Chapter 309

Elder Murong Song entered the courtyard and took the initiative to smile and say: "Brother Hou, I am here to invite Lin Chen to the imperial palace."

Compensation!

Hearing Elder Murong Song mention the imperial palace, Hou Zhan Tian and Lin Chen looked at each other; the first thing they both thought of was the compensation given by the Yan Guo imperial family.

However, what Hou Zhan Tian hesitated about was, was it necessary to go to the imperial palace to receive compensation?

The Yan Guo imperial family could completely have sent the compensation to their door.

At this moment, Hou Zhan Tian could not afford to be careless.

"Brother Hou, our Yan Guo imperial family is skilled in soul cultivation, but some things can only be given inside the imperial palace. This old man guarantees that Lin Chen will not encounter danger in the imperial palace."

Elder Murong Song could also guess what Hou Zhan Tian was worried about, directly using the imperial family's reputation to guarantee it.

"This junior is willing to follow Senior to the imperial palace."

Hearing this, Lin Chen finally made the decision to make this trip to the imperial palace.

Since he arrived in Yan Guo, the Yan Guo imperial family's attitude had always been very fair and had not favored Han Guo, which could be seen from the scores in the first round of the point-based competition.

"Alright, then I will trouble you, Lin Lin Shidi Chen, to go together."

Hou Zhan Tian nodded. Elder Murong Song had spoken so clearly; obviously, the compensation to be given this time was unusual. He would not stop Lin Chen from obtaining benefits, and letting Chen Shan accompany him could also ensure there would be no danger along the way.

Yan Guo Imperial Palace.

"Lin Lin Shidi Chen, please rest and wait in this side hall."

Elder Murong Song brought Lin Chen and Chen Shan into the imperial palace, heading straight for the backyard of the imperial palace, and finally stopped in front of a grand hall.

"Alright."

Chen Shan gave Lin Chen a look to be extra careful and went to the side hall led by a palace maid, while Elder Murong Song smiled and led Lin Chen into the main hall.

At the head of the main hall, the old man from earlier was standing on the steps, hands behind his back, observing a mural in front of him.

"Third Uncle, Lin Chen is here."

"Junior Lin Chen has met Senior Elder Murong."

Lin Chen bowed. Academy Head Hou had already told him the identity of this old man who appeared at the scene.

One of the three First-Rank martial artists of the Yan Guo imperial family, he was the Third Uncle of the current Emperor of Yan Guo, having stepped into the First Rank for nearly thirty years, approaching the age of one hundred.

"A Liang Guo genius, well-deserved."

Elder Murong Zheng turned around, his old eyes smiling as he looked at Lin Chen: "When Liang Guo first announced the birth of a genius with potential exceeding Pei Qingming, this old man didn't believe it. Pei Qingming's martial arts talent is already rare in the world, and for another such genius to be born in a short time, Heaven is too partial to your Liang Guo. Now it seems this old man was short-sighted."

"Senior is too kind." Lin Chen said modestly.

"No need for modesty. To be able to separate spiritual sense from the soul at such a realm, you are the first person in the nine countries. At least this old man has never heard of anyone being able to do this just after entering the ranked tier."

Lin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, not taking the bait.

"The Soul-Testing Monument is a treasure of our Yan Guo, and our imperial family is very clear about its mysteries. However, since Young Master Lin is unwilling to make it public, our imperial family will not reveal it to the outside world; you can rest assured."

Seeing Lin Chen silent, Elder Murong Zheng laughed dumbly: "The compensation given to you this time is also related to your spiritual sense."

"Thank you, Senior. This junior was also lucky to be able to separate my soul."

Hearing that the compensation was related to spiritual sense, Lin Chen stopped pretending to be silent and admitted it.

Elder Murong Song, nearby, heard Lin Chen's words, and the corners of his mouth twitched; what a realistic little guy.

"In the Thousand Illusions Secret Realm, I suppose you must have obtained a red fruit..."

Elder Murong Zheng had also figured out Lin Chen's temperament and, without waiting for Lin Chen to admit it, continued: "This red fruit is called the Soul-Quenching Fruit, which has the effect of quenching the soul and condensing spiritual sense. This time, this old man will give you ten Soul-Quenching Fruits as compensation."

Ten?

Lin Chen's pupils shrank. He had experienced the efficacy of the Soul-Quenching Fruit. Even if the subsequent Soul-Quenching Fruits didn't have as good an effect as the first one, the quantity was there, and it was possible for his Spirit Tier to break through to Tier 4.

Tier 4, that would be equivalent to the soul strength of a Seventh-Rank martial artist, and if combined with his Qianji Lianshen Jue, martial artists below the mid-tier would be instantly killed.

"I wonder if Senior has any instructions?"

Hearing Lin Chen's words, a trace of appreciation flashed in the depths of Elder Murong Zheng's eyes. With such a great temptation in front of him, Lin Chen could still remain calm; this state of mind was truly rare.

Pies don't fall from the sky.

Lin Chen was very clear about this point. Today, the one who attacked him was Lu Qiguang, which had nothing to do with Yan Guo itself. Even if Yan Guo wanted to compensate, there was no need to give such a heavy gift.

As for saying it was because of his relationship with Elder Murong Yan, that was even more impossible.

Not to mention that this matter hadn't been settled yet, even if it had, he was currently just a junior, not enough for this First-Rank powerhouse to summon him personally and give such a heaven-defying benefit.

If a gift is given to someone, there must be a request.

Was there something the Yan Guo imperial family needed him for?

"This old man needs a little friend to help do one thing, but little friend, rest assured, this matter has no danger for you, and regardless of whether it succeeds in the end, all ten Soul-Quenching Fruits will be presented."

"Since that is the case, this junior is willing to try."

"Alright, little friend, please follow me."

Elder Murong Zheng didn't delay; the ranking tournament would begin tomorrow, and time was tight.

Lin Chen followed Elder Murong Zheng through the corridor behind the screen and finally appeared in front of a pavilion.

There were two middle-aged men guarding in front of the pavilion, but they turned and withdrew at Elder Murong Zheng's wave.

Seeing these two middle-aged men, Lin Chen pondered in his heart. This was the imperial palace, which itself had imperial guards, and the area he came to should be the backyard of the imperial palace, which could be said to be heavily guarded. Yet even with such heavy guards, mid-tier martial artists were additionally arranged to guard in front of this pavilion, which was enough to show the importance of this pavilion to the Yan Guo imperial family.

Inside, were the treasures or secrets of the Yan Guo imperial family hidden?

While Lin Chen was pondering, Elder Murong Zheng had already pushed open the pavilion door: "Little friend, come in."

Lin Chen followed and stepped into the pavilion. After entering, he scanned the entire pavilion, a look of surprise in his eyes.

The entire pavilion was floating with many red lines, a bit like some laser protection scenes he had seen in his previous life.

The difference was that these red lines were not lasers but soul lines.

"Little friend, the matter I want to entrust to you is very simple: use your soul to control this token, pass the token through these soul lines, and send it to that jade wall at the very front."

A jade token appeared in Elder Murong Zheng's hand, and Lin Chen followed Elder Murong Zheng's words and looked at the very front. On the wall at the very front hung a huge jade wall, and in the middle of the jade wall was a groove, which happened to be the shape of the jade token in Elder Murong Zheng's hand.

"Senior, this matter doesn't need this junior to do it, right?"

Lin Chen wouldn't be arrogant enough to think that he was the only one in the nine countries who could separate his soul. Lower-tier martial artists couldn't do it, but that didn't mean mid-tier and upper-tier martial artists couldn't, especially a force like the Yan Guo imperial family, which was famous in the nine countries for soul cultivation.

"There is a restriction here: only martial artists under twenty years old can put the token into the jade wall to be effective. As for what effect it will have, it concerns the secrets of our imperial family, so forgive this old man for not being able to inform you, little friend."

Elder Murong Zheng's attitude was very polite. Lin Chen suddenly realized that if this were the case, then apart from himself, it would be very difficult for the Yan Guo imperial family to find a candidate.

To meet the requirements of the Yan Guo imperial family, one needed to be a martial arts genius, have a soul different from ordinary people, and secondly, have learned soul control methods.

Even for himself, if it weren't for the coincidence of going to the Qingtian Sect ruins and obtaining that Qianji Lianshen Jue, even if his soul far exceeded ordinary people, he wouldn't have been able to separate his spiritual sense.

"This junior understands; this junior will do my best."

"This old man believes that little friend can succeed. This old man will wait outside for your good news, little friend."

Elder Murong Zheng handed the jade token to Lin Chen. Lin Chen didn't rush to act but stared at the jade token in his hand and deliberated.

This jade token was extremely light in his hand. He tried to push it, only to find that the jade token didn't move at all in his palm.

"Eh!"

Lin Chen's heart moved. This time he controlled his soul to split off a strand and placed it on the jade token. The next moment, the jade token slowly hovered.

"It actually requires soul control; no wonder the Yan Guo imperial family needed to find me."

Confirming that the jade token could only be moved by soul control, Lin Chen thoroughly understood.

The pavilion was densely packed with soul lines. To let the jade token not touch the soul lines and reach the jade wall at the very front required extremely exquisite control ability over the soul, like threading a needle.

Lin Chen tried to control the jade token to move forward with his spiritual sense. This jade token had a unique sense of weight, as if he were holding a thin bamboo pole at this moment, with a heavy object tied to the top of the bamboo pole.

If the swing amplitude was too large, it was easy to touch the soul lines.

If the swing amplitude was too small, the heavy object wouldn't move at all.

The timing here was extremely difficult to grasp.

Outside the door.

Elder Murong Song looked at the closed pavilion door and whispered: "Third Uncle, do you think Lin Chen can succeed?"

"This old man doesn't know." Elder Murong Zheng shook his head: "But Lin Chen is the only chance for our Yan Guo in the last fifty years; no matter what, we must try. Do you think that if Lin Chen fails, our imperial family giving out ten Soul-Quenching Fruits is too high a price?" Elder Murong Song nodded: "Soul-Quenching Fruits, only one every ten years; this is taking out our imperial family's hundred-year savings all at once. If Lin Chen succeeds, that's fine, but if he doesn't succeed, isn't it somewhat inappropriate?"

"You... do you know why you have always been stuck at the Second-Rank realm and unable to step into the First Rank."

Elder Murong Zheng shook his head and sighed softly: "Lin Chen is only seventeen this year, with two years left before he turns twenty. Even if he fails this time, he still has the opportunity to continue trying. Giving Lin Chen Soul-Quenching Fruits, our imperial family's investment is certainly large, but Lin Chen's soul growth, doesn't our imperial family also benefit? At least the possibility of Lin Chen succeeding has increased again."

"Your vision needs to be broader, and taking a step back, just by the potential Lin Chen has shown, it is enough for the imperial family to be on good terms with him. As long as Lin Chen doesn't fall, it is highly likely he will step into the First Rank before fifty."

"This nephew understands; Third Uncle's lesson is correct."

Even as a Second-Rank martial artist, facing his Third Uncle's lesson, Elder Murong Song didn't have the slightest dissatisfaction.

It was indeed his vision that was small, only considering the value of ten Soul-Quenching Fruits, while ignoring other things.

"Lin Chen's age advantage is there. Cultivating Lin Chen is also for our imperial family itself. I heard that Yan'er and Lin Chen have a relationship?"

"I have already asked Big Brother about this matter, but Big Brother said that Yan'er and Lin Chen have private contact and didn't inform Big Brother."

Elder Murong Zheng stroked his beard and deliberated for a long time: "How Yan'er and Lin Chen develop, let her follow her own heart. The imperial family should not interfere. Such geniuses should be treated with sincerity; don't harbor too much mercenary heart."

"Yes."

In the pavilion, Lin Chen currently had bucket-sized sweat beads on his forehead, constantly dripping down.

In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the jade token had only traveled half the distance under his soul control. At this moment, he was already somewhat unable to support it.

This token itself was extremely heavy. Even with all his might, he could only control the jade token to move forward slowly, and during this period, he had to avoid these soul lines, which increased the difficulty several times over.

Snap!

The next moment, the jade token touched a soul line and instantly fell to the ground.

Lin Chen looked at the jade token on the ground, turned around, opened the pavilion door, faced the two old faces, and said regretfully: "Sorry Senior, this junior failed."

A look of disappointment flashed in Elder Murong Song's eyes, but Elder Murong Zheng still had a smile on his face: "It doesn't matter, it was this old man's negligence. I should have given you the Soul-Quenching Fruits first, little friend; that way, your chance of success would be greater."

Lin Chen:?

"Little friend, come with me."

Elder Murong Zheng led Lin Chen toward a bedroom on the side, pushed open the door, and on the table in the room, ten jade boxes were placed.

"What is contained in these jade boxes are the Soul-Quenching Fruits. Little friend, absorb and refine them first."

"Alright."

Lin Chen nodded. Since this Senior was so generous and trusted him, he wouldn't be polite. After absorbing these ten Soul-Quenching Fruits, he would go and try again.

Elder Murong Zheng raised his right hand, and the room door closed.

Lin Chen walked to the table and opened the ten jade boxes. On each jade box was placed a Soul-Quenching Fruit, which was exactly the same as the one he had plucked in the Thousand Illusions Secret Realm.

Swallowing a Soul-Quenching Fruit in one gulp, the fatigue of Lin Chen's whole person was instantly swept away.

At the same time, he also paid attention to his panel.

【Host: Lin Chen】

【Spirit Tier: 3.7】

It increased by 0.1 points, which was much worse than the effect of the first one.

Just as he expected, the first Soul-Quenching Fruit had the best effect, and the effect would weaken afterward.

But if the effect wasn't enough, quantity would make up for it.

There were a full ten Soul-Quenching Fruits here; he didn't believe he couldn't pile his tier up to Tier 4.

One, two, three...

Outside the door.

Elder Murong Zheng's old eyes held a look of anticipation: "This time, our imperial family's many years of anticipation can finally be realized."

"Third Uncle, what do you mean?"

Elder Murong Song's pupils shrank. Did Third Uncle mean that Lin Chen could succeed?

"Although getting along with Lin Chen requires treating him with sincerity, it doesn't mean not leaving a little bit of caution. The position where the jade token fell has already passed the halfway point. Relying on the growth effect of these ten Soul-Quenching Fruits on the soul, Lin Chen is highly likely to succeed."

Elder Murong Zheng's old eyes held a brilliant light. His nephew's martial arts talent was okay, but his brain wasn't very flexible; otherwise, he should have stepped into the First Rank long ago.

If Lin Chen, while controlling the token, failed before passing the soul lines, he would certainly invest in Lin Chen, but he wouldn't have handed the ten Soul-Quenching Fruits to Lin Chen so easily, but would have waited until after the ranking tournament ended.

To avoid provoking dissatisfaction from Han Guo.

Paper cannot wrap fire. Lin Chen going to the imperial palace to receive compensation couldn't be hidden from Han Guo. When the ranking tournament started tomorrow, Han Guo would discover that Lin Chen's soul had once again obtained a huge increase, and they would inevitably think of the imperial family.

Only their Yan Guo imperial family had the means to allow a young martial artist's soul to grow rapidly in a short period of time.

But now he couldn't care less. In front of the imperial family's centuries-old goal, Han Guo had to take a back seat.

Half an hour later, the room door was pushed open, and Lin Chen walked out, looking refreshed.

"Thank you, Senior, for the gift of the fruits."

Lin Chen cupped his fists toward Elder Murong Zheng. The harvest of these ten Soul-Quenching Fruits far exceeded his imagination.

"This junior wants to try again."

"Then I will trouble you, little friend."

Elder Murong Zheng responded with a smile. This time, the imperial family had almost used up all the Soul-Quenching Fruits they had accumulated; they were waiting for this moment.

Lin Chen, who returned to the pavilion, picked up the jade token that had been collected and placed on the side of the door again. The moment the pavilion door closed, Lin Chen looked at the value on the panel, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

【Spirit Tier: 4.04】

His soul tier had reached Tier 4. When he took the sixth Soul-Quenching Fruit, it had already broken through to Tier 4, but the remaining four Soul-Quenching Fruits only provided him with 0.04 progress.

It wasn't that the effect of the Soul-Quenching Fruit had decreased that much, but after reaching Tier 4, the strength of the soul was not to be mentioned in the same breath as Tier 3.

If Tier 1 was a pool of clear water, Tier 2 was a ditch, and Tier 3 was a small stream, then Tier 4 was a river.

"Rise!"

Lin Chen gave a light shout. This time, sixteen flying knives appeared in front of him. The next moment, the sixteen flying knives condensed together and shot into the jade token.

The jade token floated in the air. Under Lin Chen's control, it danced gracefully like a butterfly, very dexterously.

Swish!

The jade token floated in the air for a moment, then changed direction the next moment, heading toward the jade wall in front, passing through the soul lines extremely dexterously. In just fifteen breaths, it arrived in front of the jade wall.

When it was still an inch away from the jade wall, Lin Chen felt a suction force coming, sucking the jade token away from his soul control. With a "snap," the jade token stuck tightly to the jade wall.

"Yan Family of the Soul-Leaving Domain..."

On the jade wall, handwriting began to appear, but before Lin Chen could finish reading, the pavilion door was pushed open, and Elder Murong Zheng's figure stood in front of him.

"Thank you, little friend. Little friend, you are tired; why not go down and rest for a while."

"Alright."

Lin Chen knew that the handwriting revealed on the jade wall should be related to the secrets of the Yan Guo imperial family. This Senior clearly didn't want him to know.

"Young Master Lin, please."

Elder Murong Song's address to Lin Chen also changed, leading Lin Chen out of the pavilion.

"Does Young Master Lin want to rest here or return to the courtyard to rest?"

"Return to the courtyard."

Lin Chen thought for a moment. There was nothing left for him to do in the imperial palace, so he might as well return to the martial academy courtyard.

"Alright, I will send Young Master Lin back." Elder Murong Song nodded, but after walking only a few steps, he suddenly stopped: "Young Master Lin, the matter in this pavilion concerns our imperial family's secrets. No matter what Young Master Lin saw, I hope you will not reveal it."

If it weren't for Third Uncle's lesson earlier today, Elder Murong Song would have used a semi-threatening tone to warn him, but having received Third Uncle's lesson, Elder Murong Song used a "requesting" tone.

"Senior, rest assured, this junior saw nothing."

Elder Murong Song smiled. Regardless of whether Lin Chen really saw nothing, Lin Chen's words were already an expression of his stance that he would not reveal the content he saw.

That was enough.

(End of chapter)