81. Weird Cultivation

Lin Dong's voice echoed through the arena. The elders of the Lin family smirked slightly.

"The fish has taken the bait!" Meanwhile, the other, unaware disciples erupted with excitement.

"Lin Dong has fought continuously today, consuming a lot of energy. If he loses, Lin Langtian's victory would seem unfair."

"Indeed, Lin Dong is a clever one!"

"It looks like he knows he's outmatched and found himself a good way out."

"Impressive, really!"

Countless voices of surprise filled the air.

In their eyes, Lin Langtian was considered the Lin family's current number one genius.

Could a member of a branch family in the advanced Form Creation Realm really challenge him?

On the platform, Lin Zhi said, "How about this: tomorrow morning, you can fight the final match. What do you think?"

"Let it be as Lin Zhi suggested," responded Lin Fan, the family head.

The others dared not object, and the crowd began to disperse.

"Grandfather, Father." Lin Dong approached Lin Xiao and the others.

He first greeted Chen Xuan and Lin Xiao before looking surprised. "Mother, you came as well?"

"Just had nothing else to do, so I came to watch," said Liu Yan, her expression somewhat awkward.

Lin Dong nodded. "Grandfather, were you satisfied with my performance today?"

Overconfidence can lead to arrogance.

Chen Xuan had already noticed a rare hint of arrogance in Lin Dong, but he held back from saying anything.

Imitating Lin Zhentian's tone, he replied, "Satisfied, very satisfied. Just do your best tomorrow."

"Don't worry, Grandfather. I’m 60% sure I can defeat Lin Langtian!"

With the help of Little Marten, it shouldn't be a big problem.

Lin Xiao and his wife were very worried, fearing their son would follow the same unfortunate path as Lin Xiao once did.

They dared not remind him, as Chen Xuan had warned them that any attempt would cost them their lives. So, they could only watch anxiously.

The couple turned to their daughter, feeling surprised.

At that moment, Lin Qingtan seemed like a different person, looking at Lin Dong with calm eyes, no longer filled with her usual affectionate gaze.

Yet, when she looked at the disguised "Lin Zhentian," there was a spark in her eyes.

Liu Yan became more certain of her suspicions.

"Lin Zhentian" patted Lin Dong's shoulder, giving an 'earnest' reminder: "Good boy, you've been busy all day. Go get some rest and fight at your best tomorrow!"

"Alright."

After exchanging a few more words, Lin Dong and the others went to rest in a spot arranged by the Lin family.

That night, under the sparse stars and bright moon, in his room, Lin Dong began intense training with Little Marten's guidance.

He hoped to break through to the Qi Creation Realm overnight, which would significantly boost his chances with Little Marten's help.

One wall away was Lin Qingtan's room.

She wore a light blue dress, her bright eyes meeting Chen Xuan’s across from her, her demeanor a blend of reluctance and anticipation.

"Um… do we really have to do this?"

"You have no choice," Chen Xuan replied calmly.

To his surprise, the ancestral symbol collection compendium showed two ancestral symbols glowing faintly.

Lin Qingtan clenched her hands tightly. "Fine, but don’t be too rough."

"Are you giving me orders?" Chen Xuan swept his sleeve, sending a strong force that flung Lin Qingtan heavily onto the bed.

The loud sound caught Lin Dong's attention next door.

He asked concernedly, "Qingtan, are you alright?"

"I...I'm fine, just tripped," Lin Qingtan quickly made an excuse.

Not suspecting anything, Lin Dong simply advised her to be careful, then resumed his training.

Shortly after, another strange sound reached his ears.

It sounded almost like… the splashing made by a child playing in water.

For some reason, Lin Dong couldn't shake the feeling that the strange sound he was hearing seemed familiar, as if he'd heard it somewhere before, yet he couldn’t remember where.

After racking his brain to no avail, he shook his head and prepared to refocus on his cultivation.

But just then, he heard another odd, faint hum in his ears.

Despite its quietness, his sharp hearing picked up on something amiss.

The string of strange occurrences left him feeling slightly uneasy, so he turned to the well-informed Little Marten for insight.

Little Marten perked up its ears, listened for a moment, then scratched its head with a furry paw, equally perplexed.

It suggested it might just be some of the Lin clan’s children playing in water outside and told Lin Dong to ignore it and concentrate on his cultivation.

Lin Dong nodded, about to get back into focus, but then grew annoyed when the sound appeared again, as though it was coming from the room just across the wall—Qingtan’s room.

But what could possibly be going on in her room?

Suddenly, he remembered the peculiar sound.

Could it be… that kind of sound? He quickly got up and walked to the wall, listening intently.

He could vaguely hear a rapid breathing sound, one that stuck deeply in his memory—unforgettable for a lifetime.

As if realizing something, Lin Dong hurriedly knocked on the wall, frowning as he asked, “Qingtan, are you okay?”

Ding! Lin Dong feels curiosity, Emotional Points +200

“I… I’m f-fine,” came Lin Qingtan’s faltering reply.

Still concerned, Lin Dong pressed on, “Then why do I keep hearing strange noises from your room?”

“I… I’m cultivating,” she answered softly, biting her lip.

Indeed, she was cultivating—just in a slightly unusual way.

Lin Dong offered, “Cultivating? Do you need my help?”

“No, no need,” Lin Qingtan quickly declined.

Accepting her refusal, Lin Dong added, “Alright then, but let me know if you need anything.”

“Okay… will do,” she replied quietly, biting her lip.

Satisfied, Lin Dong returned to his room, sitting cross-legged.

He still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.

Surely Qingtan wouldn’t lie to him? He thought for a moment, then brushed off his suspicions, figuring he was probably overthinking things after being cooped up too long.

Ding! Lin Dong feels doubt, Emotional Points +200

Unbeknownst to him, in the room just across the wall, Lin Qingtan’s slender, snow-white figure leaned against the wall with one hand, the other covering her mouth to stifle any sounds.

Her beautiful eyes held a peculiar glint as she concentrated, following Chen Xuan's guidance.

She felt terrifying amounts of Yuan Power surging into her body, gathering and bombarding her slender form with intensity.

She could clearly sense the Yuan Power accumulating rapidly within her, bringing her one step closer to advancing to the advanced stage of the Form Creation Realm.

Two and a half hours later…