As the year-end challenge drew near, the bustling atmosphere of Qingyang Town gradually reached its peak. Within a hundred-mile radius, many factions flocked there, causing the foot traffic in Qingyang Town to reach its highest point in several years.
Although the hunting competition's main contenders were considered to be the major factions in Qingyang Town, quite a few factions from other places also participated. However, their competitive drive was not as intense as that of the four major factions in Qingyang Town. They merely wanted to use this hunting competition to increase the renown of their families or villages.
But no matter the purpose, the hunting competition in Qingyang Town was clearly the largest-scale event within a hundred-mile radius in recent years. Talented youths all rose to prominence here, receiving great acclaim, whether for themselves or for the renown of their families.
The time for the hunting competition was set for the first season of the year, and the venue was established in the hunting grounds outside Qingyang Town. This was the most magnificent structure in Qingyang Town, occupying an extremely vast area, even directly encompassing a stretch of forest more than ten miles wide. In the center of the forest, there was a large platform formed by transforming a small mountain. There, countless eyes would be fixed, because the hunting champion would also be crowned there.
***
Meanwhile, amidst countless eyes awaiting the start of the hunting day, the atmosphere in Qingyang Town would undoubtedly reach a fever pitch. A dense sea of people would gather at the hunting grounds, a spectacle that would ignite even greater passion in the spectators.
"So this is where the hunt begins?"
Lin Dong stood in a corner on the high platform, looking down at the dense forest below, and said with a hint of surprise.
Behind Lin Dong, all the important members of the Lin family were present. Naturally, the leader was Old Master Lin Zhengtian, while Lin Xiao, Lin Keng, and Lin Mang were also standing beside him.
"Mm."
Hearing Lin Dong's question, Lin Zhengtian nodded with a beaming smile, his gaze at Lin Dong filled with joy and approval. Lin Dong's recent rise had made the old man increasingly value this grandson. Recently, he had even offered to personally teach Lin Dong martial arts; however, this offer was ultimately rejected by Lin Dong, who claimed he wanted to focus on improving his own strength.
With the Stone Talisman's phantom, he fundamentally didn't need anyone to teach him martial arts. Moreover, if he were to come into too close contact and expose the Stone Talisman's existence, that would be rather unfavorable.
Lin Xiao, standing to the side, also smiled and continued: "The forest below directly connects to the deep mountains, and within it are many ferocious beasts. Participants in the hunt will be given an identity plaque and then released into it. In this dense forest, you will need to rely on your own abilities to escape the claws of those ferocious beasts. Furthermore, here, besides surviving the claws of some ferocious beasts, you must also figure out a way to obtain ten identity tokens from other people. Only then will you be qualified to enter the large platform in the forest and hunt the prey. However, it's not just the ferocious beasts; in reality, humans are far more dangerous than beasts."
A slight shiver ran down Lin Dong's spine. This beast hunt was not as simple as he had imagined. To obtain ten identity tokens, he would have to defeat ten people. Only then would he be qualified to step onto that grand platform. It was easy to imagine that once the participants entered the pine forest, they would attack each other, and the battleground would erupt into extreme chaos and conflict.
Moreover, besides finding ways to snatch identity tokens from other participants, he also had to guard against some fierce beasts in the forest. Just one slip-up, and he might truly lose his life here...
This was no ordinary trial competition, but one that truly posed a life-threatening danger. This kind of selection process already had a hint of cruelty to it.
"There are over a hundred identity tokens in total. In other words, at most only about ten people will ultimately be able to step onto that grand platform. Many participants in this beast hunt will have to end in failure. This competition can be considered fierce," Lin Zhengtian said, clasping his hands behind his back.
Lin Dong nodded. One hundred vying for ten, it was indeed not easy.
"Haha, with Lin Dong's current strength, getting onto the platform smoothly will be as easy as turning over one's hand," Lin Keng said with a laugh from the side.
Hearing this, the smile on Lin Zhengtian's face deepened considerably. Half a month ago, he had heard that Lin Dong had successfully entered the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering. This cultivation speed was even a few points faster than Lin Xiao's during his prime years.
"This time, how high the Lin family can rank will depend on Lin Dong's performance."
Lin Xiao, hearing this from the side, couldn't help but smile. He patted Lin Dong's shoulder, his eyes showing a mix of pride and joy.
"Haha, Lin Zhengtian, long time no see. It seems your old self is still as sturdy as ever, eh?"
As the Lin family members were talking, a sudden laugh drifted over from not far away. Hearing the laugh, Lin Zhengtian and the others, including Lin Xiao, frowned. The smiles on their faces faded slightly.
Lin Dong's gaze followed the direction of the voice. He saw a large, imposing figure approaching. Wherever this person walked, the crowd quickly parted, their expressions showing a hint of fear.
In front of the crowd, two people stood side by side. One of them wore a light grey silk robe. He appeared to be not much different in age from Lin Zhengtian, with deep-set eyes that revealed a hint of coldness. The other was a middle-aged man, whose face always bore a smile, making him seem very amiable at first glance. However, only those who knew him well understood that he was, in fact, an extremely treacherous person.
"That old man is the Lei family patriarch, Lei Bao. And that other one is the Xie family patriarch, Xie Qian. Both of them are rivals of our Lin family, and they are not good people," Lin He whispered from beside Lin Dong.
Lin Dong nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two men. Vaguely, he could sense a powerful force hidden within their bodies. Perhaps both of them were experts of the Heavenly Yuan Stage.
Lin Dong's gaze swept past the two men, finally settling on the figures behind them. There, he saw two familiar figures: Lei Li and Xie Yingying.
Perhaps sensing Lin Dong's gaze, Lei Li and Xie Yingying also glanced at him. A smile couldn't help but appear on Lei Li's face as he lightly waved a hand towards Lin Dong. The meaning was very clear: he remembered Lin Dong still owed him a slap.
“Old man Lei, don’t worry, this old man here will probably step into his coffin a little later than you.” Lin Zhentian watched as the people from the Lei and Xie families approached, a brilliant smile on his face. If one only saw their expressions and didn't hear their words, anyone would take them for the closest of friends.
“Worrying too much, it’s not easy to live a long life…” Lei Bao chuckled faintly, his gaze sweeping over the Lin family members before finally resting on Lin Xiao. Sensing a powerful, fluctuating energy emanating from Lin Xiao’s body, his brows couldn't help but furrow slightly. It seemed the rumors were true: Lin Xiao’s strength had indeed recovered.
“Every hunt incurs no small loss of prize money, and that makes anyone feel disheartened. A disheartened heart might not live long, you know.” Beside Lei Bao, Xie Qian said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Hearing the faint mockery in his words, all the Lin family members bristled with anger, but Lin Zhentian waved them down and said calmly, “I’m afraid this time, the disheartened ones will be your Xie family.”
“I hear the Lin family has recently produced a genius? Presumably, it’s this young man?” Lei Bao’s deep-set eyes suddenly fixed on Lin Dong, a somewhat sinister smile appearing on his aged face.
Under Lei Bao’s piercing gaze, Lin Dong felt his scalp tingle. This old devil was certainly no good news.
“My unworthy son merely has a small reputation; how could he compare to the Lei family?” Lin Xiao stepped forward, shielding Lin Dong, and said indifferently.
“Whether he can compare or not, we’ll naturally find out once the hunt begins. Your Lin family just needs to make sure you have the prize money ready this time.” Lei Bao let out a laugh, then lazily waved his hand, and led his people directly past Lin Zhentian and the others, slipping inside.
As Lei Li walked past Lin Dong, his steps suddenly paused slightly. He glanced at Lin Dong, Qing Tan, Lin He, Lin Hong, and the other young Lin family members beside him, then suddenly chuckled in a low voice, “Lin Dong, there are quite a few fierce beasts in the hunt. You really must be careful, lest you become food in their bellies….”
As his voice trailed off, a cold sneer appeared at the corner of Lei Li’s mouth, his eyes, like a venomous snake, fixed on Lin Dong, before he indifferently turned and left.
“That bastard, he’s too arrogant!” Lin He and the others watched Lei Li’s retreating back, saying angrily.
Lin Dong glanced at Lei Li’s retreating figure. He naturally heard the threat in the other party’s voice, and immediately, an icy smile appeared on his face as he muttered to himself.
“Who becomes food in a beast’s belly… it’s probably still too early to say…”