Chapter 577

“Yanran, your mind rivals Zhuge Liang’s.”

Lin Chen floated gracefully into the courtyard and smiled at Murong Yan.

“Rivals Zhuge Liang?”

Murong Yan raised her elegant brows, puzzled.

Seeing her confusion, Lin Chen remembered that Zhuge Liang did not exist on Canglan Island; Murong Yan had no idea what he meant.

“In my homeland, there was a man of supreme intellect surnamed Zhuge. Whenever someone praises another’s wisdom, they call him ‘rivaling Zhuge’ or ‘little Zhuge.’”

“Did your homeland really have such a person? I never heard of him.”

“How could you know about the people from my homeland?”

Lin Chen answered instinctively, then instantly realized—given Murong Yan’s nature, she hadn’t just investigated him; she’d likely uncovered every detail of Poyang County and even the entire Raozhou Prefecture.

“I can confirm that in Raozhou Prefecture’s history over the past three hundred years, there has never been a Zhuge of extraordinary wisdom.”

Murong Yan spoke softly; when she investigated Lin Chen, she had specifically combed through Raozhou Prefecture’s records, even listing every formidable martial artist from the past three centuries—none bore the surname Zhuge.

“Cough, cough, that’s not important—just know this phrase is a compliment to you.”

Lin Chen immediately dropped the topic. Su Qin, watching the conversation end, stepped forward and bowed: “My lord, the Imperial Son-in-Law.”

Su Qin’s use of “Imperial Son-in-Law” made Lin Chen’s expression twist oddly—Jiang Qing was a Flower Clan princess, and Murong Yan was a princess too; calling him Imperial Son-in-Law was technically correct.

But Su Qin had always called him “Master Lin”—now suddenly switching to “Imperial Son-in-Law”? She was clearly provoked.

“The Imperial Son-in-Law and the princess must have matters to discuss. I’ll take my leave.”

After saying “Imperial Son-in-Law,” Su Qin left the courtyard with perfect discretion.

“Qin Gu is worried for me—don’t take it personally.”

Murong Yan stepped forward, taking Lin Chen’s hand in hers, lifting her delicate face to look at him. Lin Chen smiled: “What’s there to take personally? You’re a princess of Yan State—calling me Imperial Son-in-Law is natural.”

Hearing this, Murong Yan let the subject drop. She and Lin Chen had already shared intimate truths many times; no need for formalities.

Though Jiang Qing was a formidable rival, Murong Yan had confidence in herself. Perhaps Jiang Qing held greater weight in Lin Chen’s heart—but not because she was a Flower Clan princess, only because she had met Lin Chen first.

Yet she believed that in understanding Lin Chen, Jiang Qing fell short. Just now, seeing his eyes, she knew exactly what he was thinking.

“Hold me.”

Murong Yan blinked softly, snuggling against Lin Chen’s chest, her eyes glimmering with the unique allure of a woman in tenderness.

This man had just endured a fierce battle at Wan Huozong—he needed soothing.

Words were unnecessary. Only the wind stirred the treetops, and the faint furrow of pain on her brow betrayed her.

…

…

After their passion, Lin Chen did not rise immediately. He lay on the bed, watching Murong Yan sleep soundly beside him. Her silken skin, exposed as her robe slipped, he gently covered again.

Murong Yan understood him well. Though Wan Huozong’s ordeal left him seemingly unharmed, it had tightened his nerves. For the first time, he realized he could not control his own fate.

Had Elder Yin not appeared, he would have perished at Wan Huozong.

Along the journey, facing Elder Yin, Elder Ye, even his own Master—he appeared unaffected. But only he knew how tightly his nerves had been stretched—until now, they finally relaxed.

Murong Yan had clearly sensed this, and thus chose this way to help him release it.

“What’s wrong?”

The woman stirred awake, lifting her arm. The blanket slipped again. Her voice, thick with sleep, gazed drowsily at Lin Chen—this vision of a beauty just risen stirred him anew…

“Mmm, ugh~”

…

…

In the following days, Lin Chen resided in Qingfeng Courtyard, studying the fire-seed left by Wan Huozong’s founding ancestor.

This fire-seed did not reside in his dantian, but in his third eye. Whether he tried to commune with it using his innate fire or activated Canglan’s Eye, the fire-seed remained utterly unmoved.

“Lin Chen, what’s wrong?”

Murong Yan, watching him frown in the courtyard, asked curiously.

“I can’t activate the fire-seed left by Wan Huozong’s founding ancestor.”

To Murong Yan, Lin Chen revealed nothing of his inheritance from Wan Huozong’s founding ancestor—including the fire-seed.

“I can’t offer advice on martial cultivation. Perhaps you should ask your Master.”

“My Master can’t offer any advice.”

Lin Chen shook his head: “On the way back, Elder Yin told me the path taken by Wan Huozong’s founding ancestor has never been walked before. How to proceed next rests solely on my own exploration—even if the founding ancestor were to resurrect, he could not provide answers.”

Lin Chen agreed with Elder Yin’s judgment. The path to forging the fire-seed was incomplete even by the founding ancestor’s own standards. The ancestor did not wish to influence him, so he passed only the fire-seed—nothing else.

The hardest step—forging the fire-seed—was already overcome. What came next depended on his fortune. He could not replicate the founding ancestor’s martial path.

“If that’s the case, I think you should try entering the Tongtian Tower. Didn’t you say its blessings adapt to the cultivator’s condition? Perhaps this time, because you carry the fire-seed, the blessing granted will be tied to it.”