Alert! The Dragon Lord has emerged from seclusion!

Having heard the crucial information, Lin Chen's figure flickered, disappearing into the bamboo shadows like a wisp of smoke.

A moment later, two dark figures emerged from behind the artificial hill, cautiously scanning their surroundings.

If he had been a moment slower, he might have been discovered.

Seeing that no one was around, the two dark figures quickly separated and left.

Under the moonlight, Lin Chen could see the profile of one of them clearly—it was Su Zhong, the Su family's butler.

The other person, though masked, appeared to be a member of the Su family's guard team based on their build and gait.

"As expected, they colluded with outsiders. Could even the precious Su Qingxue be harmed..."

Lin Chen flashed again, silently returning to the small building.

Su Qingxue lay quietly on the bed, her breathing becoming more even, but a faint wisp of black energy still lingered between her brows.

Lin Chen sat down on the edge of the bed and took her pulse again.

As the Nine Yang True Qi probed in, this time he did not rush to dispel the Yin Sha, but instead separated a wisp of true qi, which quietly attached itself to several key points of the Sha Qi like a silk thread.

"Since you're going to make a move, I'll prepare a big gift for you."

He took out the bronze token given to him by his fourth master—the Heavenly Secret Token—from his bosom, infused it with his true energy, and the token became slightly warm.

A moment later, a line of small characters appeared on the token: "Please give your orders, my lord."

Lin Chen used his finger as a pen to write a few lines in the air: "Investigate the whereabouts of Master Huiming of Jingci Temple in Jiangnan over the past six months; investigate the background of Su Zhong, the steward of the Su family, and Zhao Meng, the deputy captain of the guard team; investigate who in the Jiangnan region practices the evil art of raising evil spirits."

The token flashed, and the writing disappeared.

The efficiency of Tianji Pavilion was astonishing. Within half an hour, information began to arrive: "Huiming went into seclusion three months ago and has not emerged since. Before his seclusion, he received a guest in black robes."

"Su Zhong, 63 years old, is a third-generation servant of the Su family. He has a grandson who fell seriously ill three years ago, and his treatment cost one million yuan. He has now recovered, but the source of the funds is unknown."

"Zhao Meng, 35 years old, joined the Su family five years ago. He used to work for the 'Blackwater Chamber of Commerce,' which was dissolved six months ago."

"In the past three years, seven women born on yin days, yin months, and yin years in Jiangnan have fallen into a coma, and three of them have died. It is suspected that they are related to the 'Netherworld Sect'."

Lin Chen's gaze fell on the three words "Netherworld Sect," and his eyes darkened.

This lineage is an ancient evil cultivation practice, specializing in the art of absorbing yin to replenish yang. They use women as vessels to nurture evil spirits and seize lives, making them extremely vicious.

"If the Netherworld Sect is after Su Qingxue's Nine Yin Profound Body, then that makes sense."

He looked at the woman sleeping on the bed, "Such pure Xuan Yin essence is indeed a rare tonic for them."

"However, even the King of Heaven himself couldn't steal my woman!"

Lin Chen's own Nine Yang Burning Heaven Body also needs her Nine Yin Profound Body to nourish it, so how could he let anyone touch her?

Over the next two days, Lin Chen continued to exorcise evil spirits from Su Qingxue as usual, but secretly adjusted his technique. On the surface, Su Qingxue's complexion became increasingly rosy, her breathing became more stable, and she would even occasionally move her fingers unconsciously.

But in reality, Lin Chen secretly planted the seeds of Nine Yang True Fire at those Yin Sha nodes.

On the evening of the third day, Su Zhenbang personally delivered ginseng soup.

"Young friend Lin, you've worked hard." The old man's eyes had brightened a bit these past few days. "Qingxue looks much better today."

"The progress is acceptable." Lin Chen took the ginseng soup, "but the real danger will probably come in the next two days."

Su Zhenbang's expression turned serious: "You mean..."

"They can't wait any longer." Lin Chen looked out the window at the darkening sky. "If I'm not mistaken, someone will come to 'inspect the results' by tomorrow night at the latest."

"Then I'll send more people immediately!" Su Zhenbang said urgently.

"No need," Lin Chen shook his head. "Too many people will only alert them. The old man only needs to do one thing—"

After that, he whispered a few words to himself.

Su Zhenbang was taken aback at first, then nodded emphatically: "Alright! As you wish!"

That night, the Su family manor appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were surging beneath.

Just after midnight, a dark figure drifted into the courtyard where the small building was located, like a ghost. It was none other than the steward, Su Zhong.

He skillfully avoided the patrolling guards and came to the window on the side of the building. He took out a bamboo tube from his pocket and gently poked a hole in the window paper.

A wisp of pale purple smoke slowly drifted into the room.

"Bewitching incense?" Inside the room, Lin Chen, who was sitting cross-legged, smiled slightly and held his breath.

A moment later, the door was gently pushed open.

Su Zhong slipped inside, followed by the masked Zhao Meng.

"Quickly, Master orders us to take thirty percent of her Profound Yin Essence tonight," Su Zhong whispered, his voice trembling with tension. "What about Lin Chen?"

Zhao Meng glanced at Lin Chen, who was "sleeping" on the soft couch in the outer room, and made a throat-slitting gesture: "Deal with him as well. Just say that he failed to treat the illness and committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

The two walked toward the bed in the inner room.

Just as they approached within three feet of Su Qingxue, seven golden flames suddenly burst forth from her body, instantly weaving into a net of fire that enveloped the two of them!

"What is this?" Zhao Meng was shocked and tried to back away, but it was too late.

As the fire net contracts, the Nine Yang True Fire, extremely strong and yang, becomes the nemesis of yin energy.

The Yin-attribute cultivation techniques practiced by Su Zhong and Zhao Meng were triggered and backfired. The two screamed and collapsed to the ground, their bodies filled with surging black energy, which was suppressed by the golden fire.

Lin Chen slowly walked in from the outer room, a golden light dancing on his fingertips.

"It's not easy to reach the third level of the Netherworld Sect's 'Yin Sha Technique'." He looked down at the two of them. "Unfortunately, they've taken the wrong path."

"How...how did you know..." Su Zhong's face was full of terror.

Lin Chen raised his hand and pointed in the air, sending two streams of true energy into the two people's bodies, temporarily sealing their cultivation.

"Speak, who is this 'master' you speak of? And who are his accomplices in the Su family?"

Zhao Meng gritted his teeth and remained silent, but Su Zhong trembled: "I...I'll tell you, can you let my grandson go? He doesn't know anything..."

"You have no right to negotiate," Lin Chen said coldly. "But if you confess, I can guarantee your grandson's safety."

Su Zhong's face was ashen, but he finally spoke: "Our master is... Master Huiming of Jingci Temple... but he is not the real Huiming! The real Master Huiming was murdered by him half a year ago!"

"His true identity is the Third Elder of the Netherworld Sect, who calls himself 'True Man of the Netherworld Spring'!"

"He has his eye on the young lady's Nine Yin Profound Body, intending to nurture it for forty-nine days, harvesting it on the night of the full moon, which could help him break through to the Nascent Soul stage..."

"No infancy period? Who else is in the Su family?" Lin Chen pressed.

"Second Master...Second Master Su Wenhan also knows about this! He...he wants to take this opportunity to seize power in the Su family, promising to give Youquan Zhenren 30% of the Su family's assets after the deed is done!"

Before the words were finished, a sharp shout suddenly came from outside the door: "You treacherous, ungrateful lackey!"

The door was kicked open, and Su Zhenbang stormed in, surrounded by several loyal guards. The old man's eyes were bloodshot, and he pointed his cane at Su Zhong: "Wenhan... Wenhan, does he really dare?!"

"Father, don't listen to this traitor's nonsense!" Su Wenhan's voice came from behind the crowd.

Everyone turned around and saw Su Wenhan arriving with more than a dozen guards, his face ashen: "This Lin Chen's origins are unknown. He must have colluded with this old dog to frame me!"