[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-harem-link-cultivation-system":3,"chapter-harem-link-cultivation-system-harem-link-cultivation-system-chapter-55":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Harem Link Cultivation System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1651107,2115,"Chapter 55: Contribution Trial: Snowfield Hunt [3]","harem-link-cultivation-system-chapter-55",55,"\u003Cp>The moment his foot hit the bridge, cold pressure brushed his skin like a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air ahead glittered faintly with suspended frost particles, as if the mist itself had been sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They walked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stone beneath their boots turned slick with thin ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bridge stretched longer than it looked, fading into a white haze that swallowed sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several minutes, the mist thinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the snowfield opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a simple field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a sloped basin carved between ridges, filled with knee-deep snow in some areas and bare froststone in others. Ice-slick boulders jutted out like teeth. Thin frost trees stood scattered, branches glittering with crystals that chimed softly when wind passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Formation lines shimmered faintly under the snow in places—blue threads like veins beneath pale skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teams spread out quickly, each choosing a direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A horn sounded once, low and distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trial began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen held up a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay within sight,\" he said calmly. \"At least until we find our first node or beast.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming scoffed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sight slows us down,\" he said. \"We aren’t children.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He started walking toward the left ridge, where the snow looked thinner and the terrain more rocky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lian immediately moved after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Senior Brother Zhao,\" He Lian said smoothly, \"that path looks like it leads to a formation cluster. Good tokens.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming didn’t reply, but he didn’t stop either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen glanced back at Lin Tian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No argument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t need to pick a fight before the trial even warmed his blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold density grew heavier as they moved deeper. Lin Tian could feel it pressing against his dantian like a constant weight. His breathing anchor held, but he had to maintain it consciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They encountered their first frostbeast within fifteen minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A creature like a wolf, but larger, its fur glittering with ice crystals, eyes pale and empty. Frost mist puffed from its nostrils as it prowled near a half-buried formation node—an upright stone pillar with a faint glow at its base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tokens could come from either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lian’s eyes brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Frostwolf,\" he said softly. \"Token and node.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming stepped forward, blade already drawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t get in my way,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen’s voice was calm. \"Coordinate. One distracts, one stabilizes the node, one flanks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming ignored him and lunged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fast, clean strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t sloppy. His sword arcs were sharp and practiced, frost qi layering subtly along the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The frostwolf snapped and moved with surprising speed, claws scraping froststone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming fought with sect polish. He used the slick terrain naturally, sliding into angles, turning cuts into pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lian circled wide and didn’t engage immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen stepped toward the node and placed his palm against the stone pillar, eyes narrowing as he guided qi into the formation lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stabilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian remained still for half a second, then moved—quietly—toward the frostwolf’s blind side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not interfering with Zhao Yuming’s pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Preparing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The frostwolf lunged suddenly, its body low and explosive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming dodged, but the beast’s tail swept wide and clipped his shin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He staggered half a step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast snapped toward him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian stepped in and struck—not with a flashy slash, but with a short, controlled arc that redirected the beast’s head away from Zhao Yuming’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade didn’t hit deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t need to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It created space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming’s eyes flicked toward Lin Tian, irritation flashing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t—\" he started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian didn’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pivoted back out of range, letting Zhao Yuming reclaim the lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen’s hand remained on the node.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint glow flared at its base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A token—a small frost crystal—rose out of the snow and floated briefly before being pulled into Xu Wen’s band with a soft chime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming, perhaps feeling challenged, pressed harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cut the frostwolf down in a rapid sequence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast collapsed into the snow, dissolving into frost mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another token formed and drifted toward Zhao Yuming’s band.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two tokens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lian finally stepped in at the last moment, stabbing the dissolving mist in a way that looked like contribution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His band chimed faintly too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the formation credited him with minor participation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming wiped his blade on the snow, not looking at anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Move,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the next hour, the pattern repeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming chose aggressive paths toward beast territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lian lingered slightly behind him, ready to \"assist\" when victory was certain and risk was low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen stabilized nodes when he could, calm and methodical, collecting tokens without drama.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian stayed quiet and efficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped in only when necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He conserved breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He maintained control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And through it all, he felt the cold density gradually digging in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not harming him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Testing endurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trace stirred once when a frostbeast’s howl spiked the cold pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian steadied his breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t reckless enough to think that meant he was safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snowfield wasn’t meant to kill them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was meant to push them until something inside them revealed itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By mid-afternoon, their bands had accumulated a modest count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Competitive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming’s irritation had grown sharper, not because they were losing, but because Lin Tian had not given him anything to strike at.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lian’s smile had become slightly more cautious, as if he couldn’t decide whether Lin Tian was easy prey or a quiet problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen remained neutral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his eyes observed everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They reached a narrow pass between two ridges where the wind cut harder, snow whipping in thin sheets. Formation lines glimmered faintly beneath the surface, denser here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen slowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This area has heavier formation layering,\" he said. \"We should be careful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming scoffed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Careful,\" he repeated. \"You say that like it’s wisdom.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen didn’t react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply looked at the snow ahead, eyes narrowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There may be pockets,\" he said. \"Cold density spikes. If we trigger one—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lian cut in smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Senior Brother Zhao,\" he said, pointing toward a dip in the snowfield to the left. \"I saw a node glow there earlier. It’s likely untouched. Easy tokens.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming’s eyes flicked toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then toward Lin Tian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile touched Zhao Yuming’s mouth, not warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ll take it,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That depression could be—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming stepped forward anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lian followed eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian watched them go for half a breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dip in the snow looked wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind avoided it as if something below absorbed motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian’s fingers tightened slightly at his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t stop them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stopping them would require authority he didn’t have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would also reveal caution they could mock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he moved after them, steps measured, eyes scanning the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen walked beside him now, voice lowered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re leading us into something,\" Xu Wen murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian didn’t look at him. \"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen’s eyes flicked to Lin Tian’s wrist band.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can feel the formation density,\" Lin Tian said. \"It’s not natural.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen’s jaw tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should we pull back?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian exhaled slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we pull back, Zhao Yuming will call it cowardice. He Lian will frame it as you doubting your own assessment. And the trial records everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen stared at him, then nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So we go in prepared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian’s gaze stayed ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all he could offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They reached the edge of the depression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming stood at the rim, looking down at a faint glow beneath the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There,\" he said. \"Formation node.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lian smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Told you,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen didn’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian felt the cold density shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the air inhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trace under his bracer twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His boot sank slightly into the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See?\" he said, looking back at Xu Wen. \"Always afraid of shadows.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took another step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snow beneath his foot shimmered faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A formation line lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A web.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian’s breath tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire depression flared with blue light under the surface—beautiful, thin, deadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold pressure surged upward like a burst of winter from a sealed cavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It slammed into Lin Tian’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not physical impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spiritual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dense, cold-aligned qi spiking so sharply it made his meridians prickle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trace reacted instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hard pulse under his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The urge brushed his mind like instinct again, stronger than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a formation pocket designed to compress and provoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yuming’s eyes widened as his breath fogged thickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lian stumbled back half a step, fake surprise too slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen’s hand snapped up, forming a quick stabilizing seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Formation pocket!\" Xu Wen barked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian’s vision sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snow around them glittered as if filled with tiny blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold density pressed down like a mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trace surged again, trying to answer with something unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian’s jaw clenched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew in one breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forced the cold qi down into his dantian without letting it flood his limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt the trace claw at the edge of his control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the pressure kept rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And their teammates—Zhao Yuming and He Lian—were already moving in ways that made one thing clear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t an accident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Tian’s gaze hardened as the formation pocket brightened beneath the snow, cold pressure tightening around his bones like a tightening fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trial had begun testing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the first test wasn’t frostbeasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>End of Chapter 55\u003C\u002Fp>",1606,"2026-06-06T12:01:50.401Z",1,"novelbin.me","6cbc2b90cfaa0c9dd46bc166e7da2130a5c5269ab6e2e5698f6e7eb36de97668","harem-link-cultivation-system-chapter-56","harem-link-cultivation-system-chapter-54",142,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fharem-link-cultivation-system-cover.jpg"]