C25 The Old Man on the Altar

"We've scored so many beast cores and panaceas! Fantastic!" A burst of laughter echoed through the woods as two figures in grey darted along the stream's edge. Their backs were laden with bulging sacks brimming with loot, from which faint glimmers of fluorescent light escaped.

"We've been raiding Heaven's Edge members for three days straight, and this is all we've got? How is Heaven's Edge so destitute?" one of the figures grumbled, clearly unimpressed.

"They boast about being the top league in the outer court, yet their stash is so meager. I can't fathom their audacity," the other figure chimed in, his voice dripping with disdain.

Anyone overhearing their banter might be tempted to silence them permanently. For most outer court disciples, snagging even a single beast core during a hunt was a feat. Yet to these two, a whole two sacks of beast cores and panaceas seemed like a paltry haul.

Despite being a formidable organization, Heaven's Edge had taken three whole days and considerable manpower to amass these two bags of cores. Now, their hard-earned bounty was in the hands of these thieves, who had the gall to complain. If Yu Ming, Yu Kun, and Yu Qing caught wind of their remarks, they'd be seething with rage.

The culprits? None other than Chu Lin and Yang Hu. Over the past three days, any Heaven's Edge member unlucky enough to cross their path was promptly relieved of their possessions.

Those who complied were allowed to walk away. The defiant ones, however, faced not only theft but also a thrashing at the hands of Chu Lin and Yang Hu.

After three days, this pair, clad in servant disciple garb, had instilled a fear in Heaven's Edge members that surpassed even the notorious Fat and Thin Duo. While the latter duo might have been formidable in strength, they only robbed, never resorting to violence.

Chu Lin and Yang Hu, on the other hand, were merciless. They struck faces and aimed kicks at groins, their brutality suggesting a vendetta against Heaven's Edge. Their reputation grew so fearsome that some members would rather venture out in their undergarments than risk being identified in Heaven's Edge attire.

The attire that once symbolized pride in their eyes had now become the stuff of nightmares for them.

Members of Heaven's Edge had contemplated rebellion, with some even rallying together, intent on capturing Chu Lin and Yang Hu alive to release their pent-up fury.

However, after Chu Lin had brutally incapacitated a member at the seventh level of Body Tempering in front of dozens from Heaven's Edge, no one dared to challenge them again, except for the captain who led the league's hunting expedition.

"This is just fantastic! I've never laid eyes on so many beast cores and panaceas!" Yang Hu exclaimed, laughing heartily as he recalled the thrashing they had given the Heaven's Edge members. In that moment, he felt as though he had exorcised all the bitterness he had endured back in Duskhaven.

Moreover, after several days of combat and having refined numerous panaceas, Yang Hu's prowess had ascended to the third level of the Body Tempering Realm. In terms of cultivation, he was now on par with Chu Lin.

Yet, with his advancement, Chu Lin's capabilities seemed increasingly immeasurable to Yang Hu.

He could sense that this slightly younger peer excelled in speed, explosive power, physical strength, perception, and the robustness of his spiritual energy, outstripping the average person. Chu Lin possessed the ability to combat adversaries beyond his own level—a true prodigy.

Throughout these battles, Chu Lin had gradually adapted to his unique abilities, bolstering his confidence on the path of a martial cultivator.

He had once been unable to cultivate, but now, unexpectedly, he had become a prodigious talent capable of contending with foes of a higher cultivation level. Unable to conjure a logical explanation for these transformations, he credited the Enigma Shard that had merged with his being.

Since his arrival at Raven's Pass, Chu Lin had not summoned the Broken Copper. This was largely because he had spent most of his time with Yang Hu. Although he considered Yang Hu a close friend, the enigmatic origins of the Broken Copper led him to believe that it was best kept a secret among as few individuals as possible.

Despite not having transformed ordinary spring water into ichor with the Broken Copper for several days, Chu Lin continued his daily refinement of panaceas for cultivation. His strength was on a steady incline, and as it grew, so did his connection to the Broken Copper, which seemed to resonate within him ever more powerfully.

"Tiger, we've been giving the Heaven's Edge a hard time these past few days. I doubt they'll let that slide. We should make our exit from Raven's Pass. A confrontation here could spell trouble," Chu Lin mused before speaking with conviction.

In the mountains, might was right. The survival of the fittest prevailed. Chu Lin had faith in his abilities, yet he wasn't blindly overconfident. He knew he had to give it his all to stand a chance against Yu Qing from Heaven's Edge. How many captains had they sent on this hunt?

Unaware of the number of captains dispatched by Heaven's Edge, it was prudent for him to withdraw before they sent reinforcements.

"Alright, I'll follow your lead!" Yang Hu agreed immediately upon hearing Chu Lin's reasoning.

Atop an altar on a mountain peak that rose above the ancient woods, three elders with white hair and beards stood solemnly in the breeze.

"The outcome of this hunt has indeed been unexpected," the elder in the center remarked, his voice raspy as he leaned on his walking stick.

"I had assumed the highest honor of the hunt would go to the young lady from the Nalan family or perhaps to the Yu family's next generation. It never crossed my mind that it would be claimed by two servant disciples. That's quite intriguing," chuckled the amiable elder with thick earlobes.

"Servant disciples aren't included in the official hunting tally. Even if they've gathered numerous beast cores and panaceas, they can only sell them for a bit of cash. They're not entitled to the hunt's rewards," the third elder commented, his voice booming with an air of authority, yet without a hint of anger.

"Rules aren't set in stone. Regardless of their status as servant disciples, we must value exceptional warriors like them," the kind elder said with a smile.

The elder with the walking stick nodded in agreement, giving the benevolent elder a knowing look. "Of course, we must cultivate such talent. At the Four Seas Gathering, held every decade, the Southern Region has been lagging behind for a century. We must take good care of the two prodigies that have emerged this time. Old Mu, they're in your hands now."

"Alright," the amiable elder said, bowing respectfully to the individual at the center.

In the blink of an eye, he had vanished from sight.