On a giant tree, Luo Cheng sat cross-legged.
The Nine-colored Mysterious Egg floated behind him, slowly spinning as it absorbed Heaven and Earth Essence Energy.
Moments ago, he had devoured the Beast Soul of a One-star Advanced Demon Beast, consuming a significant amount of Spirit. He intended to rest here for a while.
After some time, Luo Cheng opened his eyes.
"It's about time to head back."
Luo Cheng glanced at the bulging bag beside him.
It was filled with Demon Beast Materials he'd obtained from hunting Demon Beasts over the past few days.
The three Jade Body Tempering Pills he carried were already used up. These Demon Beast Materials could be sold for money to purchase more Body Tempering Pills, aiding his breakthrough to the Body Tempering Realm Eighth Layer.
Thump thump thump...
At that moment, a series of footsteps approached.
Luo Cheng looked down in the direction of the sound, his eyebrows raising slightly.
"People from the Lin Family!"
Through the dense forest, three teenage boys approached swiftly. Luo Cheng instantly recognized them as Lin Family disciples.
"Brother Lin Hong, the Vermilion Crystal Fruit is just ahead! But there's a Fire Cloud Leopard guarding it."
"I'll handle the Fire Cloud Leopard! Once we get the Vermilion Crystal Fruit, I'll quickly break through to the Body Tempering Realm Eighth Layer. When I achieve success in this Hunting Festival, you two will also reap benefits!"
The tall youth at the front spoke with smug confidence.
"Brother Lin Hong, isn't the Hunting Festival supposed to occur every five years? I remember it's only been three years since the last one."
"You're not mistaken; it has been brought forward. Right now, the Luo Family Head is gravely injured and unconscious. The Family Head intends to seize this opportunity to dismantle the Luo Family by collaborating with the Qi Family and advancing the Hunting Festival."
"Moved forward? Would the Luo Family even agree to this? I heard that the Luo Family has some connection to the Ji Family of the Ancient Families. Wouldn't this..."
"Heh, they no longer have the right to refuse! As for the Ji Family, they used to scare us to some extent, but pity, Luo Cheng—a failure who awakened a Wasted Martial Soul—dared to provoke the Ji Family's genius. They've already abandoned him!"
"Haha, a useless waste still daring to provoke a Ji Family genius! Luo Cheng truly is good for nothing!"
"Why waste time talking about that piece of trash? Hurry up, or someone else might snatch the Vermilion Crystal Fruit first!"
The three youths, laughing as they talked, sprinted past the foot of the giant tree.
Luo Cheng stepped out from the shadows of the tree, his face dark and sinister.
"The Lin Family and the Qi Family actually joined forces..."
He let out a cold sneer and leapt from the tree soundlessly, following them in secret.
The Vermilion Crystal Fruit was a Two-star Spiritual Medicine. He had to obtain it!
As he moved through the dense forest, the view suddenly opened up.
Ahead was a small, earthen hill.
Atop the hill stood a fiery red plant, slightly over a foot tall, swaying gracefully in the wind.
On the top of the plant were two fruits, glowing like fiery crystals!
Seeing the fruits, Luo Cheng's eyes blazed with passion.
The Vermilion Crystal Fruit was a Two-star Spiritual Medicine, immensely beneficial to martial artists in the Body Tempering Realm!
The three from Lin Hong's group had already rushed ahead, but they were quickly halted by a massive beast covered in fiery fur, exuding an aura of menace.
It was the Fire Cloud Leopard, a One-star Advanced Demon Beast!
This Fire Cloud Leopard seemed to have just reached adulthood. Its strength matched Lin Hong, who was at the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer. Coupled with the interference from the other two, the leopard was gradually overwhelmed.
Roar!
Suddenly, the Fire Cloud Leopard roared furiously and turned to charge toward the small hill.
"It wants to eat the Vermilion Crystal Fruit! Stop it!"
Lin Hong shouted as his silhouette shot forward. Together with the other two, he blocked the leopard's path.
Caught off guard, the Fire Cloud Leopard's eyes turned bloodshot, retaliating in a frenzy.
The three youths and the beast battled fiercely for a moment. Ultimately, the outmatched Fire Cloud Leopard succumbed as Lin Hong delivered a fatal punch to its skull.
However, Lin Hong and the others were not unscathed. Blood streaked their clothes, and one of them bore a foot-long claw wound across his abdomen, narrowly avoiding death.
"This damned beast was truly troublesome!"
Lin Hong spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes alight with joy as he looked toward the Vermilion Crystal Fruit on the small hill. He was just about to dash over.
At that moment.
Whoosh!
A figure shot out like lightning, appearing atop the hill. With a casual flip of his hand, the Vermilion Crystal Fruit was collected into his arms.
"What?!"
The sudden turn of events startled Lin Hong and the other two.
"Luo Cheng from the Luo Family!"
A Lin Family youth screamed.
"Luo Cheng!"
Lin Hong squinted his eyes and sneered coldly. "No wonder you looked familiar. So it's you, you worthless trash! Hand over the Vermilion Crystal Fruit, kneel, and kowtow three times, and I'll spare your life. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Hand over the Vermilion Crystal Fruit? Kowtow three times? You think you're worthy?"
Luo Cheng chuckled indifferently.
"What did you say?!"
"A failure with a Wasted Martial Soul dares act so insolent? Brother Lin Hong, cripple him!"
All three instantly flew into rage.
Lin Hong's expression turned icy. This piece of trash dared speak to him like that!
"Even if you kneel and apologize now, it's too late! I'll take your arms and legs—that's the price for angering me!"
Lin Hong's eyes gleamed with malice.
Luo Cheng remained silent internally.
Out of these three, Lin Hong's talent was the highest, possessing a Four-Star Martial Soul and cultivating to the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer.
Yet they arrogantly called him trash, as if they were some kind of prodigies.
"Brother Lin Hong, dealing with trash like him doesn't require your hand. Leave it to us!"
"Trash, get on your knees and prepare to die!"
Two Lin Family disciples charged forward with vicious grins.
Luo Cheng sneered, stepping forward to meet them with a punch.
Seeing this, Lin Hong shook his head.
The two were only at the Fifth and Sixth Layers of the Body Tempering Realm, but they were far stronger than someone like Luo Cheng could contend with.
Not only did he refuse to flee, but he also opted for a face-to-face clash—utter suicide!
Looks like this fool with a Wasted Martial Soul was brain-dead too.
But in the next second, Lin Hong's smile froze on his face.
Boom!
The three figures collided. The two Lin Family youths vomited blood as they screamed, spinning through the air and landing seven or eight meters away. They writhed on the ground, wailing in agony.
"What?!"
Lin Hong's expression drastically changed. To send both flying with one punch required someone at the Body Tempering Sixth Layer at minimum!
His eye twitched as he stared coldly at Luo Cheng. "I didn't expect the Luo Family to be so foolish as to pour such precious resources into trash like you!"
In the Body Tempering Realm, Martial Souls weren't particularly critical yet, so Lin Hong assumed the Luo Family had showered Luo Cheng with large amounts of Spiritual Medicine, accelerating his cultivation.
"You keep calling me trash. Then let's see how trashy my punch really is!"
Luo Cheng's voice turned frosty as he unleashed the Heavy Mountain Fist Technique. His fist shot forward like a dragon.
"Ignorant fool! Do you really think you can take me on?"
Lin Hong showed no fear. As a martial artist of the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer, he laughed arrogantly, stepping forward to meet the attack.
Boom!
The instant their fists collided, Lin Hong let out a muffled groan as he staggered backward several steps, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer! Impossible!"
Lin Hong was in utter disbelief, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
A failure with a Wasted Martial Soul couldn't possibly reach the Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer, no matter how many Body Tempering Pills he consumed!
"Die!"
Uninterested in further conversation, Luo Cheng seized the instant Lin Hong was distracted, launching a follow-up punch that exploded Lin Hong's skull.
These days of life-or-death battles with Demon Beasts had taught him well—mercy toward enemies was cruelty to oneself!