The night was as black as ink.

But one courtyard in the Lin family estate was brightly lit, as if it were day.

"Young Master, drink! A toast to you!"

"Alright! Let’s drink until we drop! Xiu Niang, what are you standing there for? Come drink with me. Ooh, your skin is so smooth."

"Ah..." A woman’s startled cry rang out.

It was followed by the sound of a wine bowl shattering.

"You... you little bea... beast! And I, Yi Mingcheng, respected you as my master! You... you dare to molest my wo... woman!"

The servants in the courtyard exchanged glances, then, as if by a silent consensus, all surged toward the brightest room.

"Hmph! Yi Mingcheng, you dog of a slave, you dare curse at me? You’re asking to die!"

As soon as the words fell, the crowd heard a THUD as something heavy hit the floor.

"I’ll fight you to the death!"

"You all stay here and watch. I’m going to report this to the Patriarch," someone outside whispered to the person next to them before quickly departing.

Just as he left, the window of the adjacent room suddenly flew open. A figure leaped out, rolled on the ground, and vanished into the nearby bushes.

After the window closed, the sounds of fighting inside the room continued.

"Yi Mingcheng, you’re no match for me!" This was clearly Lin Hao’s voice.

Yi Mingcheng’s enraged roar followed. "Even if I die, I won’t let you have your way!"

From the bushes, Lin Hao murmured, ’I didn’t think Xiu Niang was also skilled in ventriloquism.’

He said no more. Crouching low, he snuck toward Lin Tianhao’s mansion...

"You’re saying Lin Hao and Yi Mingcheng are fighting over that woman?" In his mansion, upon hearing the servant’s report, Lin Tianhao was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Hahaha, that little bastard actually knows how to chase women now..." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Patriarch..." the servant called out.

Lin Tianhao managed to stifle his laughter and said, "Go back and keep an eye on them. As long as they don’t leave the courtyard, let them fight!"

Little did they know that Lin Hao had already reached the perimeter of the Patriarch’s mansion.

The Patriarch’s mansion was magnificent, surrounded by countless exotic flowers and rare plants, far grander than Lin Hao’s current courtyard.

Crouching amid a patch of flowers, Lin Hao stopped.

He was now eight hundred meters from Lin Tianhao’s mansion.

By his estimation, moving any closer risked being discovered.

Lin Tianhao was a powerful expert of the Elemental Realm, and even Lin Zheng had reached the Eighth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm. Their Spiritual Sense was bound to be terrifyingly sharp. The closer Lin Hao got, the more cautious he had to be.

Lin Hao circulated his Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill, hoping to perceive the movements within.

Just then, a burst of laughter erupted from the mansion.

In a moment of unguarded delight, his Spiritual Sense would be at its most relaxed.

The opportunity was fleeting!

’Now!’

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Hao executed the Ghostly Divine Step. In just three steps, he had closed the distance by a hundred meters!

He stopped again as the door to Lin Tianhao’s room swung open.

The servant who had just delivered the report stepped out.

Lin Hao’s gaze sharpened, and he tilted his head to listen.

He was listening to the servant’s footsteps!

A few breaths later, Lin Hao moved again.

This time, he used the surrounding environment as cover to inch forward.

Each of his steps landed in perfect sync with the servant’s, not a single one out of place.

By the time the servant left the courtyard, Lin Hao had closed the distance to the room by another fifty meters.

At six hundred and fifty meters, Lin Hao could now hear faint whispers of conversation by circulating his Cultivation Technique. He didn’t dare to even breathe too loudly.

An Elemental Realm expert was immeasurably powerful. If he were exposed now, all would be lost.

Circulating his Cultivation Technique, he guided the mysterious True Qi through his limbs and meridians. His heart gradually calmed until even his heartbeat became almost imperceptible.

Lin Hao’s mind became ethereal, and his breathing grew long and steady...

Suddenly, Lin Hao’s mind jolted. He "saw" the vast, pure, and Boundless cosmos, and he felt like a mere speck of dust within it.

The mysterious True Qi in his body connected with the heavens and the earth. He had achieved the Unity of Heaven and Man!

At this moment, he was a flower, a blade of grass... he could be anything.

He perceived everything around him completely!

Inside the room, Lin Tianhao and his son were laughing about him molesting a servant’s woman and were planning to use it to cause a major stir.

Meanwhile, a thousand meters away, someone was heading this way.

Having entered this profound and mysterious state, Lin Hao not only chose not to advance but decisively retreated.

A few breaths later, a figure walked past not far from him, completely unaware of his presence.

Lin Hao retreated further, and before long, he was more than a thousand meters away, sitting cross-legged atop a rockery.

Under the cover of night, Lin Hao was as still as a mountain, as if he had become part of the rockery itself.

From this vantage point, he had a clear view of Lin Tianhao’s entire mansion.

...

"Patriarch, are you in?" Shi Bai stood outside Lin Tianhao’s mansion. Though he asked, his movements didn’t pause for a second. Without waiting for a reply, he pushed the door right open.

Inside, a flash of displeasure crossed Lin Tianhao’s face, but it vanished instantly, replaced by a broad smile.

"Master Shi, you’ve come. Have you been refining pills again?" Lin Tianhao’s gaze fell on the box in Shi Bai’s right hand, a fervent heat flashing in his eyes.

Shi Bai sat down unceremoniously, placed the box on the adjacent table, and narrowed his eyes, letting out a "hmph" through his nose.

With such an attitude, it was clear he held no regard for Lin Tianhao, the Patriarch.

Yet Lin Tianhao dared not show his anger. The value of an Alchemy Master was simply too great.

If Shi Bai could truly be brought to his side, it wouldn’t be long before the Lin family became the number one family in War Dragon City.

After all, a Martial Artist’s cultivation was inseparable from the support of medicinal pills.

"You’ve worked hard, Master. For you to trouble yourself with delivering the pills so late at night, I am truly humbled." Lin Tianhao bowed with his fists clasped, his expression one of utmost respect.

Shi Bai’s eyes snapped open. He stared intently at Lin Tianhao, making his hair stand on end, before speaking slowly:

"This pill is of great importance. If I had someone else deliver it, I’m afraid they would have taken it and fled, never making it to you."

Lin Tianhao was startled. "May I ask, Master, what pill is this?"

"I’ve heard that War Dragon City will be holding a martial competition in a month. With this pill, the Lin family is certain to shine." Shi Bai stroked his goatee, looking very pleased with himself.

Lin Tianhao’s breathing grew ragged. He asked urgently, "This pill is..."

"The Body Forging Blood Coagulation Pill, of course!" Shi Bai announced, his face full of pride.

The Body Forging Blood Coagulation Pill had miraculous effects on Martial Artists in the Blood Coagulation Realm. Before the Fifth Layer, taking one could directly raise one’s cultivation by an entire layer.

Of course, it couldn’t help one advance from the Third Layer to the Fourth. For Martial Artists, awakening one’s bloodline was an insurmountable chasm that could never be crossed with pills.

Although taking this pill had side effects, they could be remedied through cultivation.

Taking it after the Fifth Layer could also enhance one’s constitution and accelerate cultivation.

It was no exaggeration to say that in a major martial competition, a single Body Forging Blood Coagulation Pill could often be the decisive move that turned defeat into victory.

A few days ago, Yi Mingcheng had brought back a Body Forging Blood Coagulation Pill for the family. It was still sealed away, and Lin Tianhao planned to save it for Lin Zheng to use just before the competition.

"Master, you can actually refine the Body Forging Blood Coagulation Pill! Excellent! This is truly excellent!" Lin Tianhao and his son were so excited they became incoherent.

Shi Bai wore a haughty expression. "As long as you can provide me with enough medicinal ingredients, the pills I can refine are far from limited to just this."

"Of course, of course! Master, just name whatever you need!" Lin Tianhao’s face was flushed as he agreed with exceptional eagerness.

"Good. Now, you two can help me test its effects." Shi Bai grew excited and began to open the box as he spoke.

Hearing this, Lin Tianhao’s muscles instantly tensed. He quickly recovered and said, "Master, this pill is far too precious. With the martial competition so close, we shouldn’t waste it."

"Hmph! Lin Tianhao, this is clearly a sign of your distrust! What, are you afraid I’ve poisoned the pills?" Shi Bai flew into a rage, slamming the table as he shot to his feet.

Sweat beaded on Lin Tianhao’s forehead as he hurriedly apologized.

"Since you don’t want the pill, then I shall take my leave!" Shi Bai grabbed the box and prepared to depart.

"You mustn’t, Master! How about this? The pill is too valuable. As the Patriarch of the Lin family, I cannot be selfish. I will go now and select a few outstanding youths from the family to take it."

"Isn’t the Lin family’s most outstanding disciple right here?" Shi Bai stared at Lin Tianhao with a smirk, glancing over at Lin Zheng.

Lin Tianhao forced a laugh, then asked, "Master, how many pills did you refine this time?"

"Three!" Shi Bai stated proudly.

Lin Tianhao pondered for a moment, then came up with a plan. "Let’s do this. I’ll select three disciples from the family. As for Zheng’Er, he doesn’t need it. To be honest, Master, my humble son’s cultivation has already reached the Eighth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm. It’s better to let someone else have his pill."

"Heh heh, Lin Tianhao, you think you’re the only one in War Dragon City who knows how to hide their strength?" A cunning smile appeared on Shi Bai’s face.

Lin Tianhao was startled. "Master, what do you mean by that?"

"I’ve received word that the Wu family of War Dragon City has a disciple whose cultivation is no weaker than Lin Zheng’s. Without my pills, I’m afraid the Lin family will only be setting the stage for someone else’s victory at the competition next month."

"There’s such a person?!" Lin Tianhao was greatly alarmed by this news.

The Wu family was also a major family in War Dragon City, and the number one family at that. Their foundation was much deeper than the Lin family’s.

Lin Tianhao was determined to win the martial competition a month from now. He had received reliable information that an important figure from the capital’s military would be there to recruit talent.

This was unprecedented.

He had kept Lin Zheng’s true abilities hidden for years, all for this very moment.

Because Lin Wei, far away in the capital, hoped for another of his grandsons to hold a post in the military.

Therefore, this time, they could only win. They could not lose!

Seeing the expressions shift on Lin Tianhao’s face, Shi Bai asked with a smile, "Now, do you still need to consider?"

"Master, please wait a moment! Zheng’Er, the Master has bestowed a great gift. Hurry and call your third and fourth brothers. And tell them to dress properly! We must not show any disrespect in front of the Master." Lin Tianhao hastily instructed Lin Zheng.

Lin Zheng took his leave. Lin Tianhao quickly invited Shi Bai to sit down, his expression even more deferential as he flattered, "I have full faith in your abilities, Master. In the future, if there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask..."

Inside the room, Lin Tianhao was swallowing his pride. Outside, after emerging, Lin Zheng glanced around warily before taking a hidden path through the flowerbeds to leave.

A thousand meters away, atop the rockery, Lin Hao, who had been as still as a mountain, suddenly snapped his eyes open...