Chapter 292: Chapter 288: A Death Trap at Every Step

Ling Xiao and Yang Peng freshened up as quickly as possible and went to Lin Hao’s room to meet him.

No words were needed. The three exchanged a look and immediately headed out.

However, before the three of them could even walk out the doors of the Mist Rain Tower, the woman from before appeared again, still wearing heavy, gaudy makeup.

"What’s this? Did the Mist Rain Tower neglect you three in some way? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" the woman asked with a smile, the powder on her face flaking off.

Lin Hao fought back his discomfort and said with a laugh, "You must be joking. We just wanted to go out for a stroll."

"I see. You’re afraid the Mist Rain Tower will ruin your reputations and are eager to get away, aren’t you?"

Lin Hao’s brow furrowed slightly. Before he could speak, a voice suddenly sounded in his ear: "It’s not safe outside. You should stay at the Mist Rain Tower for one more night before you leave."

A secret voice transmission!

Lin Hao froze, looking at the woman. But then he heard her speak normally again, "The Imperial City Saint Institute won’t be accepting anyone today. The assessment day is tomorrow. Every single inn in Imperial City, big and small, is completely full. If I were you, I’d get a good night’s rest and build up my strength."

After saying this, the woman ignored the three of them and turned to leave, expertly greeting other patrons as she went.

This left Lin Hao completely confused.

’What kind of act is this? Is this woman a friend or a foe?’

"Senior Brother..." Ling Xiao called out, seeing Lin Hao hesitate.

"How about this: you two go and scout out the situation. I’ll stay here." This was Imperial City. The Lin family might have already guessed he was coming and could be looking for him. Lin Hao decided not to take the risk.

"Alright!" Lin Hao’s situation was no longer a secret in the Heaven-Stepping Sect, so Ling Xiao and Yang Peng naturally understood. They agreed and went out the door.

Lin Hao watched them leave and tried to find the Madam, but she had vanished without a trace.

As he headed upstairs with his head slightly bowed, Lin Hao surveyed the Mist Rain Tower.

Just then, Lin Hao suddenly heard a faint voice coming from a room on the second floor.

"Brother Lin, you’re not pulling our leg, are you? Young Master Lin Wu can join the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion directly?!"

Hearing the name Lin Wu, Lin Hao paused in his tracks.

Immediately, Lin Hao heard an arrogant voice say, "Of course it’s true. As long as he can pass the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion’s trial, my cousin will become a disciple. With my cousin’s cultivation, the trial is no threat to him at all."

"That’s a given! Young Master Lin Wu is the number one genius of our Cangnan Empire! He hasn’t been defeated once in three years. Not long ago, he even competed against a successor from a Holy Land and completely overwhelmed them!"

"Three years ago, my grandfather said that the Lin family’s Lin Wu was the one in this generation most likely to advance to the Sealed Martial Realm. It seems now that Young Master Lin Wu’s achievements are limitless. In the future, he’ll surely be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Ancient Saints."

"You’re wrong. I heard he hunted down a young Heaven-Sundering Rhinoceros, an ancient beast, in the Second Layer of the Divinity Realm. A feat like that is enough to rival a young Emperor Venerable!"

"Speaking of the Divinity Realm, that reminds me... didn’t someone break the record Young Master Lin Wu set in the starting area?"

"Hmph! So what if they did? Being invincible in the Blood Coagulation Realm doesn’t mean anything. I’m certain that if that person from the starting area shows up, they won’t last a single exchange against my cousin!"

"Right, right! Come on, Brother Lin, let’s drink. I heard the Mist Rain Tower’s Courtesan is performing tonight. We should..."

Hearing their conversation grow increasingly debauched, Lin Hao departed with a blank expression.

Before coming to Imperial City, Lin Hao had expected Lin Wu would go to the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion, but he hadn’t thought it would be this soon.

To be valued by the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion at this time and enter that pure land to cultivate... for Lin Hao, this was absolutely unprecedented pressure.

’I have to hurry, or the gap between us will only grow wider!’ Lin Hao thought, clenching his fists.

This place was too dangerous. After returning to his room, Lin Hao didn’t cultivate. Instead, he waited patiently for Ling Xiao and the others to return.

An hour later, the two returned with very bad news.

In Imperial City, someone was secretly asking about Lin Hao’s whereabouts.

The two of them had even discreetly seen a portrait of Lin Hao.

Many people were looking for Lin Hao, and their movements were extremely covert. If the two of them hadn’t used a few tricks of their own, they never would have noticed.

It could be said that an inescapable net had been cast over Imperial City.

Needless to say, it was definitely the Lin family making a move.

The Southern Border Prefecture and Imperial City were too far apart. The first time the Lin family got news of him, they sent a Soul Gathering Realm expert, only for him to return in failure.

Afterward, Lin Hao entered the Heaven-Stepping Sect and stirred up a storm. Three Soul Gathering Realm experts from the Zhengyang Sect, armed with Spiritual Artifacts, were nearly killed. Remembering the Heaven-Stepping Sect’s history, the Lin family didn’t dare to act rashly.

Later, as news of one major event after another arrived, the Lin family grew even more fearful.

They had been waiting for the right moment.

Now, the ancient holy institute, Heaven-Breaking Pavilion, had appeared and was recruiting disciples. The time had come.

The Heaven-Stepping Sect’s ancestral land was protected by measures left behind by an Emperor Venerable, so they didn’t dare go there. But by coming to Imperial City, Lin Hao was undoubtedly walking into his own grave.

"Senior Brother, the situation is critical. It’s especially dangerous the closer we get to the Imperial City Saint Institute. They’re dead set on stopping you from getting in, and they plan to kill you outside!"

"Young Master, I have a feeling that more than one faction is looking for you," Yang Peng added from the side.

Lin Hao wasn’t surprised in the least.

There wasn’t just the Lin family, but also the Hu family.

After all, he had killed someone from the Hu family back at the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

Perhaps even the imperial royal family had a hand in this.

"Senior Brother, let’s go inform the Wenren family and the Chen family and ask for their help," Ling Xiao said.

Although they had kept a low profile during their month-long journey from the Southern Border Prefecture, they had still been recognized on the road by the Pavilion Master of a Treasure Hunting Pavilion in one of the cities.

Because of that, Ling Xiao and Yang Peng had learned that Lin Hao had a close relationship with the Wenren family, one of the four great families.

As for the Chen family, news that someone from their family had gone to War Dragon City to recruit soldiers had long since reached the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

Lin Hao shook his head.

With the Wenren family, he had only ever interacted with Wenren Yuxin, and it was for mutual benefit.

Now, with so many factions looking for him, it was hard to say whether the Wenren family would help him.

And as for the Chen family, Lin Hao only knew Chen Tianyu...

The Lin and Hu families had probably anticipated that he would seek help from these two families. He could become a prisoner before he even got close to them.

"Senior Brother, what do you think is the background of this Mist Rain Tower’s Madam? From the way she acted, it seemed like she recognized you," Ling Xiao said suddenly.

Lin Hao was also thinking about this.

Clearly, there was a power behind the Mist Rain Tower, but it wasn’t the Lin family, the Hu family, or the imperial royal family. Otherwise, he wouldn’t still be sitting here, safe and sound.

"You two go get some rest. Tomorrow morning, you head out first and go straight to the Imperial City Saint Institute to report." Seeing their worried expressions, Lin Hao said with a smile.

"No! You saved my life. We go together," Ling Xiao said seriously.

Previously, Ling Xiao had been arrogant and looked down on Lin Hao, but everything Lin Hao did in the Demon Suppression Cave had made Ling Xiao acknowledge him.

And after they came out of the Demon Suppression Cave, when Ling Xiao learned of Lin Hao’s other deeds, he was completely won over.

Beside him, Yang Peng spoke coldly, "If they want your life, they’ll have to step over my dead body."

If not for Lin Hao, Yang Peng would have lived a life of mediocrity. Lin Hao had given him a new lease on life, and Yang Peng would never abandon him.

"You’re both being too serious. I have my own way of getting into the Imperial City Saint Institute," Lin Hao said with a confident smile.

A strange light flashed in the eyes of Ling Xiao and Yang Peng.

They knew that Lin Hao would never joke about his own life. If he said he had a way, then he definitely had a way.

After everything they had been through, the two of them held an almost blind reverence for Lin Hao.

After that, the two said no more and turned to leave.

"Come out," Lin Hao said to the empty room once the two had left.

As soon as Lin Hao’s words fell, the woman he had met outside appeared like a ghost.

This time, the heavy, gaudy makeup was gone from her face, revealing the pale features of a middle-aged woman.

"I’m very curious. How did you discover me?" the woman said coldly, her tone a world away from when she was wearing the heavy makeup.

And as she spoke, an invisible killing intent began to spread. A chair near Lin Hao exploded without warning, turning to dust.

Lin Hao remained calm, shrugged, and replied, "Actually, I didn’t discover you."

The woman’s concealment skills were brilliant; Lin Hao hadn’t noticed anything unusual at first. It was only when Ling Xiao and Yang Peng left the room without making the slightest sound or stirring the air that he found it too abnormal.

Therefore, a thought struck Lin Hao, and he spoke out casually.

He hadn’t expected to bluff her out so easily.

Of course, Lin Hao had no intention of telling her the reason. The woman didn’t expect him to tell her either, so she didn’t press the issue. She just snorted coldly and spoke again, "Lin Hao, it seems you’re in dire need of allies. Promise me one thing, and we will get you safely into the Imperial City Saint Institute."

"My affairs don’t require your concern." Lin Hao shook his head, rejecting her outright.

To be able to put down roots in Imperial City without being discovered, this woman and the power behind her naturally had extraordinary means. Lin Hao didn’t believe he could easily accomplish something that even they couldn’t.

Most importantly, Lin Hao disliked getting entangled in various conflicts and conspiracies.

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell the interested parties that you’re here? I guarantee that if I scream right now, your head will roll," the woman said, not bothering to hide her killing intent.

"Threats are the one thing I’m not afraid of," Lin Hao said, his smile never faltering.

"Even if you have a good relationship with that girl from the Wenren family and know Chen Tianyu, do you really think the Wenren and Chen families will stick their necks out for you? So, you’d best not try to provoke me!"

The woman’s voice was ice-cold.

’Lin Hao is simply too arrogant, too blind to the favor being offered.’

"I already have enough enemies. I don’t mind adding one more," Lin Hao said, still wearing that infuriatingly punchable smile.

The woman flew into a rage. In a flash, she had her hand around Lin Hao’s neck. "Do you really think I don’t dare to touch you?!"

"You dare, but you won’t," Lin Hao replied, his expression unchanged.

At this, the woman’s expression changed.

She truly had no intention of killing Lin Hao. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have wasted so much time talking to him.

From the very beginning, she had been testing Lin Hao.

And Lin Hao’s performance had exceeded her imagination.