Early the next morning, Lin Yifan got ready well ahead of time and prepared some food himself. After settling his younger sister Lin Ruoruo in, he took the Golden Rat Mao Mao and set off with a long spear in hand. The youth's face was as flawless as polished jade, his bearing imposing beyond compare, as he headed into the deep mountains surrounding Small Mountain Village.
On Lin Fan's shoulder stood a Golden Rat whose entire body gleamed like burnished gold, its fur glossy and sleek. The little creature's black, bean-sized eyes were bright and lively, and its nose twitched constantly as it worked to find traces of Ferocious Beast scent lingering in the air.
Man and rat set out with the cool mountain breeze of early morning, heading straight toward the dark, distant mountains beyond Small Mountain Village and deep into their heart.
Unlike the outer hills where Small Mountain Village's hunters hunted, these were deep mountains. The outer hills held only ordinary animals with unremarkable hides and flesh, little different from the ordinary wild beasts of Blue Star in his previous life. But among the Ferocious Beasts of the deep mountains, even a single one in the skin tempering realm could easily slaughter all of Small Mountain Village.
Of course, unless food suddenly grew scarce in the deep mountains, those Ferocious Beasts generally had no desire to venture outside.
The value of different kinds of skin tempering realm Ferocious Beasts varied enormously. A rat, for instance, would be worth somewhat less if it became a Ferocious Beast because of its small size. A wild boar, python, or wild ox that became a Ferocious Beast would undoubtedly be worth far more. Still, that was not always the case. Some demonic beasts, though small, were exceedingly rare, and their value was high because demand outstripped supply.
When Lin Fan had ventured ten li into the deep mountains, the trees around him grew ever denser and towered into the sky, blotting out the sun. Thick mist hung between their trunks, the vegetation was dark and tangled, and many patches of grass stood taller than a person. Birdsong was scarce, and an air of desolation and savage menace permeated the forest.
A thick layer of dead branches and fallen leaves lay beneath his feet, while the wind rustled through the woods. A Ferocious Beast might be lurking in any unremarkable corner. A gust passed through, stirring the leaves of the ancient trees overhead and making the atmosphere even more terrifying and oppressive.
That was why ordinary martial artists were generally reluctant to hunt Ferocious Beasts. The surroundings and atmosphere were simply too hostile, and the danger was considerable. Hunter and prey could exchange roles at any moment. Eating Ferocious Beasts could accelerate a person's martial cultivation. By the same token, eating martial artists could greatly nourish Ferocious Beasts and make them stronger.
Just as Lin Fan was looking around, the Golden Rat Mao Mao on his shoulder suddenly stiffened. Its nose twitched furiously, and its little paw swiftly pointed toward the dense forest ahead as it let out a series of tiny squeaks.
Lin Fan's gaze sharpened, and he instantly tightened his grip on his spear. The ninety-jin weapon felt weightless in his hands. A muted gleam lay along its dark shaft, and cold light flashed on its tip, carrying the might to tear mountains apart and split stone. His expression grew solemn as he turned to look.
Following Mao Mao's direction, Lin Fan swept his spear aside to clear away the wild grass, dead branches, and shrubs ahead. Roughly ten meters away, a blue-black Black-Spotted Panther crouched in a damp hollow in the forest. Its body lay hidden beneath a patch of wild grass; without a careful look, an ordinary person might not notice it until it attacked. At that moment, the black panther's soul-chilling eyes met Lin Fan's in silence.
There really is a Ferocious Beast here, Lin Fan thought. The Black-Spotted Panther had a powerful aura and had certainly entered the skin tempering realm, but it probably had not reached the muscle refinement realm yet. Otherwise, he would have retreated with Mao Mao immediately. Fighting a Ferocious Beast at roughly his own realm on its home ground was still far too dangerous.
But against a Ferocious Beast merely in the skin tempering realm, Lin Fan was confident he could take it down without a scratch.
Realizing it had been discovered, the mountain panther pricked up both ears and abruptly rose from its crouch in the grass. Savage light flared in its eyes, and its low growl shook loose the surrounding leaves. Then its four paws drove against the ground, launching its powerful body forward in an explosive charge that whipped up a fierce wind through the forest. Baring sharp fangs and coldly gleaming claws, the black panther lunged straight for Lin Fan's face, swift as lightning.
Just as the mountain panther came within three feet of him, Lin Fan exerted a sudden burst of strength. With a hum, the heavy refined-iron spear tore through the air. There were no fancy moves, only terrifying, utterly pure strength. Wrapped in a fierce rush of wind and backed by Lin Fan's tremendous three-thousand-jin force, the spear struck the mountain panther's hard skull with unerring precision.
Bang!
A deep, heavy impact exploded against the black panther's head. There was no gruesome tearing sound, only the crushing dominance of brute force. The hard skull of the skin tempering realm Ferocious Beast instantly caved in and cracked.
The black panther's massive body, which had been lunging savagely at Lin Fan, abruptly stiffened in midair. Its attack stopped dead. Then its enormous body crashed heavily to the ground. Its limbs twitched twice before it lay motionless.
Lin Fan casually drew back his spear and looked at the black panther's corpse on the ground. To be safe, he jabbed it several more times with the spear before approaching. He tied it up with the rope he had brought along, then headed out of the deep mountains.
The black panther's coat was smooth and soft, with markings arranged in an attractive pattern. Lin Fan knew that the pelts of demonic beasts like this black panther were especially popular with female martial artists. He estimated that the entire panther would sell for roughly two to three thousand silver taels.
The youth carried the black panther's corpse in one hand and his spear in the other, with a Golden Rat perched on his shoulder, as he bounded swiftly through the forest.
By the time he reached Small Mountain Village, less than half a day had passed since he entered the deep mountain forest. His younger sister Li Ruoruo sat in front of the little thatched hut with her head propped on her hands. There before the hut, Lin Ruoruo sat quietly waiting, her fair little face resting in her hands and her eyes clear and gentle.
She looked up, and her pupils suddenly contracted. Her little mouth parted slightly, and she sprang to her feet. Her brother was rushing toward her from the distance, carrying an enormous, pitch-black panther in one hand, its body still stained with a little blood. A heavy air of menace clung to the panther, and its glossy coat made it look utterly terrifying.
"Brother!" Startled, Lin Ruoruo hurried over, then timidly caught hold of his sleeve. Lin Fan looked down and smiled gently. He casually set the black panther down in an open space, his movements relaxed and effortless. "Don't be afraid. It's long since dead. It can't hurt anyone."
He soothed her softly for a few moments, and only after she had calmed down did he say, "I need to make a trip into town. I should be back before dark, so be good and stay home."
Lin Fan set down the Golden Rat Mao Mao and hurried toward town with the black panther. With only one black panther to carry, there was no need to trouble the village hunting team for their wheelbarrow. He could make a quick trip there and back, returning from town before dark.
Carrying the enormous Black-Spotted Panther in one hand, Lin Fan moved as lightly as a swallow, speeding along the rugged mountain path. The demonic beast's corpse weighed several hundred jin, yet it felt weightless in his hand, as though he were carrying nothing more than a bag of vegetables weighing a few jin.
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