In a flash, three days passed.
Yi Mingcheng had rushed back on the first afternoon to report his progress. After Lin Hao gave him a three-day supply of the antidote, he hadn't been seen since.
Lin Hao wasn't worried in the slightest.
It was a foregone conclusion that Yi Mingcheng would be transferred to procure medicinal pills. It would be strange for someone in a new position not to be busy.
This, in turn, worked out conveniently for Lin Hao.
With no one to disturb him, he could slip out through the secret passage at night to cultivate in the Tianduan Mountains, returning in the morning.
Although his Cultivation Technique allowed him to advance rapidly through the Third Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm, breaking through to the next stage—to coagulate his blood again and awaken a bloodline—seemed like a fool's dream.
Lin Hao understood this, so for the past three days, he hadn't blindly tried to force a breakthrough. Instead, he had focused on Body Refinement.
Frog-jumping in a stream with a massive boulder on his back...
Sprinting wildly through a field of rubble, ignoring all obstacles...
Performing deep squats under a waterfall while lifting a boulder weighing hundreds of pounds...
...
The Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill had already made Lin Hao's body incredibly tough. Now, with this nearly self-destructive, high-intensity training, he was unlocking his body's full potential.
He returned utterly exhausted every day.
On the third day, Lin Hao dragged his weary body back to Yi Mingcheng's room once more.
But because his body was already being tempered by the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill, the high-intensity training seemed to have little effect. Lin Hao began to seriously consider the feasibility of that crazy idea he'd had in the Tianduan Mountains.
'Since I don't have a bloodline or a special constitution, I'll just have to create one myself!'
'To break through my limits and enter the Fourth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm, I must awaken a bloodline! Even if it's a pseudo-bloodline!'
'The reason Housekeeper Mo was able to enter the Fourth Layer Pseudo Realm must have been related to that Blood Python's Demon Pill.'
'Pythons can evolve into dragons, and so can jiaos. The Blood Python's Demon Pill must contain a trace of Dragon Blood.'
'Slay a dragon?!'
'The thought itself was ludicrous.'
'True dragons hadn't been seen on the Celestial Yang Continent for ten thousand years.'
'Then what about the Profound Emperor?'
'His true form was merely a tortoise, not even a Devil Beast. He couldn't have had a bloodline. Setting aside how he even cultivated in the first place, how did he break into the Fourth Layer after reaching the Third Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm?'
'The answer was obvious.'
'He created his own bloodline!'
Lin Hao's heart pounded. A flash of insight struck him.
But before he could grasp the idea, a sudden noise shattered his train of thought.
BANG!
With a dull thud, the bolted door was kicked open.
A figure then barged inside.
"Father, why is the door locked in the middle of the day? I've been calling for ages... Who are you?" a boy of about fifteen or sixteen demanded, staring at Lin Hao in astonishment. His brow then furrowed, his expression turning hostile.
Lin Hao recognized the boy. His name was Yi Jia, Yi Mingcheng's adopted son from ten years ago.
In the past, his first reaction upon seeing Lin Hao had been to kneel. He had been so respectful he wouldn't even dare to meet Lin Hao's gaze.
Back then, Lin Hao had never treated him like a servant and had often given him small trinkets.
Lin Hao glanced outside the door. Seeing no one else, he still took a step back, retreating into a corner.
'It had now been seven days since Yan'Er was captured. If anyone from the family discovered his whereabouts, all his efforts over the past few days would be for nothing.'
Unexpectedly, Lin Hao's movement brought a flash of excitement to Yi Jia's face. He immediately charged forward, raising his hand to slap Lin Hao.
"You little rat! How dare you steal from my father!"
Seeing Lin Hao's ragged clothes and his retreat, Yi Jia immediately took him for a thief.
Yi Jia's insolence made a flicker of killing intent cross Lin Hao's eyes. In the next instant, he caught the boy's wrist and said coolly, "Merely Yi Mingcheng's adopted son, and you dare cause trouble in the Lin family's estate?!"
'Although Yi Jia was detestable, he was still Yi Mingcheng's adopted son. Besides, given the time, Yi Mingcheng should be back for his antidote today. It would be best to let him handle this.'
'Lin Hao was confident that Yi Mingcheng would not disappoint him.'
"Ptooey! You've got some nerve, you little bastard. I'm not just causing trouble, I'm going to kill you!" Yi Jia spat, his eyes gleaming with malice.
Lin Hao tilted his head, dodging the spit, but now he was truly moved to kill.
Just then, Yi Jia stared at Lin Hao's face, his eyes suddenly widening. He cried out in shock, "You... you're Lin... Lin Hao!"
He had finally recognized him.
"Yes, it's me." Recalling how Yi Jia used to act around him, Lin Hao's heart softened. He offered a smile and readily confirmed his identity.
'Even though he's only an adopted son, he's still part of the Lin family. After having his bloodline stolen three years ago, Lin Hao didn't want to become the kind of person who would turn on his own kin.'
But Yi Jia disappointed Lin Hao once again.
"Young Master Lin, I can't believe you're awake!" Yi Jia first broke into a joyful smile, but his expression instantly turned cold and sinister. "But you're not that high-and-mighty young master anymore! You piece of trash! Kneel before me and pay me back for all the times I had to kneel to you!"
"You're courting death!" A violent aura erupted from Lin Hao along with his words, surging straight toward Yi Jia.
Yi Jia's expression changed drastically as he tried to resist.
But with his meager cultivation at the Second Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm, how could he possibly withstand a blow fueled by Lin Hao's fury?
Blood gushed from Yi Jia's hands as he spat out a mouthful of his own, his body sent flying backward like a limp sack.
"You... you dare to hurt me? My father is on the rise in the Lin family now. You're dead!" Yi Jia roared, his eyes bloodshot.
Lin Hao was about to step forward but stopped abruptly. He gazed at the doorway and said with a smirk, "Is that so? I'm curious to see just how I'm going to die."
Yi Jia whipped his head around and saw his father hurrying toward them, an intense expression on his face.
'Father really does care about me.'
A warmth spread through Yi Jia's heart. But then he remembered the humiliation he had suffered, and his expression twisted into a savage mask. He pointed at Lin Hao and snarled, "Father, help me kill—"
SLAP!
A resounding slap cut Yi Jia's words short.
Yi Jia was stunned.
Yi Mingcheng quickly shut the door, then grabbed Yi Jia by the collar and hauled him to his feet, roaring in a low voice, "Do you have any idea who he is?!"
"He's that fool, Lin Hao! Father, make him pay me back for all the times I knelt to him! Then I'll cut him into a thousand—"
Before he could utter the last word, another slap struck his face. Then, he couldn't believe his eyes.
His own father tossed him aside like a piece of trash, then fell to his knees with a THUD before Lin Hao. He began slapping his own face repeatedly while begging for forgiveness. "This old slave failed to discipline his son, allowing him to offend the Young Master. I beg the Young Master's forgiveness."
Before he had walked through that door, Yi Mingcheng had been in an excellent mood.
In all his forty-odd years, these past three days had been the proudest of his life.
Not only had he easily secured the lucrative post of procuring medicinal pills, but even people in the estate who had previously been at odds with him were now deliberately trying to curry his favor.
And that wasn't all. Whenever he walked the streets of War Dragon City, people from various families would approach him.
Many of these people were individuals who had never deigned to give him a second glance.
'The memory of those scenes sent a wave of immense pleasure through him. The feeling was simply intoxicating.'
Although his vanity was immensely satisfied, Yi Mingcheng hadn't lost his head. He knew perfectly well that he owed all of this to Lin Hao.
He was now wondering if he should throw his lot in completely with Lin Hao.
But he never imagined that the moment he returned, he would walk in on Yi Jia offending Lin Hao.
'Damn it, you useless piece of trash! It's bad enough you're riding my coattails and throwing your weight around, but you wanted to make Lin Hao kneel?! If I lose his favor, I lose everything!'
As Yi Mingcheng cursed Yi Jia in his mind, the slaps he delivered to his own face grew even louder.
"Father, what are you doing? He's just a cripple, even if he's awake! You don't need to be afraid of him! He broke my hands! Help me kill him! Kill this little bast—" Yi Jia snapped out of his daze and roared, pointing at Lin Hao.
Unfortunately, before he could get the last word out, Yi Mingcheng's hand shot out like lightning and clamped around his neck.
CRACK!
A sharp crack echoed.
The next moment, Yi Jia's eyes bulged wide. He died with his eyes open, unable to rest in peace.
Even in death, he couldn't understand why the father who had always loved and doted on him would kill him so ruthlessly for the sake of a family cripple.
"You deserved to die for wanting to kill the Young Master!" A flash of pain crossed Yi Mingcheng's eyes, but it was immediately replaced by grim resolve.
'Lin Hao's heart skipped a beat. This Yi Mingcheng was ruthless enough to kill his own kin for the sake of "justice." He was definitely not someone to be trifled with. I'll have to be more careful around him in the future.'
If Yi Mingcheng knew what Lin Hao was thinking, he'd probably cough up blood from sheer rage.
He had personally killed his adopted son to prove his loyalty, only to make Lin Hao even more guarded against him.
"Young Master, this old slave..." Yi Mingcheng began, kneeling once more beside Yi Jia's corpse.
Lin Hao waved a hand, cutting him off. "Enough. It wasn't your fault. And stop calling yourself 'old slave' from now on. It makes me uncomfortable. Are there any Body Forging Blood Coagulation Pills left?"
"Reporting to the Young Master, there are five left. High-grade Body Forging Blood Coagulation Pills are simply too precious. I only revealed one, and it drove the entire War Dragon City into a frenzy. Now, when this old... when I go out, people are watching me like hawks. I was just about to ask for your instructions, Young Master," Yi Mingcheng said respectfully.
Yi Mingcheng already had his own calculations, but Lin Hao had also made it clear that his sole reason for returning to the family was Yan'Er.
The deadline for Yan'Er's return was now between three and eight days away. Yi Mingcheng was afraid that if he released the pills too soon, Lin Hao would leave as soon as he found Yan'Er, and his own good days would come to an end.
He had thoroughly enjoyed the past three days. Being the center of everyone's attention felt like a drug.
And it was an addictive one.
Besides, scarcity creates value.
'Yi Mingcheng had already planned it out. Even if Lin Hao left the Lin family, with the five remaining pills, he could play his cards right and ride this wave of prestige for at least a few more years. And a lot can be accomplished in a few years.'
Of course, Lin Hao also understood the principle of scarcity creating value, and he could guess Yi Mingcheng's true intentions with near-perfect accuracy.
He sneered inwardly, but his expression remained impassive. "Scarcity creates value. You've handled it well," he said. "However, a few Body Forging Blood Coagulation Pills are nothing to fuss over. Take one to the Treasure Hunting Pavilion for auction today. And drop a subtle hint that you have even better pills in your possession. They'll know how to handle the rest."
"Young Master, this..." Yi Mingcheng's heart leaped, and he hesitated.
"Housekeeper Yi," Lin Hao began, his lips curling into a wicked, knowing smirk as he stared at the man, "This way, not only will the other major families in the city suck up to you, but you'll likely stir up the higher-ups in the Lin family as well. Isn't that exactly what you want?"
The color drained from Yi Mingcheng's face instantly.
'This Lin Hao's mind is terrifying! He saw right through my thoughts!'