Chapter 21

Seeing Lin Tian's sudden move, Su Shu's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

"Damn guy."

She muttered softly, naturally knowing that Lin Tian was standing up for her.

When Lin Tian grabbed his hand, Zhou Hao's eyes flashed with a cold light, but he still wore a smile on his face: "Hello."

He nodded at Lin Tian perfunctorily and then looked at Su Shu again, smiling: "By the way, Xiao Shu, there's one more thing. In three months, it will be the selection competition for the inner disciples of the Martial Mansion. This time, I will definitely enter the inner mansion, and then join the imperial expeditionary army after some time. With my strength, I will surely not be weak in the expeditionary army. After making some achievements in the future, I might even be ennobled as a marquis. When that time comes, Xiao Shu, you will be a marquise."

Su Shu frowned, looking unhappy.

"Even before entering the inner mansion, he's already dreaming of being ennobled as a marquis." Lin Tian glanced at the sky, stroking his chin and muttering to himself: "Strange, it's already daylight, he shouldn't still be dreaming."

"Ha ha!"

Su Shu couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

Zhou Hao's face darkened slightly, and the smile on his face froze.

"Brat, what did you say!" The two people following Zhou Hao stepped forward, one of them raising his hand to slap Lin Tian: "You insolent thing!"

A gust of palm wind swept by, extremely powerful.

"Fourth stage peak of Body Tempering!"

Su Shu was greatly alarmed.

The young man who made the move sneered arrogantly, his palm force becoming even stronger, and he slapped Lin Tian fiercely.

Lin Tian grunted, lifted his leg, and kicked the man in the abdomen. With a loud thud, the man screamed and flew backward, rolling on the ground and clutching his abdomen, unable to get up for a long time.

"You..."

The other person originally wanted to attack as well, but seeing this scene, he became fearful.

Clenching his fists, he didn't know whether to advance or retreat.

Zhou Hao looked at Lin Tian and said, "Brother Lin, to have such strength upon entering the Martial Mansion, you truly are a young hero. However, bullying a fellow disciple just because of your strength, isn't that a bit too much?"

"Too much?" Lin Tian was somewhat disdainful: "According to you, I should stand there and let him slap me, and that wouldn't be too much? If so, why don't you stand there and let me slap you?"

"Brat, what attitude is this!"

The person who didn't dare to attack shouted.

Lin Tian gave this person a cold glance, and he immediately trembled, involuntarily taking a step back.

Zhou Hao reached out and stopped the person from retreating, then stepped forward and looked at Lin Tian: "Brother Lin is indeed very powerful. I'm feeling itchy to spar with you. What do you think, Brother Lin?"

Zhou Hao looked at Lin Tian, his face calm, but his eyes had a hint of coercion.

"Sparring?" Looking at Zhou Hao meaningfully, Lin Tian smiled: "Sure, sparring is no problem, but the time will be set by me."

"Then when does Brother Lin want to spar?"

Zhou Hao asked.

"Isn't there the inner disciple selection in three months? That time would be perfect."

Lin Tian said calmly.

"Alright, then I'll follow Brother Lin's suggestion and spar in three months." Zhou Hao's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "However, Brother Lin, there might be some injuries during the sparring. Why don't we sign a life-and-death contract beforehand? What do you think?"

Su Shu frowned, about to refuse for Lin Tian, but was stopped by him.

Narrowing his eyes and staring at Zhou Hao for a while, Lin Tian finally smiled wickedly: "That suits me just fine."

Having lived two lives, he knew how to read people. Zhou Hao was clearly a treacherous and hypocritical person. For such people, one must never show any weakness.

Immediately, the two of them signed a sparring agreement, setting the time for three months later.

Life and death, on their own responsibility!

"Then, Brother Lin, see you in three months."

Zhou Hao smiled, gave Lin Tian a deep look, and then turned to leave.

...

On the way to Qingfeng Ridge, Su Shu looked at Lin Tian with a reproachful expression: "You, why did you agree? You only have three months, you can't catch up to Zhou Hao."

Lin Tian smiled, not caring. Although Su Shu had been complaining all the way, he knew she was worried about him.

"You're still smiling!"

Seeing Lin Tian smile, Su Shu was even more angry.

Lin Tian couldn't help rolling his eyes: "What else can I do, cry? Or do you want me to retreat in front of Zhou Hao, tail between my legs, and disappear from in front of you? Would that be better?"

Su Shu thought for a moment and said, "No!"

Lin Tian shrugged: "Then that's settled."

The entrance to Qingfeng Ridge was close to the Elder Pavilion. After a quarter of an hour, Su Shu brought Lin Tian here. Looking ahead, a huge stone gate stood, with two Martial Mansion enforcers guarding it on either side.

"Be careful, don't overdo it once you go in. Just find a place at the edge to practice."

Su Shu advised.

Lin Tian nodded, took a few steps, and then stopped.

"By the way, Su Shu, there's something I want to ask you." Lin Tian turned and looked at Su Shu: "I'm going in to practice martial techniques, which will take a long time. Could you take care of my sister for me? She's not familiar with this place yet."

Su Shu was slightly stunned, somewhat surprised.

"He didn't even blink when he killed that Mo Sen from the Mo family, but he's so gentle to his sister."

She muttered to herself.

"What did you say?"

Su Shu's voice was too low, and Lin Tian didn't hear clearly.

Su Shu quickly shook her head: "Nothing, nothing! Go ahead, I'll take care of your sister."

"Alright, then I'll trouble you."

Lin Tian smiled.

He waved at Su Shu, showed his identity jade token to the enforcer, and then stepped in.

Watching Lin Tian disappear, Su Shu was lost in thought.

"Come to think of it, he looked quite handsome just now."

She whispered.

...

Qingfeng Ridge had a complex terrain and was full of thorns, making it a paradise for beasts. After bidding farewell to Su Shu, Lin Tian entered this primeval forest through the stone gate. Walking in this old forest, he was startled. The old trees here were incredibly thick, and any tree he looked at had a diameter of more than two meters.

Lin Tian shook his head and muttered to himself: "First, I need to find a suitable place to practice martial techniques."

Qingfeng Ridge was vast, and while walking, he could often hear the roars of beasts and see the figures of many Martial Mansion disciples in the distance, clearly those people were also training here. Lin Tian didn't go deep into Qingfeng Ridge but found a secluded and spacious grassland at the edge.

"Phew."

Lin Tian exhaled a breath, sat down in a cross-legged position, closed his eyes, and began to circulate the Four Extremes Scripture. Immediately, the earth's spiritual energy surged from all directions, enveloping his body like a cocoon of light, misty and hazy.

After half an hour, the earth's spiritual energy stabilized, and Lin Tian opened his eyes again.

"Alright."

He muttered to himself.

Before practicing martial techniques, it was best for a martial artist to maintain their peak state of spirit, energy, and vitality. After circulating the Four Extremes Scripture for half an hour, Lin Tian finally adjusted his state to the best level.

Standing up, Lin Tian's expression was solemn, and he shouted: "Shadow Fire Fist!"

Lin Tian clenched his fists and swung them rhythmically, causing the air to hum. He kept punching until he was drenched in sweat, then rested for a moment before starting to practice again.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

On this grassland, Lin Tian not only punched the air but also endured the pain and punched the nearby old trees, each punch leaving bloody marks on his fists.

Soon, two hours passed.

In two hours, Lin Tian didn't know how many punches he had thrown. At this moment, he felt his fists become hot, as if wrapped in flames, and the true essence in his body seemed about to burst out. This made his heart race, and his eyes flashed with a sharp light.

"Shadow Fire Fist!"

He shouted, swinging his right fist.

With a loud boom, nine fist shadows appeared, carrying thick true essence, and struck a nearby old tree. With a crisp crack, the tough tree trunk exploded, and wood chips flew everywhere.

Lin Tian smiled slightly: "In two hours, I've finally touched the edge of the first level."

The Shadow Fire Fist was a low-grade Body Tempering martial technique, divided into two levels. The first level was the Shadow Fist, which could create numerous true essence fist shadows. At its highest level, one could create up to ninety-nine fist shadows at once, making it very powerful. The second level was the Fire Fist, which could make the fist shadows from the first level produce flames, making it even more formidable.

Lin Tian only used two hours to touch the edge of the first level, Shadow Fist, and create nine fist shadows. This speed of cultivation was indeed abnormal, but Lin Tian was not satisfied. The Nine Yang Martial Mansion was full of strong people, and he knew he was still far behind. Even today's Zhou Hao was much stronger than him.

"I need to work even harder!"

Lin Tian muttered to himself.

He took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and began to practice again.