A huge thank you to the reader "尘﹌埃" for another tip! I am moved to tears. I should be releasing an extra Chapter for this, but I’ve been working the five PM to one AM shift these past few days. I’m a slow writer, so after getting home, one Chapter takes me until four or five in the morning. Then I wake up, write another Chapter, and head off to work again...

But this author has principles! I have this Sunday off, so I will definitely release an extra Chapter for you!

......

Just as the woman was renaming the Ice and Fire Pool, several people were seated in the Danling Sect’s meeting hall—and Lin Hao was surprisingly among them.

Last night, just after escaping from that woman, Lin Hao had run into Shan Dan, who had been searching for him for a long time.

Lin Hao still remembered Shan Dan’s words: the Sect Leader of the Danling Sect wanted to see him.

"Young friend, come with me, quickly." The moment Shan Dan saw Lin Hao, he grabbed him and pulled him along without another word.

And so, Lin Hao was dragged by Shan Dan into the Danling Sect’s meeting hall.

The moment he stepped inside, Lin Hao became the center of attention. Two gazes, in particular, felt like sharp thorns pressing against his back.

Following the gazes, Lin Hao saw a familiar face—Cao Ba.

And the person next to Cao Ba bore a slight resemblance to him. It was, without a doubt, his elder brother, Cao Xiong.

"Hahaha, Young Master Lin, I have long heard of your great name. Seeing you today, you are truly a fine talent. A true hero in his youth," a hearty voice rang out.

Then, Lin Hao saw a middle-aged man seated at the head of the hall rise to his feet and walk over to greet him.

The middle-aged man wore a Daoist robe, also bearing an embroidered tripod on the chest, but his was colored gold.

"Young Master Lin, this is our Danling Sect’s Sect Leader Mo," Shan Dan introduced from the side.

"Sect Leader Mo," Lin Hao said, cupping his fist to offer a salute.

But immediately, his hands were grasped by Sect Leader Mo’s large ones. "Young Master Lin, no need for such formalities."

In the meeting hall, besides Cao Xiong, Cao Ba, and Shan Dan, three other elders were seated. Their robes were embroidered with silver Small Tripods, clearly marking them as figures of elder rank.

Now, seeing their own Sect Leader’s actions, all of them wore strange expressions.

The Danling Sect was, after all, one of the four major sects of the Southern Border Prefecture. Even if the Sect Leader of the Heaven-Stepping Sect himself were to visit, being received by a random elder would already be considered a great honor.

But now, their Sect Leader was being so courteous to a mere disciple of the Heaven-Stepping Sect. They couldn’t make sense of it.

As for the Cao brothers, the killing intent in their eyes grew stronger.

"Come, come, Young Master Lin, let me introduce you to our Sect Elders." Over there, Sect Leader Mo held Lin Hao’s hand, personally making the introductions.

Although they were puzzled, the three elders had no choice but to be polite since their Sect Leader was making the introductions.

Lin Hao greeted the three elders with a smile, his attitude neither servile nor arrogant.

"Young Master Lin, this is our Second Elder, Cao Xiong. And this one, I presume you already know." After introducing the three elders, Sect Leader Mo brought Lin Hao to face the Cao brothers.

Lin Hao faintly began to understand. Sect Leader Mo wanted to resolve the conflict between him and the Cao brothers.

For the leader of a sect to go to such lengths for him was a sufficient show of sincerity. Lin Hao wasn’t an ungracious person; he wouldn’t make things difficult for him.

Smiling as well, Lin Hao greeted the two of them.

"Hmph!"

Cao Xiong let out a cold snort and ignored him completely, remaining seated and perfectly still.

"Sect Leader, we are not petty men, but Cao Tianguan is still at the Heaven-Stepping Sect! They show us far too little respect!"

With Cao Tianguan detained by the Heaven-Stepping Sect, the Cao brothers’ original intention had been to attack the sect. However, Sect Leader Mo had forcefully stopped them, saying that the Heaven-Stepping Sect would release him at the sect convention at the latest.

Now, the sect convention was imminent, yet the Heaven-Stepping Sect had only sent a single person. There was no sign of Cao Tianguan.

If the Sect Leader hadn’t been present, the Cao brothers would have likely made their move long ago.

Asking them to greet Lin Hao was simply a fool’s errand.

A flash of anger crossed Sect Leader Mo’s eyes, but he quickly turned his gaze to Lin Hao.

Shan Dan had long since reported what he had seen and heard at the Heaven-Stepping Sect. Furthermore, among the Alchemy Masters sent later, there was one of his own confidants. Sect Leader Mo had a clear understanding of Lin Hao’s status within the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

Whether Cao Tianguan was released or not was definitely a matter that could be decided by a single word from Lin Hao.

Since Sect Leader Mo was being so courteous, Lin Hao naturally returned the favor.

At that, Lin Hao smiled faintly and said, "My master received the Danling Sect’s letter. He was supposed to have Cao Tianguan return, but the man is dead set against leaving. There’s nothing I can do."

When Lin Hao had left his sect, he was seeking experience; naturally, he wouldn’t bring Cao Tianguan with him.

In other words, Lin Hao wasn’t afraid of the Cao brothers’ retaliation at all.

As for the other reason, Lin Hao wanted to see the Danling Sect Leader’s reaction.

Although he had promised Master Shan Dan to cooperate with the Danling Sect, in Lin Hao’s plans, the Southern Border Prefecture was just a starting point. He intended to walk onto a much wider stage and naturally didn’t want a weak-willed ally.

He held the world in his heart; to him, the four major sects of the Southern Border Prefecture were nothing.

"Refuses to leave?! Tianguan is being abused by you at the Heaven-Stepping Sect, and you say he doesn’t want to leave?!" Hearing this, Cao Ba flew into a rage, slamming his hand on the table as he shot to his feet.

"Sect Leader, you see it yourself. The Heaven-Stepping Sect has no regard for the four major sects of the Southern Border Prefecture," Cao Xiong said from his seat, his tone seemingly mild.

But if one listened closely, one would find his voice was filled with a chilling, murderous aura.

"I know perfectly well what Cao Tianguan did at the Heaven-Stepping Sect! He brought today’s disaster upon himself, and he deserves it! If you have any complaints, you can voice them now. But if you try to pull any tricks behind my back, you will be treated as traitors to the sect!" Sect Leader Mo’s attitude suddenly became forceful.

As the leader of a sect, Sect Leader Mo naturally had his own judgment regarding major events in the Southern Border Prefecture. Lin Hao’s actions told him that this young man was no ordinary person, and he didn’t want to jeopardize his relationship with Lin Hao over a single Cao Tianguan.

At these words, the eyes of the Cao brothers and the other elders all narrowed.

Was one Lin Hao worth the Sect Leader making such a scene?

"When the time is right, Cao Tianguan will naturally return. Of course, if you wish to come to the Heaven-Stepping Sect, we would welcome you," Lin Hao said with a smile.

Come to the Heaven-Stepping Sect...

The corners of the Cao brothers’ mouths twitched slightly.

They had indeed entertained that thought before, but after news of the Suo Demon Sect’s annihilation spread like wildfire, they lost their nerve.

Even an elder from the Zhengyang Sect, armed with a Spiritual Artifact, had returned empty-handed. They knew they weren’t nearly strong enough.

"The Heaven-Stepping Sect has offended the Zhengyang Sect. Lin Hao is on bad terms with the other major sects, and his own family has been expelled from the Lin family, one of the four great clans. Sect Leader, by doing this, you will ruin the foundation of the Danling Sect," Cao Xiong said in a low voice.

The Sect Leader’s intentions were already clear: he wanted to ally with the Heaven-Stepping Sect. This was something Cao Xiong absolutely did not want to see.

"The four major sects of the Southern Border Prefecture—what a grand title. Cao Xiong, let me ask you: if you were to meet someone from one of the Five Great Divine Sects, would you still be so arrogant, or would you be meek and subservient?" Lin Hao suddenly spoke, a cold sneer on his face.

’They feel so superior, don’t they? Well, I’ll just have to shatter that superiority for them.’

"You..." Cao Xiong’s expression changed, but he was speechless.

The Five Great Divine Sects were behemoths. Forget a mere Sect Elder like him; even the monarch of a kingdom would have to show them deference.

"The Celestial Yang Continent is vast. The four major sects of the Southern Border Prefecture, in my eyes..." Lin Hao trailed off, simply shaking his head with a wicked smirk playing on his lips.

Everyone present was intelligent. Although Lin Hao hadn’t spoken it plainly, his expression said it all.

They were shocked, not expecting such ambition to be hidden beneath Lin Hao’s youthful appearance.

"If we remain complacent, we will eventually be eliminated! We can either cower in the Southern Border Prefecture forever, or we can fight to become the sixth major sect!" Sect Leader Mo declared, his words full of bewitching power.

Hearing this, the eyes of the other elders lit up, and even the Cao brothers were no exception.

But just as quickly, the light in their eyes dimmed.

Allying with the current Heaven-Stepping Sect was undoubtedly a risky gamble.

"Perhaps you don’t know, but just a moment ago, right here in this meeting hall, I sat as an equal with the Palace Master of the Misty Palace," Sect Leader Mo said suddenly, seeing their reactions.

Misty Palace, one of the Five Great Divine Sects. For their own Sect Leader to sit as an equal with its Palace Master—this was absolutely exhilarating news.

The elders all wore looks of excitement.

"But do you know why?" Sect Leader Mo asked.

Their minds raced, and then all of them fixed their gazes on Lin Hao.

The reason was obvious.

The medicinal pills provided by the Heaven-Stepping Sect were a temptation that even the Five Great Divine Sects couldn’t refuse!

The Danling Sect, famous for its Alchemy, ended up having to rely on another sect’s medicinal pills.

This left a bitter taste in their mouths.

Then, their expressions changed to ones of great shock.

The Heaven-Stepping Sect could refine these pills. If they were to make direct contact with the Five Great Divine Sects...

At this thought, all their faces turned deathly pale.

"Now, do any of you have objections to cooperating with the Heaven-Stepping Sect?" Sect Leader Mo asked again.

The men were silent.

After a long while, an elder sighed, "No wonder they went to the Heaven-Stepping Sect and don’t want to return. What foresight!"

The "they" he spoke of were, of course, the Alchemy Masters who had gone to the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

When the elders first learned that those Alchemy Masters were leaving the Danling Sect to join the Heaven-Stepping Sect, they were almost scared witless.

Afterward, behind his back, they had called those Alchemy Masters fools more than once. And the Sect Leader, who had let it happen, was considered weak and incompetent.

Now, it seemed they were the real fools.

"By the way, Young Master Lin, you poached our people so quietly. Aren’t you afraid those Alchemy Masters only pretended to defect?" another Danling Sect elder asked jokingly.

Lin Hao smiled and answered calmly, "I can annihilate one Suo Demon Sect, and I can just as easily annihilate another, even if it is one of the four major sects."

Domineering.

Hearing this, the Cao brothers closed their eyes in pain. When they opened them again, the hatred in their gaze was gone.

"The Heaven-Stepping Sect is the orthodox lineage of an Emperor Venerable that once ruled this continent. It seems its former glory will be restored at the hands of Young Master Lin," Cao Xiong said.

Lin Hao smiled but didn’t reply.

THUD!

The next moment, Cao Ba abruptly dropped to his knees before Lin Hao and performed three loud kowtows. THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Even Sect Leader Mo was shocked by this scene.

As for the other elders, their eyes were wide, and they were shocked beyond words.

The Cao brothers held tyrannical power within the sect, showing no regard even for the Sect Leader. Known as the "Treacherous and Tyrannical Duo," they had only ever had others kneel to them. When had they ever knelt to anyone else, let alone kowtowed?

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

After the three kowtows, Cao Ba acted ruthlessly, delivering several hard slaps to his own face.

"I previously spoke rudely to Young Master at the Heaven-Stepping Sect. I hope Young Master can forgive me."

Lin Hao accepted it openly, as if it were his due.

Then, he spoke. "Do you know why I didn’t bring Cao Tianguan? It’s because I’m a person who holds grudges. Anyone who has ever insulted me... must die."

At these words, the color drained from everyone’s face...