In the following days, Lin Dong focused on refining pills to help Lin Xiao recover from his injuries. Once that task was complete, he and Lin Qingtan entered seclusion, hoping to break through before the upcoming hunting competition.
Around the Lin Family Compound, an unusual number of strangers had started to appear. Most were spies sent by various factions in Qingyang Town, curious about the mysterious compound Ye Feng had built. But their attempts to approach the peak failed—the Light of Chaos radiated from the stone steps, and no matter how hard they tried, none could climb to the top.
Frustrated by their inability to uncover the Lin Family's secrets, several factions decided to test the family's true strength during the hunting competition.
As the year drew to a close, Qingyang Town buzzed with excitement. Powerful forces from within a hundred-mile radius gathered, making it the liveliest the town had been in years. Even the four great families of the Great Yan Dynasty—the Lin, Wang, Qin, and Huangfu Clans—had sent spies to investigate the strange events reported here.
Though the main participants in the hunt were the local powerhouses, many smaller clans and villages joined as well. Unlike the dominant factions, their goal wasn't to win, but to boost their reputation and gain some recognition.
The hunting competition was scheduled for the first day of the Lunar New Year, with the battlefield set in the Beast Horn Field just outside Qingyang Town. The field covered dozens of miles of dense jungle, making it the perfect arena for both training and bloodshed.
When the sun rose on the first day of the new year, the atmosphere in Qingyang Town exploded with energy. Crowds flooded into the Beast Horn Field, forming a sea of excited onlookers.
"Young Master Ye, this is where the hunt begins," Lin Qingtan said, standing atop a high platform and gazing down at the jungle below.
Ye Feng scanned the crowd and chuckled. "It's lively, alright. What a shame this place isn't open as a tourist attraction."
"Tourist... what?" Lin Qingtan frowned in confusion.
"Tourist attraction? Master, what does that mean?" Lin Dong asked curiously.
The concept of tourism was unheard of in the Tianxuan Continent. Most people struggled just to survive. Travel was rare, unless one was a cultivator.
"It's a place where people go to eat, drink, relax, and enjoy themselves," Ye Feng explained casually. "If Qingyang Town was developed into one, it could solve the town's poverty problem."
Ye Feng turned to Lin Xiao. "Interested in turning your Lin family's land into a tourist destination?"
Lin Xiao was caught off guard. "You mean... a place for people to have fun?"
"That's right," Ye Feng said, eyes gleaming. "If we're going to do it, we do it big."
Lin Xiao frowned. "But the rich are few, Young Master Ye. Most people barely have enough to eat. I'm afraid there won't be many visitors."
"That's not necessarily true. What if... climbing the mountain granted a boost in cultivation? Say, the Light of Chaos God increased their training speed?"
Lin Xiao's expression shifted. "The Light of Chaos God?"
He knew the rumor. It was said to be just like the Sea God's Light. Anyone who stayed within it would see their cultivation speed increase by several times, even those at the Creation Realm would benefit immensely.
Just imagining it—tens of thousands of warriors drawn here like moths to flame—was enough to stir the heart.
"What if," Ye Feng continued, "there were crashing waves you could surf to temper your body?"
"Waves that strengthen the body?" Lin Dong's eyes sparkled with interest.
Ye Feng remembered his first journey to the Douluo Plane. The raging seas and near-death battles had carved themselves deep into his memory.
If Martial Universe had similar training grounds... who could resist?
"And what if we offered medicinal cuisine—dishes that enhanced your cultivation as you ate?"
This time, Lin Qingtan's eyes lit up. "Father, we have to do it! If we pull this off, Qingyang Town will become the number one town in the Tianxuan Continent."
"Yes, Father! Let's go for it!" Lin Dong added excitedly.
Lin Xiao couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm. "Alright. I'll speak with Father tomorrow about developing the ancestral mountain. Master Ye, I'll be counting on you again."
Ye Feng nodded. "No problem. I just want to make someone rich first."
Their moment was interrupted by a loud laugh from nearby.
"Haha! Lin Xiao, long time no see. I didn't expect old Lin Zhentian to send you as the Lin family's representative."
Lin Xiao's smile faded. Lin Dong and Lin Qingtan's expressions also darkened.
An elderly man, in his seventies and wearing a grey satin robe, approached with a sharp gaze. Beside him was a middle-aged man, smiling amiably. But anyone who knew him would recognize that smile for what it truly was—a predator's grin.
"Young Master Ye," Lin Xiao said quietly, "the old man is Lei Bao, and the other is Xie Xian, head of the Xie family. Both are long-time enemies of our Lin family. Dangerous men."
"Then kill them," Ye Feng said flatly.
"…Kill them?" Lin Xiao, Lin Dong, and Lin Qingtan all turned toward him, stunned.
Ye Feng looked at them calmly. "You said they were enemies, didn't you?"
"Lin Dong, take care of it."
"M-Me?" Lin Dong blinked.
Ye Feng raised an eyebrow. "What, you think I should do it? Weren't you the one who said you wanted to be my thug when we refined the Heavenly Demon Marten? These clowns aren't even worthy of me lifting a hand."
"…Alright." Lin Dong's expression turned ice-cold as he stepped forward, eyes locked on Lei Bao and Xie Xian. "Once the hunt begins, anyone from the Lei and Xie families will be eliminated. When it ends, I'll destroy both families. Qingyang Town doesn't need these pests anymore."
"You dare?!" Lei Bao and Xie Xian's smiles vanished, replaced by chilling glares.
"Young fool, let's see if you can survive the beasts before boasting about destroying families."
The crowd stirred as Lin Dong's declaration spread.
"Did you hear? Lin Dong wants to wipe out the Lei and Xie families!"
"Haha, what a joke. The hunt's full of fierce beasts. He better hope he doesn't become one of their meals."
Ye Feng turned to Lin Dong again. "What family was that guy from?"
Lin Dong glanced at the mocking speaker. "The Cai family. Their strength is just behind ours in Qingyang Town."
Ye Feng's lips curled. "Then destroy them too."
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