The Danling Sect was the only one of the four major sects in the Southern Border Prefecture famed for its alchemy.

And the Danling Sect’s annual assembly was a major event for the entire Southern Border Prefecture.

But this year, it seemed to be something far greater.

A full month before the sect assembly was set to begin, the Danling Sect was already bustling with activity, building up hype.

Some factions claimed the Danling Sect was no longer content with its standing in the Southern Border Prefecture and was looking to advance further.

Others suggested that the Danling Sect had gained the backing of a major power and was planning to soar to new heights.

But regardless of the rumors, one fact was undeniable: the Danling Sect was currently in the limelight like never before.

It was even rumored that representatives from the empire’s five great divine sects would be in attendance.

With such rumors swirling, far more factions than usual sought to attend the Danling Sect’s grand assembly this year.

Cyan Forest Town, the closest town to the Danling Sect, was already overflowing with people, despite the sect assembly still being three days away.

One day, a striking couple arrived outside the Shen Dan Inn, the finest establishment in Cyan Forest Town.

The woman was dressed in purple. Though a conical hat with a low-hanging white veil hid her face, her slender and graceful figure was captivating enough to stir the imagination.

The man, about fifteen or sixteen years old, wore a green robe and had a tall, slender build. A faint smile played on his handsome face. While not conventionally stunning, he possessed an ethereal air.

However, the turtle resting on his shoulder was something of an eyesore, spoiling the picturesque scene.

These two were, of course, Lin Hao and Meng Qing.

Their appearance immediately drew the attention of everyone inside the inn.

"Welcome, distinguished guests! Our inn has the finest food and wine. Shall I start you off with our house specialty and two pots of our best vintage?" Seeing that the pair clearly came from an impressive background, an attendant hustled over to greet them, his face wreathed in smiles.

Lin Hao glanced inside. The place was packed, with not a single empty seat. He smiled, shook his head, and said, "We’ll take two of your best rooms for now."

"My lord, one room will be enough," Meng Qing said.

Having wandered and struggled with her grandfather since childhood, she had learned the value of money early on and didn’t want Lin Hao to waste any.

’Besides, she had already resolved to serve Lin Hao; how could she possibly stay in a separate room?’

"Meng Qing, we’ve been roughing it on the road for days. Please, don’t refuse."

Meng Qing had been taking care of him throughout their journey, and Lin Hao already felt guilty. Now that they were so close to the Danling Sect, he didn’t want her to overexert herself.

"My lord, I..."

Before Meng Qing could say more, the attendant cut in. "My apologies, folks. We’re all out of rooms."

Lin Hao frowned and turned to leave.

A whistle cut through the air from behind. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Hey, gorgeous! I’ll give you half my bed," a jeering voice called out from behind.

Lin Hao stopped short. He was about to turn around when Meng Qing grabbed his arm.

Seeing Meng Qing shake her head, Lin Hao said no more.

"That little punk hasn’t even hit puberty! I’m big where it counts and know how to use it. I guarantee you’ll have a good time." The voice piped up again, the words so foul they were sickening to hear.

"Hahahaha..."

The inn erupted in laughter.

In the next instant, the laughter died.

Because the man who had uttered the words had just had his neck snapped.

The one who struck was, of course, Lin Hao.

The three men at the table with the lout who had harassed Meng Qing stared in terror at the scene before scrambling away in a panic.

With a casual flick of his wrist, Lin Hao tossed the body out the door.

Then he spoke as if nothing had happened. "Attendant, our food."

After saying this, Lin Hao looked up at Meng Qing, who was still by the door, and smiled. "Meng Qing, come here."

Beneath her white veil, Yu Mengqing’s beautiful face shifted with emotion. She then took a few graceful steps and sat down beside Lin Hao.

Just then, the attendant approached, his face a mask of panic. "Sir, you’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest! You should leave, quickly!"

"Oh? Don’t tell me he had powerful connections?" Lin Hao asked with a calm smile.

The attendant nodded. But just as he was about to speak, a commotion erupted outside.

"Second Master, he’s the one who killed Big Brother!" At the entrance, one of the men who had just fled in terror now stood with puffed-up arrogance, pointing at Lin Hao.

The so-called Second Master, a man with a thick beard that covered his cheeks, nodded and walked straight to Lin Hao’s table.

He then sat down across from him, legs spread in a show of dominance.

"Attendant, bring your best food and wine!" he ordered without even looking back.

"Yes, yes, of course, Second Master! Right away!" It wasn’t the attendant who answered, but the Shopkeeper of the inn himself.

Surprisingly, this Second Master completely ignored Meng Qing. Instead, he smiled at Lin Hao and sized him up from head to toe.

He looked at Lin Hao as if he were a peerless beauty.

A chill ran down Lin Hao’s spine.

Then, Lin Hao heard the Second Master ask, "Such a dashing and elegant young man. May I be so bold as to ask where you hail from?"

Forcing down his unease, Lin Hao replied, "War Dragon City. It’s just a small place."

’He couldn’t figure out what this Second Master was playing at. The man he’d just killed was apparently his brother, yet instead of screaming for blood, he sat down and tried to cozy up to him. It was completely bizarre.’

"Oh." The Second Master’s eyes narrowed. He stared at the turtle on Lin Hao’s shoulder and grinned. "I like your turtle... especially its head."

"BLECH..."

The moment he said it, many people in the inn began to vomit violently.

Many patrons leaped to their feet. Some even started demanding a refund for their rooms as they made a resolute and hasty exit.

The Shen Dan Inn was instantly thrown into a state of pandemonium.

The man was into other men!

Lin Hao felt his own stomach churn. He stood, pulled Meng Qing up, and made to leave.

"You killed my big brother. You think you can just walk away?" the Second Master said, remaining seated and perfectly composed.

"Didn’t you say you liked its head? You can have it," Lin Hao said, holding the turtle out to him.

BOOM!

With a flick of his sleeve, Second Master Hao unleashed a powerful gust of wind. A large hole blew open in the wall, and the turtle was sent flying through it.

’This man’s cultivation is impressive,’ Lin Hao thought, his eyes narrowing.

"In Cyan Forest Town, no one I want ever gets away!" Second Master Hao declared ominously.

Lin Hao smiled. "That’s only because you prey on the weak. If you’re so tough, why don’t you try him?"

Lin Hao pointed to a corner of the inn.

Over there, a table of people seemed completely indifferent to everything happening around them.

One man and two women.

The young man was dressed in white, his bearing extraordinary. Beside him rested a brilliant, treasured sword.

The two women, their faces also veiled in white gauze, snapped their heads around at Lin Hao’s words, murderous intent flashing in their beautiful eyes.

CRACK!

With a single glare, the table in front of Lin Hao split in two, as if sliced by a sharp blade!

The few Martial Artists confident enough in their own abilities to have remained in the inn all paled at the sight. One even cried out in alarm, "Sword Qi! Those are people from Mingjian Manor!"

Lin Hao, however, showed no trace of alarm. He simply stared at the young man in white.

Lin Hao had noticed him the moment he walked into the inn.

’This was none other than Zuo Ming, the man he’d fought back in Red Beauty City.’

The son of the Manor Master of Mingjian Manor.

"I admire your nerve, daring to provoke this young master," the white-robed young man said, his voice even and unbothered. He didn’t even turn his head.

Lin Hao froze the moment he heard the words.

’This person’s voice was completely different from Zuo Ming’s. He must have mistaken him for someone else.’

"My apologies. You bear a strong resemblance to an old acquaintance. I was mistaken," Lin Hao said immediately, offering his apology.

"I accept your apology. But the girl stays," the white-robed young man said, making no effort to hide his intentions.

He wanted Meng Qing.

Seeing him brazenly demand another woman despite already being accompanied by two beauties, many of the men in the crowd looked on with expressions of pure admiration.

"That’s the Young Manor Master of Mingjian Manor, Zuo Yi. They say his swordsmanship is unparalleled, but he’s a hopeless lecher," a Martial Artist outside whispered to his companion.

PFFT!

The words had barely left his lips before his body was sliced in two.

Lin Hao’s eyes narrowed.

The distance from Zuo Yi to the man outside the inn was at least thirty feet.

He only saw a flash of sword light.

The man had been cleaved apart.

’Zuo Yi’s Sword Qi is terrifyingly fast.’

"So, the Young Manor Master of Mingjian Manor graces us with his presence! The woman is yours, but the man is mine!" Second Master Hao’s expression flickered for a moment before he burst into laughter.

"Second Master Hao, the local tyrant of Cyan Forest Town. You have a younger brother, Third Master Hao, who is a disciple of Elder Cao Xiong of the Danling Sect," Zuo Yi stated, his face devoid of expression. He raised his wine cup and drained it in one go.

"The Young Manor Master is remarkably well-informed to know such things," Second Master Hao replied with a laugh.

Zuo Yi’s voice was flat. "Leave the woman. You can take him."

"With pleasure!" Second Master Hao sneered, his hand shooting out like a claw toward Lin Hao.

Despite his burly frame, his strike was as fast as lightning.

He was already right next to Lin Hao, and the suddenness of the attack made it nearly impossible to defend against.

This claw struck Lin Hao’s arm squarely.

Then, Second Master Hao froze.

He found that Lin Hao’s arm was as hard as bronze and iron.

A smirk touched Lin Hao’s lips as he kicked out at Second Master Hao’s crotch.

CLANG!

Lin Hao was also taken aback. It felt like he had just kicked an iron plate.

"My precious has been tempered by a divine technique. Just wait, I’ll show you its power," Second Master Hao sneered.

"Is that so?" Lin Hao’s lips curled into a wicked smile.

In the next instant, Second Master Hao felt an intensely cold energy surge from Lin Hao’s arm.

It shot through his hand and instantly coursed through his entire body.

Second Master Hao shuddered violently, then froze into a solid block of ice.

Lin Hao brought a palm down, and the ice statue shattered into countless pieces.

"He... he killed Second Master! Go get Third Master!" The thugs who had followed Second Master Hao fled in a swarm.

At this, Zuo Yi finally turned his head, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

SWISH! SWISH!

The next moment, Lin Hao’s figure blurred as he instantly dodged.

Two streaks of Sword Qi sliced into the ground where he had just been standing.

Zuo Yi’s two female attendants had made their move.

"There are very few women I find repulsive. Unfortunately for you, you’re now on that list." Lin Hao’s voice grew cold as he stared at the two women.

Two streaks of Sword Qi were his only reply!

They held no swords, yet unleashed a storm of Sword Qi. It was an uncanny sight.

But Lin Hao’s Spiritual Sense was even more formidable.

He could anticipate every single strike.

In no time, the floor of the inn was a crisscrossing mesh of deep gouges.

’Can’t destroy the inn, or we’ll be sleeping on the streets tonight.’ Lin Hao stomped his foot, suddenly grabbing Meng Qing and leaping backward.

The two female attendants’ figures flickered as they shot out of the inn’s entrance in pursuit.

As for Zuo Yi, he remained seated inside, leisurely pouring himself another drink. He clearly had absolute confidence in them.

’He had personally trained these two women in the Sword Dao. While their skills weren’t refined enough for the grandest of stages, they were more than sufficient to handle a mere Blood Coagulation Realm Martial Artist.’

A smile touched Zuo Yi’s lips for the first time as he pictured Meng Qing’s graceful figure.

But in the next moment, his smile vanished.