Ling Chen took the map and began to study it earnestly.
"Where are we now?"
Ling Chen asked.
Of course, learning to read the map comes first; otherwise, what's the use of having it?
Seeing that Ling Chen didn't give him the Spirit Revitalizing Pill, Lin Zhengyu didn't mind, he pointed to a spot on the map and said, "Here."
"Oh."
Ling Chen nodded.
From the map, he could vaguely discern some clues.
"Wait, our position, is it at the deepest part of the Endless Forest?"
Ling Chen asked.
Because this location was already at the southernmost point of the map, and there was nothing further south.
Lin Zhengyu shook his head and said, "Of course not. The Endless Forest is called 'endless' for a reason; how could it all fit on one map? The entirety of Guangling City might not even possess a complete map of the Endless Forest."
"Alright, you've seen the map, now give me the Spirit Revitalizing Pill?"
Lin Zhengyu was getting impatient.
If it weren't for the Spirit Revitalizing Pill at stake, he wouldn't bother talking to Ling Chen.
Ling Chen shook his head and said, "This isn't the map I need. Do you have a more detailed one?"
His intention was to hunt middle-tier spirit beasts, and what use was a map that only showed the distribution of low-tier spirit beasts to him?
Lin Zhengyu's mouth twitched with a hint of a sneer, "I do have a more detailed map, but I only have one, and even for ten Spirit Revitalizing Pills, I won't sell it! I've given you the map, so be smart and hand over the Spirit Revitalizing Pill."
"So what you're saying is, you plan to force a trade?"
Ling Chen smiled slightly.
Being the buyer, he naturally had the right to inspect the goods.
Since this map was not what he wanted, he could of course cancel the transaction.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhengyu's sneer grew even more pronounced, "Correct, I am forcing the trade, what can you do about it?"
He was at the early stages of the sixth level of the Essence Realm, dealing with a cultivator at the Peak of Physical Body Realm was barely different from squishing an ant.
Without waiting for Ling Chen to speak, Lin Zhengyu turned to the group of third-tier youths, "Today, I'll give you another free lesson—never reveal yourself before determining if the others are friends or foes, especially when outnumbered by the enemy."
"Alright, kid, I won't waste any more words with you. You have two options: one, hand over the Spirit Revitalizing Pill obediently; two, I beat you up, and you hand over the Spirit Revitalizing Pill anyway."
Lin Zhengyu took a step forward, his sixth level Essence Realm aura pressing down on Ling Chen.
However, contrary to his expectations, Ling Chen stood unshaken, not retreating a single step, nor did his body show the slightest tremble.
"So you intend to rob us by force?"
Ling Chen spoke.
"Is this waste a fool or what? This is the Endless Forest, even if we strip you clean, who would know it's our doing?"
One of the third-tier youths laughed.
Lin Zhengyu nodded in agreement, "You make a good point. Well, I've decided, we'll do as he suggested."
Ling Chen's gaze moved over the group of Lin Family's youths, noticing the schadenfreude on their faces, and he instantly made up his mind.
"You make a compelling argument."
Ling Chen nodded, "If I robbed you guys, who would know about it, right?"
"Ha! You delusional kid, thinking of robbing us?"
"Turns out becoming a cripple also affected his brain!"
"Brother Zhengyu, no need for you to take action, let me teach this cripple a lesson?"
The crowd scoffed, someone even volunteered eagerly.
For someone who could not even cultivate, the idea of him robbing them was downright laughable.
Lin Zhengyu said with a smile, "No need, you all concentrate on digesting the principles I've shared. I'll take care of this cripple myself, I guarantee you'll get a good show!"
"Great!"
Everyone's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Kid, weren't you planning to rob us? Start with me then."
Lin Zhengyu smiled faintly.
"Fine!"
Ling Chen answered earnestly.
As soon as his voice fell, he rushed to Lin Zhengyu in a few steps and threw a punch.
"Child's play!"
Lin Zhengyu sneered and casually slapped out.
However, at this moment, he suddenly looked at Ling Chen's fist in horror, seeing it entwined with black light.
"Spiritual Power?"
Lin Zhengyu cried out in surprise, immediately gathering Spiritual Power in his palm and striking towards Ling Chen's fist.
Just now, he had not used Spiritual Power, intending to defeat Ling Chen with physical strength.
Although his physical body was still at the Peak of the Physical Body Realm, it had been nourished by the subtle influence of Spiritual Power over the years, actually surpassing that of a common Physical Body Realm.
"What? Spiritual Power?"
Hearing Lin Zhengyu's cry, the adolescents of the trio were also shocked, their laughter stopping abruptly.
"Bang!"
At this moment, the two's fists and palms collided fiercely.
To everyone's astonishment, Lin Zhengyu's figure was forced back ten steps before he stabilized.
And Ling Chen did not even tremble.
"How is this possible?"
Lin Zhengyu roared incredulously.
He, a sixth-layer Cultivator in the Qi Condensation Realm, was actually repelled by a punch from Ling Chen?
Ling Chen had clearly failed to awaken, so how could he suddenly possess Spiritual Power?
And, to have a might of Spiritual Power that was even slightly stronger than his own?
"Exactly as I expected!"
Ling Chen quietly nodded to himself.
Although he was only in the mid-stage of the fifth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm, his Spiritual Power was comparable to the sixth layer, and Lin Zhengyu being repelled was the best proof!
"Enough, hand over everything you have on you."
Ling Chen looked down upon the crowd.
Since Lin Zhengyu's Spiritual Power was inferior to his own, it was destined that he couldn't escape this time.
In terms of Spirit Art proficiency, even Ling Xiao, at the ninth-layer Qi Condensation Realm, had to admit defeat—Ling Chen didn't believe that a sixth-layer Lin Zhengyu could be stronger than himself.
After all, in the Endless Forest, even if he robbed these fellows, they wouldn't have any evidence, would they?
Since that was the case, he might as well give them a taste of their own medicine.
These fellows actually wanted to strip him bare, so naturally, he wouldn't let them off easily.
Lin Zhengyu calmed down, even if his Spiritual Power wasn't as good as Ling Chen's, he still had Spirit Arts! He was a sixth-layer in the Qi Condensation Realm and had cultivated a medium-grade Spirit Art.
He refused to believe that someone who had just awakened less than ten days ago had also cultivated a Spirit Art, could he?
Now, he finally realized, the news coming from the Ling Family that Ling Chen had failed to awaken was just total bullshit; it must have been a deliberate act by the Ling Family to protect Ling Chen.
"Kid, thinking of robbing me, you're too naive!"
Lin Zhengyu bellowed angrily, his Spiritual Power began to circulate, tracing a mysterious and complex trajectory, finally congregating on his right hand.
"Profound Jade Palm!"
Lin Zhengyu stomped on the ground and sprang into the air, tracing an arc, aiming a palm strike at Ling Chen's head.
This Profound Jade Palm was a medium-grade Spirit Art, very powerful.
If this palm were to truly hit Ling Chen's head, it would undoubtedly be fatal!
A cold gleam flashed in Ling Chen's eyes, his right hand suddenly raised, black Spiritual Power quickly channeling into it.
"Azure Sky Claw!"
Ling Chen's fingers slightly curved to form a claw, then directly aimed at Lin Zhengyu's palm.
It was a medium-grade Spirit Art as well!
"Bang!"
The two clashed once again.
This time, Lin Zhengyu's body was sent flying backward, traveling a full thirty feet before coming to a halt.
"Medium-grade Spirit Art?"
Lin Zhengyu's right arm trembled slightly as he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.