town's three major powers: the Lei Family, the Xie Family, and the Mad Saber Martial Hall.

The Lei Family and Xie Family were Qingyang Town's native clans. They possessed the deepest foundations and were also the most hostile toward the outsider Lin Family and Mad Saber Martial Hall.

Although the Mad Saber Martial Hall had only been established for a little over a decade, its strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, making even the Lei and Xie Families afraid to underestimate it in the slightest.

Below these three major powers came the Lin Family, though that was before. Now that Lin Xiao had recovered his Heavenly Origin Stage strength, the Lin Family possessed four Heavenly Origin Stage experts and barely qualified to stand on equal footing with those three powers. After all, even the Lei Family, with the strongest foundation, only had five Heavenly Origin Stage experts.

The triennial hunting event was jointly organized by these major powers. In the end, it was merely training for the younger generation and another form of competition.

Thinking of this, Lin Changqiang smiled and took out an embroidered box. Inside were the rewards from this Clan Competition: four stalks of Third-grade Spirit Medicine!

"Before, I only noticed the benefits of assisted cultivation. I never realized it had a flaw."

That was right. Although the system description sounded excellent—each day, he could choose any martial art and gain martial arts experience, or choose any cultivation art and gain the cultivation from twelve hours of perfect practice—the Body Tempering Stage relied on tempering the body to gain experience...

In other words, before reaching the Earthly Yuan Stage, he could not increase his cultivation through assisted cultivation at all. He could only use it to practice martial arts. Fortunately, he still had the option of absorbing Spiritual Medicine; otherwise, his cultivation progress would have slowed considerably.

"System, absorb all Spiritual Medicine."

"Ding, absorption successful. Conversion into yuan power will begin. Estimated conversion time: twelve minutes."

"Phew, that feels good." Looking at his experience slowly begin to rise, Lin Changqiang stretched lazily in satisfaction. "Although the converted yuan power is not as much as the Ancestral Stone provides, I do not need to spend time slowly absorbing it myself, nor do I have to suffer agonizing pain from time to time like Lin Dong. There are gains and losses, I suppose."

Suddenly, a sharp glint flashed through Lin Changqiang's eyes, as if he had remembered something. He hurriedly looked at his inventory.

"System, use one Double Experience Card!"

"Ding, Double Experience Card used successfully. For seven days, all experience gained by any means other than 'Inner Demon' will be doubled. Remaining Double Experience time: six days, twenty-three hours, fifty-nine minutes, fifty-two seconds."

Seeing the system prompt, Lin Changqiang finally let out a breath of relief. He had nearly forgotten about the Double Experience Card. Fortunately, he remembered in time and had only lost a tiny amount of experience.

A few minutes later, the system notification sounded again.

"Ding, Spiritual Medicine conversion complete. Congratulations, Host. Your cultivation has risen to the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering (22%)."

"If Lin Dong found out, he would start questioning his life again." Lin Changqiang smiled, as though he could already see Lin Dong's stunned expression. "Next, I can peacefully freeload off others' experience. Once I reach the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering, I'll use an Inner Demon Trial Card and jump straight to the Earthly Yuan Stage!"

It was not as though Lin Changqiang had never considered going directly to Lin Zhentian to ask for the Azure Yuan Art. But first, as he recalled, it seemed that one could not cultivate a cultivation art before reaching the Earthly Yuan Stage. Second, Lin Zhentian might think he was aiming too high and refuse to give it to him.

After thinking it over, Lin Changqiang still felt that rather than shamelessly asking for it himself, he might as well cultivate in peace first and find another way after breaking through to the Earthly Yuan Stage.

Having made his decision, Lin Changqiang no longer sat around idly. After washing up, he lay down on the bed and immediately fell asleep. Although the restorative effects of Holy Light Protection meant that he could now go without sleep or rest entirely, for some reason, if he went too long without sleeping, he would always grow irritable and listless.