Chapter 258: Ten thousand books, breaking through to the sixth turn

Raozhou Prefecture.

The Shu Mansion!

Lin Chen accompanied Old Master Shu for some tea and then took his leave.

From Old Master Shu, Lin Chen learned that Yu Yu Jiaoxi had gone to Hongdu Prefecture.

The Martial Administration Hall gave Yu Yu Jiaoxi the reward of entering the 【Education Pavilion】, and this trip to Hongdu Prefecture was aimed at entering the ranked tier.

The instructor had gone, and his wife accompanied him.

Leaving the Shu Mansion, Lin Chen headed straight for the Jiang Mansion.

He didn't know if Jiang Jiang Shijie had returned to the Canglan Wu Yuan, but regardless of whether Jiang Jiang Shijie had returned to the Canglan Wu Yuan or not, since he was back, he certainly had to visit.

From his mother, Lin Chen knew that after Jiang Jiang Shijie returned to Raozhou Prefecture, she had visited their home both before and after the New Year.

The Jiang Mansion gate.

Lin Chen reported his name. When the guard heard Lin Chen's name, he immediately invited Lin Chen into the courtyard.

"The Master and the Young Lady are not at the mansion. I have already sent someone to notify the Madam. Young Master Lin, please wait a moment."

The steward of the Jiang Mansion appeared quickly, and his attitude toward Lin Chen was very respectful. Being able to become the steward of the large Jiang Mansion, he himself was also a martial artist, just not ranked.

The steward also knew Lin Chen's name. This was the model martial arts student of Great Liang, who had left his name seven times on the Martial Way Mountain, and had recently made a great name for himself in Lord Lingxiao City.

The genius who was first on the Hidden Dragon List - Human List.

But these titles were not the most important; the most important thing was that this Young Master Lin was the future son-in-law of the mansion.

The son-in-law of the Master and Madam, the future husband of the Young Lady, that was half a master of the Jiang Mansion.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a maid came to lead the way, guiding Lin Chen to the backyard.

In the back garden of the Jiang Mansion, Lin Chen saw his future mother-in-law again.

Even in early spring, the back garden was still full of flowers. Zhuang Min sat in the pavilion in the back garden, looking at Lin Chen who was walking over with a smile.

"You came at an unfortunate time. Qing'er left home ten days ago and returned to the Canglan Wu Yuan. If you had come two days earlier, your Uncle Jiang would have been at the mansion."

Hearing his future mother-in-law's words, Lin Chen curled his lips in his heart. Fortunately, he came two days late. His future father-in-law no longer glared at him because of the last incident, but it was impossible for him to have any good attitude toward him.

"It is truly a pity that I couldn't see Uncle Jiang."

Lin Chen had a look of regret. Zhuang Min smiled like a flower. She had heard about Lin Chen from her daughter, including what she had gone to understand herself.

Lin Chen was a humble and sincere young man.

But now it seemed that wasn't entirely the case; at least this sentence was said very insincerely.

Her husband didn't want to see Lin Chen, and I fear Lin Chen didn't want to see her husband either. It would be quite good if these two didn't reach the point of hating the sight of each other.

However, precisely because of Lin Chen's words, Zhuang Min was even more satisfied.

Knowing how to be flexible and not so rigid, this is the way to conduct oneself in the world.

Lin Chen didn't know his future mother-in-law's thoughts. If he had known, he would have had to say: Those who come later, don't learn; women have more of a first-impression bias.

His future mother-in-law was satisfied with him, so she felt it was even better. If she had been dissatisfied with him from the beginning, his performance in his mother-in-law's eyes would have become that of a villain who was insincere and didn't have a single truthful word in his mouth.

Women, as long as they recognize you, will automatically put a filter on many of your behaviors.

Accompanying his future mother-in-law to sit for a quarter of an hour, mainly the mother-in-law introducing the varieties of flowers in the garden, Lin Chen was responsible for nodding and agreeing on the side.

He knew nothing about flowers, and estimating that the time was about right, he prepared to take his leave.

"It's hard for you to accompany me here to look at flowers for so long."

Zhuang Min smoothed her hair and looked at Lin Chen: "Even your Uncle Jiang hasn't accompanied me to look at flowers many times in all these years."

"Following Aunt to look at flowers also allowed me to gain knowledge. I didn't expect this kind of flower to have such great learning."

Lin Chen also understood in his heart that his future mother-in-law had nothing to do at home every day, and all that was left was the pleasure of planting flowers.

Thinking of this, Lin Chen was somewhat surprised. Great Liang allowed women to practice martial arts. By logic, Madam Jiang should have practiced martial arts, but he didn't feel any martial artist's aura on Madam Jiang.

"Uncle Jiang should be busy with official business. However, I imagine that when Uncle Jiang returns to the mansion, there must be plenty of time to accompany Aunt to enjoy the flowers."

When saying this, Lin Chen did it on purpose. Although he had only contacted his future father-in-law a few times, Lin Chen could infer that his future father-in-law was a standard rough man and definitely not the kind of person who would enjoy flowers.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, he saw the anger on his mother-in-law's face.

His eye drops were very successful!

"If Aunt is bored, you can invite some people to enjoy flowers together. My teacher's wife should also have some interest."

"Invite people to enjoy flowers?"

Zhuang Min shook her head: "If I invite people to enjoy flowers, I fear all the ladies and misses in Raozhou Prefecture would fight for an invitation. They wouldn't be coming for the flowers, but for the people."

Lin Chen was surprised; he didn't expect his future mother-in-law to think so clearly.

"In the late years of the previous dynasty, the people were destitute, the demon race was in chaos, but the dignitaries' wives were singing and dancing, holding various flower-viewing banquets. At that time, the Left Chancellor's wife loved peonies. To cater to her preferences, the officials of Luochuan Prefecture forced the commoners to change grain to flowers. One peony is bright, a hundred drops of infant blood."

Zhuang Min shook her head: "Peonies have a flowering period, and at that time, the officials of Luochuan Prefecture, in order to please the Chancellor's wife, took the heart blood of a hundred infants to exchange for the blood of the bee race among the demons, just because the bee race's blood could make the peony flowers grow against the flowering period."

"Loving flowers is my personal hobby, but once it spreads out, there will always be people who want to cater to my preferences. If I really encounter precious flowers, I can't guarantee that I won't be moved."

"Since that's the case, it's better not to reveal this hobby to the outside world. In the entire Raozhou Prefecture, only your teacher's wife and a few others know that I love flowers."

His future mother-in-law's awareness was high.

"In the future, if I encounter some beautiful flowers, I will collect seeds and send them to you, Aunt."

"You... no need to do this."

Zhuang Min blamed him: "What I just said, you didn't take it in. If I like flowers with my status, there will be many people who want to cater to my preferences. If the matter of you collecting seeds spreads, wouldn't there be people who want to cater to your preferences?"

"I am just a woman who can't make big decisions, but you are the model student of Great Liang, first on the Hidden Dragon List - Human List. There are more people who want to curry favor with you than with me."

"Hehe, Aunt, don't worry. I'll only collect them if I encounter them; no one will know. It's not like I, a junior, can't even fulfill a bit of filial piety."

Lin Chen smiled. Zhuang Min revealed a look of contemplation when she heard this, and after a moment, she said: "You wait for Aunt."

"Good."

Zhuang Min left the back garden, but returned after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

"This is the Flower-Appreciation Jade. It records all the flower varieties I have collected. If one day you encounter some strange flowers, you can take out this Flower-Appreciation Jade. As long as it is within ten feet, the Flower-Appreciation Jade will emit fluorescence, which means Aunt has not collected this flower."

Lin Chen took the jade pendant, a look of curiosity in his eyes. This jade pendant was hollow in the middle, carved in the shape of flower petals. He wasn't curious about the shape of the jade pendant, but curious that a jade pendant could have such a function.

Recording flower species, and actively glowing when discovering new varieties?

But thinking that Zhuang Laozhang Murong Yan had also given him a jade pendant, Lin Chen was no longer surprised.

The Nine Countries should have some secret techniques that can act on jade pendants, special forging methods.

He didn't know because his realm was a bit low now.

"It has already delayed you for a lot of time. You just returned to Raozhou Prefecture, and I fear there are many things to be busy with, so I won't keep you for a meal."

For his future mother-in-law's understanding, Lin Chen had nothing to say.

Too thoughtful!

Lin Chen said goodbye and left the back garden, and after Lin Chen left, an old woman appeared behind Zhuang Min.

"Princess, you just gave our clan's token to Lin Chen? Lin Chen and the Princess haven't set a marriage contract yet."

"The Wu Yuan issued the Hidden Dragon List, and the Nine Countries all recognize it. Don't you understand the message revealed behind this?"

Zhuang Min's face turned cold, emitting a cold aura. If Lin Chen were here and saw this scene, I fear he would be extremely surprised.

In his mind, his mother-in-law was just an innocent and beautiful image; he would absolutely never think she would have such a cold-as-frost side.

"Princess, are you saying that the forces of the Yan Imperial Dynasty are coming in?"

Zhuang Min didn't answer this, and the old woman knew in her heart: "If it's really the Yan Imperial Dynasty coming in, then what about the son-in-law?"

In the old woman's heart, this Flower-Suppressing Order should be given to the son-in-law.

"The son-in-law doesn't need it."

Her daughter can't be widowed. With this Flower-Suppressing Order, if Lin Chen encounters the vegetation spirit race, at least he doesn't have to worry about his life.

……

……

Leaving the Jiang Mansion, Lin Chen went to the Martial Administration Office to visit Director Bu Bu Wenbin. Back in the special training ground, Director Bu had also taken great care of him. Afterward, he returned to Poyang County and returned to Linhu Village.

While cultivating, he waited for Zhuang Laozhang Zhao's news.

Jia Jia Nanzhu also collected another box of secret manuals for Lin Chen, all of which were ranked cultivation techniques, covering various weapons.

Ranked martial artists rarely started fighting with bare hands, especially in battles of the same level.

Normally, a martial artist at Lin Chen's realm didn't need to look at so many martial arts techniques. Even if they wanted to cultivate weapons, they would choose one.

But Lin Chen didn't hide his situation and informed his teacher that he was cultivating archery techniques. The more familiar he was with other techniques, the better he could judge the direction of the opponent's body movement.

"It's a pity there are no techniques from other countries."

Jia Jia Nanzhu was somewhat regretful. With his status, he could only get techniques from within Great Liang, all of which could be exchanged at the Martial Administration Department or the Imperial Court. He couldn't get special ones like the Zhenyue Spectrum.

Lin Chen didn't care; those family secret techniques could not be leaked at all.

"Or, we can start from the Wu Yuan."

Jia Jia Nanzhu's old eyes narrowed slightly. Great Liang didn't have martial arts techniques from other countries, but that didn't mean the Wu Yuan didn't. The Wu Yuan was spread across the Nine Countries and must be extremely familiar with the techniques of each country.

"Even if the Wu Yuan has them, I fear they wouldn't be open to this disciple."

Hearing this, Jia Jia Nanzhu also nodded. It was indeed so. If the Wu Yuan provided martial arts from one country to martial artists of another, once the news spread, all countries would be wary of the Wu Yuan.

To put it plainly, the reason the Wu Yuan could be welcomed in all countries was that the Wu Yuan was a neutral force in the Nine Countries, and it would also take out resources to cultivate geniuses of all countries.

"Step by step. Your current progress in realm has already far exceeded the expectations your teacher had for you at the beginning. Even if it's a bit slow, it doesn't matter; you must ensure that you can succeed in the nine turns."

"Yes."

……

……

Seven days later, Lin Chen received a message from the Wu Yuan, said goodbye to his teacher, and headed to the Wu Yuan.

"Senior Zhuang Laozhang Yan."

"Young Master Lin."

In the Wu Yuan, Yan He'an saw Lin Chen and had a smile on his face, but this smile carried sighs and emotions.

Lin Chen half a year ago could only be said to have terrifying martial arts potential, but Lin Chen now could be considered to have truly begun to show his talent.

The assertion that Opening Acupuncture was good but Organ Cultivation was not good had completely disappeared.

Including after entering the ranked tier, no one would doubt that Lin Chen would become mediocre.

As long as there were no accidents, ten years from now, Great Liang would inevitably have a place for Lin Chen.

"Zhuang Laozhang Zhao is already waiting in the backyard. This time Zhuang Laozhang Zhao brought quite a lot of things."

Yan He'an thought of the ten carriages following Zhuang Laozhang Zhao when he came to the Wu Yuan an hour ago, and even he was shocked.

It was just that he hadn't been able to see the things in the carriages. These ten carriages were all pulled into the backyard by Zhuang Laozhang Zhao, while he received the order to notify Lin Chen to come to the Wu Yuan.

Lin Chen followed Yan He'an to the backyard of the Wu Yuan and also saw Zhao Zhao Qianqiu standing in the courtyard.

"Zhuang Laozhang, this subordinate will withdraw first."

Yan He'an had great self-knowledge. After sending Lin Chen into the courtyard, he took the initiative to leave.

Although he was a deacon of the Wu Yuan, he was only a deacon of the Poyang County Wu Yuan and was not qualified to know many of the Wu Yuan's secrets. While Lin Chen was only an ordinary member of the Wu Yuan, just by virtue of his terrifying potential, he could also know more secrets than himself.

"In these carriages are all martial arts techniques collected by the Wu Yuan, coming from the other eight countries, a full ten thousand books."

As soon as Zhao Zhao Qianqiu opened her mouth with the first sentence, Lin Chen was stunned.

He almost suspected whether the Wu Yuan had arranged a spy by his side, watching his every move.

But thinking about it again, he also reacted.

He was cultivating archery techniques, and even his teacher knew that if he wanted his archery techniques to go further, he needed to understand more techniques, so Zhuang Laozhang Zhao could also infer it.

This is truly sending charcoal in the snow!

"You cannot take these secret manuals out of the Wu Yuan; you can only watch them in the Wu Yuan, and you only have three months. Three months later, regardless of whether you have finished watching them or not, this elder will destroy all these techniques."

Letting Lin Chen watch the techniques of other countries was a risk for the Wu Yuan. She didn't have this authority. What Zhao Zhao Qianqiu didn't tell Lin Chen was that this was a decision made by the Garden Master.

"Thank you, Zhuang Laozhang Zhao!"

Lin Chen clasped his fists and saluted. He knew very well how much risk this move posed to the Wu Yuan. Not letting him take them out of the Wu Yuan was also because they didn't want the news to leak out.

"Do you plan to prepare for the sixth turn first, or watch these books first?"

"This disciple wants to prepare for the sixth turn first."

Hearing Lin Chen's answer, Zhao Zhao Qianqiu was not surprised. If it were her, she would also make the same choice.

"Follow me!"

Zhao Zhao Qianqiu led Lin Chen into the main room. She tapped lightly on a picture scroll on the wall, and the sound of a mechanism turning appeared. Lin Chen watched as one side of the wall shifted, revealing a downward staircase passage.

Down the passage, in that basement, Lin Chen saw a pool.

The pool was empty, and there was an inlet on each of its four sides. The waterways of these inlets were winding and tortuous. If looked at from above, it was like a maze, only this maze had four entrances.

What is this for?

"Take off your clothes and stand in the pool."

"Take off my clothes?"

Lin Chen thought of how he had been stripped naked several times. Surely he wouldn't have to take it all off this time too.

He was somewhat embarrassed.

"What are you being coy about?"

Zhao Zhao Qianqiu saw Lin Chen standing still and scolded him. Lin Chen was no longer coy.

Just treat Zhuang Laozhang Zhao as a doctor from his previous life.

Taking off his outer clothes, Lin Chen continued to take them off very fluently...

"Wait!"

Zhao Zhao Qianqiu's cold voice came. Lin Chen's hand pinching his underwear paused. He turned back to look at Zhao Zhao Qianqiu, and looking at this, he froze, only feeling that Zhuang Laozhang Zhao's eyes carried anger.

"You only need to take off your outer clothes."

Zhao Zhao Qianqiu almost gritted her teeth and spat out these words. Lin Chen's face turned red instantly, having been pitted by his past habits.

"Focus your mind and calm your heart. Although this transformation will not be as painful as your previous ones, you still cannot take it lightly."

Lin Chen raised his eyebrows. What does that mean?

Nine-Turn True Blood Organ Cultivation, each turn is more painful than the last.

How could Zhuang Laozhang Zhao say that this time the pain would be lighter than before?

"This time, the Wu Yuan is providing you with the essence of the Cloud Tripod Mother Tree of Zhao Guo. The essence of the Cloud Tripod Mother Tree is itself the main material for the best healing elixirs and will not be as violent as other energies."

Zhao Zhao Qianqiu only explained this one sentence and turned to leave the pool area.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lin Chen, standing in the middle of the pool, suddenly smelled a refreshing fragrance. Waiting until he looked around, he saw that all four sides were shrouded in green mist.

In the green mist, there was the sound of liquid flowing.

A few breaths later, green mist streams wound down from the four walls.

Lin Chen operated the "Nine-Turn Organ Cultivation Technique," but felt the pores all over his body suddenly open, and wisps of cool energy like spring water seeped into his meridians.

Different from the scorching and domineering Lord Lingxiao power, the Mother Tree essence carried the clear and moist aura of vegetation. As soon as it entered his body, it felt like silk brushing over his internal organs.

As the green mist became more and more concentrated, the resonance sound of Lin Chen's five internal organs gradually rose. These energies constantly surged toward his dantian and were absorbed by the dantian little person.

The original golden little person now actually revealed a jade luster. As Lin Chen constantly operated the Nine-Turn Organ Cultivation Technique, the emerald green color on the little person deepened by a point.

When the green mist condensed into a substantial liquid flow and covered his waist, Lin Chen's spiritual platform suddenly brightened. The door of the spiritual platform opened again, and the golden sun hung in the spiritual platform again, but this time behind the golden sun, there was a green hazy shadow, like a corona.

This was the first time Lin Chen could clearly see the changes in his internal body. In previous organ cultivation transformations, because of the pain, he focused more of his energy on resisting the pain.

These emerald green energies entered his body, and although they would also cause his internal meridians to be widened, they did so in a gentle form. This pain might be somewhat unbearable for ordinary martial artists, but for him, it didn't count for much.

If he used the essence of the Cloud Tripod Mother Tree for his next three turns, that wouldn't be suffering, but enjoying blessings.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 259 =====