“Naturally.” Ling Han nodded. “Lady Yan invited me over for a banquet a few days ago. Didn’t you just send Miss Shuang Shuang over with the invitation?”
“Shuang Shuang did not come here today?” Lady Yan asked, her tone laced with meaning.
Ling Han knew that this was the point where they would be laying all their cards out on the table.
If he answered no, and Lady Yan managed to find Yun Shuang Shuang here, then the relationship between them would naturally be completely shattered.
“No!” Ling Han denied, without sparing even a moment of thought.
Though he had always had a heart to sympathize with the weaker party, Ling Han thought that the kind of person who could manipulate the adopted daughter that she herself had taken in in such a way was disgraceful.
“Mister Ling would not mind if I take a look for myself, right?” Lady Yan asked.
“If I say I mind, would Lady Yan listen to me?” Ling Han countered, sighing deeply in his heart. If Guang Yuan had come over today, it would have been good.
Lady Yan merely giggled delicately, and began to tour around his courtyard, very quickly arriving at the room that the Liu sisters were staying in. She gave a light push, and when she realized that the doors were locked, a cold smirk curled up the corners of her lips. She suddenly exerted power through her palm, and pa , the latch that kept the doors locked was shattered from the force.
A creak resounded, and the doors opened slightly.
Lady Yan gave a light push, and the two doors instantly opened wide.
“Ya!” A girl had been in the process of putting on her clothes, and when she saw the visitor, she hurriedly used her clothing to cover her breasts and asked with alarm, “Who are you?”
Lady Yan’s eyes swept over her. This was a young girl, and an extremely beautiful one at that, but she looked very different from Yun Shuang Shuang. Moreover, she was too familiar with Yun Shuang Shuang. Even if the latter had disguised herself, there was no way her eyes would be fooled.
This girl was obviously not her.
“Ai, I’d like to request Lady Yan to keep my secret!” Ling Han deliberately sighed. “Please do not tell Yu Tong!”
A flash of suspicion passed over Lady Yan’s face. Could it be that this girl was Ling Han’s little girlfriend, and that was why he had tried repeatedly to stop her from entering? It was as simple as that? However, why did this girl look a little familiar to her?
As she thought, she slowly nodded, and said with a smile, “Men are indeed all greedy and lecherous. Yu Tong is the princess of the Liu Clan. Treat her well; please do not miss out on such a wonderful relationship.”
Ling Han merely grinned awkwardly.
“I shall not disturb the two of you, then. I still have some matters to attend to, so I shall beg my leave here. If Mister Ling is free, please do come frequently to the Cherishing Flower Pavilion to play. Tian’er misses you and Yu Tong very much.” Lady Yan turned around and left.
“I shall escort you.” Ling Han turned around and winked at Liu Feng Er, who was inside the room, then escorted Lady Yan out.
When they arrived at the doors, Lady Yan abruptly turned around and asked, “Mister Ling, what is the name of that girl just now? I seem to have seen her somewhere before?”
“How could that be? She is just a silly girl who has never seen the world,” Ling Han said with a smile.
Lady Yan nodded, turned and left.
Ling Han closed the door and hurried to the room. At this moment, Liu Ru Er and Yun Shuang Shuang had also crawled out from underneath the bed. They had been holding their breath and hanging from the bedframe all along just now, so at this moment, they were panting for breath.
“Hu, thank goodness the old witch was fooled and left!” Liu Ru Er said, patting her chest in relief.
Ling Han shook his head, and said, “Maybe not!”
“Hasn’t she already left?” Liu Ru Er asked in incomprehension.
“She has, but she has not let go of all her suspicions,” Ling Han said. “If it was not for the fact that she did not want to completely turn hostile against me, she would have searched through the whole courtyard just now. However, this will only delay her for a while.”
He paused, and said to Liu Feng Er, “However, your identity has been exposed. I believe that she will quickly recall that you are a wanted criminal.”
“That’s impossible!” Liu Ru Er shook her head, then said proudly, “I deliberately let my sister step out just now. No one has seen her real face before!”
“Are you an idiot!” Ling Han said bluntly, and pointed at the mirror. “Just take a look at how similar the two of you look like? There would also be some discrepancies with the portrait of the wanted criminal, so the two of you can completely be taken to be the same person!”
“She must have gone to inform the Imperial Guards by now, and before long, the Imperial Guards would arrive to investigate. By that time, the three of you would be found, and her goal would naturally be achieved.”
Chapter 202
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
“Then what do we do now?” A hint of worry appeared on the faces of the three girls.
“Of course, flee!” Ling Han waved them off. “Immediately, right now, all of you disguise yourselves and leave the Imperial City.”
“Yi, how did you know that we know how to disguise ourselves?” Liu Ru Er was once again stunned.
Ling Han sighed, and looked at her scornfully. “Don’t forget. I have seen how your sister looks like after she has disguised herself.”
“Oh, right!” Liu Ru Er clapped her hands, then looked a bit dejected. She was really so stupid, always being mocked by this guy.
“Make a move. You all don’t have much time left,” Ling Han urged.
The three girls quickly began disguising themselves. The Liu Sisters were professionals in this area. They disguised themselves first before helping Yun Shuang Shuang with her disguise. Instantly, they became three young men. What astonished Ling Han was the fact that, somehow, they managed to flatten their breasts and there was a protruding Adam’s apple on their necks.
They put on Ling Han’s clothing, and took with them some cash. Their original clothing, such as their skirts, for example, was burnt to ashes in the courtyard.
“Young Master Han, thank you. In the future, if I get the chance, Shuang Shuang will do everything to repay your great kindness!” Yun Shuang Shuang thanked him.
Ling Han shrugged, and said, “If you have not been sold off by the sisters, then we’ll talk about it.”
“Pei, we’re not human traffickers!” Liu Ru Er rolled her eyes. She thought that Ling Han was a really detestable character, always bickering with her.
“Mister Ling, we shall meet again.” Liu Feng Er curtsied. However, because she currently appeared to be a young man, this movement was extremely weird.
“Go on.” Ling Han waved them off.
The three girls left, and soon, there was no sign left of them.
“Haha, it’s finally quiet around here.” Ling Han laughed. Actually, this was his real purpose. He had finally chased off two freeloaders, so he was very pleased.
“Ye!” Hu Niu was also clapping her hands in delight, though she did not know what Ling Han was so happy about.
However, Ling Han had not guessed wrongly. After over an hour, a troop of Imperial Guards arrived. Though their tone was polite, and they even apologized for disturbing him, they still insisted to search through Ling Han’s courtyard.
Naturally, nothing was discovered.
They apologetically begged their leave. They had arrived in a rush, and also left in a rush.
Ling Han sighed. Looks like he and Lady Yan were firmly on opposing sides by now—it was not that they had not found the person she was looking for, but that they had not found anyone at all! Since one person could disappear, then, naturally, two or even three could disappear as well!
For the sake of her son, Lady Ya
n immersed herself in scheming, and could even involve the adopted daughter she had cared for for so many years in her plans, what more him.
“Forget it. I’ll just offend her, then. Anyways, I already have many enemies, so it would be of no difference if I have another one.” Ling Han lazily stretched. He should go and prepare their meals. Hu Niu was already hanging from his neck, and endlessly shouting, “Meat, meat, meat…!”
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Guang Yuan had finally arrived. However, he did not choose to stay in Ling Han’s courtyard. Instead, he found another courtyard near to Ling Han’s own. Anyways, there were a lot of empty, unoccupied courtyards in this area.
With a bodyguard in Spiritual Ocean Tier, Ling Han was naturally much more relaxed. This was real battle prowess. As long as no one in Spiritual Pedestal Tier appeared, there were not many who could defeat Guang Yuan. Moreover, with a bit of guidance from Ling Han, it would be enough for Guang Yuan to become invincible against anyone in Spiritual Ocean Tier.
However, Ling Han was not in the mood for this right now.
His cultivation rate was too rapid. Now, he had reached the peak period of the ninth layer of Element Gathering Tier. He would have to either break through to Gushing Spring Tier, or he could only stay at this cultivation level, and there would be no further increase to his battle prowess.
It was not that he had no way to break through to Gushing Spring Tier. Instead, it was because he was currently faced with a choice—he could still attempt to challenge and break through to the tenth layer of Element Gathering Tier.
This was a cultivation level that only existed in legends and theories. At least, as far as Ling Han knew, no one had reached this cultivation level before.
Break through the limitation of nine, and capture the “one” of the world, reaching perfection.
But was it really possible?
In the records of that predecessor, that was only a guess, but it had never been accomplished before.
Ling Han considered seriously the probability of success.
In his last life, he had already been in Heaven Tier, so naturally he needed not think of this problem as he had long passed this level. However, the current him not only had the comprehension remaining from his last life, he also had the necessary conditions that qualified him to make this attempt, and this was what caused him to hesitate.
How high was this possibility?
Ling Han tried to deduce the possible results, but still did not come to a conclusion.
It could only be claimed that, theoretically, it was indeed possible. However, without being proven in reality, everything was mere empty words.
A madness gradually brimmed in his eyes, and he decided to take the gamble.
In this life, he was cultivating the Indestructible Heaven Scroll. This was an amazing technique, with a Grade so high that it could not be estimated. Then, with such a cultivation technique in his hands, should he not ensure that his foundations would be incomparably sturdy and firm?
Element Gathering Tier was the second cultivation tier in martial arts. One could say that this was merely the beginning, but it was an extremely important step, as the subsequent seven tiers would all be derived from this one tier.
He decided to take this risk!
He began his seclusion to challenge this tenth layer of Element Gathering TIer that perhaps no one had ever managed to reach before.
In his Dantian, there were nine big Origin Nuclei, and forty-five smaller Origin Nuclei that took the shape of a Nine Palace Array. It was a very stable and subtle arrangement.
If he decided to insert another Origin Nucleus, where should he put it?
Ling Han felt a headache coming on. Though he had decided to take the risk and make the attempt, he truly had no idea where to start. How could innovation be anything easy?
He had considered many possibilities, but he rejected them all. That was because if he could consider them, then it was natural that his predecessors would have thought of them as well. Even if they themselves had missed out on the chance, how could they not allow their juniors to make the attempt?
To successfully complete this step would naturally need him to deviate from the normal path, or even go to extreme lengths or a dead end; only with that would it be possible for him to be forced into such desperate straits that he had no other way but succeed.
Ling Han hesitated once again. If he merely had to follow in the steps of his predecessors, then as long as his foundations were firm, with his Immortal Grade Spirit Base and the Indestructible Heaven Scroll, he would definitely advance faster and go further than he had in his last life, so it seemed like there was no need for him to take such a risk.
However, his heart and spirit became even more determined.
He wanted to become the strongest in this life.
His heart and spirit returned to a calm state, and he began to consider a considerable number of strategies on how to proceed with his gamble.
There was a large number of possible options that were immediately eliminated by him when he thought of them, and finally, there were only two possible methods he could attempt left.
The first was to allow the nine big Origin Nuclei to repel each other, and create a special space where he would form his tenth Origin Nucleus. The second was to merge all nine big Origin Nuclei into one gigantic Origin Nucleus. This could also be considered as “one” and conformed to the Dao of the world, becoming the evasive one.
In comparison, the second strategy was practically crazy.
Thus, Ling Han decided to first attempt the former.
He worked hard on allowing the nine big Origin Nuclei to repel each other, and create a special space in between them.
This step was possible, but the problem was that the nine big Origin Nuclei were the source of his energy and power. Now that they were repelling each other, all his energy and power was spent here, so how could he have the extra energy to form the tenth Origin Nucleus?
Ling Han tried a number of ways, but still, there was no way to solve this problem.
All of a sudden, ten days had passed, and he was still back where he had started.
Was this method not possible?
Ling Han sighed. He had already wasted precious ten days, so he did not want to and could not continue to delay the matter any longer. He still wanted to break through to Gushing Spring Tier and understand the secrets of the Black Tower.
Then, he’d give the second strategy a try.
Chapter 203
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
The second strategy he’d come up with was to destroy and reform.
He had to first destroy all nine big Origin Nuclei, and form a new gigantic Origin Nuclei that would become the evasive one. This conformed to the Dao of the world, and was not something he had come up with in the heat of the moment, but he could foresee that putting this into practice would be much more difficult than whatever he could think up of.
The nine big Origin Nuclei were the source of his power. If he actually shattered them all in one go, then the power created from their simultaneous destruction would be enough to kill him 1000 times, or 10,000 times, so there was no need for him to even think about forming the evasive one at that point.
The reason why Ling Han dared to do this was because there was still Big Boss Black Tower in his Dantian.
This Big Boss shattered his physical body in his last life just to have him cultivate the Indestructible Heaven Scroll, and then had him seize a new body to be reborn. How great a power was that, and how much of a concern 1 was that? Now he intended to self-destruct his Origin Nuclei, so Big Boss Black, are you going to interfere or not?
You definitely have to interfere, right? Then everything’s settled.
Ling Han was a bit shameless, but there was no other way for it. This was the first attempt to break through to the tenth layer of Element Gathering Tier in history, and he did not even know what was the right thing to do to
achieve his aim. Thus, he could only depend on the Black Tower. Otherwise, there would only be a millionth of a chance that he would succeed in this attempt, so how could he dare to take the risk?
Come on then!
He controlled the Origin Nuclei in his Dantian, and began the process of destruction.
It was actually very easy to do this, because all the big Nuclei were comprised of five smaller Origin Nuclei that had different elemental alignments, and these smaller Origin Nuclei achieved a balance between them in a wonderful way. He only needed to break this balance, and the five Elements would go out of control, and naturally, the Origin Nuclei would self-destruct.
Not one by one, but all in one go!
Destruction was always easier than construction. Within only an instant, all the Origin Nuclei began to tremble. The Five Elements both augmented and restrained each other. They began to totter, as if they were the foundations of a tall skyscraper that had suffered heavy damage, and were on the verge of destruction.
Hong, hong, hong . The five Origin Nuclei were destroyed one by one. However, their explosion did not spread outwards. Instead, their explosion was concentrated inwards, as if they formed individual black holes. From an extremely big structure, they shrank into extremely small balls.
Ling Han’s spirit and heart trembled, already feeling the appearance of external power.
Black Tower!
His consciousness swept over his Dantian, and saw the usually calm and ordinary Black Tower was currently emanating a pale light. There was golden writing flickering on the body of the Black Tower, but Ling Han did not even recognize half of a character of this writing, just like when he first encountered the Indestructible Heaven Scroll, which required 10,000 years simply to comprehend it.
No, no, no. 10,000 years was only enough to comprehend the first layer of cultivation technique.
One wave of power after another swept out from the Black Tower and acted towards those forty-five Origin Nuclei of his, and it was precisely this power that allowed the explosive power to be concentrated inwards instead of exploding outwards dramatically. Otherwise… his Dantian would be completely destroyed in the aftermath.
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 117