The three contestants looked on, seemingly realizing something. Their cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Chen Xuan, acting as the challenger, had long since prepared himself and was waiting.
"Lin Dong, you just wait! My revenge starts now!"
A moment later, the contestants, rubbing their hands in anticipation, stepped up one by one to challenge Chen Xuan’s authority.
That night, Shi Haotian and Xia Wanjin stood guard outside the Wanjin Inn. No one was allowed to get too close. This spectacle naturally sparked plenty of speculation among the onlookers.
"City Lord Shi and President Xia are actually willing to act as guards? Who exactly is staying inside?"
"City Lord Shi is a master at the Lesser Form Creation Stage! What kind of terrifying existence would make him willing to stand guard?"
"Wait, could it be that young man from this afternoon?"
"Impossible!"
"That’s right. If it really was that young man, I’ll chop off my head and let you use it as a chamber pot!"
"Let’s just wait the night out!"
"Agreed. We’ll wait, and we'll know for sure tomorrow morning!"
...
And so, a group of people actually waited near the Wanjin Inn all night. By the next morning, they saw a teenager emerge from the inn.
The next second, everyone’s jaws dropped.
Before their eyes, Shi Haotian and Xia Wanjin bowed respectfully to him, looking as if they were awaiting his commands. What was going on? A City Lord and the President of the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce were bowing to a young man?
Wait, the tremors near the inn last night—could he have been the cause?
The crowd looked toward the second floor with strange expressions. There, three delicate figures stood huddled together by the window, waving goodbye to the young man below with smiles. Vaguely, they noticed that Xuan Su, Shi Ziyue, and Xia Zhilan’s faces looked more supple and radiant today, carrying the lingering charm of women who had just tasted the fruits of marriage.
Wait! Could it be...
By the time they regained their senses, the young man had already vanished.
"It's over," they thought. "Don't tell me this guy actually ruined the three beauties of Yan City!"
At the entrance of the Wanjin Inn, Shi Haotian stood on his tiptoes and craned his neck. "Old Xia, what did he give you?"
"Don't you have one too?" Xia Wanjin asked warily.
"It’s not the same! I want to see."
"It's a Creation-grade martial art."
Shi Haotian paused, then took out a manual of his own: "Mine is a Creation-grade martial art as well."
Two Creation-grade martial arts? This... the generosity was simply too much! Who on earth was he? Surely, not even the four great clans of the Great Yan Empire possessed such wealth!
In reality, it wasn't just them. Xuan Su, Xia Zhilan, and Shi Ziyue had also received parting gifts, all of immense value. These were items Chen Xuan had obtained through his lottery system. Since he had already mastered the techniques and martial arts, there was no use for the manuals. This was the perfect opportunity to give them away and reap another wave of Emotion Value from the three women.
Even after Chen Xuan had flown far away, the notifications of the three women’s skyrocketing Emotion Value continued to echo in his ears. He had gotten the people and the Emotion Value. He had hit the jackpot!
His current destination was the Misty Forest. He vaguely remembered that Lin Dong would meet the Jiang family from Great Eagle City there, learn of the opening of the Ancient Monument of the Great Wilderness, and go on to have the incredible luck of finding the key to the Devouring Ancestral Symbol, laying the foundation for his future power.
All Chen Xuan had to do now was sever Lin Dong’s path to opportunity. Then, he would take his time and break him! He would let him crumble into despair!
Meanwhile, in a dense forest in Dayang County, Lin Dong withdrew his mental energy and asked Xiao Diao, "A Thunder Source Crystal Beast... what is that?"
Xiao Diao was shocked. "I never expected such a beast to exist in a place like this!"
Lin Dong was surprised. "Is it rare?"
"It’s a beast that feeds on lightning and possesses formidable strength. However, it goes through an extremely weak phase every time it evolves." Xiao Diao rubbed his chin with his furry paw.
Lin Dong asked blankly, "What use is it?"
Xiao Diao continued, "The beast has a Thunder Source in its body containing pure lightning power. Not only can it help you cultivate the Copper Thunder Body and enhance your mental energy, but it might even help you step into the Form Creation Stage!"
If successful, Lin Dong might even have the chance to transmute his Yuan Power into lightning. The power of that would be terrifying!
Just as Lin Dong’s heart raced and he prepared to act, Xiao Diao poured cold water on him: "A typical Thunder Source Crystal Beast has strength comparable to the Great Accomplishment of the Qi Creation Stage. Powerful ones can even match masters at the Creation Stage. With your current strength..."
"I'd be cannon fodder?" Lin Dong paused, clenching his fists. A cunning glint appeared in his eyes. "No matter. If I can't defeat the beast alone, don't I still have those other guys?"
He had a solid plan: wait for the Di and Liu families to move against it, then swoop in and reap the rewards!
Xiao Diao couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Kid, just make sure you don't end up being the little shrimp that gets eaten instead of the fisherman."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Lin Dong recalled his brief, intimate encounter with Ayin Qingzhu in the tomb and tightened his fist. He had promised that he would stand before her again and tell her loudly: the woman he had bedded would be his! Right now, he was working hard to pursue his first goal: defeating Lin Langtian.
Lin Dong looked into the distance, a glimmer of resolve in his eyes. This Thunder Source... he was going to have it!
However, a few days later, before he could even make his move, the entire forest near Thunder Source Mountain became restless.
In a tent deep in the forest, where many masters had gathered, a scout rushed in, panicked yet still respectful.
"Clan Head, the Thunder Source Crystal Beast... it's gone."
The white-bearded elder jumped to his feet. "Impossible!"
The scout smiled bitterly. "It's true. The Di family is scouring the mountains looking for its trail as well."
The elder spoke coldly, "Pass the word. Have everyone search the area around Thunder Source Mountain. If you encounter anyone else—I don't care who they are—kill them on the spot!"
"Yes!"
The masters in the tent swarmed out. The Di family’s elites were similarly mobilized.
Hiding in the shadows and waiting to play the fisherman, Lin Dong was stunned. He wore a strange expression. "Xiao Diao, didn't you say that beast was at the Great Accomplishment of the Qi Creation Stage? Who could have taken it away without making a sound?"
Before Xiao Diao could speak, Lin Dong seemed to recall something. "Could it be the Di or Liu families pulling a thief-calling-thief stunt?"
Xiao Diao shook his head. "Impossible. Even a beast at the Qi Creation Stage is not something those two families could handle."
He had predicted the beast’s weakening period hadn't arrived yet. The strongest among them were only at the Lesser Form Creation Stage; catching the beast effortlessly would be harder than reaching the heavens. How would they steal it? By sacrificing their lives? Even if they threw away everyone’s life, they wouldn't necessarily succeed easily.
Lin Dong frowned. "Then who could it be?"