Alert! The Dragon Lord has emerged from seclusion!

"First, use the purest Yang blood as a guide—your blood will suffice; second, use the 'Heart-Cleansing Glazed Grass,' a spiritual herb that can purify the Yin toxins in the heart meridian."

"Coincidentally, the woman on the next marriage certificate comes from a family that deals in medicinal herbs, and her family's herb garden is currently cultivating a century-old Pure Heart Glass Grass."

Lin Chen was taken aback, then took out the remaining five marriage certificates from his pocket and quickly flipped through them.

The fourth marriage certificate depicts a gentle, scholarly woman, with the following text written beside it:

"Shen Qingqiu, born under the Tianquan star, possesses the body of a medicinal spirit. The Shen family of Jiangnan is a century-old family of physicians."

Ling Feng nodded: "It's her. Miss Shen Qingqiu is not only the 'Medicine Spirit Body' among the Nine Yin Body, and is naturally sensitive to the medicinal properties of herbs, but she is also a medical genius."

"The Pure Heart Glazed Grass in the Shen family was cultivated by her own hands."

Lin Chen closed the marriage certificate, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Next stop, the Shen family in Jiangnan."

He looked at Ling Feng: "How many people can your Ice Guard mobilize?"

"The Third Valley Master has ordered that all twelve members of the Ice Guard Third Squad be at the Junior Master's command. In addition, there are seventy-two outer disciples in the Jiangnan region who can provide support at any time," Ling Feng said.

"However, my lord, after this defeat, the Netherworld Sect will surely intensify its efforts. What comes next... I fear..."

"I know." Lin Chen stood up, walked to the porthole, and looked at the dark sea. "So we need to be faster and more ruthless."

"Before the Netherworld Sect can react, find all the Nine Yin Bodies and break their formation."

"At the same time—" he turned around, his eyes flashing with golden light, "we will take the initiative and hurt them badly."

Looking at the young valley master who was much younger than himself, Ling Feng saw a composure and decisiveness in his eyes that were beyond his years.

He bowed and clasped his hands in greeting:

"My lord, the Ice Guard's third squad is willing to serve as the vanguard!"

The yacht cut through the waves and headed towards the south of the Yangtze River.

Meanwhile, in a dark underground chamber somewhere in the East China Sea, Yin Gu Zhenren knelt before a pool of blood, in which a massive skeleton was submerged.

"Sect Master, the Free and Unfettered Valley has entered the mortal realm... Their young Valley Master, possessing the Nine Yang Heaven-Burning Body, is sabotaging our plans..."

The blood pool boiled, and two eerie green flames ignited in the skull's eye sockets.

A hoarse voice, like the wailing of ten thousand ghosts, echoed in the secret chamber:

"Nine Suns Burning Heaven Body... Carefree Valley... Excellent, very good."

"Pass down the order to activate 'Operation Sun Hunt.' I want to personally meet this young master of the Free and Unfettered Valley."

"The gathering of the Seven Yin is crucial; its loss is unacceptable. As for the Free and Unfettered Valley... since they dared to enter the mortal world, let them never return!"

The skeleton in the blood pool slowly raised its bony hand, and a pitch-black bead condensed in its palm, within which countless vengeful spirits seemed to struggle and wail.

When Yin Gu Zhenren saw the bead, he trembled, and fear flashed in his eyes.

"This is... the Myriad Souls Devouring Heart Pearl? Sect Master, are you going to take action personally?"

"My lifespan is only three years left, I can't wait any longer." The skeleton's voice was cold and ruthless. "Since the Nine Suns Burning Heaven Manifestation has appeared, then let's change the plan—"

"Capture him, use my Nine Yang Body as the furnace and my Seven Yin Body as the medicine, and refine the 'Yin-Yang Reversal Death Pill.' Once this pill is complete, I will not only be able to extend my life by a thousand years, but also break through to the Nascent Soul stage and step into the Deity Transformation stage in one fell swoop!"

Yin Gu Zhenren was horrified: "But this requires eight people with special physiques... and the success rate is less than 10%..."

"So what?" the skeleton sneered. "If I succeed, I will rule the world; if I fail, a few more people will die."

"Order all disciples in the seven branch altars to mobilize and lay a tight net."

"I wish to see the Nine Yang Body and the seven Nine Yin Bodies on the night of the full moon."

"Otherwise..." The will-o'-the-wisps in the skull's eye sockets suddenly flared up, "you will all be placed within the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, becoming resources for my cultivation!"

The Yin Bone Immortal trembled all over and kowtowed repeatedly:

"Yes, sir! I'll do it right away!"

The sealed room fell silent again, except for the bubbling sound of the blood pool.

A storm is brewing.

At this moment, Lin Chen was unaware that he had gone from being a destroyer to becoming the primary target on the prey list.

He stood on the deck of the yacht, holding the fourth marriage certificate in his hand, the sea breeze ruffling the hem of his clothes.

Behind him, Ye Qingcheng had woken up at some point and was looking at him while holding onto the cabin door.

"Hey, who exactly are you?" she asked, her voice weak but firm.

Lin Chen turned around, and the moonlight shone on his face, casting half of it in light and half in shadow.

"A person who doesn't want to see innocent people die," he said softly. "A person... who needs your help and who needs to help you."

Ye Qingcheng remained silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed. The laugh was pale, yet held an indescribable arrogance.

"I hate being protected, and I hate being a burden."

"Teach me cultivation, make me stronger. I'm going to personally settle this score with Ye Wenyuan and that so-called Netherworld Sect."

Lin Chen looked at the flame burning in her eyes and nodded:

"it is good."

"Once I break your heart-locking spell, I will teach you the Frost Yin chapter of the 'Mysterious Yin Records'."

"But before that, we have to save the fourth person first."

"Shen Qingqiu?" Ye Qingcheng had already heard a rough outline from Old Chen.

"Hmm." Lin Chen looked into the distance. "Hopefully... it's not too late."

……

The yacht arrived at the Jiangnan waters before dawn.

Lin Chen stood on the deck, looking at the distant, dark green mountain outlines that were faintly visible in the morning mist.

The medicinal herb cultivation base of the Shen family in Jiangnan is hidden in those valleys surrounded by mountains.

"My lord, the situation with the Shen family is more complicated than expected." Ling Feng handed over an encrypted intelligence report. "Three days ago, the Shen family's medicinal garden was broken into by unknown individuals, and three century-old Ganoderma lucidum mushrooms were stolen."

"Old Master Shen, Shen Wanlin, was furious and strengthened the guards, but—"

"But what?"

"But there are people from the Netherworld Sect mixed in with the guards." Ling Feng pointed to the photo on the intelligence report. "This guard captain named Zhao Si joined the Shen family three months ago. Before that, he was a member of the Blackwater Merchant Guild."

"When the Blackwater Merchant Guild disbanded six months ago, some of its core members were absorbed by the Netherworld Sect."

Lin Chen's eyes turned cold: "Where is Shen Qingqiu now?"

"Her private laboratory is located deep within the medicinal herb garden." Ling Feng pulled up a satellite map. "Miss Shen is obsessed with medical research and often spends several days at a time in the laboratory."

"This is also a manifestation of her 'medicine spirit body'—she has a natural affinity for the medicinal properties of herbs and plants."

Ye Qingcheng, wrapped in a blanket, stepped out of the cabin. The sea breeze ruffled her pale but defiant face. "What kind of person is that Shen Qingqiu?"

"According to intelligence, Shen Qingqiu is twenty-five years old, a medical doctor, and her personality..." Ling Feng paused, "In her mentor's words, 'calm to the point of being indifferent, only her eyes light up when discussing medicinal herbs.'"

"A typical research-oriented personality." Lin Chen put away the intelligence. "Prepare to dock. Ling Feng, you take six Ice Guards with me into the mountains, the rest of you provide support on the perimeter."

"Yes."