Elder Lin Dong became stronger for many reasons, but mostly because his use and control of spiritual energy improved by leaps and bounds. With a low-grade art, the cultivator spent an increased amount of spiritual energy to reach the desired layer of power.
All Forest Clan arts before were low-grade. At the perfection stage, they produced might equal to the third layer of the Body Tempering Realm. When someone used the art at the ninth layer of power, he spent spiritual energy to overcome six small layers. Not only consumption increased, but the activation speed suffered, as Qi flowed from the spirit sea through the inner channels and meridians until it reached the technique’s activation point.
When Ming Ren improved the Forest Clan’s Body Tempering Realm arts, they became high-grade at least. The hand art, Leaf, reached high might and stepped into heaven tier. Even if only at the small accomplishment, it produced might of the seventh layer with ease. To produce the same might as before, Lin Dong only needed to overcome two small layers of power instead of six.
With the new [One With The Forest] cultivation law, Qi Gathering and distribution speed reached astounding heights. It took a lot less time and effort for the spiritual energy to leave his spirit sea and reach the hand.
Cultivation laws didn’t have stages like martial and mystic arts. Once he got used to the new rules Elder Lin Dong brought its power out right away, even if not perfect. His spirit sea, thanks to the earlier food, nearly reached a complete stage, almost solving another flaw. Elder Lin Dong was no longer the same cultivator as before, no common cultivator would claim to be his match in the Body Tempering Realm.
“Lin Dong, it seems you hid a lot of things!” Red Leg complained while fighting another spirit beast. Lin Dong always eyed his flame techniques, but compared to that set of arts, they were nothing. Seeing Red Leg and Lin Dong fight with such ferocity filled the other cultivators with hope. The ones familiar with each other joined battle formations and fought back.
Lin Dong’s group was also impressed with the elder, even Little Fu had a newfound respect for him. They hunted together for a long time and adapted quickly to the situation. Little Fu and Lin Yin served as the frontline, while Lin Qiang complemented their moves. Lin Shu attacked with the bow from behind.
These movements belonged to a low-grade battle formation called [Strong Wood Formation] which specialized in controlling the flow and limiting damage and risk. With no mystic benefits, it was an organized way for the group to attack and defend.
When a spirit beast attacked, Lin Yin and his greatsword charged in, hitting hard and grabbing its attention. Little Fu worked as a secondary decoy, with an innate disposition to enrage spirit beasts (and humans alike). If Little Fu couldn’t handle the pressure, Lin Qiang pierced with the thin sword, always aiming for weak spots. Lin Shu and her bow kept the enemy at bay and did their best to injure.
After killing a few more spirit beasts, elder Lin Dong fell back to the group and joined the formation, spearheading the attack and easing the pressure on the others. A hard and tiring fight, but the group avoided casualties and apparently controlled the pace of battle.
“How long do we need to hold out for, Red Leg?” The beasts didn’t stop coming, and it became clear they could not make a run for it anytime soon.
“I’m not sure, depends on higher-ranked hunters out there, and if they’ll come to help in time.” In situations like these, hunters banded together and sought help, but their own safety was still top-priority. The nearby clans would send help, but as for reaching them in time…
A huge roar echoed from somewhere else. The forest trembled, and many trees fell. Spirit beasts poured from every direction.
“This is endless! Focus on your left!” Elder Lin Dong sighed and protected his clan members. They fought while conserving energy as much as possible but stronger beasts occasionally appeared.
“UghAAAAAAAAAAH!” A cultivator from Red Leg’s group died when a mantis-like spirit beast slashed him apart with its sharp-looking claws. Flood mantis, Spirit Sea Realm, first layer.
Red Leg wanted to intercept, but another scream echoed at his right flank when a huge sharp-fanged feline pierced a cultivator with its long teeth. Saber-toothed cat, Spirit Sea Realm, second layer.
“You take that one, I’ll deal with that first layer!” Elder Lin Dong stepped up to help, but yet another scream pierced the air, one more cultivator’s limb torn apart by two long hairy arms. Wild ape, Spirit Sea Realm, second layer peak!
Dread spread. Red Leg could deal with a Spirit Sea second layer beast, but peak second layer was another story, the wild ape especially so. With the saber-toothed cat and flood mantis, the situation became dire.
Spirit beasts condensed their cores from the Spirit Realm and above, becoming formidable. Aside from those, dozens of Body Tempering Realm spirit beasts still popped up. Red Leg knew their leader was definitely powerful, as even for a queen commanding so many monsters was not common. A group this large was only a fraction of the total attacking the other hunters.
“Yin’er, you guys take care of that flood mantis somehow! Everyone else spread and deal with the other beasts! Red Leg, I’ll leave the ape to you!” While Red Leg froze in a daze, almost losing hope, Lin Dong took charge. He had a reason to survive this ordeal.
Truth be told, Lin Dong thought about running away. He carried the future of the Forest Clan, his survival chances increased with no one to hold him back. Would the clan blame him for ditching some juniors but bringing back heaven rank cultivation laws and martial arts?
Never. They would praise him to the Heavens, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to do so. He wondered if it would make him the worst criminal in the history of the Forest Clan, throwing away such an opportunity only to save a few lives.
‘No matter what, I can’t abandon them. Even if I die, if the benefactor is still alive, I’m sure someday the Forest Clan will have unsurpassed glory! If I run away now, would I even have face to meet with him again? At least Lin Qiang must live!’ Elder Lin Dong’s eyes shone with determination, he rushed straight at the second layer Spirit Sea Realm beast, the saber-toothed cat.
Awakened by his friend’s commands, Red Leg struck at the wild ape, bringing out the full might of his flame spear. He contended with the beast evenly but could not defeat it in a short time without help. The other cultivator’s each took a match. Lin Dong’s group fiercely engaged the flood mantis. Four against this one beast, but they were only at the seventh layer of the Body Tempering Realm, focusing on defense to stay alive.
The spiritual energy in Lin Dong’s spirit sea revolved furiously, pushing out the most power to his cultivation law. With the [One With The Wood] from before he would have no chance against a Spirit Sea Realm second layer beast, but now his cultivation law was heaven rank!
Bringing forth his entire might, he pushed power and speed to the limit, striking with [Leaf] at the saber-toothed cat after stepping over with [Unmovable Forest]. This strike crossed realms, reaching might of the peak of the second layer of the Spirit Sea Realm.
Lin Dong’s sudden might took the saber-toothed cat by surprise and it reacted too slowly. Only the wild ape could have withstood this impact. The knife hand hit its chest and ripped apart the entire rib cage, blood and organs splashing out.
Lin Dong didn’t have time to breathe or hesitate before jumping at the flood mantis as a huge backlash hit his body from using the might of the peak of the second layer. He wasn’t like Ming Ren, tempering his body with a tyrannical art, even if only by a single breakthrough. His might increased but body strength was still of a common cultivator.
Every vein pulsed with almost unbearable pain, meridians reached their limits and almost shattered, only because of Ming Ren’s special cooking effects did they withstand the power.
Lin Dong spurted blood crazily from the mouth, but once again revolved the One With The Wood cultivation law, hitting the mantis’ left arm with [Leaf]. It was already too much for him. The strike reached the peak of the first layer of the Spirit Sea Realm and ripped off the beast’s arm, but it wasn’t enough to kill it right away.
“Lin Dong!!!” His bravery moved Red Leg. He would have gone to help in a heartbeat if the wild ape wasn’t so strong. At that moment, several other spirit beasts rushed in from the forest, and the cultivator’s faces looked extremely ugly.
Elder Lin Dong fell to his knees, right arm torn apart and bloodied, unable to stand its own might. His whole body was hot and tired. The flood mantis screamed in fury, raising the remaining claw to strike. Lin Yin and the rest struck furiously to keep it away, but how could they stop it?
‘Benefactor, forgive me, I have wasted your efforts…’ He still wanted to get up and fight, but could no longer keep his eyes open…