What did they see?

Before them was a strange creature, dozens of meters long, its scales shimmering with a dark luster.

That was—

A dragon!

Although it was their first encounter, the four Martial Artists from the Lin Family of Jiangbei were absolutely certain it was a dragon.

Only one thought occupied their minds.

Flee!

Hua Country had ten Spirit Veins. They were rich in Spiritual Energy, suitable for Cultivation, and posed no danger. A few were even open to the public. But there were only three Dragon Veins, and they had always been sealed.

This was because each Dragon Vein possessed a Dragon Spirit formed from its own Spiritual Energy!

Within a Dragon Vein, the Dragon Spirit was undeniably the strongest. Even a Divine Gate Realm expert would have to think twice before acting.

The leader of the four-man squad had never dreamed that Mount Haitang, a place he only suspected might become a Dragon Vein, was already a true one. This was a development shocking enough to shake the entire Hua Country!

Flee.

Flee.

Flee!

The thought drove their actions, but how far could they truly escape?

The Dragon Spirit, far surpassing the peak of the Human Race's Divine Gate Realm, simply flickered its silhouette, and the four figures on the ground vanished.

As the Black Dragon soared into the sky, a trail of fresh blood could be seen splattering from its mouth, raining down to nourish the enchantingly vibrant Haitang flowers below.

...

...

Jiangbei.

The Lin Family Estate.

Lin Tianxiong, the Family Head of the Lin Family, sat in a chair. Before him were seven more chairs, each occupied by a spirited elder. These seven men, along with himself, represented the Lin Family's entire combat force aside from their Divine Gate Realm Ancestor—a total of eight Ninth Grade Martial Artists. Their Boundaries ranged from the initial to peak stage.

Had Lin Ju still been alive, one more chair would have been needed in the living room.

"Family Head, isn't it a bit abrupt to have an Eighth Grade lead the team to investigate Xu Lai on Mount Haitang?" an elder said in a grave voice. "After all, the plan was for Daphne to host Xu Lai tomorrow night, and then we were to..."

Lin Tianxiong raised an arm, signaling for him to stop.

"There are two possible outcomes to this probe. One, we gather intelligence and all four return alive. Two, the mission fails, and we lose one Eighth Grade and three Sixth Grade Martial Artists!" Lin Tianxiong took a sip of tea and said indifferently, "Either way, we profit."

The first scenario was straightforward, but as for the second... The Ninth Grade Martial Artists in the room furrowed their brows, some failing to understand how it could be a gain.

"Regardless of whether Xu Lai is an off-world cultivator, he must die!" Lin Tianxiong stated calmly. "As for the Spirit Vein where he resides, how can we make it a justifiable possession of our Lin Family?"

The room suddenly fell silent. They were all old hands at this and instantly grasped the Family Head's intent.

"The Moon Clan's Xu Lai! Having snuck onto Earth, our Lin Family of Jiangbei will eliminate this great demon at all costs for the security of Hua Country and the safety of its people!

"In the end, we will have suffered heavy casualties, losing a Ninth Grade Martial Artist and several Sixth Grade Martial Ancestor candidates! Now tell me, what other power would have the gall to covet this Spirit Vein?"

"The Family Head is brilliant!" the group exclaimed in admiration.

With this, the Lin Family would hold the moral high ground, and the Spirit Vein could only be claimed by them to offset their grievous losses. Any other force wishing to take over Mount Haitang would face the scorn of Martial Artists across the land.

"Our Lin Family has a two-hundred-year history. But with limited access to Spirit Veins, we've never been able to secure our own, gradually falling behind families and Sect Gates that possess them," Lin Tianxiong murmured. "This is our chance, and we must seize it!"

At first, Lin Tianxiong only wanted to claim some benefits, like a share of Sea Temple Island, which would allow the Lin Family to cultivate at least three more Martial Ancestors each year. But the proactive alliance offered by the mysterious Daphne had caused his ambition to swell instantly. If he could obtain a Spirit Vein...

The Lin Family would rise to true prominence!

Lin Tianxiong was not content with his family being confined to Jiangbei, nor was he willing to see them fade into obscurity over the next few centuries. He wanted the Lin Family to become an enduring presence, on par with the One Faction, Three Sects, and Nine Pavilions, with a legacy that would last a thousand years! He also dreamed of erecting a statue of himself on the walls of Chang'an City in the Exotic Realm, his name renowned for eons!

But all of this hinged on one thing.

Xu Lai's death.

So, for the sake of my Lin Family, please die tomorrow.

Lin Tianxiong closed his eyes, suppressing the boundless killing intent deep within them.

...

...

The night lights of the East Sea were resplendent.

Standing atop Mount Haitang and looking out at the myriad lights of the city always managed to calm Ruan Tang's heart. She rested her arms on the edge of the hot spring pool, gazing toward the distant East Sea, lost in a daze.

Xu Yiyi did her best to imitate her mother's posture. The only difference was that she had to stand suspended in the water just to be able to see the distant view.

Xu Lai sat in the far corner of the hot spring. He was silently observing Ruan Tang's graceful back when Xu Yiyi blinked and asked, "Daddy, why are you always staring at Mommy?"

SWOOSH.

Ruan Tang's face flushed. She had suggested a dip in the hot spring tonight, but that wretched Ruan Lan had hidden her one-piece swimsuit, leaving her with a very daring bikini instead! As a result, from the moment she entered the water, she could clearly feel a burning gaze sweeping over her again and again.

I don't even need to guess who it is! It has to be Xu Lai!

"Yiyi, Daddy isn't looking at anything," Xu Lai said, denying it.

There's no way I can admit what I was looking at. I'd get beaten, right?

Most definitely!

"Tch." Ruan Tang peeked at Xu Lai from the corner of her eye and saw him stealing another glance. Despite her shyness, she felt a secret thrill of delight.

It means I've still got it! Look how mesmerized he is, he can't even take his eyes off me.

She cleared her throat and said nonchalantly, "Xu Lai, that's enough. Our daughter is here."

That's right! Xu Lai mentally slapped his forehead. What am I afraid of when my daughter is here?

He swam over to Ruan Tang, gently pinched the flesh on her arm, and sighed dramatically, "Honey, have you gained some weight recently? Your arm is almost as thick as mine."

Ruan Tang was baffled. You were staring for that long just to notice *this*?

She was so frustrated she nearly spat blood. "So what if I'm fat?" she snapped. "Am I eating your family's rice or something?"

Wait. It seemed she actually was.

"No problem, no problem at all," Xu Lai said, waving his hand dismissively. "I quite like the cuddly feel. Women shouldn't be too skinny; it's not good for you."

"Daddy," Xu Yiyi piped up, raising her hand, "Yiyi loves meat, too!"

Ruan Tang felt like she was about to have a breakdown.

Oh, sweetie, your dad and you are not talking about the same thing.

But after what Xu Lai said, Ruan Tang lost her desire to soak any longer. She wrapped herself in a bath towel and went back to the room. In a corner of the room was a scale.

Ruan Tang stepped on it with her slippers on. When the number stabilized, her eyes widened. She quickly kicked off her slippers and dropped the towel. The number went down a tiny bit, but it was still fifty-one kilograms.

"I've gained 3.5 kilograms?!" Ruan Tang covered her face in her hands. This was all Xu Lai's fault. He made so much delicious food every day; how could she bear to let it go to waste?

"It's time to go on a diet," Ruan Tang declared with great resolve, exhaling a heavy breath.

Just then, her sister Ruan Lan's excited shout came from the first floor. "Sis, come down for a late-night snack later! We've got crayfish and your favorite pig's trotters!"

"..."

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