After making a plan with Soul Reaver, Wu Tian immediately headed toward the Alchemist Association to meet Lin Yao.
Within a split second, he arrived at the gates of the association. What greeted him was an unusually long line at Lin Yao's stall—far longer than usual.
Wu Tian's gaze met Lin Yao's.
As if understanding something at once, Lin Yao lifted a small wooden board and placed it in front of his stall. Written on it was a single word:
REST
The crowd immediately erupted into murmurs. Many noticed Wu Tian's presence and assumed this sudden break was because of him. Yet not a single person dared to voice a complaint—everyone knew exactly how powerful Wu Tian was.
"Brother Lin, I'd like to ask you for a favor," Wu Tian said as he approached.
Lin Yao, already accustomed to Wu Tian's requests, turned to head toward his workspace to prepare pills. However, his steps halted when he felt his wrist being gently held.
"Brother Wu?" Lin Yao asked in surprise.
"I actually need your help harvesting a medicinal plant," Wu Tian said earnestly."That plant is crucial for my breakthrough to the Golden Core stage."
Lin Yao frowned slightly, hesitation evident on his face."You know I can't leave this place for too long. I don't want to disappoint the customers waiting in line."
Wu Tian understood Lin Yao's concerns.
But his goal this time was to slaughter Lin Yao.
He had to lure him out of the city—no matter the cost.
"Don't worry," Wu Tian said calmly. "It won't take long. I already know the location, and I've dealt with the demonic beast guarding it. All you need to do is help me pick the plant."
"Really?" Lin Yao looked at him with curiosity."What kind of plant could possibly require my help just to harvest?"
Wu Tian fell silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head."I'm sorry… I can't tell you. This involves my family's secrets."
His expression hardened, as though recalling something bitter."I need to prove that everything they thought about me was wrong."
Like most protagonists, Lin Yao had already investigated Wu Tian's background after witnessing his abilities. Several suspicions in his mind now felt increasingly clear.
He pondered briefly, then smiled warmly."Alright. I'll help you. But we should be quick—before the customers really lose their patience."
Wu Tian smiled sincerely."Then it's settled. I'll go buy some supplies, and we'll meet at the city gate."
With that, Wu Tian turned and left for the Cloud Medicine Pavilion, leaving Lin Yao behind.
Almost everyone in the city knew that Wu Tian frequently visited the Cloud Medicine Pavilion—where Lu Qingyao worked. Every time he went hunting, he would stop by to see both Lin Yao and Lu Qingyao. It had become such a common sight that even Lin Yao found nothing strange about it anymore.
Lin Yao let out a quiet sigh.
"Master," he murmured softly, "do you know what plant Brother Wu is talking about?"
An aged voice echoed within his mind."I don't know. Many special techniques require rare materials at specific cultivation stages."
Lin Yao nodded lightly.
Meanwhile, Wu Tian had arrived at the Cloud Medicine Pavilion.
His purpose was simple:to say goodbye—and to leave something behind for Lu Qingyao.
However, the moment he entered, something unexpected happened.
The attendant who had accompanied Lu Qingyao for the past few days suddenly left, leaving only Wu Tian and Lu Qingyao alone.
An awkward silence settled between them.
Wu Tian had not yet spoken when Lu Qingyao turned to face him. Her gaze was cold—far colder than before.
"Don't misunderstand," she said quietly, her words sharp as knife."I don't want to talk to you."
Wu Tian frowned. "If that's the case, I'll—"
"Stop," Lu Qingyao interrupted firmly. "Stop trying to get my attention."
Wu Tian fell silent.
"I already know," she continued, her emotions rising once more.
"Every time you kill a fourth-rank demonic beast, people talk about you. And every single time, you appear before me—as if you want me to see your achievements."
She clenched her fists. "Stop doing that, Wu Tian. I'm not moved. I'm not impressed."
Wu Tian opened his mouth to speak, but she didn't give him the chance.
"That last fourth-rank demonic beast was different," she said, her voice trembling. "It was far too dangerous."
She stared straight into his eyes. "If you insist on going… I will leave this city."
Wu Tian was stunned. He hadn't expected the misunderstanding to spiral this far.
"Miss Lu, I think there's a misunderstanding," he said quietly.
"I wasn't hunting those beasts to get your attention."
He paused, realizing that what he was about to say would sound unbelievable. "My strength has grown too great. I need an opponent on the same level to compress my qi—so—"
Lu Qingyao's gaze remained sharp. "So… you're still going?"
"Yes," Wu Tian answered without hesitation.
Lu Qingyao exhaled deeply, disappointment evident in her voice. "Forget it. Go. I don't care about you anymore."
Hearing that, a faint ache spread through Wu Tian's chest.
"You're complicated," he said softly. "You say you don't care—but you really do. You want to be heard, yet you never tell your story."
He looked at her steadily.
"You dislike yourself, yet at the same time you love who you are. You crave for love—but when it finally comes, you reject it."
His voice softened, tinged with bitterness.
"You're a bundle of contradictions. And if you can't even understand yourself…"he paused before finishing calmly, "there's no way anyone else ever could."
Wu Tian turned to leave, then stopped.
"You don't need to leave the city," he said without looking back. "Because I'm the one leaving today."
He flicked his wrist, tossing a sheet of paper toward her. It pulsed with an intense Qi Reaver aura.
"I hope you'll keep it," he added quietly. "It's my last gift to you."
Then he walked away toward the city gates.
After completing the necessary procedures with Huang Pao's help, Wu Tian and Lin Yao quickly entered the deepest part of the forest.
"Brother Lin," Wu Tian said solemnly, "From here on, we'll be entering a region filled with illusions. Be careful."
Lin Yao nodded.
But after only a few steps—
ROAARR!
A massive tiger suddenly appeared before them. Its body was indistinct, yet its aura was overwhelming. Its eyes gleamed sharply, as if piercing straight through their consciousness.
Lin Yao instinctively closed his eyes. "It's just an illusion," he muttered, trying to calm himself.
The next instant—
The tiger's claw slammed into his body with brutal force.
"UGH—!"
Real pain tore through his chest. Lin Yao jolted, instantly realizing his mistake, and snapped his eyes open. A deep wound was clearly visible—this was no ordinary illusion.
As his attention focused entirely on the tiger before him, danger struck from behind without warning.
BOOM!
A devastating blow struck his back. Lin Yao was sent flying forward, crashing into a massive tree with a deafening sound before collapsing to the ground. Blood spread across his back as consciousness faded.
Wu Tian narrowed his eyes.
That attack should have split Lin Yao in half.
Yet instead, Lin Yao was merely sent flying and knocked unconscious—though the injury on his back was severe.
"As expected of a Child of Destiny…" Wu Tian murmured.
Without hesitation, he fired another blade of wind toward Lin Yao's unconscious body.
But something strange happened.
Flames suddenly erupted from Lin Yao's body—terrifyingly intense. A wave of scorching heat burst outward, instantly annihilating Wu Tian's wind blade as if it had never existed.
Wu Tian wasn't surprised in the slightest. He had anticipated this.
That was why he didn't approach after Lin Yao fell unconscious—and why he had attacked with full force from the beginning.
Slowly, Lin Yao regained consciousness. He struggled to his feet and faced Wu Tian, his gaze sharp yet wary.
"So… these illusions were your doing," he said quietly.
"Can you tell me why you did all this? As far as I remember, there was no hostility between us."
Wu Tian stared at him coldly, his expression resolute.
"You should be the one answering," he said, suppressed fury in his voice.
"Who are you really, and why have you taken my friend's body? Today, I will kill you and let Lin Yao's soul rest in peace."
Lin Yao looked startled, then frowned and sighed.
"There's a misunderstanding. My name is Han Qingyu. I did not take Lin Yao's body… I am his master."
Wu Tian ignored the explanation entirely.
Instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips as Soul Reaver's voice echoed within his sea of consciousness.
"My preparations are complete."
Hearing that, Wu Tian immediately summoned Soul Reaver from his sea of consciousness. The demonic sword manifested in the real world, releasing a horrifying aura that blanketed the surrounding area.
Several of Soul Reaver's seals had been temporarily released, allowing it to manifest its full power.
Han Qingyu glanced at the sword—and his expression instantly changed.
"A demonic sword…" he muttered, frowning deeply.
In the next instant, he unleashed his aura.
Han Qingyu's aura and Soul Reaver's aura collided violently in midair, generating terrifying pressure that made the surrounding trees tremble.