In a private room in the Danling Sect, Sect Leader Mo was dining with Su Molixi and Lin Hao when the door was struck by a series of urgent knocks.

Sect Leader Mo excused himself before calling out.

The door was pushed open, revealing Shan Dan’s slightly panicked face.

"Sect Leader, something terrible has happened." Shan Dan first offered his apologies to Su Molixi and Lin Hao before speaking to Sect Leader Mo.

Sect Leader Mo’s heart skipped a beat. ’This is bad,’ he thought.

He had never seen such an expression on Shan Dan’s face before.

But he forced himself to remain calm and asked what the matter was.

"The Harmonization Pills have been stolen!"

Upon hearing this, Sect Leader Mo shot to his feet, his expression changing drastically.

"Jin Bufan just came to collect ten Harmonization Pills. When I went into the secret chamber, I saw that all the jade boxes containing the Harmonization Pills were gone."

"What about the other pills in there?" Sect Leader Mo asked hurriedly.

Compared to the Harmonization Pills, there were pills in that secret chamber that were even more precious. If those had been stolen as well, the loss would be immense.

Not to mention, the first thing to be affected would be the sect assembly.

"They’re still there. I’ve already had two elders stand guard over them personally," Shan Dan replied.

Sect Leader Mo let out a sigh of relief, but his brow immediately furrowed again.

The issue now wasn’t how the pills were stolen, but how to explain this to Jin Bufan.

He had won the bid for the procurement rights to the pills. If the sect couldn’t produce them, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"I’ve stalled Jin Bufan for now, telling him to come back after this afternoon’s auction. He agreed, but from his expression, it’s clear he’s suspicious."

Shan Dan spoke again.

"Come back in the afternoon?" Sect Leader Mo gave a bitter smile. "No one in our sect knows how to perform the Refining for these Harmonization Pills. Even if they did, there’s no way to refine ten of them in such a short time."

Sect Leader Mo’s brow was locked in a tight frown.

Although Jin Bufan was only a Hall Master, he represented the Proud Moon Divine Sect. Failing to provide the pills he wanted would have dire consequences.

Shan Dan and Sect Leader Mo hadn’t tried to hide their conversation from Su Molixi and Lin Hao at all.

Hearing their exchange, even Su Molixi put down her bowl and chopsticks.

A series of loud slurps echoed in the room.

It was the sound of Lin Hao, head buried in his bowl, wolfing down his food.

Seeing him, Shan Dan’s eyes lit up.

"Young Master Lin..."

"Mmph... eat..." Lin Hao looked up, his mouth full of rice, completely unable to form a coherent sentence. He pointed at his bowl with his chopsticks.

Sect Leader Mo also came to his senses. He quickly sat back down and said to Su Molixi and Lin Hao, "Let’s eat. We’ll talk after we’ve finished our meal."

Sect Leader Mo smiled and urged the two to eat.

Lin Hao’s expression told him that the matter of the Harmonization Pills was not difficult to resolve.

After all, according to their agreement, the Heaven-Stepping Sect would receive seventy percent of the profits.

If the Harmonization Pill incident damaged the Danling Sect’s reputation, the Heaven-Stepping Sect’s losses would be just as great. The only reason Lin Hao could be so calm was that he already had a plan.

Shan Dan clasped his fists, retreated silently, and was in the middle of closing the door with both hands when Lin Hao finally swallowed a mouthful of rice.

"Pill Master Shan Dan, wait for me at your sect’s alchemy area."

"Yes." Shan Dan was overjoyed. He bowed and backed away.

Meanwhile, Su Molixi tilted her head slightly, as if glancing at Lin Hao.

About ten minutes later, Lin Hao put down his bowl and chopsticks, a look of satisfaction on his face.

He had been away from his sect for about ten days, roughing it on the road the entire time without a single decent meal. This feast was a delight for the senses, and he couldn’t possibly hold back.

Su Molixi, on the other hand, had only been going through the motions, barely touching her food.

She had put down her chopsticks long ago.

Seeing Lin Hao finish, Sect Leader Mo quickly arranged for him to wash up.

"Sect Leader Mo, it’s about time. You should head to the Wind and Cloud Platform. Just tell me the way to your alchemy area," Lin Hao said, a cold glint in his eyes.

When he heard what Shan Dan said, his first reaction was that there was a traitor.

And the only people with access to these pills would be the higher-ups of the Danling Sect. As such, two people became the prime suspects.

The Cao brothers.

’If it’s really them, acting one way to my face and another behind my back, I’ll definitely use the Danling Sect to eliminate them.’

"Alright." Sect Leader Mo agreed and gave Lin Hao detailed directions.

If he didn’t show up at the Wind and Cloud Platform, he was afraid Jin Bufan would grow even more suspicious, and the situation would become difficult to handle.

"I’m entrusting everything to you, Young Master Lin." Sect Leader Mo clasped his fists, then made an inviting gesture to Su Molixi. "Palace Master Su, please."

"I’m not fond of crowds. I won’t be going," Su Molixi said.

Sect Leader Mo was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.

’The Palace Master of the Misty Palace has probably taken an interest in Lin Hao and wants to watch him perform Alchemy.’

"Young Master Lin, at this point, you’re practically half a master of the Danling Sect. Palace Master Su is a guest from afar, so I can only ask you to entertain her."

There was a probing undertone to Sect Leader Mo’s words.

Alchemy was a top-secret affair for Alchemy Masters; very few would allow spectators.

With a long-lost recipe like the Harmonization Pill, the chances of being allowed to watch dropped even further.

However, to his surprise, Lin Hao nodded immediately, without a shred of hesitation.

What he didn’t know was that Lin Hao had already taught this very alchemy method in front of numerous Alchemy Masters back at the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

In Lin Hao’s eyes, the Harmonization Pill was nothing special at all.

Sect Leader Mo personally saw the two of them off. Only after their figures disappeared from sight did he hurry toward the Wind and Cloud Platform.

Walking alongside the Palace Master of one of the five great Divine Sects, Lin Hao showed no signs of restraint, keeping pace with her step for step.

Along the way, they passed many disciples of the Danling Sect. A figure like Su Molixi was the center of attention wherever she went; everyone in the Danling Sect knew who she was.

Now, seeing Lin Hao walking shoulder-to-shoulder with her, they were all astonished.

Those who didn’t recognize Lin Hao wondered what kind of powerful figure he was to have such an honor.

The Danling Sect disciples who did recognize Lin Hao, after their initial surprise, wore expressions of pure admiration.

"Sister Palace Master, you smell so good. I thought it was the food at first, but it turns out the fragrance is coming from you."

A Danling Sect disciple saw the two approaching from a distance and quickly lowered his head to make way.

Suddenly hearing this remark, he was so frightened that he fell right on his rear.

No matter how you heard it, the words carried a hint of flirtation.

To dare and flirt with the Palace Master of the Misty Palace, one of the five great Divine Sects—what incredible nerve!

The disciple could almost see the gruesome image of Lin Hao being slapped into a meat paste by the Misty Palace’s Palace Master.

However, the outcome was not what he expected.

He saw Palace Master Su pause for a slight moment before continuing to walk forward without a word, showing no intention of striking Lin Hao dead.

The disciple’s eyes went wide.

"By the way, Sister Palace Master, Sect Leader Mo just called you Palace Master Su. What’s your given name?" Coming from a small place, Lin Hao had no contact with entities of the five great Divine Sects’ level, so naturally, he wouldn’t know Su Molixi’s name.

"Su Molixi."

Su Molixi’s cool voice rang out.

Lin Hao mumbled it twice, saying it was a beautiful name.

"Young Master Lin, do you know what kind of illness Xiaoru has?" After they had walked a good distance further, Su Molixi, in a rare move, initiated the conversation.

Lin Hao beamed, his face a picture of innocence. "Sister Su, don’t be so formal. You can just call me Xiao Hao."

Lin Hao was already scheming in his heart.

Although he had offended many powerful groups, Lin Hao wasn’t afraid. Still, there were some things he had to guard against.

Namely, his family.

He wasn’t worried about the Heaven-Stepping Sect, but the Lin family, far away in War Dragon City, was a constant source of concern for him.

Although they had the protection of the Treasure Hunting Pavilion, which was backed by the Wenren family, and he had also established a good relationship with the Chen family, in Lin Hao’s eyes, it still wasn’t enough.

Right now, the Misty Palace, one of the five great Divine Sects, was the best choice.

"A moment ago, Young Master Lin was so defiant in the face of a Soul-Chasing Order. Why are you now trying to cozy up to a mere woman like me?" Su Molixi said, her voice already tinged with slight displeasure.

She had asked about Xiaoru’s illness, but Lin Hao had changed the subject and was even pushing his luck.

If it had been anyone else, they would already be a corpse by now.

Lin Hao’s smile faded. He sighed softly and said, "If I were alone, what would it matter if the whole world were my enemy? But I have a family. I’ve lost them once before, and I don’t want to lose them again."

"For your family... are you planning to use me?"

Lin Hao gave a bitter smile. "How would I dare to use you? It’s just that I am still too weak. My family is as well."

"Your family in War Dragon City?"

Lin Hao nodded.

"I’ll give you one year. If Xiaoru is dead a year from now, I will personally act and slaughter your entire family!"

After saying this, Su Molixi’s pace suddenly quickened.

Lin Hao watched her retreating back, a happy smile spreading across his face.

Although Su Molixi’s words had been harsh, Lin Hao hadn’t sensed any killing intent in her tone.

Even if Xiaoru were to die a year from now, he suspected she would only kill him to accompany her in death; she would never slaughter innocents.

For one year, with the protection of the Misty Palace, the Lin family would be safe.

And one year was enough time for Lin Hao to accomplish a great many things.

How could Lin Hao not be delighted?

"Sister Su, wait for me!" Lin Hao called out and hurried to catch up...

By the time the two of them arrived at the Danling Sect’s alchemy area, Shan Dan had already been waiting for a long time.

"Palace Master." Seeing Su Molixi, Shan Dan was slightly stunned, then he bowed in greeting.

Su Molixi nodded.

"Young Master Lin, this is the Sect Leader’s personal Alchemy Room. The materials are all here. If you need anything, just say the word."

Pushing open the door, Shan Dan said to Lin Hao.

Lin Hao looked inside. The Alchemy Room wasn’t large, but it contained three Pill Furnaces and a Spirit Herb Shelf.

Setting other things aside, the quality of the Pill Furnaces was excellent, at least on par with the one Wenren Yuxin had left for him.

And when his gaze swept over the shelf where the Spirit Grass was stored, a flash of delight appeared in his eyes.

Not only were all the Spirit Grasses for Refining the Harmonization Pill present, but the herbs for another pill he wanted to make were also all there.

"Excellent. You two can make yourselves comfortable. I’m starting." Lin Hao spoke, and with a flick of his hand, a ball of fire shot out from his Laogong Acupoint.

"A special flame!" Shan Dan cried out in alarm, but then immediately felt he was overreacting.

With Lin Hao’s Alchemy Mastery, it would be more abnormal if he *didn’t* have a special flame.

"A friend lent it to me," Lin Hao said.

This special flame was the one left by Wenren Yuxin. As for his Flowing Light Divine Flame, although Lin Hao had succeeded in Refining it, he couldn’t use it. This was because no Pill Furnace could currently withstand its high temperature, not even the Li Fire Divine Furnace, one of the ten great furnaces in the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

Looking at the special flame, Shan Dan’s face was filled with envy. To this day, he still hadn’t found one for himself.

Special flames were simply too difficult to find.

If he knew that Lin Hao also possessed the Flowing Light Divine Flame, who knows if he’d be scared to death on the spot.