Ye Luo’s lips curled into a confident smile, saying, "I’ve been wanting to see just how formidable a master at the Innate Late Stage really is."

Since achieving the Innate Realm, Ye Luo had not yet engaged in a proper battle; the previous assassin at the Innate Realm Early Phase simply couldn’t push him to exert his full strength.

Now, martial artists at his own level barely registered in his sight, only those at the Innate Middle Stage and Innate Late Stage were strong enough to ignite his desire for combat.

To become a true powerhouse, one must face numerous challenges. Only in this way could one’s potential be fully unleashed. Previously, in the mountains, he had to battle the old man every day. Although he was soundly defeated every time, it was exactly this that greatly stimulated his potential.

Seeing Ye Luo’s expression, Loyal Old’s face stiffened, his weathered eyes showing a hint of astonishment, then he said, "Good, since you’re not afraid, this old man naturally has nothing to fear either. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken action, so today I’ll give these old bones a good workout."

"Haha!"

Ye Luo laughed out loud, his eyes sweeping over the two masked protectors from the Maple Leaf Organization, a smile on his lips as he said, "Go ahead, show me how strong you so-called experts of the Maple Leaf Organization really are."

"Courting death!"

Provoked by Ye Luo’s taunts, the eyes of the two protectors from the Maple Leaf Organization turned icy, emitting a cold glint as they burst into action.

A gleam of sharpness flashed through Ye Luo’s eyes as the Nine Yang Mystic Art within him started to operate. The roaring Nine Yang True Qi burst forth from his Dantian, coursing through all his meridians, releasing an explosive aura.

Ye Luo took a step forward and threw a tyrannical punch at one of them. At this moment, the first meridian of the Nine Yang Mystic Art that had been unblocked in Ye Luo’s Dantian shone brightly, instantly doubling the strength within his body.

As his fist thundered out, a booming sound resonated through the void.

Their attacks collided with a muffled sound like thunder, and the terrifying energy of the True Qi leaked out. Both Ye Luo and his opponent staggered backward.

The masked protector only took two steps back, while Ye Luo retreated five or six steps, his True Qi within feeling slightly chaotic.

"Damn, these Innate Late Stage experts really are tough."

Ye Luo cursed inwardly; he had indeed underestimated the ability of an Innate Late Stage expert. Even though his strength had doubled, there was still a significant gap compared to his opponent.

"Miss Mingyue, take the young lady back to the hotel."

At this point, Loyal Old spoke to Mingyue, exuding a spirited and fearless aura as he charged forward to face the other masked protector.

"Miss Shi, we need to leave here quickly."

Mingyue said to Shi Yanran.

"They... They won’t be in danger, will they?"

Shi Yanran’s eyes carried a tinge of worry as she looked at Ye Luo and Loyal Old.

Mingyue glanced at Ye Luo, murmuring to herself that it would be good if something did happen. However, she still said, "The people from the Maple Leaf Organization are after Miss Shi. As long as Miss Shi leaves, they should be fine. Besides, the experts from our Special Security Bureau will soon be back."

Heartened by Mingyue’s words, Shi Yanran felt somewhat at ease. Yet looking at Ye Luo, now fighting with the masked protector, her eyes still flickered with deep concern. Ultimately, she quickly left the scene with Mingyue and the others.

"Finish them off quickly. We must take the target away tonight."

Seeing Shi Yanran leave, the two black-faced protectors’ eyes flashed with a grim coldness as they coldly snorted and intensified their attacks.

"Humph, to think you want to capture Shi Yanran as a Cultivation Furnace, absorbing that True Qi seed, you of the Maple Leaf Organization sure know how to scheme."

Ye Luo’s expression turned cold as he spoke with an icy voice.

Hearing Ye Luo’s words, the two black-faced protectors and Zhong Lao’s eyes revealed a look of surprise as they gazed at Ye Luo.

"Young man, I never expected you to know even this. It seems you must die today."

The two black-faced protectors’ eyes burst forth with a grim murderous intent, staring intently at Ye Luo.

Boom!

At that moment, Zhong Lao and another black-faced protector exchanged a move, both retreating. However, it was evident that Zhong Lao was at a disadvantage.

"Mr. Ye, how did you come to know about this?"

Zhong Lao’s gaze turned towards Ye Luo, and he couldn’t help but ask. Wasn’t this matter only known to the higher-ups of the Shi family?

Ye Luo’s eyes narrowed slightly, a cold light flashing through as he said, "I am the Divine Doctor, how could such matters escape my attention?"

In fact, Ye Luo had not previously noticed anything wrong with Shi Yanran, it was only because she had suddenly fainted before that he had taken her pulse.

Only then did he discover the problem with her body. Afterward, using the Clairvoyant Eye to glance at her, he came to understand why the Maple Leaf Organization had deployed so many experts to capture Shi Yanran, an ordinary woman.

It was precisely because of the special constitution of Shi Yanran’s body.

Shi Yanran had an Innate Yin Body; women with this constitution naturally have an excess of cold energy and a deficiency of Yang energy in their bodies, constantly releasing a vast amount of cold Qi.

Normally, women with this constitution would live no longer than ten years because the excess of cold energy in their bodies would lead to a complete imbalance of Yin and Yang. Eventually, the overwhelming cold Qi would freeze their bodies solid, causing all life functions to cease entirely.

However, Shi Yanran had lived a normal life up to now, and this was all because someone had used a secret technique on her body when she was very young, condensing a True Qi seed within her.

This True Qi seed was continuously absorbing the cold Qi released from Shi Yanran’s body, preventing her body from being completely frozen solid by the powerful cold Qi, turning into an ice sculpture.

The True Qi seed had absorbed nearly twenty years of the cold Qi released from Shi Yanran’s body, so one could imagine how terrifying the power contained within it was.

If a man were to unite with her and absorb the True Qi seed in her body through a secret technique, it could instantly elevate his strength to an extremely high realm.

According to Ye Luo’s judgment, this True Qi seed could enable an Innate Realm Early Stage practitioner to break through to the Peak of the Innate Realm in an instant—such was the temptation.

And the person who had condensed the True Qi seed inside Shi Yanran’s body had essentially used her as a Cultivation Furnace, waiting for a specific time to break her body and instantly create a super-powerful individual.

Now, it seemed that the true culprit behind the scenes was undoubtedly someone from the Maple Leaf Organization. That was why they had sent so many experts to capture Shi Yanran—to use her as a Cultivation Furnace.

Nonetheless, it appeared that Shi Yanran’s family was also aware of the matter, which was why they were so meticulously protective of her.

"Kill them, leave none alive!"