BTTH : genius planner

Two months later.

At the western border of the Gamma Empire, a massive fortress looms like a giant beast, built against the mountains, surrounded by enormous city walls that seem to stretch endlessly. The sound of synchronized drills can be faintly heard from atop the walls.

This is the fortress known as "Zhen Gui Pass." As a military stronghold of the Gamma Empire meant to deter foreign powers, its defenses are formidable, manned by one of the top three elite legions of the Gamma Empire.

Among a merchant convoy undergoing inspection at the fortress, a handsome young man dressed in a blue robe is surveying the imposing gate before him.

The young man appears to be around twenty-one or twenty-two years old, with a long sword at his waist and a faint herbal scent about him. Most notably, he wears a badge on his chest, depicting an ancient medicinal cauldron, with two silver ripples on its surface reflecting an unusual light in the sunlight.

Surrounding him, people look at the badge with envy, greed, or flattery, as it represents the esteemed status of a second-tier alchemist.

"Master Xu, please!" A soldier responsible for the inspection looks at the young man with a hint of flattery, his normally rough voice unconsciously softening as he politely allows the young man to pass through the checkpoint and enter the Gamma Empire.

The young man is actually Lin Yuan in disguise, using a new identity as Xu An from the Southwest Region, posing as a traveling second-tier alchemist, while his true strength is that of a five-star Battle Master.

Lin Yuan has many plans in the Gamma Empire, making it unsuitable to use his real identity. Therefore, to facilitate his disguise, he specifically purchased a secret method at an auction in the Black Corner Region that allows him to change his appearance. Coupled with his powerful soul energy to conceal his true self, he can easily operate under this alias without even needing a human skin mask.

As for Xu An, he is indeed a real person, but he was one of the unfortunate catches Lin Yuan hooked while fishing during his journey out of the Black Corner Region. Thinking back to those fishing trips in the Black Corner Region, Lin Yuan can't help but feel a bit happy; the gains from those fishing activities were substantial, quickly making his finances quite ample. Especially that Blood Sect Battle King, who was a big catch; after defeating him, Lin Yuan immediately ended his fishing and flew straight to the Gamma Empire.

"The Black Corner Region really is like a piggy bank for the strong; it truly is a purgatory for the weak and a paradise for the strong," Lin Yuan muses to himself.

Stepping back into the Gamma Empire, Lin Yuan can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. When he first left the Gamma Empire, he was just a child mingling among the recruitment team of Canaan Academy. Now, returning to the Gamma Empire, he has become one of its few strong individuals and a high-level alchemist.

"How truly unpredictable the world is!" Shaking his head, Lin Yuan dismisses his distractions and thinks about his next course of action.

After declining the invitation from the leader of the merchant convoy, Lin Yuan bids farewell to them. They were merely a convoy he had casually rescued on the road, and he had no interest in deepening the conversation.

Gently pressing his hand against his forehead, Lin Yuan contemplates for a moment before flying southwest.

"First, I should go back and pay my respects to my parents!"

Gui Li Town, Lin Yuan's hometown, is located near the Beast Mountain Range to the southwest of "Zhen Gui Pass," a small, ordinary town in the Gamma Empire.

Three days later.

In a secluded and tranquil valley within the Beast Mountain Range, a young man in a green shirt stands before a joint burial mound, murmuring to himself. This is Lin Yuan, who has moved his parents' remains here for burial.

Before his parents' grave, Lin Yuan speaks to them about his experiences over the past few years, and after a long while, he says:

"Mother, you once said you wanted to find a quiet place to live. I hope you like this place."

"Father, you loved Mother so much; I believe the place she liked is also the place you would like!"

"Father, Mother, thank you for giving me this life in this world. I will climb to the peak, and when I reach the top, I will ensure that the name of the Battle Qi Continent resonates with your glory."

"It's about time; I should be going."

With that, Lin Yuan bows deeply several times before leaving the valley.

Outside the valley, Lin Yuan stands face to face with a fifth-tier magical beast, the Wind Wolf King, who is the lord of this area of the Beast Forest.

"Wolf King, according to our agreement from the other day, you will guard this grave for ten years. Just ensure that no one disturbs this place," Lin Yuan says loudly.

The Wind Wolf King nods human-like, recalling the scene of their three battles, feeling a wave of fear. The human boy before him is terrifyingly strong; not only is his Battle Qi cultivation close to that of a six-star Battle King, but his physical strength can also match his own, and he can unleash a destructive power. Fortunately, he had deliberately missed; otherwise, he would have died on the spot. Moreover, the boy occasionally emanates a supreme pressure from deep within his bloodline, making the Wolf King feel a desire to submit.

Indeed, Lin Yuan had broken through to the five-star Battle King level a week before leaving Canaan Academy while refining pills. On his way to the Gamma Empire, he completed two rounds of spirit refining and ascension, making significant progress in the Hundred Beasts Spirit Refining Technique, allowing his physical body to rival that of an average fifth-tier intermediate magical beast.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan feels a bit pleased. His thoughts were indeed correct; the concept of strength being revered among magical beasts is more profound than among humans. Therefore, most of the time, if one needs the power of magical beasts, the best way is to establish a battle agreement and then tame their hearts by defeating them multiple times.

After a moment's thought, Lin Yuan takes out a pill and tosses it to the Wind Wolf King. The rich scent of the pill invigorates the Wolf King, and then, under the Wolf King's expectant gaze, Lin Yuan makes a promise, "Take good care of the valley, and when I return next time, I will bring you an opportunity."

"Awoo." The Wolf King agrees to the promise. Although fifth-tier magical beasts cannot speak, their intelligence is already on par with that of normal humans.

"Then, see you again." Nodding, Lin Yuan rises into the air, transforming into a streak of light as he flies away.

After swallowing the pill, the Wind Wolf King rests for a while. Two hours later, having digested the medicinal power, he feels his strength has increased significantly and lets out a satisfied howl. Then, the Wind Wolf King sends two of his subordinates, both fourth-tier magical beasts, to guard the valley before heading back to his lair.

Meanwhile, not far away, Lin Yuan, who is observing with his soul perception, notices that the Wind Wolf King has arranged for the magical beasts to guard the valley and reveals a relieved smile, truly leaving the area.

At the same time, in the Xiao family of Wutan City.

With a month left until the Xiao family's coming-of-age ceremony, they are conducting a preliminary test for the ceremony.

In the tense gaze of the crowd, a young man in a black shirt confidently extends his hand and lightly touches the cold testing stone tablet.

Suddenly, the stone tablet emits a brilliant light, and the large golden characters cause everyone's hearts to stop momentarily.

"Battle Power... Seven Segments!"

"Xiao Yan: Battle Qi, Seventh Segment, Advanced!"

The golden characters on the stone tablet and the tester's voice, filled with barely concealed shock, seem to announce the return of a fallen genius.

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(End of Chapter)