41: The demon hunters are back, the trade fair

Cloud Dream Plaza.

The main peak plaza of Cloud Mist Mountain offers views of swirling clouds and a vast, clear sky.

If one's eyesight was exceptional, they could even glimpse the distant silhouette of Qingyang City.

Whenever the Lin Family Cultivators had a major gathering, it would typically be held here, as it was the most convenient location, and the Family's Martial Arts Training Ground was also nearby.

Today, many people had gathered here, and most of the Lin Family Cultivators (whether direct Disciples of the Lin Family or Cultivators who had joined the Lin Family) were discussing something.

Lin Yongmao also walked over, greeting the elders he knew from the Family one by one, then went to his mother, Han Yuying’s, side.

Han Yuying smiled and waved towards Lin Yongmao, and after he approached, she said, “Yongmao, wait here. Your father should be back very soon.”

Lin Yongmao had received the news earlier, which was why he had come from Thousand-Pinnacle Cliff.

The Cultivators present all had complex emotions: anticipation, worry, and longing.

The Lin Family Hunting Squad had been in the Qingyang Mountain Range for over a month, and now it was time for them to return home.

Lin Yongrong also saw his eldest uncle's Family; Lin Yuheng and Han Yuxiu were also waiting anxiously, constantly looking into the distance, awaiting the Hunting Demon Team's ascent up the mountain.

At this moment, Lin Yuheng did not appear as a dignified Clan Chief, but rather as an old father waiting for his son to return.

From afar, several small black dots could be seen approaching, and upon closer inspection, they were several members of the Lin Family Hunting Squad.

There were ten small black dots in total, corresponding to the ten members of the Hunting Demon Team.

Everyone's hearts settled; what they feared most was the Hunting Demon Team encountering misfortune in the Qingyang Mountain Range.

There had been such instances before; out of fifteen members of the Hunting Demon Team, only two returned, the rest buried in the mouths of Yao Beasts. That was the most devastating loss the Hunting Demon Team had ever suffered.

The members of the Lin Family Hunting Squad were all males; they were husbands, fathers, or sons of a Family.

If a Family lost such a member, it would undoubtedly be a huge blow.

Fortunately, they all returned safely, with no casualties. This was already the best possible outcome.

Lin Yucheng walked at the very front, a simple, honest smile on his resolute face. His cloth robe was tattered, and his body was stained with much Yao Beast blood.

The other Hunting Demon Team members were also in a similar state, looking somewhat disheveled.

However, smiles were on their faces, which indicated that their harvest this time was quite good.

Lin Yuheng went up to him and said to Lin Yucheng, “Fourth Brother, you’ve worked hard.”

Lin Yucheng quickly replied, “It’s my duty. All members of the Family’s Hunting Demon Team have returned safely. Moreover, we hunted many Yao Beasts in the Qingyang Mountain Range this time.”

Lin Yucheng opened his Storage Pouch, and at the same time, he motioned for the other members to display their gains one by one, laying them out on Cloud Dream Plaza.

This was considered the most anticipated part for the Lin Family Cultivators, so even those whose families did not have Hunting Demon Team members would come to watch.

They especially wanted to know what good things the Hunting Demon Team had obtained in the Qingyang Mountain Range this time, to see if there was anything they needed, which they could then exchange using Family Contribution Points.

Cloud Dream Plaza was paved with hard granite, which had been leveled and smoothed. At this moment, a large pile of miscellaneous items lay on the ground.

Among this pile of miscellaneous items, the most numerous were the bodies of Yao Beasts.

These were the hunted Yao Beasts, including Tusked Boar, Shadow Wolf, and even a gray-brown python body over ten meters long.

There were also some wild Spiritual Plants and spiritual fruits, but they were all common spiritual plants.

The harvest was abundant!

Among them, the most interesting was the gray-brown python body. Most Lin Family Cultivators did not know what kind of Yao Beast body it was.

This included the Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, Lin Family Clan Head Lin Yuheng.

“This should be the remains of a Third-Order Yao Beast. This skin is extremely tough, and the demonic power contained within it has not dissipated for a long time.”

“If it could be refined into a Magical Artifact, no, if a Third-Order Artifact Refiner could refine it into a Spiritual Artifact.”

“…”

Lin Yuheng looked at the snakeskin, his face full of admiration.

Lin Yucheng chuckled and said, “Big Brother, your son found this. The other members of our Hunting Demon Team wouldn’t dare claim credit.”

“Oh? With his cultivation and experience, how could he obtain such an Opportunity?” Lin Yuheng clearly didn’t believe it.

Lin Yongrong stepped forward and said, seemingly modestly, “Father, I did indeed encounter and obtain this by chance. At that time…”

Lin Yongrong recounted the entire story, naturally omitting the experience of the Third-Order Great Snake’s Divine Soul entering his Sea of Consciousness.

After he finished, he even glanced proudly at Lin Yongmao, full of provocation.

It was as if he was saying: What's so great about being a First-Order Spiritual Planter? The contributions I've made to the Family are much greater!

Just then, Lin Yongmao also happened to catch Lin Yongrong’s gaze. Their eyes met, then quickly separated, seemingly indifferent to each other.

Lin Yongmao sighed slightly. This cousin of his truly couldn't keep his composure; he had the Heart-Nature of a child.

Such an enemy would not be difficult to deal with.

However, he also needed to quickly nip it in the bud.

The Lin Family was his foothold, and he needed to eliminate any potential enemies within it.

It was just that this matter was indeed difficult to handle; he couldn't just directly make a move within the Family, could he!

A small trade fair quickly appeared in Cloud Mist Plaza. The main items traded were the resources obtained by the Hunting Demon Team from the Qingyang Mountain Range, and the currency became Family Contribution Points.

“Aside from this snake body, all other items can be traded with Family Contribution Points. Second Brother and Fourth Brother, you two will be responsible for this matter.”

Lin Yuheng waved his hand, assigning this task to Lin Yumo and Lin Yucheng.

Lin Yongmao exchanged for the bodies of three Yao Beasts: one Shadow Wolf and two Tusked Boar.

He had been eating spirit rice and spiritual fruits recently, with rare meat in his diet, and he wanted to satisfy his craving.

He heard that the meat of the Tusked Boar was good, so he might as well try it.

It cost a total of 30 Family Contribution Points, and Lin Yongmao successfully traded for them.

After this small trade fair ended, he returned home with his parents.

Han Yuying went to cook, leaving Lin Yucheng and Lin Yongmao, father and son, chatting idly.

“Yongmao, actually, this time, it was thanks to your Sword Talisman; otherwise, your old man here would have been in danger.”

Lin Yucheng recounted everything that happened in the Qingyang Mountain Range, especially Lin Yongrong's unauthorized actions and encountering the Shadow Wolf pack.

“That Lin Yongrong truly deserves to die; he almost harmed you.” Lin Yongmao was furious upon hearing this and couldn't help but complain.

He thought: This Qingyang Mountain Range is truly full of dangers. Even a Cultivator as strong as Father, a Qi Refinement Stage Great Perfection Cultivator, could encounter misfortune at any time.

“Father, don’t you find the snake body Lin Yongrong obtained a bit strange?” Lin Yongmao suddenly asked.