"Brother Lin Yi, I'm sorry. I won't sneak off to gather herbs anymore..."
Seeing Lin Yi fall silent, Qing Tan thought he was angry. She tugged at his sleeve and spoke pitifully.
Lin Yi returned to his senses, rubbed Qing Tan's head, and smiled. "It's fine. From now on, no one in the Lin Family should dare bully you."
"Mm, Brother Lin Yi, you're amazing." Qing Tan looked at Lin Yi, her eyes filled with admiration.
Lin Yi chuckled. "If you were willing to devote yourself to cultivation, you might be stronger than me by now."
"Mm, I'll work hard at cultivation from now on too." Qing Tan stuck out her tongue and said playfully, "When I become stronger, I'll protect Brother Lin Yi."
Lin Yi smiled indulgently. "All right, then it's settled."
"Brother Lin Yi, I'll work hard at cultivation too!" Lin Changqiang, who had been following behind them, spoke solemnly at that moment.
"Huh? You haven't left yet?" Qing Tan heard him and turned to look at him in surprise.
Lin Changqiang awkwardly scratched his head. "I'm leaving now. Brother Lin Yi, Qing Tan, goodbye."
With that, Lin Changqiang turned around and parted ways with the two of them.
Lin Yi led Qing Tan home, chatting and laughing along the way. Before long, they arrived.
After dinner, Lin Xiao set down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at Lin Yi. "You got into another fight with the Lin Shan brothers this evening?"
"Dad, it wasn't Brother Lin Yi's fault. It was me..." Qing Tan spoke timidly.
Lin Dong pricked up his ears, ready to listen.
There was no joy or anger visible on Lin Xiao's face as he stared at Lin Yi. "I heard you defeated Lin Hong?"
"Mm." Lin Yi nodded and admitted it directly.
Upon hearing this, a ripple appeared in Lin Xiao's eyes. He grabbed Lin Yi's arm and began examining it.
"You've reached the Body Tempering Sixth Level?"
A moment later, unconcealed delight appeared on Lin Xiao's face.
Lin Yi nodded. "Mm, I just broke through today."
"Haha, good!" After receiving Lin Yi's confirmation, Lin Xiao could not help bursting into hearty laughter. His laughter was filled with relief and joy.
Lin Dong's eyes widened. He was delighted for Lin Yi, though there was also a hint of envy.
However, Lin Dong had also made considerable progress during this period.
On the day Lin Yi obtained the Stone Talisman, he received one drop of Stone Talisman Spirit Liquid, and another drop would be produced every five days.
Half a month had passed by now. Lin Yi had obtained four drops of Stone Talisman Spirit Liquid in total. He had consumed three, while the last one had been dripped into the Stone Pool.
Lin Yi told Lin Dong about the Stone Pool's effects, and Lin Dong had gone to soak in it every day for the past half month.
With the assistance of Spirit Medicine, Lin Dong had also broken through to the Body Tempering Fourth Level today.
However, without the Stone Talisman, his cultivation progress with the Tong Bei Fist was no longer as fast.
After his surprise, Lin Xiao asked Lin Yi why he had broken through so quickly. Lin Yi casually brushed him off, and Lin Xiao did not press the matter.
"It's getting late. Go rest for now. You still have to cultivate tomorrow. There are only a few months left until the Clan Competition, so you can't slack off." Having moved past the issue, Lin Xiao waved his hand.
"Mm."
Lin Yi replied and then left with Lin Dong and Qing Tan.
After walking out the door, they could still hear Lin Xiao's hearty, carefree laughter.
After leaving the main house, Lin Yi waved goodbye to Lin Dong and Qing Tan before returning to his room.
After locking the door, Lin Yi took the Fire Blood Ganoderma from his Universe Ring and brought it close to the Stone Talisman.
Very quickly, two more Spirit Medicine pills appeared in his hand.
It was already late, so Lin Yi did not continue cultivating. After putting the pills into his Universe Ring, he went to bed.
Ever since Lin Yi had defeated Lin Hong with a single punch, his reputation and standing among the younger generation of the Lin Family had risen dramatically, bringing him right behind the Lin Family's leading junior, Lin Xia!
Some even believed that Lin Yi might be stronger than Lin Xia.
After all, Lin Xia did not seem to have any record of defeating Lin Hong in a single move!
Thanks to this, no one dared provoke the three Lin siblings in the days that followed.
Even Lin Changqiang, because he was on fairly close terms with the three Lin siblings, had begun holding his head high within the clan.
With no one causing trouble, Lin Yi was naturally happy to enjoy the peace and devoted himself completely to cultivation.
Aside from consuming Stone Talisman Spirit Liquid, Lin Yi would also secretly visit the Underground Market in Qingyang Town, using diluted Stone Talisman Spirit Liquid to trade for third-grade Spirit Medicine. He would then use the Stone Talisman to refine the medicine into pills.
Furthermore, the system would occasionally issue rewards, leaving him with abundant cultivation resources.
Without resource limitations, Lin Yi's cultivation progressed at astonishing speed.
In just one short month, Lin Yi advanced from the Body Tempering Sixth Level to the Body Tempering Seventh Level.
Then, after another two months, he broke through to the Body Tempering Eighth Level!
During this period, he also cultivated the second-grade martial art Eight Desolations Palm to the perfected stage.
When one devoted oneself completely to a single pursuit, time always passed quickly.
About two months after Lin Yi broke through to the Body Tempering Eighth Level, his cultivation reached another small bottleneck.
After roughly two months of cultivation, the Yuan Power Seed in Lin Yi's meridians had grown many times larger, reaching the point where it could attack the barrier to his dantian.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Yi immediately mobilized the Yuan Power Seed and launched a full-force attack on the barrier to his dantian.
After only three attempts, the invisible barrier to his dantian was completely shattered!
This also meant that Lin Yi's cultivation had successfully advanced to the Body Tempering Ninth Level!
When the Yuan Power Seed rushed into his dantian, Lin Yi could feel a transformation taking place, as if it were emerging from the depths of his body.
The sensation was like a hidden dragon ascending to the heavens, or a fish entering the sea!
"Whew..."
Lin Yi stopped cultivating and let out a long breath of white air.
The white breath shot out like an arrow, leaving a hole in the ground some distance away!
Lin Yi slowly opened his eyes. The warm sensation radiating from his lower abdomen made his entire body feel refreshed, and every inch of him was filled with strength.
Seized by a sudden impulse, Lin Yi immediately assumed a stance. A set of thoroughly mastered punches flowed out as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water, the crisp slapping sounds echoing through the woods.
When the crisp sound rang out for the tenth time, Lin Yi's momentum shifted. His fists transformed into palms, and gusts of wind immediately arose. His fierce palm force left a series of marks on the trees in the woods.
After finishing the palm technique, Lin Yi settled into a standing posture and instantly felt refreshed and invigorated.
"Wow, Brother Lin Yi, you're amazing!"
At that moment, a crisp voice as clear as a lark came from nearby.
In the next instant, Qing Tan's delicate figure darted to Lin Yi's side like a butterfly weaving through flowers.
Qing Tan looked at Lin Yi with a grin, her face filled with admiration.
"What's so amazing about this? I haven't even truly stepped through the gates of cultivation yet." Lin Yi rubbed Qing Tan's head and shook his head with a light laugh.
Qing Tan widened her eyes at his words. "Really? Then what counts as truly stepping through the gates of cultivation?"
"At the very least, you have to reach the Earth Yuan Stage." Lin Yi pondered for a moment before continuing, "By the way, how has your cultivation been going lately?"
After being cornered while gathering herbs that time, Qing Tan had said she would begin cultivating. Later, after seeing Lin Yi and Lin Dong working harder than each other, she truly began cultivating.
Hearing Lin Yi ask, Qing Tan's smile grew even wider. "Heehee, I was just about to tell you some good news."
"Oh? What good news?" Lin Yi asked cooperatively.
Before you continue