C34 Killing Intent

Wei Tingxuan simply cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Wei Lulin.

Wei Lulin possesses a Cultivation Talent of High Level Grade Eight, making him a once-in-a-century peerless genius in Yao Country.

Despite a year's delay in his cultivation due to damaged meridians, his exceptional talent and remarkable insight mean he could catch up with Wei Luchong in just a few years. Surpassing Wei Luchong is not out of the question.

Moreover, the family's power players hold him in high regard. They've bestowed upon him the Silent Elegance Pavilion as his private abode, and the caliber of guards assigned to him speaks volumes about the family's investment in his future.

Wei Luchong, the patriarch's sole heir and the young leader of the Wei family, is accompanied by only three guards, with the strongest merely at the Qi Refining Stage Level Ten Peak.

In contrast, five guards have been assigned to Wei Lulin, with the most formidable among them being a Body Refining Stage warrior. It's no wonder he harbors feelings of envy and resentment.

Wei Luchong might have endured the disparity in treatment, recognizing that Wei Lulin's strength could enhance the Wei family's overall power. Yet, Wei Lulin's presence now poses a direct threat to his vested interests.

Wei Bochen has served as the family patriarch for nineteen years.

Per the Wei family's tradition, a patriarch may serve a thirty-year term barring any unforeseen incidents or grave errors.

With eleven years remaining until his retirement, Wei Luchong is fully confident in his ability to advance to the middle tier of the Body Refining Stage. By then, his prowess and sway should seamlessly usher him into the role of patriarch.

Wei Lulin's unforeseen return has gravely jeopardized his standing. The burgeoning intent to eliminate Wei Lulin has taken root, further cemented by Wei Bochen's evident fondness for him. Wei Luchong's gaze hardens as he resolves inwardly, "Wei Lulin, if you were content to remain within the confines of Silent Elegance Pavilion, you'd be beyond my reach. But your audacity knows no bounds, and you dare to enter the Hunting Competition. Fortune has indeed smiled upon me with this opportunity."

"Wei Lulin, meeting your end at my hands is a fate you cannot escape."

Unaware that his return had sparked Wei Luchong's desire to kill, Wei Lulin's attention was instead captured by the arrival of a new contingent: the members of the royal family.

Despite any underlying discontent from the three great families, protocol dictated that they show the Yao family due respect. Consequently, there was no visible dissatisfaction with the royal family's grand entrance.

Upon the arrival of the royal family, those of lower status knelt on both knees, while those of higher status knelt on one. Members of the three great families offered a slight bow as a sign of respect.

The royal family's delegation to the Hunting Competition was small, numbering only twenty, but each member radiated vitality and possessed formidable strength. Besides Yao Yafeng, two others in the group sent shivers down Wei Lulin's spine.

Yao Jiu, the nominal ruler of the royal family, may have had average abilities and cultivation, but as the sovereign of a nation, it was his duty to preside over the annual Hunting Competition.

Whatever Yao Jiu proclaimed from the stage, Wei Lulin paid it no mind.

Having sat through countless tedious meetings in his modern life, he recognized the insignificance of such speeches. Besides, his focus was elsewhere, on the individuals among the royal party, particularly the one at the forefront.

Yao Yafeng.

Wei Lulin's emotions toward Yao Yafeng were a tangle of complexity.

He felt a begrudging gratitude toward Yao Yafeng, for without his pursuit, Wei Lulin would not have been driven back into the domain of the Grade Nine Magical Beast, nor would his strength have surged so rapidly.

Yet, he also harbored resentment toward Yao Yafeng, for without his relentless chase, Wei Lulin would not have endured over a month of hardship in the caves of the Endless Forest.

If one were to weigh his feelings, his animosity toward Yao Yafeng tipped the scales. The experience of being hunted was far from pleasant.

Moreover, the feud between their families ran deep, making a decisive battle between them inevitable.

Aware of the futility of his words and sensing the crowd's impatience for empty rhetoric, Yao Jiu wisely kept his remarks brief. After offering a few words of encouragement, he stepped down from the platform.

A man with the appearance of a eunuch stepped onto the platform, his shrill voice capturing the attention of all present.

This eunuch was the royal family's Great Manager, positioned at the middle level of the Body Refining Stage, marking him as a formidable expert. His role was to declare the rules of the Hunting Competition and unveil the ultimate rewards.

The rules were straightforward yet exceedingly brutal.

Located thirty miles from Looh City lay a dedicated Hunting Ground for the competition.

This Hunting Ground was established five centuries ago by the Strongest Man from the royal family alongside the three major families. They selected a natural forest for the venue and then filled it with a variety of creatures captured from the Endless Forest.

Among these magical beasts, the most powerful were High Rank Grade Nine, and the least, Low Rank Grade Ten, including some unranked wild beasts. The beasts were placed in the forest, which was then segmented into different levels using special techniques, confining each grade of beast to its designated area.

The creation of this Hunting Ground was motivated by the desire to provide a safe training environment for the clans' younger members. The Endless Forest's distance from Looh City and its perilous nature raised concerns about potential heavy losses among the younger generation.

As the strength of the three great families increased over time and the ruling royal family's power waned, conflicts among the people intensified.

After a decade of rivalry, the four major powers saw a significant decline in their strength. To prevent outsiders from exploiting their weakened state, they agreed to cease their public conflicts. They then allocated a section of the Hunting Ground as a competitive arena for the younger generations of each force, using their accomplishments to determine the rankings of the forces and redistribute the annual profits of Yao Country.

Otherwise, the most powerful among the young competitors, possessing only Seventh Level Qi Refining Stage strength, would stand no chance against even a Low Rank Grade Nine Magical Beast, with the likelihood of all perishing in such an encounter.

The Xie family's meteoric rise in power over the last decade, challenging the might of the royal family, can be largely attributed to their consistent victories in the annual Hunting Competition. These triumphs have not only bolstered their influence within Yao Country but have also steadily strengthened their overall capabilities.

Wei Lulin was well aware of this dynamic. His primary concern, however, was the rewards for this year's Hunting Competition. Historically, the prizes have been exceptionally lavish, and competitors risked their lives not just for personal glory but to secure a share of the next year's benefits for their families. Consequently, victors could expect not only the official rewards but additional recognition and rewards from their respective families.

Despite the high mortality rate in the Hunting Competition, it never fails to attract a multitude of eager participants each year. They are driven not only by the desire to honor their families but also by the allure of the substantial rewards at stake.