117: The He family's funeral was my trump card.

He Zhen frowned and shouted sternly:

"What are you panicking about!"

"Even if the sky falls, I'll be there to hold it up!"

"Is there news from the Dark Web? Has someone taken the contract?"

The disciple swallowed hard, his voice trembling.

"There... there is news."

"But..."

"It's not about taking the contract to kill Qin Lang."

He held up a tablet computer and handed it over with shaking hands.

"On the Dark Web... a pinned bounty was just refreshed."

"Someone paid a huge sum to buy the lives of Young Master Ye and Young Master Qian!"

"The total amount... eight cubic meters!"

Boom!

These words were like a depth charge, exploding instantly in the hall.

He Zhen stood up abruptly and snatched the tablet.

On the screen.

Two blood-red names were incredibly eye-catching.

He Ye.

He Qian.

The bounty figures below were a deep, vibrant red.

"Who?!"

"Who has such audacity?!"

He Zhen's hands shook with rage.

This was picking a fight with the wrong person!

This was a blatant provocation!

"Quick! Call Ye'er!"

"Tell him to come back immediately! He's not allowed to go anywhere!"

He Zhen suddenly remembered something and roared urgently.

Because He Ye had been traumatized by the last beating, he had been hiding outside fooling around these past few days, claiming he wanted to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

If he were targeted by an assassin... However.

Before the call could even be placed.

The young disciple's phone suddenly rang.

He answered it for a second, and then his strength seemed to be drained away as he slumped to the floor.

The phone fell with a "clack."

A terrified cry came from it:

"Patriarch! It's bad!"

"Young Master Ye... Young Master Ye was killed at the entrance of the club!"

"A single slash to the throat!"

"The killer... the killer fled!"

A deathly silence filled the He Family hall.

The shrill cries from the other end of the phone echoed in the empty hall, sounding particularly piercing.

He Zhen's hand gripping the phone had veins bulging, his knuckles turning white.

"Ye'er..."

His vision went dark, his body swayed, and he almost collapsed.

Just a moment ago, they were discussing how to kill Qin Lang, and in the blink of an eye, his own son was gone?

Was this retribution coming a bit too fast?

"Dad!"

He Qian cried out, wanting to help, but the movement aggravated his wounds, making him grimace in pain.

"Seal the news! Seal the news immediately!"

He Zhen was the head of the family after all; suppressing his grief, he let out a hoarse roar.

"Send out all our men!"

"We must catch the killer!"

"Also, Qian'er, go into the secret chamber immediately!"

"The bounty hasn't been withdrawn yet; you are also a target!"

The entire He Family was instantly thrown into chaos.

Cries, curses, and orders were all mixed together.

The once magnificent mansion now exuded an indescribable sense of desolation and panic.

They wanted to kill, but they were the ones being killed instead.

This eight-cubic-meter bounty was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.

It made every member of the He Family feel a chill down their necks.

For such a huge sum, a Fourth-Tier assassin would truly dare to fight the He Family to the death.

He Ye's death was the best proof... Olympus Academy, boys' dormitory.

Qin Lang sat at his desk, looking at the message from the Dark Palace, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth.

[Task 50% complete.]

[Target He Ye, death confirmed.]

[Target He Qian has hidden in the He Family's secret chamber; currently unable to strike.]

"He certainly ran fast."

Qin Lang tossed the communicator onto the table.

Six cubic meters for one life.

Although a bit expensive, it was worth it to vent this anger.

This kid He Ye had provoked him several times and even wanted him dead.

Ending up like this now could be considered getting what he deserved.

As for He Qian... he could hide today, but he couldn't hide forever.

Once they entered the Secret Realm, he would be like a turtle in a jar.

"Meow~"

Little White in his arms seemed to sense the Killing Intent on Qin Lang and moved uneasily.

Qin Lang composed himself and gently stroked its head.

"Don't be afraid, this is just self-defense."

Just then.

A series of crisp notification sounds suddenly rang in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Detected that the bound target 'Ye Linger' has achieved a major Breakthrough in her Apothecary skills!]

[Successfully promoted to Two-Star Saint Grade Gene Apothecary!]

[Cultivation Feedback: energy shaping Level 5!]

Qin Lang's eyes lit up.

This girl Ye Linger really didn't let him down!

It had only been a few days, and she had already produced Two-Star Saint Grade?

This talent was simply meant to demoralize others.

Immediately after.

An even more exciting sound came.

[System return mechanism triggered...]

[Congratulations, host, you have received a thirty-fold return on Apothecary experience!]

[Your Apothecary Rank has increased to: Five-Star Supreme Grade!]

[Your elemental cultivation has increased to: Third-Tier Level 4 (Soul Manifestation Realm)!]

Boom!

A warm current surged through his entire body.

Qin Lang felt his Mental Energy expand like a balloon being inflated.

His already vast knowledge base was instantly filled with countless recipes and mixing techniques for Five-Star potions.

Five-Star Supreme Grade!

This was a Realm that even those national-treasure-level Apothecary Great Masters might not necessarily reach!

"This is too powerful."

Qin Lang rubbed his hands, so excited he could hardly sit still.

The increase in cultivation was secondary.

The key was this identity as a Five-Star Apothecary!

This meant he could finally try to concoct that thing.

The one he had been planning for a long time, specifically prepared for this Secret Realm Assessment... the ultimate weapon.

"I was thinking of buying some Five-Star attack Talismans for self-defense."

"Now it seems there's no need."

"If you want something done right, do it yourself."

Qin Lang pulled a pile of rare Materials from his spatial bag.

Lightning-Struck Wood powder, Fire Dragon Lizard blood, and the extremely rare 'Explosive Crystal.'

These were things he had bought on the side while shopping at the Jiuzhou Auction House.

Originally intended for Ye Linger to practice with, they were now coming in handy.

What he wanted to concoct was a special combat potion called 'thunder-fire potion.'

Calling it a potion was a bit of a stretch; it was more like a concentrated high-explosive grenade.

And it was an enhanced version with triple effects: paralysis, burning, and armor-piercing!

A normal Apothecary could at most brew a Three-Star version.

But with Five-Star Supreme Grade skill, plus the boost from the 'Creation Gene.'

The power of this thing would definitely give even a Fourth-Tier War Sect Master a run for their money!

"Let's begin."

Qin Lang took a deep breath, his gaze becoming incredibly focused.

Over the next few days.

Qin Lang entered a state of complete seclusion.

Aside from eating and sleeping, he spent all his time in the dormitory refining medicine.

Sometimes he didn't even have time to eat, just making do with a couple of nutrient solutions.

His serious demeanor even scared away Gao Meng, who had come to look for him.

"Is Brother Lang possessed?"

Gao Meng peered through the crack in the door, looking worried.

"He couldn't have lost his mind from too much pressure, could he?"

"Get lost!"

An angry shout came from inside the dormitory.

Immediately after, there was a muffled "boom."

Like something had exploded.

A burnt smell wafted out.

Gao Meng shrunk his neck and quickly slipped away.

Can't mess with him, can't mess with him... Finally.

On the evening before the assessment.

Qin Lang looked up from a pile of discarded test tubes, his face disheveled.

In his hand, he carefully held a test tube.

The liquid inside was a strange dark purple, with bubbles constantly churning.

Occasionally, a trace of an electric arc jumped across the surface of the liquid.

Most startlingly.

On the wall of the test tube, a... multicolored halo was actually swirling!

Five-Star Supreme Grade!

Close to Saint Grade!

"It's done!"

Qin Lang let out a long breath, the bloodshot in his eyes unable to hide his wild joy.

This 'thunder-fire potion' concentrated all his hard work.

Its power, according to the System's simulated calculations.

Was equivalent to a full-strength strike from a Fifth-Tier powerhouse!

Although it was a one-time use, it was definitely the strongest trump card in his hand so far.

"With this thing."

"Even if that He Qian hides in a turtle shell, I can blast him out."

Qin Lang put the potion into a specialized explosion-proof box.

Besides this ultimate weapon.

He also conveniently brewed dozens of Four-Star 'Minor Thunder-Fire' potions.

Although their power wasn't as exaggerated, they were enough to give a surprise to anyone looking for trouble.

"Everything is ready, all that's missing is the final push."

Qin Lang went to the bathroom, took a shower, and cleaned himself up.

Looking at the handsome and tall young man in the mirror.

He revealed a confident smile.

"Secret Realm Assessment..."

"Here I come."

"I hope those who want to kill me can handle this... big gift."

After organizing his equipment.

Qin Lang changed into a combat suit suitable for movement.

It was late now.

But he didn't rest.

Instead, he took two exquisite small boxes and walked out of the dormitory building.

He was departing tomorrow.

Some things had to be sent out in advance.

After all.

His two 'close female friends' also needed some life-saving means.

Especially that Sister Xue, who was tough-talking but soft-hearted.

This Sophomore Group assessment would definitely be more dangerous than the Freshman Group's.

"I hope she won't be polite with me again."

Qin Lang sighed and walked toward the girls' dormitory.