C31 Preparations Before the Hunt(part I)

Among the three requests, the Spirit Stone was the least significant.

Yet, it was this minimal requirement that occupied Wei Ying's thoughts for quite some time.

Upon Wei Ying's return to the Wei family, he had been given twenty Grade Ten Low Rank Spirit Stones and ten Grade Nine Low Rank Spirit Stones. These Spirit Stones were sufficient to sustain the Spirit Qi necessary for an ordinary warrior's cultivation for two to three years.

Now, barely ten days later, if Wei Ying requested additional Spirit Stones, it could potentially raise suspicions among the family's upper echelons.

What could Wei Ying possibly be doing to require such an abundance of Spirit Stones?

Nevertheless, the peril associated with the Hunting Competition compelled Wei Ying to take the risk and make the request, as preserving his life was paramount.

"No problem. How many do you need?" Wei Ying fortunately did not probe further and asked with a refreshing directness.

While Wei Ying might have hesitated over other treasures, Spirit Stones were in abundant supply for the Wei family, renowned for their Pill heritage.

"Twenty Grade Nine Low Rank Spirit Stones!" Wei Lulin asked for Spirit Stones with great caution, careful not to overreach. He simply stated the quantity based on his calculated needs.

"Alright, I'll have someone deliver them to you shortly." Having addressed the request, Wei Ying looked at Wei Lulin, signaling him to proceed with any additional needs.

Wei Lulin shook his head, a wave of relief washing over him, and he spoke, "No, that's all—just these three requests."

"That's it? Think it over once more." Wei Ying, upon hearing that Wei Lulin had made only three simple requests, lamented the limited scope of Wei Lulin's aspirations.

Opportunities like this were scarce. During the Hunting Competition, families would go to great lengths to fulfill the desires of their young members. They aimed not only for their survival but also for their exceptional performance and high rankings, which could significantly enhance the family's influence and power.

Wei Lulin remained resolute, shaking his head to indicate he had no further requests. This only intensified Wei Ying's frustration. However, since Wei Lulin had made it clear that he required only these three items, Wei Ying could not unilaterally decide to bestow additional treasures, as it would contravene family protocols.

"Alright, I'll have someone deliver the items to you later. Over the next ten days, you must dedicate yourself to intensive cultivation. Aim to elevate your cultivation to the Peak of Qi Refining Stage Level Three. You'll find what you need in the Hunting Ground." With those parting words, Wei Ying rose to leave, leaving Wei Lulin momentarily stunned.

Things I need in the Hunting Ground?

Wei Lulin pondered Wei Ying's parting words, trying to recall any details about the Hunting Ground that might shed light on their meaning. However, he couldn't find any clues.

Baffled, Wei Lulin eventually abandoned the idea of deciphering the message. After all, the true meaning behind Wei Ying's words would become clear once he entered the Hunting Ground.

Reaching the Peak of Qi Refining Stage Level Three was a short-term goal for Wei Lulin. His current strength was more than a match for a cultivator at Qi Refining Stage Level Five, and he could even spar with an ordinary Level Six cultivator.

Should Wei Lulin's realm ascend to the Peak of Qi Refining Stage Level Three, it was likely that even ordinary Level Six warriors would struggle to compete with him. Moreover, the Dantian Cultivating Pill would further solidify his foundation.

In just over ten minutes, one of Wei Ying's subordinates, who was often seen at his side, arrived at the Silent Elegance Pavilion with a cloth bag. Handing it over with an envious look, he passed the bag to Wei Lulin.

After accepting the items from Wei Ying, Wei Lulin nodded to Xiafang and the guards before heading into the training room.

The guard watched Wei Lulin enter the training room with a look of deep respect. Exceptional talent, keen insight, and a relentless dedication to cultivation—these were the marks of a true genius!

This time, the cloth bag contained not only the Dantian Cultivating Pill, a Ten-refinement Essence steel blade, and a Spirit Stone, but also a suit of armor and a map. These were precisely the items Wei Lulin needed.

Reflecting on Wei Dong's final words, it seemed likely that they pertained to the map.

The armor in question was a veritable treasure, capable of withstanding the full-force attacks of ten Qi Refining Stage Level Seven masters. It served as Wei Ying's life-saving trump card.

The Eternal Continent dwarfed Earth in size, yet the climates were strikingly similar. The south enjoyed year-round warmth, while the north experienced distinct seasonal temperature changes.

Situated in the southern region of the Eternal Continent, Yao Country was nearing year's end, yet the warmth persisted, a stark contrast to the biting cold of the north.

With the Spring Festival a month away, warriors from afar hastened home, eager to celebrate with their families in a tradition that mirrored those on Earth.

In the final three days of November, Looh City buzzed with an electric fervor. Restaurants, teahouses, casinos, brothels, and the streets themselves were alive with talk of the upcoming Hunting Competition.

By five in the afternoon, a grand restaurant in the city's heart was packed to the rafters, the air thick with excitement. Amidst the buzz, a clearly inebriated young man at the east side of the hall blurted out, "This year's Hunting Competition champion will undoubtedly be the Xie family's unparalleled prodigy, Xie Jutong."

His declaration was met with a wave of nods throughout the hall.

Xie Jutong stood as a beacon among the Xie family's youth. His talent, assessed two years prior, had nearly breached the threshold of High Level Grade Eight.

Were it not for Wei Lulin's meteoric ascent, Xie Jutong might have retained the title of Yao Country's premier genius for a decade.

The Xie family, as the foremost of the three great families, wielded formidable power and spared no effort in fostering such a top-tier talent. Xie Jutong, for his part, was relentless in his cultivation.

In just two years, he had soared to the pinnacle of the Qi Refining Stage Level Seven, marking him as the most formidable young master in Yao Country.

"Xie Jutong's strength is undeniable, but let's not overlook Jiaang Que from our Jiaang family. The title of champion is far from decided!" countered a few dissenters among the crowd, challenging the Xie family youth's bold claim.

Someone immediately stepped forward in opposition.

Jiaang Que, a leading figure among the Jiaang family's younger generation, was the same age as Xie Jutong. Though his natural talent didn't quite match that of Xie Jutong's, he had attained the level of Middle Level Grade Eight. Moreover, Jiaang Que was known for his ruthlessness, not only towards others but even more so towards himself.

Rumor had it that at the Qi Refining Stage Level Five, he ventured alone into the Endless Forest and endured a grueling month of training, emerging covered in wounds.

It was this very resilience that prevented the gap between him and Xie Jutong from widening. Jiaang Que had reached the pinnacle of the Qi Refining Stage Level Seven, just slightly behind Xie Jutong.

However, taking into account Jiaang Que's formidable willpower and extensive combat experience, the true measure of strength between him and Xie Jutong could only be determined through direct confrontation.

Nonetheless, Jiaang Que's reputation was somewhat tarnished, as he was often perceived as overly cunning.