Witnessing the Lion's Capture, Bandit Shadows Emerge

The next morning, the morning breeze carried the damp, cold scent of grass and trees from the forest, brushing against his face. A thin mist wound around the towering ancient trees.

Liu Yunche felt clear-headed and refreshed. He left the cave early and began the day's hunt.

With time to spare, he also wanted to earn as many cultivation resources as he could. The more points he earned, the more resources the Martial Academy would reward him with.

The Martial Academy placed great importance on this hunt, so the rewards were exceptionally generous.

The rewards for first place in hunting points were numerous, including Tendon Guard Pills, superior martial arts manuals, a custom-made Martial Treasure, one thousand taels of silver, and more.

The rewards for second and third place also included Tendon Guard Pills, superior martial arts manuals, Martial Treasures, and corresponding amounts of silver.

Of them all, the Tendon Guard Pill was undoubtedly the most coveted.

That was because breaking through from Flesh Tempering to Tendon Forging was an extremely dangerous process. One careless mistake, and if the major tendons ruptured, future martial training would become a path beset by countless hardships. It was even possible to become crippled.

The Tendon Guard Pill could protect the tendons and channels with its gentle medicinal power during a breakthrough, ensuring that the martial artist emerged unscathed.

Therefore, the competition in this hunt was certain to be fierce. It was not impossible that some people would resort to underhanded tricks beyond the rules.

However, none of that had anything to do with Liu Yunche. He did not want to compete for first place, nor did he currently have the ability to do so.

Holding the sheath of his blade, he pushed aside the dense branches blocking his way and searched for traces left by demonic beasts along the path.

Today was the second day of the Martial Academy hunt, which lasted a total of ten days.

Just as he was thinking this, a green snake nearly fused with its surroundings opened its fangs beside him and pounced at Liu Yunche with lightning speed.

A wave of foul stench rushed at his face. Liu Yunche could even see scraps of flesh clinging to its fangs.

Yet Liu Yunche's expression remained as calm as a still lake, without the slightest ripple.

Concealed Edge had somehow already slipped silently from its sheath. A dim blade gleam, so faint it was nearly imperceptible, soundlessly swept across the green snake's vital point seven inches below its head.

The green snake's body suddenly froze in midair.

From beginning to end, it never even felt the searing pain before its long body was cleanly severed at that seven-inch vital point.

The two halves struck the ground one after another, twitching instinctively. Blood seeped into the rotten leaves with a series of sizzling sounds; clearly, this green snake's venom was potent.

After a moment, its remaining struggles slowly subsided, and the entire green snake finally died.

Silence returned to the forest. Liu Yunche's expression did not change, as though the one who had just faced danger had not been him.

"The wilderness is nothing like the city. Danger lies everywhere, and there can be no room for carelessness."

He could not help recalling Liu Wangzhou's warning before he had set out.

This green snake's abrupt appearance had proven those words true.

Liu Yunche continued onward, carefully observing his surroundings.

He was presently within a dense forest, where there was not even a proper path. Ancient trees towered high enough to blot out the sky, while tangled undergrowth grew with wild abandon.

After crossing the dense forest, the morning mist dispersed. Specks of sunlight pierced the canopy and fell through, and his field of vision suddenly widened. A narrow trail stretched ahead in broken fragments, its end unknown.

Liu Yunche followed the trail. After roughly the time it took to burn an incense stick, he crossed a ridge.

Mountain winds swept dust and sand over the crest, carrying distant beast roars along with them. He crouched down and looked ahead.

A male lion with golden fur was roaring furiously at several figures.

"Those are... people from the Tao Clan?"

Liu Yunche's gaze sharpened. He saw Tao Xiaoyun standing on a low hill to one side, directing the Tao Clan martial artists as they hunted the male lion.

"All of you, be careful. Don't injure my mount too badly."

At that moment, Tao Xiaoyun watched the lion leaping and roaring in fury amid the mountain mist with great delight. She could not help imagining the imposing sight of herself riding it back to Verdant Grain County.

"This Golden Radiance Lion is still a cub. If we bring it home and raise it properly, it may yield a Bone Tempering Realm combatant."

A young man stood behind Tao Xiaoyun. He bowed respectfully and said, "Miss, you truly care for the Lineage. Once the clan learns of this, they will surely lavish you with praise."

The young man bent slightly at the waist, his gaze occasionally falling upon Tao Xiaoyun's lovely figure. A trace of infatuation flashed through his eyes.

"Golden Radiance Lions reach the Tendon Forging level when they mature, and a rare few can even attain Bone Tempering."

As the young man spoke, he was hoping to exchange a few more words with Tao Xiaoyun. Yet after waiting for a while, he received no response.

Just as he was about to continue, the Golden Radiance Lion in the distance suddenly let out a sky-shaking roar, its voice filled with unwillingness and fear.

Tao Xiaoyun flashed forward and headed directly up the slope. Before long, she arrived before the Golden Radiance Lion.

The Golden Radiance Lion's golden mane stood on end. Its thick, sharp claws frantically tore at the beast-tendon mesh, while its massive body slammed and twisted violently. Every struggle sent dust flying from the ground.

Yet the specially made mesh was extraordinarily tough, binding it tightly within. It could only shake its head in vain and open its jaws to roar.

The Golden Radiance Lion had been ensnared by the Tao Clan youths in a specially made mesh, its entire body covered in bloody marks. It looked utterly miserable.

But on closer inspection, one would find that they were only superficial wounds, with none harming its tendons or bones.

Tao Xiaoyun was overjoyed. With a broad wave of her hand, she called out, "Well done. Reward every one of them with a hundred taels of silver."

The Tao Clan youths around her respectfully said:

"Thank you, Miss."

Most of these youths came from collateral branches, holding low status in the Tao Clan and standing far beneath Tao Xiaoyun.

If they had previously obeyed Tao Xiaoyun's commands because they had no choice, they now did so with a few more measures of genuine sincerity.

Tao Xiaoyun casually ordered, "Let my mount sleep for a while first."

A quick-witted youth hurried forward and pulled a pill from his robes. The remaining youths worked together to pull the mesh taut. In pain, the Golden Radiance Lion could not help opening its mouth in a howl.

Seizing the moment, the youth flicked the pill into the Golden Radiance Lion's mouth.

After waiting a short while, the Golden Radiance Lion fell into a deep sleep.

Liu Yunche lay behind the mountain mist, taking everything in. His fingertips rubbed against his chin as a trace of puzzlement flashed through his eyes.

"Why have all these cubs come to the outskirts?"

Whether it was the Golden Radiance Lion or the One-Horned Roar, these were demonic beasts found only deep within Azure Radiance Mountain.

When one had appeared, Liu Yunche had assumed it was merely luck. He had not expected to encounter another today.

"Could something have happened deep within Azure Radiance Mountain?"

With that thought, Liu Yunche remained still and watched as the Tao Clan members left one after another. He chose the opposite direction and continued onward alone.

Near noon, the sun blazed fiercely.

Liu Yunche darted into the mountain forest. Without realizing it, he had already traveled a considerable distance.

Just as he was about to find a place to rest for a moment, his brows knit slightly. Some movement came from ahead.

"Ma San, when do you think the two of us will be able to go back?" A voice rang out, rough and boorish.

"Fourth, keep your voice down. You're making such a racket—if you draw those Green Grain Martial Academy martial artists over, you and I will be in for it."

Fourth wore a look of disdain and spat on the ground.

"Pah. They're just a bunch of soft-skinned little brats. If they really come, I'll cut them down one by one."

Liu Yunche carefully parted the leaves and looked toward the voices. He saw two middle-aged men with the air of bandits sprawled carelessly on the ground.

"Ma San, what do you think the chief sent us here to bury?"

The man called Fourth looked at Ma San with curiosity written all over his face.

Ma San's face was covered in pockmarks. He was third among his siblings, so everyone called him Ma San, and he had grown used to it himself.

"Fourth, it's not that I, your brother, want to lecture you. Sooner or later, that curiosity of yours will get you killed."

"Get lost, get lost. You're the one who'll die. I'm definitely going to live to a hundred."

Fourth looked at Ma San as though he had brought bad luck, waving his hand as if to scatter the ill omen away.

"Bandits...?" Liu Yunche watched the two warily.

A large pit had already been dug beside them, though he had no idea what had been placed inside.