The hunt in Qingyang Town finally concluded successfully. Although the absence of Lin Dong and Lei Li made the competition somewhat less vibrant, most people were quite satisfied with this hunt, especially as they had witnessed a generous wager between the Lin and Lei families during the pre-hunt contest.
The ultimate champion of the hunt, as everyone expected, was the Berserk Blade Martial Hall. As for the Lei and Xie families, who once enjoyed great prestige, they gained absolutely no advantage in this hunt. The Lei family, in particular, even lost an important village like Ironwood Village.
As for the Xie family, although they coveted the young Fire Python Tiger that Wu Yun obtained, they were helpless. Xie Yingying's strength was still a level below Wu Yun's. Furthermore, with the Lei family's downfall as a warning, they lacked the audacity to challenge. They merely used a large sum of money to wager against the Berserk Blade Martial Hall, and thus, they didn't hold much hope for the young Fire Python Tiger.
Without a doubt, the ultimate beneficiaries of this hunt were the Lin family and the Berserk Blade Martial Hall!
***
At the Lin family, ever since Lin Zhengtian's group returned from the Beast Horn Arena, the news of Lin Dong's magnificent display of power in defeating Lei Li of the Lei family spread like wildfire. The shocking nature of this news left everyone wide-eyed and speechless, and at the same time, a sense of pride swelled in the hearts of many. Lin Dong's actions truly brought great honor to the Lin family.
Night gradually fell, but in the Lin family's back courtyard, the lights were brightly lit, filled with joyous laughter.
In the main hall, Lin Zhengtian sat in the place of honor, a smile on his face. To his right was not Lin Ken, nor Lin Xiao, but Lin Dong.
Lin Dong felt a bit helpless about this rather special position, but unable to refuse Lin Zhengtian's insistence, he could only sit there, feeling somewhat uneasy.
At the dinner table, everyone chatted and laughed incessantly. Lin Dong glanced at Qing Tan and Lin He's group, who were a little distance from him, and couldn't help but roll his eyes, only able to grumpily continue eating.
"Haha, Dong-er..."
After a while of chatting and laughing, Lin Zhengtian's gaze finally turned to Lin Dong beside him. Seeing the old man's knowing smile, Lin Dong felt a slight shiver.
When Lin Zhengtian opened his mouth, everyone else's eyes, without prior arrangement, focused on Lin Dong.
"Today is arguably the proudest day for our Lin family in recent years, and all of this is thanks to you," Lin Zhengtian said, gazing at the young man beside him with a soft sigh.
"Grandfather, I am also a member of the Lin family," Lin Dong said, gently putting down his chopsticks and raising his head.
"Haha, well said..." Hearing this, Lin Zhengtian laughed joyfully. Then, his gaze swept over Lin Xiao and Lin Mang, and he said, "I know you two have been at odds since childhood, but for a family, unity is the most important thing. You are both vital members of the family. If the Lin family is to truly grow strong, you cannot let personal matters interfere with family affairs. Otherwise, the Lin family will sooner or later decline." As he spoke the last sentence, Lin Zhengtian's expression turned stern.
"Father is absolutely right."
Hearing Lin Zhengtian's reprimand, Lin Xiao respectfully replied, while Lin Mang, standing to the side with a complex expression, also nodded.
"It's good that you know."
Seeing their serious demeanor, Lin Zhengtian then lightly nodded. His gaze then turned towards Lin Dong, and he said with a smile, "Dong'er, the martial art you used today to directly confront Lei Li, was it our Lin family's Qi Men Seal?"
"Here it comes..."
Hearing these words, Lin Dong's heart immediately tensed up a little. Sure enough, Lin Zhengtian and the others had noticed something about the Qi Men Seal he displayed today. However, he was also extremely helpless about this. After all, the Qi Men Seal was just an incomplete version, with ordinary power, merely a common Third-grade Martial Art. How could it possibly block the Lei family's Fourth-grade Martial Art, the Rushing Thunder Light?
"Yes, it is indeed the Qi Men Seal," Lin Dong said firmly.
"Then why does the Qi Men Seal you displayed seem a little different from our family's Qi Men Seal?" Lin Zhengtian asked suspiciously.
Lin Dong hesitated slightly. Many quick answers flashed through his mind, but he immediately rejected all of them. In the end, he could only take a deep breath and say, "The family's Qi Men Seal is just an incomplete version... I just perfected it a little..."
"Clatter, clatter, clatter..."
As soon as Lin Dong's voice fell, the sounds of dishes falling continuously echoed throughout the great hall. Even the smile on Lin Zhengtian's face unconsciously stiffened at this moment.
"You said... you alone... perfected the Qi Men Seal?" Lin Xiao tried to suppress the shock in his heart, slowly putting down the chopsticks in his hand as he spoke.
"Yes."
Seeing everyone's expressions, which were even more terrifying than seeing a ghost, Lin Dong sighed helplessly to himself. Saying it like this was indeed too shocking, but it was much better than exposing the Stone Talisman.
"Gulp."
In the quiet great hall, many sounds of swallowing suddenly rang out. Perfecting a martial art? Although there were many First-grade Martial Arts, those who could create them all possessed extremely high martial arts achievements. Moreover, the Qi Men Seal was not some First-grade Martial Art; it was a type that, even in its incomplete form, could reach Third-grade Martial Art!
Perfecting a Third-grade Martial Art, possessing this level of ability—even if one scoured the entire Qingyang Town, they probably wouldn't find a single person. Perhaps only true powerhouses who had entered the Yuan Dan Stage could possess such an ability!
But now, Lin Dong was saying that he had perfected the Qi Men Seal! Moreover, he only had the strength of the Earth Yuan Stage. The most crucial thing was that Lin Dong was currently only fifteen years old!
A fifteen-year-old youth could perfect a Third-grade Martial Art—what kind of monstrous ability was this?
Reason told Lin Zhengtian and the others that such a thing was naturally false. But today, they had personally witnessed the Qi Men Seal that Lin Dong displayed; its power could indeed rival a Fourth-grade Martial Art. If this was the perfected Qi Men Seal, then it was truly not impossible.
However, if this was the truth, then it was the only possible explanation for this matter. Thinking of this, Lin Zhengtian and Lin Xiao's eyes met, and a look of ecstatic joy gradually appeared in their eyes.
A martial arts prodigy!
They had heard that some people are born with a special talent for martial arts, achieving great results with little effort in their training. Such individuals are known as martial arts prodigies.
But such people were obviously extremely rare. Could it be that Lin Dong possessed such a talent in martial arts?
"When Dong-er practiced martial arts, he truly grasped things very quickly..." Lin Xiao muttered, recalling how Lin Dong had seemed to grasp the Tongbei Fist and Eight Desolations Palm almost instantly when he taught them to him.
Hearing these words, Lin Zhengtian's eyelids twitched violently. He patted his chest, taking a few ragged breaths. Could it be that their Lin family truly possessed such a monstrous genius?
Seeing the reactions of Lin Zhengtian and the others, Lin Dong felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. He certainly hadn't expected them to bestow the title of "martial arts prodigy" upon him. After all, he merely possessed a perfect "Teacher" along with his own perseverance and hard work.
"The complete Gate Seal should have several Layers. The family's version only has the First Layer. I spent half a year to complete the Second Layer, which is the move that defeated Lei Li today."
Lin Dong said.
"If you, Grandfather, and the others are interested, I can pass on the Second Layer of the Gate Seal to you later. As for what comes after that, we'll have to see if I can continue to complete it in the future."
Hearing this, Lin Zhengtian and Lin Xiao's group gaped, their eyes wide. Looking at the serious expression on the young boy's small face, a dreamlike feeling couldn't help but rise in their hearts. Their Lin family had just gained another Fourth-grade Martial Art?
Everyone exchanged glances, no one uttering a single word. The successive shocks they'd experienced today seemed to have left them somewhat numb.