Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
During these ten days, Qin Changsheng had been observing Lin Hao's every move.
After more than ten days of patient observation, Qin Changsheng had a complete and accurate understanding of Lin Hao's daily activities.
Every morning, Lin Hao would cultivate the *Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique* in his courtyard. In the afternoon, he would have his attendants keep watch outside while he meditated and rested in the courtyard.
However, every three days, he would go alone to the sect's market, find a tavern, and drink heavily. Each time, he would become completely drunk, only staggering home late at night.
Having figured out Lin Hao's movements, Qin Changsheng already had a plan in mind.
The *Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique* was purchased by Lin Zhentian at a high price, and Lin Hao would definitely carry it with him day and night.
When Lin Hao cultivated and meditated in his courtyard, he was always surrounded by guards.
Seizing the cultivation technique was an incredibly difficult task, as if trying to ascend to heaven. The slightest misstep would alert Lin Zhentian.
The best opportunity, and the only chance, was to wait until Lin Hao returned drunk, his mind clouded, his spiritual energy disordered, and his guard at its lowest.
That day was the day Lin Hao went to the market to drink.
Qin Changsheng didn't delay. That evening, he controlled his avatar, Hu Nan, and under the cover of darkness, quietly sneaked onto Lin Hao's way home.
More than an hour later, the sound of unsteady footsteps, accompanied by intermittent singing, gradually grew clearer as it approached.
Qin Changsheng, controlling Hu Nan, slightly turned his body and peered through the gaps in the old branches towards the courtyard gate.
He saw a blurry figure staggering towards them from afar, its steps unsteady and swaying, reeking of alcohol.
"Hu Nan... wait till I reach Foundation Establishment, I'll make you pay!" Lin Hao cursed loudly as he walked.
Even now, Lin Hao still harbored deep hatred for Hu Nan.
In Lin Hao's eyes, if Hu Nan hadn't made him lose face so badly at the sect competition,
he wouldn't be in such a sorry state.
He wouldn't have been ambushed and had his Foundation Establishment Pill and Foundation Condensation Grass stolen.
He would have reached Foundation Establishment much earlier.
Looking at the drunken Lin Hao, Qin Changsheng knew this was the perfect opportunity.
At the same time, Qin Changsheng's gaze swept over Lin Hao.
He noticed that Lin Hao would subconsciously touch his chest every time.
Clearly, something Lin Hao cared about most was there.
Qin Changsheng understood that the Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique must be there.
Watching Lin Hao approach, Qin Changsheng took a deep breath. A pre-prepared black iron mask instantly appeared in his storage bag, quickly covering his face and completely concealing Hu Nan's appearance.
The moment the mask was on, Hu Nan moved with lightning speed!
Like a cheetah that had been lying in wait, his movements were as swift as lightning. Spiritual energy surged beneath his feet, making no sound whatsoever, as he charged towards the swaying Lin Hao not far away.
Lin Hao, still immersed in the bliss of his drunken stupor, walked along, cursing Hu Nan.
He believed that his failure to reach Foundation Establishment today was entirely Hu Nan's fault.
At that moment, a dark figure suddenly appeared in front of him, moving so fast that he had no time to react.
"Who?!" Lin Hao exclaimed instinctively, his drunkenness somewhat dispelled by the sudden commotion. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes as he tried to circulate his spiritual energy to resist, but his energy was chaotic and unable to coalesce; he lacked even the strength to raise his hand.
Before he could react, Hu Nan's right hand shot out like lightning, precisely targeting Lin Hao's collar. The movement was swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
With a soft "rip," Hu Nan's hand easily parted Lin Hao's collar, and in the next instant, an ancient-looking booklet appeared in his hand.
The moment he succeeded, Hu Nan abruptly retreated, then turned and swiftly disappeared into the distance.
Only after Hu Nan's figure vanished did Lin Hao fully regain his senses. The dizziness from his drunkenness instantly dissipated, replaced by extreme panic and anger.
He staggered back a step, frantically groping inside his clothes, but the manual was nowhere to be found.
"My cultivation technique! My 'Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique'!" Lin Hao's voice was filled with panic and rage. He abruptly looked up, gazing into the distance, only to see a black blur flashing past in the moonlight, hurtling towards the forest at an astonishing speed.
"Damn it!" Lin Hao's eyes widened in fury, his face instantly turning ashen.
He wanted to give chase, but the black-clad figure was simply too fast. In just a few breaths, the black blur vanished completely into the dense foliage of the forest, leaving no trace.
Lin Hao slumped to the ground, his eyes filled with rage and resentment, his face ashen, his body trembling uncontrollably.
That was the *Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique*, something the Lin family had spent a fortune to find for him. It was his only means of repairing his dantian and restoring his cultivation. Now, it had been stolen by a masked person—how could he not be furious?
But soon enough, Lin Hao calmed down.
He didn't make a fuss.
Because Lin Hao knew very well that if his father, Lin Zhentian, found out that he had lost the *Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique* while drunk, given Lin Zhentian's volatile and ruthless nature, he would definitely scold him severely, and might even punish him heavily.
After all, he had previously made a mistake due to drunkenness.
Fortunately, Lin Hao had already memorized most of the contents of the *Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique*.
He could still continue cultivating the *Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique*.
...
Heavenly Sword Sect.
Outer courtyard.
Qin Changsheng waved his hand, and an ancient-looking book appeared in his hand.
Seeing the words "Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique" written in small characters on the book, Qin Changsheng's eyes lit up with joy.
He hadn't expected this robbery to be so easy.
At the same time, Qin Changsheng understood that he was lucky to have encountered Lin Hao, who loved to drink.
If Lin Hao had stayed in the Enforcement Hall, he would have had no chance to obtain the "Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique."
Qin Changsheng carefully examined the "Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique."
This manual not only contained complete cultivation instructions and spiritual energy circulation routes, but also numerous precautions and advancement techniques during cultivation.
Qin Changsheng closed his eyes, immersing his mind in his sea of consciousness, meticulously studying every detail of the "Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique."
He discovered that this cultivation technique was far more compatible with him than he had imagined.
The characteristics of its compatibility with the Five Elements spiritual roots perfectly matched his own spiritual root attributes;
Furthermore, the technique's ability to rapidly gather spiritual energy and nourish his dantian perfectly complemented his golden attribute, "Source of Mana."
"Source of Mana" provided a continuous supply of pure spiritual energy, while the *Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique* efficiently absorbed and circulated spiritual energy from heaven and earth. The two complemented each other, maximizing their respective advantages.
To verify the technique's compatibility, Qin Changsheng slowly circulated his spiritual energy according to the incantation of the *Five Elements Gathering Spirit Technique*.
The spiritual energy flowed smoothly and steadily through his meridians along the pathways set by the technique, without any obstruction. The Five Elements spiritual energy of heaven and earth seemed to be drawn in by an invisible force, continuously converging into his body at a speed far exceeding that of the *Qi-Inducing Technique* he had previously practiced, even faster than he had anticipated.
After circulating his energy for only one cycle, Qin Changsheng clearly felt that the spiritual energy pool in his dantian had become even fuller, the spiritual energy had become more refined, and his meridians had become more resilient thanks to the nourishment of the five elements' spiritual energy.