Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 422 I recognize this man who likes to strip and fight.

West Mountain, afternoon.

The mountain path winds its way through the area, flanked by ancient, vigorous pine trees.

The continuous canopy of trees filters the sunlight into fine dappled patterns, which fall on the bluestone steps.

The air was filled with the crisp scent of pine needles mixed with damp earth.

The higher you go, the quieter it becomes.

All that remained was the rustling of the wind through the treetops and the occasional bird call.

On the mountainside, an ancient temple is hidden among the trees.

Thick moss climbs between the green tiles and flying eaves, revealing the vicissitudes of time and exuding a secluded tranquility.

Three figures strode up the stone steps and finally stopped in front of the temple's tightly closed vermilion gate.

The man in the lead was tall, but his face was pale, and one arm was in a sling across his chest with a bandage.

The young man behind him had a displeased look on his face, his brows furrowed with lingering irritation.

The skinny man at the back kept his head down the whole time, appearing timid and hesitant.

They didn't push the door open; they just stood quietly outside, seemingly waiting for some kind of permission.

Inside the temple, the fragrance of sandalwood rose from a bronze incense burner shaped like an animal head, spiraling upwards before finally dissipating beneath the caisson ceiling painted with constellations.

Several rows of ancestral tablets stood silently on the altar, watching the figure sitting cross-legged on the prayer mat.

Xiao Linye has been sitting here in meditation for several days.

Since his "master" left, he has often come to this forbidden area of ​​the family located in the Western Hills to cultivate diligently.

It was not only to improve my strength and refine my mindset, but also to digest the profound meaning contained in my master's words.

He had already sensed the presence of the three people outside the door.

Only after the incense stick in the burner had burned down to its last inch did he slowly open his eyes and calmly speak:
"Come in."

The sound was not loud, but like a gentle breeze, it swept across dozens of meters without hindrance and penetrated the thick door panel.

The door was pushed open with a creaky sound.

Three figures filed in, passed through the front hall, entered the ancestral hall, and then respectfully knelt down.

"Master, we have failed in our mission due to our incompetence. Noah Pharmaceuticals' mission has failed."

The tall man spoke first, his voice low and tinged with shame.

A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Linye's eyes as he swept his gaze over the three figures kneeling and begging for forgiveness below the hall.

They were the clansmen who had been ordered to carry out the mission: Xiao Yuanwang, Xiao Chenghuan, and Xiao Ming.

Feeling the patriarch's icy gaze, which seemed almost tangible, the three of them immediately felt a chill and lowered their heads even further.

Xiao Linye frowned slightly, his gaze falling on Xiao Yuanwang's right arm, which was fixed in a splint.

"Speak clearly."

"Yes."

Xiao Yuanwang immediately rallied his spirits, enduring the sharp pain in his right arm, and began his report:
"Last night, news came from Noah Building that the East Capital branch held a meeting to try to catch the mole, but for some reason, the entire building was dragged into the underworld."

"As soon as we received the news, we rushed to the vicinity of the building to observe the situation."

"It wasn't until the Otherworld dissipated and communications returned to normal that we learned the inside story from our informant Ma Biao. We confirmed that the entire Dongdu branch had suffered heavy casualties and was in chaos, so we decided to take this opportunity to infiltrate the experimental zone."

"The operation went smoothly. Following the intelligence data, we quickly located the Crimson Eye and are ready to open the portal."

"However, during the evacuation, they encountered a man wearing a white demon mask."

As Xiao Yuanwang recalled the scene, a hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes.

"That person just defeated Minister Luo Lie and chased us to the laboratory. It seems he also came for the Crimson Eye. Without saying a word, he started fighting us."

"According to Ma Biao's intelligence, this person is called 'Bai Xiao'. He is a serial killer that the Dongdu branch has been tracking recently. He once wiped out the entire Pursuer Special Forces team and killed several high-ranking officers."

"This person's style of doing things is extremely barbaric. He hardly uses any special abilities, relying entirely on his muscles and fists. His speed and strength are comparable to S-class."

He clenched his intact left fist, his tone revealing intense resentment:
"I was careless at the time, and he got close to me without me being able to dodge in time."

"Moreover, the explosive power of his punch far exceeded my expectations, which is why I was injured."

"If I had been prepared beforehand, with my domain abilities, I could have easily outmaneuvered and worn down this guy who only had brute strength. In the end, he would definitely be the one to fall..."

As an elder of the Xiao family and a dignified S-level expert, he was defeated in one move by a guy of unknown origin, which made him lose face. He couldn't help but explain a few more words.

"Second Uncle is right."

The young man next to him, Xiao Chenghuan, immediately chimed in:
“That Bai Xiao is a madman! I heard from Ma Biao that he kills people without hesitation, has a perverted personality, and not only is he extremely cruel, but he also likes to strip naked and fight people hand-to-hand.”

"My second uncle was only caught off guard by his sneak attack. If we were to fight again, I would definitely be able to kill him!"

Xiao Chenghuan was the most outstanding member of the third generation of the Xiao family and always considered himself exceptional.

He was completely ignored by the enemy during last night's battle, and he was feeling resentful.

The two of them took turns elaborating on their own defeats, adding their own embellishments.

Xiao Linye listened quietly without saying a word, but his mind was racing.

First, defeat Luo Lie, then severely injure Xiao Yuanwang with a single punch, scaring away the three clan experts he sent out.

Such strength places him among the top figures in both the Eastern Capital and the Xia Kingdom.

Aside from the old monsters of powerful families and the chosen ones, perhaps only those guys in the special search team who rely on special equipment can rival him.

Where did this person come from?

Is it an official secret weapon, or the work of a powerful member of a certain family?
The Xiao family had been operating in Dongdu for three generations and had been entrenched there for decades, making them a powerful and deeply rooted entity.

The clan has more than a dozen core members who have awakened their bloodline abilities, and there are also several A-level experts.

Xiao Yuanwang is one of only three S-level experts in the family and the cornerstone of the Xiao family's enduring strength.

Even he was defeated so decisively, which shows that Bai Xiao's strength is far beyond what Xiao Chenghuan described as a "madman".

Sitting cross-legged on a bright yellow futon at the head of the table, Xiao Linye frowned slightly, lost in thought.

He didn't speak, and no one in the ancestral hall dared to make a sound; they even deliberately suppressed their breathing.

After a long, seemingly endless silence, Xiao Linye appeared to remember something and finally asked again:
Where is Luo Lie?

Xiao Yuanwang was taken aback upon hearing this, then cautiously explained:

“I took care of him. He recognized us at the last moment, and to avoid any further trouble, I drained him dry.”

"is it?"

Xiao Linye's response was devoid of any emotion, seemingly unconcerned about Luo Lie's fate.

What he was truly concerned about was something else, something far more crucial.

The Noah Organization's Eastern Capital branch has suffered a severe blow this time, and the headquarters must be furious. I believe there will be stern measures soon.

The authorities and the special investigation team will certainly take this opportunity to intervene in the investigation, and that guy Feng Jincai is probably already in a terrible predicament.

He himself was both a secret member of the Noah Organization's board of directors and a local tyrant in Dongdu.

At this time, it is only right to step forward to help Feng Jincai stabilize the situation and quell the turmoil.

In this way, they can both preserve this important channel of cooperation and make the station manager owe them a favor, making it easier to use him in the future.

In particular, the task assigned by the "master" to search for and monitor individuals with special abilities in Dongdu must not be delayed because of this incident.

"Father……"

Seeing that Xiao Linye remained silent for a long time, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, Xiao Yuanwang's voice rang out again, full of self-reproach:
"This operation was due to our poor performance. According to your plan, the safest course of action would have been to wait until the Crimson Eye was transported out of the laboratory before taking action."

"The Noah Building suddenly changed. I was worried that things might get complicated if I waited too long, so I decided to sneak in. I never expected that not only would the Crimson Eye be stolen by outsiders, but it would also bring trouble to our Xiao family."

"If this matter is leaked, and the board holds the Xiao family accountable in the future, I am willing to step forward and take full responsibility..."

Xiao Linye raised his hand to interrupt him.

"This is not your fault."

He spoke calmly, as if everything was still under control.

“When Noah’s East Capital branch was first established, it was my Xiao family who supported them from behind, helping them to gain a foothold.” “As a member of the board of directors, I naturally knew their confidential information. When that crimson eye was transported from the Himalayas to East Capital, I was determined to get it.”

"Its abilities and attributes are perfectly compatible with the bloodline inheritance of my Xiao family that devours all things. It is a divine object that can elevate the strength of my clan to a new level."

Xiao Linye raised his eyes and glanced at the three people present.

“This chaos was a rare opportunity. Your decision was not wrong, but you were unlucky and happened to run into a variable.”

He abruptly changed the subject, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

“The situation in Dongdu is complicated right now. Noah Organization is struggling to survive, and Feng Jincai is at his wit’s end. That’s exactly what our Xiao family needs to do to stabilize the situation and quell the storm.”

"They dare not make a fuss about the Crimson Eyes, so we'll just pretend nothing happened."

"Grandpa, are we just going to let it go like this? Don't we want the Crimson Eye anymore?"

Xiao Chenghuan was clearly unwilling and couldn't help but ask.

"How can we just let it go?"

Xiao Linye's tone was calm, but his fingers tightened slightly on his knees:

"The Crimson Eye is a rare object with intense energy fluctuations, which causes a strong putrefaction of flesh and blood in the surrounding environment. It is not easy to hide or transport over long distances."

"Otherwise, the Eastern Capital branch wouldn't have kept it in Noah Pharmaceuticals' laboratory all this time."

"So, unless that man can swallow it on the spot, his and Crimson Eye's whereabouts will be exposed sooner or later."

"At that time, we can finally avenge this defeat and openly seize the Crimson Eye, without being held back by the reputation of 'fighting with the Eastern Capital Branch'."

As he finished speaking, a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Just then, Xiao Ming, a member of the collateral branch who had been kneeling silently at the back, suddenly trembled.

As if recalling something extremely frightening, he mustered his courage, raised his head, and whispered:
“Patriarch, Second Elder… I, I think I recognize that mask.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuanwang and Xiao Chenghuan immediately turned their gazes to him.

Xiao Linye's eyes were also like lightning as he stared at him.

"say clearly."

"It's a golden Bomba bottle!"

Xiao Ming's heart skipped a beat at that look, and he quickly said:

"Last time at the Lu family manor in Misty Mountain, I was ordered to activate the restriction. It was this man wearing the exact same white demon mask who descended from the sky, shattered the Golden Bamba Bottle with a single punch, and ruined your entire plan!"

Upon hearing this, the air inside the ancestral hall seemed to freeze.

A chilling aura emanated from Xiao Linye.

The rising smoke from the incense burner stopped abruptly, and the dust in the air seemed to be frozen in place.

Xiao Yuanwang and Xiao Chenghuan's expressions changed instantly; of course they knew about that matter.

It was that near miss that caused the Xiao family's perfect plan to annex the Lu family's assets to fall apart.

The head of the family was furious about this and punished many people.

Are you sure it's the same person?

Xiao Linye's voice was devoid of emotion.

"I will never admit my mistake!"

Xiao Ming said decisively:
"That mask, the flames burning on his body, and his ferocious and violent style of doing things, which involves stripping naked and fighting people hand-to-hand, are all exactly the same as Bai Xiao last night!"

"Ah……"

Xiao Linye suddenly chuckled, and the suffocating pressure vanished as if it had never existed.

The resentment that had been building up in his heart because of the destruction of the Golden Bamba Bottle, now intertwined with the new hatred of the Crimson Eye being stolen, made him unusually calm.

It's that bastard again!

Who is he?
Having his plans thwarted twice in a row, is he deliberately trying to antagonize the Xiao family?

No, that's not right.

Xiao Linye immediately rejected the idea.

The plan for the Golden Bamba Bottle was extremely secretive, and the acquisition of the Crimson Eye was a last-minute decision.

Unless the other party has the ability to predict the future, it is simply inexplicable.

Both of these events are probably just coincidences.

Xiao Chenghuan's expression turned rather unpleasant at this moment:
"Back in the lab, Luo Lie called out our identities, and Bai Xiao heard it clearly. Now that he knows we're from the Xiao family, what if he comes looking for us?"

"The enemy is in the shadows, while we are in the light; this is indeed a problem..."

Xiao Yuanwang also frowned.

"Coming to our door?"

A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Linye's eyes, and a sinister smile curled at the corner of his lips:
"That would be for the best. If he dares to come, this Xishan Ancestral Temple will be his burial ground!"

This unwavering composure instantly dispelled the worries in Xiao Yuanwang and Xiao Chenghuan's hearts.

They had no doubt about the patriarch's strength.

Moreover, within the forbidden area of ​​the Xiao family ancestral temple, there is a peerless genius currently in seclusion.

That was the most talented prodigy of the Xiao family since its founding, a peerless blade born for slaughter.

At only twenty years old, he has already stepped into the threshold of S-class, and is just waiting for the day when he will be unsheathed and shake the entire Xia Kingdom.

Of course, Xiao Linye's greatest confidence came from the "master" who was comparable to a god and stood behind him.

No matter how strong a mere White Owl is, he is ultimately just a mortal!

"Let's all go back."

After a brief discussion, he sat upright on the prayer mat and waved his hand.

The three felt as if they had been granted a pardon. After bowing respectfully, they quietly left the ancestral hall.

The temple fell silent once more. Xiao Linye closed his eyes, his breath sinking back into a meditative state as still as a deep well.

Time flowed slowly, and the setting sun sank into the back mountain.

As the last rays of sunlight faded through the window lattices, the light inside the ancestral hall quickly dimmed.

The candle flames shone even brighter in the thick twilight, casting long shadows on each memorial tablet.

The mountain breeze turned cool, and all was quiet.

Only the wisp of smoke from the incense burner continued to rise straight up towards the dark ceiling.

Just as he was lost in thought, a very subtle tremor arose from the depths of his consciousness without warning.

The feeling was ethereal, like a greeting from across thousands of miles, or like a fishing line that had sunk into the deep sea being gently touched.

This breath...

Xiao Linye's mind jolted.

He recognized that feeling!
It was that guy who absorbed the spirituality of the Golden Bamba Bottle and completely refined the vicious restrictions he had hidden!

A flash of inspiration suddenly appeared in Xiao Linye's mind.

He immediately cleared his mind of all distractions and focused all his attention on that faint connection.

He then bit his tongue hard, spitting out a mouthful of blood that turned into a cloud of blood mist in front of him.

Immediately afterwards, his hands moved swiftly through the blood mist, forming hand seals like butterflies flitting among flowers, while he chanted incantations:
"Blood guides the soul, tracking it across ten thousand miles, by imperial decree!"

As the last syllable fell, the blood mist churned violently, eventually condensing into a thin, almost imperceptible blood line.

Like an arrow shot from a bow, it pierced the void, following that mysterious connection, and pursued its distant goal.

Meanwhile, in a room at Haitian Garden in Guanlan District.

Fang Cheng sat cross-legged on the living room floor, his back straight and his eyes slightly closed.

Immersed in a meditative state, he is waging a special battle on a conscious level.

(End of this chapter)