Joy flashed in Su Molixi’s eyes. She paid Lin Hao no mind and chased after Meng Qing.

By the time Lin Hao came to his senses, he was the only one left in the Regeneration Pool.

The sky was gradually darkening, but Lin Hao didn’t dare return to his courtyard.

’After what just happened, seeing her now would be too awkward.’

He wandered aimlessly. Along the way, Danling Sect disciples called out to him, but Lin Hao didn’t hear a thing.

And of course, he also failed to notice the strange look in the eyes of one particularly short Danling Sect disciple.

Seeing Lin Hao walk so distractedly that he nearly bumped into a tree, a smirk touched the Danling Sect disciple’s lips as killing intent flashed in their eyes.

Lin Hao had no idea danger was approaching. His mind was entirely consumed with how he was supposed to face Meng Qing.

Of course, a certain snowy-white image also kept popping into his mind.

As he was growing irritable and frustrated, Lin Hao’s expression suddenly changed drastically, and his body shot backward.

Fresh blood spattered.

A thin line of blood was starkly visible on Lin Hao’s throat.

This time, Lin Hao truly felt the threat of death.

’If I’d been a second slower, my head would be on the ground right now.’

’So an assassin from Netherworld Hall has been near me this whole time.’

Lin Hao didn’t dare to let his guard down.

In the next moment, Lin Hao’s body was wreathed in divine light. He activated his Emperor’s Art, pushed his Spiritual Sense to its absolute limit, and threw a punch into the void.

A terrifying sonic boom echoed through the air.

A strange current of air swirled in the void, and then a wisp of overwhelmingly powerful aura slashed straight for Lin Hao’s throat.

Lin Hao’s expression changed. He threw up his arm to block.

PFFT!

Blood sprayed through the air.

Another bloody gash appeared on Lin Hao’s arm.

It was a terrifying sight.

One must understand that Lin Hao’s body was already tough as diamond; even ordinary Spiritual Artifacts couldn’t harm him. Yet now he’d been bloodied twice without even seeing the shadow of his attacker.

Lin Hao’s expression was incredibly grave.

After cultivating the Emperor’s Art, his Spiritual Sense had become terrifyingly sharp. Yet, he could only vaguely sense the assassin’s general location. The moment he attacked, the killing intent would bizarrely shift positions.

Now he finally understood why those Martial Artists in Celestial Jade City had been killed in a single blow.

PFFT!

In another flash, Lin Hao’s arm was wounded again.

Lin Hao realized the assassin seemed to be aiming exclusively for his throat, trying to take his head.

Crossing his arms to block, Lin Hao’s eyes blazed with a dazzling light, as if the sun and moon were revolving within them.

This time, Lin Hao finally spotted the anomaly.

A strange short-bladed knife was cutting through the void. It was completely transparent, seemingly part of the air itself, as if it weren’t a solid object at all.

The blade was held in the hand of a figure who, like the knife, was completely transparent and hidden within the air.

’No wonder they’re so stealthy!’

A cold smile touched Lin Hao’s eyes as he suddenly threw a punch, striking the figure dead center.

However, his smile vanished in an instant.

He discovered his punch had somehow caused the transparent person in the void to split into two.

The next moment, both transparent figures slashed with their strange short blades simultaneously.

PFFT! PFFT!

Caught off guard, two more gashes appeared on both of Lin Hao’s arms.

Lin Hao was shocked. He discovered that after absorbing his blood, the assassin and their blade seemed to become even more transparent, to the point of being nearly invisible.

The assassin’s techniques were too bizarre. Lin Hao felt completely constrained, with no way to counter them.

He could still track their movements, but he didn’t dare to attack recklessly anymore.

’If I throw another punch and they split from two into four, the consequences will be unimaginable.’

But Lin Hao hated this feeling of being on the defensive, completely suppressed.

In the end, Lin Hao decided to use the power of his True Self.

He activated the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill, and the Tai Chi Array Map in his Dantian began to spin. As his True Self leaped from the center of the array, Lin Hao’s body took on a draconic form. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

BOOM!

The roar of a dragon seemed to echo through the void. A small, humanoid figure stood proudly, unleashing a majestic and boundless aura that sent shivers of fear through all of creation.

In the void, the two transparent figures encountered this aura and instantly merged back into one. They slashed their strange short blade, attempting to resist.

But it was all in vain.

The aura pulsed and surged forward.

BOOM!

Lin Hao found that the void had suddenly cleared. The assassin had vanished without a trace, and he couldn’t tell if they had fled or been annihilated.

*Phew...*

However, Lin Hao couldn’t spare a thought for that question. He just let out a long sigh of relief.

The crisis was averted, at least for now.

Looking at his bleeding arms, Lin Hao gave a wry smile.

It had been a long, long time since he’d tasted his own blood.

The incident had done much to wash away the memory of the Regeneration Pool. Lin Hao headed back toward his courtyard.

When he got back, he found that Meng Qing wasn’t there. There was only a piece of paper with a message written in a delicate hand.

It said that Xiaoru had woken up, and she was going to look after her.

Lin Hao breathed a sigh of relief and went into the inner chamber.

An hour later, Lin Hao emerged in a fresh set of clothes. The wounds left by the assassin had already healed completely.

Such was the miraculous effect of the Emperor’s Art.

Yet, Lin Hao felt no joy at all.

’Just now, I reviewed what happened. The only reason I got hurt was because my cultivation level is too low.’

The assassin’s appearance also gave Lin Hao a strong sense of impending crisis.

’Netherworld Hall clearly underestimated my cultivation level when they sent this assassin. If they’d sent someone stronger, I wouldn’t have gotten off so easily.’

’The assassin failed today. Netherworld Hall will definitely send someone stronger next time. As soon as things are settled here in the Danling Sect, I have to get back to my own sect.’

Lin Hao couldn’t think of a foolproof plan. His only option was to return to his sect and break through to a higher realm.

With this in mind, Lin Hao opened the door and stepped out.

Yesterday, the Danling Sect had gathered a large amount of Crystal Stones and refined iron. It was time to get those matters sorted out. Then, he would leave the Danling Sect right after Xiaoru’s birthday celebration.

When he saw Sect Leader Mo, however, Sect Leader Mo told him that he had already dispatched Sect Elders to deliver the Crystal Stones and refined iron from the auctioned pills to the Heaven-Stepping Sect right after the auction ended.

With that matter resolved, a great weight was lifted from Lin Hao’s heart. He then went straight to the Sword Enlightenment Pool.

He stayed there for two days and one night.

He didn’t look up until night fell and a firework bloomed in the night sky.

Lin Hao was taken aback for a moment, then he remembered: Xiaoru’s birthday celebration must have started.

She wasn’t just Meng Qing’s long-lost sister; she was also Su Molixi’s most beloved young disciple. By all rights, Lin Hao had to give her a gift.

Lin Hao slapped his forehead and quickly left the Sword Enlightenment Pool.

’I’ve been so focused on sword practice for the past two days that I completely forgot.’

’Looks like the celebration is just starting. I hope I’m not too late...’

Meanwhile, on the Danling Sect’s Wind and Cloud Platform, Yu Mengru was beaming with joy.

Having just reunited with her long-lost sister made her exceptionally happy. To then suddenly be thrown a grand birthday party in this unfamiliar place had left her stunned for a long while.

Now, watching the fireworks fill the sky, her delighted laughter echoed across the Wind and Cloud Platform.

"The Three-leaf Sect wishes the birthday star eternal youth and many happy returns!" At this point, various sects began to present her with gifts.

"Thank you, thank you!" The little girl was so happy her eyes crinkled into smiling crescents.

The Sect Leader of the Three-leaf Sect was even more delighted. It was an honor in itself for the little birthday girl from Misty Palace to accept his gift.

"The Four Symbols Sect congratulates the birthday star..."

"The Five Luck Palace congratulates the birthday star..."

Sects continuously came forward to present their gifts. Before long, the gifts on the Wind and Cloud Platform were piled as high as a mountain.

"The Sect Leader of the Sanqing Sect has arrived!" Suddenly, a voice boomed, and the area around the Wind and Cloud Platform instantly fell silent.

The Sanqing Sect was one of the four great sects of the Southern Border Prefecture. For the birthday of a girl from Misty Palace, their Sect Leader had actually come in person.

But today’s festivities were destined to be even grander.

"The Sect Leader of the Zhengyang Sect has arrived!" The voice rang out again. The leader of another of the four great sects had arrived.

Many people’s expressions turned strange.

Two days ago, at the Danling Sect’s auction, Zhengyang Sect Elder Ruan Jinhong had colluded with Third Master Hao to steal twelve of the Danling Sect’s Harmonization Pills.

Ruan Jinhong was still being detained here.

The Zhengyang Sect Leader was likely here not only to offer birthday wishes but also to resolve that matter.

Many people gazed at the entrance, eager to see who else from the Zhengyang Sect had accompanied their Sect Leader.

A smaller group, however, looked toward Zuo Yi.

They were wondering: with two of the four great sects’ leaders present, would the master of Mingjian Manor, the Southern Border Sword God Zuo Wuque, also make an appearance?

After all, Zuo Wuque had been out of the public eye for twenty years. Compared to the other two sect leaders, the crowd was far more eager to see him.

And just then...

"The Nine Sword Attendants of Mingjian Manor have arrived!" The same voice announced once more.

"What arrogance from this Southern Border Sword God! The other sects sent their leaders in person, but Mingjian Manor sends a few mere sword attendants." The person who said this was clearly not from one of the Southern Border Prefecture’s sects.

"Don’t underestimate those attendants," someone nearby whispered as a reminder. "Ten years ago, the nine of them dismantled an entire sect. Their power is immense, especially the top three, who have been famous for ages."

"So what? An attendant is still just an attendant. Isn’t Mingjian Manor being a bit too disrespectful to Misty Palace? They’re only one of the four great sects of the Southern Border Prefecture, after all."

"I heard Sword God Zuo Wuque has some history with the previous Palace Master of Misty Palace. I’d advise you not to speak so recklessly."

"What?!"

"Shh!"

At that sound, the entire Wind and Cloud Platform fell silent.

Three groups of people appeared at the entrance ahead.

They clearly represented three different factions.

The Sanqing Sect’s party was the most low-key, consisting of only one person.

He was a grey-haired old man in a Daoist robe, holding a duster.

Surprisingly, the Zhengyang Sect’s group was also small, with only two people.

The leader was a middle-aged man whom Lin Hao would have certainly recognized if he were present.

Back in War Dragon City, when Lin Hao was about to finish off Luo Yulou, a wisp of this man’s Divine Soul had appeared.

This middle-aged man looked exactly like that Divine Soul.

He was, quite clearly, the Sect Leader of the Zhengyang Sect.

Beside him, however, was a young man dressed in extremely peculiar clothing.

It appeared to be a garment stitched from beast hides, with a pattern on the chest somewhat resembling a hammer.

The hide garment was multicolored but sleeveless, leaving the young man’s arms completely bare.

On the Wind and Cloud Platform, the veiled Su Molixi saw the young man and murmured three words...