Chapter 76: Harnessing the Power of Enemy Unity

Lin Qingyun did not return to the research institute of the Lin Pharmaceutical Group, nor did he go to see Master Chifeng. Although the institute was a family industry and he could come and go as he pleased, there were some matters he needed to avoid early on. This included the resources he used for alchemy, as well as the pill recipes and various improvement plans he was now collaborating on with Haicheng University. If, in the future, it was rumored that these came from Master Chifeng or the Lin Group’s research institute, it would become a troublesome affair. After all, while the Lin family was the largest shareholder of the Lin Pharmaceutical Group, they were not the only one.

Haicheng Medical University lacked nothing—and when it came to the Department of Alchemy, even less so. The treatment Lin Qingyun received here was of the highest order. Nearly everything was personally arranged by President Hong and Qian Shanning. Not only did they provide him with a place for alchemy exactly as he requested, but they also prepared all the medicinal herbs he needed, free of charge. The costs would simply be deducted from his share of future profits.

Inside the alchemy chamber of the Department of Alchemy, at Qian Shanning's research institute, Lin Qingyun activated the formation but did not rush to begin. First, he thoroughly inspected the chamber—using both technological and spiritual means. After undergoing the baptism of the recent heavenly tribulation, his strength had reached the ninth level of the Heart of the Zither realm. Both his body and soul were now extremely close to the Cloud Soaring realm. Without this advancement, he could never have single-handedly slaughtered the pack of wolf demons.

“It seems I need to secure a place of my own for seclusion and alchemy. Otherwise, there will always be complications,” he mused. Though the conditions here were excellent and more than sufficient for his current needs, it was not truly his own domain, and inconveniences would inevitably arise.

Having completed his inspection, Lin Qingyun finally entered the Creation Alchemy Furnace.

A sound like gentle snoring, rising and falling, echoed within the furnace. This was the earth qilin, whom Lin Qingyun had subdued. Its body was now only the size of a palm, having been fully reconstituted and enveloped in a unique, earth-yellow aura that only mighty demons could summon. Yet the qilin remained unconscious, sunk in a deep slumber.

Though Lin Qingyun had helped it survive the heavenly tribulation, the qilin had suffered grievous wounds, its very lifeforce and inherited protection nearly exhausted. After its ascension, it should have undergone metamorphosis, but instead could only revert to its infant state to recover. Its flesh and even the vitality it released in battle, combined with the world essence unleashed when the ruins opened, had sparked unprecedented transformation in the entire war zone—evidence of how difficult true recovery would be.

Lacking supreme spiritual treasures, the earth qilin could only recuperate slowly. Lin Qingyun was in no hurry; after checking on the qilin, he left the Creation Alchemy Furnace.

The furnace’s power was not merely in its ability to refine pills and store items, but also in allowing living beings to enter and exit safely. In his previous life, even at the pinnacle of cultivation, Lin Qingyun had seen weapon spaces that could contain people, vast storage artifacts, and all manner of treasures—but never anything quite like the Creation Alchemy Furnace. With a thought, he arranged for the earth qilin and his stored medicinal materials to remain in the storage area, which did not affect the furnace’s other uses—a detail he had already mastered in his past life.

For Lin Qingyun, alchemy was itself a form of cultivation. The Xuan Yang Pill posed a significant challenge for him at his current level. Ordinarily, the grade and quality of Xuan Yang Pills he aimed to produce would require a high-level alchemist of the Cloud Soaring realm at minimum. Though he had recently made rapid progress, reaching the ninth level of the Heart of the Zither realm, refining the Xuan Yang Pill was still extremely difficult. Only Lin Qingyun, with the Creation Alchemy Furnace and the foundation of his past cultivation, along with the abundance of earth qilin flesh and liquefied spiritual energy he had secured at the ruins’ entrance, could attempt it. Lacking sufficient strength, he compensated with external aids. And his own pills could never be entrusted to others.

This closed-door session would be a long one, as the difficulty of the task required far more preparation than usual. Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. The murder case of Zhang Baole and the inheritance dispute among the Lin family’s billionaires had already faded from the public eye, suppressed and now only whispered about in small circles. Only those who still harbored grudges against Lin Qingyun remembered.

Nearly a month had passed since the new student combat trials. After intense battles and a period of diligent training, most students had returned to their normal routines—except for a few.

In the most luxurious floating island hotel owned by the Tiangang Group, Zheng Haoyue was entertaining some members of the student council. Although Li Daoze and Mao Yiqiang had been dismissed from their positions, they were still helping organize the gathering. However, a closer look revealed that many attendees were not just student council members—they were also among those whom Lin Qingyun had beaten during the combat trials. Some were oblivious, but others had already realized as much.

After good food and drink, conversation turned to the Lin family’s affairs. Naturally, many hoped Lin Qingyun would get his comeuppance, and curses against him filled the room.

“President, it’s done. There’s no need to guide them; they already hate Lin Qingyun to the core. If not for him, they wouldn’t have fallen behind,” Li Daoze and Mao Yiqiang reported quietly to Zheng Haoyue, under the guise of proposing a toast.

Mao Yiqiang downed his drink and exhaled heavily. “Damn it, the more I think about it, the more stifled I feel. But Lin Qingyun isn’t much better off—he’s made plenty of enemies. I’ve also contacted people from other universities. With them as our link, we can definitely unite.”

“The president is truly formidable. This is only the beginning, and even if there are some differences, it doesn’t really matter. The president can rally all these people together—their power in the future will be immense,” Li Daoze said, perhaps flatteringly, but with genuine admiration.

After the last trial, both he and Mao Yiqiang had been so demoralized they could hardly lift their heads, their spirits broken. As for seeking trouble with Lin Qingyun—the combat trial champion—how could they possibly challenge him? Lacking wealth, influence, and strength, how could they compete?

Yet before secluding herself, Zheng Haoyue had instructed them to contact everyone who had suffered at Lin Qingyun’s hands—both at Haicheng University and elsewhere, even those who simply disliked him on principle. At first, Li Daoze did not understand, but soon realized how easy it was for these people to empathize and unite. None were truly weak, and once drawn together, they formed a small group without Zheng Haoyue even needing to give explicit instructions.

“Failure isn’t frightening. What’s frightening is failing and never getting up again. There will always be opportunities. Take advantage of the situation, use it subtly. University is only a few years; the student era is but a fleeting phase. We must look further ahead—plan for the long term…” Zheng Haoyue, slightly tipsy, prepared to offer guidance to Li Daoze and Mao Yiqiang.

Just as she began, her communicator buzzed. Upon seeing the name, her drunkenness faded a little, and she answered at once.

“Dad, yes, that’s right, I’m on our floating island—entertaining classmates from the student council… Oh, okay, I’ll come right over.”

Seeing Li Daoze and Mao Yiqiang glance her way, Zheng Haoyue smiled and drained her wine. “My father is dining with a business partner here and wants me to toast them. You two look after the others; I’ll be back soon.” With that, she turned to leave.

At the very top floor, in the most lavish private room—where the décor alone cost tens of millions and spiritual gathering arrays and rare materials abounded—the layers of luxury created a distinct sense of status. For ordinary people, a lifetime’s earnings could be spent here in a single meal.

Just as Zheng Haoyue stepped off the elevator, she was suddenly blocked—her movements frozen by a forceful, powerful hand. Though she appeared refined, she was strict with her own staff, and even her father’s subordinates were wary of her. Now, being stopped on her own turf, she was about to lose her temper—until she realized the two were foreigners, clearly from the European Union. Moreover, the aura and pressure they radiated was suffocatingly intense—Zheng Haoyue was all too familiar with that level of oppression. At the very least, they were ninth-level Cloud Soaring cultivators.

“Gentlemen, this is the young master. Master Mia and our boss just agreed he should come in,” said her father’s personal secretary, arriving just in time. The two men understood and immediately let her pass.

“What’s going on?” she wondered. Two guards at the elevator, two more at the private room door—Zheng Haoyue was astonished.

“Young master, I’m not clear on the details myself, but you should be careful. These are certainly important figures,” the secretary cautioned.

He left her at the door to enter alone. Zheng Haoyue, now mostly sober, deliberately summoned her strength to clear her head—it was easy for her.

Inside the vast room were only two people: Zheng Tiangang, radiating his usual forceful presence, sat across from a guest—a blonde young lady, looking no more than sixteen or seventeen, with eyes deep as the blue sea, a straight nose like a master sculptor’s finest work, and gracefully flowing features. Her rosy lips parted as if telling ancient legends, her skin white as snow with a faint flush.

Just one glance at her as she entered, and Zheng Haoyue felt as if her soul was being drawn away; she found herself rooted to the spot.

“Zheng Haoyue, why haven’t you greeted President Mia?” At that moment, Zheng Tiangang’s voice thundered in her ear, and along with it, a surge of her family’s signature force entered her mind, instantly clearing her thoughts.