19: Happy family, family affairs!

The next moment, a fiery red shadow shot out from the woods, appearing at the spot Lin Fan had just occupied.

This shadow was the Fire Python Tiger, named Xiao Yan.

Riding on Xiao Yan's back was Qing Tan, her face beaming with joy.

A month and a half had passed, and Xiao Yan, the Fire Python Tiger, had grown to the size of an ordinary tiger.

Qing Tan would often ride him around to play.

Behind Qing Tan and Xiao Yan was another Fire Python Tiger, half his size—the one originally given to Qing Tan.

Qing Tan had also given her a name: Huo'er.

Seeing that it was Qing Tan, Lin Fan immediately dropped his guard, shaking his head and smiling, "Qing Tan, you're running around on Xiao Yan again."

Qing Tan stuck out her tongue and said with a giggle, "I'm not just running around; Father told me to come find you."

"Oh? Third Uncle is looking for me?" Lin Fan paused slightly at the words, then said, "Let's go back."

By his reckoning, a month and a half had passed since the Great Hunt, and the New Year had long gone by.

During this time, Lin Xiao had been busy with Family matters and rarely returned home; it had been half a month since his last visit.

Qing Tan said, "Lin Fan Ge, you come up too; let Xiao Yan take us back."

Lin Fan raised an eyebrow slightly, "Can Xiao Yan carry both of us?"

"Roar!"

Xiao Yan seemed to understand Lin Fan's words, letting out a low growl and lowering his front half slightly.

Qing Tan giggled, "Lin Fan Ge, Xiao Yan is telling you to get on."

Lin Fan smiled faintly, lightly leaping onto Xiao Yan's back, sitting behind Qing Tan, and gently patting Xiao Yan, "Let's go."

"Roar!"

Xiao Yan let out a low growl and galloped away, carrying Lin Fan and Qing Tan.

Huo'er followed behind, running quickly.

"Ding! You touched the Fire Python Tiger and obtained the Fire Resistance Body! Note: Possessing the Fire Resistance Body allows you to ignore all fire-attribute damage!"

At the same time, the familiar voice of the System echoed in Lin Fan's mind.

Fire Resistance Body, huh? Not bad!

Lin Fan couldn't help but feel a surge of joy upon hearing the special reward from this lucky draw.

However, he didn't notice any changes in his body, so he'd have to find an opportunity to test this Fire Resistance Body.

"Lin Fan Ge, why is my Huo'er growing so slowly? She looked stronger at first."

As Lin Fan was pondering the Fire Resistance Body, Qing Tan's somewhat displeased grumbling reached his ears.

Lin Fan glanced at Huo'er, who was following behind them like a large Tibetan Mastiff, and comforted her with a smile, "Perhaps it's because Huo'er is a female tiger, and female tigers don't grow as fast as male tigers."

In reality, Lin Fan knew very well that Xiao Yan had mutated, and Lin Dong feeding him the Stone Talisman spiritual liquid was why he could grow so quickly.

Huo'er, raised by Qing Tan, was just an ordinary Fire Python Tiger and hadn't consumed the Stone Talisman spiritual liquid, so her growth was naturally slower.

Hearing Lin Fan's words, Qing Tan cheered up considerably and nodded, "It seems it's just as Lin Fan Ge said."

After a pause, Qing Tan patted Xiao Yan's head and smiled, "Xiao Yan, you've grown faster, so you must protect your older sister in the future."

"Roar!"

Xiao Yan let out a low growl, seemingly agreeing to Qing Tan's request.

Lin Fan and Qing Tan, riding Xiao Yan, soon returned to the small mountain where they lived.

Lin Xiao, Liu Yan, and Lin Dong—the Family of three—were already gathered, waiting for Lin Fan and Qing Tan.

Lin Fan and Qing Tan jumped off Xiao Yan's back and greeted the three.

Lin Xiao motioned for Lin Fan and Qing Tan to sit down, then looked at Lin Fan and said with a smile, "Faner, how has your Cultivation been recently? Has it been smooth?"

Lin Fan nodded, "Yes, it's been quite smooth."

Qing Tan then added, "When I went to find Lin Fan Ge just now, I saw what looked like a Yuan Power vortex around him; it seemed very powerful."

"Yuan Power vortex?" Lin Xiao was surprised to hear this, then suddenly thought of something.

"I faintly sensed a surge of Yang Qi at the place you were Cultivating. Combined with the Yuan Power vortex Qing Tan mentioned, could you have been Breaking Through to the Heavenly Yuan Realm just now?"

Lin Xiao had also experienced Breaking Through to the Heavenly Yuan Realm, so he was naturally very familiar with the process.

"Yes," Lin Fan nodded, not hiding anything.

Lin Xiao quickly pressed, "Did you succeed in the Breakthrough?"

Without activating Yuan Power, one usually couldn't discern another's Realm.

Hence, Lin Xiao had to ask.

Upon receiving Lin Fan's affirmative answer, Lin Xiao was immediately overjoyed, "Good, good, good! A seventeen-year-old Heavenly Yuan Realm Cultivator is top-tier even in the entire Great Yan Dynasty!"

"I was once called a Genius, but compared to you, I'm truly not worth mentioning!"

Qing Tan looked at him with admiration, "Lin Fan Ge is too amazing!"

Lin Dong was also quite surprised and admired Lin Fan greatly, "Lin Fan Ge, congratulations!"

Liu Yan, standing nearby, also had a look of satisfaction on her face.

Lin Fan chuckled, "Actually, our Family has an even more amazing person whom you've all overlooked."

Qing Tan blinked and said, "Lin Fan Ge, among the younger generation of the Lin Family, is there anyone even more powerful than you?"

Lin Fan pointed to Lin Dong beside him and said with a smile, "Lin Dong is not yet sixteen and is already at the Middle Stage of the Earthly Yuan Realm. He'll probably Breakthrough to the Heavenly Yuan Realm in less than a year. Isn't he even more powerful than me?"

Although Lin Fan had given Lin Dong some help, Lin Dong hadn't been able to absorb Yin Qi by Qing Tan's bedside as often as in the original story, so his Realm hadn't surpassed his Realm at the same period in the original story.

Lin Dong scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, "I only luckily Broke Through to the Middle Stage of the Earthly Yuan Realm; I'm still far from the Heavenly Yuan Realm."

"Haha, you are all excellent," Lin Xiao said with a hearty laugh, his mood joyful at the moment.

Qing Tan raised her small hand and said, "Father, and me! I've reached the ninth level of Body Tempering!"

Lin Xiao laughed heartily, "Yes, Qing Tan is also very excellent."

Qing Tan immediately smiled happily at the words.

Liu Yan watched this scene with contentment, a faint smile gracing her face.

Inside the room, there was a scene of laughter and harmonious joy.

"What has Father been busy with lately? Why can't he come back often? Also, I noticed that Grandfather and the others don't look too well either."

After a pause, Lin Dong suddenly remembered something and looked at Lin Xiao.

Hearing Lin Dong's words, the smile on Lin Xiao's face immediately vanished, and he said somewhat angrily, "It's those shameless bastards from the Lei Family!"

Lin Fan raised an eyebrow slightly, "Third Uncle? Is it about Tiemu Village?"

"Yes," Lin Xiao nodded, his face somewhat grim, "It was agreed upon earlier that the handover of Tiemu Village would be completed within half a month, but now a month and a half has passed, and they are still dragging their feet."

Lin Dong frowned, "The wager that day was made in front of countless people. Does the Lei Family dare to go back on their word?"

Lin Fan smiled faintly, "They wouldn't go back on their word, but the Lei Family is definitely plotting something by dragging out the time."

Lin Xiao frowned, "Grandfather and I thought the same, but Tiemu Village is heavily guarded. Unless we openly turn hostile, it's difficult for us to investigate what's happening inside."

Lin Fan pretended to ponder for a moment, then said, "Third Uncle, do you think it's possible that the Lei Family wants to destroy the ironwood, or even the land where the ironwood grows?"

Lin Xiao's face changed dramatically upon hearing this; he suddenly stood up and said, "What you're saying is not impossible."

"No, I'll go find Grandfather right now. We'll immediately prepare to take over Tiemu Village, even if it means resorting to force!"

With that, Lin Xiao immediately headed towards the inner courtyard of the Lin Family.

"Third Uncle, I'll go with you!"

Lin Fan called out and quickly followed Lin Xiao.

"I'll go too!" Seeing this, Lin Dong also quickly followed.

Qing Tan wanted to go along too but was held back by Liu Yan.