Staring at the three black pills in Lin Yun’s hand, the three students hesitated while Wangcai and Li Ji murmured softly, "The Black Blood Pill..."

As young masters from Noble Families, they were no strangers to the Black Blood Pill. It was an elixir unique to the Yanhuang Royal Family, used to control people of value.

Once someone consumed a Black Blood Pill, their life was effectively in the Royal Family’s hands. Throughout the world, the only thing that could counteract the Black Blood Pill’s control was the Royal Family’s own Antitoxic Pill.

Not even a Primordial Ocean Realm expert could force the Black Blood Pill’s poison from their body.

"Rest assured, as long as you fulfill your end of the deal, I will give you the antidote," Lin Yun said coolly. This was all to gain absolute control over the three; without the restraint of the Black Blood Pill, he would have no way to command them.

Having been through so much, Lin Yun had long seen through the darkness in people’s hearts.

After a long moment of hesitation, the three students finally took a Black Blood Pill each. They had no choice. If they refused, Lin Yun would have killed them without a moment’s hesitation.

"Each of these vials contains twenty-four doses of the antidote. Take one every month to remain unharmed. Two years from now, if I’m satisfied with your work, I’ll give you the real antidote." Lin Yun took out three porcelain vials and handed them to the men.

The vials contained pills that could suppress the toxicity of the Black Blood Pill. Though they only offered a temporary reprieve, the three men still stored them away with extreme care.

With all this done, Lin Yun was confident the three wouldn’t dare betray him. Given their status, it would be impossible for them to find someone from the Royal Family to provide the antidote.

"Alright. Return to the Academy at once. As soon as you find out Tang Wushuang’s whereabouts, make your move," Lin Yun ordered.

Hearing this, the three students respectfully complied. With their lives now held firmly in Lin Yun’s grasp, they didn’t dare to disobey a single word.

Dragging their injured bodies, the three departed. One could only imagine that being targeted by three students at the Late Stage of the Qi Sea Realm would certainly add a unique flavor to Tang Wushuang’s training journey.

’Tang Wushuang, I hope you don’t die on your training journey. The Green Talent List competition two years from now will be the day you die.’ Lin Yun sneered as he watched their retreating figures.

All the immediate crises were resolved. Now, two matters remained. The first was finding news of his parents, which was Lin Yun’s most important reason for going to the Capital City.

With Wangcai and Li Ji’s help, Lin Yun believed finding news of his parents wouldn’t be too difficult. Besides, there was no rush to go to the Capital City. A more pressing matter lay before him.

He had subjugated the Black-striped Tiger, but due to the urgency at the time, Lin Yun hadn’t had the chance to place a Spiritual Brand on it.

The Spiritual Brand was arguably the simplest type of Technique, yet also the most dangerous. Any Martial Artist who had broken through to the Opening Realm could perform it.

Its danger lay in the fact that it required the Demon Beast’s complete cooperation. If the beast showed even the slightest hint of resistance, the result could be mutual injury, or even death for both parties.

After a brief word with Chen Xin and the other two, Lin Yun approached the Black-striped Tiger. "I am going to place a Spiritual Brand on you. Are you willing?"

Lin Yun didn’t dare be the least bit careless about the Spiritual Brand. If the Black-striped Tiger decided to take him down with it now, the consequences would be unthinkable.

The tiger’s intelligent eyes stared at Lin Yun in silence for a full quarter of an hour before it finally gave a slight nod. The Spiritual Brand was the only way for the Black-striped Tiger and Lin Yun to form a connection.

Seeing this, Lin Yun breathed a silent sigh of relief. Once the Spiritual Brand was placed, the Black-striped Tiger would belong to him. No one could ever take it, and he would be able to sense its location even from thousands of miles away.

Furthermore, a single thought from him would be enough for the Black-striped Tiger to sense, making communication far more convenient.

Splitting off a wisp of his Soul Thought, Lin Yun enveloped it in Elemental Power and directed it toward the Black-striped Tiger’s head. Instantly, an Array materialized on the beast’s enormous head.

As Lin Yun’s Soul Thought delved deeper, the Array on the Black-striped Tiger’s head shone with increasing brilliance. The process of engraving the Soul Brand had begun.

To put it plainly, a Soul Brand was the fusion of one’s own Soul Thought with that of the Black-striped Tiger, enabling Lin Yun and the tiger to sense each other’s presence and communicate via Soul Thought.

It took a full hour, by which time Lin Yun was drenched in sweat, for the Soul Brand to finally be engraved. At his Opening Realm Cultivation, forming a Soul Brand with a Tier Three Demon Beast had taken a massive toll on him.

As soon as the Soul Brand was complete, Lin Yun swallowed a Qi Essence Pill, sat down cross-legged on the spot, and began refining its Elemental Power to nourish his depleted Soul Thought.

Recovering Soul Thought was a slow process. An entire Qi Essence Pill did little to restore Lin Yun’s; it only replenished some of his expended physical energy.

His physical stamina returned, but his Soul Thought could only be replenished slowly, a fact Lin Yun didn’t try to force. He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a turbid breath. Now, with a single thought, he could pinpoint the Black-striped Tiger’s location.

’Remember what you promised. You have to turn me into a Black-winged Demon Tiger.’ At that moment, a deep voice resonated in Lin Yun’s mind.

A small smile touched Lin Yun’s lips; he knew it was the Black-striped Tiger communicating with him via Soul Thought. He replied in kind, ’Don’t worry. More than just a Black-winged Demon Tiger, I’ll have you become the supreme sovereign of the Tiger Race.’

Lin Yun’s words were an exaggeration, but his tone was brimming with confidence. His enemy was the Divine Emperor, the most powerful being in the Divine Realm, and Lin Yun was certain he would one day become strong enough.

Having finished all this, and seeing it was getting late, Lin Yun decided to rest for the night in the Imperial City Mountain Range and set out for the Capital City first thing in the morning.

Chen Xin and the other two naturally had no objections to Lin Yun’s decision. The Imperial City Mountain Range was incredibly dangerous at night for most people, but with the Black-striped Tiger around, Lin Yun’s group had no reason to worry about their safety.

Tier Two Demon Beasts didn’t dare approach after sensing the Black-striped Tiger’s aura. Even other Tier Three Demon Beasts wouldn’t pick a fight with it unless there was something significant to be gained.

The group found an open space and built a fire. The Black-striped Tiger sprawled out lazily to one side, while Little Ape had already fallen asleep in Lin Yun’s arms.

Roasting Demon Beast Flesh over the fire, Lin Yun’s group of four ate with great delight. Meanwhile, Tang Wushuang, having left the Academy, had arrived at the border of Yanhuang Country—specifically, within the Mysterious City where Lin Yun had once stayed.

In a tavern, Tang Wushuang drank alone. He had changed a great deal since his numerous battles with Lin Yun. Now, at least, his mind was focused on nothing but cultivation.

Though still incredibly arrogant, Tang Wushuang now had to admit that Lin Yun was a formidable foe—perhaps even his greatest rival.

’Lin Shan, at the time of the Green Talent List, I will utterly annihilate you! As long as I, Tang Wushuang, exist in this world, there can be no Lin Shan,’ Tang Wushuang thought, his killing intent surging.