Chapter 44: The Solution

The elders spoke openly, with no attempt to shield Yutong from their words. She was but a minor female cultivator; they reckoned she could hardly stir up any trouble.

After reaching a consensus, the group set out in the direction where Lin Hao was rumored to be, confident and determined to seize what they believed to be a precious "treasure" in his possession.

Meanwhile, Lin Hao's system suddenly issued an alert: "Notification: Host is about to encounter danger. Notification: Host is about to encounter danger. Please prepare in advance."

The system had never sent such a warning before, and this abrupt message startled Lin Hao.

Danger! What kind of threat would prompt the system to notify him so urgently?

Lin Hao, surprised, asked, "Is the danger coming from the White Robe Sect?"

"Yes," the system responded with certainty.

This time, the system did not feign ignorance as it often did, but answered Lin Hao directly.

Lin Hao immediately understood—the elder refused to let matters rest.

However, facing him now, Lin Hao knew he stood little chance.

Clenching his teeth, Lin Hao asked, "System, I want to know: if I overdraw my points, what will the consequences be?"

The system swiftly replied, "Host, if you overdraw points, you must repay them as soon as possible. During the repayment period, the system may issue tasks at any time, which the host cannot refuse."

Hearing this, Lin Hao felt somewhat relieved. He had feared the system would demand more than he could give, but these terms seemed manageable.

Besides, he had no other choice; the system had already warned him of impending danger, and with his current strength, Lin Hao knew he would not survive a direct confrontation.

Resolute, Lin Hao said, "System, I accept the terms for overdrawing points. Grant me the overdraft now. I hope the system can provide a perfect solution."

"Understood. Request received. The system is now devising strategies," the system replied.

About a minute later, the system presented Lin Hao with three options.

A virtual screen appeared in his mind.

Three solutions were listed. Lin Hao gazed at the screen:

Option One: Exchange for a cultivation manual titled 'Flame Divine Arts'. This fire-type technique can be cultivated by those with a fire elemental root. Its grade is unclassified; the host must cultivate it independently.

Option Two: Exchange for a supreme Spirit Infusion Pill, instantly boosting the host’s cultivation by seven stages, elevating him to the Out-of-Body stage. Effect lasts for two days.

Option Three: Exchange for a teleportation array, allowing the host to swiftly leave Sky Feather Mountain.

Lin Hao examined the options and glanced at his remaining points.

Each solution required more points than he possessed.

Among them, the most expensive was the cultivation manual.

The manual immediately caught his eye and tempted him.

Options Two and Three could resolve his immediate crisis, but only temporarily—and both demanded considerable points.

Option One was different—it granted a cultivation technique, 'Flame Divine Arts', which Lin Hao sensed would suit him perfectly.

If he could master it, the system’s gift would be no ordinary item; it would surely help him escape his predicament, and could be used perpetually.

Yet, it would take time and was not the fastest way out. Moreover, it cost the most points.

Lin Hao hesitated for a moment.

He thought it over and asked, "System, if I exchange for 'Flame Divine Arts', will this manual belong to me permanently and not be reclaimed?"

"Yes. Anything the host purchases with points will not be reclaimed," the system replied.

With this assurance, Lin Hao ruled out Option Two as unsuitable.

The supreme Spirit Infusion Pill would grant him instant power, but only briefly, and at a steep price.

He was left with the manual and the teleportation array.

The teleportation array was undeniably tempting, but Lin Hao had sworn never to flee from battle.

He was determined to confront and resolve matters with the White Robe Sect.

In the end, Lin Hao’s gaze hardened. "System, I want to exchange for 'Flame Divine Arts'."

"'Flame Divine Arts'. Please confirm exchange. If confirmed, one thousand points will be overdrafted," the system prompted.

"Confirmed," Lin Hao replied firmly.

The system closed the screen, a flash of light crossed his vision, and Lin Hao shut his eyes as a flood of information surged into his mind.

He took a moment to organize his thoughts, then opened his eyes, ablaze with excitement and joy. The Flame Divine Arts were truly extraordinary.

Having skimmed through the manual, Lin Hao felt his mindset had already elevated.

If he could successfully cultivate this technique, he sensed his future would be anything but ordinary.

Lin Hao glanced around. The area was too exposed—not suitable for cultivation. The system reminded him that danger was approaching fast.

Urgently, Lin Hao needed to find a place to hide.

After searching, he spotted what looked like a cave on a nearby mountain peak.

He decided that would be a suitable place to cultivate.

He was about to set off when he paused, frowning in thought.

"System," Lin Hao called.

"Host, how may I assist?" the system responded immediately.

"I want to know why, no matter where I go, they can always find me," Lin Hao inquired.

The system flickered, then said, "Host, obtaining this information requires the exchange of points."

Lin Hao’s lips twitched in annoyance—how vampiric! Even this required points!

He was already a thousand points in debt; did the system expect him to pay more?

Unhappy, Lin Hao pleaded, "System, can't you make an exception? This concerns my very survival. Do they have some secret method to locate me? Just tell me one thing. I haven’t exchanged for anything else. Besides, if I die, wouldn’t you—the system—cease to exist as well? We’re intertwined; don’t be so strict with me."

Lin Hao’s words made the system pause.

After a brief silence, the system replied, "Very well. Because the host's shoulder has a special particle placed upon it, you can always be found."

Upon receiving this answer, Lin Hao immediately recalled the elder from the White Robe Sect had patted his left shoulder earlier. He carefully checked his clothing and indeed found a tiny green particle.

He never would have noticed it without the system's guidance; it was minuscule, smaller than a sesame seed.

Having found it, Lin Hao summoned a surge of flame from his fingertip and incinerated the particle.

Only then did he truly relax.

Quickly, he hurried to the cave he had spotted.

Once inside, Lin Hao sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and memorized the text and methods from the manual, beginning his cultivation.

Meanwhile, on the White Robe Sect’s side, the elder was holding a jade token, following its guidance to track Lin Hao.

Midway, the token suddenly shattered. In a fury, the elder threw it to the ground and stomped on it, cursing, "Damn it!"

His abrupt rage startled the sect’s second senior brother, who stepped forward and asked, "Elder, what happened?"

"Lin Hao must have discovered the tracking device. We can’t find him for now," the elder grumbled.

"So what do we do, Elder? Are we just going to let him escape?"

The others’ faces fell at the news.

Yutong, meanwhile, secretly smiled and lowered her head, her worry easing.

At last, something good had happened.

Now those elders wouldn’t be able to find Senior Brother Lin Hao.

For the moment, he was safe.

Just then, the elder gritted his teeth and declared, "Give up? Impossible! Even without the jade token, I have other ways to find him. For now, let’s keep moving—I’m certain we’ll encounter him again."

He spoke with reluctance, but there was little else to be done.

Sky Feather Mountain was vast; without a lead, finding Lin Hao was like searching for a needle in a haystack. All they could do was hope to cross paths by chance.

The elder’s words left the others even more frustrated.

Especially the three who had plotted with him, but there was nothing to be done. After agreeing, they turned and resumed their exploration of Sky Feather Mountain.

Whether by coincidence or Lin Hao’s ill luck, their path happened to lead toward the mountain where Lin Hao was hiding.

At that moment, Lin Hao was deep in cultivation within the cave, oblivious to the world outside.

Fortunately, Lin Hao was a genius in cultivation. In just two days, he had advanced his cultivation to the tenth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage—just a single opportunity away from breaking through to the Out-of-Body stage.

Lin Hao opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.

"Next, I need to find the opportunity to advance. Further cultivation won’t help unless I can break through," Lin Hao murmured, gazing at the lively Lotus of Strange Flames in his hand.

He stood up and walked out of the cave.

At that moment, the White Robe Sect members were also nearby.

For days, they had been exploring the area around the cave, as there were many spiritual beasts nearby, but they had not yet discovered Lin Hao’s presence.