《Shadow Killers - Animal Xianxia/LitRPG》 Chapter 1: Awakening In the rear kitchen courtyard of the Zhao Manor in Tianwu City, a young man in white robes flailed his limbs wildly. Flies scattered in panic around him. A closer look revealed his clouded, lifeless eyes¡ªa man born blind. ¡°Look, our Zhao family¡¯s esteemed son-in-law is here to catch flies again!¡± ¡°A blind man hunting flies¡ªwhat a spectacle!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s bet! How many days will he need to catch one?¡± The gathered cooks jeered openly. In a martial world where strength reigned supreme, even ordinary folk held higher status than a blind man. Just as mockery peaked, the young man¡¯s hand shot out. Whether by luck or acute hearing, he snatched a fly midair. Ding! Congratulations, Host, for capturing a fly. The Divine Animal Evolution System is now activated! The synthetic voice in his mind stunned Lin Hao. As a transmigrator, he knew systems well¡ªthough this one had kept him waiting eighteen years. Still, its arrival was a lifeline. The activation condition? Capturing a live animal. Hence, he¡¯d chosen the fly-infested kitchen. Three days of ridicule, three days of effort¡ªfinally, success. Ding! Detected fly capture. Designate as pet? ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Hao mentally affirmed. Pet registered. Please name. ¡°Kung Fu Fly,¡± he replied, recalling a sci-fi film from his past life. Naming complete. A status panel materialized in his mind: [Kung Fu Fly] ID: 001 Master: Lin Hao Combat Power: 1 Lifespan: 50 days Skills: None Evolvable Organs: All The system¡¯s purpose clarified: enhancing animal allies. Two upgrade paths existed. 1. Full-Body Reinforcement: Strengthen all organs across four tiers¡ªBasic, Intermediate, Advanced, King. Each tier cost tenfold the last (Basic: 10,000 gold taels; Intermediate: 100,000¡­). 2. Stage Advancement: Seven ranks from D to SSS. A rooster reaching SSS could evolve into a phoenix! Each stage demanded at least 100,000 taels, escalating tenfold per tier. Crucially, pets needed King-tier Full-Body Reinforcement before advancing stages (e.g., D-King to C). Lin Hao¡¯s excitement dimmed as reality struck¡ªhe owned not a single coin. Ding! Newcomer Gift Pack unlocked. Claim? ¡°Claim!¡± Rewards: 1x Free King-tier Reinforcement; 1x Free Stage Advancement. Select pet. Five slots appeared mentally. The first held the fly; four remained empty. Lin Hao selected it. Ding! Reinforcement complete. Kung Fu Fly upgraded. The status panel updated: Combat Power skyrocketed to 1,000. Lifespan stayed unchanged. Ding! Stage Advancement successful. Kung Fu Fly reaches C-tier. Skill acquired: Bloodblade Scythe-Legs. The fly¡¯s avatar transformed¡ªmuscled body, legs armored in razor-sharp metallic blades. Lifespan surged to 500 days. Lin Hao exhaled sharply. This system¡¯s insane! Testing control, he opened his palm. Instead of fleeing, the fly perched obediently. Suddenly, Lin Hao¡¯s darkness lifted¡ªnot through his eyes, but via the fly¡¯s perspective. He could see. ¡°Boring. The blind fool actually caught one. Bet¡¯s off,¡± a cook grumbled. Through the fly¡¯s eyes, Lin Hao studied his tormentors¡ªgreasy, sneering men who¡¯d tormented him since his arranged marriage into the Zhao family six months prior. Born into the prestigious Lin clan yet shunned for blindness, he now endured humiliation as a live-in son-in-law. His ¡°wife¡± forced him to sleep on the floor, lower than servants. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. As Lin Hao turned to leave, the head cook nudged an apprentice, who slyly stuck out a foot to trip him. Gotcha. The fly¡¯s vision revealed everything. For half a year, mysterious adversaries had sabotaged Lin Hao¡ªtainted meals, petty traps. These cooks were key players. But now, with a C-tier Kung Fu Fly¡­ Lin Hao smiled. Time to flip the script.
The Ultimate Beastmaster ¡°Trying to trip me? Pathetic.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s expression darkened as he raised his foot and stomped hard on the apprentice¡¯s ankle. Crack! The sound of snapping bone echoed. The apprentice collapsed, howling in agony. The head chef and others paled, staring at Lin Hao in shock. Could he see? Impossible. Everyone knew the Zhao family¡¯s blind son-in-law. ¡°Blind people have sharp hearing. He must¡¯ve sensed the trap,¡± the head chef muttered, though doubt flickered in his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s test that blindness,¡± the chef growled, lumbering forward. His meaty hand swung toward Lin Hao¡¯s face. Whoosh! The Kung Fu Fly shot from Lin Hao¡¯s shoulder like a black dagger. A metallic glint flashed¡ª Thud! Three fat fingers hit the ground. Blood sprayed. ¡°AAAAAH!¡± The chef staggered back, clutching his mangled hand. The cooks froze, terror-struck. What demonic force had attacked? The fly landed calmly on Lin Hao¡¯s shoulder, cleaning its scythe-like forelegs. Enhanced by Bloodblade Scythe-Legs, its strikes were invisible to mortal eyes. Lin Hao¡¯s heart raced. If a fly can do this¡­ what about tigers? Dragons? Ambition flared. He needed funds¡ªfast. Even basic system upgrades cost 10,000 silver. Ignoring the whimpering cooks, Lin Hao strode out confidently. For the first time, bystanders shrank from him. Outside Zhao Manor, dusk painted the sky amber. Through the fly¡¯s eyes, Lin Hao gazed at the sunset. Freedom tasted sweet.
Tianwu City¡¯s bustling streets unfolded before him¡ªpagoda roofs, merchant stalls, the clang of blacksmiths. In this world of warriors and mages, strength ruled. Combat arts ranked Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Mortal tiers. Mages guarded their secrets jealously; their techniques required academy training. Yet Lin Hao¡¯s path differed. He was a beastmaster¡ªbut no ordinary one. His system could elevate any creature to godhood overnight. His wanderings stopped before an unmarked shop with a black plaque. To the ignorant, it seemed abandoned. To the underworld, it was a kill broker¡ªa joint venture between the Zhao (wealth) and Lin (martial might) families. Lin Hao¡¯s lips twisted. This very den had sealed his fate six months ago, when he¡¯d been traded as a political pawn in the Zhao-Lin alliance. A blind groom for a cold-hearted bride. ¡°Where it began¡­ ends here,¡± he murmured, spotting a discarded bamboo hat with a black veil. He donned it, shadowing his face. Inside, floral incense wafted. Through the fly¡¯s vision, Lin Hao saw a woman approaching the exit¡ªslim, poised, her azure robes accenting curves that would make poets weep. Her face¡­ Zhao Ling¡¯er. His ¡°wife.¡± Her jasmine scent triggered memories: silent dinners, her contemptuous sighs, the bed she¡¯d forbidden him to share. At 24, she commanded Zhao commerce and ranked as a Tier 4 mage¡ªa prodigy. This shop was her domain. She¡¯d chosen him precisely because he was blind, harmless, easily controlled. As they brushed past each other, Lin Hao¡¯s voice cut through the veil: ¡°You think me beneath notice. Soon, you¡¯ll struggle to glimpse my shadow.¡± Zhao Ling¡¯er paused. No recognition showed¡ªjust the disdainful glance one gives a madman. The door closed behind her.
The shop¡¯s interior was sparse: a stone counter, iron candleholders, bloodstains poorly scrubbed from floor cracks. A scarred man eyed Lin Hao. ¡°Posting or taking?¡± he rasped. ¡°Taking.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s voice emerged distorted through the veil. ¡°Highest reward.¡± The man slid forward a ledger. Assassination targets glowed red: [Target] City Guard Captain, Zhang Hong [Bounty] 50,000 silver [Difficulty] 3 stars (Warrior Tier 5) [Target] Merchant Li Fu [Bounty] 20,000 silver [Difficulty] 2 stars (Warrior Tier 3) [Target] Bandit King, Huo Qiang [Bounty] 200,000 silver [Difficulty] 5 stars (Warrior Tier 9) Lin Hao¡¯s finger tapped the last entry. The clerk snorted. ¡°Five-star missions need collateral. 100,000 silver. Got it?¡± Lin Hao placed a jade pendant on the counter¡ªZhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s ¡°wedding gift,¡± worth triple the sum. The clerk¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°Huo Qiang¡¯s holed up in Blackwind Mountain. Three days. Fail, and we keep the jade.¡±
Dawn painted Blackwind Mountain crimson. Lin Hao crouched in bushes, the Kung Fu Fly scouting ahead. Its vision revealed a fortress carved into cliffs, bandits laughing over breakfast. Huo Qiang himself sat shirtless in a courtyard, cleaving boulders with a greataxe¡ªTier 9 strength. Crash! Another boulder split. The bandit king grinned, sweat glistening on scarred muscles. Lin Hao smiled. Perfect. He whispered, ¡°Go.¡± The fly zipped into the fortress, darting past guards. In the armory, it landed on an oil lamp¡¯s wick. Sizzle. The flame caught a hemp rope leading to¡­ gunpowder barrels.
Huo Qiang froze mid-swing. A faint hiss¡­ BOOM! The mountain shook. Fire engulfed the fortress. Bandits ran screaming¡ªuntil the Kung Fu Fly¡¯s bladed legs silenced them. By dusk, Lin Hao stood before Zhao Ling¡¯er, tossing Huo Qiang¡¯s head at her feet. ¡°Payment,¡± he said, voice still veiled. She stared, pale. The clerk wordlessly handed over 200,000 silver notes. As Lin Hao turned, Zhao Ling¡¯er called, ¡°Who are you?¡± He paused. ¡°Someone you¡¯ll never own.¡± The door slammed. Somewhere, a system chimed: Ding! Host completes first mission. Unlock: Beastmaster¡¯s Cloak (Camouflage +30%). Lin Hao grinned. This was just the beginning. Chapter 2: Assassination Mission ¡°Hmm?¡± As Zhao Ling¡¯er brushed past Lin Hao, she paused, glancing back at his retreating figure. That silhouette¡­ familiar? Her brows furrowed. For a moment, she stared, perplexed. But logic intervened¡ªher blind husband couldn¡¯t possibly be here. Shaking her head, she noted the stranger¡¯s steady gait, nothing like a sightless man¡¯s cautious shuffle. Curiosity flickered, then faded. She left without another thought.
Inside the shop, weapon racks lined the walls¡ªdaggers, rapiers, all tools of stealth. The air reeked of metal and blood-money. ¡°If you¡¯re here to buy weapons, we¡¯re closed today,¡± said the mustached clerk, eyeing Lin Hao¡¯s veiled hat. ¡°I¡¯m here for work,¡± Lin Hao rasped, deepening his voice. The clerk straightened, wariness replacing skepticism. Assassins weren¡¯t to be trifled with. ¡°Your name, sir?¡± Lin Hao paused. ¡°Jing Ke.¡± Jing Ke? The clerk frowned¡ªno such name on the killer rankings. A rookie? ¡°Tasks are ranked: Common, Intermediate, Hard, Red List.¡± ¡°Common. Local.¡± The clerk¡¯s lip twitched¡ªamateur. He flipped through files. ¡°Ah. Luck¡¯s with you.¡± He slid a dossier across the counter. A crimson Kill stamp glared from its corner. Target: Chen Da-Jiu Age: 38 Strength: Tier 2 Warrior Identity: Owner of ¡°Heavenly Gambling Den¡± Location: Heavenly Gambling Den Guards: 23 (Tier 1 Warriors) Bounty: 100,000 silver Attached was a portrait: a scar-faced brute, left cheek marred by a jagged blade mark. The dossier detailed his crimes¡ªrapes, extortions, beatings. ¡°30% percent commission deducted upon completion. Our agents will verify the kill.¡± Lin Hao nodded, exiting. 70,000 silver net. Not bad.
The gambling den¡¯s gaudy sign loomed, its doors shut tight. Inside, raucous shouts seeped through walls¡ªcurses, dice clatters, the stench of desperation. Next door, a pawnshop leeched off losers trading heirlooms for one more bet. ¡°Find him. Quick and clean.¡± The Kung Fu Fly zipped from Lin Hao¡¯s shoulder, slipping through a rear window.
Inside the den, ten tables swarmed with gamblers. Guards lurked in corners, muscles taut. At the far end, Chen Da-Jiu lounged, a courtesan squirming on his lap. His scarred face twisted into a grin as coins clinked into his coffers. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Old Ba¡¯s rigged dice are golden. Another million this month!¡± Through the fly¡¯s eyes, Lin Hao marked his target. Kill. The fly circled stealthily, avoiding Chen¡¯s alertness. Enhanced intelligence guided its tactics¡ªno reckless charge. Chen, a Tier 2 Warrior, sensed movement behind him. He whirled, hand reaching for his dagger. The fly veered, landing on the courtesan¡¯s back. Wait. Patience. The courtesan giggled, oblivious, as Chen resumed groping her. The fly inched closer, scythe-legs glinting.
Outside, Lin Hao leaned against a wall, feigning disinterest. Minutes crawled. Suddenly¡ª Sssshhk! A wet slice echoed in his mind¡¯s eye. Chen¡¯s roar choked mid-bellow. The courtesan screamed as blood sprayed her face. Chaos erupted. Gamblers stampeded. Guards drew blades, searching frantically for an attacker who¡¯d already vanished. Through the fly¡¯s vision, Lin Hao watched Chen collapse, throat slit ear-to-ear. The fly darted out, evading flailing arms, and returned to its master¡¯s shoulder. Ding! Mission complete. 70,000 silver acquired. Lin Hao turned, melting into the crowd. Behind him, the pawnshop clerk gaped at the commotion.
At the assassin¡¯s den, the mustached clerk stared at Lin Hao. ¡°Already? It¡¯s barely been an hour!¡± Lin Hao tossed Chen¡¯s severed ear onto the counter. The clerk recoiled, then counted out silver notes with trembling hands. As Lin Hao left, the clerk muttered, ¡°Jing Ke¡­ Remember that name.¡±
Dusk fell. Lin Hao stood atop a rooftop, the fly perched on his finger. ¡°Next step: funds for evolution. But first¡­¡± He glanced toward Zhao Manor, where lanterns glowed. Zhao Ling¡¯er would soon hear whispers of a mysterious killer¡ªone who moved like shadow, left no traces. Let her wonder. The fly buzzed eagerly. Lin Hao smiled. ¡°Patience. We¡¯re just getting started.¡± Somewhere, a system chimed: Ding! Host completes first assassination. Unlock: Silent Hunter Title (Stealth +15%). The night swallowed them whole.
Claiming the Bounty ¡°Tch, just a fly.¡± Chen Da-Jiu sneered dismissively at the Kung Fu Fly but scanned the crowd warily. Rumors of a hired killer had put him on edge. ¡°If I find out who ordered this, I¡¯ll skin them alive!¡± he growled, grabbing a liquor bottle and guzzling. The fly¡¯s compound eyes glinted. Now. It streaked toward Chen¡¯s exposed throat. Sssht! Bladed legs flashed. A crimson line bloomed across Chen¡¯s neck. ¡°Huh?¡± Chen clutched his throat. Blood gushed between his fingers with a wet hiss. Gurgle. He collapsed, choking on his own blood. The courtesan¡¯s scream pierced the din. ¡°Boss is dead!!¡± Pandemonium erupted. Gamblers stampeded. Guards drew swords, searching vainly for an attacker who¡¯d already vanished through a window.
¡°Well done.¡± Lin Hao stood at the street corner, praising the blood-flecked fly on his shoulder. He strolled away, the gambling den¡¯s chaos fading behind him.
Back at the assassin¡¯s den, the clerk gaped as Lin Hao reentered. This rookie¡¯s chickening out already? he thought derisively. ¡°Mission complete,¡± Lin Hao stated flatly. ¡°What?!¡± The clerk¡¯s jaw dropped. Two enforcers emerged, hands on daggers. ¡°False claims cost tongues,¡± the clerk warned. ¡°Check the den. Slit throat.¡± Lin Hao leaned back in a chair, relaxed. As if summoned, a skinny scout rushed in. ¡°Boss Chen¡¯s dead! Throat cut! Must¡¯ve been a master assassin!¡± The clerk paled. Sweat beaded his brow as he bowed deeply. ¡°A-apologies, Master Jing Ke! Your payment¡ª¡± He produced ten gold notes¡ª10,000 each. Lin Hao pocketed them wordlessly. ¡°P-please visit again!¡± The clerk groveled at the doorway, watching Lin Hao disappear into dusk. ¡°Who was that?¡± the scout whispered. ¡°Jing Ke. Killed Chen in ten minutes.¡± The scout shuddered, touching his own neck reflexively.
In an alley, Lin Hao discarded his hat and cloak. Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s sharp eyes might recognize the garments. No loose ends. He melted into the twilight, the fly humming contentedly. Somewhere, gold notes rustled in his pocket¡ª70,000 closer to his next evolution. The night held promise. Chapter 3: Ultimate Cultivation Talent Lin Hao stepped into a clothing store and purchased a new outfit. As he exited, his gaze caught a spiderweb in the corner of the doorway. A thumb-sized gray-brown spider crouched at its center. A mosquito buzzed into the trap, struggling futilely as the predator pounced, injecting venom. Why not add a spider? With 100,000 gold notes burning in his pocket, Lin Hao nudged the arachnid onto his palm. ¡°System¡ªcapture this spider.¡± ¡°Ding! Host has captured a spider. Designate as pet?¡± ¡°Yes. Name: Wolf Spider.¡± ¡°Ding! Naming complete. Evolution available.¡± Lin Hao selected the spider icon. Mid-tier evolution cost 100,000 gold. The notes vanished. The spider¡¯s body swelled, turning venomous green. Fangs elongated like daggers. [Wolf Spider] Code: 002 Master: Lin Hao Rank: D-tier Mid Combat Power: 800 Lifespan: 1 year Skill: Lethal Venom Lin Hao tucked the creature into his pocket, its hardened exoskeleton safe from crushing. ¡°Ding! Second pet acquired. Reward: Random draw.¡± The system wheel spun. ¡°Congratulations! Obtained Ultimate Cultivation Talent¡ªmaximum martial aptitude, 100xÁéÆø absorption speed.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s breath hitched. Cultivation talent tiers¡ªWeak, Low, Mid, High, Supreme, Ultimate. Even Zhao Ling¡¯er, hailed as a genius, only ranked High. Now he stood at the pinnacle. Energy surged as ambientÁéÆø flooded his meridians. A pop echoed internally¡ªhis first spiritual vein unlocked. Level 1 Warrior. Fists clenched, Lin Hao nearly laughed. The ¡°blind cripple¡± could now cultivate.
Zhao Manor¡¯s grand dining hall buzzed with young clansmen fresh from training. Lin Hao strode past the servants¡¯ mess¡ªno more scraps for the ¡°madam¡¯s burden.¡± Third Steward Qin Chi, a weasel-faced man notorious for withholding Lin Hao¡¯s meals, fawned over a table ofÌôÌÞyouths. ¡°Third Young Master, more braised pork? This stew¡¯s simmered for hours¡ª¡± ¡°Tastes like gutter water. Fetch something edible!¡± Qin Chi bowed, obsequious. His eyes narrowed as Lin Hao entered the main hall. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°You¡ªthis is no place for trash!¡± Qin Chi blocked Lin Hao¡¯s path. ¡°Return to the servants¡¯ quarters where you belong.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s smile chilled. ¡°Move.¡± ¡°Insolent cripple! Guards¡ª¡± The Wolf Spider scuttled from Lin Hao¡¯s sleeve onto Qin Chi¡¯s neck. A pinprick bite. The steward gagged, face purpling. He collapsed, clawing at his throat as veins turned black. Pandemonium erupted. Lin Hao stepped over the convulsing body, Wolf Spider retreating into shadows. Lethal Venom: Instant paralysis. Death in three breaths. Young masters recoiled. Lin Hao seated himself at their table, ladling soup calmly. ¡°Anyone else craving gutter water?¡± Silence. He sipped, savoring the fear. The fly observed from a rafter, recording every twitch.
Later, in his barren chamber, Lin Hao meditated.ÁéÆøswirled around him like a hurricane. Pop. Pop. Pop. Three more meridians unlocked in succession. Level 4 Warrior. Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s cultivation chamber lay three courtyards east. She¡¯d broken through to Level 4 Mage at seventeen¡ªa prodigy. Lin Hao smirked. Catch up, wife. I¡¯ll be waiting. The system chimed: Ding! Host breaks through four levels in one night. Achievement unlocked: Unstoppable Momentum (Cultivation speed +10%). Dawn approached. Somewhere, a steward¡¯s corpse cooled in the morgue. Lin Hao¡¯s fingers traced the Wolf Spider¡¯s carapace. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s menu needs... variety.¡±
Teaching the Third Steward a Lesson Third Steward Qin Chi¡¯s eyes narrowed as he spotted Lin Hao entering the grand dining hall. How dare this blind waste of space show his face here? Lin Hao feigned blindness, hands groping the air as he approached the serving counter. The Kung Fu Fly on his shoulder surveyed the lavish spread¡ªroast duck, braised pork, steamed fish¡ªa far cry from the slop served in the servants¡¯ quarters. ¡°What¡¯ll you have?¡± The chef trembled, recalling how the kitchen staff had mysteriously broken limbs after crossing Lin Hao days prior. Lin Hao randomly pointed at several dishes. By ¡°chance,¡± his selections included the most expensive cuts. He carried the laden tray to a table opposite Qin Chi and began eating with deliberate clumsiness. A piece of pork slipped from his chopsticks. The fly alighted on the meat, devouring it with microscopic efficiency. ¡°Pathetic,¡± Qin Chi sneered, striding over. ¡°Can¡¯t even hold your food, blind rat.¡± Lin Hao chewed slowly, ignoring him. Qin Chi¡¯s face flushed. He uncorked a vial under the table, pouring horse urine into Lin Hao¡¯s soup. The Kung Fu Fly¡¯s compound eyes recorded every movement. Lin Hao lifted the bowl to his lips¡ªthen hurled its contents at Qin Chi¡¯s face. ¡°How¡¯s the soup with horse urine taste?¡± Lin Hao rose, cold amusement in his voice. The dining hall erupted in gasps and stifled laughter. Young masters watched, torn between shock and delight. Qin Chi howled, skin blistering from the scalding broth. ¡°You¡¯re dead!¡± He lunged, fist aimed at Lin Hao¡¯s temple. Thud. His punch froze mid-air, blocked by an invisible force. The Kung Fu Fly braced against his knuckles, microscopic legs anchoring it like a steel rivet. Slap! Lin Hao¡¯s palm cracked across Qin Chi¡¯s cheek. Two more blows followed, leaving the steward¡¯s face swollen and bloodied. ¡°You¡ªhow?!¡± Qin Chi staggered back, then launched a sweeping kick. The fly zipped downward. Slick! Razor claws severed Qin Chi¡¯s Achilles¡¯ tendon. ¡°AAAAAGH!!¡± The steward collapsed, clutching his spurting ankle. Murmurs rippled through the crowd: ¡°Was that¡­ a fly?¡± ¡°Impossible! Since when do insects gut men?!¡± Lin Hao straightened his robes. ¡°A steward¡¯s place is groveling, not assaulting his masters.¡± He strode toward the exit, the fly perching on his shoulder to clean blood from its claws. Qin Chi writhed on the floor, rage contorting his features. ¡°This isn¡¯t over, cripple! The madam will hear of this!¡± Lin Hao paused at the threshold. Without turning, he murmured, ¡°Tell her. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± The Kung Fu Fly buzzed once¡ªa lethal promise.
In the courtyard, Lin Hao flexed his tingling palm. Qin Chi¡¯s face had left satisfying imprints on his skin. Ding! Host humiliates antagonist. Reward: 500 system points. He smirked. Justice tasted better than any banquet. Chapter 4: Water Magic Lin Hao returned to his quarters, gathered fresh clothes, and headed to the bathhouse. Luck favored him¡ªthe spacious communal pools were empty. He selected the largest tub, filled it with naturally heated spring water, and sank into the steaming bath. The Kung Fu Fly, averse to moisture, buzzed outside to explore. The Wolf Spider remained perched on the rim, guarding its master. Unbeknownst to Lin Hao, the fly drifted into the adjacent women¡¯s section, drawn by floral fragrances. His mind flooded with vivid imagery transmitted through the insect¡¯s eyes: billowing steam, lithe figures of young Zhao women, and¡ª Zhao Ling¡¯er. His wife glided into the chamber, flanked by two maids carrying silk robes and scented oils. The maids bowed and retreated as Ling¡¯er raised her hands. Her fingers traced an intricate pattern in the air, summoning a shimmering rune. Blue light pulsed, and the room filled with a dense mist, veiling her form as she disrobed. Water magic. Lin Hao marveled. So this is how mages manipulate elements. Though tempted to linger, he commanded the fly to withdraw.
Relaxing in his tub, Lin Hao mimicked Ling¡¯er¡¯s gestures, fingers dancing absently. The Wolf Spider¡¯s sudden hiss snapped him alert. ¡°Well, look who¡¯s here¡ªthe blind leech.¡± Second Steward Ma Tianyun waddled in, flanked by three lackeys. His piggish eyes narrowed at Lin Hao. ¡°Get this trash out. Scrub the tub twice!¡± The lackeys advanced, smirking. Lin Hao continued bathing, unfazed. Fwip! Fwip! Fwip! The Wolf Spider spat silken threads¡ªneedle-thin and venom-tipped. Each struck a lackey¡¯s cheek. ¡°AiyAAAARGH!¡± The men collapsed, faces swelling, foam frothing at their mouths. Ma Tianyun stumbled back, jowls quivering. ¡°D-demonic creature!¡± He fled, shoes slapping unevenly. Lin Hao rose, toweling off. The lackeys twitched but breathed¡ªsublethal doses. Wolf Spider¡¯s venom only kills on direct bite. Useful.
Outside, Ma Tianyun rallied a dozen servants armed with clubs. ¡°Kill that monster spider!¡± Lin Hao emerged, the Wolf Spider hidden in his sleeve. ¡°Y-you¡¯re alive?!¡± Ma sputtered. ¡°Alive?¡± Lin Hao tilted his head, feigning confusion. ¡°Was there danger?¡± ¡°Useless cripple.¡± Ma shoved a lackey forward. ¡°You! Go in first!¡± The men hesitated, eyeing the bathhouse door like a beast¡¯s maw. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Lin Hao strode past, suppressing a smirk. Let them cower. Tonight¡¯s lesson was clear: cross him, face the shadows.
In his chamber, Lin Hao replayed Ling¡¯er¡¯s rune patterns. His fingers traced phantom symbols, channeling the day¡¯s residualÁéÆø. A faint mist coalesced above his palm¡ªwater droplets trembling in midair. Ding! Host comprehends elementary water manipulation. Talent synergy activated: Hydro Control proficiency +10% He dismissed the vapor. Mastery would come. For now, patience¡ªand more gold to evolve his arsenal. The Kung Fu Fly alighted on his shoulder, antennae twitching with gossip from the servants¡¯ quarters. Tales of a cursed bathhouse, a demon spider, and a blind madman immune to poison. Lin Hao smiled. Fear bred caution. Let them whisper. Soon, the entire Zhao household would learn: the ¡°cripple¡± they scorned now pulled their strings. And when the time came, even Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s water magic would bow to his shadow.
Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s Suspicion Outside the bathhouse, Second Steward Ma Tianyun howled, clutching his groin as Wolf Spider¡¯s venomous silk struck its mark. Foam bubbled from his lips, his face purpling. The servants who¡¯d rushed inside now gaped at their writhing superior, his manhood rendered permanently useless. Zhao Ling¡¯er emerged from the women¡¯s baths, damp hair coiled like ink against her ivory robe. Steam clung to her, amplifying her ethereal beauty. Her frosty gaze swept over Ma¡¯s convulsing form. ¡°What happened?¡± Her voice cut through the chaos. A servant stammered, ¡°A venomous spider attacked! The second steward was¡ªwas¡ª¡± ¡°Spider?¡± Ling¡¯er¡¯s brow furrowed. She turned to Lin Hao, who stood motionless nearby. ¡°Describe it.¡± Lin Hao tilted his head, milky eyes vacant. ¡°Asking a blind man to describe a spider? How¡­ inventive.¡± He brushed past her, deliberately stumbling. His hands groped the air in exaggerated blindness. Ling¡¯er watched his retreating back, a flicker of recognition crossing her features. That posture¡­ Memories surfaced: the shadowy figure in the gambling den, movements precise as a predator¡¯s. The assassin called ¡°Jing Ke,¡± who¡¯d slaughtered a room of bandits unseen. ¡°You.¡± Ling¡¯er¡¯s voice halted him. Lin Hao hunched further, fingers trembling against the corridor wall. ¡°Yes, wife?¡± Her scrutiny lingered. The set of his shoulders, the cadence of his steps¡ªmirror images of the mystery killer. Yet here he stood, a pitiable blind fool. ¡°Nothing.¡± She dismissed him with a wave. ¡°Search every corner. Burn that creature if found.¡±
Safely secluded, Lin Hao shed the cowering act. His spine straightened, steps silent as a stalking panther. Wolf Spider crawled from his sleeve, mandibles clicking smugly. ¡°Too close,¡± he muttered. Ling¡¯er¡¯s sharpness demanded caution. In his quarters, he pondered wealth-building strategies. Assassination remained lucrative¡ªespecially with pets invisible to wary eyes. Who¡¯d fear a fly? A mosquito? His musings halted as the Kung Fu Fly¡¯s vision revealed an anomaly: a leather-bound manual on Ling¡¯er¡¯s bed. Martial Techniques for Water Affinity. Lin Hao¡¯s pulse quickened. Blind from birth, he¡¯d never touched a cultivation manual. Now, with the Fly¡¯s eyes, he devoured each diagram¡ªhand seals, meridians, qi circulation. ¡°Forbidden chamber, eh?¡± A smirk tugged his lips. Ling¡¯er¡¯s sanctum held secrets worth risking her wrath.
Nightfall draped the Zhao estate. Lin Hao lay awake, mentally rehearsing water runes. Condensation formed above his palm¡ªa trembling sphere. Ding! Host replicates elementary water manipulation. Talent mastery accelerated: Hydro Control proficiency +20% Footsteps echoed outside. Ling¡¯er¡¯s silhouette paused at his door. Through the Fly¡¯s eyes, he watched her observe his feigned sleep, suspicion warring with logic. She left without entering. Lin Hao exhaled. The game deepened. Let her doubt. Let her hunt phantoms. Tomorrow¡¯s contract awaited: a merchant¡¯s rival marked for death. Payment¡ª50,000 gold. The Kung Fu Fly buzzed excitedly. Lin Hao stroked Wolf Spider¡¯s carapace. ¡°Rest well,¡± he murmured. ¡°Dawn brings work.¡± Invisible hunters needed no sleep. Only gold. Only growth. And revenge, patient as a spider¡¯s web. Chapter 5: The Compendium of Spells ¡°Little Spider, lock the door.¡± Lin Hao issued the command as he stepped into Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s private chamber. Wolf Spider leapt from his pocket, shooting two silken threads to yank the door shut. With practiced efficiency, it crawled up the strands and slid the bolt into place. The inner chamber carried Ling¡¯er¡¯s signature scent¡ªjasmine and frost. Lin Hao picked up the leather-bound tome on her bed, the Kung Fu Fly perching on his shoulder to magnify the text. Compendium of Spells¡ªCopied from Tianyan Academy. Lin Hao¡¯s eyebrows rose. Tianyan Academy, the empire¡¯s premier institution for mages, had recently admitted Ling¡¯er. This manual, gifted by an examiner, contained foundational theories on spellcraft. He flipped through pages detailing elemental runes, spiritual energy manipulation, and meditation techniques. Diagrams of hand seals and meridian pathways unfolded like a roadmap to power. So this is how mages harness ambient qi. Recalling Ling¡¯er¡¯s bathhouse ritual, he mimicked the finger motions described for a basic fire rune. His Ultimate Talent for cultivation ignited¡ªspiritual energy surged around him, resonating like a tuning fork. A flicker of flame coalesced above his palm. Though barely thumbnail-sized, its heat prickled his skin. Success! Footsteps approached. Lin Hao snapped the book shut, vanished the flame, and hurried to unbolt the door. Zhao Ling¡¯er stood framed in moonlight, her beauty sharpened by suspicion. ¡°Why was this locked?¡± Lin Hao feigned unease. ¡°The venomous spider¡­ I feared it might slip in.¡± Ling¡¯er¡¯s gaze swept the room, lingering on the undisturbed bed. Her lips tightened with disdain. Pathetic. ¡°Stay vigilant,¡± she said coldly, turning away. Lin Hao bowed his head, hiding a smirk. Behind him, Wolf Spider crept from the shadows, mandibles glistening with unspent venom.
Alone again, Lin Hao resumed meditation. Spiritual energy flooded his senses, a vast ocean awaiting command. The Kung Fu Fly¡¯s vision projected fire rune schematics into his mind. Ding! Host masters elementary fire manipulation. Talent synergy activated: Pyro Control proficiency +15% A fist-sized fireball erupted from his palm, illuminating the chamber. Lin Hao extinguished it with a thought. Too bright. Adjust output. He practiced until dawn, flames shrinking to pinpricks¡ªinvisible yet lethal.
In the Zhao family¡¯s ancestral hall, Ling¡¯er reviewed ledgers by candlelight. Her quill paused mid-column. That blind fool¡­ Why does his presence itch like an unsolved riddle? She dismissed the thought. Tomorrow¡¯s carriage to Tianyan Academy demanded preparation. Soon, this provincial cage would shatter. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Let the cripple cower in locked rooms. Her future gleamed brighter than any spellfire.
Lin Hao watched the Fly¡¯s feed¡ªLing¡¯er¡¯s midnight study, her furrowed brow. He traced a water rune in the air, conjuring a mist that blurred his silhouette. Ding! Host comprehends elementary water obfuscation. Stealth applications unlocked. The Wolf Spider skittered across the ceiling, spinning a web of silken tripwires. Patience, Lin Hao mused, extinguishing the mist. Let her chase academic glory. I¡¯ll claim the shadows. By the time Ling¡¯er learned the truth, he¡¯d be untouchable¡ªa phantom wielding beasts and elements alike. The candle guttered out. Somewhere in the estate, a servant screamed at a ¡°venomous¡± housefly. Lin Hao smiled. Let the games begin.
The Fire Rune ¡°Two more months, and I¡¯ll be free.¡± Zhao Ling¡¯er gazed at the moonlight filtering through her window, anticipation coloring her voice. To her, Lin Hao was nothing but a pebble on her path to greatness¡ªsoon to be kicked aside. Lin Hao, lying on his thin pallet in the outer chamber, caught her murmured words through the Kung Fu Fly¡¯s surveillance. A cold smile curled his lips. Let her dream. With the system awakening his potential, the day of reckoning would arrive sooner than she expected. Ling¡¯er swept into the inner chamber, her sharp eyes immediately locking onto the Compendium of Spells resting on her pillow. ¡°Did you touch this?¡± Lin Hao feigned nonchalance. ¡°The venomous spider alert had me worried. I checked every corner¡ªincluding your bed.¡± Her fingers tightened on the book. The manual¡¯s reversed orientation hadn¡¯t escaped her notice. ¡°Never enter my quarters again,¡± she snapped, frost crackling in her tone. ¡°Our marriage is a farce. In two months, I¡¯ll issue a divorce decree and return double your dowry.¡± Double? Rage simmered beneath Lin Hao¡¯s calm facade. No amount of gold could mend shredded pride. ¡°As you wish,¡± he replied flatly, unrolling his bedding with deliberate slowness. Ling¡¯er watched him settle onto the floor, perplexed by his lack of outrage. Father was right¡ªweaklings have no spine. The thought solidified her contempt as she retreated behind the carved partition.
Moonlight bled through lattice windows as Ling¡¯er changed into vermilion silk sleep robes, unaware of the Kung Fu Fly observing from a shadowed corner. Lin Hao¡¯s mind flickered with the Fly¡¯s feed¡ªpearl-pale shoulders, the dip of a collarbone¡ªyet stirred nothing but resolve. Beautiful, but poisonous. He redirected focus to his true purpose. In the inner chamber, Ling¡¯er sat cross-legged on her bed, entering deep meditation. The air around her shimmered faintly¡ªtestament to her fourth-tier mage prowess. If she¡¯s this diligent, I can¡¯t afford slackness. Lin Hao sat up, centering his breath. His fledgling spiritual senses reached outward, intertwining with ambient qi. Fire rune patterns from the stolen manual burned in his memory. Fingers danced. Invisible threads of psychic energy wove through darkness, sketching a primal sigil. Heat prickled his palms as the symbol ignited¡ªa fist-sized orb of flame hovering above his hand. Ding! Host masters elementary fire manipulation. Talent synergy activated: Pyro Control proficiency +25% The fireball pulsed, its golden light flooding the outer chamber.
Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes snapped open. ¡°Who¡ª?!¡± She burst through the partition to find Lin Hao feigning sleep, the room devoid of magical residue. Her gaze swept over his still form, suspicion warring with logic. A blind cripple... casting fire spells? Preposterous. Yet the lingering warmth in the air contradicted her certainty. ¡°Explain this,¡± she demanded, voice sharp as winter ice. Lin Hao stirred lazily. ¡°Explain what? A nightmare?¡± Her flawless features tightened. For a heartbeat, she almost believed him¡ªuntil the Fly¡¯s wings hummed near her ear. Swat. Ling¡¯er¡¯s palm connected with nothing. The insect zipped behind a curtain as she glared at empty air. ¡°Filthy pests.¡± Lin Hao hid a smirk beneath his blanket. Let her hunt phantoms. Each passing hour saw him stronger, while her arrogance blinded her to the serpent coiling beneath the Zhao family¡¯s roof.
Dawn approached. Ling¡¯er resumed meditation, unaware her husband now mentally rehearsed advanced runes. The Kung Fu Fly traced glowing patterns only he could see¡ªice daggers, wind blades, earth spikes. Two months. Lin Hao¡¯s fingers twitched, etching phantom symbols into moonlight. Let¡¯s see who discards whom. Somewhere in the city, a gambling den owner awoke screaming, a venomous spider nesting in his beard. The Wolf Spider¡¯s latest contract¡ª50,000 gold¡ªhad been fulfilled before breakfast. Gold meant evolution. Evolution meant power. And power, Lin Hao mused as Ling¡¯er¡¯s qi fluctuations echoed through the wall, would be the sweetest revenge of all. Chapter 6: To the Treasury ¡°It couldn¡¯t be him.¡± Zhao Ling¡¯er stood in the dim outer chamber, her gaze lingering on Lin Hao¡¯s feigned slumber. The notion of a blind cripple wielding fire magic was absurd¡ªa fantasy born of late-night fatigue. She retreated to her bed, dismissing the anomaly as a trick of overtaxed senses. Lin Hao waited until her breathing deepened into sleep¡¯s rhythm before exhaling silently. Too close. The Kung Fu Fly¡¯s vigilance had saved him¡ªthis time.
Dawn painted the Zhao Manor¡¯s central hall in gold. Zhao Gaolie, the clan patriarch, drummed thick fingers on an armrest carved with snarling dragons. Beside him, the gray-haired steward Zhao Rong bowed, relaying the previous night¡¯s chaos. ¡°Third Steward Qin¡¯s tendons were severed¡­ by a fly?¡± Zhao Gaolie¡¯s voice rumbled like distant thunder. ¡°So claim the witnesses, my lord.¡± Zhao Rong¡¯s rheumy eyes narrowed. ¡°Though how an insect could maim a first-tier warrior¡­¡± ¡°Monitor Lin Hao.¡± The patriarch¡¯s command brooked no argument. ¡°Even vermin bite when cornered.¡±
Lin Hao strolled into the kitchen, the Kung Fu Fly scouting ahead. Chefs scrambled like startled hens, piling his tray with delicacies reserved for Zhao elders¡ªroast pheasant glazed in honey, steamed dumplings stuffed with crab roe. ¡°The blind leech feasts while we scrape crumbs,¡± muttered a sous-chef. Lin Hao¡¯s milky eyes swept mockingly toward the voice. The man flinched, clutching his bandaged hand.
The treasury¡¯s iron-banded doors loomed ahead, flanked by guards whose muscles bulged beneath chainmail. Their leader, a bearded brute, blocked Lin Hao¡¯s path with a sneer. ¡°Look who¡¯s wandering blindly again.¡± Laughter rippled through the guards. Lin Hao smiled¡ªa predator¡¯s baring of teeth. ¡°I¡¯ve come to collect six months¡¯ stipend. Thirty thousand taels.¡± The bearded man¡¯s mockery curdled into greed. ¡°A blind man counting silver? Let¡¯s wager. Name anything in my hand¡ªguess right, I pay ten thousand. Guess wrong, your thirty thousand¡¯s mine.¡± Lin Hao tilted his head as if considering. The Kung Fu Fly alighted on the guard¡¯s shoulder, compound eyes dissecting the fist clenched behind his back. ¡°A copper coin,¡± Lin Hao declared. ¡°Worn smooth from fondling in taverns.¡± The guard¡¯s face purpled. He uncurled fingers to reveal a grooved copper piece¡ªexactly as described. ¡°Cheat!¡± He lunged, but the Kung Fu Fly¡¯s wings hummed a warning. Lin Hao stepped back, innocence perfected through years of mockery. ¡°Will the Zhao Clan¡¯s honor tolerate welched bets?¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The guards exchanged uneasy glances. Honor was a blade hanging over all their necks.
Zhao Rong observed from a shadowed archway, his wizened face impassive. The blind fool¡¯s luck? Or something darker? As Lin Hao departed with forty thousand taels¡ªthe guard¡¯s coerced payment¡ªthe old steward noted two anomalies: a fly tracing precise circles above the victor¡¯s head, and the faintest scorch mark on the treasury¡¯s lintel.
In the manor¡¯s deepest vault, Zhao Gaolie studied a ledger by lamplight. His finger paused at an entry¡ªLin Hao¡¯s stipend: 30,000 taels, withdrawn. ¡°Rong.¡± The steward materialized like smoke. ¡°My lord?¡± ¡°Accelerate the surveillance. If he¡¯s the spider behind this web¡­¡± The patriarch¡¯s jade paperweight cracked under his grip. ¡°Burn him before he spins further.¡±
Lin Hao reclined in a rarely used gazebo, the Kung Fu Fly patrolling the perimeter. Wolf Spider skittered across his palm, venom sacs glistening. Ding! Host¡¯s wealth exceeds 50,000 taels. Evolution available for contracted beasts. He selected the Kung Fu Fly. Wings blurred as it expanded¡ªfrom housefly to hornet size, compound eyes gleaming with lethal acuity. Ding! Kung Fu Fly upgraded to Tier 2. Poison stinger unlocked. Stealth capabilities enhanced. A servant girl passing below screamed as the Fly dive-bombed her coiffure, shearing a lock of hair without touching skin. Lin Hao chuckled. Forty thousand taels bought more than evolution¡ªit bought chaos. And chaos, in the Zhao Manor¡¯s gilded cage, was the perfect smokescreen.
Seizing the Wager The bearded guard¡¯s confidence wavered as Lin Hao¡¯s unnerving calm gnawed at him. This blind fool¡¯s too composed¡ªdid I walk into a trap? But pride overruled caution. He stormed to the kitchens, the Kung Fu Fly shadowing his every move. Minutes later, he returned clutching what appeared to be an egg. The guards snickered¡ªa crocodile egg, hollowed and refilled with water, its shell meticulously glued. Perfect bait for a blind man¡¯s mistake. Lin Hao cradled the counterfeit egg, fingertips tracing hairline fractures invisible to others. The Fly¡¯s surveillance feed flashed in his mind¡ªthe guard¡¯s sly grin as he injected water through a needle. ¡°Time¡¯s up!¡± The guard snatched back the egg, smugness returning. ¡°A crocodile egg,¡± Lin Hao declared. Murmurs rippled through the onlookers. ¡°But the weight¡¯s wrong. Cracked and refilled¡­ with water.¡± His palm struck the egg. Liquid splashed the guard¡¯s boots. ¡°Impossible!¡± The bearded man¡¯s face purpled. ¡°You cheated!¡± Laughter died as Lin Hao extended a hand. ¡°Ten thousand taels.¡± The guard¡¯s fingers twitched toward his sword hilt. ¡°Take it from me, cripple.¡± Lin Hao smiled. The Kung Fu Fly dive-bombed, scythe-like claws aimed at the guard¡¯s wrist. Steel flashed¡ªa desperate slash missed the Fly by millimeters. ¡°What sorcery is this?!¡± The guard backpedaled, sword whirling in panicked arcs. Wolf Spider chose that moment to strike. Silk threads lanced from Lin Hao¡¯s sleeve, piercing the man¡¯s neck. Neurotoxins flooded his veins. Foam bubbled at his lips as he collapsed, twitching. Lin Hao plucked the gold note from limp fingers. ¡°A lesson in honor.¡± The guards stared, horror dawning. That spider¡ªthe one from the bathhouse! The fly that maimed Third Steward Qin! ¡°He¡¯s¡­ a beast tamer!¡± Whispers ignited like wildfire. The blind waste of flesh they¡¯d mocked now commanded monsters.
Zhao Rong observed from a latticed window, his aged fingers tightening around a jade talisman. The report to Lord Gaolie would require¡­ delicacy.
Lin Hao strode past trembling guards, the Fly buzzing a victory lap above his head. Wolf Spider nestled in his sleeve, venom sacs still glistening. Ding! Host¡¯s reputation as a Beast Tamer spreads. Contracted creatures gain +10% aggression. He paused at the treasury threshold. ¡°My stipend. Thirty thousand taels. Now.¡± The clerk fumbled with lockboxes, coins clinking like a coward¡¯s teeth.
Elsewhere, Zhao Ling¡¯er traced a fire rune in her meditation chamber, oblivious to the upheaval. Her husband¡¯s name flickered briefly in her thoughts¡ªa pebble soon to be kicked from her path. How wrong she was. The pebble had grown fangs. And the Zhao Clan¡¯s gilded halls would soon run red with them. Chapter 7: Power Ascension Lin Hao strode past the cowering guards, their earlier mockery frozen into fearful silence. The Kung Fu Fly circled overhead, its wings humming a lethal lullaby. The Fly held its own against a second-tier warrior earlier, he mused. But with 1000 combat power, it barely matches that level. The Wolf Spider¡¯s 500 makes it first-tier¡ªunacceptable. ¡°System. Evolve my pets.¡± A holographic panel materialized in his mind¡¯s eye. He selected the Fly¡¯s icon and tapped Primary Enhancement. Ding! Enhancement successful. Kung Fu Fly combat power increased to 2000. 10,000 taels deducted. The gold note vanished from his sleeve as data streamed through his consciousness: [Kung Fu Fly] Code: 001 Master: Lin Hao Combat Power: 2000 Lifespan: 499 days Skills: Bloodedge Scythe-Claws Evolution Tier: C (Primary+) Satisfaction warmed Lin Hao¡¯s chest. Now it could shred that bearded fool in seconds.
¡°A fly with combat prowess¡­¡± The raspy murmur came from behind a vermilion pillar. Chief Steward Zhao Rong emerged, his gnarled hands clasped behind his back. ¡°The master was right. You¡¯re no ordinary leech.¡± Lin Hao paused mid-stride, the Fly¡¯s compound eyes transmitting the old man¡¯s calculating gaze.
The treasury¡¯s iron doors loomed ahead, guarded by sigils that glowed faintly against theft. Inside, ledgers stacked ceiling-high chronicled the Zhao Clan¡¯s decadence. A sharp-featured clerk glanced up, rat-like eyes narrowing. ¡°Well, well. The blind beggar comes begging.¡± Chen Si¡ªFifth Assistant to Zhao Rong, embezzler of three concubines¡¯ dowries, and current obstacle. ¡°Six months¡¯ stipend. Thirty thousand taels.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s tone could frost summer wheat. Chen Si sneered. ¡°What does a worm need with gold? Be grateful for scraps.¡± ¡°Scraps feed dogs.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s fingers twitched. ¡°You¡¯ve feasted long enough on mine.¡± The clerk shot up, chair clattering. ¡°You dare accuse me?!¡± ¡°Embezzlement¡¯s a delicate art.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s lips curved. ¡°But clumsy thieves leave trails¡ªlike the missing funds from last autumn¡¯s silk shipment.¡± Chen Si paled. How could the blind wretch know? ¡°Guards!¡± he shrieked, rounding the desk. ¡°Remove this slanderous¡ª¡± Fire blossomed in Lin Hao¡¯s palm. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. The clerk froze, pupils reflecting dancing flames. ¡°M¡­mage?!¡± ¡°Care to test your flesh against fire?¡± Lin Hao rotated the searing orb. ¡°Or perhaps my pets?¡± The Kung Fu Fly dive-bombed Chen Si¡¯s desk. Scythe-claws flashed¡ªoak splintered as the massive table cleft in two. Chen Si stumbled back, urine darkening his robes. ¡°M-monster!¡± ¡°Monsters?¡± Lin Hao stepped closer, the Wolf Spider emerging from his sleeve. ¡°Or justice?¡±
Zhao Rong observed from the threshold, his aged pulse quickening. The Fly¡¯s afterimage still burned his retinas¡ªa crescent moon of destruction. He¡¯s awakened. The realization chilled deeper than winter. A cripple turned beast-tamer and pyromancer? Even the Third Young Miss¡¯s fourth-tier talents paled in comparison. Yet when Lin Hao turned, milky eyes seemed to pierce the steward¡¯s hiding place. ¡°Enjoying the show, Chief Steward?¡± Zhao Rong stepped into the light, face schooled to neutrality. ¡°Merely ensuring clan assets are properly managed.¡± Lin Hao tossed the embezzlement ledgers onto the trembling clerk¡¯s lap. ¡°Then manage this.¡± The Fly alighted on Zhao Rong¡¯s shoulder, mandibles clicking. A warning.
That evening, thirty thousand taels heavier, Lin Hao reclined in his chambers. The Kung Fu Fly patrolled the rafters while Wolf Spider spun poison-laced silk across doorways. Ding! Host¡¯s reputation as a Mage-Beast Tamer spreads. Contracted creatures gain +15% loyalty. Laughter bubbled in his throat. Let Zhao Gaolie scheme. Let Ling¡¯er dismiss him. Every coin stolen, every fear harvested, fueled the storm gathering in a blind man¡¯s palms. And when it broke? The Zhao Clan¡¯s gilded towers would burn.
Extorting the Chief Steward Zhao Rong¡¯s eyes narrowed as he observed the Kung Fu Fly¡¯s enhanced speed and precision. Earlier, it matched a second-tier warrior. Now it rivals third-tier¡­ How? Lin Hao, seated casually, addressed the air where the steward stood. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s settle the accounts.¡± Zhao Rong stiffened. ¡°How did you detect me?¡± ¡°Footsteps.¡± Lin Hao tapped his ear. ¡°Each has a unique rhythm.¡± The old steward entered, ignoring Chen Si¡¯s trembling bow. His gaze locked onto the Fly¡ªits wings humming with newfound lethality. ¡°This clerk claims my six months¡¯ stipend records are lost.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s tone dripped mock concern. ¡°What say you, Chief Steward?¡± Zhao Rong snatched the ledger Chen Si offered. Pages rustled until he froze at an entry: Lin Hao ¨C Monthly Stipend Received. Every month. For half a year. ¡°Explain.¡± The steward¡¯s whisper could frost hell. Chen Si collapsed to his knees. ¡°Mercy! I¡­I yielded to greed!¡± ¡°Threefold restitution,¡± Zhao Rong decreed. ¡°Or lose your thieving hands.¡± The clerk scrambled to produce three gold notes. Lin Hao cleared his throat. ¡°A family matter,¡± Zhao Rong forced a smile. ¡°Double compensation for your discretion.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s milky eyes glinted. ¡°Tenfold.¡± ¡°Five!¡± The steward¡¯s cheek twitched. ¡°Done.¡± Fifteen thousand taels changed hands. Zhao Rong¡¯s pulse throbbed at the financial hemorrhage¡ªand the realization he¡¯d underestimated this ¡°cripple.¡±
Lin Hao emerged into sunlight, wealthier by 150,000 taels. The Fly scouted ahead as he veered into a tailor¡¯s shop. Minutes later, a hooded figure in black robes and steel mask exited¡ªthe persona of ¡°Jing Ke,¡± phantom benefactor of Tianwu City¡¯s underworld. His altered voice, raspier and deeper, practiced as he walked: ¡°The Black Market awaits.¡±
Zhao Rong watched from a teahouse window, jasmine cup trembling in his grip. The masked stranger¡¯s gait¡ªtoo familiar. That slight limp from Lin Hao¡¯s childhood injury¡­ ¡°Summon the Shadow Falcons,¡± he hissed to an attendant. ¡°Track that man.¡±
In a dilapidated storefront reeking of sulfur, Lin Hao faced a one-eyed alchemist. ¡°Phoenix Marrow. Ten drams.¡± The disguised voice echoed within his mask. The vendor¡¯s eye widened. ¡°That¡¯ll cost fifty thousand!¡± Gold notes slapped the counter. ¡°And five Hellspider eggs.¡± As transactions concluded, the Kung Fu Fly¡¯s wings stilled¡ªa warning. Four silhouettes materialized on nearby rooftops, qi signatures suppressed but lethal. Lin Hao smiled beneath cold steel. Let them report a mysterious buyer. Let Zhao Gaolie chase ghosts. The real prey still gorged itself in gilded halls, oblivious to the viper coiling beneath its throne. Chapter 8: Timed Mission The dim interior of the Black Market shop reeked of incense and secrecy. Manager Tong stood deferentially beside Zhao Ling¡¯er, who studied a mission scroll with narrowed eyes. "Timed assassinations require precision," she mused, her voice cool. "The target is a second-tier warrior, but his bodyguard is fourth-tier. Classify it as medium difficulty." Tong bowed, stamping the document with a crimson seal. The door creaked open, and a shadowed figure cloaked in black entered. "State your alias," Tong demanded. "Jing Ke." The distorted voice echoed beneath the steel mask. Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s gaze sharpened. The mystery man who cleared yesterday¡¯s task in hours. Her initial intrigue faded as he requested another low-tier job. "All local assignments are exhausted," Tong apologized. "The nearest is five hundred li away in Qingyang Town." The masked figure hesitated. "However¡­" Tong¡¯s smile turned sly. "We have a timed mission here in Tianwu City. Medium tier. Reward: one million taels." Behind the mask, Lin Hao¡¯s pulse quickened. One million. Enough to evolve Wolf Spider twice over. "Details." Zhao Ling¡¯er interjected, her tone edged with warning: "The kill must occur precisely when the Underground Bazaar¡¯s lights extinguish tomorrow night. Fail the timing, forfeit payment." "Payment ready when I return." The masked figure snatched the mission scroll. As the door slammed, Zhao Ling¡¯er frowned. Arrogant fool. Fourth-tier swordsmen don¡¯t die easily.
Outside, Lin Hao reviewed the scroll through the Fly¡¯s compound eyes: Target: Ma Feiyu Age: 25 Rank: Second-tier warrior Entourage: Li Kun, fourth-tier swordsman Location: Underground Bazaar Exchange Center Window: Year 9986, 7th month, 5th day. 20:00 hours, during blackout. A timed kill during a blackout? Orchestrated chaos. Lin Hao¡¯s lips curled. The spoiled Ma heir¡¯s reputation for brutality made this assassination morally palatable¡ªand financially irresistible.
Fifteen thousand taels weighed heavily in his sleeve as he entered a smithy. Molten metal hissed in crucibles. A dwarf blacksmith, beard singed at the edges, hammered a glowing blade. "I need micro-armor," Lin Hao rasped. "For an insect." The smith paused, squinting. "You mocking me, stranger?" Gold notes slapped the anvil. "Five-millimeter chest plate. Adamantine alloy. Now." A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Nightfall found Lin Hao back in his chambers. The Kung Fu Fly tested its new armor¡ªa shimmering carapace that turned dagger thrusts into sparks. Wolf Spider lurked in shadows, venom sacs plump. Ding! Host¡¯s preparation for timed mission detected. Contracted creatures gain +20% coordination during synchronized strikes. He smiled. Let Li Kun parry swords. How would he counter a hyper-envenomed spider drop-kicked by an armored fly?
Zhao Ling¡¯er paced her moonlit courtyard, unease prickling her spine. Shadow Falcons had lost the masked man¡¯s trail near the slums. Who are you, Jing Ke? Far below her gilded pavilion, in the city¡¯s bowels, the Underground Bazaar¡¯s lanterns flickered. Merchants hawked forbidden relics. Ma Feiyu laughed, tossing coins at chained dancers. None noticed the metal-masked figure observing from rafters, a fly perched on his shoulder, a spider coiled in his palm. Time ticked toward darkness.
Forging Armaments The dwarf blacksmith¡¯s forge hummed with heat as Lin Hao observed silently. The clang of hammer on steel echoed rhythmically, each strike precise. ¡°Dwarven craftsmanship,¡± Lin Hao mused, recognizing the race¡¯s legendary metallurgical prowess. Walls lined with failed sword prototypes spoke of exacting standards¡ªdiscarded blades piled like metallic bones. When the dwarf finally quenched the glowing blade in water, steam hissing like a serpent, he turned squinted eyes toward his visitor. ¡°Weapons or armor?¡± the dwarf grunted, wiping soot from his beard. ¡°Armor. For pets.¡± The dwarf¡¯s hammer slipped, clattering against the anvil. ¡°Pets?!¡± Lin Hao raised a finger. The Kung Fu Fly landed, wings shimmering. Across his shoulder, the Wolf Spider emerged, mandibles clicking. ¡°Insects?!¡± The dwarf¡¯s roar shook the rafters. ¡°You mock¡ª¡± The Fly zipped to the forge, talons seizing the 200-pound hammer. It lifted the tool effortlessly, hovering like a mythic crane. Simultaneously, the Wolf Spider¡¯s silk lashed out, yanking a black iron ore block across the floor. The dwarf¡¯s curses died mid-syllable. ¡°By Moradin¡¯s beard¡­¡± ¡°Materials?¡± Lin Hao pressed. ¡°Volcanic Adamantine.¡± The dwarf reverently produced a crimson-veined ingot. ¡°Rare. Expensive. Survives dragonfire.¡± ¡°Use it.¡± The dwarf¡¯s calloused fingers measured the Fly¡¯s thorax with a tailor¡¯s precision. ¡°Micro-joints need mithril hinges. Spider¡¯s carapace requires segmented plating.¡± His earlier irritation melted into artisan¡¯s fervor. ¡°Completion time?¡± ¡°Dawn.¡± The dwarf already sketched blueprints, eyes alight. ¡°First insect armor in history! The Guild will weep!¡±
Night deepened. Lin Hao studied the dwarf¡¯s samples¡ªa dagger that split hairs, a breastplate deflecting crossbow bolts. The Fly tested its provisional armor: a scrap-metal cuirass allowing full wing mobility. Ding! Host¡¯s innovative armoring strategy detected. Contracted creatures gain +25% durability when equipped with specialized gear. Satisfied, Lin Hao tossed a gold note onto the anvil. The dwarf snorted. ¡°Triple this. Volcanic Adamantine¡¯s not free.¡± Another note joined the first. ¡°Triple upon delivery.¡± The dwarf¡¯s grin flashed through his beard. ¡°Deal, human.¡±
Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s spies reported nothing. The masked ¡°Jing Ke¡± had vanished after visiting a smithy¡ªone frequented by nobles and mercenaries alike. ¡°Focus on the Underground Bazaar,¡± she ordered. ¡°Ma Feiyu¡¯s death must look accidental.¡±
At dawn, Lin Hao returned. The dwarf presented two creations: For the Fly¡ªa scarlet exoskeleton with retractable wing-blades. For the Wolf Spider¡ªinterlocking obsidian plates, venom reservoirs integrated into fangs. ¡°Test them,¡± the dwarf urged. The Fly dive-bombed an anvil. Sparks flew as wing-blades sheared iron. The Spider tanked a hammer swing, carapace unscathed. ¡°Masterpieces!¡± The dwarf danced a jig. ¡°Name your price for production rights!¡± Lin Hao tossed the remaining gold. ¡°Secrecy¡¯s your payment.¡± As he left, the dwarf shouted after him, ¡°What lunatic arms insects?! I love it!¡±
Nightfall approached. In a rented attic, Lin Hao equipped his companions. The Fly¡¯s armor gleamed hellish red; the Spider¡¯s plates absorbed light like black holes. Ding! Host¡¯s preparation complete. Mission success probability revised to 89.7%. He smiled. Let Li Kun¡¯s fourth-tier sword meet evolution-forged steel. Chapter 9: The Prey Appears The dwarf smith¡¯s forge reeked of tension as Lin Hao negotiated payment. ¡°Twelve thousand taels total¡ªten for the Volcanic Adamantine, two for labor.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s masked face betrayed no emotion. Ridiculous price, but necessary. He slid five thousand across the anvil. ¡°Deposit. Balance upon delivery.¡± ¡°Hah! Finally found it!¡± A brash voice shattered the moment. Ma Feiyu swaggered in, silk robes glinting, eyes locked on the crimson ore in the smith¡¯s grip. Behind him loomed Li Kun, fourth-tier swordsman, gaze sharper than his sheathed blade. A weasel-faced thug completed the trio. Target acquired. Lin Hao¡¯s pulse quickened. The Kung Fu Fly¡¯s compound eyes zoomed, confirming facial matches from the mission scroll. ¡°Smith! Name your price for that Volcanic Adamantine.¡± Ma Feiyu flicked gold coins onto the anvil. ¡°And craft me a signet ring.¡± ¡°Sold,¡± the dwarf grunted, jerking a thumb at Lin Hao. ¡°To him.¡± Ma Feiyu¡¯s smile curdled. He appraised the masked figure¡ªblack cloak, steel visor, no visible weapons. ¡°Friend, I¡¯m Ma Feiyu of Qingyang¡¯s Ma Clan. Transfer that ore. Name your price.¡± ¡°One million taels.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s distorted voice dripped mockery. The thug exploded. ¡°You dare mock the Young Master?!¡± Ma Feiyu raised a restraining hand, though his eyes turned serpent-cold. ¡°Careful. My retainer Li Kun here once filleted a man for lesser insults.¡± Li Kun¡¯s sword hissed an inch from its scabbard. Lin Hao stepped toward the exit. The thug lunged¡ªonly to crumple against the forge, howling as his sleeve caught fire. ¡°Stupid dog.¡± Ma Feiyu¡¯s fingers clawed for Lin Hao¡¯s throat. ¡°I¡¯ll peel that mask¡ª¡± Thrum! Invisible psionic force froze Ma Feiyu mid-lunge. His eyes bulged. ¡°Mage?!¡± Li Kun moved. Steel flashed, severing the telekinetic bind. Ma Feiyu scrambled back, face ashen. ¡°Chop his hands off!¡± he shrieked. ¡°No hands, no spells!¡± Li Kun¡¯s blade sang death. Lin Hao braced¡ªbut a metallic clang! echoed as the Kung Fu Fly intercepted, its tiny claws wielding a sewing-needle dagger. ¡°What devilry?!¡± Li Kun recoiled, staring at the insectoid duelist. The Fly dive-bombed again, needle clashing against longsword in spark-showering melee. Lin Hao backpedaled toward the door, Wolf Spider poised in his sleeve. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Kill him! Kill them all!¡± Ma Feiyu screeched. Chaos erupted. The dwarf smith ducked behind his anvil, bellowing curses. Li Kun¡¯s blade became a silver blur, parrying the Fly¡¯s suicidal strikes. The thug, clothes smoldering, hurled tongs at Lin Hao. Thwip! Wolf Spider¡¯s silk yanked the tongs mid-air, whipping them back to smash the thug¡¯s nose. ¡°Enough!¡± Li Kun¡¯s roar shook dust from rafters. His sword flared with azure qi¡ªa fourth-tier technique. The Fly barely dodged, losing a leg to the energy wave. Lin Hao¡¯s mind raced. Retreat. Regroup. Tomorrow¡¯s blackout is our chance. He flung a smoke pellet. Acrid fog filled the forge. When it cleared, only the dwarf remained, clutching his Volcanic Adamantine and swearing oaths to every smithing god.
Three streets away, Lin Hao examined the Fly¡¯s damaged leg. The dwarf¡¯s micro-armor had saved its life¡ªthe severed limb was replaceable. Ding! Host¡¯s tactical retreat successful. Contracted creatures gain +15% evasion in future ambushes. He smirked beneath the mask. Let Ma Feiyu think he¡¯d scared off a lone mage. The real hunt would begin when darkness fell.
Ascending Power The forge¡¯s residual heat lingered as Lin Hao retreated to a rented hovel in Tianwu City¡¯s slums. Wooden shutters blocked prying eyes; mildew clung to the walls. He sat cross-legged on a straw mat, fingers tracing fiery runes in the air. Fwoosh! A basketball-sized fireball materialized, its light flickering across his steel mask. Sweat beaded his brow¡ªeach incantation drained psychic reserves. ¡°Patience,¡± he muttered, extinguishing the flame. His mind reeled from overexertion, yet exhilaration surged. Ding! Host¡¯s relentless cultivation detected. Mental energy capacity +15% per exhaustion cycle. By dawn, breakthroughs came. Where once his psychic ¡°tank¡± held two liters, now it brimmed with twenty. Runes flashed faster¡ªa fireball per heartbeat.
Landlord Old Chen shuffled past the door, muttering about ¡°mad mages.¡± Lin Hao ignored him. His reflection in a water basin showed vibrant eyes, ruddy cheeks¡ªthe consumptive pallor of Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s ¡°waste¡± husband gone. Ding! Host reaches Tier 2 Mage. Contracted creatures gain +10% synchronization with spellcasting. The Fly buzzed approval, its prosthetic adamantine leg gleaming. Wolf Spider tested new venom injectors¡ªmicro-syringes forged from dwarf-crafted needles. Lin Hao grinned. Ma Feiyu thinks me a vagrant mage. Wait till the blackout.
Sunset approached. Lin Hao reviewed his plan: infiltrate the Underground Bazaar during its nightly blackout¡ªa tradition allowing anonymous trades. Ma Feiyu¡¯s scheduled appearance matched the mission window. Yet resources nagged him. No combat spells beyond basic pyrokinesis. No martial techniques. The Zhao Clan¡¯s library denied him; Tianyan Academy¡¯s entrance exams loomed in two months. Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s free pass galls. But if I test in¡­ He imagined her shock¡ªthe ¡°cripple¡± outperforming noble prodigies. The Fly circled his head, mimicking examiners¡¯ stern glares.
In a teahouse across town, Ma Feiyu sulked over wine. ¡°That masked bastard humiliated me!¡± Li Kun sharpened his sword. ¡°Prioritize tonight¡¯s deal. The Blackscale Gang¡¯s spirit stones are vital for your brother¡¯s Tianyan recommendation.¡± ¡°Recommendation?¡± Ma Feiyu snorted. ¡°Why waste stones on that bookworm? I should inherit the Ma legacy!¡± Li Kun¡¯s blade stilled. ¡°Your father¡¯s orders. Cross him, and my sword serves him next.¡± Ma Feiyu drained his cup, plotting vengeance. Little did he know, death¡¯s instruments¡ªa fly and spider¡ªalready scouted the bazaar¡¯s rafters, memorizing guard rotations.
Lin Hao¡¯s hovel vibrated with preparation. The Fly¡¯s wing-blades unsheathed with snickt sounds; the Spider¡¯s carapace plates locked into assassin-black armor. Ding! Host¡¯s strategic patience rewarded. Mission success probability now 92.3%. He donned the steel mask. Somewhere, Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s spies would report ¡°Jing Ke¡± vanishing into shadows. Let them. After tonight, the underworld would whisper his alias in fear. Tianyan Academy could wait. First, a million-tael lesson for arrogant young masters. Chapter 10: The Enigmatic Sword in the Stone Lin Hao arrived at the smithy under the cloak of twilight. The dwarf¡¯s forge glowed faintly, shadows dancing across walls hung with unfinished blades. ¡°You finally showed up.¡± The blacksmith grunted, sliding a lacquered box across the anvil. Inside, two sets of miniature armor glimmered with volcanic adamantine¡¯s crimson veins. ¡°Earth Tier artifacts,¡± the dwarf declared proudly. ¡°First try, flawless.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s pulse quickened. Earth Tier¡ªtranscending mortal craftsmanship, capable of channeling energy. The Fly buzzed eagerly as Lin Hao willed his pets to don their new gear. The Fly¡¯s exoskeleton clicked into place, six blade-tipped legs gleaming. The Wolf Spider¡¯s segmented plates merged seamlessly, venom reservoirs hidden beneath obsidian carapace. ¡°Inscription runes,¡± the dwarf explained, pointing to barely visible etchings. ¡°Shadow-enchantment. Armor retracts into their bodies until threatened.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s eyes widened. Perfect for covert ops. He tossed a gold note¡ª3,000 taels extra. The dwarf¡¯s beard twitched in approval. ¡°Pick any weapon here,¡± the smith gestured magnanimously toward racks of mundane swords. Lin Hao¡¯s gaze snagged on a relic in the corner¡ªa blackened stone embedded with a rusted sword fragment. Centuries of grime clung to its pitted surface. ¡°That?¡± The dwarf chuckled. ¡°Ancestral junk. None¡¯s pulled it free¡ªnot even Ninth Tier warriors.¡± Lin Hao gripped the stone. The blade felt fused to the rock, immovable as a mountain. The Fly and Spider joined, talons and legs straining uselessly. Ding! Host has detected an ancient relic. Activate unsealing protocol? Fee: 50,000 taels. Lin Hao¡¯s jaw tightened. Highway robbery. But curiosity won. Five gold notes vanished from his pocket. A tremor ran through the sword¡ªfelt only by Lin Hao. The rust flaked, revealing ghostly silver beneath. ¡°If I free this,¡± Lin Hao masked his excitement, ¡°it¡¯s mine?¡± The dwarf guffawed. ¡°Aye! But good¡ª¡± Lin Hao gripped the hilt. This time, the blade slid free with a whisper, leaving the stone crumbling to ash. The dwarf¡¯s laughter died. The fragment¡ªnow a foot-long dagger¡ªhummed with latent power. Ancient runes glowed along its edge, sharper than any Earth Tier blade. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± The smith staggered back. Lin Hao sheathed the relic, its weight negligible yet ominous. ¡°A deal¡¯s a deal.¡± Outside, he examined his prize. The blade drank moonlight, edges blurring as if cutting reality itself. Ding! Relic identified: Voidshard Fragment (1/7). Collect all pieces to reconstruct the Blade of Eternity. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Lin Hao froze. Eternity? The Fly landed on the dagger, antennae twitching. Its newly armored leg brushed the metal¡ªand sheared off, clean as laser-cut steel. ¡°Careful!¡± Lin Hao hissed. The Fly regenerated its limb, chastened. He rewrapped the fragment in rags. Even sheathed, its presence prickled his nerves like a live wire. At the slum hovel, Lin Hao tested the blade. A flick severed an iron lock. A scratch on the Wolf Spider¡¯s armor left a hairline fissure. Ding! Host¡¯s armory upgraded. Contracted creatures gain +20% lethality when synergizing with Voidshard. Midnight approached. Lin Hao stowed the dagger, mind racing. A weapon that could damage his invulnerable pets? What have I unlocked? The Underground Bazaar awaited. Tonight, Ma Feiyu would learn the price of hubris¡ªwith steel sharper than his family¡¯s influence.
The Price of Ambition Lin Hao¡¯s fingers tightened around the relic¡¯s hilt. The dwarf smith¡¯s forge seemed to hold its breath as the blade slid free with an unearthly shiiing. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± The smith¡¯s ruddy face paled. Black mist erupted from the sword, coiling up Lin Hao¡¯s arm like venomous serpents. Ice-cold agony seared his nerves. He slammed the blade back into its stone prison, the miasma dissipating with a hiss. ¡°This¡­ belongs to me now.¡± Lin Hao wiped sweat from his brow, masking trembling hands. The dwarf¡¯s beard quivered. ¡°A jest! Take your gold back¡ª¡± ¡°Honor your word.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s tone brooked no argument. The Fly¡¯s wing-blades hummed warningly. Desperation twisted the smith¡¯s features. ¡°Five thousand taels! Take it!¡± ¡°Fifty thousand.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s counter froze the air. The system¡¯s unlock fee demanded repayment. The smith¡¯s hammer clattered to the anvil. ¡°Robbery!¡± Yet greed warred with ancestral duty. Coins clinked as he emptied hidden compartments. ¡°Take it and begone!¡± Lin Hao accepted the bulging purse, pity flickering beneath his mask. Fool. You¡¯ll regret this. The smith snatched the relic, calloused hands trembling. He pulled¡ªnothing. Pulled again, veins bulging. The stone mocked him. ¡°Let me demonstrate.¡± Lin Hao reached. The smith recoiled, but not before five gold notes vanished back into Lin Hao¡¯s sleeve. Ding! Unsealing protocol reactivated. 50,000 taels deducted. The blade slid free effortlessly, black mist boiling forth. A draconic roar shook Lin Hao¡¯s skull¡ªprimeval, ravenous. Ding! Host¡¯s soul integrity compromised. Activate spiritual firewall? Cost: 100,000 taels. Lin Hao¡¯s stomach dropped. His remaining funds: 80,000. The mist thickened, forming clawed tendrils. ¡°Re-seal it!¡± the smith screamed, but Lin Hao stood paralyzed. The voidshard fragment pulsed, its hunger syncing with the spectral beast¡¯s. The Fly dive-bombed the sword, adamantine legs sparking against dark metal. It ricocheted off, carapace cracked. The Wolf Spider spat silk¡ªthreads disintegrated mid-air. ¡°Take it! Just stop this!¡± The smith hurled the stone at Lin Hao. Blade met stone with a thunderclap. The mist recoiled, sucked screaming into the relic. Lin Hao collapsed, nose bleeding. ¡°Soul-bound¡­¡± The smith whispered in horrified awe. ¡°It chooses its master.¡± Lin Hao staggered upright, clutching the stone. Truth glared: each unsheathing risked annihilation. Yet power thrummed in his veins¡ªthe voidshard¡¯s whisper promised dominion¡­ for a price. ¡°Keep your gold.¡± He tossed the purse back. ¡°But remember¡ªsome doors, once opened, devour the keyholder.¡± Night deepened as Lin Hao fled into alleys, the relic¡¯s stone chilling his chest. Two blocks later, he vomited bile-streaked black ichor. Ding! Residual corruption detected. Purge fee: 20,000 taels. ¡°Go bankrupt then!¡± Lin Hao snarled, wiping his mouth. The Fly scouted ahead, damaged but functional. At the slum hovel, he buried the stone beneath floorboards. Its presence throbbed like a second heartbeat. The Wolf Spider spun containment webs¡ªfutile, but comforting. Midnight approached. Underground Bazaar crowds would mask his scent. Ma Feiyu¡¯s scheduled deal with the Blackscale Gang¡ªan ideal killzone. Lin Hao armed his pets. The Fly¡¯s repaired wing hummed; the Wolf Spider¡¯s fangs dripped neurotoxin. The voidshard stone stayed buried¡ªa last resort. Ding! Host¡¯s adaptability commendable. Contracted creatures gain +25% resistance to eldritch corruption. He snorted. Resistance? More like system-sponsored debt slavery. The Bazaar¡¯s entrance loomed¡ªa cellar door guarded by twin brutes. Lin Hao¡¯s mask solidified into Jing Ke¡¯s sneer. Somewhere below, Ma Feiyu¡¯s arrogance would meet its expiration date. Tonight, balance sheets would be settled¡ªin blood and gold. Chapter 11: The Hunting Ground The black tendrils coiled around Lin Hao¡¯s neck, their icy grip inching toward his jaw. Panic clawed at his throat¡ª80,000 taels short. System¡¯s robbing me blind! With a roar fueled by desperation, he rammed the voidshard fragment back into its stone prison. The mist dissolved, leaving him slumped against the forge wall, drenched in cold sweat. ¡°You¡­ alright?¡± The dwarf smith eyed him warily, earlier greed replaced by unease. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ settled.¡± Lin Hao forced a grin, clutching the relic. ¡°Soul-bound, like you said.¡± The smith¡¯s shoulders sagged. ¡°Take it. Some curses aren¡¯t worth breaking.¡± Lin Hao bowed, relief masking triumph. Ten thousand saved. For now.
Tianwu City¡¯s Western District pulsed with illicit energy. The Underground Bazaar¡¯s entrance yawned like a beast¡¯s maw, neon-lit sigils above its archway flickering¡ªLing Clan Holdings. Lin Hao adjusted his mask, the Kung Fu Fly perched invisibly on his shoulder. Inside, chaos reigned. Stalls hawked glowing spirit cores beside bloodstained armor; beggars peddled ¡°authentic¡± ancient maps. Lin Hao wove through the throng, the Fly¡¯s compound eyes scanning for threats. Target acquired. The Fly¡¯s telepathic alert coincided with Ma Feiyu¡¯s sneering profile across a dumpling stall. The young master and his swordsman bodyguard Li Kun strode toward a gilded archway¡ªVIP Passage. Lin Hao glanced at the plebeian queues snaking around cheaper entrances. No choice. He slapped a 1,000-tael note at the VIP gatekeeper. ¡°Booth 88, second row.¡± The guard leered, mistaking Lin Hao¡¯s tremor for novice jitters.
The auction hall reeked of sandalwood and ambition. Tiered seating descended toward a stage veiled in enchanted mist. Lin Hao¡¯s seat afforded a clear view of Ma Feiyu¡¯s lacquered booth seven spots left. ¡°¡ªbreak his legs myself!¡± Ma Feiyu¡¯s hissed threat carried over the pre-auction murmur. Li Kun¡¯s hand restrained his charge. ¡°The Ling Clan¡¯s enforcers patrol here. Wait till he exits.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s fingers brushed the Wolf Spider¡¯s carrier pouch. Let them try. Lights dimmed. The mist parted to reveal an auctioneer in jade-scale armor. ¡°Lot One: A Frost Wyvern egg, smuggled from the Northern Wastes!¡± Bidding erupted. Lin Hao feigned interest while the Fly mapped exits¡ªsix guards posted at the vaulted doors, another dozen patrolling balconies. Ding! Environmental scan complete. Host¡¯s escape route probability: 73% post-assassination. He stifled a grimace. 73%¡¯s better than last time. Ma Feiyu yawned through early lots, perking up only when the auctioneer unveiled a jade slip. ¡°Final item: A Tianyan Academy recommendation token, anonymously consigned.¡± Li Kun stiffened. Ma Feiyu¡¯s paddle shot up. ¡°200,000!¡± Gasps rippled. The token¡¯s reserve was 50,000. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Lin Hao¡¯s nape prickled. Blackscale Gang¡¯s payment for tonight¡¯s hit¡ªMa¡¯s laundering it clean. ¡°220,000!¡± A veiled woman countered. Ma Feiyu¡¯s smirk faltered. ¡°250,000!¡± ¡°300,000.¡± The woman¡¯s monotone cut through his bluster. Li Kun gripped Ma¡¯s wrist. ¡°Young Master, our funds cap at 280,000.¡± Ma Feiyu¡¯s face purpled. The gavel fell. ¡°Sold to Booth 33!¡± As the winner rose, Lin Hao¡¯s breath hitched¡ªZhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s jade hairpin glinted beneath the woman¡¯s veil. Ding! Secondary target identified. Adjust mission parameters? Lin Hao¡¯s nails dug into his palms. Focus. Ma first. The crowd dispersed. Ma Feiyu stormed toward the VIP lounge, Li Kun struggling to keep pace. Lin Hao merged into the exodus, the Wolf Spider¡¯s venom glands priming.
Backstage corridors twisted like entrails. Lin Hao ducked into a service alcove, the Fly scouting ahead. Ma Feiyu¡¯s voice echoed from a private chamber. ¡°¡ªintercepted by some bitch! The Blackscales¡¯ll skin me alive!¡± Li Kun¡¯s sword hissed free. ¡°We ambush the buyer en route. No witnesses.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s lips curled. Perfect. The Wolf Spider scuttled into ventilation ducts. The Fly hovered at the lintel, wing-blades vibrating. Ding! Synced attack ready. Lethality index: 91%. Lin Hao palmed the voidshard stone. Its chill seeped into his resolve. Let¡¯s dance.
Blood in the Shadows The auction hall plunged into darkness as the clock struck eight. Lin Hao¡¯s pulse synced with the Wolf Spider¡¯s movements¡ªsilent, lethal. Ma Feiyu¡¯s smug laughter died mid-snort. The arachnid¡¯s fangs pierced his ankle, injecting venom that blackened veins within seconds. ¡°Aaaaagh¡ª!¡± His scream sliced through the blackout. Spotlights flared moments later, illuminating auctioneer Lin Wanrong¡¯s crimson qipao. Gasps erupted as Ma Feiyu¡¯s corpse slumped grotesquely, dark blood oozing from every orifice. Li Kun¡¯s sword rang free. ¡°Lin Clan dogs! You¡¯ll pay for this!¡± The Lin enforcer captain crossed tattooed arms. ¡°Take your corpse to the magistrates. We¡¯re not your houndkeepers.¡± Guards hauled the body toward exits, Ma Feiyu¡¯s limbs dragging like a broken puppet. Li Kun¡¯s blade trembled¡ªnot from fear, but the spider scuttling beneath chairs. ¡°There!¡± His sword arced,½£Æø (sword energy) shearing through air. The Wolf Spider¡¯s adamantine armor flared runic crimson. The impact sent it caroming off marble walls, carapace screeching against stone. Lin Hao winced¡ªhis spider¡¯s diagnostics flashed yellow. ¡°Crush it!¡± Li Kun lunged again. The Wolf Spider spat silk, entangling his wrist. Guards closed in, clubs crackling with½ûïÀ·ûÎÄ (binding runes). Lin Wanrong¡¯s voice cut through chaos. ¡°Enough! Disrupt this auction again, and the Lin Clan revokes your family¡¯s trade permits!¡± Li Kun froze. Ma Feiyu¡¯s death meant little¡ªlosing access to Tianwu¡¯s black markets would doom his clan. The Wolf Spider seized the hesitation, scaling a velvet curtain to vanish into ceiling beams. Lin Hao exhaled¡ªhis creation¡¯s vitals stabilized, though mobility dropped 40%.
Back in his booth, Lin Hao monitored through the Fly¡¯s eyes. Li Kun stormed out, murder etched in every stride. The auction resumed as if nothing occurred¡ªLin Wanrong now showcasing a jade artifact that pulsed with imprisoned storm spirits. Ding! Primary target eliminated. Secondary objective updated: Evade Li Kun¡¯s pursuit (survival probability: 63%). Lin Hao slipped into the crowd, adopting the shuffle of a rheumatic merchant. The Fly tracked Li Kun¡¯s progress¡ªthe swordsman was interrogating a mask vendor near the east exit. Three blocks from the bazaar, alley shadows swallowed Lin Hao whole. He unclenched his fist, revealing the Wolf Spider curled protectively around a venom sac¡ªits remaining payload. ¡°Hiding like a rat?¡± Li Kun¡¯s silhouette blocked the alley mouth. Moonlight glinted on his drawn blade. ¡°That spider reeks of alchemical stink. You¡¯re no ordinary breeder.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s mask hid his smirk. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± The Wolf Spider launched itself, not at Li Kun, but at the brick wall. Its spinneret fired silk lines in a crisscross pattern¡ªa net Li Kun¡¯s sword shredded effortlessly. But the real trap lay in the severed threads. Each split strand released microdroplets of paralytic agent. Li Kun inhaled sharply, knees buckling. ¡°Clever¡­ vermin¡­¡± He collapsed, sword clattering. Lin Hao stepped over him, pausing to pat the convulsing swordsman¡¯s cheek. ¡°Tell your clan head¡ªnext time they send a pup to hunt wolves, bring better bait." The Fly landed on Li Kun¡¯s eyelid, wing-blades poised. Lin Hao shook his head. "Let him crawl home. Dead men don¡¯t spread fear." As midnight bells tolled, Lin Hao melted into the docks district. Behind him, the Wolf Spider¡¯s diagnostics finally blinked green¡ªits carapace regenerating. The voidshard stone weighed heavy in his pocket, its hunger momentarily sated. Somewhere in the Lin ancestral hall, a jade tablet bearing Ma Feiyu¡¯s name cracked down the middle. The game had just begun. Chapter 12: The Accusation Li Kun¡¯s blade trembled as the Wolf Spider skittered across the auction hall floor, its armored carapace gleaming under the restored lights. The spider¡¯s escape route¡ªa webline anchoring it to the ceiling¡ªleft a shimmering trail that mocked the swordsman¡¯s fury. ¡°Impossible!¡± Li Kun¡¯s roar echoed off marble pillars. His fourth-tier warrior¡¯s strike could cleave stone, yet the arachnid now vanished through an air vent, unharmed. Gasps rippled through the crowd as someone shouted, ¡°Did that thing wear armor?!¡± Lin Hao pivoted toward the exit, the Fly¡¯s wing-blades humming faintly under his collar. Three steps. Five. ¡°Stop!¡± Li Kun¡¯s sword tip quivered inches from Lin Hao¡¯s spine. ¡°That venomous abomination¡ªit¡¯s yours! Just like the metal-winged fly yesterday!¡± The auction hall froze. A hundred masked faces turned. Lin Hao paused, shoulders relaxed beneath his traveler¡¯s cloak. ¡°A spider killed your master? Perhaps you should train better eyes, not sharper blades.¡± Li Kun¡¯s knuckles whitened around his hilt. ¡°The molten essence iron dispute! You held a grudge!¡± With theatrical slowness, Lin Hao faced his accuser. The Fly alighted on his fingertip, its micro-blades catching the light. ¡°You mistake poverty for pettiness. I sold that ore fair and square.¡± Metal shrieked as the Fly parried Li Kun¡¯s sudden thrust. Sparks flew¡ªthe swordsman¡¯s fourth-tier aura clashing against the insect¡¯s earth-tier armored limbs. ¡°By the Nine Hells!¡± A merchant recoiled as the Fly executed a mid-air somersault, kicking the blade aside. ¡°Since when do insects master martial arts?!¡± Lin Hao crossed his arms. ¡°Accuse without proof, and even shadows will mock you.¡± The Lin Clan¡¯s security captain shouldered through the crowd, his scarred face impassive. ¡°The auction house honors contracts, not feuds.¡± He nodded toward Lin Hao. ¡°The guest¡¯s pets are registered combat familiars. Legal under city statutes.¡± Li Kun¡¯s face purpled. ¡°Legal? That spider murdered¡ª¡± ¡°Allegedly.¡± The captain¡¯s hand rested on his shock-rod. ¡°The Lin Clan¡¯s floors stay clean. Settle your blood debts outside.¡± Twenty enforcers closed ranks, their armor etched with suppression runes. Li Kun spat at Lin Hao¡¯s feet. ¡°The Ma Clan will flay your corpse for this!¡± As the swordsman stormed out, Lin Wanrong¡¯s laughter tinkled like wind chimes. The auctioneer sauntered forward, her crimson qipao slit revealing a dagger strapped to her thigh. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! To apologize for tonight¡¯s... excitement, we¡¯ll halve commission fees!¡± The crowd erupted in cheers. A gem merchant slapped Lin Hao¡¯s back. ¡°Bless that assassin! Saved me ten thousand taels!¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Lin Hao¡¯s mask hid his grimace. I¡¯m the villain and the patron saint now? The Fly scouted ahead as he slipped into the night. Two blocks from the auction house, the Wolf Spider dropped from a gutter, its diagnostics flickering green. Lin Hao scooped it up, feeling the hairline fractures in its armor. Ding! Combat analysis complete. Enemy threat level reassessed: Li Kun (Tier 4 Warrior) combat style¡ªWhirlwind Blade Sect. Weakness: Overcommits on diagonal slashes. He stroked the spider¡¯s dented carapace. ¡°Rest. The real game begins at dawn.¡± Somewhere in the Western District, Li Kun knelt before a blood-red palanquin. ¡°Elder Ma, the killer wears a traveler¡¯s mask and controls armored vermin. He¡¯ll be at the Beast Tamer Guild at first light for repairs.¡± A withered hand emerged from the palanquin¡¯s curtains, clutching a jade vial. ¡°Poison the guild¡¯s water cistern. Let his pets drink first.¡± The vial¡¯s contents glowed faintly¡ªStarfall Venom, enough to melt a griffin¡¯s gullet. Li Kun bowed, vengeance sweet on his tongue. He never noticed the Fly perched on the palanquin¡¯s roof, recording every word.
The Nether Pavilion Lin Hao¡¯s gaze lingered on Lin Wanrong through the Fly¡¯s compound eyes. Her beauty, sharp yet ethereal under the auction hall¡¯s chandeliers, stirred unfamiliar warmth. ¡°Half a year since we last met¡­¡± he murmured, turning away before nostalgia could root. The night air bit as he exited the trading center, the Wolf Spider scuttling from shadows to perch on his shoulder. Its armor bore a hairline scar from Li Kun¡¯s strike¡ªa testament to the dwarf smith¡¯s craftsmanship. Next pet gets the same treatment, Lin Hao noted approvingly. Blackscale¡¯s storefront glowed like a predator¡¯s eye. Inside, Manager Tong greeted him with oiled smiles. ¡°Jing Ke! Flawless timing on the hit. Eighty thousand taels after commission.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s jaw tightened at the 20% deduction. Before he could protest, the door creaked open. A figure cloaked in amethyst silk entered, her presence lowering the room¡¯s temperature. ¡°Stay,¡± she commanded, voice devoid of inflection. Manager Tong blanched. ¡°M-Madam Zi! This is most irregular¡ª¡± ¡°Silence.¡± The woman¡¯s gloved hand flicked, silencing him mid-grovel. She turned to Lin Hao. ¡°Your¡­ pets intrigue me. The Nether Pavilion requires such¡­ anomalies.¡± Lin Hao crossed his arms. ¡°Never heard of it.¡± Manager Tong choked. ¡°You¡ª! The Nether Pavilion is the Emperor¡¯s shadow blade! Their operatives execute kings and crack fortresses!¡± Madam Zi¡¯s veil shifted faintly¡ªa smirk? ¡°We¡¯ve monitored your work. A beast-tamer who weaponizes vermin against fourth-tier warriors? Unprecedented.¡± ¡°What¡¯s in it for me?¡± Lin Hao¡¯s fingers brushed the Fly¡¯s wing, primed to strike. ¡°Resources.¡± She slid a jade token across the counter. Its surface writhed with imprisoned spirit flames. ¡°Alchemical ingredients. Forbidden beast cores. Armies of artisans to armor your¡­ collection.¡± The Wolf Spider stirred, drawn to the token¡¯s dark resonance. Lin Hao hesitated. ¡°And the catch?¡± ¡°Trials.¡± Her aura sharpened. ¡°Three missions from the Emperor¡¯s own decree. Survive, and the Pavilion¡¯s vaults are yours.¡± Manager Tong whimpered. ¡°Those trials¡­ last candidate was a fifth-tier swordsmith. They found his bones pickled in a wyvern¡¯s bile¡ª¡± Madam Zi¡¯s glare froze his tongue. ¡°Decide.¡± Lin Hao pocketed the token. Its chill seeped into his palm, whispering promises of power¡ªand graves. ¡°I¡¯ll consider it.¡± As he turned to leave, her final words coiled around his spine. ¡°The Ma Clan has contracted a Starfall Assassin. He arrives at dawn. Consider quickly.¡±
The safehouse stank of sulfur and haste. Lin Hao arrayed his tools: venom sacs, spirit cores looted from noble brats, and the voidshard stone¡ªnow pulsing hungrily. Ding! Emergency evolution available. Consume 50,000 taels to upgrade Wolf Spider to Tier 4? He fed gold notes into the stone¡¯s crackling maw. The Spider convulsed as its legs elongated into serrated blades, carapace hardening to onyx. Across the room, the Fly hovered over a vial of Starfall Venom¡ªMadam Zi¡¯s parting ¡°gift.¡± Its proboscis siphoned droplets, wing edges darkening to lethal indigo. Lin Hao smiled. Let the Nether Pavilion test him. Let the Mas send their assassins. By dawn, his pack would be ready. And the hunt would begin anew. Chapter 13: Ten Million a Month Tong¡¯s jaw dropped as Lin Hao haggled with the violet-clad enforcer. *This lunatic¡¯s bargaining with the Nether Pavilion?!* He edged toward the exit, ready to bolt if blades flew. Madam Zi¡¯s veil rippled with what might¡¯ve been amusement. ¡°Bold. Precisely why you passed the trial.¡± Her gloved hand produced a gold card etched with spiraling sigils. ¡°Ten million taels monthly¡ªuntasked. Fail a mission, repay tenfold.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s pulse quickened. *Ten million. Enough to armor a swarm.* He schooled his face to neutrality. ¡°Terms?¡± ¡°Absolute obedience.¡± Her aura thickened, frost crystallizing on nearby shelves. ¡°Refuse a decree from His Majesty¡¯s shadow, and we harvest your bones.¡± Lin Hao shrugged. ¡°Pay me first.¡± The card clinked onto the counter. Tong gasped¡ªits twin phoenix emblem marked direct Imperial access. ¡°Two million advance. Spend it on¡­ *toys*.¡± Her gaze flicked to the Wolf Spider sharpening its legs on the floor tiles. Lin Hao pricked his thumb with the Fly¡¯s wing-tip. Blood smeared across the card¡¯s engravings flared crimson, binding it to his life signature. A mental nudge revealed the balance: *2,000,000.00*. ¡°Transfer my fee,¡± Lin Hao ordered Tong, sliding over the eighty thousand taels in paper notes. Tong¡¯s silver card chimed against the gold. Runes interlocked like puzzle pieces. ¡°Done.¡± The numbers updated instantly. *Efficient magic banking.* Lin Hao pocketed the card. ¡°Pleasure doing business.¡± Rain sheeted outside as they exited. Madam Zi¡¯s cloak repelled droplets like a duck¡¯s feathers. ¡°Your first decree arrives at¡ª¡± Steel rang. Li Kun emerged from an alley, sword glinting wetly. ¡°Found you, vermin-herder!¡± Lin Hao sighed. The Spider tensed, new leg-blades extending with a *shink*. The Fly hovered protectively, wings dusted with stolen Starfall toxin. ¡°Persistent pest,¡± Madam Zi observed. ¡°Shall I¡­?¡± Her fingers twitched toward a hidden dagger. ¡°My mess.¡± Lin Hao stepped forward. ¡°Watch and learn, Nether Lady.¡± Li Kun¡¯s blade arced¡ªWhirlwind Sect¡¯s signature overhead chop. The Wolf Spider leapt, deflecting the strike in a shower of sparks. Its upgraded carapace held firm. ¡°Again?!¡± Li Kun recoiled as the Fly dive-bombed his eyes, venom stinging his vision. The Spider exploited the opening, slashing his thigh. ¡°Enough!¡± Madam Zi snapped. A tendril of shadow lashed from her sleeve, pinning Li Kun to a wall. ¡°Ma Clan¡¯s starfall assassin arrives at dawn. Conserve your strength.¡± Lin Hao crouched before the struggling swordsman. ¡°Tell your employer¡­¡± He pressed the Fly¡¯s toxin-dripping proboscis to Li Kun¡¯s neck. ¡°¡­my pets thirst for noble blood.¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The Spider severed the shadow bindings. Li Kun fled, limping into the storm. Madam Zi¡¯s eyes gleamed behind her veil. ¡°You¡¯ll need worse than bugs for what comes next.¡± Lin Hao watched lightning fork over the city. ¡°Worse is what I do best.¡± *** Dawn found Lin Hao in a smuggler¡¯s loft, gold card burning a hole in his pocket. The Wolf Spider crouched over a disassembled crossbow, integrating parts into its exoskeleton. The Fly chewed through a stolen spirit core, wings hardening to diamond-edged transparency. *Ding! Evolution complete. Wolf Spider: Tier 4 Assassin-Class. New ability: Camouflage Field.* He grinned. Ten million bought more than armor¡ªit bought revolution. Somewhere below, the safehouse door exploded inward. Starfall Assassins never knocked. Lin Hao didn¡¯t bother looking up. ¡°Welcome to the slaughter.¡± The Spider vanished. The Fly¡¯s wings hummed to life. Outside, Madam Zi watched through rain-streaked windows. *Report to His Majesty: Subject 47 exceeds expectations. Recommend immediate deployment to the northern front. She melted into shadows as screams began.
The Assassin Ziye Li Kun¡¯s threat hung in the rain-soaked air for less than a breath. Purple light flashed as Ziye flicked her wrist. A needle thinner than a spider¡¯s thread pierced his forehead, freezing his sneer in death. ¡°Efficient,¡± Lin Hao remarked dryly, watching the swordsman crumple. The Fly¡¯s compound eyes analyzed the attack trajectory¡ªneedle velocity exceeding 300 m/s, qi-enhanced penetration. Ziye strode forward without glancing at the corpse. ¡°Follow.¡± They walked three blocks before she spoke again. ¡°Shall I call you Jing Ke¡­ or Lin Hao?¡± Lin Hao¡¯s mask hid his tension. ¡°Your spies work fast.¡± ¡°The landlord on Willow Lane has loose lips.¡± Ziye¡¯s voice carried no inflection. ¡°A silver coin bought your face. Ten more traced your steps from the smithy.¡± The Wolf Spider stirred angrily under Lin Hao¡¯s cloak. He stroked its carapace, calming it. ¡°And you? Do I call you ¡®Violet Shadow¡¯ or something equally dramatic?¡± She halted. Raindrops slid off her veil as she removed the bamboo hat. The Fly¡¯s vision relayed sharp cheekbones, lips like frozen rose petals, eyes colder than winter steel. ¡°Ziye.¡± Her name cut through the storm. ¡°Your handler in the Nether Pavilion.¡± Lin Hao removed his mask. Milky eyes met her gaze unflinchingly. ¡°They say blind men make the best listeners.¡± Her brow twitched¡ªthe first crack in her ice. ¡°The reports claimed you navigate walls like a sighted man. How?¡± ¡°Bats use sound.¡± He tapped his temple. ¡°I¡¯ve better teachers.¡± The Wolf Spider chose that moment to peek out, front legs waving in mock salute. Ziye¡¯s breath hitched¡ªa vulnerability quickly smothered. ¡°Your¡­ pets. Where did you find them?¡± ¡°Trained them myself.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Stray bugs make loyal friends when the world kicks you.¡± Ziye produced a talisman glowing with imprisoned fireflies. ¡°Your mission: enter Tianyan Academy in two months. Use this to contact me once enrolled.¡± The Fly analyzed the sigils¡ªdimensional resonance patterns mixed with soul-binding glyphs. Lin Hao pocketed it gingerly. ¡°Student by day, assassin by night? Charming.¡± ¡°Fail,¡± Ziye said as she re-donned her hat, ¡°and the Nether Pavilion collects its investment.¡± She melted into an alleyway shadow, her final words trailing like smoke. ¡°In *pieces*.¡± *** Dawn found Lin Hao dissecting the talisman. The Wolf Spider skittered across its surface, venom dissolving enchantment layers. *Ding! Decryption complete. Tracking array detected. Recommend neutralization.* He smirked. Crushing the jade core with pliers, he hummed as the tracking light died. The Fly deposited theËéƬ into a passing merchant¡¯s coin purse¡ªlet the Pavilion chase false trails. Two months to academy trials. Two months to armor his swarm. Somewhere in the palace vaults, Ziye studied a crystal gone dark. Her lips curved¡ªnot a smile, but the edge of a blade being honed. ¡°Clever little rat,¡± she murmured. ¡°Let¡¯s see you chew through *this* trap.¡± The real game had just begun. Chapter 14: The Beast Spirit Demon Dragon Lin Hao gripped the hilt of the stone-embedded sword, rainwater dripping from his cloak. The rented room¡¯s oil lamp flickered as he braced himself. "Tianyan Academy can wait. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯re hiding." Ding! Seal release confirmed. 50,000 taels deducted. The sword slid free with a metallic shriek. Black miasma erupted, coiling around his arm like living smoke. A roar shook the room¡¯s foundation¡ªnot through air, but directly into his bones. "ROARRRR¡ª!" The Wolf Spider skittered backward, mandibles clacking. The Kung Fu Fly buzzed frantically as Lin Hao¡¯s pupils dilated. His spiritual vision revealed the nightmare within¡ªa shadowy dragon with eyes like molten rubies, its spectral claws raking at the confines of his mind. Ding! Soul Defense Protocol activated. 100,000 taels deducted. Emerald chains materialized in his mentalscape, binding the beast mid-lunge. The demon dragon thrashed, its psychic scream shaking Lin Hao¡¯s teeth. "PATHETIC MORTAL! YOU DARE CAGE A CHILD OF THE ABYSS?!" Lin Hao smirked through gritted teeth. "Took you long enough to show yourself." The dragon¡¯s form flickered¡ªancient scales peeling to reveal raw, oozing spirit-matter. Centuries sealed within the sword¡¯s prison had eroded its might, yet its fury burned undimmed. It slammed against the emerald barrier, each impact sending starbursts across Lin Hao¡¯s vision. "Release me! I shall grant you dominion over burning kingdoms!" "Hard pass." Lin Hao willed the chains tighter. The dragon howled as green light seared its shadow-flesh. "Now talk. Why were you sealed in this ¡®Soul Devourer Sword¡¯?" The beast stilled. Memories flickered through their forced mental link¡ªa moonlit battlefield, a warlord screaming as the blade drank his soul, then centuries of choking darkness. "The smith¡­ betrayed me¡­" its voice guttered like dying embers. "Forged this prison¡­ stole my true name¡­" Lin Hao pressed. "Your ¡®true name¡¯ controls you?" The dragon¡¯s tail lashed. "Even broken¡­ I am Zhar¡¯goth¡­ Scourge of the Obsidian Wastes!" Its roar faltered as the chains constricted. "Mercy¡­ Great One¡­" Lin Hao leaned closer, the Fly¡¯s compound eyes capturing every twitch of the spirit-beast¡¯s disintegration. "Serve as my blade¡¯s spirit, and I¡¯ll grant you¡­" He paused, channeling the system¡¯s cold inflection. "...limited sunlight." The dragon¡¯s snarl died. "Sunlight?" Its voice cracked. "Millennia since I¡­" "Deal?" Black ichor dripped from the beast¡¯s jaws as it bowed. "Zhar¡¯goth¡­ accepts." Ding! Soul-binding complete. Sword evolution available. Consume 500,000 taels to upgrade? Lin Hao¡¯s thumb brushed the corroded blade. "Do it." The sword dissolved into liquid shadow, reforming as a sleek dao with dragon-scale patterning. Zhar¡¯goth¡¯s growl resonated from the steel. "First blood¡­" "Patience." Lin Hao sheathed the blade, noting how shadows bent away from its edge. "We¡¯ve school to attend." This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Outside, lightning split the sky¡ªthree jagged strikes forming an inverted crown. On the palace¡¯s highest tower, Ziye lowered her spyglass. "Demon-binding?" She traced the fading sigils in the rain-smeared window. "Interesting curriculum for a ¡®blind¡¯ student." Her fingers danced, etching a warning into a messenger talisman. The characters glowed crimson: Target wields Zhar¡¯goth. Expedite Academy infiltration. The paper crane took flight, wings slicing through storm clouds. Far below, Lin Hao¡¯s rented window darkened as the Wolf Spider spun blackout silk across the glass. The game escalated.
Draconic Metamorphosis The sword pulsed in Lin Hao¡¯s grip like a living heart. Zhar¡¯goth¡¯s voice slithered through their mental link. "Blood binds us, Master. Shall we dance?" Lin Hao pricked his thumb on the jagged edge. Crimson droplets sizzled against the blade¡¯s obsidian surface, etching fractal patterns that glowed like magma veins. The rented room¡¯s shadows twisted into serpentine shapes as the oath-seal flared. Ding! Soul-binding established. Host gains [Dragonblood Ascension] trait. Agony lanced through his right arm. Black scales erupted from his skin, each plate grinding into place with the sound of shattering pottery. His fingers elongated into talons, shredding the sleeve as dark energy rippled across bulging musculature. "Control it," Lin Hao growled through clenched teeth. The Fly¡¯s compound eyes reflected his transformation¡ªa human arm morphing into something primal, beautiful, and terrifying. "Apologies." Zhar¡¯goth¡¯s mental voice dripped with poorly concealed glee. "Your mortal vessel requires... adjustment." The Wolf Spider skittered backward, mandibles clacking in alarm. Lin Hao flexed his draconic hand, watching lamplight glint off razor-edged claws. A testing swipe cleaved the wooden bedpost like butter. Strength: 4.7x baseline. Durability: 3.2x. Qi consumption: 12 units/sec. The Fly¡¯s analysis scrolled through his mind. "Limited sunlight, my ass," Lin Hao muttered, watching scales retract. His arm reverted to flesh, sleeve hanging in tatters. "You nearly drained me dry." "A necessary calibration." The sword¡¯s hilt warmed apologetically. "Full transformation awaits your ascension." Lin Hao tossed the Skyfall Ore from hand to hand. The metallic black stone absorbed light like a singularity. "This prison of yours¡ªhow¡¯s it work?" Memories flooded their connection: starless voids, the taste of centuries, a smith¡¯s hammer ringing against divine metal. "Forged from celestial iron to chain gods. Insert blade, and..." Zhar¡¯goth¡¯s shudder rattled the sword. "...silence." The Fly landed on the ore, antennae vibrating. Scans revealed nested spatial folds within¡ªa labyrinth where even light crawled. Lin Hao pocketed it hastily. Some toys were too dangerous for daylight. Dawn found him at the market¡¯s fringe stalls. Merchants recoiled as he approached, the sword¡¯s aura coiling like smoke. A grizzled artificer peered through truth-seeing lenses. "Storage pouch. High-grade." Lin Hao slapped down 500,000 taels. The gold card¡¯s twin phoenix seal made the man swallow audibly. "Y-yes, honored guest!" A silk satchel embroidered with containment arrays changed hands. Lin Hao willed the sword inside, watching it vanish into extradimensional folds. Ding! Inventory system synchronized. 27/30 slots occupied. Back in the rented room, he spread his acquisitions: Venomous Nightshade (Grade III), Stellar Core Fragments, a vial of Shapeshifter¡¯s Mercury. The Wolf Spider vibrated with anticipation. "Feast," Lin Hao commanded. The spider lunged, fangs sinking into the Nightshade. Its carapace darkened to void-black as poison glands swelled. Ding! Wolf Spider evolution progress: 87%. Toxin potency increased to paralyze Tier 4 warriors. The Kung Fu Fly circled the Stellar Core, wings harvesting crystalline dust. Its transparency deepened, edges sharpening to monomolecular keenness. Ding! Kung Fu Fly achieves Rank C+. New ability: Photonic Refraction. Zhar¡¯goth¡¯s chuckle echoed in his skull. "Pets and toys. Meanwhile, Tianyan¡¯s trials approach." Lin Hao traced the academy¡¯s sigil on a stolen recruitment poster. Five elements interlocked around a draconic crest¡ªthe same emblem he¡¯d seen in Ziye¡¯s secret missive. "Patience." He fed the Shapeshifter¡¯s Mercury to both creatures. "We¡¯ll arrive... memorably." The Spider¡¯s form blurred, resolving into a perfect replica of Lin Hao¡¯s face. It grinned with too many teeth. Ding! Wolf Spider unlocks [Doppelganger] skill. Duration: 15 minutes. Cooldown: 24 hours. Somewhere in the palace archives, an alarm talisman shattered. Ziye unrolled the latest report, lips curving at the sketched image¡ªa black-scaled arm tearing through stone. "Zhar¡¯goth¡¯s host..." She burned the parchment, watching ashes spiral. "How deliciously reckless." The game board shifted. Kings and pawns prepared their moves. And in a shabby rented room, a blind man smiled, sharpening claws against destiny¡¯s edge. Chapter 15: C-Grade Advanced Enhancement Lin Hao tapped his temple, the system interface overlaying his vision. Wolf Spider¡¯s holographic data pulsed¡ªD-grade intermediate, venom sacs at 78% capacity. "Prioritize Subject 002 for Monarch-grade Enhancement." Ding! 10,000,000 taels deducted. Monarch-grade Enhancement complete. The Wolf Spider shuddered as its carapace thickened, blackened veins spreading like fractal lightning across its body. Lin Hao¡¯s Myriad Gold Card dimmed¡ªbalance now a mere 5,000,000. He ignored the sting, selecting [Advancement]. Ding! 1,000,000 taels consumed. Subject 002 upgraded to C-grade. New skill acquired: Thousand-Layer Silk Web. The Spider raised its forelegs, joints creaking with hydraulic precision. Lin Hao turned to the Kung Fu Fly. "No favorites." Another 2,000,000 vanished into the system¡¯s maw. Twin evolution beams engulfed both creatures. When the light faded, the Fly¡¯s wings hummed at supersonic frequencies. The Spider crouched low, abdomen swelling with viscous fluid. Their updated stats scrolled: [Kung Fu Fly - C-grade Advanced] Combat Power: 4,000 Skill: Bloodscythe Limbs [Wolf Spider - C-grade Advanced] Combat Power: 6,000 Skills: Lethal Venom, Thousand-Layer Silk Web "Demonstrate," Lin Hao ordered. The Spider lunged. A marble-sized silk pellet shot ceilingward, detonating into a gossamer net that descended upon the wooden desk. Acid sizzled¡ªmahogany dissolved into smoking sludge within seconds. "Impressive." Lin Hao traced a claw through residual fumes. Even his dragon-arm scales hissed under the corrosive mist. "Perfect for... uninvited guests." Thunder rattled the windows. Across the city, Zhao Manor seethed with activity. Servants scoured rain-slicked alleys, lanterns bobbing like desperate fireflies. In the main hall, Patriarch Zhao Gaolie gripped his armrests until the rosewood cracked. "Two days! How does a blind rat vanish from my own estate?!" Steward Zhao Rong bowed lower, rainwater dripping from his oilskin cloak. "Master, the Third Young Master... isn¡¯t ordinary." He recounted the financial chamber incident¡ªhow Lin Hao¡¯s milky eyes had tracked moving coins, the whispered incantation that froze a servant mid-step. Zhao Gaolie¡¯s knuckles whitened. "A mage? Inconceivable!" The patriarch surged to his feet, ancestral portraits trembling on the walls. "The Lin Clan pawned off their cripple, yet we¡¯ve harbored a diamond?!" Zhao Rong produced a scroll stamped with a serpentine seal. "The Nether Pavilion¡¯s trial mission¡ªassassinate a target codenamed ¡®Jing Ke.¡¯ Intelligence suggests..." Recognition flashed in Zhao Gaolie¡¯s eyes. "The fly and spider wielder at the auction!" "Precisely." The steward unrolled the dossier. Sketches showed a masked figure flanked by oversized arthropods. "Our agents traced residual venom at Ma Feiyu¡¯s assassination site¡ªidentical to the Spider¡¯s toxin." The patriarch¡¯s laughter boomed. "Let the hunting dogs chase shadows. We¡¯ll secure our gem first!" He snapped fingers. Twenty cloaked figures materialized from shadowed corners¡ªthe Zhao Shadowblades, each bearing twin hooked daggers. "Find Lin Hao. Alive." You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. As the assassins melted into the storm, Zhao Gaolie stroked his jade ring. "Prepare the ancestral awakening chamber. When he returns, we¡¯ll test this... miracle." Unaware of the gathering storm, Lin Hao meditated cross-legged on his rented bed. Zhar¡¯goth¡¯s presence coiled at the edge of his consciousness, restless. "Fools scramble beneath us. Why not paint the streets with their entrails?" Lin Hao¡¯s lips twitched. "Patience. Let them taste hope before despair." The Fly hovered sentry by the window, wings parsing vibrations in the downpour. Five blocks east, boot soles squelched mud¡ªtwenty-three pairs, approaching in lethal silence. Ding! Hostile entities detected. Combat probability 97.3%. Lin Hao stretched, scales rippling across his right arm. "Seems tuition¡¯s due early." The Spider skittered up the wall, spinneret glistening. Somewhere in the downpour, a Shadowblade captain froze¡ªhis last sight a silken net blooming like death¡¯s chrysanthemum.
Violence Begets Violence The alley reeked of damp stone and blood. Third Steward Qin Chi¡¯s scream echoed off the walls as he crawled backward, hands clawing at his ruined face. Lin Hao stood motionless, rainwater dripping from his cloak. The Kung Fu Fly hovered nearby, its blades glistening with crimson. ¡°Y-you¡­monster¡­¡± Qin Chi gurgled through a mouthful of severed tongue. His remaining eye rolled wildly toward the Wolf Spider crouched on a nearby crate. Lin Hao tilted his head, listening to the wet slap of retreating footsteps. The six thugs lay moaning in the muck, their severed hands scattered like grotesque petals. ¡°Monster?¡± He knelt, scales rippling across his right arm as he gripped Qin Chi¡¯s collar. ¡°You came to silence a blind man. What did you expect¡ªpoetry?¡± The stewards had found him at dawn¡¯s first light, their lanterns cutting through the mist like jaundiced eyes. Lin Hao¡¯s enhanced hearing had tracked their approach from three blocks away¡ªthe clink of hidden blades, the labored breathing of men who¡¯d spent the night combing gutters. ¡°Break his legs!¡± Qin Chi had snarled, limping forward with a butcher¡¯s grin. ¡°Cut out that lying tongue!¡± The Fly struck first. A black blur severed the knife-wielder¡¯s wrist mid-swing. The thug stared dumbly at his stump as arterial spray painted the alley walls. Chaos erupted. Swords clattered against the Fly¡¯s alloy limbs, sparks dancing in the half-light. Lin Hao leaned against a mossy wall, Wolf Spider nestled in his pocket. ¡°Enough.¡± At his mental command, the Spider launched its silk¡ªa gossamer net that ensnared Qin Chi¡¯s face. The steward collapsed, frothing as neurotoxins seized his nervous system. His thugs fared worse. The Fly¡¯s blades became a hummingbird¡¯s wings, precise and lethal. Five hands thudded to the cobblestones in quick succession. Now, dawn bled through the clouds. Lin Hao released Qin Chi, letting the steward slump into a puddle. ¡°Tell your brother at Tianyan Academy,¡± he murmured, ¡°I¡¯ll visit soon.¡± The threat hung in the air as Lin Hao turned toward Zhao Manor. Behind him, the Spider spun containment webs around the maimed men¡ªthick cocoons that muted their whimpers. City guards would find them by midday, alive but irrevocably broken. At the manor gates, Steward Zhao Rong awaited. The old man¡¯s rheumy eyes widened at Lin Hao¡¯s approach. ¡°Third Young Master! The patriarch demands¡ª¡± ¡°Breakfast first.¡± Lin Hao brushed past, Fly alighting on his shoulder. ¡°I hear the kitchen¡¯s congee is exceptional today.¡± The dining hall fell silent as he entered. Servants froze mid-task, their gazes darting between Lin Hao and the blood-flecked Fly. Patriarch Zhao Gaolie sat at the head table, a roasted pheasant cooling on his plate. ¡°Nephew.¡± The patriarch¡¯s voice boomed with false warmth. ¡°We¡¯ve been¡­concerned.¡± Lin Hao seated himself, Wolf Spider emerging to lap at a bowl of goat¡¯s milk. ¡°Business in the city detained me.¡± ¡°Business?¡± Zhao Gaolie¡¯s knuckles whitened around a jade chopstick. ¡°Of what nature?¡± The Fly buzzed lazily. Lin Hao smiled. ¡°Animal husbandry.¡± Across the room, a serving girl dropped a teapot. Porcelain shattered. No one moved to clean it. ¡°I see.¡± The patriarch¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Perhaps after breakfast, you¡¯ll demonstrate these¡­husbandry skills in the training yard?¡± Lin Hao sipped his tea, scales retreating beneath his sleeve. ¡°With pleasure.¡± As the household pretended to eat, whispers slithered through the rafters: The Third Young Master walks with demons¡­ Qin Chi¡¯s faction never returned¡­ Even the patriarch fears him now¡­ Lin Hao¡¯s chopsticks paused over a dumpling. The Spider¡¯s venom sacs pulsed in sync with his heartbeat. Somewhere beyond these walls, Tianyan Academy¡¯s bells tolled¡ªa sonorous challenge. The game was changing. Pawns became queens. And in the shadows, a certain blind player smiled, savoring the taste of fermented bean paste and impending storm. Chapter 16: The Son-in-Law Returns The Zhao Manor gates buzzed with uneasy energy. Second Steward Ma Tianyun clutched a stack of wanted posters, his face twisted in contempt. He spat on Lin Hao¡¯s illustrated likeness, the phlegm obscuring the blind man¡¯s milky eyes. "Worthless cripple," he growled, adjusting his bandaged groin. The Wolf Spider¡¯s earlier attack still throbbed. "Careful," came a voice like winter steel. "Ambition often strangles the ambitious." Ma spun, sweat beading his jowls. Lin Hao stood ten paces away, rain-soaked cloak clinging to his frame. The Wolf Spider peeked from his collar, mandibles clicking. "You¡ª!" Ma¡¯s roar died as servants erupted in false cheer. "Third Young Master¡¯s back!" "Praise the ancestors, our search ends!" Their relief was palpable¡ªnot for Lin Hao¡¯s safety, but for respite from the downpour. Ma Tianyun seized the moment. "Where¡¯ve you been, worm?! We¡¯ve turned the city upside¡ª" Lin Hao tilted his head. "Try peeling my skin. I¡¯ll wait." The challenge hung like a dagger. Ma¡¯s palm itched to strike, yet memory froze him¡ªthe Spider¡¯s venomous embrace, nights spent screaming into bloodied rags. "Search him!" he barked at nearby lackeys. "That demon insect¡ª" White silk shot from Lin Hao¡¯s sleeve. Ma¡¯s scream pierced the morning. The Wolf Spider¡¯s latest gift struck true¡ªhis groin now a necrotic ruin. Servants recoiled as the steward collapsed, froth bubbling past clenched teeth. Chaos erupted. Guards poured from the manor, halberds gleaming. At their forefront strode Steward Zhao Rong, his earlier deference replaced by glacial authority. "Welcome home, Third Young Master." The old man bowed precisely fifteen degrees¡ªa calculated insult masquerading as respect. His rheumy eyes flicked to Ma¡¯s twitching form. "Dispose of that trash. The gardens need fertilizer." Lin Hao¡¯s brow arched. This sudden obsequiousness reeked of theater. Before he could probe, wails erupted from the gate. Six maimed guards stumbled through, carrying a cocooned figure¡ªQin Chi, eyeless and tongueless, his moans muffled by Spider silk. Zhao Rong paled. The courtyard stilled. "Third Young Master," the steward began, voice taut as a garrote wire, "the Patriarch requests your presence. The ancestral hall." Lin Hao stroked the Spider¡¯s carapace. "Lead on." They passed through corridors lined with whispering tapestries. The Fly mapped their route¡ªthree hidden crossbowmen in the rafters, five poison needles embedded in doorframes. Lin Hao smiled. Predictable. The ancestral hall loomed, its bronze doors etched with Zhao lineage triumphs. Patriarch Zhao Gaolie awaited before a hundred spirit tablets, ancestral swords crossed on the altar. "Nephew." The Patriarch¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. "We¡¯ve prepared a¡­ welcoming gift." Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. He snapped his fingers. Servants dragged forth a cage¡ªwithin thrashed a scaled monstrosity, its claws gouging steel bars. "A Basilisk Hound," Zhao Gaolie purred. "Tamed it myself in the Southern Wastes. Let¡¯s see if your pets measure up." The cage exploded. Lin Hao didn¡¯t flinch as the beast lunged. The Wolf Spider dropped from his neck, venom sacs pulsing. Somewhere above, the Fly¡¯s wings hummed a death knell. Beyond the hall¡¯s stained-glass windows, storm clouds gathered.
Meeting the Patriarch The ancestral hall¡¯s braziers cast flickering shadows as Patriarch Zhao Gaolie circled Lin Hao like a tiger assessing prey. Qin Chi¡¯s corpse lay shrouded on a marble slab between them, the stench of burnt silk lingering from hasty cremation. ¡°A blind man outruns the Nether Pavilion¡¯s finest assassin?¡± Zhao¡¯s boot heels clicked rhythmically. ¡°How¡­convenient.¡± Lin Hao remained seated, Wolf Spider coiled around his wrist like a living vambrace. Through the Fly¡¯s compound eyes, he watched Zhao¡¯s qi pulse¡ªa sixth-level warrior¡¯s aura, unstable at the edges. Years of political scheming had eroded the patriarch¡¯s cultivation. ¡°Fortune favors the unprepared,¡± Lin Hao replied blandly. ¡°Perhaps Heaven took pity on this humble son-in-law.¡± Zhao¡¯s laughter boomed, too sharp to be genuine. He stopped abruptly, looming over Lin Hao. ¡°Let¡¯s dispense with theater. I know you¡¯re Jing Ke.¡± The Spider¡¯s venom sacs tightened. Lin Hao kept his breathing even. ¡°A blind cripple? An assassin? Patriarch jests.¡± ¡°Two days ago,¡± Zhao hissed, ¡°a Nether Pavilion agent intercepted correspondence between Qin Chi¡¯s brother and the Second Prince. Seems young Qin Yu discovered his brother¡¯s¡­indiscretions¡­and sought royal intervention.¡± His jade ring glinted as he tapped Qin Chi¡¯s shroud. ¡°Yet before the courier could reach the palace, someone slit his throat. Left a wolf spider carved into his collarbone.¡± Silence thickened. Somewhere in the rafters, the Kung Fu Fly adjusted its trajectory¡ªoptimal strike angle for Zhao¡¯s jugular. ¡°Impressive deduction.¡± Lin Hao leaned back, abandoning pretense. ¡°What do you want?¡± Zhao¡¯s demeanor shifted like quicksilver. He sank into the opposing chair, suddenly avuncular. ¡°To protect family. Qin Yu returns in ten days for his brother¡¯s funeral. The Second Prince¡¯s envoys arrive sooner.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°Stay married to my daughter.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s mockery died as Zhao produced a scroll stamped with the imperial phoenix seal¡ªa betrothal annulment decree signed by Zhao Ling¡¯er. ¡°She petitioned the Crown Princess herself,¡± Zhao said bitterly. ¡°But with this¡­¡± He fed the document to a brazier. Flames devoured Ling¡¯er¡¯s delicate calligraphy. ¡°Let the palace blame bureaucratic delays.¡± The Spider hissed. Lin Hao¡¯s scales itched beneath his sleeve. ¡°Why?¡± Zhao leaned forward, eyes alight. ¡°The Nether Pavilion hasn¡¯t produced a Monarch-grade Beast Tamer in three centuries. With you anchoring our bloodline¡­¡± ¡°You want breeding stock.¡± ¡°I want immortality!¡± The patriarch¡¯s composure shattered. He gestured wildly at the ancestral tablets. ¡°My grandfather served the last Beast Emperor! Our lineage once commanded armies of sacred creatures! Now?¡± His fist clenched around a ceremonial dagger. ¡°We grovel to upjumped scholars!¡± The Fly¡¯s wings stilled. Lin Hao¡¯s mind raced. Zhao¡¯s desperation reeked of deeper schemes¡ªperhaps connections to the shadowy factions Zhar¡¯goth had mentioned. ¡°Agree,¡± Zhao pressed, ¡°and I¡¯ll gift you the Forbidden Menagerie. Its beasts have languished since Grandfather¡¯s death. With your talent¡­¡± Lin Hao stood abruptly. The Spider flared its chelicerae in warning. ¡°I¡¯ll consider it.¡± Zhao¡¯s smile returned, brittle as antique porcelain. ¡°Of course. Take tonight to¡ªurk!¡± A silk thread lashed his throat¡ªnot enough to break skin, but sufficient to silence. Lin Hao leaned close, scales rippling across his right cheek. ¡°Threaten me again through Ling¡¯er, and your ancestral tablets will need a new compartment.¡± He departed through swirling ash motes, Fly mapping escape routes. Behind him, Zhao Gaolie massaged his throat, equal parts fury and awe flickering across his face. Dawn found Lin Hao atop the eastern watchtower, city spread below like a game board. The Forbidden Menagerie¡¯s obsidian gates glinted in the distance¡ªand within, something ancient stirred, sensing the dragon blood in his veins. Zhar¡¯goth¡¯s chuckle vibrated through his bones. "Mortal games amuse briefly. Shall we hunt bigger prey?" Lin Hao watched imperial couriers gallop through the south gate, their banners bearing the Second Prince¡¯s crimson phoenix. ¡°Patience. Let the pieces fall.¡± The Spider wove a new web between tower stones¡ªa fractal map of political alliances. Somewhere in the capital, Qin Yu¡¯s sword sharpened. The game deepened. Chapter 17: Zhao Ling鈥檈r鈥檚 Resolve The ancestral hall¡¯s incense smoke curled around Zhao Gaolie¡¯s rigid shoulders as he studied Lin Hao. The patriarch¡¯s earlier fervor had cooled into something sharper¡ªa merchant recalculating a risky investment. ¡°So you¡¯ll attempt Tianyan Academy¡¯s entrance trials?¡± Zhao¡¯s jade thumb ring clicked against the armrest. ¡°Ambitious. Though unnecessary given your¡­other qualifications.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s Wolf Spider skittered across the floor, trailing silk that glinted like poisoned silver. ¡°Blind men need clearer paths,¡± he said mildly. A muscle twitched beneath Zhao¡¯s eye. Before he could respond, the hall¡¯s crimson doors swept open. Zhao Ling¡¯er entered like winter moonlight¡ªpale, beautiful, and utterly remote. Her azure robes whispered across flagstones as she bypassed Lin Hao without a glance. ¡°Father.¡± Her voice held the crispness of unsheathed steel. ¡°I¡¯ve drafted the annulment papers.¡± Zhao Gaolie¡¯s composure cracked. ¡°Nonsense! The Zhao and Lin families¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªwill survive severed ties.¡± Ling¡¯er placed a scroll stamped with the academy¡¯s celestial seal on the altar. ¡°Tianyan¡¯s chancellor guarantees protection.¡± The Spider froze mid-stride. Lin Hao observed the tableau through the Fly¡¯s kaleidoscopic eyes¡ªZhao¡¯s whitened knuckles, Ling¡¯er¡¯s unyielding posture, the way shadows deepened around the ancestral tablets. ¡°You¡¯d abandon duty for pride?¡± Zhao roared, slamming his fist. ¡°This marriage secures our lineage!¡± Ling¡¯er¡¯s laugh was frost cracking. ¡°Secures? You bartered me like common jade!¡± Her gaze flickered to Lin Hao, lingering on his milky eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll not waste years nursing a cripple while rivals claim Tianyan¡¯s glory.¡± The insult hung unacknowledged. Lin Hao traced the Spider¡¯s vibrations¡ªLing¡¯er¡¯s pulse raced despite her icy tone. Fear, he realized. Not of me, but of confinement. Zhao surged to his feet. ¡°You think the academy shields fools? Without Lin Hao¡¯s¡ª¡± He choked back the name Nether Pavilion. ¡°¡ªconnections, you¡¯re just another talent to exploit!¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s voice sliced the tension. Both Zhos turned, startled by his intervention. ¡°Let her go.¡± The hall stilled. Somewhere beyond the latticed windows, crows jeered. Ling¡¯er recovered first. ¡°You¡­support this?¡± Lin Hao shrugged. ¡°A stumbling block removed benefits us both.¡± Zhao Gaolie¡¯s face purpled. ¡°You ingrate! After I burned the first annulment decree¡ª¡± ¡°Father!¡± Ling¡¯er¡¯s composure shattered. ¡°You interfered?!¡± The Spider chose that moment to ascend Lin Hao¡¯s leg, its chitinous body catching firelight. Ling¡¯er recoiled¡ªnot from fear, but recognition. Her sharp inhale echoed the Spider¡¯s hiss. ¡°The assassin¡¯s pet¡­¡± she breathed. Eyes widening, she whirled on Zhao Gaolie. ¡°You knew? You¡¯re using him as a weapon?!¡± Chaos erupted. Zhao roared orders to guards. Ling¡¯er snatched the annulment scroll. The Spider launched silk strands that pinned fluttering sleeves to walls. Through it all, Lin Hao stood motionless¡ªa chess king observing checkmate. ¡°Enough theatrics.¡± His quiet words stilled the room. The Fly alighted on Ling¡¯er¡¯s shoulder, wings humming a warning. ¡°Leave for Tianyan. Claim your destiny.¡± Ling¡¯er hesitated. For a heartbeat, Lin Hao glimpsed the girl beneath the ice¡ªcurious, ambitious, trapped. Then she stiffened. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll walk my path.¡± He gestured to the Spider¡¯s web now glittering above the altar. ¡°Blind men see clearest in the dark.¡± As Ling¡¯er swept out, scroll clutched like a dagger, Zhao Gaolie collapsed into his throne. ¡°Fool woman,¡± he rasped. ¡°She¡¯ll doom us all.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s laughter startled them both¡ªrich, genuine, and utterly without mirth. ¡°No, Patriarch. You¡¯ve mistaken pawns for players.¡± He departed as dawn gilded the courtyard, the Fly mapping two sets of footprints¡ªLing¡¯er¡¯s hurried strides east toward freedom, and his own winding south into shadows. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Somewhere beyond the city walls, Tianyan Academy¡¯s bells tolled. The game advanced.
The Stumbling Block The morning sun filtered through the courtyard¡¯s ancient magnolia as Zhao Gaolie stroked his beard, watching his daughter pace like a caged phoenix. Ling¡¯er¡¯s azure robes fluttered with each agitated step, the embroidered water dragons seeming to snap at invisible foes. ¡°He¡¯s a mage?¡± Her voice cracked on the word. ¡°Since when do blind men weave fire runes?¡± Zhao chuckled, the sound as dry as autumn leaves. ¡°Since our dear son-in-law decided humble pie wasn¡¯t to his taste.¡± His jade-ringed finger tapped the windowsill where the Kung Fu Fly had perched moments earlier. ¡°Your husband¡¯s been busy cultivating more than marital bonds.¡± Ling¡¯er froze. The memory of midnight fire qi rippling through her meditation chamber resurfaced¡ªheat that had melted frost patterns on her window yet left drapes unscathed. Her fingers unconsciously traced the jade pendant at her throat, its cool surface failing to soothe. ¡°Even so,¡± she forced through clenched teeth, ¡°a backwater mage barely qualifies as¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªthe man who incinerated three Ma family assassins last night?¡± Zhao interrupted. He produced a scorched silk handkerchief bearing the charred wolf sigil of Qingyang¡¯s Ma Clan. ¡°Their corpses now fertilize our peonies. Efficient, don¡¯t you think?¡± The courtyard fell silent save for distant hammering¡ªservants repairing gates battered in last night¡¯s skirmish. Ling¡¯er¡¯s composure wavered as she studied the evidence. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t I informed?¡± ¡°You were busy drafting annulment papers,¡± Zhao said mildly. ¡°Besides, our Lin Hao prefers subtlety.¡± His eyes gleamed with perverse pride. ¡°Burned the bodies himself. No witnesses, no evidence¡ªjust ash and denial.¡± A cold breeze swept through the corridor, carrying the metallic tang of recent bloodshed. Ling¡¯er shivered, though whether from chill or revelation remained unclear. ¡°The academy¡¯s trials begin in ten days,¡± she said at last, voice steadied by resolve. ¡°If he fails¡­¡± ¡°He won¡¯t.¡± ¡°If he fails,¡± she pressed, ¡°you¡¯ll dissolve this farce.¡± Zhao¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Naturally.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª The training yard¡¯s gravel crunched beneath Lin Hao¡¯s bare feet as he hoisted stone weights. Morning light glistened on sweat-slick muscles that had filled out through weeks of relentless training. The Wolf Spider observed from a sun-warmed rock, legs idly tapping out the rhythm of his lifts. Thud. A hundred-pound stone met earth. Thud. Another joined it. ¡°Improper form wastes effort.¡± Lin Hao straightened to find Steward Zhao Rong leaning against a persimmon tree, wizened face crinkled in appraisal. The old man¡¯s qi felt like still water¡ªdeceptively calm, impossibly deep. ¡°Advice requires payment,¡± Lin Hao replied, toweling sweat from his neck. The Fly buzzed warning circles around Zhao Rong¡¯s head. ¡°Consider it an investment.¡± The steward stepped forward, joints creaking like ancient timber. ¡°Observe.¡± His gnarled hands gripped the stones. With a motion smoother than calligraphy ink, Zhao Rong began a sequence of lifts that blurred weight and grace. Qi rippled through his sinewy arms, each movement etching faint luminescent patterns in the air. ¡°Muscle alone is brute force,¡± he intoned. ¡°Qi channels are rivers. Guide them.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s milky eyes narrowed. Through the Spider¡¯s infrared vision, he saw the steward¡¯s meridians flare¡ªa glowing roadmap of energy flow. The patterns mirrored the cultivation manuals he¡¯d memorized but never fully grasped. ¡°Again,¡± Zhao Rong commanded, relinquishing the stones. Lin Hao¡¯s hands found the worn grips. He closed his eyes, reaching for the reservoir of dragon blood simmering beneath his scales. Heat surged through his palms, searing the stone handles black. ¡°Control,¡± the steward warned. The yard erupted in crimson light as Lin Hao¡¯s qi ignited. Stone weights floated inches above trembling hands, molten rock dripping like candle wax. Zhao Rong¡¯s composure finally cracked¡ªa flicker of primal fear in those watery eyes. ¡°Enough!¡± The stones crashed down, embedding themselves in scorched earth. Lin Hao staggered, veins pulsing with unstable energy. The Spider skittered to his side, venom sacs swollen in alarm. Zhao Rong studied the smoldering craters. ¡°You¡¯ll need better control before the trials.¡± ¡°Or worse enemies,¡± Lin Hao countered, wiping soot from his face. The steward¡¯s laughter echoed strangely from such a frail frame. ¡°The academy¡¯s examiners are enemies. They¡¯ll dissect your secrets like curious surgeons.¡± His cane tapped the warped stones. ¡°Hide this. Hide everything.¡± As Zhao Rong shuffled away, Lin Hao noticed the steward¡¯s shadow stretched impossibly long¡ªa writhing thing with too many limbs. The Spider hissed. The Fly dove after it, only to be rebuffed by an unseen force. ¡ª¡ª¡ª That evening, the moon hung low and heavy as Lin Hao stood at the ancestral hall¡¯s threshold. The Fly¡¯s compound eyes showed him Ling¡¯er kneeling before spirit tablets, her midnight hair unbound like a mourning veil. ¡°Why persist?¡± Her voice carried clearly in the still air. ¡°We both know this marriage is¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªa ladder.¡± Lin Hao entered, Wolf Spider trailing silk that glowed faintly in the dark. ¡°You climb. I climb. What matters is the view from the top.¡± Ling¡¯er rose, water qi coalescing around her fingertips. ¡°You presume much.¡± ¡°I presume nothing.¡± He gestured to the Fly now perched on her shoulder. ¡°But vermin hear secrets in high places.¡± Her eyes widened. The Fly took wing, projecting fragmented memories onto the hall¡¯s dusty air¡ªLing¡¯er practicing forbidden ice runes, bribing academy officials, burning letters stamped with a prince¡¯s seal. ¡°Enough!¡± Her qi flared, shattering the illusions. ¡°What do you want?¡± Lin Hao¡¯s smile held no warmth. ¡°A duel at dawn. If I lose, the annulment stands.¡± ¡°And if you win?¡± ¡°We attend the trials as strangers.¡± The Spider¡¯s silk wove through his fingers like puppet strings. ¡°No bonds. No lies. Just competition.¡± Ling¡¯er¡¯s laughter rang hollow. ¡°You¡¯d gamble pride against privilege?¡± ¡°Pride is privilege.¡± He turned to leave, moonlight glinting off scaled knuckles. ¡°Dawn awaits, wife.¡± The hall¡¯s braziers flared as he departed, casting long shadows that danced like battling titans. Somewhere beyond the manor walls, Tianyan Academy¡¯s trial gongs began their ominous countdown. Chapter 18: Intent Without Form The courtyard¡¯s morning mist clung to Lin Hao¡¯s bare torso as he faced Steward Zhao Rong. Sweat traced the newly defined ridges of muscle across his shoulders¡ªa testament to weeks of grueling training. The Wolf Spider observed from a nearby persimmon branch, silk threads quivering with each shift in the air. ¡°Strike me,¡± Zhao Rong commanded, stance deceptively relaxed. His gnarled hands hung loose at his sides, palms calloused from decades of martial discipline. Lin Hao¡¯s Fly mapped the steward¡¯s qi flow¡ªa placid lake hiding undertows. He lunged, fist arcing with fire-tinged precision. Crack! Zhao Rong¡¯s palm intercepted the blow, redirecting momentum into empty air. Lin Hao stumbled, the Spider¡¯s warning hiss echoing his frustration. ¡°Your mind races ahead,¡± the steward chided, ¡°while your body drags like an oxcart.¡± He tapped Lin Hao¡¯s quivering bicep. ¡°Muscle without harmony is noise without melody.¡± Lin Hao straightened, milky eyes narrowing. Through the Fly¡¯s infrared vision, he studied Zhao Rong¡¯s meridian network¡ªa glowing latticework of controlled energy. ¡°Teach me.¡± The old man¡¯s chuckle rustled like dry leaves. ¡°Begin by forgetting your arms.¡± His cane swept upward, tracing invisible sigils. ¡°True power flows from here.¡± The tip paused at Lin Hao¡¯s solar plexus. For three hours, they drilled stance transitions¡ªshifting weight through hips rather than limbs. Lin Hao¡¯s scales itched with impatience until, during a particularly sharp pivot, his trailing foot accidentally channeled qi. The courtyard tiles beneath him fissured, spiderweb cracks racing toward the east wall. Zhao Rong froze. ¡°Dragon¡¯s Step¡­?¡± he breathed, then quickly masked his astonishment. ¡°Adequate progress. Rest now.¡± As the steward shuffled away, Lin Hao noticed the old man¡¯s shadow stretching unnaturally long¡ªa many-limbed silhouette that vanished when clouds obscured the sun. ¡ª¡ª¡ª The blacksmith¡¯s quarter reeked of molten metal and charred dreams. Lin Hao, now cloaked in Jing Ke¡¯s signature black silks, traced a finger over freshly forged dowry chests bearing the Lin family crest. The dwarf smith¡¯s hammer stilled as recognition dawned. ¡°You!¡± The smith¡¯s beard bristled. ¡°Returned to swindle more treasures?¡± Lin Hao tossed a jingling pouch onto the anvil. ¡°I need gravity armor¡ªadjustable, full-body.¡± Interest warred with suspicion in the dwarf¡¯s eyes. ¡°Forbidden tech. Empire banned its making after the Iron Rebellion.¡± ¡°Yet you¡¯ve still got the molds.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s Spider lowered itself onto the smith¡¯s shoulder, fangs glistening. ¡°Underplate the weights with fire-rune dampers. Triple your usual fee.¡± The smith swallowed audibly. ¡°Two weeks.¡± ¡°Three days.¡± ¡°Impossible! The quenching alone¡ª¡± Lin Hao placed a second pouch beside the first. ¡°Four days. And tell me why the Lin family orders fifty dowry chests.¡± The dwarf pocketed the gold with practiced speed. ¡°Old Li¡¯s buying their third daughter. Lin Wanrong, the pretty one from the auction house. Wedding¡¯s next moon cycle.¡± Ice flooded Lin Hao¡¯s veins. Memories surfaced¡ªa girl with orchid-scented hair shielding him from bullies, sneaking mooncakes into his isolated quarters, whispering promises of escape. ¡°She¡¯s... willing?¡± His voice emerged strangled. The smith spat into the forge. ¡°Willing? Old Li¡¯s ninety if he¡¯s a day. But gold greases all hinges in noble marriages.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª Dusk found Lin Hao scaling the Lin compound¡¯s eastern wall, Gravity Armor prototypes clinking in his storage pouch. The Fly scouted ahead, revealing patrolling guards whose qi signatures matched Nether Pavilion reports¡ªmercenaries, not family retainers. Lin Wanrong¡¯s chambers exuded quiet despair. Talismans of suppression papered the windows; the scent of faded peonies lingered like a ghost. She sat before an untouched meal, jade hairpin poised like a dagger above her wrist. ¡°Would you bleed for them, Jiejie?¡± Her head snapped up. ¡°Who¡ª?¡± Lin Hao lowered his hood. The Spider skittered across the floor, weaving a sound-dampening web around them. Wanrong¡¯s breath caught. ¡°Hao¡¯er? But your eyes...¡± ¡°See more than ever.¡± He gripped her trembling hands. ¡°Tell me how to stop this.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Tears traced the contours of her forced smile. ¡°The Li family controls the northern grain routes. Our elders hunger for¡ª¡± Explosions rocked the compound. Through the Fly¡¯s eyes, Lin Hao watched Zhao Gaolie¡¯s men clashing with Lin guards at the main gate. Smoke plumed skyward, carrying the acrid stench of alchemical fire. ¡°Seems my father-in-law grows impatient.¡± Lin Hao stood, Gravity Armor segments clicking into place. ¡°Come. We¡¯ll use the chaos.¡± Wanrong hesitated. ¡°The collateral...¡± ¡°Will be minimal.¡± The Spider spat silk lines anchoring them to ceiling beams. ¡°Hold tight.¡± As they swung through smoke-choked corridors, Lin Hao¡¯s mind raced. Zhao¡¯s premature attack reeked of desperation¡ªlikely triggered by intercepted intelligence about the Gravity Armor. The Fly¡¯s fragmented feed showed Zhao Rong directing combat from the shadows, his movements too fluid for an aging steward. They breached the outer wall as dawn tinged the horizon. Wanrong¡¯s grip tightened around his neck. ¡°Where now?¡± ¡°Where all broken toys go.¡± Lin Hao adjusted their trajectory toward the skeletal spires of Tianyan Academy. ¡°We¡¯ll remake the game.¡± Behind them, the Lin compound burned¡ªa beacon declaring war between shadows. Ahead, trial gongs boomed their relentless countdown.
The Source of Fury The air in the smithy hung thick with the acrid scent of molten metal and unresolved tension. Lin Hao¡¯s knuckles whitened around the hilt of the Dragonbane Sword as dark energy coiled around his scaled forearm. The engraved copper dowry chests¡ªsymbols of Lin Wanrong¡¯s impending imprisonment¡ªglinted mockingly in the forge light. ¡°Another political marriage¡­¡± The words slithered through clenched teeth as his draconic transformation completed, obsidian scales rippling across his neck. Crash! The first chest exploded under the rusted blade, its intricate phoenix carvings shearing like paper. The Wolf Spider skittered backward as splinters ricocheted off its armored carapace. ¡°You lunatic!¡± The dwarf smith roared, hefting a warhammer glowing with containment runes. ¡°Those are Lin family commissions!¡± Lin Hao¡¯s milky eyes glowed sulfur-yellow in the gloom. The Kung Fu Fly intercepted the descending hammer mid-swing, metallic legs screeching against enchanted steel. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± The dwarf staggered back, beard quivering as he registered the insect¡¯s unnatural strength. ¡°That¡¯s no ordinary familiar.¡± Chaos stilled when the last chest crumpled into scrap. Lin Hao¡¯s scaled features smoothed into human semblance, though dark energy still smoked from his pores. ¡°Compensation.¡± He slapped the Myriad Gold Card against the anvil, its transaction chime slicing through tension. ¡°One million taels covers damages and silence.¡± The dwarf gaped at the flashing sum. ¡°You¡¯re not just some random mercenary.¡± His beady eyes narrowed. ¡°That Lin girl¡ªyou know her?¡± ¡°Irrelevant.¡± Lin Hao sheathed the Dragonbane Sword, its hunger temporarily sated. ¡°Three days. Gravity armor. Keep the surplus for your discretion.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª North District¡¯s opulent mansions loomed like sleeping dragons as Lin Hao approached the Lin ancestral compound. Twin guard towers framed a gate carved with the family crest¡ªa serpent devouring its tail. The Kung Fu Fly¡¯s compound vision revealed energy barriers humming beneath stone tiles, their frequency matching the containment talismans in Wanrong¡¯s chambers. ¡°Halt!¡± The guards crossed halberds, their polished blades reflecting Lin Hao¡¯s unseeing gaze. ¡°State your business!¡± A ghost of a smile touched his lips. ¡°Ma Liu. Chen Hu. Has the scent of the armory¡¯s leather polish faded from your armor?¡± The guards stiffened. ¡°Young Master¡­Hao?¡± Chen Hu¡¯s grip faltered on his weapon. ¡°But your eyes¡ªthe scales¡ª¡± ¡°See more clearly than ever.¡± Lin Hao extended a hand, dark energy coiling around his fingertips. ¡°I¡¯ve come to witness the sacrificial altar your elders built.¡± Ma Liu stepped forward, voice low. ¡°The wedding procession arrives at moonrise. If you¡¯re here to stop it¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to burn it.¡± The guards exchanged glances. Years of conditioning warred with childhood loyalties until Chen Hu slammed his halberd butt against the gate mechanism. Ancient gears groaned as the serpent¡¯s jaws parted. ¡°The east corridor¡¯s sensors failed this morning,¡± Ma Liu muttered, staring resolutely ahead. ¡°A rat infestation in the control room.¡± Lin Hao nodded once, the Wolf Spider already scuttling ahead to disable surveillance arrays. As he passed through the archway, the Fly¡¯s enhanced hearing caught Ma Liu¡¯s whispered warning to his comrade: ¡°The Patriarch hosts Elder Li in the Hall of Ancestral Smoke. They¡¯ve mobilized the Shadow Blades.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª Lin Wanrong¡¯s chambers reeked of extinguished hope. The Kung Fu Fly hovered over a shattered jade hairpin¡ªits edge still sharp enough to draw blood. Through its vision, Lin Hao saw the ghostly afterimage of his sister-figure pressing the weapon to her throat moments before their interrupted reunion. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have returned.¡± He turned to find Wanrong framed in moonlight, her wedding silks already stained with soot from the burning dowry carts. ¡°The Li family employs soul-trackers. They¡¯ll¡ª¡± ¡°They¡¯ll find ashes.¡± Lin Hao tossed her a gravity bracer from his storage pouch. ¡°Strap this on. It¡¯ll counteract the suppression field.¡± As she fastened the device, the Wolf Spider completed its sabotage of the chamber¡¯s energy grid. Distant alarms began wailing. ¡°The east gate.¡± Lin Hao pressed a control stud on his own armor, feeling the gravity multiplier click to x3. ¡°Ma Liu¡¯s arranged transport.¡± Wanrong hesitated. ¡°What about you?¡± His scaled hand closed around the Dragonbane Sword. ¡°I have a wedding gift to deliver.¡± The compound erupted into chaos as they separated¡ªWanrong darting through service tunnels, Lin Hao ascending to the ancestral hall where the scent of sandalwood incense couldn¡¯t mask the rot of corruption. Through the Fly¡¯s eyes, he watched Elder Li leering at Wanrong¡¯s portrait while the Lin Patriarch recited marriage vows. The Shadow Blades stationed around the room never saw the Wolf Spider¡¯s venomous silk descending from the rafters. ¡°Apologies for the interruption.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s enhanced muscles strained against x5 gravity as he kicked open the jade doors. Dark energy swirled around him like a living storm. ¡°This union,¡± he declared, Dragonbane Sword humming with pent-up fury, ¡°lacks proper entertainment.¡± The first Shadow Blade died mid-lunge, his own dagger embedded in his throat by the Kung Fu Fly. As chaos erupted, Lin Hao¡¯s mind split into tactical fragments¡ªdirecting the Spider¡¯s webs, monitoring Wanrong¡¯s escape progress, channeling the sword¡¯s insatiable hunger. When the last suppressor talisman burned, the gravity armor¡¯s release sent him rocketing toward Elder Li. The Dragonbane Sword tasted sweet as it pierced corrupt flesh, its dark energy devouring the old man¡¯s scream. ¡°Remember this day,¡± Lin Hao whispered to the trembling Patriarch as the hall burned around them. ¡°Every forced union. Every broken soul.¡± He yanked the sword free. ¡°They¡¯ll all return as flames.¡± The Fly¡¯s final image before smoke obscured vision: Wanrong¡¯s transport vanishing into the smuggler¡¯s tunnel, Ma Liu saluting as the gate sealed behind her, the distant tolling of Tianyan Academy¡¯s bells heralding a storm¡¯s approach. Chapter 19: Remember My Surname The Lin family gates loomed like the jaws of a beast, their carved serpent crest mocking Lin Hao with every step. Memories flooded back¡ªsix months ago, he¡¯d crossed this threshold as a blind sacrifice draped in humiliation¡¯s red silks. Now, the scent of gardenias from the east courtyard mingled with the metallic tang of his simmering rage. ¡°Halt!¡± Wu Zhixing¡¯s nasal voice cut through the courtyard¡¯s tension. The obese administrator waddled into view, jowls quivering with manufactured authority. The Kung Fu Fly¡¯s compound vision parsed his greasy pores and the faint bloodstains beneath his manicured nails¡ªevidence of recent ¡°entertainments.¡± ¡°Trash bridegroom returns?¡± Wu sneered, blocking the path. ¡°Did the Zhao family tire of their blind pet?¡± Lin Hao¡¯s nostrils flared. This man reeked of camphor oil and decayed morality¡ªa stench unchanged since childhood days when Wu had ¡°inspected¡± the orphanage¡¯s bathing quarters. ¡°Step aside.¡± Wu¡¯s piggish eyes narrowed. ¡°You forfeited the Lin name when you crawled into Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s bed. This is no longer¡ª¡± Crack! The first slap snapped Wu¡¯s head sideways, teeth clacking against his gold-capped molars. Before the administrator could scream, two more strikes cratered his cheeks, the sound echoing through the courtyard like festival firecrackers. ¡°Remember,¡± Lin Hao said calmly, flexing scaled knuckles, ¡°my surname is Lin.¡± Guards Ma Liu and Chen Hu bit back grins as Wu staggered. The Wolf Spider¡¯s venomous silk already coiled around the administrator¡¯s ankles¡ªinvisible restraints that would leave him bedridden for weeks. ¡ª¡ª¡ª The ancestral hall¡¯s sandalwood incense failed to mask the rot beneath. Lin Hao¡¯s enhanced hearing parsed whispered negotiations from behind a jade partition: ¡°...thirty percent of northern grain routes...¡± ¡°...my Wanrong remains pure, Elder Li...¡± The Kung Fu Fly darted through a ventilation slit, projecting images into Lin Hao¡¯s mind¡ªPatriarch Lin bowing to a skeletal figure draped in funeral silks. Lin Wanrong knelt nearby, her jade hairpin¡¯s tip pressed discreetly against her jugular. ¡°Apologies for interrupting.¡± Lin Hao shouldered through the partition, dragon scales rippling across his neck. The Gravity Armor¡¯s x3 weight multiplier crushed tiles beneath his boots. Elder Li¡¯s milky eyes narrowed. ¡°The defective seedling dares sprout?¡± ¡°Defective?¡± Lin Hao¡¯s smile revealed elongated canines. ¡°This seedling¡¯s roots run deep.¡± The Wolf Spider dropped from rafters, venom sacs pulsing. Before the Shadow Blades could draw weapons, paralysis threads cocooned their limbs. Lin Wanrong¡¯s gasp lodged in her throat as Lin Hao¡¯s scaled hand closed around Elder Li¡¯s parchment-thin wrist. ¡°Release her betrothal,¡± he growled, ¡°or watch your dynasty crumble tonight.¡± The Patriarch surged forward, qi flaring. ¡°You overstep, whelp!¡± A blur of metallic wings intercepted him¡ªthe Kung Fu Fly pinning the Patriarch¡¯s ceremonial sword against marble. Lin Hao didn¡¯t glance back. His focus remained on the trembling elder whose pulse fluttered like a caged sparrow. ¡°The Li family¡¯s granaries burn as we speak,¡± Lin Hao lied smoothly. ¡°Shall I extinguish the flames... or fan them?¡± Elder Li¡¯s resolve crumbled faster than desiccated bones. ¡°The contract... nullified!¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Dawn found Lin Hao and Wanrong atop the Drunken Pavilion, its curved eaves dripping with last night¡¯s rain. The city below smoldered in metaphorical ashes¡ªno true fires lit, but rumors already spiraled about Li family ¡°misfortunes.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve changed,¡± Wanrong murmured, tracing the obsidian scales along his forearm. ¡°Become... dangerous.¡± Lin Hao watched the Fly circle patrols diverting search parties. ¡°Danger defends what sweetness cannot.¡± She laughed¡ªa sound he hadn¡¯t heard since childhood winters spent huddling for warmth. ¡°What now, little brother?¡± ¡°Now,¡± he said, tossing a gravity bracer into the canal below, ¡°we disappear.¡± The Wolf Spider spun a silken bridge across rooftops as Lin Hao shouldered a packed travel trunk. Inside¡ªforged lineage scrolls, alchemical reagents, and every blackmail document Wu Zhixing had hidden beneath his brocade bed. ¡°Tianyan Academy¡¯s trials begin tomorrow,¡± Wanrong noted, adjusting her servant¡¯s disguise. ¡°Then we¡¯ll enter as shadows,¡± Lin Hao replied, the Dragonbane Sword humming at his hip. ¡°And leave as storms.¡± Behind them, the Lin compound¡¯s bells tolled false alarms. Ahead, the academy¡¯s obsidian gates yawned wide¡ªa maw ready to test forged steel against ancient magic.
The Ant-Man Wu Zhixing¡¯s bloated face paled as he stared at the chipped blade. The Kung Fu Fly perched on Lin Hao¡¯s shoulder, its metallic wings glinting with lethal promise. Guards Ma Liu and Chen Hu exchanged awed glances¡ªtheir childhood friend now commanded forces beyond mortal comprehension. Lin Hao strode deeper into the compound, ancestral halls looming like judgmental specters. Servants¡¯ whispers trailed him like poisoned darts: ¡°The blind bridegroom returns...¡± ¡°How does the Zhao family tolerate such trash?¡± A cold smile curved Lin Hao¡¯s lips. His thumb brushed a black ant crawling across weathered stone. Ding. The system¡¯s chime resonated through his consciousness. [Host has captured an ant. Designate as pet?] Yes. [Name your new companion.] ¡°Ant-Man.¡± [Designation confirmed. Commencing D-tier evolution with advanced enhancement.] Lin Hao¡¯s Myriad Gold Card flickered as 1.01 million taels vanished. The ant in his palm underwent metamorphosis¡ªexoskeleton hardening to obsidian steel, mandibles elongating into serrated blades. Its antennae pulsed with psionic energy. Ant-Man Code: 003 Master: Lin Hao Combat Power: 2000 Lifespan: 300 days Skill: Ant Swarm Summoning (Level 1) ¡°Entertain them,¡± Lin Hao murmured. The enhanced ant¡¯s antennae vibrated, emitting subsonic waves that rippled through the earth. Beneath the servants¡¯ mocking feet, tunnels erupted with crimson fire ants¡ªtheir venomous jaws snapping at exposed ankles. ¡°Aiyo! Something¡¯s biting me!¡± A skeletal servant leaped like a marionette, slapping at his robes. Others followed suit, their jeers transforming into panicked shrieks as the swarm ascended. Lin Hao¡¯s milky eyes tracked the chaos through the Kung Fu Fly¡¯s panoramic vision¡ªa dark tide of insects boiling across polished stone. The compound¡¯s elite guards arrived in clattering armor. Captain Hong, a grizzled warrior with flame-engraved pauldrons, bellowed orders: ¡°Clear this filth before the Patriarch¡¯s guests witness this disgrace!¡± His greatsword ignited with qi-fed flames. The blade swept horizontally, unleashing a crescent of fire that vaporized thousands of ants. The stench of charred chitin filled the air. Lin Hao leaned against a moon gate, Wolf Spider crouched protectively at his heels. Ant-Man¡¯s telemetric data streamed into his mind¡ªcolony losses at 12%, reinforcements en route from western granaries. ¡°Focus on the loud ones,¡± he instructed silently. The swarm diverged, targeting particularly vocal servants. A plump laundress who¡¯d mocked Lin Hao¡¯s blindness found fire ants swarming her jade hairpins. A stable boy who¡¯d imitated his stumbling gait screamed as insects invaded his boots. Captain Hong¡¯s face purpled with rage. ¡°You!¡± He pointed his smoldering blade at Lin Hao. ¡°This is your doing!¡± The Kung Fu Fly darted forward, metallic wings shearing through the sword¡¯s fiery aura. Captain Hong staggered back, armor dented where the insect had struck like a cannonball. ¡°Nature¡¯s whims, Captain.¡± Lin Hao stroked Ant-Man¡¯s armored thorax. ¡°Perhaps your halls needed cleansing.¡± From the ancestral hall¡¯s shadowed eaves, Patriarch Lin observed the chaos through slitted eyes. His fingers tightened around a jade communication talisman. ¡°Summon the Venomous Fang Battalion,¡± he whispered to an attendant. ¡°And prepare the Soul Shackles.¡± Unseen by all, Ant-Man¡¯s swarm had already infiltrated the armory. Soldier ants gnawed through bowstrings while others contaminated rice stores with paralytic pheromones. Lin Hao turned toward the guest pavilion, where Lin Wanrong¡¯s qi signature flickered like a caged songbird. The Wolf Spider scuttled ahead, spinning tripwires of adhesive silk across patrol routes. ¡°Let¡¯s reunite family,¡± he murmured, Ant-Man¡¯s legion parting before him like a living carpet. In the central courtyard, servants now groveled instead of jeering. Their swollen faces and trembling limbs bore witness to Lin Hao¡¯s unspoken rule¡ªmockery answered not with words, but with the inexorable logic of the hive. As dusk fell, the compound¡¯s lanterns illuminated a surreal scene: a blind man walking untouched through insectile tempest, his path cleared by nature¡¯s most underestimated soldiers. Captain Hong¡¯s subsequent investigation would find no evidence of tampering¡ªonly unfortunate coincidence. But in servants¡¯ quarters and guard halls, a new truth took root: the Lin family¡¯s discarded son now commanded legions that respected neither steel nor flame. Chapter 20: Defiance The courtyard trembled as Captain Hong¡¯s flaming greatsword carved a scorching arc through the ant swarm. Charred insect husks rained like black snow. Lin Hao¡¯s enhanced hearing parsed the captain¡¯s qi fluctuations¡ªa Level 5 Warrior, beyond current pet capabilities. Retreat. Ant-Man¡¯s antennae pulsed. The crimson tide fractured into fractal patterns, dispersing across marble tiles and climbing courtyard walls. Captain Hong¡¯s nostrils flared as his next fiery sweep met only empty air. ¡°Since when do insects strategize?¡± he growled, blade tip smoking. Lin Hao turned toward the central pavilion, Wolf Spider scuttling ahead to map patrol routes. His milky eyes narrowed¡ªthree figures approached through the moon gate. Patriarch Lin Hongkang¡¯s iron-shod boots struck stone like gavel blows. To his left waddled Li Qingshou, the bald magnate¡¯s piggish eyes devouring Lin Wanrong¡¯s silhouette. ¡°Why does trash return to its heap?¡± The Patriarch¡¯s voice carried winter¡¯s bite. Lin Hao¡¯s scaled knuckles whitened. ¡°Collecting forgotten belongings.¡± ¡°Your pitiful possessions were incinerated the day you sold our bloodline to the Zhaos.¡± Ant-Man¡¯s swarm stirred beneath the patriarch¡¯s boots. Lin Wanrong¡¯s jade hairpin pressed discreetly against her throat¡ªa silent plea for restraint. Li Qingshou chuckled, jowls quivering. ¡°So this is the blind worm who bedded Zhao Ling¡¯er? Tell me, boy¡ªdoes she guide your limp¡ª¡± ¡°I understand your envy.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s smile glinted like a honed dagger. ¡°Like watching a rose bloom in a cesspool, yes?¡± The magnate¡¯s face purpled. ¡°You dare¡ª!¡± ¡°Apologize!¡± Patriarch Lin¡¯s command cracked like thunder. ¡°Or I¡¯ll strip your Lin surname here and now!¡± Lin Hao¡¯s draconic scales rippled across his neck. ¡°My name was forged in your ancestral hall¡¯s hypocrisy. Try taking it.¡± The Kung Fu Fly hovered protectively as qi pressure thickened. Lin Wanrong stepped between them, her perfume masking the Wolf Spider¡¯s venom glands priming nearby. ¡°Please, Hao¡¯er.¡± Her whisper carried childhood memories¡ªshared rice bowls, smuggled scrolls. ¡°Your old room remains untouched. Let¡¯s retrieve what you need.¡± Li Qingshou seized her wrist, rancid breath hot against her ear. ¡°After our vows tonight, you¡¯ll learn proper obedience.¡± Ant-Man¡¯s swarm surged. A thousand mandibles latched onto the magnate¡¯s silk slippers. His scream pierced the courtyard as venomous fire ants scaled his corpulent frame. ¡°Guards!¡± The Patriarch¡¯s blade cleared its sheath. ¡°Subdue this traitor!¡± The Wolf Spider¡¯s adhesive silk netted the first three warriors. Lin Hao stepped through the chaos, Ant-Man¡¯s legion parting before him. His scaled palm closed around the Patriarch¡¯s sword wrist, dark energy corroding the ceremonial blade. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°You sold our sister for grain contracts.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s whisper carried the weight of tectonic plates shifting. ¡°Now watch insects feast on your harvest.¡± Through the Fly¡¯s eyes, he saw distant granary towers swarming with black specks¡ªAnt-Man¡¯s reinforcements devouring winter reserves. Li Qingshou¡¯s wails crescendoed as fire ants breached his nostril. ¡°This isn¡¯t over, whelp.¡± The Patriarch¡¯s qi flared, melting scales off Lin Hao¡¯s grip. ¡°No.¡± Lin Hao released him, Wolf Spider already spinning escape routes. ¡°It¡¯s just beginning.¡± As dusk bled into night, the compound¡¯s chaos birthed new legends¡ªof a blind storm clad in scales and shadows, whose wrath arrived not with fanfare, but in the ceaseless whisper of a million chitinous feet.
The Dragon¡¯s Defiance Li Qingshou¡¯s porcine face quivered with malicious glee. ¡°Your family discipline falters, Brother Lin. Even blind weeds dare challenge the oak.¡± Patriarch Lin Hongkang¡¯s qi erupted¡ªa crushing mountain of invisible force slamming Lin Hao to his knees. Marble cracked beneath his boots as Level 6 Warrior pressure liquefied the air. Lin Hao¡¯s bones groaned like storm-tossed timbers. Dragonbane Sword¡­ now! Dark energy erupted from the sheathed blade in Lin Hao¡¯s satchel. Obsidian scales crawled across his arms, fangs elongating as bestial roars tore from his throat. The Patriarch staggered back¡ªhis aura shattered like glass against draconic fury. ¡°Body Tempering Art?!¡± The Patriarch¡¯s eyes widened as Lin Hao rose, scaled fists cratering the courtyard tiles. Level 3 Warrior qi radiated from the transformed youth, yet something deeper pulsed beneath¡ªan ancient hunger that made Li Qingshou soil his silk trousers. Lin Wanrong¡¯s jasmine perfume cut through the tension as she seized Lin Hao¡¯s clawed hand. ¡°Come,¡± she murmured, fingers brushing the still-thrumming scales. ¡°Your childhood journals remain in the north annex.¡± The Patriarch¡¯s voice halted them. ¡°After retrieving your¡­ belongings,¡± he ground out, ¡°attend me in the scriptorium.¡± Li Qingshou¡¯s jowls flushed crimson. ¡°You let this mongrel parade with my bride?!¡± ¡°Patience, Brother Li.¡± The Patriarch¡¯s smile chilled the courtyard. ¡°Would you rather your wedding bed stink of burnt scales?¡± As Lin Wanrong guided her brother through moonlit corridors, the Dragonbane¡¯s whispers faded. Lin Hao¡¯s scales retracted, leaving tattered robes and the metallic tang of spent power. ¡°You reek of bloodshed,¡± Lin Wanrong observed, pausing beneath a wisteria arbor. ¡°Wolf Spider venom in the granaries,¡± Lin Hao admitted. ¡°Li¡¯s winter stocks now host a thriving ant colony.¡± Her laughter sparkled like shattered ice. ¡°You always did overprepare.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª The scriptorium¡¯s incense couldn¡¯t mask the Patriarch¡¯s agitation. Scrolls detailing Lin Hao¡¯s ¡°blindness¡± since birth lay scattered¡ªdecades of meticulously falsified records. ¡°Who trained you?¡± The Patriarch¡¯s blade hovered over Lin Hao¡¯s exposed throat. ¡°The Zhao¡¯s hidden masters? Or some demonic sect?¡± Lin Hao smiled, fangs glinting. ¡°A teacher who values loyalty over profit.¡± The Patriarch¡¯s blade trembled. Through the window, distant granary fires painted the night orange. Ant-Man¡¯s swarm had breached the Li family¡¯s vaults hours prior. ¡°Name your price,¡± the Patriarch rasped. ¡°Silence regarding Wanrong¡¯s true parentage? Access to the ancestral tombs?¡± Lin Hao¡¯s laughter shook dust from the rafters. ¡°I want your nightmares.¡± He leaned close, scales rippling. ¡°Every time you close your eyes, see my jaws closing on Li Qingshou¡¯s throat. Hear his screams as my pets devour his manhood.¡± The Patriarch recoiled. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare disrupt the alliance!¡± ¡°Alliance?¡± Lin Hao¡¯s claw traced the Lin family crest on the floor. ¡°By dawn, Li¡¯s warehouses will be crawling with venomous spiders. His men desert, his mistresses flee¡­ unless Wanrong¡¯s betrothal dissolves.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª In the bridal suite, Lin Wanrong stared at the ceremonial dagger. Ant-Man scuttled across her palm, antennae brushing the blade¡¯s edge. ¡°He¡¯s grown reckless,¡± she murmured. The ant¡¯s mandibles clacked¡ªa coded laugh. On the dressing table, the Kung Fu Fly polished its wings with Li Qingshou¡¯s stolen signet ring. When the door crashed open, Li Qingshou found no trembling bride¡ªonly a scaled silhouette backlit by burning granaries. ¡°Remember,¡± Lin Hao growled, Dragonbane Sword singing free, ¡°roses have thorns.¡± The night¡¯s first scream went unheard beneath the Patriarch¡¯s orders to douse the fires. By sunrise, Lin Hao¡¯s legend grew¡ªa dragon who¡¯d scorched tradition itself to protect what gardens remained. Chapter 21: Departure The northern courtyard of the Lin estate buzzed with youthful vigor. Unmarried clansmen sparred against ironwood pillars, fists pounding like war drums. Lin Hao''s scaled fingertips traced the weathered gateframe as Lin Wanrong led him through memories both bitter and sweet. "Your old room remains untouched," she murmured, though her jade hairpin trembled betrayingly. "I didn''t come for dusty scrolls." Lin Hao halted abruptly, milky eyes fixed on her qi signature¡ªa flickering candle amidst gale winds. "I came for you." Lin Wanrong''s laughter held winter''s brittleness. "Orphans don''t choose their cages, Hao''er. The Patriarch''s charity demands repayment in flesh." Nearby, a gaggle of adolescent disciples paused their drills. "Brother Hao''s back!" squealed a freckled boy, triggering a wave of whispers. "Traitor..." hissed a hawk-nosed youth, knuckles whitening around his practice sword. The Kung Fu Fly alighted on Lin Hao''s shoulder, compound eyes recording every sneer. Wolf Spider venom glands pulsed rhythmically beneath his sleeve¡ªthree drops could paralyze the entire courtyard. Lin Wanrong''s hand found his, cool against the dragon scales still rippling beneath his skin. "Don''t." Memories flooded Lin Hao¡ªmonsoon nights spent regaling these same youths with tales of celestial swordsmen, their awed faces lit by stolen lanterns. Now their contempt stung sharper than any blade. "Clan Competition approaches!" bellowed Instructor Lin Xiong, his scarred bulk parting the crowd. "Lazy whelps think glory grows on trees? Triple your strikes!" As wooden dummies splintered under renewed assault, Lin Hao''s enhanced hearing parsed the subtext: Three slots for Tianyan Academy. Three chances to escape this gilded prison. Lin Wanrong''s pulse quickened beneath his touch. "You could compete," she ventured. "The Patriarch might..." "Beg for scraps like a trained hound?" Lin Hao''s bark of laughter sent sparrows fleeing. Draconic energy surged as he faced the training grounds. "Watch closely, children." His clawed fist struck the nearest ironwood pillar. Grain centuries in the making screamed as fissures spiderwebbed upward. The thirty-foot monolith collapsed in a thunderclap of splinters, revealing Ant-Man''s swarm devouring its core. Gasps rippled through frozen disciples. Instructor Xiong''s sword slid from nerveless fingers. "True power," Lin Hao whispered, scales retracting to reveal unblemished skin, "isn''t begged. It''s taken." Lin Wanrong''s tears fell hot on his wrist. "You''ll start a war." "Wars," he corrected, Wolf Spider spinning an escape thread from the shattered pillar, "require two willing sides." ¡ª¡ª¡ª This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Beneath the ancestral maple, Li Qingshou''s spies reported the courtyard''s destruction. The Patriarch''s teacup shattered against vermilion pillars. "Let him go," Lin Hongkang growled, watching through slitted eyes as his wayward son approached the main gates. "A rabid dog bites its master last." Lin Hao paused at the threshold, Ant-Man''s swarm mapping the compound''s layout into his consciousness¡ªarmories, granaries, bridal chambers. Every weakness laid bare. "One week," he murmured, too low for mortal ears. The Kung Fu Fly''s wings hummed affirmation. Lin Wanrong''s perfume lingered as night fell¡ªjasmine and steel. In the eastern quarter, Li Qingshou''s drunken snores faltered when Wolf Spider venom dripped into his wine jug. The moon witnessed silent exodus: scaled figure vanishing into mist, followed by the skittering of a million chitinous feet. Dawn would find the Lin estate''s walls crawling with symbols only Ant-Man could etch¡ªpromises written in venom and decay. Lin Hao''s laughter echoed through the bamboo forest, draconic and unbound. The game had changed. Let the pieces fall where they may.
Infiltration The Lin estate gates creaked shut behind Lin Hao. Guards Ma Liu and Chen Hu exchanged uneasy glances as their former charge strode into the twilight. ¡°Trouble with the Patriarch?¡± Chen Hu ventured, eyeing the frayed edges of Lin Hao¡¯s sleeves. ¡°And that bald swine Li Qingshou.¡± Lin Hao¡¯s smile held winter¡¯s edge. Ma Liu¡¯s throat bobbed. ¡°Yet you walk unscathed¡­¡± Lin Hao¡¯s scaled fingertips brushed the Kung Fu Fly perched on his shoulder¡ªits nano-thin wings humming a lethal frequency. ¡°Some battles leave no marks.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª The rented room stank of mildew and ambition. Lin Hao knelt on straw mats, draconic energy coiling through meridians like molten wire. Spirit particles swirled in visible vortices¡ªhis Ultimate Cultivation Talent devouring the atmosphere¡¯s essence. Crack. The sound of a spiritual dam bursting echoed in his bones. Lin Hao¡¯s eyes snapped open, pupils flashing serpentine slits. Level 2 Warrior energy thrummed beneath his skin, sharpening the world into hyperfocus¡ªants marching in the walls, Li Qingshou¡¯s wheeze three blocks east, the clink of spirit sun stones in a hidden vault. ¡°Evolution eludes me,¡± he mused, flexing claw-tipped fingers. ¡°But adaptation?¡± A fanged grin split his face. ¡°That I¡¯ll claim.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª Drunken Pavilion¡¯s golden lanterns bathed Lin Hao in false warmth. Ma Liu and Chen Hu stared slack-jawed at the feast¡ªcrisped phoenix tail, dragon well tea steaming in jade cups. ¡°The Spirit Sun Stone mine,¡± Lin Hao prompted, crunching a sparrow skull between molars. ¡°Details.¡± Chen Hu¡¯s chopsticks trembled. ¡°Li¡¯s men found it digging foundations for a pleasure villa. Patriarch Lin bargained protection for half the yield¡­ and Mistress Wanrong.¡± A teacup shattered. Kung Fu Fly¡¯s wings stilled. ¡°Payment¡¯s due,¡± Lin Hao whispered, scales rippling beneath his robes. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Li Mansion¡¯s rear wall loomed like a tombstone. Lin Hao¡¯s cloak merged with shadows as Wolf Spider scaled the vermilion tiles, each leg secreting paralytic silk. Inside, a symphony of depravity¡ªLi Qingshou¡¯s grunts, a courtesan¡¯s falsetto cries, the cloying stench of aphrodisiac incense. ¡°Now.¡± Kung Fu Fly streaked through moonlit cracks, tungsten-reinforced legs glinting. A whisper-cut across Li¡¯s wattled neck. Wolf Spider lunged, fangs piercing buttock fat, neurotoxins freezing mid-thrust. Blood geysered across brocade sheets. The courtesan¡¯s scream brought guards crashing through doors¡ªtoo late. Kung Fu Fly hovered above the carnage, compound eyes recording every twitch of Li¡¯s death throes. ¡°Clean work,¡± Lin Hao approved, withdrawing into alley mist. Ant-Man¡¯s swarm already tunneling toward the mansion¡¯s foundations, seeking spirit stone caches. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Dawn found Lin Hao perched on a fire-watch tower, Li Mansion¡¯s chaos unfolding below. Panicked servants, bellowing captains, the reek of burnt ledgers as Ant-Man¡¯s colony devoured account scrolls. Wolf Spider skittered up his sleeve, abdomen swollen with stolen spirit stones. Lin Hao crushed one¡ªviolet energy seeped into his pores, melding with draconic essence. ¡°Half the mine¡¯s yield?¡± He laughed, scales erupting across his cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ll take it all.¡± In the distance, Lin Wanrong¡¯s jasmine perfume teased the wind¡ªa promise, a farewell. Lin Hao¡¯s claws flexed. The game board tilted. Let the pieces scatter. Chapter 22: The Li Familys Deception The cramped rental room reeked of ambition. Lin Hao¡¯s clawed fingers spun the golden spatial ring plucked from Li Qingshou¡¯s corpse. Crimson light spilled from ten iron chests now crowding the floor¡ªSpirit Sun Stones pulsed like captured stars. "Three thousand stones. Thirty million taels." Lin Hao¡¯s scaled palm crushed a gem, its energy merging with his draconic veins. "Enough to buy ten assassins¡­ or burn a dynasty." Kung Fu Fly¡¯s wings hummed approval. Wolf Spider skittered across the hoard, venom glands distended with stolen potency. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Lin Manor¡¯s ancestral hall thrummed with rage. Patriarch Lin Hongkang¡¯s fist obliterated a sandalwood table. "Li¡¯s dogs mined behind our backs?!" Four elders exchanged grim nods. Behind them, Lin Hao leaned against vermilion pillars, milky eyes tracking their qi fluctuations. "A friend shared¡­ interesting intelligence." His voice cut through the tension. "Li Qingshou¡¯s ring held three thousand Spirit Sun Stones. Mined, not bought." "Impossible!" The youngest elder protested. "Our scouts monitored the mines¡ª" "Your scouts sniffed decoy tunnels." Lin Hao¡¯s laughter dripped venom. "While Li¡¯s men hollowed the true vein. Even now, his heirs siphon the last dregs." Patriarch Lin¡¯s blade erupted in violet lightning. "Mobilize the guard! Leave no Li dog breathing at dawn!" ¡ª¡ª¡ª Moonlight bathed the caravan racing toward Li Mountain Villa. Lin Hao watched from a fire-watch tower, Ant-Man¡¯s swarm mapping the terrain into his consciousness. "Fools charge to empty mines," he mused. Kung Fu Fly circled above, tracking Lin Hongkang¡¯s furious advance. "While the true prize¡­" Wolf Spider¡¯s mandibles clicked. Below, Ant-Man¡¯s colony breached hidden vaults beneath the villa¡ªmountains of uncut Spirit Sun Stones awaiting refinement. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Lin Hao¡¯s spatial ring glowed as stolen riches vanished into its depths. "Let them fight over bones. We take the marrow." ¡ª¡ª¡ª Dawn painted Li Manor in blood hues. Lin guards dragged weeping servants through shattered gates. Patriarch Lin stared at the picked-clean mine shafts, teeth grinding. "Search every tunnel! Every grain of stone¡ª" "Gone, Patriarch." A captain knelt trembling. "Only¡­ these." He proffered a jade hairpin¡ªLin Wanrong¡¯s favorite, left deliberately in the central vault. Lin Hongkang¡¯s roar shook the valley. Far downstream, Lin Hao rinsed Li heirs¡¯ blood from his claws, the final stones secured. "Checkmate," he whispered. The river carried his laughter toward a waiting jasmine-scented horizon.
The Offering Dawn painted the Zhao estate in pale gold. Servants exhaled relief as Lin Hao strode through the gates, his scaled boots crunching gravel. The dining hall fell silent when he entered¡ªnoblemen paused mid-bite, their whispers weaving two tales: Li Qingshou''s bloody demise, and the Lin clan''s midnight raid on Spirit Sun mines. "Double portion," Lin Hao ordered, fangs glinting as he bit into roasted pheasant. Ant-Man crawled from his sleeve, transmitting real-time surveillance from the ancestral hall where Patriarchs Lin and Zhao conspired. ¡ª¡ª¡ª "Fifty million taels?!" Lin Hongkang''s teacup shattered. Zhao Tianlie hid a smirk behind his beard. "The boy''s appetite matches his talents." In the corridor outside, Zhao Rong intercepted Lin Hao. "The Patriarchs request your presence." "After dessert." Lin Hao licked honey-glazed fingers, Ant-Man''s feed revealing every plotted word. So the old vultures want to invest. ¡ª¡ª¡ª The ancestral hall reeked of sandalwood and desperation. Lin Hongkang clasped Lin Hao''s shoulders¡ªa viper''s embrace. "Your intelligence secured the mines. Name your reward." Lin Hao''s milky eyes narrowed. "Five million for travel expenses to Tianyan Academy." "Done!" The Patriarch''s relief lasted precisely one breath. "Five million spirit stones," Lin Hao corrected, claws extending. "Or fifty million taels. Whichever clears faster." Zhao Tianlie choked on his tea. Lin Hongkang''s jade pendant cracked under tightening fingers. "Consider it... an investment." Lin Hao leaned close, draconic energy rippling his robes. "Unless the Lin clan prefers its geniuses loyal to the Zhaos?" ¡ª¡ª¡ª Moonrise found Lin Hao counting spirit stones in his chambers. Kung Fu Fly hovered above the hoard, wings casting prismatic shadows. "Fools buy chains with gold," he mused, crushing a stone to absorb its fire. The Zhao-Lin alliance would crumble by autumn¡ªAnt-Man''s swarm already burrowed beneath both estates'' vaults. A jasmine-scented breeze carried Lin Wanrong''s laughter from the eastern wing. Lin Hao''s claws retracted. Let the Patriarchs scheme. Their kingdoms were sandcastles; his empire rose in the shadows. Chapter 23: The Fourth Companion Lin Hongkang¡¯s cheek twitched as he watched Lin Hao pocket the transfer jade. Fifty million taels¡ªgone in a breath. Beside him, Zhao Tianlie hid a smirk behind his beard. "Since my son-in-law journeys to Tianyan Academy," Zhao declared magnanimously, "the Zhao clan gifts him a mount befitting his station." Lin Hao¡¯s milky eyes sharpened. A mount? Or a test? ¡ª¡ª¡ª The estate¡¯s rear courtyard reeked of charred meat and caged fury. Behind iron bars, a Flame-Scaled Tiger paced¡ªmuscles rippling beneath crimson scales, tail lashing like a whip of living fire. "Magnificent," Lin Hongkang breathed, recognizing the beast from border wars. "But untamable. Even my men lost three battalions to its kind." Zhao Tianlie tossed Lin Hao a control talisman. "Try not to die." Lin Hao crushed the talisman to dust. "I¡¯ll ride it raw." The tiger¡¯s roar shook the courtyard as Lin Hao approached. Ant-Man transmitted thermal scans¡ªthe beast¡¯s core temperature spiking, claws extending to blackened blades. Perfect. Lin Hao¡¯s lips curved. Worth every tael. ¡ª¡ª¡ª "Upgrade Kung Fu Fly to B-rank." The command burned another million from his account. On his shoulder, the insectoid¡¯s wings shimmered with fractal patterns, absorbing moonlight into lethal edges. Thwip! Kung Fu Fly¡¯s wings blurred. Darkness-forged blades sheared through the cage lock. The tiger exploded from its prison in a storm of fire and claws. Lin Hongkang and Zhao Tianlie stumbled back, weapons drawn¡ªtoo slow. Lin Hao stood motionless as the beast lunged. At the final heartbeat, Wolf Spider¡¯s paralytic fangs sank into the tiger¡¯s hind leg. "Now." Kung Fu Fly dive-bombed the momentarily stunned predator, shadow-blades carving glowing scars across its flanks. The tiger retaliated with firebreath, but the fly¡¯s fractal wings deflected the flames into harmless spirals. "Enough." Lin Hao¡¯s clawed fist hammered the tiger¡¯s skull¡ªa draconic resonance pulsing through the blow. The beast collapsed, eyes rolling white. Ding. [Flame-Scaled Tiger registered as Companion 004.] [Evolution options unlocked: Fire Manipulation (A-rank), Lava Armor (S-rank).] This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡ª¡ª¡ª Zhao Tianlie¡¯s control talisman crumbled to ash in his fist. "He¡­ subdued it barehanded?" Lin Hongkang¡¯s laughter held grudging awe. "Your ¡®mount¡¯ just became his warhound." Lin Hao straddled the groggy tiger, claws buried in its mane. "Rise." The beast obeyed¡ªnot from fear, but primal recognition of the draconic aura thrumming in its conqueror¡¯s veins. "To Tianyan," Lin Hao murmured, "we ride through fire." The tiger¡¯s answering roar shook stars from the sky. In the shadows, Kung Fu Fly¡¯s fractal wings hummed a killing song. The game had new rules¡ªand Lin Hao dealt them.
Second Windfall Lin Hongkang¡¯s cheek twitched as he watched the Flame-Scaled Tiger nuzzle Lin Hao¡¯s boot. The beast¡¯s crimson scales shimmered with unnatural vitality¡ªa far cry from the feral creature that had shredded three Zhao guards last month. "Your generosity humbles me, Father-in-Law." Lin Hao stroked the tiger¡¯s mane, its purr vibrating the courtyard tiles. Zhao Tianlie forced a smile. The beast he¡¯d planned to parade through noble districts now knelt like a lapdog. One thousand spirit stones down a blind man¡¯s throat. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Moonlight silvered the deserted training yard. Lin Hao sat cross-legged beside his newest companion, fingers tracing the tiger¡¯s reforged claws. "System¡ªshow status." [Companion 004: Flame-Scaled Tiger] Rank: B (Monarch Tier) Combat Rating: 35,000 Skills: Inferno Breath, Lava Armor The numbers glowed brighter than the tiger¡¯s eyes. Worth every stolen tael. A chime interrupted his appraisal. [Fourth Companion Bonded!] [Reward: Celestial-Class Skill Scroll¡ªNine Sigil Sword Art] Knowledge flooded Lin Hao¡¯s mind¡ªnine elemental runes swirling around a crystalline blade. His hand moved of its own accord, tracing fire and lightning sigils in the air. "Test drive." The Broken Dragon Sword materialized in his grip, its rusted edge humming with latent power. Nine phantom blades materialized¡ªearth, wind, water¡ªeach singing a different element¡¯s hymn. Crash! The training dummy exploded in a kaleidoscope of elements. Stone melted. Air crackled. What remained of the dummy¡¯s base glowed white-hot. "Overkill," Lin Hao chuckled, sheathing the blade. Ant-Man scuttled from his sleeve to inspect the carnage. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Dawn found Lin Hao sprawled across Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s jasmine-scented bed. His fingers brushed the hidden compartment beneath her pillow¡ªa familiar leather tome slid into his palm. "Basic Arcana for Dummies" He snorted. The book fell open to a dog-eared page about fireball incantations. A slip of rice paper fluttered out¡ªneedle-prick characters formed a threat: "Touch my things again, thief, and I¡¯ll feed your eyes to crows." Lin Hao¡¯s laugh startled the tiger napping by the door. He tucked the note into his sash¡ªa trophy. "Master." Zhao Rong¡¯s voice carried through the paper screen. "The gravity armor you commissioned is ready." "Finally." Lin Hao rolled off the bed, the tiger rising with a stretch that cracked its lava-plated joints. "Time to collect my toys." ¡ª¡ª¡ª The smithy reeked of dragon-scale alloys and sweat. A dwarf with arms like knotted oak presented the armor¡ªa sleek obsidian carapace humming with gravitational runes. "Triple density setting for cultivation," the smith grunted. "Quadruple for combat. Don¡¯t blame me if it crushes your bones." Lin Hao slipped the chestplate on. The world compressed¡ªair became syrup, light bent under invisible weight. Perfect. His draconic veins flared, countering the pressure. The tiger growled in approval. "Payment." The dwarf¡¯s eyes bulged as Lin Hao tossed him a jade token stamped with the imperial treasury seal. "This¡­ this is a million taels!" "Keep the change." Lin Hao adjusted his pauldron. "I¡¯ll need poison-resistant greaves next month." ¡ª¡ª¡ª The city gates loomed at noon. Lin Hao rode through on his tiger, peasants scattering like leaves. Behind him, Kung Fu Fly¡¯s shadow-blades carved a message into the road: The Blind Dragon rides. Somewhere ahead, Zhao Ling¡¯er¡¯s carriage rolled toward Tianyan Academy. Somewhere behind, two patriarchs plotted over spiced wine¡ªunaware their golden goose carried enough firepower to burn kingdoms. Lin Hao smiled. The road to godhood smelled of sulfur and jasmine.
Chapter 24: Gravity Silver Lin Hao tossed Zhao Linger¡¯s warning note into a chamber pot. The Basic Arcana Primer lay open on her bed, pages fluttering as wind sigils swirled around his fingers. "Stormrend," he murmured. A miniature tornado materialized above his palm, shredding a silk pillow into snow. Across the room, Kung Fu Fly dodged flying feathers, wings humming approval. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Dawn painted the smithy¡¯s soot-stained walls when Lin Hao arrived. The dwarf smith froze mid-hammer, eyes widening at the Flame-Scaled Tiger parked outside. "Your¡­ master¡¯s armor." He thrust forward a mesh of silver threads so fine they seemed liquid. "Twenty gravity sigils. Don¡¯t blame me when it snaps your spine." Lin Hao shrugged on the Gravity Silver. Coolness kissed his skin¡ªthen vanished as he activated five sigils. Crunch. His knees buckled under phantom mountains. The dwarf snorted. "Fivefold¡¯s child¡¯s play. Try ten." Lin Hao grinned. Ten sigils flared. Boom. He faceplanted into anvil soot. The dwarf¡¯s laughter shook dangling tongs. "Dead man walking!" "Worth it." Lin Hao wheezed, crawling upright. Threefold gravity settled over him like a lover¡¯s embrace. ¡ª¡ª¡ª The streets erupted as he rode out. Peasants fled screaming; merchants overturned spice carts. Kung Fu Fly circled overhead, wings etching Blind Dragon in shadow-runes on every shop awning. "Look! The cripple rides a demon!" "Zhao Clan¡¯s leper son-in-law!" Lin Hao leaned low over the tiger¡¯s neck. "Burn them." The beast obliged. Fiery breath licked a fruit stand, roasting melons to ash. Screams turned to whimpers. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "Better." ¡ª¡ª¡ª Beyond the city gates, autumn winds carried Zhao Linger¡¯s jasmine scent. Lin Hao sniffed the air. Three days ahead. He activated five more gravity sigils. Bones creaked. Muscles screamed. The tiger¡¯s pace slowed to a crawl. "Master?" Ant-Man crawled from his collar. "Training," Lin Hao gritted. Blood vessels burst in his eyes, turning milky irises crimson. "Pain is power." Kung Fu Fly landed on his shoulder, wings glowing with stored moonlight. Three hundred miles to Tianyan Academy. Three hundred miles to become a god¡ªor a corpse. The road drank his sweat. The tiger drank his doubts. Somewhere ahead, a storm waited. Lin Hao smiled. Storms bowed to dragons.
The Mountain of Beasts The Flame-Scaled Tiger¡¯s claws shredded centuries-old leaves as Lin Hao crossed into the primordial forest. Moonlight died at the canopy¡¯s edge, replaced by the phosphorescent glow of venomous fungi. "Home sweet hell," Lin Hao murmured, patting the tiger¡¯s neck. Kung Fu Fly scouted ahead, mapping thermal signatures¡ªthree wolves stalking a wounded elk, a serpent coiled around a lightning-struck oak. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Firelight carved a fragile sanctuary in the dark. Lin Hao rotated a Spineback Rabbit skewered on the Broken Dragon Sword. Dripping fat hissed into flames. "Still no taste for cooked meat?" He tossed a charred scrap to Ant-Man. The insectoid ignored it, mandibles clicking as it disassembled a pebble. A twig snapped. Lin Hao froze. The tiger¡¯s hackles rose. Twang. The poisoned arrow shattered against his Gravity Silver chestplate before Kung Fu Fly¡¯s wings blurred into motion. "Show yourselves!" Lin Hao barked. Two more arrows streaked from the blackness¡ªdecapitated mid-flight by the fly¡¯s shadow-blades. "Fire Sigil: Scorch!" His palm erupted in crimson light. The fireball obliterated a gnarled cedar, exposing two scrambling figures. "Mercy, my lord!" The scarred bandit flung down his crossbow. His accomplice¡ªrat-faced and trembling¡ªdropped a black-draped cage. "We meant no harm!" Lin Hao kicked the cage. The cloth slipped, revealing a creature with scales like liquid moonlight and eyes like dying stars. "A Moonscale Lynx cub?" His breath caught. "You trapped a spirit beast?" The scarred man lunged. A smoke bomb exploded, flooding the clearing with acrid fog. "Kill." The Flame-Scaled Tiger lunged, jaws agape in a thunderous roar. Bone crunched. Blood misted the haze. When the smoke cleared, the rat-faced bandit lay bisected. His leader dangled from Kung Fu Fly¡¯s web¡ªskin sloughing off in necrotic chunks. "Talk," Lin Hao said, pressing the Broken Dragon Sword to the dying man¡¯s throat. "Who sent you?" "Tianyan¡­ scouts¡­" The bandit gurgled. "Eliminate¡­ competition¡­" His head rolled before the sentence finished. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Lin Hao pried open the cage. The lynx cub hissed, its claws passing harmlessly through his spectral armor. "Easy, little godling." He dripped rabbit blood onto its tongue. "You¡¯ll dine on empires soon enough." Ant-Man scuttled onto his shoulder, antennae twitching. Thermal scans showed three hundred humanoid heat signatures converging¡ªarmored, mounted, bearing the Tianyan Academy crest. "Seems we¡¯ve drawn flies." Lin Hao mounted the tiger. The lynx cub curled in his lap, purring like a forge bellows. Kung Fu Fly¡¯s wings hummed a war chant. Somewhere in the dark, Wolf Spider spun death between ancient oaks. The hunt began. Chapter 25: The Unicorn Dragon Ape The Flame-Scaled Tiger licked blood from its claws as Lin Hao examined the cage. Inside, a snow-white primate with a spiraled silver horn trembled, its obsidian eyes wide with primal fear. "System¡ªcan I claim this?" Lin Hao¡¯s fingers brushed the cage bars. Ding. Error. Mutation tax: 100 million taels. Insufficient funds. "Fucking highway robbery," Lin Hao muttered. He sliced the lock open. "Scram, little freeloader." The creature¡ªno larger than a housecat¡ªleaped gracefully to the forest floor. It clasped paws in a human-like bow before vanishing into the undergrowth. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Campfire embers glowed crimson as Lin Hao skewered two Spineback Rabbits. The Flame-Scaled Tiger drooled puddles into the dirt. "Patience, you overgrown kitten." A white blur materialized at the fire¡¯s edge. The horned primate sniffed hungrily, belly growling loud enough to startle Kung Fu Fly mid-air. "Back for seconds?" Lin Hao tossed a charred haunch. The creature caught it mid-leap, fangs shredding meat with feral precision. The tiger growled, magma veins pulsing beneath its scales. "Play nice," Lin Hao warned. "This one¡¯s got potential." The primate finished its meal, curled into a ball by the flames, and began purring¡ªa sound like grinding tectonic plates. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Moonlight filtered through the canopy as Lin Hao studied his unlikely entourage: a magma-spewing tiger, a shadow-weaving fly, and now a horned furball destined to challenge dragons. "Master." The Dragon Spirit¡¯s voice resonated from the Broken Dragon Sword. "That creature¡¯s lineage traces to the Primordial Wars. Tread carefully." Lin Hao smirked. "Careful¡¯s for monks and accountants." He tossed another log onto the fire. Somewhere in the dark, Wolf Spider spun poison silk between ancient oaks. Ant-Man dismantled a pebble atom by atom. The forest held its breath. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Dawn arrived with the shriek of a Direfeather condor. The horned primate bolted upright, claws unsheathing as the shadow of wings engulfed their camp. "Brunch delivery!" Lin Hao leapt onto the Flame-Scaled Tiger¡¯s back. "Kung Fu¡ªlight the way!" The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. The fly¡¯s wings hummed, carving spectral arrows through the mist. The primate screeched, horn flaring with stored moonlight. Chaos erupted. Trees shattered. Fire rained. When the dust settled, the condor lay impaled on a stalagmite of frozen earth¡ªthe primate¡¯s horn dimming like a dying star. "Not bad for a freeloader." Lin Hao tossed the beast a condor heart. "Stick around. I¡¯ll make you a god." The creature devoured the offering, blood staining its snow-white fur. Some bonds, it seemed, required no system prompts. The road to divinity grew stranger¡ªand hungrier¡ªby the mile.
The Deluge The horned primate perched on Lin Hao¡¯s shoulder, its silver horn glinting as it repeated the words: ¡°Xiao Bai¡­ Lao Da.¡± ¡°Smart little mutant,¡± Lin Hao chuckled, scratching the creature¡¯s snow-white fur. The Flame-Scaled Tiger snorted, magma veins pulsing beneath its scales in disapproval. Rain began as a whisper¡ªsoft taps on the waterproof tent¡¯s fabric. By midnight, it escalated into a cacophony of pounding fists. ¡°Wake! Wake!¡± Xiao Bai¡¯s high-pitched shriek pierced the storm. Lin Hao staggered from the tent, Kung Fu Fly¡¯s thermal vision revealing the horror¡ªa tsunami of mud and shattered pines devouring the valley. ¡°Move!¡± He vaulted onto the tiger¡¯s back. Ant-Man clung desperately to the beast¡¯s tailhole, mandibles chittering in terror. The river swallowed them whole. Lin Hao¡¯s lungs burned as the flood¡¯s chaos churned¡ªboulders became battering rams, uprooted trees speared past like javelins. The Flame-Scaled Tiger¡¯s claws ripped through the current, its volcanic core boiling the surrounding waters. Crack. A petrified log smashed Lin Hao¡¯s temple. Darkness swallowed him. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Dawn revealed carnage. Lin Hao awoke sprawled across the tiger¡¯s steaming back, Xiao Bai licking congealed blood from his forehead. Kung Fu Fly hovered nearby, wings dimmed by exhaustion. Wolf Spider crouched on a half-submerged boulder, spinnerets still oozing emergency webbing. ¡°Status report,¡± Lin Hao croaked. Ding. Pet 003: Ant-Man. Status: Deceased. He stared at the holographic interface. The thumbnail image of the insectoid companion grayed out. ¡°Drowned in a puddle, huh?¡± Xiao Bai tilted its head. ¡°Sad?¡± ¡°Expendable.¡± Lin Hao swiped the notification away. His fingers lingered. The flood had spit them onto a mudflat stretching toward distant spires¡ªthe imperial capital¡¯s silhouette clawing at the horizon. ¡°Silver linings.¡± Lin Hao changed into dry robes from his spatial ring. ¡°Saved us a week¡¯s travel.¡± The tiger shook itself, steaming water droplets sizzling against its scales. Kung Fu Fly performed aerial surveillance¡ªno hostiles detected. As they trudged north, Xiao Bai¡¯s horn began to hum. ¡°Hungry?¡± Lin Hao tossed it a dried meat strip. The primate ignored the offering, claws digging into his shoulder. ¡°Bad¡­ smell.¡± Lin Hao froze. The mud beneath his boots bubbled. ¡ª¡ª¡ª A geyser of black sludge erupted. The tiger recoiled as skeletal hands breached the muck¡ªhundreds of them, flesh sloughing off in necrotic ribbons. ¡°Corpse Puppets!¡± Lin Hao drew the Broken Dragon Sword. ¡°Underground necromancers!¡± Xiao Bai¡¯s horn flared. Moonlight sliced through the rising horde, bisecting reanimated warriors in rusted armor. ¡°Leave none standing!¡± Chaos unfolded. Wolf Spider wove poison nets. Kung Fu Fly¡¯s wing-blades decapitated shambling corpses. The Flame-Scaled Tiger bathed the battlefield in hellfire. Lin Hao carved through the tide, Nine Rune Swordplay reducing zombies to kindling. A puppet wearing a general¡¯s insignia lunged, rotting fingers clutching a cursed dagger. Clang. Xiao Bai intercepted the blow, horn shearing through ancient steel. The primate¡¯s eyes burned with alien intelligence as it tore the general¡¯s head from its shoulders. ¡°Since when¡­¡± Lin Hao stared at the blood-drenched furball, ¡°¡­did you learn combat stances?¡± Xiao Bai grinned, revealing needle-sharp fangs. ¡°Watch¡­ humans.¡± The mudflat stilled. Lin Hao wiped gore from his blade. ¡°Mutate faster.¡± The capital¡¯s gates loomed ahead. Somewhere beneath their feet, a lich priest cursed, crumbling another soulgem. The hunt was far from over. Chapter 26: Imperial City of Flames Six days later, Lin Hao crested a hill to behold the capital¡ªa monolithic fortress encircled by a moat wide enough to drown armies. Kung Fu Fly¡¯s compound eyes scanned the battlements: archers patrolled every ten paces, ballistae hidden beneath tarpaulins. "Too flashy." Lin Hao patted the Flame-Scaled Tiger¡¯s neck. "Time to hide the merchandise." Ding. The beast vanished into a holographic grid labeled Pet Storage. Xiao Bai¡ªthe horned primate disguised in a makeshift cap¡ªchittered in alarm. "Relax," Lin Hao murmured. "You¡¯re next once I rob a few banks." ¡ª¡ª¡ª The city gates swarmed with merchants, mercenaries, and pilgrims. A rheumy-eyed carriage driver intercepted Lin Hao. "Young master! Ride with Old Zhang! Cheapest fare in Yancheng!" The man¡¯s skeletal frame trembled as he gestured to a rickety cart. Lin Hao noted the driver¡¯s threadbare robes, the horse¡¯s protruding ribs. "Take me to the finest tavern." They¡¯d traveled three blocks when disaster struck. A black stallion¡ªeyes bloodshot, foam flecking its muzzle¡ªcareened down the avenue dragging a gilded carriage. Old Zhang¡¯s nag froze mid-step. Crunch. Wood splintered. The elderly driver flew into a vegetable stall as the stallion trampled his horse. Lin Hao rolled clear, Kung Fu Fly mapping the chaos in real-time. "Who dares¡ª?!" A silk-robed youth emerged from the wrecked luxury carriage, a courtesan clinging to his neck like human jewelry. His gaze swept the carnage. "Chen!" The black stallion¡¯s driver¡ªpockmarked and trembling¡ªprostrated himself. "Young Master Qin, I¡ª" Slap. Qin Yu¡¯s palm left a crimson handprint on the lackey¡¯s cheek. "Dock his wages. Compensate the old man double." Lin Hao arched an eyebrow. Nobles who punished their own? Either enlightened or scheming. ¡ª¡ª¡ª The Azure Phoenix Inn¡¯s lobby reeked of braised pork and ambition. Every table hosted sword-calloused hands gesturing toward the distant Tianyan Academy. "Full." The innkeeper¡¯s apprentice blanched at Lin Hao¡¯s milky eyes. "Unless¡­ the third-floor suite?" The boy led him upstairs to a private dining nook. Purple silk rustled as a woman carved venison with a dagger. Moonlight glinted off the blade¡¯s edge¡ªNightblade Steel, favored by assassins of the Nether Pavilion. "Join me." Z¨« Y¨¨ didn¡¯t look up. Her voice carried the bored inflection of a poetry recital. "The lamb¡¯s overdone, but the wine¡¯s passable." Lin Hao sat. Kung Fu Fly landed on his shoulder, wings tuned to detect heartbeat fluctuations. "New pet?" Z¨« Y¨¨ flicked a bone at Xiao Bai. The primate caught it midair, fangs reducing the morsel to splinters. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Stray." Lin Hao sipped rice wine. "Temporary." Their knees brushed beneath the table. A parchment scrap transferred from her thigh to his¡ªcoordinates for a weapons cache beneath the Ministry of Rites. The courtesan from Qin Yu¡¯s carriage entered the inn, her perfume cutting through the grease-smell. Z¨« Y¨¨¡¯s blade twitched. "Patience." Lin Hao trapped her wrist. "Hunt during the Lantern Festival." Across the street, Qin Yu emerged from a brothel adjusting his sash. The courtesan rushed to him, whispers exchanged. Kung Fu Fly¡¯s wings hummed. Target acquired. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Nightfall brought fog and opportunity. Lin Hao scaled the Ministry¡¯s outer wall, Xiao Bai clinging to his back like a living climbing harness. The primate¡¯s horn pulsed faintly¡ªa built-in cloaking field bending light around them. "Three guards. Rotating every seven breaths." Z¨« Y¨¨ materialized from shadow, her report crisp. "Basement vault requires a jade seal." Lin Hao grinned. "Or a hungry mutant." Xiao Bai¡¯s claws extended, molecular edges vibrating. Some locks deserved more than picking. The moon hid behind clouds as the first scream echoed. By dawn, seventeen officials would be reported missing. By noon, their heads would adorn the city gates. The game deepened.
The Parrot Prodigy The Azure Phoenix Inn¡¯s private dining alcove reeked of roasted pheasant and tension. Z¨« Y¨¨ sliced venison with surgical precision, her dagger reflecting Lin Hao¡¯s milky eyes in its polished surface. "New accessory?" She flicked a bone at Xiao Bai. The horned primate caught it midair, fangs reducing the morsel to splinters. "Temporary." Lin Hao ripped into a honey-glazed duck. "Unlike your taste in safehouses." Z¨« Y¨¨¡¯s blade stilled. "The Tianyan mission requires invisibility, not circus acts." Her gaze flicked to Kung Fu Fly camouflaged as a hairpin. "Ditch the menagerie." Lin Hao snorted. A crimson parrot squawked from its cage in the corner¡ª"Sucker! Sucker!"¡ªits beak clacking against the bars. ¡ª¡ª¡ª The Beast Bazaar stank of desperation and guano. Lin Hao navigated stalls hawking malnourished peacocks and three-legged foxes. At "Feathered Delights Emporium," a green-plumed parrot heckled customers with machine-gun efficiency. "Welcome, walking wallet!" it screeched. The bald proprietor lunged, shaking the cage. "Shut your trap, Four Treasures!" Lin Hao¡¯s fingers brushed the cage. Ding. Avian specimen detected. Initial combat rating: 10. Evolutionary potential: S-tier. "Name your price." "Ten thousand taels!" The shopkeeper¡¯s eyes gleamed. "Rare talking breed!" Four Treasures ruffled its feathers. "Scam! Scam!" Lin Hao turned to leave. "Wait!" The shopkeeper blocked the exit. "Special discount¡ªeight thousand!" "One thousand. Final offer." The parrot¡¯s subsequent tirade¡ª"Robbery! Daylight robbery!"¡ªsealed the deal. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Backstreet alchemy unfolded in a rented stable. Lin Hao dumped glowing spirit stones into the system interface. Four Treasures¡¯ form warped¡ªemerald feathers hardened into jade scales, beak lengthened into a golden scimitar. Ding. Evolution complete. Combat rating: 10,000. New skill: Thunder Tongue. The shopkeeper chose that moment to renege. "Changed my mind! Guards!" Two thugs charged with iron rods. Four Treasures spread wings crackling with static. Zap. The first attacker convulsed, skin blistering. The second swung¡ªonly to watch his weapon disintegrate under adamantium talons. "Metal Claw Upgrade: Complete," Lin Hao murmured as the thug crashed into a wall of birdcages. The shopkeeper scrambled for a hidden crossbow. Four Treasures¡¯ beak snapped the weapon¡¯s stock like kindling. "Mercy!" The man groveled. "Take it! Just don¡¯t¡ª" Crunch. The parrot perched on Lin Hao¡¯s shoulder, cleaning blood from its talons. "Next target?" ¡ª¡ª¡ª Nightfall found them at the Vermilion Pavilion¡¯s rooftop garden. Z¨« Y¨¨ materialized from shadow, her purple robes blending with wisteria. "Sentimentality¡¯s a luxury," she noted, eyeing Four Treasures. "That bird reeks of amateur theatrics." Lin Hao tossed a peanut. The parrot caught it midair, atomizing the shell with a spark-flecked tongue. "Meet my new surveillance system." Z¨« Y¨¨¡¯s nose wrinkled. "The academy¡¯s anti-familiar wards will fry its tiny brain." "Upgrade pending." Lin Hao leaned against the balustrade. Far below, Qin Yu staggered from a brothel, courtesans giggling at his disheveled robes. "Speaking of brains¡ªour Young Master Qin¡¯s been busy." Four Treasures¡¯ eyes glowed infrared. "Target acquired. Tracking protocol engaged." The parrot launched silently, vanishing into smog. Z¨« Y¨¨¡¯s dagger found Lin Hao¡¯s throat. "If your feathered spy botches this¡­" He didn¡¯t flinch. "Relax. I overclocked its processors." Somewhere in the labyrinthine slums, a drunken nobleman¡¯s final scream blended with the clang of closing sewer grates. The hunt deepened.