Hunting

In the mist.

Xia Daoming walked step by step toward the center of the valley.

His eyes flashed with sharp light as his qi, blood, and inner force circulated ceaselessly within him, ready to erupt at any moment.

His mind was stretched taut, his five senses keenly detecting every change around him.

He gripped two short spears tightly in his hands.

A person's strength was limited!

It was still far too soon for him to fall out with the Xu Family.

He still needed to gather everyone's strength to hunt Ice Rabbits and collect Ice-Cold Purple Ganoderma.

Only after hunting enough Ice Rabbits and gathering enough Ice-Cold Purple Ganoderma would it be time for him to wait for an opportunity to make his move.

The mist grew thicker and thicker, while the temperature around him dropped lower and lower. Frost had even formed in some places on the ground.

Through the mist, he vaguely saw a pool of icy water.

Mist constantly rose from the cold pool.

More than a dozen white shapes hopped about amid the grass around the pool.

As Xia Daoming drew closer, those white shapes became increasingly clear.

The rabbits covered in white fur were actually as large as leopards.

Ice Rabbits possessed both the violent, savage nature of demonic beasts and the innate vigilance and caution of rabbits.

Xia Daoming had only just approached when a young Ice Rabbit sprang like a bolt fired from a crossbow behind an adult Ice Rabbit. It then pricked up its long ears, its pair of purple eyes watching Xia Daoming warily and viciously.

The adult Ice Rabbit's purple eyes were likewise fixed on Xia Daoming with vigilance and ferocity.

Worried that lingering too long would alert the other Ice Rabbits, Xia Daoming picked up a stone from the ground and flicked it with his finger, sending it shooting toward that Ice Rabbit.

Whoosh!

Seeing this, the Ice Rabbit opened its mouth and spat out a stream of white vapor. The vapor condensed into an ice arrow and flew to meet the stone.

Bang!

The stone shattered into powder and scattered in all directions.

The provoked Ice Rabbit seemed to have been enraged. Its hind legs kicked off fiercely, and it pounced toward Xia Daoming like lightning.

Its forepaws spread wide, as large as tiger claws, sharp as blades, and gleaming with cold light.

Xia Daoming had long expected such an outcome.

His feet tapped the ground, and he shot backward at high speed.

Bang!

The Ice Rabbit's pounce missed.

Its sharp claws struck the ground, sending dirt and stones flying.

The Ice Rabbits by the cold pool were startled. But by then Xia Daoming had already vanished into the mist. After glancing into the distance, the Ice Rabbits resumed hopping and frolicking in the grass around the pool.

The adult Ice Rabbit had missed with both claws, yet it refused to let the matter rest. Its hind legs kicked off again as it pursued Xia Daoming, spitting ice arrows even as it chased him down.

Fortunately, Xia Daoming was not only extremely fast, but he had also cultivated the Dragon Snake Nine Steps to become unfathomably elusive.

Dragon soaring, snake slithering—wondrously ingenious.

Each time, he managed to evade both the incoming ice arrows and the sharp claws descending from above.

Even so, Xia Daoming was secretly shocked.

After all, his true strength was no weaker than that of an aged Eighth-Rank Great Martial Master, yet he still had to use sixty to seventy percent of his abilities just to barely evade the adult Ice Rabbit's pursuit.

If it were anyone else, they could only leave it to luck.

With good luck, they could lure the Ice Rabbit to the designated place and still keep half their life.

With bad luck, they would lose their life halfway there.

"Prepare yourselves, the Ice Rabbit is coming!" With some distance still remaining before the place where they had gathered earlier, Xia Daoming shouted loudly. He restrained much of his powerful qi, blood, and inner force, while also scattering his hair and tearing his clothes into rags.

The moment Xia Daoming's words fell, a huge net descended in his direction.

Fortunately, Xia Daoming had already been prepared. Before the net could fall, he pressed himself flat to the ground and, like a swimming snake, shot through the gap between the net and the earth with a whoosh.

Just as Xia Daoming shot along the ground, a white shadow charged into the net after him and was caught within it.

"We caught it!" someone cried excitedly.

But at that very moment, an enormous force yanked hard.

Screech!

The piercing sound of feet scraping over the ground tore through the silent valley.

The four martial masters gripping the corners of the net were dragged across the ground by the Ice Rabbit, net and all.

Even the martial master who had been especially excited just moments ago could no longer hold on. The rope at his corner slipped from his hands, the flesh on both palms splitting open as blood poured out.

Almost at the same time, the Ice Rabbit shot toward that martial master like an arrow loosed from a crossbow.

"Useless trash!" At that moment, an icy voice rang out.

Then a cold gleam split the mist and slashed toward the Ice Rabbit as swiftly as lightning.

Clang!

The Ice Rabbit raised a claw to block the Tiger Head Saber, but the blow knocked it back into the net.

By then, someone had already seized the rope at the corner of the net again.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Almost simultaneously, several sharp arrows tore through the air toward the Ice Rabbit trapped in the net, which was constantly ripping at it with its claws.

Two javelins were also hurled fiercely through the air at the Ice Rabbit.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

White vapor sprayed from the Ice Rabbit's mouth, turning into ice arrows that blocked several arrows and one javelin in succession.

But the Ice Rabbit was ultimately entangled in the net and unable to unleash its true abilities.

Although it blocked several arrows and one javelin, other arrows and a javelin still pierced through the gaps in the net and struck it.

Blood slowly flowed down its snow-white fur, giving off a dense scent of blood that carried a trace of chill.

Xu Zhiji was overjoyed at the sight. He grabbed a javelin from the ground, strode forward, and drove it fiercely into the still-struggling Ice Rabbit.

The Ice Rabbit was pierced straight through. Its limbs convulsed violently several times before it finally breathed its last.

A demonic beast was still a demonic beast. No matter how powerful it was, it would ultimately lose to human ingenuity! Xia Daoming sighed inwardly as he watched the Ice Rabbit die.

"Haha! Liang Jingtang, your disciple has done very well. He can be considered to have rendered great service!" Having successfully hunted an Ice Rabbit, Xu Zhiji released the javelin and clapped his hands. His approving gaze turned toward Liang Jingtang and Xia Daoming.

As Xu Zhiji spoke, a sixth-rank martial master of the Xu Family had already stepped forward, removed the Ice Rabbit's heart, placed it into a leather pouch, and tied the mouth shut.

Only an Ice Rabbit's heart was needed to brew Golden Crow Returning Origin Soup.

"Thank you for the praise, Elder. It was merely luck," Liang Jingtang said.

"Heh heh, luck is also skill! Besides, familiarity comes with repetition. Great-Uncle, in this grandnephew's opinion, we should still ask Instructor Xia to make another trip!" Xu Shisen said with a smile, his gaze toward Liang Jingtang and Xia Daoming filled with mockery and amusement.

"Elder! This is unfair. My disciple has already..." Liang Jingtang hurriedly said upon hearing this.

"Shisen is right. The first time is unfamiliar, the second time comes naturally. This old man thinks we must trouble your disciple to make another trip!" Xu Zhiji interrupted unhurriedly.

The veins on Liang Jingtang's forehead throbbed violently, and powerful qi, blood, and inner force surged madly through his body.

"Master, the Elder has a point. This disciple will make another trip," Xia Daoming said at the sight.

"Daoming!" Liang Jingtang's eyes reddened, and his heart was filled with regret and self-reproach.

Had he known this would happen, he would never have allowed Xia Daoming to come along, no matter what.

"It's all right, Master. This disciple's life is tough," Xia Daoming reassured him, then turned to Xu Zhiji and cupped his hands. "Elder, as the saying goes, merit should be rewarded, and faults should be punished.

"You just said that this youngster had rendered great service. This youngster needs no reward. I only hope that if I am fortunate enough to return alive this time, Elder will raise your hand in mercy and spare the lives of my master and me.

"Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School has no special connection with the Ding Family. We merely wish to make a quiet, steady living in Li City."

"Heh heh, brat, do you think this is only because of the Ding Family? Have you forgotten..." Xu Shisen sneered.

But before Xu Shisen could finish, Xu Zhiji waved his hand and stopped him.

Xu Shisen swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

"Liang Jingtang, you have taken in a fine disciple!" Xu Zhiji praised. Then he looked at Xia Daoming and said, "Rest assured. My Xu Family has guarded Li City for over a hundred years. We still have this much tolerance. As long as you are fortunate enough to return alive this time, this old man can ensure that Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School develops peacefully in Li City. We will not make things difficult for you."

Xu Shisen's expression changed slightly at those words. His lips trembled as though he wanted to speak, but Xu Zhiji's icy gaze frightened him into silence.

"With those words from Elder, this youngster is relieved!" Xia Daoming said with cupped hands, though he sneered inwardly. Old bastard, I'm only numbing you so I can first use your hands to help me hunt Ice Rabbits, then find a chance to kill you and seize your goods!

"Go," Xu Zhiji said blandly.

"Fine!" Xia Daoming nodded and turned to leave.

"Daoming!" Liang Jingtang called out.

Xia Daoming slowly turned his head and saw Liang Jingtang's reddened eyes and trembling silver beard.

"Rest assured, Master!" Xia Daoming gave Liang Jingtang a carefree smile. Then he tapped the ground with his toes and leaped into the thick mist, swiftly disappearing from sight.

Watching Xia Daoming's back vanish into the mist, Liang Jingtang finally shed tears of old age.

As everyone watched this scene, almost no one showed any sympathy. Instead, more of them wore looks of relief, even gloating.

PS: The rankings battle starts on Monday, so the noon chapter was released early.