Chapter 71: Are you really using this to test a cadre? Which one, though?

That Yinglong Phantom was not something Li Lingling possessed from birth.

Or rather, it did not entirely come from her own self.

During the process of Ren Yidao handling it all over last night, besides the minute gaps, he also figured out many details.

Although that Yinglong Phantom was guided by Li Lingling's soul, there was another force hidden within it.

That force was so faint it was almost impossible to detect, yet it strengthened the intelligence of the Yinglong Dao Seed, bestowing upon it the ability and mission to protect Li Lingling.

Divine in its mystery, skillful in its Dao.

The Northern Qian Imperial Family is the co-ruler of the Beiming Divine Continent; no one would be surprised that there is such a powerful expert behind the scenes.

Yet, Ren Yidao still sensed a subtle incongruity from this matter.

Judging by his years of experience in doing good deeds and accumulating virtue, he just felt something was not quite right.

"Is this Yinglong Dao Seed staying by her side really just to protect her?"

The results of yesterday's investigation left Ren Yidao very confused on many points.

According to Li Lingling's own account, she is a Body Cultivator, and one with quite excellent talent at that.

This is actually easy to understand.

Aside from spending a large amount of external resources on cultivation, what a Body Cultivator values most is their own inherent bloodline.

And Li Lingling possessed the best of both these two things most important to a Body Cultivator.

Imperial Concubine Ran's maiden family, the Ran Family, has been high officials for generations, not to mention the Northern Qian Imperial Family; the resources for cultivation never fell short for her by even half a bit.

Furthermore, Li Lingling not only has the True Dragon bloodline of the Northern Qian Imperial Family but also the top-tier bloodline of the Ran Family's White Flood Dragon.

The compatibility of the two bloodlines is extremely good; there has been a habit of intermarriage for many years, so the bloodline after the combination should be complementary.

Li Yiyi is a typical example of this intermarriage situation; he absorbed the advantages of both bloodlines, cultivating both body and technique, and was held in high hopes by everyone.

But Li Lingling is not the case.

It can be said that she is the biggest failure since the Ran and Li families began recording their intermarriages.

What she displayed outwardly was that her spiritual meridians were naturally blocked, making her a piece of trash unable to cultivate Dao Techniques.

Fortunately, Imperial Concubine Ran unleashed her fierce might, washing over all the house servants who spoke sarcastically several times, blocking all malice from the outside, so that negative emotions did not affect Li Lingling.

It was also fortunate that the birth of the prince Li Yiyi the following year allowed Imperial Concubine Ran to completely stabilize her status both in the Ran Family and in the palace.

From then on, those rumors and gossip could only be spread in private and could never be brought to the table for discussion.

But is this really true?

As a conspiracy theory enthusiast, Ren Yidao has always judged others by himself.

If it were me, I would definitely have to stir up some trouble.

There must be a conspiracy in this!

Ren Yidao originally thought that Li Lingling was actually deliberately hiding her clumsiness, showing weakness to the enemy on the outside while working hard to cultivate on the inside, to stage a female-oriented version of a counter-attack script.

"The three-year period has arrived! Respectfully welcoming the return of the Dragon King Li Lingling! With one call, one hundred thousand soldiers..."

Or it could be the other kind.

"You humiliated me by breaking off our engagement back then, now I am here to break off yours!"

But unfortunately, none of these happened.

I thought she was hiding her skills, but I didn't expect her to be truly trash.

Li Lingling lives very simply, without any deep-seated disguise at all.

"Sigh... you people live such dreamless lives."

Boring!

A novel is a novel after all; those tropes of pretending to be a playboy or a piece of trash are ultimately too easy to expose in a high-martial world.

Judging from the reaction last night, Li Lingling is also unaware that there is a Yinglong Phantom secretly protecting her.

She, subjectively, is harmless to the Divine Path Sect.

"Even if her suspicion can be initially ruled out, I really can't understand the thoughts of that Emperor."

Little Comrade Li Long, what do you mean by sending your daughter over?

Are you really using this to test a cadre?

Hmph!

Which cadre cannot withstand this test!?

Wait a moment.

"That's not right, he also sent a son over together."

"What does this mean?"

Hiss.

"I'm not into that."

Although Li Yiyi is a very handsome little boy, I really don't have that kind of interest, and he is too chuunibyou.

Ren Yidao: "..."

Rubbing his chin, he thought for a while and muttered to himself:

"If I don't take either of the two hooks, would it be disrespectful to the Emperor?"

Since he is being so polite and wants to establish a family relationship with me, is it not good to cruelly refuse?

Hmm...

"How about I just take one?"

As for which one to take, that goes without saying.

……

"Eunuch Yang, you have such refined taste, studying a game record all by yourself here."

Navigating the small path with practiced ease, Ren Yidao found Yang Wusheng fiddling with a chessboard on the mountainside.

"Daoist Ren, you jest. I am simply bored, so I am solving an endgame puzzle to pass the time."

"Where is Junior Martial Nephew Li?"

"His Highness is in the back mountain practicing the Dao Technique passed down by Peak Master, so he cannot receive guests right now. I ask for Daoist Ren's understanding."

Oh?

Refusing to see guests?

Glancing at Eunuch Yang, who sat on his stool with the composure of an old god and not the slightest intention of rising, Ren Yidao began to smile.

Putting on airs with me in the Divine Path Sect, are we?

Interesting.

Truly interesting!

Ren Yidao sat down opposite him naturally, swept a glance over the chessboard, and picked up a white piece.

"Since you are free, Gonggong, would you have the refined interest to play a game with me?"

Not expecting Ren Yidao to be so familiar after being rejected, Yang Wusheng was stunned for a moment before he also smiled sociably:

"If Daoist Ren is willing to accompany me in whiling away the time, I am naturally most welcome."

After setting up the board, the two stopped talking and began to place their pieces in silence.

Click.

Yang Wusheng's black piece had just landed when Ren Yidao's white piece was pressed down immediately.

Click!

His brows twitching slightly, Yang Wusheng looked at the youth opposite him, unable to sense any outward emotional fluctuations.

The other party seemed to truly just be playing chess.

After a few more rounds, Yang Wusheng's brows were tightly locked.

Ren Yidao's chess style made him very uncomfortable; completely disregarding future layout, he would strike to kill the moment an opportunity arose.

After the kill, Ren Yidao would unexpectedly add:

"I concede, Eunuch Yang, please do not hold back."

"……"

Click.

Click!

With his nearly formed dragon formation cut off once again, Yang Wusheng narrowed his eyes and said indifferently:

"……Daoist Ren, it seems you have a personality that likes to play fast chess."

Click.

Click!

"Do I? I think it's alright."

Only after placing his piece again did Ren Yidao speak leisurely:

"Eunuch Yang, your situation is not looking too good; please do not let me win anymore."

You!

"Daoist Ren, being in a rush for a moment will lead to mistakes."

"Will it? In many things, being direct is actually quite simple."

"Daoist Ren, that is incorrect; many things cannot be rushed."

Click!

"Can they really not be rushed?"

Squinting his eyes and staring intently at Ren Yidao for a while, Yang Wusheng exhaled softly.

Click!

He also accelerated his speed.

But it was useless.

He was fast, but Ren Yidao was faster than him.

Click!!

……

The sound of pieces falling was incessant, and it was getting faster and faster!

Both were pressing step by step, preferring to abandon the overall situation rather than yield even a little.

"!!!"

By the time Yang Wusheng reacted, he had been led into Ren Yidao's rhythm without realizing it, and when he wanted to resist, there was no longer any possibility of victory.

Lost……

How could he have lost to a little kid!?

And just as Yang Wusheng was doubting himself, Ren Yidao smiled.

He said:

"Gonggong's skill is a cut above; I admit defeat."

Yang Wusheng:?

(End of chapter)