Lin Chen was speaking when he suddenly glanced towards the rooftop and then, clutching his stomach, said, "Elder Miao, I need to use the restroom."

The sharp gaze of Miao Shan also detected something amiss on the roof. He nodded towards Lin Chen and said, "Go ahead, the restroom is at the back of the house."

Lin Chen left the room, his body floated up and he leaped onto the rooftop.

There, a person in black was sneakily peering down. Lin Chen moved quietly, reaching right in front of him, but the fellow hadn't noticed Lin Chen at all.

Lin Chen approached the person, a sly smile curling at his lips, and positioned himself as if he was about to take a shot in soccer.

The person in black, peering through the cracks of the wooden house, suddenly felt a nasty draft behind him.

He wanted to dodge, but it was already too late. He felt a sharp pain in his buttocks, and at the same time, he was sent flying by a kick from Lin Chen.

"Bang!"

The person in black tumbled off the rooftop like a ball.

Almost at the same time, Miao Shan burst out of the house like lightning, his gaunt palm fiercely clutching the black-clad person's throat.

"Who are you?" Miao Shan asked coldly.

Realizing he had been captured, the person in black tried to swallow poison.

But to his shock, he found his entire body had been paralyzed, unable to move at all.

A look of terror spread across the face of the person in black. He had certainly heard of Miao Shan's notoriety but never imagined that Miao Shan was so formidable, managing to infest him with paralyzing poison within seconds, rendering him immobile.

At this moment, Lin Chen also leaped down from the rooftop, looked at the person in black, and said with a smile, "Kid, you'd better confess. Elder Miao's poison is quite powerful."

The person in black snorted coldly but kept silent.

A fierce look appeared on Miao Shan's face, "If you refuse to speak, don't blame this old man. I will let the gu insects slowly consume all your internal organs."

Although the person in black showed a look of horror, he continued clenching his teeth firmly.

Lin Chen laughed and said, "Elder Miao, let me interrogate him. This guy only responds to carrot, not the stick."

As he spoke, Lin Chen walked up to the person in black, his eyes flashing with a golden light.

The person in black's body trembled violently for a moment, and quickly he fell into a dazed state.

"Elder Miao, you can let go now," Lin Chen said with a smile.

Miao Shan nodded and released his grip.

Lin Chen looked at the person in black and asked, "Who are you?"

In a dazed voice, the person in black responded, "I am a ninja from the Island Nation!"

"A ninja from the Island Nation?" Hearing the identity of the other, both Miao Shan and Lin Chen frowned.

"What are you here for?" Lin Chen continued to ask.

The Island Nation ninja said, "To gather intelligence."

"What intelligence?" Lin Chen pressed on.

"To find out if Miao Shan's cultivation has been sealed, and if possible, to kill Miao Shan," replied the Island Nation ninja.

"Was it someone from your group who poisoned Ah Ni?" Lin Chen asked coldly.

"It was our person," said the person in black, his gaze still vacant.

"Why are you targeting Elder Miao?" Lin Chen asked sharply.

The person in black struggled for a moment but soon replied, "The martial artists from our eight nations want to challenge China's strong, to avenge the blood debt from a few years ago. Fearing Elder Miao's poison, we decided to act first and cripple him."

"These bastards!" Miao Shan's eyes were filled with coldness.

Lin Chen took a deep breath and asked, "Remember, you've just seen Miao Shan's cultivation destroyed, and you've killed him. Do you understand?"

"Understood." The man in black said blankly.

"Good, you can go now," Lin Chen said indifferently.

The Island Nation ninja nodded, leapt into the jungle, and quickly disappeared.

"Lin Chen, why did you let him go?" Miao Shan asked, puzzled.

Lin Chen smiled and said, "That Island Nation ninja has been hypnotized by me. He will convey the wrong information to their people when he returns. Since he came, of course, we must 'entertain' them well. They did not learn their lesson last time; this time we will make a lasting impression."

Miao Shan nodded and said, "Hmm, rest assured, although my strength has been damaged, it's enough to deal with these guys."

Lin Chen shook his head, "Senior Miao, I have a Gathering Yuan Pill here. Take it, and in seven days, your cultivation will return to its peak. Leave these guys to me for the time being. Once you emerge, we will capture them all at once."

"Alright, in that case, I'll have to trouble Mr. Lin," Miao Shan said, cupping his hands towards Lin Chen in gratitude.

Gathering Yuan Pill, that was a high-grade elixir that required a high-grade alchemist to produce. It was extremely precious, and Lin Chen had unexpectedly given such a valuable item to him.

Miao Shan smiled and said, "Mr. Lin, I wonder if we could become sworn brothers."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen smiled and nodded, "Senior Miao, that would be a great honor for me."

Miao Shan burst into hearty laughter and said, "In all of Huaxia, there are none I, Miao Shan, have acknowledged. You're the first. Even though you're much younger than me, in terms of cultivation, you certainly qualify."

Lin Chen nodded, "Since Senior Miao holds me in such regard, I would be more than pleased to accept."

They set up an incense table, and following the Miao family customs, Lin Chen and Miao Shan became sworn brothers.

It should be known that Miao Shan was a top-class expert in Huaxia. Even though his powers were currently impaired, once recovered, even Kunlun would not dare to provoke him. Having such a brother would undoubtedly be a huge asset to Lin Chen.

After drinking the ceremonial blood wine, Miao Shan laughed heartily, "Brother Lin, since you gifted me the Gathering Yuan Pill, the Miao family always repays favors. Come, let me take you to a place."

Lin Chen followed Miao Shan to a small cave. The cave seemed unremarkable, but it was surrounded by poisonous Gu, inaccessible to ordinary people.

As they walked into the cave, Lin Chen was stunned.

Inside, there were countless Cultivation Techniques and rare medicines, along with some exotic treasures.

"Lin Chen, feel free to pick whatever you like from here," Miao Shan said with a laugh.

Seeing Miao Shan's generous gesture, Lin Chen was also touched.

He knew Miao Shan was a forthright person, and if he didn't take something, the old man would surely be displeased.

Lin Chen's gaze swept around the cave and suddenly landed on a sheepskin scroll.

He walked quickly to the scroll and unrolled it, his face lighting up with excitement.

It was the Five Elements Chart he had been desperately searching for, and this chart was of the wood attribute.

Seeing that Lin Chen finally chose the Five Elements Chart, Miao Shan was also taken aback.

"Brother Lin, I obtained this sheepskin scroll by chance and never knew its purpose. Are you sure you want it?" Miao Shan asked.

Lin Chen nodded, "Yes, this is it."

Miao Shan nodded, "Since Brother Lin likes it, then take it."

At last, the issue was perfectly resolved. Mu Ling stayed in Miao Village to take care of Ani, Miao Shan went into closed-door cultivation to take the Gathering Yuan Pill, and Lin Chen drove back to the Mu family himself.

The day after Lin Chen returned to the Mu family, astonishing news spread throughout the whole of Huaxia, causing an uproar in the ancient martial arts world.