After descending the mountain, my aloof fiancée became completely devoted to me.

"I advise you to stay put and behave yourself." Her tone was warning, each word firm. "Just because I haven't exposed you doesn't mean I can't do anything to you. The situation is chaotic right now, with undercurrents surging. If we rashly take action against you or drive you away, it will only bring out even more troublesome forces behind you and create more problems. Staying under our noses is actually the best way to keep you under control."

Ake pursed her lips, all her words of explanation stuck in her throat.

She knew that Zhu Xiaohan had seen through her completely, and no amount of pretense would be of any use. She could only suppress the ruthlessness and scheming in her heart, lower her head, and look like she had suffered a great injustice and dared not argue. She whispered that she knew, and then turned around and walked back to her room in a dejected manner.

Watching Ake's retreating figure as she closed the door, Zhu Xiaohan's eyes still held a cold glint. After a moment, she turned around and headed straight for Lin Ping's room.

A soft knock sounded, and after receiving permission, Zhu Xiaohan pushed the door open and entered.

Lin Ping stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the deep night of southern Xinjiang, pondering Shen Aoxue's whereabouts and the strange terrain that suppressed his cultivation.

"Did you need something from me?" Lin Ping turned around and looked at him.

Zhu Xiaohan stepped forward, suppressing her cold aura, and earnestly began to explain the whole story: "Lin Ping, there's something I haven't had a chance to tell you in detail. After you were taken away by Immortal Master Mo Ran that day, my master, Immortal Master Ling Yun, gave the Blood Spirit Mushroom to Shen Aoxue, and she went back to treat Old Master Shen's illness."

"After Shen Aoxue recovered and left, my master noticed that the earth veins beneath Lingyun Mountain were trembling violently, and the foundation of the seal was about to collapse. He immediately ordered me to go and investigate. But when I arrived at the Shen family's old residence, it was already deserted, and the Shen family members had disappeared without a trace."

"I followed the remaining traces all the way to the southern border, and when I realized that the situation in the secret realm was completely out of control, I immediately sent you an emergency text message. After that, I have been secretly searching for Shen Aoxue's whereabouts, but I have been unable to find her."

Lin Ping's gaze sharpened slightly, and he asked in a deep voice, "Have you found even the slightest clue?"

"There's something extremely suspicious." Zhu Xiaohan raised her eyes, her tone grave. "In the south of the city, there's a top-tier office building. It looks like an ordinary commercial building, but in reality, the atmosphere inside is murky and eerie, a mixture of the evil energy of a secret realm and the restrictive aura of a sect. It's heavily guarded, extremely strange. I'm certain that the Shen family members are very likely imprisoned inside. However, the building is heavily guarded, with high-level martial artists stationed inside. With my current strength, I have no right to set foot inside."

"Take me to see it," Lin Ping said immediately.

Without further delay, the two set off immediately, driving towards the south of the city.

Before long, a tall and imposing modern office building came into view. The building was brightly lit and people were coming and going. It looked no different from ordinary commercial buildings and was nothing special.

But when Lin Ping glanced at him, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

The entire building exuded a gloomy and oppressive aura. Invisible array patterns were hidden within the building's structure, absorbing the yin energy of the southern border's earth veins and subtly echoing the power of heaven and earth that restrained his cultivation, making it eerie in every way.

"This is it." Zhu Xiaohan pointed to the building and whispered, "Each floor is under special control, and the identity checks are extremely strict. Outsiders simply cannot get close to the core area."

Lin Ping glanced at the doorway and spotted a brand-new job posting on the wall—a security guard position was vacant, available for temporary hire.

He instantly had a plan and said calmly, "The simplest way is to infiltrate. I'll apply for a security guard job and lie in wait to investigate."

Zhu Xiaohan was slightly taken aback, then understood, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes. Even with his immense strength and world-renowned reputation, he was still willing to humble himself and act discreetly to save people.

The two walked to the entrance of the building's security office.

The security captain on duty was a burly man with a face full of scars. He had a cigarette in his mouth and looked Lin Ping up and down with a nonchalant air.

Seeing that Lin Ping was dressed plainly, thin, and lacked any imposing presence, with neither a strong physique nor any aura, he didn't seem like a security guard who could stand guard at the hospital at all. He immediately looked disgusted.

He scoffed, exhaled a smoke ring, and said with utter contempt, "Young man, you're here to apply for a security guard job?"

"Yes." Lin Ping replied calmly.

The security captain scoured him from head to toe, waving him away impatiently: "Get out of here! This is a high-end office building; we need strong, capable security guards who can keep things under control! Look at you, so frail, you could be blown away by a gust of wind. What good are you? If something happens, you'll probably be the first to run!"

Several idle security guards nearby also glanced at them and laughed, their eyes full of mockery and contempt.

"The captain is right. This kid looks like a weak scholar, with no strength at all."

"Trying to just coast along for a paycheck, huh? Don't you know what kind of place this is? The entry requirements are way higher than in other places."

A chorus of mocking voices rose up, and the overwhelming contempt fell upon Lin Ping.

Zhu Xiaohan frowned, about to step forward to argue, but Lin Ping raised his hand to stop her.

Lin Ping's face remained expressionless, but a hint of cold mockery lurked in his eyes.

These ordinary people are short-sighted and cannot see that he has concealed his true strength and martial arts cultivation. They ridicule him based solely on his appearance, which is truly laughable.

That just so happened, as he had always wanted to keep a low profile and lie low to catch others off guard. The more he was underestimated, the easier it would be for him to secretly investigate the building's secrets and find Shen Aoxue's whereabouts.

Lin Ping looked at the security captain and said calmly, "Whether I can handle it or not, we'll know after I try. You're short-staffed, so I'll do the work. No need for a preliminary test, I'll start right away."

The security captain, annoyed by his nonchalant tone, snapped, "You think you can try? Our building's security staff offer excellent benefits and have extremely high standards. We don't hire greenhorns like you! Get lost and stop blocking the way!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the security captain reached out to shove Lin Ping, intending to drive him away directly.

Just as his palm was about to touch Lin Ping's sleeve, a barely perceptible aura quietly flowed around Lin Ping.

The seemingly light and airy wisp of energy instantly made the security captain's arm go numb, and all the strength in his body suddenly vanish.

"Why?"

The security captain's arm stiffened, his center of gravity became unsteady, and he staggered back several steps before falling awkwardly to the ground, his face full of astonishment and confusion.

The jeering security guards around them immediately fell silent, staring blankly at the scene, completely unaware of what had happened.

Lin Ping remained standing in the same spot, his posture upright and his expression calm, as if he hadn't done anything at all.

Only he himself knew that this strange building contained hidden arrays and restrictions that suppressed the cultivation of martial artists. Ordinary martial arts masters would be detected if they entered, but he was the only one who could conceal all his power and lie in wait as an ordinary person without arousing the vigilance of the enemies lurking in the shadows.

Meanwhile, in a sealed room on the top floor of the office building.

Bound by layers of chains, Shen Aoxue slowly opened her tired eyes. Her pretty face was pale. She looked through the French windows toward the door downstairs, her heart tightening for no reason, and a faint feeling arose in her heart.

At the same time, from the shadows of the secret chamber, a cold, hoarse female voice quietly rang out: "Lin Ping, you really came... The killing trap in Southern Border is complete, and the great formation that restrains your cultivation is fully activated. This time, I'll see who can protect you!"