When the first faint glimmer of dawn, like a bashful maiden, quietly parted the heavy curtain of night and spilled through the cracks of the broken window lattice into Lin Chen's shabby little room, the youth sitting cross-legged on the cold floor slowly opened his eyes.
After meditating through the night, he had not continued cultivating frantically.
Breaking through to the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer had brought not only a tremendous surge in strength, but also an all-around transformation, as though he had shed his mortal frame and exchanged his bones. He needed time to adapt, to master it, and even more, time to... hide it!
At this moment, his eyes were deep and calm. The wild joy and excitement from last night's breakthrough had already been perfectly restrained. Looking closely, one could even see that there was now a little more steadiness and reserve in the depths of his gaze than before, like a treasured sword sheathed away—seemingly plain and unadorned, yet secretly containing a razor-sharp edge.
"Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer..." Lin Chen murmured, slowly raising his palm.
His fingers were slender, his joints distinct, and his skin looked delicate and smooth from the fullness of his blood and qi, even carrying a faint luster. He could clearly sense the terrifying power hidden beneath that seemingly ordinary palm! It felt as if, should he wish it, a light squeeze would reduce hard bluestone to dust!
This sense of power was so real, so intoxicating!
But he knew this was not the time to lose himself in it.
"I must control it... perfectly!" Lin Chen's gaze sharpened as he consciously began to restrain the aura naturally radiating from his body.
At the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer, true qi had already become quite vigorous. Every gesture naturally carried a bearing entirely different from that of low-level martial artists. Ordinary people might find such a bearing difficult to detect, but to martial artists with profound cultivation or seasoned experience, it was as conspicuous as a firefly in the black of night.
The Family Test seven days from now would certainly be his stage to prove himself, but revealing all his strength too early would only invite unnecessary trouble and greater vigilance. It might even cause the likes of Lin Zhenhong and Wang Teng to strike with killing intent in advance!
He had to continue playing the worthless fool who had "only luckily broken through to the Triple Layer"! Only by continuing to "play the pig" could he give those self-righteous fools an "unexpected delight" they would never forget at the crucial moment!
This was his strategy—Feigning Weakness to Deceive the Strong!
With that thought, Lin Chen began trying to control the circulation of true qi within his body. He no longer pursued ultimate speed and efficiency. Instead, he deliberately slowed the optimized Basic Qi Refining Art, making the fluctuations of his true qi gentler and more concealed. At the same time, he worked hard to control his muscular strength, imitating the state a Body Tempering Realm Second or Triple Layer martial artist should possess.
This was no easy task.
His surging strength was like an unruly wild horse, always wanting to break free from its reins and gallop without restraint. He had to expend considerable mental effort to suppress and disguise it perfectly.
He rose to his feet and took a few steps.
Bang!
The bluestone floor tile beneath his foot suddenly let out a soft muffled crack. A seemingly casual step had actually left a fine fissure in it!
Lin Chen's heart jolted, and he hurriedly withdrew his strength.
A mere unconscious movement had nearly exposed him!
He frowned and began controlling every minute movement of his body even more carefully. The length of his stride, the weight of each step, the speed of his turns, the rhythm of his breathing... he deliberately adjusted them all, striving to match a youth who had "just broken through to the Triple Layer and still had a shallow foundation."
Even his gaze was deliberately restrained. He kept only a trace of post-breakthrough "excitement," "unease" about the future, and the "reverence" and "awkwardness" one ought to show before the strong.
This kind of "performance" was also a form of cultivation for him, a tempering of his ability to control his own strength.
After roughly half an hour of repeated attempts and adjustments, Lin Chen finally felt that he could control his surging power fairly well. At least on the surface, he was no longer much different from an ordinary youth in the early or middle Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer.
Of course, this disguise was not flawless. If he encountered a true expert, or someone deliberately examined him, they might still notice some clues. But at the very least, it was enough to deal with most ordinary Lin Family disciples and servants.
"Whew..." Lin Chen exhaled slowly, a layer of fine sweat beading on his forehead. Such precise control consumed more mental effort than straightforward cultivation.
With the disguise prepared, the next matter to consider was cultivation resources.
The medicine dregs had been exhausted. Merely absorbing Spiritual Qi, even with the optimized cultivation art, was far from enough to meet his need to greatly raise his strength once more within five days.
The Myriad Dao Furnace, this gluttonous beast that devoured all things, required an endless supply of "fuel"!
His gaze turned sharp again.
"Lin Bao..." That name wrapped around his heart like an icy venomous snake.
According to his memories, Lin Bao, as the Great Elder's direct grandson, had been doted on since childhood and had never lacked cultivation resources. Pills, spirit stones, even some low-grade magic artifacts and protective armor—he would certainly have no shortage of them!
Moreover, Lin Bao was arrogant and overbearing, nursing grudges over the smallest slight. After being taught a lesson by Lin Chen last time and losing so much face in public, with his temperament, he would never let the matter rest. He would surely seek revenge by every possible means.
Since that was the case, rather than passively wait, why not take the initiative?
"Borrowing" some cultivation resources from Lin Bao would solve his urgent problem while collecting a little interest besides. Why not?
Of course, directly going to rob him was out of the question. That would be no different from seeking his own death, and would immediately draw the thunderous wrath of the Great Elder and perhaps even the entire Lineage.
He had to... outwit him!
Lin Chen began rapidly constructing a plan in his mind.
First, he needed to learn about Lin Bao's recent movements and habits. Where did he live? What places did he usually like to visit? Who usually followed him? Did he have any particular hobbies or weaknesses?
Second, he needed to find a suitable time and place to make his move. He had to succeed while leaving as little trace as possible and removing himself perfectly from suspicion.
This required time and intelligence.
Lin Chen decided that today, he could no longer stay hidden in the courtyard cultivating as he had yesterday. He needed to go out, observe, gather information, and search for that possible opportunity.
Furthermore, staying behind closed doors constantly would also easily arouse suspicion. Making an appropriate "appearance" and maintaining the image of someone who had "just broken through, was cultivating diligently, and preparing for the test" was also part of the strategy of "playing the pig."
Having made up his mind, Lin Chen straightened the shabby but fairly clean coarse cloth clothing on his body and adjusted his aura and expression once again, making sure he looked like an ordinary, slightly uneasy Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer youth. Only then did he take a deep breath and push open the courtyard gate.
The morning sunlight was somewhat dazzling. Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and adjusted to the light.
On the path outside the courtyard, Lin Family servants and collateral-line disciples were already passing by in twos and threes.
When they saw Lin Chen emerge from that dilapidated little courtyard, their reactions had subtly changed again compared to yesterday.
Contempt and disdain remained, but there was somewhat less unrestrained mockery and more curiosity and scrutiny. A few timid or low-status servants even instinctively lowered their heads and hurried away when their eyes met Lin Chen's.
Clearly, Lin Chen's "Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer" cultivation—the cultivation they believed he possessed—as well as his "heroic feats" of daring to defy Su Qingyao, stand hard against Wang Teng, and even issue a military pledge, had already created a certain deterrent within the Lin Family—even if, in many people's eyes, that deterrent was built on "stupidity" and "madness."
Lin Chen took in all these subtle changes. He sneered inwardly, but his face still maintained that somewhat dull and awkward expression. With his head lowered, he slowly walked along the path, as though he had merely come out to get some air.
He had no definite destination, merely wandering through the middle and rear sections of the Lin Family estate.
He passed the training ground. Quite a few Lin Family disciples were cultivating there with blazing enthusiasm. Fist winds whistled, blades flashed and swords danced, and shouts rose and fell one after another. Seeing Lin Chen approach, several disciples who had been training stopped and cast either curious or disdainful looks his way.
"Look, it's Lin Chen!" "He still has the nerve to come out? If it were me, I'd have found a crack in the ground to crawl into long ago!" "Hmph, so what if he's at the Body Tempering Realm Triple Layer? Before us senior brothers who reached the Triple Layer or even Fourth Layer long ago, isn't he still trash?" A youth who was clearly one of Lin Bao's lackeys deliberately raised his voice, hoping to draw Lin Chen's attention and humiliate him.
Lin Chen acted as if he had heard nothing. He merely glanced over from afar, then lowered his head and quickened his pace away. Yet a thread of icy killing intent flashed deep in his eyes. Once he freed up his hands, he would definitely teach these jumping clowns what regret meant!
He passed the mission hall. People came and went there, with many Lin Family disciples accepting or turning in Lineage missions in exchange for Contribution Points and cultivation resources. Seeing the mission board posted at the entrance, Lin Chen's heart stirred slightly. Perhaps... accepting some simple missions was also one way to acquire resources? However, given his current need to hide his strength, accepting missions would likely come with many restrictions. He would remember it for now and consider it later.
He even passed the alchemy room from afar. A rich medicinal fragrance drifted from within, causing the Myriad Dao Furnace inside Lin Chen's body to stir faintly, as if it had developed a powerful craving for the pills and herbs there. But the alchemy room was tightly guarded, not a place he could covet at present.
Along the way, Lin Chen appeared to be wandering aimlessly, but in truth, his ears were pricked as he carefully listened to the conversations and discussions around him.
Naturally, there were plenty of rumors about him, most of them mocking him for overestimating himself and waiting to see him make a fool of himself seven days later.
There were also discussions about the Family Test. It was said that because the once-every-three-years Three Great Families Competition in Qingyang Town was approaching, this year's Lin Family Family Test seemed stricter than in previous years. There would even be a small-scale "internal selection" before the official test. Only those who performed outstandingly in the selection would qualify to participate in the final test and receive a greater allocation of resources.
"Internal selection?" Lin Chen's heart stirred. Perhaps this was an opportunity for him? An opportunity both to test his own strength and to "obtain" resources openly and aboveboard?
Even more discussion centered around several outstanding figures among the Lin Family's younger generation.
"I heard Brother Lin Yan broke through again yesterday! He's already reached the Body Tempering Realm Sixth Layer Peak! He's incredible!" "Yeah! Brother Lin Yan is the number one among the Lin Family's younger generation! He'll definitely take first place in this Family Test!" "Not necessarily! Miss Lin Xue isn't bad either! I heard she's close to breaking through to the Body Tempering Realm Sixth Layer too!" "And there's Lin Bao from the Great Elder's household... Though his character is terrible, with all those resources, he's forcibly piled his cultivation up to the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer Peak. I heard he's recently trying to break through to the Fifth Layer!"
Hearing Lin Bao's name, Lin Chen's ears immediately perked up.
Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer Peak? Trying to break through to the Fifth Layer?
This information was crucial to him!
If Lin Bao really was in seclusion trying to reach the Fifth Layer, didn't that mean... there might not be many people protecting him right now? The place where he stored his resources might also be easier to target?
Lin Chen's heartbeat quickened slightly. He felt as though an opportunity was reaching out to him!
He pretended to casually move closer to several collateral-line disciples discussing Lin Bao, wanting to hear more clearly.
"...But I heard Lin Bao's attempt to break through to the Fifth Layer hasn't been going very smoothly." A skinny youth lowered his voice. "Oh? What happened?" a chubby youth beside him asked curiously. "Hehe, I only heard it from a cousin of mine who helps out at the alchemy room. Apparently, the Great Elder spent a fortune a few days ago to get Lin Bao a Qi Condensing Pill, hoping to help him break through in one go. But Lin Bao either got too impatient for success or something, and something went wrong after he took the pill. Not only did he fail to break through, he even injured his meridians. He's hiding in his own courtyard recovering now!" the skinny youth said gleefully. "Really? That's karma! He deserves it!" The chubby youth became interested as well. "Shh! Keep it down! You can't talk nonsense about that! If the Great Elder hears us, we'll all be unable to swallow what we've bitten off!" The skinny youth hurriedly made a silencing gesture.
Qi Condensing Pill? Failed breakthrough? Injured meridians? Hiding in his courtyard to recover?!
These keywords exploded in Lin Chen's mind like thunderbolts!
This was simply a heaven-sent opportunity!
Lin Bao was injured, so his strength would inevitably be greatly reduced! And since he was recovering behind closed doors, there definitely would not be too many people disturbing him! Even Lin Bao himself was likely in his weakest and least guarded state!
Going to "visit" him at a time like this was simply... an opportunity delivered right to his doorstep!
Lin Chen forcefully suppressed the urge to rush over at once and strip Lin Bao clean of everything he had. His mind raced at high speed.
No! He could not be so impulsive!
Although Lin Bao was injured, he was still the Great Elder's grandson. The guards around his courtyard certainly would not be lax. Besides, who knew whether this was smoke and mirrors deliberately released by Lin Bao or the Great Elder to lure him into a trap?
He had to be cautious!
But this news undoubtedly gave Lin Chen a clear direction and enormous hope!
He stopped wandering and pretended to head back toward his own small courtyard as though nothing had happened. Along the way, he carefully recalled the layout of the Lin Family estate, as well as the location and surrounding environment of Lin Bao's rather luxurious courtyard known as Leopard Garden.
After returning to the ruined little courtyard and closing the gate, the dullness and awkwardness on Lin Chen's face vanished in an instant, replaced by icy calm and sharp contemplation.
He did not begin cultivating immediately. Instead, he paced around the courtyard, piecing together and analyzing every fragment of information he had obtained.
There was a high possibility that Lin Bao was injured, but it could not be fully confirmed. He was hiding in Leopard Garden to recover, a relatively enclosed environment. Lin Chen roughly knew Leopard Garden's location, but he still needed to confirm its specific guard arrangements and internal layout. The best time to act would be in the dead of night. How would he infiltrate? How would he avoid the guards? How would he find where Lin Bao kept his resources—usually the bedroom or a secret chamber? How would he leave silently after succeeding, without leaving behind any evidence pointing to himself?
Questions arose one after another in his mind.
This was a meticulous plan that allowed no mistakes! If he failed, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Lin Chen knew that although he now possessed the strength of the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer, and even had the heaven-defying trump card of the Myriad Dao Furnace, he was still like an ant before the entire Lin Family, before experts such as the Great Elder and the family head.
He had to proceed step by step, with the utmost caution!
"Feigning Weakness to Deceive the Strong... does not merely mean pretending to be weak before one's enemies. Before acting, one must also make the fullest preparations, patiently waiting like a true hunter, then striking and hitting the mark in a single blow!" Lin Chen's eyes flickered as the outline of an initial plan gradually formed in his heart.
First, he needed to conduct a close-range reconnaissance of Leopard Garden. It could not be during the day; that would be too conspicuous. It had to be at night, using the darkness as cover.
Second, he needed to prepare some supporting tools. For example, ropes convenient for climbing? Or medicine that could temporarily knock out guards? Although he had no money to buy any, perhaps he could use the furnace to extract it from ordinary herbs?
Third, he needed to rehearse the infiltration and escape routes, ensuring absolute certainty.
Lastly, and most importantly, he needed to adjust his own strength to its optimal state! And he had to prepare for every possible accident!
Having thought this through, Lin Chen no longer hesitated.
Although the medicine dregs had already been exhausted and he could not raise his cultivation frantically as he had last night, he could still continue operating the optimized Basic Qi Refining Art, absorbing Spiritual Qi to stabilize his realm while tempering his control over his own strength.
And besides...
His gaze fell upon the seemingly ordinary weeds in the courtyard, along with some moss and low shrubs by the wall.
The Myriad Dao Furnace claimed to refine all things.
Could these inconspicuous plants also contain a trace of meager energy that the furnace could extract?
Better than nothing!
Lin Chen immediately sat down cross-legged and entered a cultivation state once more.
This time, he did not deliberately seek to break through his realm. Instead, he focused on stabilizing his cultivation, tempering his control, and... attempting to refine the "junk" in the courtyard.
Sure enough, just as he had expected!
The Myriad Dao Furnace's tyranny exceeded imagination! Even from the most ordinary weeds and moss, it could forcibly extract and purify the faint trace of botanical essence and vitality contained within!
Though this energy was exceedingly meager and nearly negligible for increasing his cultivation, it could continuously replenish the energy he expended on cultivation and maintaining his disguise, allowing him to remain in peak condition at all times!
Moreover, as he refined these different plants, Lin Chen's understanding of the Myriad Dao Furnace seemed to deepen another layer! He faintly sensed that the furnace was not merely extracting energy, but rather analyzing the "essence" of these substances!
The feeling was mysterious beyond explanation, difficult to put into words, yet it filled Lin Chen's heart with even greater anticipation!
Time quietly slipped away amid Lin Chen's seemingly calm, yet secretly turbulent cultivation and preparations.
Night fell once more.
Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes. A flash of brilliance passed through them before they returned to the stillness of an ancient well.
After an afternoon of cultivation and consolidation, he had not only completely stabilized the Body Tempering Realm Fourth Layer, but had also brought his control over his own strength to an even subtler and more precise level.
More importantly, he now had a clearer and more thorough plan for tonight's operation.
The night was the best cover.
Tonight, he would transform into a hunter in the darkness and silently approach his first "prey"!
A soundless hunt aimed at Lin Bao was about to begin!
And all of it would unfold beneath the perfect disguise of Feigning Weakness to Deceive the Strong.
The people of the Lin Family would never imagine that the worthless fool they believed was about to be eliminated was now, like a venomous snake in the darkness, quietly baring his icy fangs!
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