Even a typical early-stage Qi Cultivator would have little chance of victory against someone like Lin Tian, an anomaly in the cultivation world.
His strength surpassed that of most early-stage Qi Cultivators by fifty percent, and his physical endurance was far beyond that of an ordinary person, comparable to a mid-tier Qi Cultivator. Though his combat skills were somewhat lacking, his physical prowess and battle experience made every encounter with him a serious threat. Through his experiences in the ancient wilderness, Lin Tian had learned to eliminate enemies in the most direct and effective ways. He did not rely on fixed moves in battle but instead utilized quicker, more efficient techniques to defeat his opponents, delivering tremendous power.
Lin Tian understood that the trials of life-and-death battles were far more effective than memorizing set techniques. As such, he was confident in his combat abilities and believed he could defeat most early-stage Qi Cultivators without external assistance. If necessary, he could even rely on the assassination techniques taught to him by the old man, giving him a six or seven out of ten chance to kill a mid-tier Qi Cultivator. Against high-tier Qi Cultivators, he still had a two out of ten chance of taking them down through clever tactics. If he encountered outer disciples of the Tian Can Sect, like Gu Sangbo, he was ninety percent confident he could defeat them.
However, the one person he feared was the hidden disciple of the Tian Can Sect, He Shidi, a disciple of Ji Wuchang. Though he could not contend with innate-level experts, this deeply concealed enemy still posed a significant threat to him.
One day, after completing the nineteenth movement of his second set of techniques, Lin Tian slipped into a nearby pond to wash off, feeling refreshed. Just as he excitedly prepared to return to his cave, he noticed that the rubble near the entrance had been disturbed. The area, once a tiger's den, although thoroughly cleaned, still emitted a subtle scent, causing small animals to instinctively feel threatened.
Since no large animals were found, Lin Tian inferred that the intruder was most likely a person.
His heart tightened, and his mind immediately went to the pursuing forces of the Tian Can Sect. Given the rumors surrounding his possession of the Lingwu Sutra, the Tian Can Sect would undoubtedly send someone to track him down, and this chase would be a no-escape situation. The only person who could be aware of this was Ji Wuchang's disciple, the mysterious He Shidi. Lin Tian could not know whether he had been lured here or not, but he no longer felt confused about his situation in the ancient wilderness.
Cautiously entering the cave, Lin Tian was alert to every sound around him. His nerves were on edge, ready to take action if there was an ambush inside. Upon entering the cave, however, apart from a few faint footprints among the scattered ash and plant debris, nothing seemed out of place. Lin Tian's heart sank; these footprints could not have been left by him, as he could control his steps precisely to avoid leaving any trace. The footprints before him were clearly not his.
It was evident that the person who entered the cave was no ordinary cultivator.
Based on the size and depth of the footprints, Lin Tian deduced that the intruder was at least a high-tier Qi Cultivator, if not an innate expert. For Lin Tian, the latter would be an almost unbeatable opponent.
He began to quietly retreat from the cave, gripping the dagger that could cut through iron like mud. To the untrained eye, the dagger might seem unremarkable, but to Lin Tian, it was the only weapon that gave him confidence. While it was unlikely to pierce the protective aura of an innate expert, it might offer him a slim chance of survival in a life-or-death situation.
With each step becoming lighter, Lin Tian's ears twitched as he picked up on the faint sound of footsteps. He quickly assessed that a large group of people was approaching. His hearing far exceeded that of ordinary humans, and he quickly determined that there were about seventeen people approaching. Just as he stepped out of the cave, he saw eighteen people standing outside, their presence tense, with one in particular exuding an oppressive aura.
Most of these individuals appeared to be around twenty years old, but the leaders were two middle-aged men. Judging by the aura emanating from them, one was clearly an expert at the peak of Qi Cultivation, with a steady presence and cold light flashing in his eyes from time to time.
Lin Tian took a deep breath. This lineup, without an innate-level expert overseeing it, was still enough to leave him with no way out. The middle-aged man at the peak of Qi Cultivation spoke in a low voice, "Who are you, and why are you here? No hunters have ever come to this place."
Lin Tian's mind raced, but he noticed that they did not exude any energy typical of the Tian Can Sect, momentarily ruling out the possibility of them being sent to capture him. He calmly replied, "I've lived here for some time, and this is the first time I've seen anyone." His clothes, torn from numerous falls, were now wrapped in tiger skin, making him appear like a wild man. No wonder they mistook him for a hunter.
"You're young, yet you've reached the peak of bone forging. Not bad," said the middle-aged man at the peak of Qi Cultivation, his tone laced with disdain. "Are you a rogue cultivator or part of a sect?"
Lin Tian secretly laughed. They had clearly misjudged his true cultivation level. He was already strong enough to challenge early- and mid-stage Qi Cultivators.
"Zhao family? I've never heard of them," Lin Tian replied coldly. "But since this is a place without a master, and you only pass through once every three years, am I not allowed to stay here? I've lived here for three months and haven't disturbed anyone."
"Since that's the case, our Zhao family will camp here tonight. If you wish to leave, you may do so." The young man pulled two golden beads from his pouch and casually flicked them toward Lin Tian, his gaze filled with contempt.
Lin Tian frowned slightly, taking the golden beads but saying nothing. He knew these people were not simple, and his predicament seemed to be just beginning.