Yin Jiuxiao hadn’t yet realized what fate awaited him with Lin Qinghen, and this was his first meeting with Lang Clan’s “strategist.”

They chose to meet just outside the city, in a quiet, secluded grove with no one around. A bit further, and they’d be on Lang Clan’s turf.

The man’s name was Wei Lin, a lean middle-aged man with two thin mustaches and sharp, calculating eyes.

When Yin Jiuxiao arrived, he made no attempt to disguise himself. Just showed up as he was. Wei Lin looked over, visibly stunned at first. He hadn’t expected him to be so young. With the seamless way he’d passed messages, Wei Lin figured he’d reached Heavenly Tier, definitely stronger than himself.

In Lei City’s surroundings, Heavenly Tiers were rare, so when he met a lone Heavenly Tier like this, he didn’t break off contact. The current crisis was serious, and this person seemed to know a lot about Lei City’s situation, completely on top of recent events. It was enough to make Wei Lin seriously consider collaborating to get rid of the head leader.

Wei Lin came to this meeting thinking it was like finding a pillow when you’re dead tired, a Heavenly Tier partner dropped straight from the heavens. But his first reaction when they met face-to-face was…disappointment.

Even though Heavenly Tier cultivators could keep their youthful appearance, it’s easy to tell someone who’s really around eighteen years old. How much use could someone this young really be?

“You…” Wei Lin looked him up and down, a mix of annoyance and resignation on his face. He took a deep breath and said, “Who are you, kid? Are you messing with me at a time like this?”

To be fair, he had some restraint; he didn’t immediately whip out his Essence and give the guy a beating.

The “kid” Yin Jiuxiao, standing there, leaning against a tree, tilted his head with an amused look and replied, “Doesn’t the Second Leader really recognize me? I’m a Lei City native, born and raised right here.”

With those words, Wei Lin, who’d been about to walk off, paused and turned his attention back to him.

Huh? A Lei City native?

Wei Lin had assumed this guy came from somewhere outside. But was there really someone like him within Lei City?

The Lang Clan’s spies were always keeping an eye on city news, and he’d never heard of anyone like this. And among the major powers in Lei City, no young person with this level of ability had come to light, as far as he knew. Lin Qinghen didn’t look like this either.

So Wei Lin stayed, scrutinizing this person’s face. He felt like he should recognize him, but after racking his brain, he couldn’t place him.

It wasn’t entirely his fault for being out of the loop. Yin Jiuxiao rarely left the Yin family’s inner residence, so despite his title as Young Master, he’d mostly stayed under the radar. Though Wei Lin had seen his face in reports from lower ranks, he hadn’t paid attention at the time, so it just slipped his mind. Plus, Yin Jiuxiao’s eyes had changed—from lifeless gray to something altogether different, making it harder to identify him. When those eyes turned on him, Wei Lin almost felt intimidated by this young man’s presence.

“You…”

“Can’t remember?” Yin Jiuxiao stepped forward.

“Let me jog your memory.” He spoke softly.

Without any more words, Yin Jiuxiao unsheathed his Essence, and the sword, glowing with a faint light, slipped out from his sleeve, its point tilted slightly downward, casting a chilling glint.

The moment a Spirit Master unleashes their Essence is when their aura is at its strongest. This was the first time since his rebirth that Yin Jiuxiao unleashed it all without reservation.

When the Nine Heavens Exquisite Cloud Sword appeared, a sudden whirlwind seemed to kick up around him, even causing the tree behind him to tremble. Even Wei Lin, who had been a Heavenly Tier cultivator for years, instinctively stepped back.

He couldn’t possibly not recognize the Nine Heavens Exquisite Cloud Sword.

Though there were slight differences between Yin Jiuxiao’s sword and the usual Nine Heavens Exquisite Cloud Sword, Wei Lin was too shaken to notice. The sword alone transported his mind into a whirl, memory fragments flashing back, and soon enough, he recalled who this young man was.

Yin Jiuxiao of the Yin family—how could he have forgotten?

But wasn’t this guy supposed to be…crippled?

Yet looking at him now, there was nothing “crippled” about him. If anything, it seemed like he’d laid low, only to come back stronger after a stroke of fortune.

Here stood the true son of a noble family, a prodigy known throughout the Spirit World. His fall had been a tragedy, but now…he seemed even more formidable than before he was seven.

The Nine Heavens Exquisite Cloud Sword he wielded was at least peak Six-Tier, and his whole aura was terrifying. Beyond the rich Spirit Qi, there was an unsettling, deadly vibe about him.

The Nine Heavens Exquisite Cloud Sword was one of the continent’s top Essences, unmatched by any ordinary Essence. The one Yin Jiuxiao held in his hand was even more extraordinary.

Though his visible Spirit power wasn’t very high, Wei Lin had instinctively taken several steps back when he drew his sword. He understood his own reaction all too well.

Faced with this young man, a slight tremor of fear rose within him.

Yin Jiuxiao wasn’t lying; the two of them together could genuinely take down the head leader.

In fact, Wei Lin thought they didn’t even need his help. If he just showed Yin Jiuxiao the way and provided cover, he could probably win a one-on-one against the head leader.

“You’re Yin Jiuxiao, the Yin family’s Young Master.” Wei Lin steadied himself quickly, though his expression was now much more serious than before. “Did the Yin family send you to deal with Lang Clan?”

So Yin Jiuxiao wasn’t actually crippled. If the Yin family had hidden this so well, could Lang Clan even escape this time?

But Yin Jiuxiao shook his head.

“This is my decision. It has nothing to do with the Yin family,” he said, the sword still in hand. “The Yin family has no idea what I’m capable of—not even Yin Hengxie. This transaction is between you and me; forget the Yin family.”

Wei Lin was momentarily at a loss for words.

Fair enough; according to his intel, this Young Master had always been trampled on. If the Yin family intended to hide him, he wouldn’t have been treated that way before.

Wei Lin couldn’t fathom Yin Jiuxiao’s previous experiences, but his words now left him a bit baffled.

“Then what are you really after?” he asked.

“I already told you before I came,” Yin Jiuxiao replied. “I’ll help you kill the current Lang Clan leader. I think you’re much more level-headed and better suited to lead.”

Wei Lin stayed silent, deep in thought.

Yin Jiuxiao’s words held too much weight, and he wasn’t sure he could fully trust him. He was weighing his options.

But Yin Jiuxiao didn’t see anything worth hesitating over.

“At this point, Lang Clan doesn’t have a choice,” he said. “The Yin family has changed, and do you really think that once Yin Hengxie is done consolidating power, he’ll let you all go? His first move would be to eliminate Lang Clan.

“If you don’t work with me now, Lang Clan will end up as the Yin family’s property, and Yin Hengxie won’t be as generous as I am. He wouldn’t hesitate to finish off a former leader.”

Then his sword tip tilted slightly, a clear gesture of threat.

“Bottom line, you’re at a disadvantage. You have to pick a side,” Yin Jiuxiao continued. “Choose Yin Hengxie, and your life is no guarantee. Choose me, and I’ll let you be the leader, and you won’t be left out in the cold.

“Of course, you could choose to run. But there’s no one in Lang Clan who would follow you. And even if you did flee, where would you go with so many people? Bei Zhou is resource-poor, and there’s nowhere else that would take you. If you really ran, you’d be left with nothing. Better to stay here.”

Wei Lin didn’t need further comparisons to see that siding with Yin Jiuxiao was better. Based on the information he’d sent before, this was the best way for Lang Clan to survive.

Before coming, he’d already been leaning this way.

There was also one more major advantage, which was partly why Yin Jiuxiao hadn’t held back from showing his full strength.

Wei Lin still hadn’t entirely recovered from the shock of discovering Yin Jiuxiao’s capabilities.

Yin Jiuxiao was truly eighteen—not just someone who looked young.

If, at age three, this person had been a rare talent, now he had fully matured.

At this age, with near-Heavenly Tier strength, he’d be even more frightening in a few years. What would he become then?

A Spirit Master at their peak could fight thousands alone. The current Heavenly Tier Nine Star at Su Ye Immortal Mountain was known as the top of the Spirit World, but back when the old Patriarch of the Yin family was around, he didn’t dare make that claim.

The Nine Heavens Exquisite Cloud Sword was one of the top Essences on the continent. Yin Jiuxiao’s strength was now far beyond the old Yin family Patriarch’s. “Limitless potential” didn’t even begin to cover it.

This was why, in his previous life, Yin Jiuxiao hadn’t needed to do much; countless people willingly served him.

Anyone with eyes could see what a future leader like him meant. If Lang Clan backed someone like this, and Yin Jiuxiao kept his promise, it would be pure profit for Wei Lin.

It wasn’t often that an opportunity like this came along. Once Yin Jiuxiao fully grew, Lang Clan might not even qualify as a follower.

Yin Jiuxiao and Lin Qinghen thought alike. Threats alone weren’t enough; he’d offer benefits, too, to make people loyal, heart and soul.

But Wei Lin still had one last question.

“You’d kill the leader for me and put me in charge of Lang Clan. What does the Yin family’s Young Master want in return?” Wei Lin asked. “You’re not just here out of kindness, are you?”

Given Yin Jiuxiao’s strength, he couldn’t understand why he’d stay cooped up in a small place like Lei City.

“Kindness, yes, but not for you—for my wife.”

At this point, Yin Jiuxiao actually seemed a bit patient. Mentioning Lin Qinghen, his mood visibly brightened.

Their conversation had finally reached its true purpose.

“I only have one demand of Lang Clan: work with Die Meng Medicine Hall. Stand by Die Meng’s side, and protect Lin Qinghen—my wife.

“My wife wants Lei City, and beyond, to be peaceful, with everyone following the rules. So I also expect Lang Clan to be smart and settle down for good. Consider it a favor to my wife.”