18: Chapter 18 The Power of the Metal Fist

On the evening of the fourth day, Lin Tian finally practiced the Wood Element Fist for the hundredth time.

"Wood Element Fist proficiency + 1"

"Proficiency has reached 100/100"

"Wood Element Fist Breakthrough: Not Yet Initiated → Initiated"

"Next Stage: Initiated → Minor Achievement (0/300)"

The moment he finished his practice, Lin Tian felt a warm current welling up from his Dantian. Unlike the sharp, blade-like sensation during the Breakthrough of the Metal Element Fist, this heat was gentler, like a spring breeze brushing past, slowly seeping into his limbs and bones.

He closed his eyes and felt the changes in his body.

His muscles were still sore, but the recovery speed had clearly accelerated. Previously, after practicing for a day, he needed the body strengthening soup and Lingzhi to recover.

But now, even without external aid, he could feel the fatigue fading at a visible speed.

Is this the benefit of the Wood Element Fist?

Endless vitality, accelerated recovery.

Lin Tian opened his eyes and revealed a happy smile.

The five-path boxing techniques each have their own focus.

The Metal Element Fist focuses on offense, being fierce and sharp; the Wood Element Fist focuses on vitality, accelerating recovery.

Once he masters the Water, Fire, and Earth paths, and then combines the Five Elements, how strong would the power be?

He clenched his fists and turned to enter the house.

Tomorrow, he would go back to Lin Family Village to take a look.

Early the next morning, Lin Tian asked for leave from the martial arts hall, carried a small bundle, and walked back to Lin Family Village.

It was a thirty-mile journey, which took over four hours.

At noon, he finally saw the familiar entrance of the village.

"Tian is back!"

Someone shouted, and the village immediately became lively. Men, women, young and old came out one after another, surrounding him to ask questions.

Lin Tian responded all the way, and after much effort, squeezed out of the crowd and returned to his own courtyard.

Mrs. Zhao was feeding the chickens in the yard. Hearing the movement, she looked up, froze for a moment, and the winnowing basket in her hand fell to the ground with a 'clatter'.

"Mother." Lin Tian called out.

Mrs. Zhao's eyes reddened. She rushed over in a few steps, grabbed his arm, and looked him up and down: "You've lost weight... you've lost weight... Is the food at the martial arts hall not good?"

"Mother, I'm doing just fine." Lin Tian said with a smile.

Lin Dashan also came out from the room, stood at the doorway, and looked at his son silently. After a long while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence: "You're back? Come inside and eat."

At the dinner table, Mrs. Zhao kept putting food into Lin Tian's bowl, fearing he wouldn't be full. Lin Xiaohe hugged his arm and refused to let go, chattering about things in the village.

Lin Tian ate while responding, but he felt a faint sense that something was wrong.

The people in the village seemed much busier than the last time he returned.

The young men he met on the road walked in a hurry with exhausted expressions. Animal skins that had just been hunted were piled on the threshing ground, and the smell of blood had not yet dissipated.

Several old men squatted at the base of the wall smoking, their brows furrowed, sighing.

But he didn't ask.

He didn't want to disturb the time of family reunion with these matters.

The next day, Lin Tian found Lin Bao, the captain of the Hunting Team, and proposed that he wanted to join them into the mountains to hunt.

"You?" Lin Bao looked him up and down, "How is your training at the martial arts hall?"

"It's alright." Lin Tian smiled.

Lin Bao thought for a moment and nodded: "Alright, you can come. But it's dangerous in the mountains. Follow my commands when the time comes, and don't run around."

Early the next morning, the Hunting Team set off. There were seven people in total, including Lin Bao, five veterans, plus Lin Tian.

Everyone carried bows, knives, dry rations, and water, walking along the mountain road into the deep mountains.

It was Lin Tian's first time hunting in the mountains, so everything he saw felt fresh.

Lin Bao was experienced; he led everyone around dangerous areas and specifically took small paths where wild beasts appeared.

Along the way, they set up several traps, shot two wild rabbits, and used a hunting fork to stab a wild boar to death.

The cooperation was tacit and clean.

Lin Tian felt an itch in his hands and wanted to test his own strength.

Finally, on the afternoon of the third day, the opportunity came.

A Black Bear.

The bear was about six or seven hundred catties, jet-black, with a white crescent-shaped pattern on its chest.

It was digging soil under a large tree, looking for wild honey buried in the ground, completely unaware of the people in the distance.

"Black Bear." Lin Bao lowered his voice, "Thick-skinned and fleshy, with immense strength, ordinary Quasi-Martial Artists are no match for it. Let's go around."

"Captain." Lin Tian suddenly spoke, "Let me try."

Everyone was stunned.

"Are you crazy?" A hunter widened his eyes, "That's a Black Bear! One slap can crush a person's head!"

Lin Bao also frowned, stared at Lin Tian for a long time, and slowly said: "Are you sure?"

"Sure." Lin Tian nodded, "If I can't beat it, I will run."

Lin Bao pondered for a moment and finally nodded: "Let him try. I'll watch from the side. If there's real danger, I'll go up to save him."

Lin Tian took a deep breath and walked towards the Black Bear.

He didn't hide his tracks, and the sound of his footsteps startled the Black Bear. The beast raised its head, saw someone approaching, and immediately let out a low roar, slamming its front paws on the ground, sending mud splashing everywhere.

When they were three zhang apart, the Black Bear moved.

It stood up on its hind legs, as tall as a person, and roared as it lunged at Lin Tian. The bear's paw carried a whistling wind as it slammed down!

Lin Tian dodged to the side, using the first Move of the Metal Element Fist, Golden Spears and Iron Horses!

His right fist rushed out from his waist, the fist edge carrying a pale golden light of Qi, smashing heavily into the Black Bear's ribs.

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, the Black Bear's body swayed, and it let out a pained howl. But this punch only left a shallow dent on its body and didn't hurt its muscles or bones at all.

What thick skin!

Lin Tian's heart trembled, but his hands didn't stop.

The thirty-six Moves of the Metal Element Fist unfolded, and punch after punch bombarded the Black Bear. The fist wind whistled, and every strike used full strength.

The Black Bear felt the pain and lunged crazily. The bear's paws slapped, tore, and bit, with fierce Moves. Lin Tian relied on the recovery ability brought by the Wood Element Fist to endure it.

Thirty Moves, fifty Moves...

The Black Bear's movements gradually slowed down. It was covered in wounds; although not fatal, the blood kept flowing.

Lin Tian, however, fought more and more fiercely. The sharpness of the Metal Element Fist combined with the endurance of the Wood Element Fist made his combat power far exceed that of an ordinary Quasi-Martial Artist.

On the eighty-seventh Move, Lin Tian punched the Black Bear's throat.

"Crack!"

The sound of bones breaking rang out. The Black Bear's huge body collapsed, twitched a few times, and stopped moving.

Lin Tian retracted his fist, panting heavily.

Behind him, there was dead silence.

Lin Bao and the other hunters opened their mouths, looking at him like a monster.

"This... this was killed just like that?" A hunter muttered.

Lin Bao took a deep breath, his eyes full of shock: "Good boy... the martial arts hall wasn't for nothing!"

Over the next two days, Lin Tian took action a few more times.

He killed a wild boar, shot two roe deer, and even used the soft force of the Wood Element Fist to capture a wild rabbit alive.

The coordination between the Metal Element Fist and the Wood Element Fist became more and more proficient, and the connection of the Moves became smoother.

The hunt ended, and they returned fully loaded.

When they returned to the village, the threshing ground was crowded with people. Seeing the huge Black Bear, everyone was stunned.

"Black Bear! It's a Black Bear!"

"Lin Tian killed it? By himself?"

"My god, that's a six or seven hundred catty big guy!"

Mrs. Zhao stood in the crowd, covering her mouth, tears streaming down. Although Lin Dashan tried to remain calm, his eyes were full of pride.

Lin Xiaohe ran over and tugged at Lin Tian's sleeve: "Brother, you're amazing!"

Lin Tian smiled and patted her head.

That night, the village held a banquet again.

Lin Tian was still the protagonist, surrounded by people offering toasts. He drank until his Face was flushed, but he was happy in his heart.

Until he heard a sentence.

"This can be exchanged for quite a bit of silver, enough to buy food."

Lin Tian paused, put down his wine bowl, and looked at the old man who spoke:

"Buy food? Is the village short of food?"

The old man opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but was pulled by the sleeve by the person next to him.

Lin Dashan walked over and patted his shoulder:

"It's nothing major. Just focus on your cultivation at the martial arts hall and don't worry about these things."

Lin Tian frowned and looked at the Village Head.

The Village Head shook his head and said nothing.

Lin Tian was confused, but seeing that everyone was unwilling to say more, he didn't ask again.

He stayed for another three days, and Lin Tian prepared to return to the martial arts hall.

Before leaving, he left the remaining Lingzhi slices for Mrs. Zhao: "Mother, this is for your health, you keep it."

Mrs. Zhao refused, but he forcibly stuffed it into her arms.

Lin Dashan saw him to the village entrance, silent all the way.

At parting, he suddenly grabbed his arm, opened his mouth, wanted to say something, and finally just said:

"Cultivate well, don't worry about the family."

Lin Tian nodded and turned to leave.

After walking a long way, he looked back. The village was looming in the morning mist, with curling smoke, like an ink painting.

He took a deep breath and quickened his pace.

Must become stronger.

Become even stronger.

Only then can he protect the village, protect his parents and little sister.

Three days after Lin Tian left.

In the evening, Lin Family Village was awakened again by the sound of horse hooves.

The people from the Black Wolf Gang had come.

This time it was not the Third-in-Command, but the Second-in-Command.

A thin man in his forties with a sinister look, wearing two short knives at his waist. Behind him were more than twenty gang members, all fierce and vicious.

"Village Head Lin, is the food ready?" The Second-in-Command sat on his horse, looking down.

Lin Dashan's Face was pale, and he cupped his hands: "Second-in-Command, we handed over 20% half a month ago, and now you want another 10%, we really... really can't produce it."

"Can't produce it?" The Second-in-Command sneered, "Then don't blame me for being impolite."

He waved his hand, and the gang members behind him drew their swords one after another.

The people of Lin Family Village were furious, and several young hunters raised their hunting forks, with swords drawn and bows bent on both sides.

"Wait!" Lin Dashan hurriedly stopped his clansmen, took a deep breath, "Second-in-Command, our Lin Family Village has a descendant who is cultivating at the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall. For his sake, can you grant us some more time?"

"Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall?" The Second-in-Command raised his eyebrows, "Who?"

"His name is Lin Tian, he is a formal Disciple of the martial arts hall."

The Second-in-Command froze for a moment, then sneered:

"So what if he is a Disciple of the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall? A regular Disciple, I don't put him in my eyes at all. That martial arts hall has strict eliminations; if there is no progress in cultivation, they will be kicked out soon.

I reckon your descendant won't last a few months."

He reined in his horse and said coldly:

"When your Lin Family Village produces an Elite Disciple, then come and talk to me about conditions."

He paused and emphasized his tone:

"I'll give you a few more months. Next time I come, if the food isn't ready, just wait to collect the corpses."

The sound of horse hooves faded away, and dust flew.

On the threshing ground, there was dead silence.

Lin Dashan stood where he was, his Face ashen. He clenched his fists, his fingernails digging into his flesh, but he couldn't feel the pain.

Elite Disciple...

Tian, can you do it?