186: Chapter 185 The Lin Family Steals the Elixir

A few days later, in the afternoon, Chen Erniu came to Hu Nan's small courtyard once again to invite him to Liuhuo Prefecture.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries before flying together on their swords toward Liuhuo Prefecture.

Both of them were flying at very high Speeds.

However, because Hu Nan had the Speed enhancement from his Golden Trait, he was slightly faster than Chen Erniu.

Over an hour later, two streaks of light slowly descended, landing steadily outside the city gates of Liuhuo Prefecture.

Chen Erniu led Hu Nan through secluded alleys, and after several turns, they arrived at an inconspicuous residential house.

The house was low and ancient, with mottled walls and few people around; it was extremely well-hidden, clearly a place Chen Erniu had scouted in advance.

Chen Erniu raised his hand and pushed open the wooden door. The interior was dark and simple, with only a worn wooden table and two chairs, yet it was exceptionally clean, evidently having been cleaned beforehand.

He gestured for Hu Nan to enter, then closed the wooden door behind them.

"Brother Hu, sit." Chen Erniu pointed to a chair by the table and sat down first.

"Let's review the details again. Every step must be kept firmly in mind; there must not be the slightest mistake," Chen Erniu said.

Hu Nan sat down and nodded slightly with a focused expression. "Brother Chen, please speak. I will certainly keep it in mind."

Chen Erniu spoke slowly, explaining the plan to steal the Yao Beast core in detail once more, emphasizing every point: "Tomorrow at noon, Lin Zhentian will head to the Heavenly Sword Sect to give a lecture!"

"Fifteen minutes after Lin Zhentian leaves, we will make our move!"

"I will first circle to the west side of the manor to create a disturbance, drawing away the Lin family Cultivators and the main guards to buy you enough time."

"You will sneak into the Secret Chamber, turn the vase to enter the Secret Passage, and take the two Yao Beast cores." He paused, his tone becoming increasingly solemn. "Remember, no matter what situation you encounter, do not get bogged down in combat. Once you have the Yao Beast cores, evacuate immediately."

Qin Changsheng, controlling Hu Nan, listened intently while feigning agreement with nods, though he already understood everything in his heart.

Chen Erniu's goal this time wasn't some Yao Beast core at all.

It was the qiankun token kept at the Lin family manor.

Inviting Hu Nan to steal the Yao Beast cores was merely to use him as a distraction to buy himself enough time to search for the qiankun token.

Hu Nan agreed calmly, a determined look appearing on his face. "Brother Chen, rest assured. The matter of stealing the Yao Beast cores is on me!"

Chen Erniu nodded with satisfaction, his face once again showing a simple and honest smile. "Good! With those words from Brother Hu, I can rest easy."

After saying this, Chen Erniu closed his eyes to regulate his breathing and build up his energy.

Qin Changsheng, controlling Hu Nan, also feigned meditation.

Meanwhile, Qin Changsheng and Wang Cheng also entered Liuhuo Prefecture.

The reason Qin Changsheng came to Liuhuo Prefecture was to prepare for any eventuality.

If Chen Erniu knew the qiankun token was in the Ancestral Hall, he would have Wang Cheng tie Chen Erniu down.

He would then sneak into the Ancestral Hall himself to steal the qiankun token.

If Chen Erniu didn't know, then he would have Wang Cheng sneak into the Ancestral Hall to steal it.

...

The next day at noon.

From the direction of the Lin family manor, a slight ripple of spiritual energy suddenly emanated.

Qin Changsheng looked toward the Lin family.

Above the Lin family manor, an ancient flying boat slowly rose, its entire body forged from profound iron.

The flying boat was surrounded by dense spiritual energy; its Speed was not fast, but it carried a steady Aura as it sped toward the Heavenly Sword Sect.

"Lin Zhentian should have left!" With just one look at the flying boat, Qin Changsheng knew Lin Zhentian had headed for the Heavenly Sword Sect.

After all, this flying boat had always been Lin Zhentian's mode of transport.

At the same time, Chen Erniu also noticed Lin Zhentian's departure.

He turned to Hu Nan and said, "Brother Hu, in fifteen minutes, we move!"

Hu Nan nodded without saying a word.

Qin Changsheng also brought Wang Cheng to the vicinity of the Lin family.

He had already scouted the location of the Ancestral Hall and was only waiting for the right moment to sneak in at maximum Speed.

Fifteen minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

Chen Erniu stood up from his chair. He first scanned the surroundings, then said, "Brother Hu, I'll go create the disturbance first!"

After saying this, Chen Erniu turned into an afterimage, leaped up, and sped toward the nearby Lin family manor.

Chen Erniu's movements were light, like a ghost, as he avoided the patrol guards on the walls and flipped over into the Lin manor.

In just a few moments, a loud explosion suddenly came from within the Lin manor, making the ground tremble slightly. Immediately after, a series of shrill cries and the sound of clashing weapons followed, breaking the manor's tranquility.

"There's an assassin!"

"Quick, come here! An assassin has invaded the west side!"

"Who has such audacity!"

"Guards, catch the assassin!"

Shouts rose one after another, instantly spreading throughout the entire Lin family manor.

The Cultivators and guards originally scattered around the manor looked panicked upon hearing the shouts. They all grabbed their weapons and sped toward the west. The sounds of footsteps and shouts intertwined into a clamor, and the entire Lin manor instantly fell into chaos.

The moment the disturbance began on the west side, Hu Nan also leaped up. Using the chaos as cover, he sped toward the Secret Chamber in the center of the Lin family manor.

He occasionally encountered a few guards along the way, but they were all drawn away by the commotion on the west side.

Before long, Hu Nan arrived outside the Lin family's Secret Chamber.

Although many guards had been lured to the west, one guard remained here.

Fortunately, this guard's cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

Hu Nan quietly circled behind the guard and lunged at him.

The guard failed to react in time, only managing a faint groan before his body went limp and he collapsed, his life force instantly extinguished.

Hu Nan then entered the Secret Chamber.

The Secret Chamber was very simple, with no extra furnishings except for an ancient wooden table. On the table sat a Celadon Vase with simple patterns carved on it. Other than that, there was nothing else, quite different from the heavily guarded, treasure-filled Secret Chamber one might imagine.

Following Chen Erniu's instructions, Hu Nan walked to the wooden table, grasped the Celadon Vase, and slowly turned it.

As the vase turned, a slight 'click' sounded. The next moment, the floor beneath the wooden table slowly split open, revealing a pitch-black entrance. Faint spiritual energy lingered at the entrance; clearly, the Yao Beast cores were stored below.

Just as Hu Nan raised his foot to step into the entrance, a massive colored firework suddenly bloomed above the Secret Chamber. The firework broke through the roof and exploded over the Lin family manor, its light brilliant and exceptionally striking, clearly visible even under the blazing sun.

"Not good! It's the Secret Chamber's warning firework! Someone has broken into the Secret Chamber!"

"Quick, to the Secret Chamber! Someone has intruded!"

"How bold, to dare enter my Lin family's Secret Chamber!"

The Lin family Cultivators cried out in alarm as they saw the firework high in the sky.

The guards and experts who had been rushing toward the west side immediately changed direction. With panicked and angry expressions, they sped toward the Secret Chamber.

Qin Changsheng, who was lurking in the Lin manor, saw the firework and instantly understood that this was Chen Erniu's scheme.

"What a clever plan to kill with a borrowed knife and divert the tiger from the mountain," Qin Changsheng snorted coldly, leading Wang Cheng as they rushed toward the Lin family Ancestral Hall.

He had to seize the qiankun token before Chen Erniu arrived.

Meanwhile, inside the Secret Chamber, Hu Nan did not hesitate and dove directly into the Secret Passage.

The Secret Passage was not very long, with walls made of bluestone slabs.

In just a few moments, Hu Nan reached the end of the passage.

At the end of the passage was a small stone chamber with no extra furnishings, save for an ancient stone table standing steadily in the center.

On the stone table sat two jade boxes.

Hu Nan stepped forward and opened the jade boxes.

Inside the jade boxes lay two plump, rounded Yao Beast cores.

The Yao Beast cores were lustrous all over, emitting a faint golden spiritual light. A dense Yao Beast spiritual energy wafted toward him; even from a few steps away, he could clearly feel the majestic power contained within.

Without the slightest hesitation, Hu Nan put the Yao Beast cores along with the jade boxes directly into his Storage Space.

The moment the Yao Beast cores were placed into the Storage Space, a roar suddenly came from outside the Secret Passage, mixed with the curses of Cultivators and heavy footsteps.

"Quick! Everyone surround the Secret Passage entrance and set up a defensive Formation! We must not let that little thief escape!" Lin Hao's voice also drifted in.

Lin Hao had originally come to Liuhuo Prefecture to enjoy himself for a few days.

He never expected someone to be so bold as to break into the Lin family manor in broad daylight.

And even run into their Lin manor's Secret Chamber to steal Yao Beast cores.

Those Yao Beast cores were treasures that their Lin family had spent a sky-high price to acquire at an auction.

Now that someone was coveting them, how could he not be angry?

Lin Hao's expression was frighteningly dark.

At the same time, Lin Hao decided he must capture that little thief alive.

To let him know the consequences of offending the Lin family.

"Everyone, listen to my command! Guard the Secret Passage entrance strictly. Once that little thief appears, strike immediately. No need to leave him alive!"

"Additionally, send people to the west side to search for any accomplices!"

Lin Hao stood before the Secret Passage and issued his orders.

The reason he didn't enter the passage was that he didn't know how many people had broken in.

Nor did he know their cultivation levels.

He believed that as long as he blocked the entrance and waited for his father, Lin Zhentian, to return, they would surely be able to capture the intruding thieves alive.

"Yes, Young Clan Chief!" The group of Lin family experts responded in unison, their voices loud and carrying a chilling killing intent.

They fanned out, surrounding the Secret Passage entrance tightly. Their Magical Artifacts were unsheathed, glinting with a cold light, as they simultaneously set up a simple defensive Formation, completely sealing off all of Hu Nan's paths of retreat.