After a long while, Lin Tianxiao finally calmed himself.

"This matter is of the utmost importance! You can die, but this secret must never be revealed!" Staring at Yi Mingcheng, Lin Tianxiao spoke each word deliberately, his expression exceptionally grave.

The ability to create a bloodline for an ordinary person was a heaven-defying power, more coveted than any Cultivation Technique, martial skill, or even peerless Divine Soldiers.

If word of this got out, the entire continent would be shaken to its core.

By then, Lin Hao would certainly become the focus of the world’s attention. But that would be a curse, not a blessing.

Yi Mingcheng naturally understood the stakes and nodded solemnly.

"Also, you must raise your cultivation level as quickly as possible. If someone else had discovered your secret today, you know what the consequences would have been," Lin Tianxiao warned again.

Hearing this, Yi Mingcheng broke out in a cold sweat. If it had been an enemy, he would have surely been captured and used as a perfect test subject by now.

In War Dragon City, one had to reach the Elemental Realm at the very least to prevent others from prying into their secrets.

Before, this would have been unimaginable for Yi Mingcheng. But now, it was only a matter of time.

Because not only did he have a bloodline, he also had a Cultivation Technique!

The Ten Thousand Transformations Spirit Skill that Lin Hao had taught him was incredibly profound. Compared to it, the Cultivation Technique he had practiced before was utter trash.

Lin Hao had only been gone for a few hours, but by circulating the Ten Thousand Transformations Spirit Skill, Yi Mingcheng had already reached the peak of the Blood Coagulation Realm Fourth Layer!

Never before had Yi Mingcheng been so full of confidence for the future.

And all this confidence came from Lin Hao.

"Third Master, please rest assured. For the Young Master’s sake, this old servant will redouble his efforts!" Yi Mingcheng looked at Lin Tianxiao, then his gaze fixed on Lin Hao as if making a solemn vow.

Seeing that his words had the desired effect, Lin Tianxiao nodded. "Good. You may leave for now. There are still a few hours until dawn. You can cultivate without worry during this time. With me here, no one will discover anything!"

His words radiated immense confidence.

After Yi Mingcheng left, Lin Tianxiao stared at Lin Hao for a long time without a word.

The shock this nephew had given him was simply too great.

Especially just now, when Yi Mingcheng revealed that his bloodline was created by Lin Hao, the boy himself had remained far too calm.

It was not the expression a fifteen-year-old boy should have.

Composed, calm, wise... a whole series of adjectives could be used to describe him.

’Twenty years ago, for your father’s sake, I was willing to resign myself to mediocrity. Twenty years later, for your sake, I will serve you with my life!’

Lin Tianxiao’s gaze burned brightly. He gave Lin Hao a nod, and without another word, sat down on the spot and began to meditate and regulate his breathing.

After daybreak, for himself, for his family, for Lin Hao, and for the Lin family, he would force Lin Tianhao to abdicate!

Lin Hao had barely spoken since Lin Tianxiao entered the room. Feeling the profound familial affection, a sense of responsibility suddenly welled up inside him. ’If the Lin family were all relatives like Third Uncle, then this family would be worth protecting with my life.’

Lin Tianxiao’s earlier gaze and his current actions allowed Lin Hao to guess what he planned to do next.

After dawn, a fierce battle might break out.

Regardless of the outcome, the outlook was not optimistic.

Even if Third Uncle successfully took control of the Lin family, Lin Tianhao still had Lin Wei backing him.

From the secrets he had overheard outside Lin Tianhao’s residence, Lin Hao’s intuition told him that Lin Wei was definitely plotting something.

If he found out what was happening in the Lin family, super-powered experts from the capital’s Lin family would certainly arrive.

’This whole affair started because of me. I absolutely cannot tell Third Uncle about these things and add to his pressure.’

’For now, the only plan is to create another bloodline as soon as possible, enter a sect, and win the sect’s favor.’

’It’s only a few days until the Heaven-Stepping Sect recruits new disciples. Once the Lin family’s matters are settled, I must set out immediately.’

’And Yan’Er... where in the world are you?’

Lin Hao’s mind raced, but then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he quietly slipped out the door.

Executing the Ghostly Divine Step, Lin Hao moved through the Lin Mansion, soon stopping before a patch of ruins.

This was where he had lived during his three years of muddled confusion.

’If the seamstress was right that it was Yan’Er who came back yesterday, could she have left some kind of clue here?’

At this thought, Lin Hao became exceptionally excited. He crouched down and began a carpet search of the ruins.

Fifteen minutes...

Half an hour...

Lin Hao’s patience was surprisingly good. He didn’t get discouraged, nor did he give up.

An hour later, Lin Hao’s body trembled.

By the faint light, he discovered a line of small characters: "Young Master, wait for my rebirth. I will go to Heaven-Stepping to find you."

A message from Yan’Er!

Of course Lin Hao recognized Yan’Er’s handwriting. This was definitely a message from her!

Yan’Er was safe!

This discovery made Lin Hao ecstatic. A great weight was lifted from his heart.

After the initial joy came confusion. Why had Yan’Er used the word ’rebirth’?

What did it mean?

After thinking for a long time, Lin Hao still had no clue.

’Can’t figure it out, so I might as well stop thinking about it. The most important thing is that Yan’Er is safe.’

He stood up and surveyed the ruins, as if seeing Yan’Er smiling at him.

"I have to settle the Lin family’s affairs as quickly as possible, and then head to the Heaven-Stepping Sect!" Lin Hao clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the direction of Lin Tianhao’s residence.

...

As the sky gradually brightened, the Lin family also seemed to awaken from its slumber.

On the Lin family’s training grounds, a Martial Artist was instructing a group of children in the ways of martial practice.

"The whole day’s work depends on a good start in the morning. At dawn, all things awaken, and the world’s vital energy is at its most dense and pure. Practicing at this time yields twice the results with half the effort. Our Lin family’s Young Master wakes up early to train with us, which is why he was able to awaken his bloodline and will surely become a peerless expert in the future. As for that Lin Hao, all he knew was to go to the blood-changing pool every night. That is why he is doomed to a life of mediocrity, as pathetic as an ant..."

He droned on, reciting his daily opening speech.

Just as he finished his speech, two figures appeared, one after the other.

"Greetings, Patriarch! Greetings, Young Master!"

The children’s voices rang out in unison, exceptionally loud.

The arrivals were none other than Lin Tianhao and Lin Zheng.

Previously, Lin Zheng had practiced alongside this group of children. But ever since his cultivation at the Eighth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm was revealed, he had taken a corner of the training grounds for himself to practice alone.

A Young Master at the Eighth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm naturally became a role model for these children.

This was done to inspire them.

"Patriarch, what brings you here?" the instructor asked, a fawning expression on his face upon seeing Lin Tianhao.

This instructor was originally a Spirit Body and, by rights, should have been able to become an Elemental Realm expert. However, not long after becoming a Spirit Body, he encountered a Tier Two Devil Beast in the Heaven’s Break Mountains. Although he was lucky to escape with his life, the incident left him with a lasting injury, and his cultivation had been stuck at the Blood Coagulation Realm Fourth Layer ever since.

After suffering endless neglect and bullying in the outside world, he came to the Lin family three years ago to become an instructor, and he had been grateful to Lin Tianhao ever since.

Lin Tianhao rarely appeared on the training grounds at this hour. Seeing him now, how could the instructor not try to curry favor?

"Carry on. I’m just watching," Lin Tianhao replied with a smile.

"Yes, sir," the instructor answered respectfully before continuing his lesson.

This time, with the Patriarch present, he broke his routine and added a few more words.

"You are the future hope of the Lin family. As long as you redouble your efforts, it’s not impossible for you to become peerless experts like the Patriarch and the Young Master in the future. When that time comes, you will be their right-hand men. Under the leadership of such heroes of our time, you will surely help the Lin family expand its territory!"

"Hmph! Heroes of our time?! The river of history is filled with countless heroes, but also countless villains. Unfortunately, Lin Tianhao belongs to the latter! Under his leadership, the Lin family will only be extinguished in that same river of history!"

A cold snort suddenly rang out, and a figure appeared in everyone’s line of sight.

Lin Tianhao’s aura flared as he spun around abruptly.

Lin Zheng, who had been sitting cross-legged, also snapped his eyes open.

Then, both of their pupils contracted rapidly, for they saw someone who should have been impossible to see here.

Lin Tianxiao!

’Isn’t he supposed to be imprisoned in the cliffs behind the Lin family estate? How can he be here? And the restriction in his mind... there are no more than two people in all of War Dragon City who could undo it!’

’And neither of them could possibly know of Lin Tianxiao’s existence!’

’What the hell is going on?!’

The next moment, they had their answer.

A somewhat slender figure appeared in their sight.

Lin Hao!

The father and son, Lin Tianhao and Lin Zheng, stared at the approaching Lin Hao, hatred surging in their eyes and killing intent flaring.

But they didn’t dare to act rashly.

Although Lin Tianxiao just stood there quietly, his aura had already locked onto them firmly. It was an aura that only an Elemental Realm expert could possess.

They didn’t move, but someone else did.

"Insolent! Who are you? How dare you speak to the Patriarch of the Lin family like that!" The instructor took a step forward, pointing at Lin Tianxiao, his voice sharp and severe.

Lin Tianxiao merely gave him a faint glance, and the instructor stumbled back in panic, his face ashen as if struck by lightning.

Only then did Lin Tianxiao snort coldly. "Patriarch?! As if he is worthy!"

Although he knew the newcomer’s cultivation was unfathomably deep, the thought that this was the Lin family estate filled the instructor with a surge of bravado, and he spoke out again:

"I know you have profound cultivation, you might even be an Elemental Realm expert, but you’ve come to the wrong place to cause trouble in the Lin family. Let’s not even talk about others. Just look at our Lin family’s Young Master! Give him two years, and he’ll surpass you! And who are you to pass judgment on our Lin family’s Patriarch? What right do you have?!"

The instructor was aggressive and sharp-tongued.

Being cursed at by the instructor didn’t anger Lin Tianxiao. Instead, he glanced at Lin Zheng, his eyes turning cold. "Young Master? Today, I will teach you who the real Young Master of the Lin family is!"

"Hao’Er, come here," Lin Tianxiao beckoned to Lin Hao, his face wreathed in a doting smile as he spoke in a warm voice.

"Ah, that’s Lin Hao, the former young genius of our Lin family."

"There seems to be a light in his eyes. Has he actually recovered?"

"How out of the loop are you? He recovered a few days ago, but his cultivation is only at the Third Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm. He’s a far cry from our Young Master."

The group of Lin family children behind them began to mutter amongst themselves.

Although their voices were quiet, they did not escape the ears of the experts present.

Of course the instructor recognized Lin Hao. For the past three years, he had used him as a negative example in his opening speech to educate these children.

Now, seeing Lin Tianxiao actually call Lin Hao over, he felt even more confident. He sneered, "Him? A piece of trash at the Third Layer of Blood Coagulation Realm, as worthless as an ant. Forget the Young Master, I could crush him with one hand!"

"You’re courting death!" Lin Tianxiao’s face turned icy in an instant, and a terrifying aura erupted from him.