Chapter 553: The Truth Behind the Shift in Battle Dynamics

Seven days later!

Canglan Sect.

The sect’s protective array fully manifested, its shimmering barrier enveloping the entire monastery.

Approaching the array’s boundary, Lin Chen activated the Canglan Scripture within his body and passed directly through the array’s shield into the sect’s territory.

There are only two ways to enter the protective array: one is to activate the Canglan Scripture, which causes the array to recognize you as a Canglan Sect disciple and grant passage; the other is to possess a travel permit.

Although Lin Chen entered the array smoothly, he soon stopped, for he sensed an approaching aura.

“Who are you?”

Zhao Yulin stared at Lin Chen before him, frowning. Foundation Establishment fourth stage… such a cultivation level wasn’t insignificant in the sect—it placed him among the strongest stewards, just below the Elders, and many were even his fellow disciples from the same generation.

Yet this man, he had never seen before.

“Elder Zhao, it’s me, your disciple.”

Lin Chen spoke, and slowly restored his true appearance; since he was already inside the sect, there was no need to conceal himself.

“Lin Chen!”

Seeing Lin Chen’s true face, Zhao Yulin froze, his pupils contracting sharply in disbelief—clearly stunned by Lin Chen’s realm.

“You’ve entered Foundation Establishment fourth stage.”

“Hmm, barely at the peak of Foundation Establishment fourth stage.”

Zhao Yulin: …

After a silence of two breaths, Zhao Yulin spoke: “Come with me to the Grand Hall.”

Two figures, one following the other, transformed into streaks of light and shot straight toward the Canglan Grand Hall.

…

…

“Master, Lin Chen has returned!”

As soon as he entered the Grand Hall, Zhao Yulin spoke directly. Inside, besides Canglan Sect’s Master Ji Cangtian, two other Elders were present.

In an instant, all three pairs of eyes fixed on Lin Chen, who followed closely behind.

The more they looked, the brighter their gazes became.

“Good lad! You’ve reached Foundation Establishment fourth stage!”

Zhou Zhifeng couldn’t help but step forward and slap Lin Chen on the shoulder—but as soon as his palm made contact, he felt something was wrong: a faint counterforce rebounded from Lin Chen’s shoulder, subtle yet unmistakable.

He was a Foundation Establishment fifth stage cultivator; even if Lin Chen was at the peak of Foundation Establishment fourth stage, and even if he hadn’t used full strength, he shouldn’t have felt any rebound at all.

This wasn’t Lin Chen resisting deliberately—it was an instinctive reaction of his body.

"You kid... how the hell have you been cultivating?"

Zhou Zhifeng asked, while Zhao Yulin beside him chuckled: “Looks like Brother Zhou is also stunned by Lin Chen’s cultivation speed.”

“It’s not just the speed,” Zhou Zhifeng shook his head. “Lin Chen, answer me honestly—how strong are you now?”

Zhao Yulin, Ji Cangtian, and Elder Qiu all wondered why Zhou Zhifeng asked this way; Lin Chen was Foundation Establishment fourth stage, so his strength should naturally match that realm.

“I believe I can fight a Foundation Establishment fifth stage cultivator,” Lin Chen replied honestly, rubbing his nose.

“Fight a Foundation Establishment fifth stage cultivator?”

The Grand Hall fell silent for a breath.

Elder Qiu spoke gravely: “Lin Chen, are you certain?”

“On my way back, I fought a Foundation Establishment fifth stage cultivator from the Bahuang Region. Elder Qu said the man was Xi Zeliang, an Elder of the Bahuang Sect.”

Hearing this, Ji Cangtian and the others exchanged glances—they knew Xi Zeliang well. He had been promoted to Elder of the Bahuang Sect ten years ago.

“So you were targeted by Xi Zeliang, and finally Elder Qu arrived to save you?”

Elder Qiu offered his guess: Lin Chen had returned from the outer regions, encountered Xi Zeliang of the Bahuang Sect, fought him, and barely held on until Elder Qu arrived.

“Elder Qu did arrive—but he didn’t save me. Before he got there, I happened to kill Xi Zeliang.”

Lin Chen’s word “happened” made the Grand Hall fall even quieter than before.

On the high dais, Ji Cangtian’s aged eyes widened sharply: “Lin Chen, are you telling the truth?”

“Elder Qu confirmed the man’s identity after he arrived. He knows this happened.”

Hearing Lin Chen’s confirmation, Elder Qiu and the other two Elders stared at him as if he were a priceless treasure, as if trying to see through him inside and out.

At the same time, footsteps approached outside the Grand Hall.