C13 Lin Yun Was Ambushed in the Middle of the Night.

"If I told you I'm here for the Grade Three Spirit Alchemist certification, would you let me in?" Lin Yun's eyes, cold and unyielding, fixed on Wang Hu as he spoke with a detached tone.

Wang Hu paused, taken aback. Then, as if he'd heard the punchline of a joke, he burst into laughter. "You, a Grade Three Spirit Alchemist? Don't make me laugh! You probably haven't even seen a pill in your life, let alone concoct one. Quit spouting nonsense!"

But before Wang Hu could finish his taunt, his face turned stormy. A visible, potent Power of Vital Spirit coursed through him, his features twisted in a grim scowl. Clearly, he was ready to resort to violence to eject Lin Yun.

"What do you think you're doing, Wang Hu?" A deep voice cut through the tension, halting Wang Hu in his tracks.

Wang Hu shuddered, spinning around to face the newcomer with a deep bow, his voice dripping with deference. "Master Xia."

Lin Yun followed Wang Hu's gaze to see Master Xia emerging from the Spirit Medicine Alliance. The man's short, plump figure, complete with unsightly pockmarks, struck a somewhat ludicrous image.

Yet, Wang Hu, who had scorned Lin Yun, showed Master Xia a level of respect that was nothing short of astonishing.

"Why are you causing a commotion instead of performing your duties as gatekeeper?" Master Xia's brow furrowed as he admonished.

"Master Xia, this man came here looking for trouble. I was about to send him packing!" Wang Hu's face was a picture of panic as he scrambled to explain.

"I came for the Spirit Alchemist certification, not to cause trouble," Lin Yun interjected with a cold chuckle. "It seems to me you're the one with contempt, unwilling to let me pass. You're intent on smearing the Spirit Medicine Alliance's good name. Your actions are unforgivable!"

Wang Hu had intended to accuse Lin Yun first, but Lin Yun wasn't about to give him that chance.

As Lin Yun finished, Master Xia's eyes narrowed, his icy stare pinning Wang Hu in place. "Wang Hu, is there any truth to his words?"

For a moment, Wang Hu was at a loss for words. Overcome with fear, he fell to his knees, bowing his head to Master Xia. "Master Xia, I beg your forgiveness. It won't happen again, I promise!"

The change in his demeanor was stark, a far cry from his earlier bravado.

"You're pathetic!" Contempt flickered in Master Xia's eyes as he kicked Wang Hu, who coughed up blood from the force.

Lin Yun watched, a silent sneer in his heart. He felt no pity for Wang Hu, a man who only bullied the weak and cowered before the strong. Master Xia then turned away, dismissing Wang Hu as unworthy of further attention.

"Young man, are you here for the Grade One Spirit Alchemist certification?" Master Xia inquired, a smile playing on his lips as he regarded Lin Yun with curiosity. Despite Lin Yun's youth, he seemed unfazed by the grandeur of the Spirit Medicine Alliance, showing not a trace of anxiety.

It was a composure few could muster.

"No, I'm here for the Grade Three certification," Lin Yun corrected, shaking his head.

Master Xia's surprise quickly turned to skepticism. "Young man, I hope you're not jesting with me. I have no patience for such distasteful jokes."

With a resigned smile, Lin Yun replied, "Master Xia, do I strike you as someone who enjoys jesting?"

No matter how he looked at it, Master Xia couldn't see Lin Yun as the type to spout nonsense, yet he still struggled to believe it. Lin Yun appeared to be no more than seventeen or eighteen years old. How could a youth so young possibly be a Grade Three Spirit Alchemist?

Even Meng Tao, hailed as a prodigy among Spirit Alchemists, could only manage to produce a qualified Grade Two pill.

This situation seemed almost too good to be true.

"Well then, I wish you the best of luck," Master Xia said with a shake of his head before he hurried off.

He had pressing matters to attend to and couldn't spare any more time for idle conversation with Lin Yun.

Watching Master Xia depart, Lin Yun wasted no time and strode into the grand entrance of the Spirit Medicine Alliance. As he entered, he was struck by the vastness of the space, far more expansive than he had envisioned, resembling a palace.

The air was thick with the potent scents of various herbs.

This was the Spirit Medicine Alliance.

Approaching the registration desk, Lin Yun confidently stated, "Hello, I'm here to certify as a Grade Three Spirit Alchemist."

The registrar looked up, a hint of surprise in his voice, "Do you have proof of being a Spirit Alchemist from the Spirit Medicine Alliance?" Unlike Wang Hu at the entrance, he didn't dismiss Lin Yun. "If not, I'm afraid your certification will have to wait a few days."

"Why is that?" Lin Yun asked urgently.

After the registrar explained, Lin Yun came to understand. Simply possessing the skills of a Spirit Alchemist wasn't enough to earn the Alliance's certification.

The process was straightforward. With branches throughout the major cities of the Great Qin Dynasty, the Spirit Medicine Alliance operated under the dynasty's protection. They couldn't possibly accept someone with a dubious background, a wanted criminal, or a perpetrator of crimes against the state.

Thus, the Alliance needed to conduct a thorough background check on Lin Yun before proceeding with his Spirit Alchemist certification. Only after verifying his identity could they move forward.

Having submitted his identity details to the registrar, Lin Yun left the Spirit Medicine Alliance feeling a touch of irritation. He had hoped to complete his certification swiftly and return to the Mystic Moon Sect sooner rather than later.

But now, it looked like he'd be spending a few extra days in the Northern Prefecture Pass.

He made his way back to the Wind and Cloud Inn along the lively streets.

Unbeknownst to him, someone in the crowd was keeping a close eye on him, following him all the way to the vicinity of the inn.

Once back at the Wind and Cloud Inn, Lin Yun didn't rest. He resumed his cultivation of the Demonic Heavenly Profound Scripture.

This time, however, he wasn't using the Marrow Cleansing Pill for bodily refinement as he had in the small courtyard. Instead, he chose the Grade One Essence Cultivating Pill.

The Essence Cultivating Pill was designed to help martial cultivators consolidate their Vital Energy, opening up the body's meridians and strengthening their foundation.

After the attendant had prepared a large tub of hot water, he greeted Lin Yun with a smile, "Sir, your bath is ready!"

Lin Yun nodded in appreciation, handed the attendant a tip, and watched as he left the room with a cheerful smile.

"I need to concoct 300 Essence Cultivating Pills!" Lin Yun declared.

The system's voice chimed in, "Host, you lack sufficient psychic force!"

"Then I'll exchange for 30 points of psychic force!"

In no time, the bathtub brimmed with a heap of Essence Cultivating Pills. Dissolving into the water, they turned the bath a deep, brownish-yellow.

The potency of this medicinal bath was at least triple that of the last, and with it, the pain Lin Yun faced would multiply. But he was ready for it, mentally steeled for the agony.

To gain strength swiftly, he was willing to bear the excruciating pain.

Stripped of his clothing, Lin Yun stepped into the barrel.

This time, the heat was like nothing he'd ever felt, as if his skin were aflame.

Given the Yang-attribute of the Essence Cultivating Pills, the intense heat made sense.

Lin Yun, braced for this moment, clenched his teeth and withstood the torment. After enduring nearly three hours, as darkness enveloped the sky, he emerged from the relentless scorching.

He noticed his skin had toughened, and the Genuine Force within him had surged to an alarming degree after absorbing the power of three hundred pills.

His strength had significantly improved, propelling him from Power Refinement Grade Four to Grade Six.

Truth be told, Lin Yun hadn't focused on enhancing his Genuine Force. His efforts were poured into mastering the Demonic Heavenly Profound Scripture. The boost in his Genuine Force came naturally, as remnants of the pills' power, left after each bodily refinement, were converted by his robust physique.

As the night deepened, hunger pangs struck Lin Yun. He requested a meal from the Wind and Cloud Inn, where the waitstaff knew his now prodigious appetite.

"Sir, your meal is served," announced a waiter, entering with a knock. This wasn't the familiar face Lin Yun knew, but the bustling inn employed many.

But as the food settled on the table, the waiter's eyes betrayed a flash of lethal intent, and a glint of steel flickered from his sleeve.

In an instant, a surge of Genuine Force burst forth.

Lin Yun reacted swiftly, attempting to evade the deadly gleam of the blade.

Despite his quick reflexes, the blade grazed his arm, drawing blood that dripped ominously onto the floor.

The searing pain ignited a grim shadow across Lin Yun's face.