After the atmosphere in the hall gradually settled from the earlier shock, Lin Qianlong finally let out a long sigh and looked at Lin Yue seriously again. Pride was clearly visible in his eyes, but beneath it lay unease and unspoken curiosity."Yue’er," he said slowly yet firmly, "what exactly allowed you to reach this level?"He paused for a moment, making sure everyone was listening."Before you left, you were still at Four-Star Silver. But now… you have surpassed many elders in this clan."The hall fell silent once more.Everyone wanted to hear her answer.Before Lin Yue could open her mouth, Han Nian, who was standing beside her, spoke first."Lin Yue did indeed encounter several fortunate opportunities during her journey," he said casually.His answer made Lin Qianlong’s brows knit slightly."That’s all?" he asked, his tone not entirely convinced.Han Nian nodded and added a few words that sounded ambiguous."In the world of cultivation, opportunities and fate often come in ways

Ji Guo sat in the guest seat with a cold expression, his fingers tapping impatiently on the armrest. Behind him stood five elders of the Ji Clan, each radiating the powerful aura of Nine-Star Gold. An invisible pressure filled the room, making even the servants afraid to breathe too loudly. When Lin Qianlong entered the room, he immediately greeted him with the politeness of a proper host. "Brother Ji, it has been a long time since we last met. Your visit to the Lin Clan is truly—" Ji Guo raised his hand, cutting him off without hesitation. "No need for pleasantries," he said coldly. "I came to meet your granddaughter’s friend, Lin Yue’s companion." His words were like a slap to Lin Qianlong’s face. For a moment, the old patriarch’s expression stiffened. He had prepared himself to face pressure and perhaps even threats, but he had not expected Ji Guo to not even pretend that he had come for him. "I see…" Lin Qianlong replied quietly, his tone unreadable. Ji Guo then smi

Ji Guo stopped speaking. His eyes, filled with fury, flickered briefly before he gave a subtle signal with two fingers.The five elders surrounding Han Nian immediately understood the command without a word. They moved swiftly, spreading out to keep their distance, then simultaneously surrounded Han Nian from five different directions, forming a perfect circle that sealed off all escape routes.The pressure from five peak Nine-Star Gold auras made the air in the courtyard feel heavy. Even several Lin Clan disciples standing in the distance unconsciously stepped back a few paces.Without further signal, one of the elders leapt forward first. His body shot out like an arrow, his right leg raised high and aimed straight at Han Nian’s head.He did not hold back. The kick carried his full strength, intending to crush his opponent’s skull in a single strike.But Han Nian merely tilted his head slightly.The movement was so small it was almost imperceptible.At the same time, he stomped the

The dust from the battle had not yet fully settled when Han Nian walked back toward the Lin Clan group. His steps were relaxed, as if what had just happened had been nothing more than light exercise, not a life-and-death battle against a Diamond Realm expert.Among the crowd, Lin Yue was the first to run toward him.When the distance between them was only a few steps, the girl stopped and looked him over from head to toe. Her eyes were filled with worry she could not hide.But when she confirmed that there were no serious injuries on his body, her expression immediately brightened.She gave the most beautiful smile she had ever shown—a sincere smile that even left several male disciples behind her momentarily stunned.“You… you’re alright?” she asked softly, though a trace of anxiety still lingered in her voice.Han Nian shrugged casually.“As you can see,” he replied lightly.Then, without hesitation, he raised his hand and ruffled Lin Yue’s hair.“Besides, the one who knows my body

In the three days remaining before his departure, Han Nian did not waste a single moment.He locked himself inside the largest room of Kaganangan Restaurant, the sealing formation still active as before. In front of him, various medicinal ingredients and a simple alchemy furnace were neatly arranged.He still remembered clearly what had happened before—when he forced himself to fight until he ran out of spiritual energy and had to be treated by Lin Yue.A mistake like that… must never happen again.With full focus, Han Nian began refining the medicinal ingredients. Spiritual energy flowed steadily from his palms, controlling the temperature of the fire and the flow of herbal essence with high precision.One hour later—Sixty pale-green, round pills were neatly arranged on a stone tray.Han Nian let out a slow breath.“Restoration Pills… this should be enough to recover spiritual energy and stamina in a short time.”He divided the pills into two portions. Thirty were stored in his spat