Now that his cultivation level had reached The Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, he was able to employ some minor spells.

With this thought, Lin Mu extended a finger.

A flame gathered on his fingertip, coalescing into a fireball that emitted a faint warmth.

Flame Control Technique.

Then, with a shift of his will, the fireball vanished, transforming into a perfectly round, adorable drop of clear water, like a little sprite.

Water Control Technique.

The droplet disappeared, replaced by a wisp of gentle wind that coiled around his fingertip, bringing a refreshing coolness.

Wind Control Skill.

...

Lin Mu tried several minor spells in succession, wielding them all with ease and without a hint of awkwardness.

Although these spells were not high-level, they were the fundamental techniques Lin Mu had practiced when he first embarked on the path of cultivation.

So, being able to cast them again felt pleasantly familiar.

And as his cultivation level increased, even these minor spells could unleash terrifying power.

Most importantly, now that his strength had reached the ninth layer and he had mastered the Flame Control Technique, Lin Mu was even more confident in refining the Ever Youth Pill.

At this thought, even Lin Mu felt a surge of excitement.

Once the Ever Youth Pill was successfully refined, Qin Luoli's appearance could not only be restored but also remain forever young and beautiful.

This was an irresistible temptation for any woman.

An inscrutable smile crept onto Lin Mu's lips.

He composed himself, took out all the medicinal ingredients, and arrayed them on the White Jade Platform.

Green Spirit Fruit, Qilin Flower, He Shouwu, red flowers, and... the Beauty Flower.

This Beauty Flower was the very one he had just retrieved from the belly of the giant python.

Although called a flower, the Beauty Flower looked more like a Ganoderma mushroom. It was white as jade and incredibly difficult to digest.

Even a knife would have trouble cutting it.

Refining it required a special kind of flame.

Fortunately, Lin Mu had now mastered the Flame Control Technique.

Adjusting his mindset, Lin Mu began to purify the ingredients for the Ever Youth Pill, following the recipe from his memory.

With Thunder Dragon standing guard, he had no fear of anyone suddenly breaking in and disturbing him.

「Tiger's Lair Mountain.」

Mayor Fang, Huang Ning, and the others stood before the grave with solemn expressions. Unexpectedly, Huang Laoshi was also present.

Although Master Feng now had only one arm, he seemed to be in good spirits, aside from his pale complexion.

He was currently conducting a ritual.

Although Huang Ning's ancestor had turned into a Zombie and been slain by Lin Mu, the feng shui of this place had been disrupted. If left unaddressed, it would continue to bring misfortune upon the Huang Family.

Now, Master Feng was performing the final rites to resolve the issue.

Once the ritual was complete, the blemishes on Huang Ning's body would disappear completely.

Of course, this was only Master Feng's understanding.

If Lin Mu were here, he would have scoffed at Master Feng for going to such unnecessary trouble.

Since Huang Ning's ancestor had been killed by him, the so-called feng shui curse was already broken, and the blemishes on her skin would fade on their own.

"Miss Huang, rest assured. As soon as my master finishes the ritual, your problem will be solved," Yan Lun said with a small smile.

Huang Ning ignored him. The previous day's events may have passed, but she was still deeply shaken.

Even now, her face was etched with fear and lingering dread.

What pained her most was that all of her bodyguards had died here.

At the thought, Huang Ning gritted her teeth in anger.

If it weren't for that man named Lin Mu, would her bodyguards have died?

He was clearly so powerful, yet he hadn't lifted a finger to help her or save them.

He deserved to die!

Good thing that bastard died in the tomb.

Thinking of this, Huang Ning's mood improved slightly.

"Miss Huang, come and kowtow three times," Master Feng said as his ritual concluded, handing her three sticks of incense.

Huang Ning took the incense and respectfully kowtowed three times before the grave.

"Let's go."

After finishing her kowtows, Huang Ning was ready to leave this dreadful place, having sworn never to return in this lifetime or the next.

"Huang Laoshi, what are you doing?" Mayor Fang suddenly shouted, his tone sharp.

Huang Laoshi was lighting some paper money and incense. He had even brought some fruit as offerings, which he was arranging carefully on the ground.

"Mr. Lin, I don't know how to contact your family. It was your bad luck to be buried here," Huang Laoshi said as he planted the incense in the ground. "Don't worry, if your family comes looking for you, I'll bring them to see you. Whether they move you or leave you here will be their decision."

"If they don't come, I, Huang Laoshi, will come and burn some paper money for you during the holidays. Rest in peace, and please don't hold any grudges against me."

With that said, Huang Laoshi started to get up.

"Why would I hold a grudge against you?"

Just then, a voice laced with amusement reached Huang Laoshi's ears.

"Of course, it's because you... AHH, A GHOST!"

Huang Laoshi replied instinctively, but after a few words, his face turned deathly pale and he collapsed to the ground.

Pointing at the figure standing before him, he stammered, "Mr... Mr. Lin, I told you Tiger's Lair Mountain was dangerous, but you insisted on coming! Even if you're a ghost, please don't haunt me!"

Huang Laoshi was on the verge of tears from fright, and the others weren't much better.

Master Feng stared at Lin Mu for a long moment before exclaiming in shock, "Master... Master Lin, you're not dead?"

Lin Mu hopped off the burial mound. "Who said I was?"

"But, you..."

Master Feng started to speak, but stopped and bowed deeply to Lin Mu. "Feng Chen pays his respects to Master Lin. I hope you can forgive my previous disrespect."

Lin Mu waved his hand. "No offense taken. You didn't know."

After speaking, he turned to Huang Laoshi, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"You've done well."

Huang Laoshi was baffled.

Lin Mu thought for a moment, then took out a white, jade-like stone from his robes and handed it to Huang Laoshi.

"This is for you. Keep it on your person, and it can save you from one disaster. If you place it in your home, your household will be at peace, and no evil will enter."

Huang Laoshi looked at the stone in his hand. It had a cute and pleasant appearance, but it was just a rock.

"Mr. Lin, this..."

Valuable or not, Huang Laoshi felt he couldn't accept it. He was about to refuse when Lin Mu said, "Take it. You've earned it."

Huang Laoshi reconsidered. This Mr. Lin was clearly a man of great ability and probably wouldn't miss such a small item, so he accepted it.

He didn't know that this very stone would one day save his life, and that he would later treasure it as a family heirloom.

But that is a story for another time.

Master Feng, however, stared at the stone with burning, even greedy, eyes.

However, Master Lin had remarked that he had inscribed a Formation onto the stone. Anyone who tried to steal it would die on the spot. If not for that warning, Master Feng might have considered getting the stone from Huang Laoshi later, whether by buying it or stealing it.

He could feel a powerful aura emanating from it.

A treasure!

Lin Mu shot a meaningful glance at Master Feng.

A chill ran down Master Feng's spine, and all his covetous thoughts vanished.

"I'm leaving."

Having settled the matter, Lin Mu prepared to depart.

"Stop!"

It was Huang Ning who called out to him.

"Is there a problem?" Lin Mu frowned, his dislike for her apparent.

Seeing his expression, Huang Ning's anger flared. "You're obviously very powerful, so why did you just stand by and watch my bodyguards die? If you had acted sooner, they would have been fine!"

"You owe me an explanation!"

Lin Mu laughed, but his smile was chilling.

"And what kind of explanation do you want?"

Huang Ning hesitated for a second before declaring, "You must return with me to Harbor Island and serve the Huang Family for three years as penance for their deaths!"

"Hmph, I'll have you know, so what if you're powerful? If you dare refuse, I guarantee you won't live to see tomorrow!" Huang Ning said haughtily. She had already decided that as soon as Lin Mu was in Harbor Island, she would have him firmly in her grasp and turn him into her pawn.

"Miss Huang!"

Master Feng's face fell. He was about to intervene, but Lin Mu just sneered and raised a hand.

Huang Ning, who was several meters away, suddenly trembled and shot through the air, landing right in Lin Mu's grasp.

Lin Mu seized her by the throat, his voice cold and detached. "What do you take me for? Even the Martial Alliance Leader wouldn't dare act so presumptuously in my presence!

"Who do you think you are to speak to me with such a tone? Believe it or not, I could end your life right here, right now."

With Lin Mu's hand around her throat, Huang Ning couldn't utter a sound.

But she could clearly feel the icy killing intent radiating from him, and boundless terror consumed her.

He really dares to kill me!

"What are you doing!"

Seeing Huang Ning captured, Yan Lun had just roared in anger when an invisible force slammed into him.

He was sent flying backward, his condition unknown.

"Master Lin, spare us!"

Master Feng dropped to his knees before Lin Mu, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Master Lin, for my sake, please spare Huang Ning this once. She is young and foolish and has offended you. I beg you to show mercy."

If Huang Ning actually died here, it would cause enormous trouble.

Though Mayor Fang didn't understand why Master Feng was begging, he knew this young man was not to be trifled with. He added, "Master Lin, just let it go. There's no need to bicker with a woman."

Looking at Huang Ning's pleading face, Lin Mu threw her to the ground.

"If you're not satisfied, you can have the Huang Family come after me for revenge. But I'll tell you this: one day, I will take my sword to Harbor Island and slaughter your entire Huang Family!"

After saying this, Lin Mu turned and left without a backward glance.

His feet tapped lightly on the ground as his figure soared like an Azure Hawk, leaping through Tiger's Lair Mountain.

Within a few blinks, he had vanished into the vast wilderness.

Where Lin Mu had just stepped, the ground caved in, leaving a crater half a meter deep and crushing the stones to fine powder.

Seeing this, Mayor Fang and the others were too stunned to speak.

As for Huang Laoshi, he simply called out, "A god!" before falling to his knees and bowing his head, clutching the jade stone tightly in his hand.

Lin Mu had just descended the mountain when his phone rang. It was Guan Chengye.

After hearing what Guan Chengye had to say, a faint smile curled Lin Mu's lips.

So, they've finally come. If he wants a fight, then a fight it is.

"Send a helicopter to pick me up!"

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