Chapter Twenty-Nine: Behind Enemy Lines

Watching Lin Hao and Ren Baichuan being led away by Ling Zhen, the Xuan clan, the Jiang clan, and the other factions that had not yet managed to speak, all gnashed their teeth in frustration.

"It seems Ling Zhen spotted the Chief's talent during yesterday's preliminary round; he had already made his move by then."

"The Ling clan is truly quick-handed. If we had known, we should have been the ones to handle the preliminary examination."

"Who could have foreseen the emergence of an Innate Alchemy Saint Body? The Ling clan has struck gold this time. Tianbao is young and hails from the Taixuan Sect; having seen so little of the world, how could he resist the Ling clan’s sweet temptations? If the Ling clan keeps Tianbao in their grasp, and the Lingyun Pavilion begins to dominate with Nine-Pattern Pills, will there be any room left for us to survive?"

...

As the youngest Nine-Pattern Alchemist, his potential was boundless. He was destined to become a titan of the alchemical path. Having been beaten to the punch by the Ling clan, the Xuan and Jiang clans were filled with regret.

Yet, they could hardly blame themselves; as they had said, who could have expected that this Alchemy Exchange would produce an Innate Alchemy Saint Body?

The Lingyun Pavilion was grand and imposing. Ling Wu, the manager, personally came out to welcome them. Though Lin Hao was merely at the Qi Sea Realm, given his current status, who would dare to slight him?

A Qi Sea Realm cultivator was nothing to fear, but a Qi Sea Realm cultivator capable of refining Nine-Pattern Pills was a different story. He was a prime asset, worth the Ling clan exhausting all its resources to cultivate. It would be ideal to bind Master Tianbao to the Ling clan permanently.

"Master Tianbao is truly young, promising, and possesses an extraordinary air." Ling Wu greeted them from afar, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Master Tianbao, this is the manager of the Lingyun Pavilion, Elder Ling Wu," Ling Zhen introduced.

"Masters, please, come inside." Ling Wu led the way, ushering Lin Hao and Ren Baichuan into the Lingyun Pavilion.

The moment he stepped into the pavilion, Ren Baichuan’s palms were slick with sweat. For them, this place was a true den of iniquity, a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den.

*If Mr. Ximen and the Holy Maiden find out I brought this kid into the Ling clan, they will likely break my legs,* Ren Baichuan thought, his heart pounding with guilt; he found it difficult to remain composed.

Lin Hao, on the other hand, was as steady as a mountain, his expression unchanged as he exchanged pleasantries with Ling Wu and Ling Zhen. Ren Baichuan admired Lin Hao’s temperament from the bottom of his heart; to remain so calm and collected while facing one's enemies—he sighed to himself, acknowledging that those destined for greatness were indeed built differently.

In the grandest hall in the back courtyard of the Lingyun Pavilion, the highest standards of hospitality were on display. In the center of the hall stood a table carved from black rock, laden with exotic delicacies, while several beauties danced gracefully nearby.

*The wealthy certainly know how to enjoy themselves,* Lin Hao thought to himself.

"Master Tianbao, please, take a seat," Ling Wu gestured.

"Two elders, in my opinion, we should dispense with these tedious formalities," Lin Hao began. "Since I, Tianbao, have accepted your benefits, I cannot let you pay in vain. With the power of the Lingyun Pavilion, I presume you possess the formula for the Advancement Pill. Show it to me and prepare a sufficient supply of medicinal herbs."

"The pill formula?" Ling Wu and Ling Zhen were taken aback, exchanging glances. Clearly, they had not expected Lin Hao to be so direct, asking for the formula before even eating.

Advancement Pills were worth their weight in gold, as they allowed a cultivator to jump directly to the next level of cultivation. What made them precious was not only the rare herbs required but, more importantly, the formula itself. High-level pill formulas were monopolized by these major factions and were rarely shown to outsiders. For Lin Hao to demand one right off the bat was, to say the least, presumptuous.

"If the Lingyun Pavilion finds this difficult, then forget it," Lin Hao said, tossing the ten thousand yuan stones Ling Zhen had given him the day before onto the table and turning to leave.

Seeing this, Ling Wu and Ling Zhen were terrified and quickly moved to block his path. "Chief, there is a misunderstanding! A mere Advancement Pill formula is hardly a difficulty; we were just surprised by how eager you are in your pursuit of alchemy."

They were joking; they couldn't possibly let such a newly acquired alchemical prodigy walk away. If the Alchemy Pavilion's new Chief walked out of the Lingyun Pavilion's gates, he would likely be snatched up by the Xuan or Jiang clans in the next breath.

"The Ling clan is the premier martial arts family of the Great Xia; I have long admired you and hope that we can have more sincerity between us," Lin Hao continued. "Let me be clear: I joined the Ling clan because I value the resources of the premier martial arts family. I want to use your resources to elevate my cultivation, and in return, I will bring you sufficient profits."

"The Advancement Pills rewarded by the Alchemy Pavilion are merely Eight-Pattern; I don't eat such trash. I, Tianbao, only consume Nine-Pattern Pills. Please arrange the highest-level alchemy room for me, bring me the formula for the Advancement Pill, and prepare as many medicinal herbs as you can. Tomorrow, I will ensure a large quantity of Nine-Pattern Advancement Pills appears at the Lingyun Pavilion’s auction house."

Lin Hao’s words left the three alchemists present speechless. Listen to that—Eight-Pattern pills were "trash."

However, his words also set Ling Wu and Ling Zhen’s blood racing. If Nine-Pattern Advancement Pills could be mass-produced, the shockwave it would send through the Imperial City and the entire Great Xia alchemy market would be unimaginable.

"Very well, I shall go and prepare immediately," Ling Wu declared, his spirit surging as he turned and left. The Ling clan had truly struck gold.

Before long, Ling Wu returned. "Master Tianbao, the alchemy room is ready, and here is the Advancement Pill formula, along with enough medicinal herbs for a hundred batches."

"Very well, take me there," Lin Hao said.

As Ling Wu and Ling Zhen led the way, they communicated via divine sense: "He is truly an Innate Alchemy Saint Body. If he can really refine these pills in batches, the benefits to us will be unimaginable."

"I saw him refine pills in the arena with my own eyes; 'miraculous' is the only word for it. In my view, if these pills can be mass-produced, we should even bring out our most guarded, secret formulas. If those pills could also reach the Nine-Pattern grade, it is terrifying to even contemplate."

"Indeed, the formulas are of great importance and are the foundation of our existence; we must consider this carefully. Let us first see the results of his refining of the Advancement Pills," Ling Wu replied.

Behind them, Ren Baichuan pulled on Lin Hao’s sleeve, repeatedly signaling him with his eyes. Lin Hao pretended not to notice. He had already taken the first step into the heart of the enemy; the Advancement Pill formula was just the beginning. This time, he intended to pull the rug out from under the Ling clan.

Ren Baichuan had guessed what Lin Hao was planning and felt it was sheer madness. He looked at the beaming Ling Wu and Ling Zhen ahead and suddenly felt a touch of pity. *Go ahead and smile now; there will be plenty of time for tears later.*

Ling Wu brought Lin Hao to the door of the finest alchemy room in the pavilion. "Master Tianbao, please."

"Understood. I can refine a hundred batches of the Advancement Pill in a single night. However, even I cannot guarantee a hundred-percent success rate, and I hope you two understand this. Still, I guarantee you fifty Nine-Pattern Advancement Pills tomorrow."

"Fifty?" Ling Wu and Ling Zhen exclaimed in unison. Fifty pills, and all Nine-Pattern—that was beyond imagination.

As alchemists, they knew that refining had a failure rate; even a Pill King could not guarantee a hundred-percent success for Nine-Pattern pills. Even more terrifying was the near-inhuman speed. Ling Wu and Ling Zhen wouldn't even dream of refining a hundred pills in less than two or three months. Refining was exhausting to the mind and spirit; the idea that someone could finish a hundred batches in one night, maintain a fifty percent success rate, and have them all be Nine-Pattern was unheard of.

"Ling Zhen, you are to guard the door of the alchemy room. Do not allow anyone to disturb Master Tianbao," Ling Wu commanded.

"Rest assured, it is my honor to guard the Chief," Ling Zhen said with utmost solemnity.

"Brother Ren, please, this way," Ling Wu said, leading Ren Baichuan away.

Before leaving, Ren Baichuan couldn't help but look back. The master and disciple locked eyes, and Lin Hao gave Ren Baichuan a meaningful wink.

*This fellow has already started plundering the Ling clan's resources,* Ren Baichuan thought, fighting the urge to laugh. *Oh, Ling clan, you had better be careful. He is going to eat your food, drink your wine, take your treasures, and then turn around to strike you down.*