C4 Pill Tower!

"Report any leads on him to me at once!"

"Understood!"

Ye Dao promptly acknowledged, his eyes sparking with resolve as he inquired, "However, Patriarch, what should our Ye Family do next? We can't just let the offense against our young masters slide, not to mention the severe blow to our reputation this incident has caused."

"Focus on digging up information about that kid first."

Ye Hong replied with an icy demeanor, "Regarding our next steps, our hands are tied for the moment. The Ye Family's influence within the Celestial Dragon Sect has grown too large, raising concerns among the higher echelons. Any hasty action now would surely provoke a backlash from them, as evidenced by Hoo Xiu's intervention. For the time being, we stay put. We'll devise a strategy after the Outer Sect Assessment commences. At that point, I'll have Jian and Ye Hsing take care of him. Your investigation in the interim is crucial. I need to know exactly what that kid has acquired!"

"Yes, I've got it!"

Ye Hong cast a final, cold glance at the unconscious Ye Hu on the bed, instructing, "Once he comes to, inform him that he's been cast out of the main family and relegated to a branch family. He's only to return once he achieves Martial Apprentice Level Six and becomes a true Martial Cultivator."

With that, Ye Hong turned on his heel and departed.

A complex emotion flickered in Ye Dao's eyes as he processed the words.

Such was the plight of those born into a great clan.

Favored for talent and strength, yet discarded at the first sign of weakness or defeat.

If even within one's family the bonds were this frigid, what chance did he, a mere branch family member, have?

"I must thoroughly investigate that kid. I refuse to be cast aside."

With that thought etched in his mind, Ye Dao too made his exit.

Inside the thatched cottage.

Lin Tian sat in contemplation, his gaze darting about as he pondered his next move.

Memories of his past life flickered before him, a rapid succession of events leading up to his current predicament.

Ultimately, it all boiled down to power.

With power, all was negotiable. Without it, there was nothing to discuss.

He was well aware that his goal was to bolster his strength and ascend to the Martial Cultivator Stage, but a crucial step in that journey was awakening his Spirit Body.

A Martial Apprentice could progress through six distinct realms, achieving a robust Inner Strength at Level Six that allowed for the fusion of internal and external forces. Yet, true integration required the awakening of one's Spirit Body.

The Spirit Body came with its own set of attributes, including the common five elements and various weapon affinities. Awakening to a specific attribute and cultivating a technique that resonated with it could lead to rapid advancement and a clear path for continuous growth.

But awakening the Spirit Body was an arduous task. Many martial artists might reach Martial Apprentice Level Six and master the integration of forces, yet most never awaken their Spirit Body. These individuals were destined to remain within the Martial Artist Stage, with no prospects for further progression.

Ye Dao, Lin Tian's recent opponent, was such a Martial Cultivator Stage practitioner who had not awakened his Spirit Body, limiting his potential for future accomplishments.

Lin Tian understood that while breakthroughs were significant, awakening the Spirit Body was paramount. The sooner he could do so, the quicker he could define his cultivation trajectory and garner the attention he deserved.

"At fourteen, I'm neither old nor young. Failing to awaken my Spirit Body now could severely hinder my future cultivation. So, let's first determine the attribute of my Spirit Body, then devise a strategy to awaken it."

As the former Black Tortoise Sovereign, Lin Tian's vast and varied knowledge was indescribable. For others, awakening a Spirit Body might be as challenging as reaching the heavens, but for him, it was a minor feat. Lin Tian was brimming with confidence.

With a deep exhale, Lin Tian began the Dragon Gate Breathing Technique, immersing himself in cultivation. Simultaneously, his will delved into every nook of his body, embarking on a meticulous search.

After a brief moment, Lin Tian's eyes fluttered open, a streak of light glancing across his vision.

"Hmm, the foundational quality of this body is mediocre, but the Spirit Body's attribute is quite impressive—it's fire. Fire embodies both the essence of life and the power of destruction, subtly aligning with the supreme Dao. However, awakening it will be somewhat challenging. The body's foundation is too weak. I can awaken the Spirit Body without issue, but this body may not be able to endure the Flame Spirit Body's might. I need to find a way to bolster this body's resilience," Lin Tian mused to himself.

After a moment's contemplation, Lin Tian rose to his feet decisively. "To enhance my body's strength, I must rely on medicinal pills. True, excessive use can leave residues, but once the Spirit Body is awakened, I can harness the fire attribute's power to purify any remnants. Coupled with the Black Tortoise Stone's ability to cleanse vital energy, the side effects shouldn't pose a problem. Now, to procure those pills."

Resolved, Lin Tian cast a glance at the slumbering Lin Ling, carefully tucking the blanket around her, before stepping out of the thatched hut.

Upon leaving the hut and treading the mountain paths of Celestial Dragon Mountain, Lin Tian encountered numerous Outer Sect disciples. Spotting him, they hastily stepped aside, some too slow to retreat bowing in respect, their eyes brimming with awe.

The tales of Lin Tian slaying Ye family's Ye Ku and crippling Ye Hu had spread far and wide, instilling a deep fear of him among the disciples—gone were the days of mockery.

Unconcerned with their reactions, Lin Tian continued his descent, reaching the bustling city below Celestial Dragon Mountain—Celestial Dragon City.

As the capital of Celestial Dragon Country, the city was a hub of activity, teeming with life. Observing the throngs of people, Lin Tian felt a spark of realization, a sense of rebirth. At that moment, he knew for certain—he had truly been given a second chance at life.

Moments later, Lin Tian shook his head, pushing aside the wave of nostalgia that had washed over him, and began navigating the streets of Celestial Dragon City from memory. Before long, he found himself on the city's most bustling commercial thoroughfare.

Skyscrapers lined the street, their opulent decorations exuding an air of elegance and authority.

"The Qi Cultivating Pill is exactly what I need to enhance my physical strength," Lin Tian mused. "Though it's the most basic at the Common Level, it's still incredibly valuable. The only place to find it is in the major trading houses of Celestial Dragon City."

With this in mind, Lin Tian strode down the street, taking in the sights on either side.

He soon came upon an imposing edifice that towered dozens of feet high, its dark yellow facade glistening in the sunlight, standing proudly at the street's center.

His gaze was drawn to the building's signboard, which bore two characters that seemed to dance with life:

Pill Tower!

Acknowledging the sign with a nod, Lin Tian stepped confidently toward the entrance of the Pill Tower.

He was well aware that alchemists were a rare and revered breed on the Black Tortoise Continent, and any establishment bold enough to prefix its name with 'Pill' was surely affiliated with the Pharmacist Association. For Lin Tian, finding Qi Cultivating Pills there would be no issue.

"I need a Common Level Viscera Pill."

"I'm looking for a Wounds Healing Pill..."

As he entered the Pill Tower, a chorus of requests greeted his ears. The place was teeming with patrons, each adorned in gold and silver, a testament to their wealth and status.

"Welcome to the Pill Tower," greeted a young woman in a blue dress, approaching Lin Tian with a warm smile. "My name is Huang Xin, at your service. What kind of medicine pill are you seeking?"

Lin Tian nodded, "I'm looking to acquire a Common Level medicinal pill, the Qi Cultivating Pill, as well as some common level medicinal herbs..."

He rattled off a list of ingredients, leaving Huang Xin momentarily dumbfounded. Once Lin Tian finished, she replied apologetically, "My apologies, sir. We do have the Qi Cultivating Pills, but of the herbs you mentioned, I'm only familiar with two. The rest are unknown to me."

Lin Tian's brow furrowed. Truth be told, those medicinal herbs were far more crucial to him than any Qi Cultivating Pill.

Having mastered the Pill Refining Dao in his past life, he was well aware of how to fully harness the potency of a medicine pill. While the Qi Cultivating Pill was beneficial, the true power of the pill lay in those herbs.

With the right ingredients, Lin Tian could enhance a single Qi Cultivating Pill to the effect of at least five, while also minimizing the residual waste. Without them, the efficacy would be significantly reduced.

"Well, considering this is a small frontier nation, I shouldn't set my expectations too high. If that's the case, I'll just have to settle for less."

He mused internally. Without skipping a beat, Lin Tian then added, "Then I'll exchange them for some other medicinal herbs..."

"Huh? Isn't that Lin Tian from our Celestial Dragon Sect, Senior Brother Lin? I heard you lost to Ye Ku in a sparring match a couple of days ago and were nearly killed. How are you up and about again? Haha, now that's truly amusing."

Before Lin Tian could finish speaking, a mocking laugh abruptly cut through the air, causing him to frown and turn his gaze in its direction.

A young couple had emerged nearby. The man, clad in a yellow robe, stood tall and handsome, though his eyes betrayed a chill and scorn. Lin Tian recognized him instantly as Ye Feng, one of the Ye family's scions.

The woman at Ye Feng's side was none other than Liu Muer, the renowned beauty and daughter of the Prime Minister's family from the Celestial Dragon Country.

Clad in a form-fitting white dress, Liu Muer's beauty was undeniable, and despite being only fifteen, her figure was remarkably voluptuous. With each step she took, her bosom heaved, drawing the eyes and eliciting swallowed sighs from the onlookers.

Liu Muer offered a gentle smile, her gaze landing on Lin Tian with a hint of surprise before she turned to Ye Feng and inquired, "Mr. Ye, is he also one of the Celestial Dragon Sect's promising young talents?"

Ye Feng's grin broadened as if he'd heard the punchline to a joke, and he responded with exaggerated seriousness, "Indeed, Miss Liu, he is one of our Sect's distinguished young elites. They call him 'Reckless' Lin Tian."

"Oblivious to danger?"

Liu Muer paused, then burst into giggles. "Mr. Ye, you really have a way with jokes. You could've simply said he's ignorant of the world's vastness—why the need to tease me like that?"

With those words, Liu Muer shot another look at Lin Tian, her gaze now brimming with scorn.