Beside a tranquil lake, Li Kuanglan sat with a fishing rod in hand. He appeared leisurely on the surface, but his eyes betrayed a deep, burning irritation.

The four individuals he had been searching for had eluded him for four consecutive days.

If another day passed without a trace, he was ready to give up entirely.

"Brother Lan, Brother Lan! We found them! We found the whereabouts of those four!" Chen He called out, his portly frame rushing toward the lakeside as fast as his legs could carry him.

Li Kuanglan, who had been staring idly at the water, suddenly jerked his head up. The gloom masking his face vanished instantly, replaced by a booming laugh. "Are they being watched?"

"Rest assured, Brother Lan. Over a dozen of our brothers are keeping tabs on them. There is no way they can slip away," Chen He declared with absolute certainty.

"Superb! Let us go and pay a visit to Yun Zhonghe and his group..."

...

At the foot of Water Blue Peak, Yun Zhonghe sat anxiously upon a boulder. Four full days had passed, yet they had not uncovered even a shadow of that brat. He could only worry whether the natural spiritual treasure had already been wasted and consumed.

Not far away, Leng Ning and Bai Yu also wore expressions of deep impatience.

Could that brat have vanished into thin air? How could he remain completely unseen for so many days?

"Fellow Daoists, let us wait for one final day. If there is still no sign of him today, we shall call off the search. There are only four days remaining in the trial. We must make haste to gather more Star Values; they will undoubtedly serve a grand purpose later," Yun Zhonghe suggested with a sigh.

"Very well," Bai Yu and Leng Ning agreed, nodding in unison. The only reason they had been willing to waste four days here was their understanding that a natural spiritual treasure was not so easily refined. Within four days, that brat could not possibly have exhausted it all.

"Then we shall wait a bit longer. I refuse to believe that brat has grown wings and flown away," Yun Zhonghe muttered, a vicious glint flickering in his eyes. A weakling of meager cultivation had actually wasted five days of his time. If that boy fell into his hands, he would shatter his Star Token and ensure he suffered thoroughly.

Suddenly, Yun Zhonghe looked toward the path ahead. A tall figure was striding directly toward them.

Though his expression remained impassive, Yun Zhonghe's heart stirred. Given the formidable strength of their trio, ordinary cultivators would never dare disturb them uninvited. Could this newcomer possess news of that brat?

"I am Li Kuanglan. Greetings, Fellow Daoists," Li Kuanglan announced in a clear, resonant voice.

Leng Ning and Bai Yu fixed their gazes upon him. They had heard whispers regarding this Black Rank Eighth Grade expert. More importantly, they knew this individual shared a bitter grievance with Tang Yan. At that realization, a spark of anticipation lit up their eyes.

"We have long heard of the Raging Wave Gang's renown. A pleasure to meet you. May I ask if Brother Li brings urgent matters?" Yun Zhonghe asked, offering a polite cupped-fist salute.

"Four days ago, the three of you put forth a bounty. I, Li, am here to claim it!" Li Kuanglan replied.

Leng Ning let out a sharp, mocking chuckle from the side, cutting straight to the bone. "Young Master Li, forgive my bluntness, but I heard that you gained absolutely no advantage during your recent clash with Tang Yan. Frankly speaking, the probability of you capturing him yourself is zero.

"He possesses exceptional speed. The moment he senses he is being pursued, he will flee instantly.

"What gives you the confidence that you can find him?"

An acute pang of humiliation struck Li Kuanglan's heart, and he cursed Leng Ning bitterly in his mind.

His defeat at Tang Yan's hands was a raw scar, yet this madwoman insisted on rubbing salt into it.

Taking a deep breath, Li Kuanglan reminded himself of the disparity in their power. Suppressing his rage, he spoke calmly, "While I do not know Tang Yan's exact location, nor have I seen him, I do know where his companions are hiding. If we seize his friends together, we can surely force him out into the open."

"And what if he chooses to remain hidden?" Leng Ning countered sharply.

"If he plays the coward and refuses to show his face, we need only spread word of this back to his homeland. Do you believe his clan will survive when the surrounding families seize the opportunity to ostracize and crush them?" Li Kuanglan answered smoothly, thoroughly prepared.

Yun Zhonghe and the others nodded slightly in agreement. If Tang Yan chose to be a turtle hiding in its shell while his teammates were captured, his clan would indeed become a prime target back home, stripped of any foothold.

"Excellent! Lead the way, Brother Li," Yun Zhonghe decided.

"And when will the Third Rank Pills be delivered?" Li Kuanglan remained rooted to the spot.

"The pills are yours. However, let us lay the ugly truths bare first-if Brother Li dares to deceive us, do not blame us for turning hostile!" The three sneered, tossing a satchel of pills across to him.

With their absolute martial superiority, they had no fear of Li Kuanglan playing tricks. At worst, they could simply slaughter him and reclaim everything with interest.

Catching the satchel, Li Kuanglan was overjoyed. Thirty Third Rank Pills would easily allow his strength to ascend to a whole new level.

Securing the pills safely, Li Kuanglan signaled Chen He to lead. The entire party hurried swiftly toward the southeast.

...

"You still need to deliberate? What an absolute coward!" Tang Yan pointed a finger at Yu Juechen, cursing him openly.

"You call me a coward?" Yu Juechen stared back, utterly incredulous at the youth's complete lack of decorum.

Just because he had not agreed to become this guy's attendant, he was subjected to personal vitriol?

"As the young master of the Rakshasa Sect, you lack the courage to shoulder the heavy burdens of your lineage. You fear that you cannot control the sect, and you dread that you cannot bring it to greater heights. Thus, you chose to run away, all while claimining you possess no desire for authority.

"You preferred to be driven from your home rather than summon the mettle to face your familial duties. Ask your own Dao Heart-am I speaking the truth?" Tang Yan shifted the attack seamlessly, his tone commanding and stern.

Yu Juechen's body stiffened as he stared at Tang Yan in profound shock.

The ugly reality he had spent years avoiding was now laid completely bare, causing his complexion to turn exceedingly grim.

How could this stranger possibly know these secrets?

He could never have guessed that Tang Yan possessed the insights of two lifetimes. In his past life, Tang Yan had witnessed countless power struggles within elite clans.

Synthesizing that experience with the fact that Yu Juechen had fled his family entirely penniless, Tang Yan had deduced the entire narrative with ease.

"As for the terms I offered, your heart is already swayed. Yet, you cling to your identity as the young master of the Rakshasa Sect, unable to swallow your pride or cast aside your lofty status.

"You do not possess the courage to strip away your vanity. This is the second proof of your cowardice!"

"You..." Yu Juechen's eyes burned a furious crimson. He glared deathly at Tang Yan, opening his mouth to strike back, but every single accusation was so undeniably accurate that he was left entirely speechless.

"This flawed state of mind is precisely what severely obstructs your progress on the martial path. Tell me, did your father not once declare that despite your immense talent, your cultivation in this lifetime would hit a ceiling? That you would likely spend your entire existence barely reaching the Heaven Rank?" Tang Yan pressed relentlessly, striking while the iron was hot.

"What?!"

At this moment, no amount of shock could adequately describe the tempest in Yu Juechen's mind.

How could this person possibly know of such a private, deeply buried evaluation? Who in the world was he?

"Your father's judgment only served to deepen your passive, defeatist attitude!

"Weighed down by this internal torment, you trudge forward under a heavy spiritual burden, destined only to be left far behind by the true geniuses of your generation. Are you genuinely content to let your life end in such mediocrity?" Tang Yan stepped forward, his presence bearing down.

Cold sweat beaded across Yu Juechen's forehead. Tang Yan's analysis was flawless.

Was he truly content? Absolutely not.

If he had truly accepted his fate, why would he continue to risk his life training so desperately?

Breathing heavily, Yu Juechen let out a low, ragged roar. "Can you truly make me stronger?"

"I can!"

Tang Yan's voice dropped to a calm, steady register, yet each syllable struck Yu Juechen's soul like the tolling of a divine bronze bell.

"With what capability?" Yu Juechen demanded, his bloodshot eyes locked onto Tang Yan.