Chapter 52: Turns Out They're All Our Own People

"To… keep safe."

The Imperial Director's tall image seemed to collapse in Lin Chuan's heart all at once.

Though he knew Zhu Zhengzhi meant well, looking at the facts, it was indeed somewhat comical.

"Allow me to consider it."

Lin Chuan cupped his hands and gave a perfunctory reply.

From the Imperial Director's words, he gleaned another piece of information: the Demon Tribe of Qingyun Prefecture was now under the control of his own wife, Mo Sangyu.

This explained why the Demon Tribe of Qingyun Prefecture was willing to acknowledge the Spirit Clan's existence.

He had thought enemies were everywhere, but to his surprise, they were all friends and family?

It left him with nowhere to grind monsters and level up.

In the end, he still had to return to the dream!

……

As they chatted, time flew by, and Lin Chuan and Zhu Zhengzhi arrived at Yan Du.

The prosperity of Yan Du far surpassed that of regional cities; its tall, grand buildings displayed the splendor of a dynastic capital.

The ancient capital built by cultivators was far more magnificent than Lin Chuan had imagined.

Zhu Zhengzhi led Lin Chuan around Yan Du for a tour, then headed straight for the Demon-Slaying Office's secret grounds, where the Demon-Slaying Office's Treasure Vault lay at the very depths.

To open the Demon-Slaying Office's secret grounds required a holy decree personally bestowed by the Yan Emperor, as well as Zhu Zhengzhi's secret key.

As the head of the Demon-Slaying Office, Zhu Zhengzhi had already shown the utmost sincerity, and Lin Chuan could naturally sense it.

It was apparent that Zhu Zhengzhi was a man who thirsted for talent.

The Treasure Vault's great doors slowly opened.

Zhu Zhengzhi led Lin Chuan inside.

The treasures stored in the Treasure Vault were countless and dazzling, showing Lin Chuan the heritage of a nation—truly extravagant.

Many items needed for cultivation were neatly categorized and stored in various spatial compartments.

Lin Chuan couldn't even name most of the treasures.

Zhu Zhengzhi introduced them: "Our Demon-Slaying Office's Treasure Vault has everything from cultivation techniques and Divine Powers, to spirit treasures and magical artifacts, to pills and talismans."

"Many of the treasures here—just take any one out, and it would be a supreme treasure that cultivators in the outside world dream of."

"And you, so long as you agree to join the Demon-Slaying Office, may freely choose from the treasures here!"

"This is your privilege as a Sword Path genius, and also the sincerity of our Demon-Slaying Office."

Zhu Zhengzhi was confident, not believing a young man could resist such temptation.

"Imperial Director, may I first look at the treasures here?"

Lin Chuan was genuinely a little tempted.

If the Demon-Slaying Office allowed him to slack off at work, take paid vacations, and so on, he might actually be able to agree.

After all, among the three factions in Qingyun Prefecture today, the Demon Tribe had been claimed by his domineering wife Mo Sangyu, and Lin Chuan himself was the patriarch of the Spirit Clan.

What truly needed resolving…

Was mostly just the Human Race's civil war.

Zhu Zhengzhi smiled and nodded. "Of course."

If he didn't look more, how could he be tempted?

With permission granted, Lin Chuan began browsing the Treasure Vault. He didn't much care for things like cultivation techniques and Divine Powers.

The Burning Silence Sword Art and Sword Twenty-Three reflected by Reincarnation were enough for him.

Lin Chuan cared more about various cultivation resources, such as spirit treasures, magical artifacts, pills, and talismans—things both he and his sister could use.

The Treasure Vault had seven floors in total.

The treasures on the first floor were already quite impressive.

Lin Chuan looked toward the second floor. "Imperial Director, may I go up and take a look?"

"Naturally."

Zhu Zhengzhi nodded.

The young man was still too young. If he truly weren't moved by resources, he wouldn't have asked to go up another floor.

Going upstairs was the beginning of the fall.

Next, Lin Chuan browsed all the way from the second floor to the sixth floor.

The treasures stored on the sixth floor were already extremely rare; every single one was a treasure that even those in the Saint Realm would highly value, and they were also the foundation of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Among them were many things that tempted Lin Chuan.

However…

He felt that what was at the very top should be the best.

Lin Chuan's gaze turned to the seventh floor. "Um… Imperial Director, can I go up further?"

Zhu Zhengzhi smiled and asked in return, "What? So many treasures, and none of them satisfy you?"

"There are."

Lin Chuan smiled. "But I'm very curious about what's hidden on the seventh floor. Could it be the legendary Supreme technique?"

"No."

Zhu Zhengzhi shook his head. "The items on the seventh floor aren't something ordinary cultivators can use. They're more like a spiritual symbol."

"If Young Master Lin wishes to take a look, there's no reason not to."

"Please."

Zhu Zhengzhi gave Lin Chuan ample face and waved his hand to undo the restrictions on the seventh floor.

Lin Chuan walked up to the seventh floor.

What caught his eye was a dust-covered table, upon which sat a tome—extremely thick, appearing to be quite old.

Zhu Zhengzhi explained, "This item has a long history. At the founding of Yan Chao, it was already revered as a dynasty-guarding treasure and placed here. It can also be considered a cultivation text."

"I have read through it before. The cultivation methods recorded within are extremely niche; ordinary cultivators simply cannot practice this path."

"Yet successive emperors have all revered it as a supreme treasure, enshrined on the seventh floor of the Demon-Slaying Office's Treasure Vault."

"As for the specific reason, that remains unknown."

"Setting that aside—you've already seen the item. It is time for you to make your choice: are you willing to join the Demon-Slaying Office?"

Zhu Zhengzhi believed that the young man before his eyes had already been thoroughly captivated.

Yet Lin Chuan's gaze remained fixed on the tome atop the table.

Its title was—*Comprehensive Spirit Master Art, Third Compilation*.

Lin Chuan had seen a similar tome during the dream Reincarnation of *Forbidden Love*, where it existed as the supreme cultivation art of the Human Race's Yuling Master Lineage.

The Lin Chuan in the dream, having been abandoned by the Yuling Master Lineage since childhood, never practiced this art.

The reason he had seen it was in Yan Beicheng's hands.

Only at that time it was called *Comprehensive Spirit Master Art, Second Compilation*.

The Great Yan Imperial Dynasty! Yan Beicheng!

In an instant, Lin Chuan connected the two names, his heart pounding. "Imperial Director, may I read through this tome?"

Zhu Zhengzhi sensed something amiss but did not stop him. He nodded.

"By the Yan Emperor's decree, all who enter the Treasure Vault are qualified to examine this tome. You are naturally no exception."

Lin Chuan fell into thought. This style of doing things was far too much like Yan Beicheng.

He picked up the tome and began to read.

Memories from the dream kept flooding into reality. Many of the words felt familiar to him as he turned page after page.

Lin Chuan had no interest in the Yuling Master Lineage's cultivation methods.

What truly interested him was whether this tome might contain traces left by Yan Beicheng.

Zhu Zhengzhi stood to the side, increasingly baffled.

You kid, why are you flipping through it so fast? It's hard enough to understand word by word—reading like this, isn't it the same as reading a wordless heavenly book?

But Lin Chuan had no time for such concerns. It was not until he reached the final pages that his pace gradually slowed.

At the bottom of the page was written:

—Comprehensive Spirit Master Art newly adds the 'Art of Fragmented Soul Revival.'

Summary: Provided the soul's core exists, it can be repaired through this method, restoring fragmented souls and broken spirits.

After the summary came densely packed detailed provisions.

They recorded in detail every preparation needed for reviving a fragmented soul.

After reading this passage, Lin Chuan could confirm that the person who left this tome was Yan Beicheng!

"What kind of situation is this?"

Lin Chuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Ye Xue and Tu Shan Yue Ming were both alive, which meant the likelihood of Yan Beicheng being alive was also very high.

Yan Beicheng had very likely been searching all along for the reincarnated body of 'Tushan's Wu You.'

Fighting back and forth—they were all on the same side.

Lin Chuan's courage suddenly grew considerably. He looked at Zhu Zhengzhi.

"Imperial Director, may I ask if I can copy this tome?"