I, the number one master of metaphysics, have achieved legendary status in the entertainment industr

The alarm in the hospital's VIP ward shattered the tranquility of the night.

When the on-duty doctor and nurses rushed into the ward, only a cold, flat line remained on the electrocardiogram monitor screen. Wang Huajian lay on the hospital bed, his face ashen, his lips purple, and he was no longer breathing.

"Patient has suffered cardiac arrest! Prepare for defibrillation!"

"Administer 1 mg of epinephrine intravenously!"

"Charging to 200 joules, ready!"

Chaos erupted in the ward. The doctors did their best to save him, but half an hour later, the attending physician took off his mask and shook his head.

"The time of death was declared as 12:37 AM."

Outside the ward, Zhou Li, who had rushed over after receiving the news, collapsed to the ground, her legs giving way. Wang Zhentao supported his wife, his face ashen.

"How could this be... how could this be..." Zhou Li murmured to herself, her eyes vacant. "Didn't Master Qingsong say he could save him for three months? It's only been a few days..."

Wang Zhentao clenched his fists until they turned white, then pulled out his phone and dialed Qingsong's number.

No one heard.

I dialed again, but still no one answered.

"That liar!" Wang Zhentao gritted his teeth and kicked the wall.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from the end of the corridor. Zhou Jianguo rushed over with several core members of the Zhou family. Upon seeing the scene in the ward, the old man's face instantly turned ashen.

"What's going on?" Zhou Jianguo's voice was filled with suppressed anger.

The attending physician reluctantly reported, "The patient suddenly suffered cardiac arrest. We did our best to resuscitate him, but..."

"Suddenly?" Zhou Jianguo interrupted him. "My grandson's vital signs were stable when he was admitted to the hospital. Why did he suddenly suffer cardiac arrest?"

"This...we need to investigate further, it might be a concurrent issue..."

"That's enough!" Zhou Jianguo waved his hand. "Dean Wang will be here soon. You all cooperate with him. Until then, no one is allowed to leave the hospital, and all medical records are sealed."

The doctors looked at each other, but dared not go against the wishes of the Zhou family patriarch.

Zhou Jianguo walked into the ward, looked at his grandson's body on the bed, a trace of grief flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by coldness.

He turned to his daughter and son-in-law: "Where's Qingsong?"

"We can't get in touch with him," Wang Zhentao said in a low voice. "The phone is unreachable. The Taoist temple said he left in the afternoon, but didn't say where he went."

Zhou Jianguo narrowed his eyes: "It seems we've been tricked."

"Dad, you mean..." Zhou Li raised her head, her eyes burning with renewed hatred.

"Hua Jian's death is too coincidental," Zhou Jianguo said slowly. "Qing Song just failed, and then Hua Jian got into trouble. Either Qing Song was incompetent, or... he did it on purpose."

"He wouldn't dare!" Zhou Li shrieked. "Our Zhou family has given him so many benefits, how dare he harm Hua Jian?!"

"Given enough profit, there's nothing they wouldn't dare to do," Zhou Jianguo said coldly. "Besides, don't forget, those 'problems' with Hua Jian were all orchestrated by Qing Song. If he can do it once, he can do it again."

Wang Zhentao gasped, "Dad, are you saying that Qingsong might have sided with someone else and is now harming us?"

"We can't rule out that possibility." Zhou Jianguo walked to the window and looked at the dark night sky outside. "There might really be some forces behind that kid Lu Fan that we don't know about. If Qingsong is defeated by him, he will either be killed or... recruited."

This speculation sent chills down the spines of everyone present.

If even someone like Qingsong has defected, then the enemies the Zhou family faces are probably far more terrifying than imagined.

"So what do we do now?" Wang Zhentao asked.

Zhou Jianguo paused for a moment, then turned around: "Three things. First, keep the news of Hua Jian's death a secret. Say his condition relapsed and he was transferred to special care. Second, use all your connections to find Qing Song's whereabouts; we need to see him alive or dead. Third..."

He paused, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Initiate the 'Cleanup Plan.' Eradicate all traces related to Qingsong. Deal with all those involved."

Zhou Li trembled: "Dad, those are all..."

"These are all potential threats," Zhou Jianguo interrupted her. "Those who achieve great things don't concern themselves with trifles. Hua Jian cannot have died in vain, and the Zhou family cannot fall."

He looked at his daughter: "Lier, Zhentao, I know you're sad. But now is not the time to be sad. The Zhou family is standing on the edge of a cliff; one wrong step and it will be all over."

Wang Zhentao nodded emphatically: "Dad, I understand. I'll go and make the arrangements right away."

"I'm going too." Zhou Li wiped away her tears, her eyes filled with ruthlessness. "Hua Jian's revenge must be taken. Lu Fan, Qing Song, and everyone who stands in our way... none of them will live."

……

Meanwhile, the abandoned factory area in the west of the city.

Lu Fan had just returned to his temporary hideout—an old rented apartment—when he received a call from Yu Tinglan.

"Lu Fan, something's happened." Yu Tinglan's voice was urgent. "My informant at the hospital just sent word that Wang Huajian is dead."

Lu Fan was taken aback: "Dead? When?"

"Just half an hour ago, he suffered cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated," Yu Tinglan said quickly. "The Zhou family has blocked the news, but my people say that Zhou Jianguo, Zhou Li, and Wang Zhentao all rushed to the hospital, and they looked very pale. Moreover—"

She paused for a moment, then continued, "Qingsong has disappeared. The Zhou family is searching for him everywhere."

Lu Fan frowned.

Wang Huajian's death was unexpected. Although the backlash from the Blood-Attracting Array would severely damage his foundation, it shouldn't have been fatal so quickly. Unless…

"Qingsong might have been silenced," Lu Fan speculated. "Or perhaps he escaped."

"Silence them? Would the Zhou family be that ruthless?"

"If Qingsong fails, and knows too many of the Zhou family's secrets, silencing him would be standard procedure." Lu Fan walked to the window, looking at the gradually brightening sky outside. "But I'm more inclined to believe he escaped. A person like Qingsong wouldn't leave himself no way out."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone. Yu Tinglan asked, "So what do we do now? Someone from the Zhou family died; they'll definitely retaliate fiercely."

"Proceed as planned," Lu Fan said calmly. "Moreover, Wang Huajian's death may not be a bad thing for us."

"How so?"

"The Zhou family must be in complete chaos right now. Zhou Li is heartbroken over the loss of her son; Zhou Jianguo is trying to stabilize the situation; Wang Zhentao is caught in the middle... This is their most vulnerable moment," Lu Fan analyzed. "Moreover, Qingsong's disappearance is like cutting off a vital arm of the Zhou family. Without the aid of mystical methods, they have fewer options."

Yu Tinglan thought for a moment: "That makes sense. Then I'll continue collecting evidence, and as for President Ding..."

"Ding Jianguo has agreed to cooperate," Lu Fan said. "He promised to stand by us in crucial moments. Moreover, I gave him some evidence that the Zhou family used evil arts to suppress their competitors, and he should have already started taking action."

"That's great!" Yu Tinglan breathed a sigh of relief. "With President Ding's help, our chances of winning are much better."

"But we can't let our guard down yet," Lu Fan cautioned. "The Zhou family has been operating for many years and is deeply entrenched. Besides, that man in black robes who appeared last night..."

He recalled those completely black eyes and the other person's self-proclaimed title of "Yin Kui Sect".

"The Yin Puppet Sect?" Yu Tinglan clearly hadn't heard of this name before.

"A heretical sect that should have disappeared a hundred years ago," Lu Fan explained simply. "They are skilled at creating puppets and manipulating corpses, and their methods are insidious. The black-robed man last night was a descendant of the Yin Puppet Sect. The fact that Qing Song was able to persuade him means that the Zhou family and this sect have long been in cahoots."

Yu Tinglan gasped, "Then... will they retaliate?"

"Definitely," Lu Fan affirmed. "I broke their Twelve Yuan Chen Yin Puppet Formation and even killed one of the puppets. They won't let this go. So we need to be even more careful from now on."

He thought for a moment and added, "Tinglan, please be careful these next few days and try not to go out alone. Make sure to carry the amulet I sent you with you at all times."

"I understand." Yu Tinglan paused, her voice softening. "You too, Lu Fan. Don't always shoulder everything alone. If anything happens, tell me, tell Xingyou, tell those of us who are on your side."

Lu Fan felt a warmth in his heart: "Thank you."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Fan sat down cross-legged and began to regulate his breathing.

Last night's battle, although he repelled the enemy with the dragon energy from the jade pendant, was extremely taxing. Moreover, forcibly summoning heavenly lightning put a considerable strain on his body.

But more importantly, he needed to digest the legacy information left by his master in the jade pendant.

The Nine Dragons Soaring to the Heavens Technique, the supreme martial art of the Dragon Soaring Sect, is divided into nine levels, each corresponding to a method of utilizing dragon energy. What he unintentionally used last night was only the prototype of the first level, "Dragon Soaring Through the Nine Heavens."

The real "Nine Dragons Soaring to the Heavens" technique was far more powerful than he had imagined.

"Use your body as a furnace to refine the dragon's energy; use your spirit as a guide to control heaven and earth..." Lu Fan silently recited the incantation, circulating the spiritual energy within his body according to the cultivation method.

The jade pendant on his chest felt slightly warm, and a wisp of pure dragon energy slowly flowed into his meridians, merging with his own spiritual power.

This fusion was extremely painful, like thousands of needles piercing his meridians. But with each completed cycle, Lu Fan could feel a significant improvement in the quality of his spiritual energy.

Two hours later, he opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air.

The turbid air exited and condensed into a pale golden dragon-shaped phantom in the air, hovering for a moment before dissipating.

"First level, minor completion." Lu Fan felt the surging power within his body, a golden glint flashing in his eyes.

He was at least 30% stronger than yesterday. If he faced the black-robed man's Twelve Yuan Chen Yin Puppet Formation again, he was confident he could break it without using heavenly lightning.

"However, that's not enough." Lu Fan stood up and walked to his desk.

A notebook lay open on the table, containing all the clues he had gathered during his investigation:

The rise of the Zhou family, Qing Song's background, the legends of the Yin Kui Sect, the disappearance of the master...

And, a name that was circled – Zhou Yunshen.

Zhou Jianguo's younger brother, Zhou Li's second uncle, and the Zhou family's true strategist.

This man rarely appears in public and spends most of his time abroad, but his influence is behind almost every major decision made by the Zhou family. It is said that he is an expert in metaphysics, even more so than Qingsong.

Lu Fan had never understood why the Zhou family was so obsessed with seizing the jade pendant. But if Zhou Yun Shen was truly proficient in metaphysics, then everything would make sense—he might have already seen the value of the jade pendant, which was why he set up this scheme.

"Zhou Yunshen..." Lu Fan murmured the name.

If the speculation is true, then this person is the real mastermind behind the Zhou family.

Indeed, that is the biggest enemy he will face next.

Outside the window, the sky was gradually brightening.

A new day has begun, but the storm has only just begun.

Lu Fan put away his notebook and changed into clean clothes.

Today, he is going to meet someone.

Someone who might know Zhou Yunshen's background.

Su Qin's father, Su Mingyuan, was Zhou Yunshen's business partner twenty years ago, and one of the few who dared to openly challenge the Zhou family.

Later, the Su family fell into ruin, and Su Mingyuan fell seriously ill, forcing Su Qin to take over the family business.

Lu Fan had a hunch that Su Mingyuan knew far more than he had told his daughter.

And some secrets are ready to be revealed.

He picked up his phone and dialed Su Qin's number.

"Mr. Su, I would like to pay a visit to Mr. Su. Would that be convenient?"

On the other end of the phone, Su Qin seemed somewhat surprised, but quickly replied, "My dad's been in good spirits these past few days. I'll ask him what he thinks. When are you planning to come?"

"This afternoon, is that alright?"

"Okay, I'll make the arrangements. But..." Su Qin hesitated, "My dad has a bit of a strange temper, and he might not be very friendly towards people in the entertainment industry."

"It's alright," Lu Fan smiled. "I was prepared."

After hanging up the phone, he looked at the rising sun in the east with a determined gaze.

No matter how many difficulties and obstacles lie ahead, he will keep going.

For my master, for the sect, and for...

Those who believe in him and support him.

He must win this battle.

At 3 p.m., Lu Fan arrived on time at an old villa area in the north of the city.

Most of the buildings here are in the style of the 1990s, with mottled walls and lush greenery, forming a stark contrast to the bright and shiny high-rises in the city center. The Su family villa is located at the deepest part of the community, with its own gate and yard. Several old osmanthus trees are planted in front of the gate, which are now in bloom, filling the air with fragrance.

Su Qin was already waiting at the door. When she saw Lu Fan, she forced a smile and said, "My dad is waiting for you in the study. He's... doing pretty well today."

Lu Fan noticed the dark circles under her eyes and her slightly red eyes, and asked softly, "President Su, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Su Qin shook her head, took a deep breath, and said, "It's just that there's been a lot of work at the company lately, and I'm a little tired. Let's go, don't keep my dad waiting."

The two walked through the courtyard and entered the villa. The interior was decorated in a simple and elegant style, with mahogany furniture, celadon vases, and several landscape paintings hanging on the walls, exuding the atmosphere of a scholarly family.

But Lu Fan keenly sensed that there was a faint, chilly aura permeating the house—not an evil aura, but a kind of "sickness aura" formed by long-term illness and depletion of qi and blood.

"The study is on the second floor." Su Qin led him upstairs.

The study door was ajar, and intermittent coughing could be heard coming from inside.

Su Qin knocked on the door: "Dad, Mr. Lu is here."

"Come in." A voice, old but still strong, called out.

Pushing open the door, Lu Fan saw a thin old man sitting on a recliner by the window. He was about seventy years old, with gray hair and a haggard face, but his eyes were unusually bright and sharp as he looked Lu Fan up and down.

"Mr. Su." Lu Fan bowed slightly.

Su Mingyuan didn't speak immediately, but looked at him for a full half minute before slowly saying, "Sit down. Xiaoqin, go make some tea, use the tea leaves from the jar on the top shelf of my cabinet."

"Okay, Dad." Su Qin glanced at Lu Fan, left the study, and closed the door behind her.

Only the two of them remained in the study.

Su Mingyuan coughed a few more times before saying, "Lu Fan, I know you. Xiao Qin mentioned you to me; you've helped her a lot lately. That minor celebrity in the entertainment industry, right?"

"I used to be," Lu Fan said frankly. "Now I'm more of a... specialist in handling special issues."

"Special issues," Su Mingyuan repeated the word, a strange glint in his eyes, "like, feng shui? metaphysics?"

Lu Fan nodded: "It seems that Mr. Su is quite familiar with these things."

Su Mingyuan laughed, a bitter laugh: "It's more than just familiar. Twenty years ago, I ended up like this because I believed in these things too much."