Chapter 15: Tang San's Challenge

Over a month quickly passed.

During this time, Lin Ye's daily routine had become quite fixed.

In the mornings, he would practice Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, Phoenix Dance Six Illusions, and Dugu Nine Swords on the edge of the forest. Afterward, he would use Phoenix Dance Six Illusions to venture deep into the forest on the mountain to hunt. By evening, he would review his gains from the day.

Ever since he began hunting deep in the forest, with ample meat to sustain him, Lin Ye's progress in Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill had advanced by leaps and bounds.

Now, even without relying on the support of Nine Yang True Qi, his raw physical strength alone had reached the point where he could lift a thousand pounds with one arm. And this was only with Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill at about one-tenth of the first level. When he eventually perfected the first level, lifting ten thousand pounds with a single arm would be no problem at all.

Beyond having sufficient food, the pelts of the animals Lin Ye hunted also brought in some income for the family. The earnings were considerable, especially compared to the average income of the villagers in Holy Spirit Village. According to Old Jack, he wouldn't keep the money for himself. Instead, he planned to save it for three months and then hand it over to Lin Ye as living expenses for when he attended the primary Soul Master Academy.

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One morning, the sky was clear and blue, with the sunrise painting the eastern horizon in shades of red that lingered like the remnants of dawn.

At this moment, deep within the forest, a dense thicket stretched out endlessly. Towering trees rose from the earth, their dense canopies overlapping and casting mottled shadows on the ground below.

Amidst the dense woods, Lin Ye stood firmly on the fallen leaves, gripping his sharp longsword, his gaze locked onto a fierce wild beast before him.

It was a massive wild boar, nearly three meters in length, resembling a colossal creature. The boar's muscles were knotted and appeared incredibly solid. Its thick, hardened skin was covered with a layer of dried mud, like armor, and its black bristles stood erect like steel needles.

Although the boar didn't have a mouthful of tusks, the two curved fangs jutting from the corners of its mouth, coupled with its massive size, rippling muscles, and ferocious eyes, made it just as threatening as any lion, tiger, or bear.

Snort~

Snort~

The wild boar fixed its fierce gaze on Lin Ye, letting out low growls as it dug its front hooves into the ground, as if preparing to charge or perhaps just staying on guard.

But Lin Ye didn't move, and neither did the wild boar. Despite its size, it was cautious, not daring to attack recklessly.

Having hunted for over a month, Lin Ye's prey had gradually progressed from herbivorous animals to carnivorous beasts. Even when faced with lions, tigers, leopards, or bears, if Lin Ye felt confident, he would not let them escape.

As a result, a murderous aura had developed around Lin Ye—a byproduct of killing countless beasts. This aura, while likely to affect humans, was even more palpable to the wild boar, which was particularly sensitive to it.

Thus, even though the wild boar was used to dominating the forest, it didn't dare to act rashly when facing Lin Ye.

However, as a wild animal, the boar's patience was far more limited than that of a human. It couldn't maintain its composure indefinitely.

After a tense standoff, the boar finally lost its patience.

Roar!

As time dragged on, the wild boar's frustration grew. Its already bloodshot eyes turned even redder as it continued to kick up dirt. Finally, with a furious roar, it dug its front hooves into the ground and charged at Lin Ye.

Yet, facing the boar's reckless charge, Lin Ye's eyes remained calm, even cold.

As the boar's angry roars filled the air, and it closed the distance to just three meters, Lin Ye activated Phoenix Dance Six Illusions, instantly leaping over five meters into the air.

With Lin Ye's sudden evasion, the wild boar crashed headlong into a large tree behind where Lin Ye had been standing, leaving it staggering. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Ye shifted his position, descended swiftly, and channeled his Nine Yang True Qi, unleashing all his strength as he drove his sword into the boar's back.

Then, with another activation of Phoenix Dance Six Illusions, Lin Ye quickly moved to the boar's side, gripping his sword firmly as he used his weight to drag the blade downward. The sharp sword sliced through the boar's back, tearing through its abdomen and nearly splitting the creature in two.

Blood poured from the massive wound, mingled with the boar's entrails, which spilled onto the forest floor.

The sudden, intense pain elicited a bloodcurdling howl from the boar. Though the beast had an exceptional vitality, Lin Ye's attack had been too swift and the injury too severe.

The boar's agonized screams were abruptly cut off as its life force drained away. The massive body collapsed heavily to the ground.

"This boar should last us several days, right?" Lin Ye mused aloud, pulling his sword free and looking down at the lifeless boar. Blood pooled around its body on the leaf-strewn ground as he placed his hand on the boar.

With a flash of light, the boar was instantly stored in the jade pendant.

Although Lin Ye had considerable strength and could easily carry the boar, hauling such a heavy animal from the forest's depths back to Holy Spirit Village would be too much of a burden. With the storage space of the jade pendant at his disposal, it made sense to use it.

After securing the boar, Lin Ye concluded his day's hunt. Using Phoenix Dance Six Illusions, he quickly made his way back to Holy Spirit Village from the forest's depths.

At a small riverbank just outside the village, Lin Ye washed the boar, then divided its body into portions before taking it home.

Around noon, Old Jack returned home after finishing his work in the fields. When he entered the house and saw the hall filled with wild boar meat, his eyes widened in shock.

"Xiaoye, where did you hunt down such a large wild boar?"

"I encountered it while practicing my swordsmanship in the back mountain, so I brought it back," Lin Ye replied calmly, wiping his sword clean.

"Are there really so many wild beasts in the back mountain now?" Old Jack muttered in surprise, recalling how often Lin Ye had been encountering various wild animals lately. But he didn't doubt Lin Ye's words—after all, how far could the boy go in just one morning?

"Sigh! It seems Xiaoye is indeed destined to become a Soul Master." Old Jack exclaimed in awe, his gaze sweeping over the already butchered wild boar. Such a massive boar—it must be the work of a Soul Master to hunt down something like this.

For his grandson, with just his innate full soul power, to be able to take down such a fierce beast, surely, he's a born Soul Master. Even with a "trash" martial spirit, so what? With such innate talent, if he can't use his martial spirit in battle, then can't he focus on swordsmanship instead?

"Xiaoye, this wild boar is far too much for our family alone. You should take some to Xiao San's house. After all, even though I hesitate to say it, the sword Tang Hao forged for you played a big part in this hunt."

As if suddenly remembering something, Old Jack suggested.

"Understood," Lin Ye nodded. He sheathed his sword, then selected two large pieces of wild boar meat from the pile. Tying them together with a rope through the bones, he carried them over to Tang San's house.

When he arrived at Tang San's house, Tang San was still working in the blacksmith shop, while Tang Hao was nowhere to be seen.

Hearing footsteps at the door, Tang San turned and saw Lin Ye walking in.

"Tang San, I hunted this wild boar today. It's more than we can eat, so I'm bringing some over for you and Uncle Tang Hao," Lin Ye said as he entered the shop, placing the wild boar meat on the table.

"No need. Really, you've already done so much for us. This wild boar meat is too valuable." Tang San hurriedly put down his hammer and grabbed the meat, ready to return it.

However, under Lin Ye's insistence, and after learning that Lin Ye's family still had plenty of boar meat left, Tang San finally accepted it.

"Lin Ye, I really can't thank you and Grandpa Jack enough." Tang San sighed as he looked at the wild boar meat on the table, his gaze filled with complex emotions.

He had always thought of his playmate as just another ordinary child, albeit one with exceptional perseverance and willpower. But he never imagined that Lin Ye possessed such terrifying strength.

This wild boar meat had come from a beast that must have been colossal. For Lin Ye to take down such a massive wild boar, not to mention the bear and tiger meat he had brought before, left Tang San feeling a sudden sense of inadequacy.

Noticing the unusual look in Tang San's eyes, Lin Ye asked, "Tang San, what's wrong?"

Hearing Lin Ye's words, Tang San suddenly made up his mind. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Lin Ye with a serious expression and said, "Lin Ye, I want to challenge you."

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