In the most luxurious district of Wencheng City Center, there stood a magnificent and massive villa.

The two words "Bai Residence" were exquisitely carved in front of the villa. This was the home of the city's most famous hidden family. A single stomp from its leader could make the very ground tremble.

To ordinary people, it might seem there is only one society. But in the eyes of special individuals, there are actually two: modern society, and the Jianghu society—which you could also call the Martial Cultivation Realm.

In the Martial Cultivation Realm, humans could leap onto eaves and run along walls, cleave mountains and shatter stones—possessing power that ordinary people would find unbelievable.

The Bai Family was one such great family, an unshakable pillar that had gathered a large number of Awakened Martial Cultivators. Its many scions all possessed certain miraculous abilities.

At this moment, hidden within the massive villa, was an ancient and solemn courtyard. A group of people had gathered before the gate to an outer courtyard, their voices a low murmur of discussion.

A buxom beauty in a uniform walked over.

"Second Miss."

The newcomer was none other than Bai Chuyan, who had just come from Wencheng University.

"The Young Master is furious inside. None of us dare to go in."

Bai Chuyan frowned slightly. "What happened? What could make my little brother so angry?"

"Zhou Qin died in Bai Town half a month ago. The Young Master sent people to investigate for a long time and they've finally found something."

"The Awakener who could control mosquitoes?" Bai Chuyan recalled, shaking her head in disdain. "If he's dead, he's dead. He was just an outsider. Why should my little brother care so much?"

A subordinate spoke up. "We heard Zhou Qin was on a mission for the Young Master. Before he left, the Young Master lent him his beloved Soul Stealing Flute. Now Zhou Qin has vanished without a trace, and so has the Young Master's Soul Stealing Flute."

"What?" Bai Chuyan was stunned. "My little brother actually lent the Soul Stealing Flute to an outsider? That's just absurd."

That was a Spiritual Artifact of immense destructive power. Used correctly, it could kill without a trace. Where its music passed, every plant and tree could become a soldier.

Bai Chuyan was in no mood to talk with these people any longer. She strode inside on her long, slender legs.

Though the Bai Residence appeared to be a huge, luxurious villa from the outside, it concealed an ancient, picturesque manor within. It was laid out according to the geographical principles of "Azure Dragon on the left, Right White Tiger, Vermilion Bird in front, and Black Tortoise in the back," forming a treasured land where auspicious Qi gathered.

Within the manor, a young man stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He was tall and powerfully built, with tanned skin and deep, chiseled features. His dark, profound, icy eyes held a wild, unrestrained look as he stared coldly and impassively at a subordinate kneeling before him on one knee, delivering a report.

"Young Master, this subordinate is incompetent. We had clearly obtained the Snake King Stone, but a cultivated Cat Spirit appeared out of nowhere. That damned Cat Spirit swallowed the Snake King Stone in one gulp and then scurried away."

The tanned young man exuded a terrifying aura. Despite his youth, he possessed a commanding presence without needing to show anger. He was the future heir of the hidden Bai Family, Bai Junran.

He was a born martial cultivation genius with extraordinary Talent. His body Awakened at the age of three, and now, at twenty, he was on the verge of breaking through to the level of a Rank Three Creature.

Hearing his subordinate's report, Bai Junran let out a soft, cold snort. The kneeling subordinate's face changed drastically, and he grew terrified. "This subordinate deserves death! I've failed my mission."

"You do deserve death. Losing a mere stone..." A wicked smile played on Bai Junran's lips. "A mere Cat Spirit dares to steal something of mine? It must have a death wish."

The subordinate said, "Young Master, since the Cat Spirit swallowed the Snake King Stone, it won't be able to hide. Please give this subordinate one more chance. I will definitely find that Cat Spirit for you."

"Go and receive the family's punishment yourself. A person has only one life, and only one chance. Yours is gone."

As soon as these words were spoken, the subordinate was filled with terror. No more chances meant no more life.

The Bai Family remained an unshakable power because its family laws were strict. Receiving the family's punishment was a death sentence.

"Young Master, I beg you, please give this subordinate one more chance! I will definitely get the Cat Spirit back for you!"

Bai Junran's dark, profound, icy eyes glanced at him impassively. "Disappear."

The subordinate trembled all over. He dared not say another word and could only retreat obediently.

'A Cat Spirit? Interesting. It had better not let me catch it, or I'll dissect it myself and take back the Snake King Stone.'

Bai Junran was also having a run of bad luck. Despite his young age and extraordinary Talent, he had already begun preparations to break through to become a Rank Three Creature.

For an ordinary being to break through and become a Rank Three Creature was like a pheasant turning into a Phoenix. It was a complete metamorphosis. Their Life Force would flourish, and their lifespan would increase explosively. To put it simply, it would be no problem for a Rank Three Creature to live for several hundred years.

But a Rank Two Creature, no matter how strong, could at most live for a century before facing certain death.

Only by breaking through to Rank 3 and becoming a true 'creature' was the supreme path.

Rank Three Creatures stood above ordinary beings, having shed their mortal forms. But for a mortal body to become a Rank Three Creature was an extremely demanding process. For an animal to become a spirit and break through to Rank 3, it had to endure the baptism of Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire, and the same was true for humans.

However, Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire were only the final step. First, one had to earn the right.

Human Martial Cultivators required the aid of various treasures for their Cultivation. This time, Bai Junran was very ambitious; he wanted to achieve his goal in a single step. He had made many preparations to break through and become a Rank Three Creature.

Three things could help him step directly into Rank 3. The first was the internal Golden Core of a Rank Three Creature (from an animal). Any Rank Three Creature would gestate a Golden Core within its body, which was the very essence of its life.

Rank Three Creatures were incredibly powerful. Only a family with the deep foundations of the Bai Family could obtain the Golden Core of a Rank Three Creature.

The other two items were a bit simpler. He had dispatched a Mosquito Controller to use Mutated Mosquitos to prepare one thousand drops of Blood Essence for him—the essence of human blood.

The third was the Snake King Stone. Legend said it was the treasure of a righteous Snake King from the past and that it could greatly increase a person's Cultivation.

According to Bai Junran's plan, all three of these items should have been in his hands by now.

But plans never keep up with changes. The Mosquito Controller he sent out had died unexpectedly, vanishing without a trace. What was most infuriating was that he had also lost the Soul Stealing Flute that had been lent to him.

The Soul Stealing Flute was a true treasure. Bai Junran's heart ached just thinking about it.

Then there was the Snake King Stone. He had sent men to acquire it through great difficulty, only for a Cat Spirit to appear out of nowhere and snatch it. What kind of mess was this?

'Could it be that the heavens themselves are trying to stop me from becoming a Rank Three Creature?'

A bright light flashed in Bai Junran's dark, profound, icy eyes as he exuded the domineering aura of one who believes "My fate is my own to control, not the heavens'."

'Cat Spirit, you may have gained intelligence, but you're still a fool. You dare to oppose me, Bai Junran? Did you think I wouldn't be able to find you just because you swallowed the Snake King Stone and went into hiding?'

'After swallowing the Snake King Stone, swarms of snakes will flock to you wherever you go. The moment a large number of snakes appear somewhere, your position will be exposed.'

Bai Junran mused to himself, not at all worried about failing to retrieve the Snake King Stone.