Early Entry

Watching Lin Chuan, who had already fallen into deep cultivation, Qin Lang and Bu Lianshi took a long time to recover their senses, sharing a wry smile.

They no longer knew how to react to Lin Chuan's performance. Since entering Hunting Ground No. 44, Lin Chuan had challenged their bottom line time and time again, whether it was that powerful Gentle Fist capable of destroying meridians and internal organs, or that Kekkei Genkai Byakugan capable of seeing over a kilometer away.

Just when they thought they had reached the limit of Lin Chuan's capabilities, he showed them that a Spirit Core could be eaten directly, and that Foundation Establishment Stage herbs could be consumed during the Qi Refining Stage—things they wouldn't have dared to imagine before, unless they were looking to commit suicide.

"What do we do now?" Bu Lianshi asked helplessly, looking at Lin Chuan.

"What else can we do? We have to stand guard here; we can't just leave him alone!" Qin Lang simply sat down on the ground, leaning against the rock wall behind him to rest. He had almost rushed in just moments ago; if not for Bu Lianshi having a method to transfer spiritual energy, he would have dragged Lin Chuan out even at the risk of suffering severe injuries himself.

"I mean, should we take Lin Chuan away from here? I have a feeling this place isn't safe. Besides, with so many Crimson Flame Lotuses growing here, the Lin Clan can't possibly be unaware of this location. Once someone comes here, our cultivation levels might not be enough to handle it!" Bu Lianshi's brows were tightly locked, her heart pounding as she looked at the meditating Lin Chuan.

Qin Lang understood Bu Lianshi's concerns. Although their cultivation levels had each increased by one layer, making them outstanding among the newcomers, by the sixth day, they would be facing more than just these newcomers. There would be other cultivators who hadn't reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, among whom were experts at the tenth layer of the Qi Refining Stage.

"Lin Chuan isn't in a state to be moved right now. Let's guard here for a while. If he hasn't woken up by noon tomorrow, we'll figure something else out," Qin Lang said.

Scorching steam billowed continuously from the cave. The two hesitated for a moment before choosing to cultivate and keep watch a hundred meters away from the cave entrance. Otherwise, the consumption of using spiritual energy to resist the heat wave would be too great, leaving them unable to fight at full strength should enemies attack.

Outside the Guardian Array of Hunting Ground No. 44.

In a remote forest, twelve people appeared silently. Most were at the sixth or seventh layer of the Qi Refining Stage, and the leader had even reached the ninth layer.

"Boss Wu Hai, is everything going to be alright with this?" one of the youths at the seventh layer of the Qi Refining Stage asked in a low voice.

"Don't worry. I bribed a core disciple of the Lin Clan, and he gave me his temporary token for entering Hunting Ground No. 44. As long as the Lin Clan doesn't conduct a thorough investigation, no one will discover that we entered the hunting ground early!" replied Wu Hai, who was at the ninth layer of the Qi Refining Stage, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

He had been planning this early entry to harvest the Crimson Flame Lotuses for a long time! The cost had been substantial, but as long as they could get in, their harvest would surely far exceed that of other teams. When the time came, they would certainly be able to obtain more cultivation resources from the Lin Clan, perhaps even making it possible to break through directly to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"Rest assured, following me will definitely bring you a bountiful harvest. When I bribed that core disciple, I also obtained information about the Crimson Flame Lotuses from disciples specifically tasked with gathering various spiritual herbs!" Wu Hai said with a mysterious smile.

"What information? Don't keep us in suspense, Boss Wu Hai, tell us quickly!" The eyes of the group lit up, and they begged him one after another.

The success of this operation was tied to their future cultivation resources, so they were more invested than anyone else. They were desperate to harvest more Crimson Flame Lotuses, which was why they had taken the risk of entering the hunting ground early. Being a step ahead was crucial; after all, there were only so many Crimson Flame Lotuses, and if others snatched them first, they would naturally have nothing to show for it.

"Since everyone pooled their money for me to handle the arrangements before we came, I naturally had to make the best use of it and put that money to the best possible use. So, the good news I have for you is that I have obtained the specific location where the Lin Clan grows the Crimson Flame Lotuses, as well as the route to that cave. If all goes as expected, there should be two or three hundred Crimson Flame Lotuses growing there. As long as we harvest all of them, our cultivation resources for the next three years will be secured!"

Wu Hai's words caused fanatical excitement to appear on everyone's faces, as if the glow of the Crimson Flame Lotuses was already beckoning to them.

"Alright, enough talk. Let's enter the hunting ground!"

At Wu Hai's command, he raised his hand and cast a jade pendant. The moment it touched the Guardian Array, it turned into dust and merged into the formation, disappearing. The next moment, the previously seamless formation cracked open strangely, revealing a small gap.

Wu Hai nodded at the group and charged in first. The twelve members of the team followed one after another, and immediately afterward, the formation returned to its original state, as if nothing had happened.

On the other side, Lin Chuan was doing his best to refine the massive amount of spiritual energy within his body. Unfortunately, he had swallowed far too many Crimson Flame Lotuses, and they were Foundation Establishment Stage herbs, containing an extremely vast amount of vegetative power and natural energy.

The Fruit of the God Tree was only interested in the vegetative power of the herbs, absorbing only a tiny fraction of the natural energy. This left Lin Chuan's body saturated with the spiritual energy from the Crimson Flame Lotuses. If not for the Fruit of the God Tree suppressing it in his Dantian, Lin Chuan felt he would have already exploded!

I intended to collect these herbs and eat them slowly, but I didn't expect the Fruit of the God Tree to be so impatient. Now my Dantian and meridians are filled with spiritual energy, and I can't even move my body! With such a massive amount of spiritual energy, how long will it take me to digest it all? Lin Chuan felt as if his head were splitting.

Most importantly, this place isn't safe. There's no guarantee that someone won't find this spot. If that happens, Qin Lang and Bu Lianshi might not be able to hold them off, and if it really comes to that, it will be a disaster!

Lin Chuan thought to himself while continuously accelerating the absorption and refinement of the spiritual energy. Throughout the process, he also noticed that the Fruit of the God Tree in his Dantian was releasing a large amount of purple mist into his body, but at this moment, Lin Chuan had neither the ability nor the time to examine the changes in his body.

Time passed continuously. Qin Lang and Bu Lianshi watched Lin Chuan, who hadn't moved an inch, their anxiety growing heavier. If they couldn't still feel the fluctuations of spiritual energy from Lin Chuan, they would have thought he had been burst to death by the energy.

The sixth day was about to arrive. Although it would take some time to travel from the outer perimeter to this location, given the strength of the youths who had passed the assessment, it definitely wouldn't take too long.

Suddenly, Bu Lianshi's expression changed as she looked toward the depths of the cave. "Someone is coming—twelve of them!"