C32 Preparations Before the Hunt(last part)

Upon hearing someone dare to challenge his idol's ability to win the championship, a young man from the Xie family was seething with anger. Yet, when he looked up and realized that his challenger was stronger than him, he reluctantly held back his fury.

Nonetheless, he couldn't resist a biting retort, "Jiaang Que is nothing but a scoundrel!"

"Who are you calling a scoundrel?!" The Jiaang family members bristled at the insult to their idol. One of them stood up abruptly, leaving the table, and drew his Ten-refinement Weapon, clearly ready to throw down.

Just then, a disdainful snort from upstairs stopped the Jiaang's Disciple in his tracks, his face draining of color. Quickly recalling where he was, he offered a respectful fist-and-palm salute in apology before meekly returning to his seat.

Only a powerful force could run a restaurant in the inner city, and such establishments were typically under the watchful eye of formidable guardians. Had it not been for the fact that it was members of the Jiaang and Xie families about to come to blows, the response from upstairs might have been more than a mere snort.

The spectators found the Xie and Jiaang family feud quite entertaining, yet it left a bitter taste in the mouths of some—specifically, the Wei family's disciples.

In comparison to the Xie and Jiaang families, the Wei family's young leaders fell short. Their current figurehead, Wei Luchong, shared the same Middle Level Grade Eight talent as Jiaang Que.

However, unlike Jiaang Que, Wei Luchong was quite self-indulgent and had grown lax in his Qi Refining practice. He had only recently advanced to Qi Refining Stage Level Seven, which paled in comparison to Xie Jutong and Jiaang Que.

The Wei family had once been on the cusp of introducing an unparalleled prodigy, but after a mere three days, the prodigy vanished without a trace, plunging the Wei's disciples into despair.

The question hung in the air: Would the Wei family, currently second-ranked, soon find themselves demoted to third?

Wei Lulin, deeply immersed in his secluded cultivation, was oblivious to the frenzy that had overtaken Looh City due to the Hunting Competition and the upcoming Spring Festival. He remained intensely focused on his cultivation.

Having acquired a Dantian Cultivating Pill and twenty Grade Nine Low Rank Spirit Stones, he first replicated the Qi Increasing Pill. Utilizing this pill in conjunction with the Spirit Stones, he was able to bring the Spiritual Force within his dantian to its zenith.

Next, he set about duplicating the Dantian Cultivating Pill. Despite being a Low Rank Grade Nine Pill, designed to fortify and enlarge the dantian, the process of duplication was incredibly draining on his Spiritual Force.

It took two Grade Nine Low Rank Spirit Stones to replicate just one Dantian Cultivating Pill. After exhausting twenty stones, he managed to produce a total of ten pills.

Despite the significant expenditure of Spirit Stones, Wei Lulin swallowed his reservations along with a Dantian Cultivating Pill. The pill transformed into a formidable power that immediately began to tear through the dantian he had painstakingly cultivated.

Wei Lulin's face contorted in agony. He had previously endured the excruciating pain of his meridians being ripped apart and thought he could withstand almost any pain. However, the torment of his dantian being torn asunder was incomparable, making all previous pains seem trivial.

Although Wei Lulin was known for his remarkable resilience, the severe pain was too much to bear. Overwhelmed, he collapsed to the ground, his cries of anguish filling the air.

The large capacity of his dantian meant that the tearing lasted longer, subjecting him to prolonged suffering. But there was a silver lining: after the pain subsided, a sense of euphoria set in.

Once his dantian was fully ruptured, the residual energy from the Dantian Cultivating Pill kicked in, repairing and methodically expanding his dantian. If his dantian had been the size of a cup, the pill's effect had nearly doubled its volume, effectively doubling his strength as well.

Although the process of taking the Dantian Cultivating Pill was excruciating, the benefits gained made it worthwhile.

Wei Lulin harbored no worries and didn't even pause for rest before consuming the second Dantian Cultivating Pill.

After taking the third pill, he was forced to take a break. The severe pain had drained his physical and mental energy so much that once the energy from the third pill was depleted, he was too exhausted to stand and simply lay on the ground.

Once he had fully recuperated, Wei Lulin resumed taking the Dantian Cultivating Pills.

It took him three whole days to consume ten Dantian Cultivating Pills. By then, his dantian had expanded to the size of a bowl, and his strength had increased by at least tenfold.

Wei Lulin was pleased with his progress, yet he remained humble. He was aware that the world was full of geniuses, many of whom had faced and overcome super challenges.

Only by fully understanding himself could he continue to make strides forward.

With eleven days left until the Hunting Competition, Wei Lulin planned to spend half of that time absorbing Spirit Stones and Qi Increasing Pills to boost the Spiritual Force within his dantian. He aimed to reach the Peak of Level Three in the Qi Refining Stage before the competition began.

The other half of his time would be dedicated to honing his blade skills and sparring with his five guards to enhance his combat experience.

The increased capacity of his dantian meant he could absorb Spiritual Qi more rapidly. He replicated over ten Qi Increasing Pills and, with the aid of the Grade Nine Low Rank Spirit Stones and the abundant Spiritual Force in the training room, he reached the limit of Spiritual Force in his dantian within eight days.

He then focused on consolidating his cultivation level and perfecting his blade technique, quietly awaiting the commencement of the Hunting Competition.

On December 1st.

At four in the morning, the residents of Looh City, who would typically be sound asleep, rose early. After quickly getting ready, they left their homes and gathered at a platform ten miles east of the city gate, where they waited in silence.

At five in the morning, the first arrivals stirred the air with anticipation, setting the scene abuzz. It was as if by some unspoken pact, following the initial group, the next hour saw a steady stream of people gathering beneath the towering platform on the city's eastern edge.

By six o'clock, the arrival of three large groups under the platform sent the energy of the crowd soaring, erupting into loud cheers. "Xie Jutong, I love you, just like a mouse loves rice," called out a woman, clearly smitten. "Jiaang Que, I'm rooting for you. You have to beat Xie Jutong and take the championship!" a fan of Jiaang Que yelled with fervor. "Xie Jutong, I've placed a hefty bet on you. You better pull through and clinch the title," shouted a gambler, influential yet lacking in skill.

As the shouts grew louder, with more and more people voicing their support, the Wei family members stood out in their discomfort. The majority of the crowd's favor seemed to lie with Xie Jutong and Jiaang Que, with scarcely a mention of Wei Luchong.

Wei Bochen, the patriarch of the Wei family, watched the scene with a grave expression, his mood growing heavy. In truth, Wei Luchong's talent was not far behind his peers, and his understanding was quite decent. However, his overwhelming arrogance was his downfall, leaving him trailing behind the equally gifted Jiaang Que.

It appeared that the family's indulgence had been excessive, leaving him complacent and lacking the drive to excel.