The young man from the Yang family was clearly an ordinary person, staring at the stone in his hand for a long time without discerning any particular merit. Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian simply stepped forward to explain it to him.
"First, look at the patterns on it. Look closely, what's the difference between this and an ordinary stone?" Lin Xiao Tian encouraged.
The Yang family disciple was taken aback by Lin Xiao Tian's words and carefully examined the demon core.
In reality, the quality of a demon core had nothing to do with its patterns.
Through the patterns, one could at most identify which type of beast the demon core belonged to.
But Lin Xiao Tian had his own reasons for doing this.
Seeing that the other party's attention was focused on the demon core, Lin Xiao Tian suddenly activated his spiritual energy.
In the next moment, the demon core emitted a small ring of light.
The light was not intense, but it still made the Yang family disciple squint his eyes, as he was too close to the demon core.
And at this very moment, among the people present, there was another person who reacted in the same way.
Within his divine sense, a fat man abruptly closed his eyes.
He was positioned at the rear of the team, and his designated role was to monitor the outer perimeter of the camp.
However, the people accompanying him did not exhibit this squinting reaction; only he appeared to be blinded by the light.
Lin Xiao Tian understood what was happening after a moment's thought.
The fat man had clearly seen the glowing demon core. His divine sense was equivalent to a cultivator's eyes, and he was naturally very interested in Lin Xiao Tian's demon core, so he hadn't anticipated it would suddenly light up.
"This... this is glowing?" the Yang family disciple asked incredulously.
"This is a special reflective phenomenon of demon cores; the explanation is quite complex. Just know that it is," Lin Xiao Tian fabricated an excuse. "It's getting late, so we'll stop here for today. Goodbye!"
With that, Lin Xiao Tian left the camp.
The Yang family disciple behind him looked bewildered.
Didn't he just volunteer to explain it to him?
Why did he leave first?
But he didn't know that Lin Xiao Tian's interest was not in him at all.
When it was time to leave by helicopter, Lin Xiao Tian, having only brought Xiao Ming with him, asked the Yang family to send someone to escort him back.
The Yang family disciple was quite surprised by Lin Xiao Tian's request. He had heard from Yang Xin and Yang Lin about Lin Xiao Tian's strength, and wondered if such a person was also so afraid of death.
"No problem, you can pick anyone you want from here."
"Then him," Lin Xiao Tian pointed at the previously mentioned fat man.
The Yang family disciple did not object, casually gesturing, and the fat man came over to Lin Xiao Tian.
Compared to the other's casual demeanor, the fat man was visibly hesitant.
After boarding the helicopter, silence filled the cabin.
However, within the helicopter, Lin Xiao Tian was communicating with the fat man beside him using his divine sense.
"Can you hear me?" Lin Xiao Tian transmitted via divine sense.
The fat man feigned deafness and did not respond.
"Stop pretending. A normal person wouldn't be this calm if they heard such a sound near their ear," Lin Xiao Tian continued.
The fat man's expression immediately turned grim.
"Young Master Lin, I hope you are well!" the fat man also transmitted.
Lin Xiao Tian smiled faintly. "It should be you who is well. Just don't mention anything about me obtaining the demon core later."
Hearing Lin Xiao Tian's words, the fat man's expression faltered, clearly surprised that Lin Xiao Tian knew about it.
"Young Master Lin, I'm just trying to make a living. Please be magnanimous and spare my life!" the fat man pleaded with a dejected face.
"I can let you go, but it depends on your performance."
"Please tell me what you need, Young Master Lin. I will do my best to fulfill it."
The fat man's attitude was sincere, evidently fearing Lin Xiao Tian.
Whether it was his background or his own strength, Lin Xiao Tian surpassed the fat man, and now that Lin Xiao Tian had discovered his secret, the fat man could only submit.
He was merely a bodyguard, and from a collateral branch of the Yang family at that. Offending the young master of the Yang family's main lineage would certainly not end well for him.
If Lin Xiao Tian were to frame him with some fabricated charge, the Yang family would surely not protect him.
"Good! Remember your words. If anything happens in the future, I'll be looking for you," Lin Xiao Tian said indifferently.
"Young Master Lin, rest assured, I will do my utmost," the fat man replied.
Lin Xiao Tian was unsure if he was sincere, but he knew for certain that the fat man could not simply escape on his own.
A cultivator without any backing or connections, and with unremarkable strength, was merely a slightly more capable fighter in modern society.
But times had changed.
Although Qi Refining stage cultivators were stronger than ordinary people, they were insignificant against modern firearms.
Furthermore, by joining the Yang family, the fat man meant he would be monitored by them for life. Travel abroad would also be strictly controlled; unless he hid in the deep mountains and old forests, he would be found as soon as he appeared.
After disembarking from the helicopter, Lin Xiao Tian returned to the Lin family.
He refined the Foundation Establishment stage demon core into a breakthrough elixir. Such a breakthrough elixir could suppress the curse for a considerable time.
Following that, Lin Xiao Tian began to concoct pills to improve his cultivation. He was now at the peak of the Qi Refining stage, and his efficiency in absorbing spiritual energy was much faster than before. He could absorb spiritual energy without any reservations, making it an opportune moment to attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Once Lin Xiao Tian reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he could do something he had long wanted to do: deal with Fang Wen Hua.
Fang Wen Hua thought he could ambush Lin Xiao Tian by hiding in the shadows, but he still underestimated Lin Xiao Tian's strength.
He believed that by leaving a few informants, he could completely control Lin Xiao Tian, unaware that these informants would also become tools for Lin Xiao Tian's counterattack!
Three days later.
At Bai Xue's villa.
Lin Xiao Tian visited Bai Xue again.
Bai Xue was still warm towards Lin Xiao Tian. Her mother was now living with her.
Bai Xue's mother prepared tea and snacks for Lin Xiao Tian, and then left the two of them alone, appearing very considerate.
If it were in the past, Lin Xiao Tian would have thought of her as an open-minded mother, never imagining she was an actress.
Besides her mother, her daughter before him was also an actress.
Lin Xiao Tian looked at Bai Xue, his eyes filled with mixed emotions.
"What's wrong?" Bai Xue still appeared innocent.
Lin Xiao Tian did not answer, but stared at her intently.
"What is it? Is something bothering you?" Bai Xue asked, concerned.
Lin Xiao Tian felt a pang of sadness.
Did she know how much of this concern was genuine and how much was feigned?
"I do have something bothering me."
"What is it? I may not understand much, but I'm willing to listen," Bai Xue said understandingly.
Lin Xiao Tian sighed.
"Bai Xue, have you ever loved me?"
Bai Xue blinked in surprise. "Silly, why would you ask that? I've always loved you! You saved me from those bad guys. Ever since then, I've decided you are the only man for me in this life."
Lin Xiao Tian fell silent and played an audio recording for her.