The discontent and emotions that had been building up finally erupted. No one could face death calmly, and the outer court disciples were no exception.
Lin Fan was just as furious. He had never expected Senior Brother Tan to be so incompetent. An entire day had passed without him coming up with a single solution, and he was still sending them out as bait to die.
The problem was that last night had already proven his plan utterly rotten, yet he still refused to change it tonight!
Senior Brother Tan's expression turned icy, a vicious gleam in his eyes. He threw a punch, sending a blast of fist force howling out that blew apart the first outer court disciple to speak.
Blood blossomed, drenching Lin Fan and the other outer court disciples.
It was as though someone had seized every outer court disciple by the throat. None dared make another sound; only the chattering of teeth echoed.
"Since when did a bunch of human stakes like you get to question my decisions?" Senior Brother Tan swept a vicious gaze over the outer court disciples. They all lowered their eyes, not daring to meet his gaze. Lin Fan did the same. As he was now, he was still no match for Senior Brother Tan.
Senior Brother Tan had reached eighth-grade minor accomplishment and had already forged leopard bones. His blood and Qi were powerful, and a single punch carried over a hundred tons of force, enough to blast him apart.
Seeing everyone submit, Senior Brother Tan gave a disdainful sneer. "Anyone else who dares question my decisions will end up just like him! Now get the hell out there and patrol!"
Their bellies full of pent-up frustration, Lin Fan and the others could only head to the various herb gardens to keep serving as bait.
Lin Fan arrived at the herb field, found a secluded corner, then carefully crawled into it and lay down. He had no intention of actually patrolling. Lying down did not interfere with circulating his blood and Qi to practice the Body Tempering Art anyway.
Once I get through tonight, I'll reach body tempering major accomplishment. My strength will break past ten thousand jin, and I'll be on my way to body tempering perfection. Senior Brother Tan, even if you escape the Green Snake Bandits' encirclement, you won't make it back to the martial arts hall. Not even Jesus can keep you alive. I, Lin Fan, said so. Lin Fan silently gritted his teeth, his killing intent toward Senior Brother Tan already at its peak.
The moon quietly peeked over the mountaintop, draping the silent hills in a veil of pure silver.
"Rumble..."
The blood and Qi inside Lin Fan surged like a great river, fiercely scouring his body. His flesh and his blood and Qi grew stronger with every passing moment.
Body Tempering Art (Major Accomplishment 600/2400)...650...750...900...2000...
As the moon rose to the middle of the sky, Lin Fan's Body Tempering Art was within a hair's breadth of major accomplishment.
"Whoosh!"
Another firework shot into the sky. Fireworks should have signified happiness and joy, but now they had become life-reaping demons.
Lin Fan knew another outer court disciple had fallen into the bandits' hands.
More fireworks went off one after another, as though by prior agreement. Both sides seemed to be following last night's routine.
At the foot of one hill, Senior Brother Tan, Yang Kuan, and another inner court disciple had gathered. Watching the fireworks rise above the hill ahead, Senior Brother Tan's gaze turned ruthless. "Let's go. Tonight, we'll collect a little interest first."
Yang Kuan and the other senior brother followed. But unlike Senior Brother Tan, who seemed certain of victory, Yang Kuan wore a worried expression.
Bandits have always been cunning. Can Senior Brother Tan's plan to "sever both their arms" really work? Yang Kuan sighed inwardly.
At the foot of another hill, three inner court disciples also charged up immediately upon seeing the fireworks.
Tonight looked just like last night, but things had actually changed.
"Bang..."
A firework burst not far from Lin Fan. Looking beneath it, he saw a thin figure surveying the surroundings, trying to use the light of the firework to find him in hiding.
Lin Fan narrowed his eyes, a cold gleam flashing through them before he quickly suppressed it. His strength was rising rapidly; there was no need to take risks.
Unable to find Lin Fan, the man tried something else. He took out a fire starter and set the medicinal herbs alight.
These herbs were already mature, their leaves withered and yellow. They caught fire at a touch. The flames leaped higher and higher, sparks drifting on the wind and igniting more herbs.
"Heh..." The bandit chuckled coldly. "Boy, don't you like hiding? Let's see how long you can keep hiding!"
His smug, arrogant words drifted into Lin Fan's ears on the wind.
"Bring calamity upon yourself, and you cannot live." Lin Fan's voice, filled with killing intent, faintly broke the silence.
He did not come out immediately. Although the bandit was setting fires everywhere, it would still take quite some time for them to reach him.
He remained immersed in practicing the Body Tempering Art.
2000...2100...2200...
By the time it reached 2200, the flames had spread to the herb field where Lin Fan lay and were steadily creeping toward him. He could already feel the heat washing over him.
Yet Lin Fan remained calm, continuing to circulate his blood and Qi. The closer the flames came, the closer he drew to body tempering major accomplishment.
2200...2250...2300...2399...
When the flames were barely more than a meter away from Lin Fan.
"Awooo...roar...rumble..."
Sounds like a leopard, a tiger, and thunder spread from within Lin Fan. He had finally reached body tempering major accomplishment-the Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound realm.
Blood and Qi rapidly formed and swelled. The flesh throughout his body vibrated madly, growing denser and tougher as though refined steel were being hammered.
Feeling his strength skyrocket, Lin Fan wore an intoxicated expression. This sensation was simply too enthralling. Even his first night with a girl could not compare.
He stood up and clenched his fists, making the air whistle in his grip. He felt as though he could blow apart the hill beneath his feet with a single punch. Once again, the illusion brought on by a surge in strength descended upon him.
"Kekeke...finally found you!"
The cold, savage voice drew closer as the bandit darted toward Lin Fan, stopping two or three meters in front of him.
He scrutinized Lin Fan as though sizing up prey. He had expected Lin Fan to be afraid, to kneel and beg for mercy, but he was disappointed. Lin Fan's face was calm, and his gaze was exactly like his own, as though he too had spotted prey.
That gaze greatly displeased the bandit. "Boy, you've got some guts, but I really don't like that look in your eyes. Let's gouge them out first." As he spoke, he reached out to grab Lin Fan, using neither a martial technique nor his blood and Qi.
In his eyes, an outer court disciple of the Mountain Suppression Martial Arts Hall was nothing but an ant he could casually crush.
Lin Fan shook his head, his expression turning pitying. "You didn't have to die. Why insist on seeking death?"
The bandit froze, wondering if he had misheard. Seeing how serious Lin Fan looked, he laughed in anger. "Boy, you must have lost your mind!"
He put a little more strength into his hand. He was going to crush Lin Fan's shoulder blade in one grip and bring him to his senses.
At that moment, Lin Fan merely lifted his toes slightly. A streak of Gang Qi tore through the air, rapidly growing larger in the bandit's pupils.
"What?! Gang Qi!"
The bandit roared in disbelief. Never had he imagined that the ant who had been hiding from him all this time actually wielded Gang Qi.
He desperately wanted to tell Lin Fan, You're a Gang Qi big shot! If you'd shown even a little of it, I'd have knelt and begged for mercy. How would I have dared provoke you like this?
But he never got the chance. The Gang Qi slammed into his face, his blood and Qi defenses as flimsy as paper. Blood blossomed, and a headless corpse fell to the ground.
"Gang Qi really is pretty powerful. We're both at body tempering major accomplishment, yet this bandit couldn't put up the slightest resistance." Lin Fan's eyes shone as he gained a clearer understanding of his strength.