Making It Official and Returning to Heaven Dou City

As soon as he finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent.

Sunlight bathed the two of them, as if draping them in a golden veil. The teapot on the stone table still emitted faint steam, and the old locust tree in the courtyard swayed gently in the breeze.

Lin Chen held Qian Renxue's hand, gazing into her eyes, his eyes filled with tenderness and love.

Qian Renxue lowered her head slightly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. Although she was nine years older than Lin Chen, she knew nothing about matters between men and women.

Saying "Will you be with me forever?" on the rooftop had already exhausted all her strength. Now, with Lin Chen holding her hand and looking straight at her, she felt her face burning and didn't even know where to put her hands.

Lin Chen looked at Qian Renxue and said gently, "Sister Xue, let's be together."

Qian Renxue lowered her head and nodded shyly. "Okay, I promise you, but from today onwards, don't call me 'sister' anymore, just call me Xue'er."

Lin Chen smiled and nodded, "Okay, whatever you say."

When Qian Renxue heard the words "I'll do whatever you say," her blush deepened, and she couldn't help but give him a light glare, but her gaze lacked strength and instead seemed more like a coquettish act.

The two sat on the stone bench for a while, their hands still clasped, neither letting go. Qian Renxue was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Do you remember the first time we met?"

Lin Chen thought for a moment, then replied with a smile, "Of course I remember. Back then, in the Crown Prince's Residence's study, you were still Xue Qinghe."

"You were only six years old then." Qian Renxue's lips curved into a smile. "When you first walked in, you stared at me. I thought you were nervous, but later I realized you were just sizing me up."

"I was thinking back then, how come this Crown Prince is so handsome?" Lin Chen chuckled, touching his nose with a smile on his face.

Qian Renxue gave a soft snort, "So you had designs on me back then?"

"I didn't," Lin Chen quickly waved his hand, "You hadn't revealed your identity back then, and I'm not interested in men."

Qian Renxue asked with a smile, "So when did you start thinking about it?"

Lin Chen thought for a moment and said seriously, "I don't know. Maybe it was when you accompanied me to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, or maybe it was during the little things at the Spirit Hall. I can't say which moment it was, but now that I've come to my senses, I realize that I've gotten used to having you by my side."

After listening, Qian Renxue lowered her head and remained silent, but her hand tightened quietly, gripping Lin Chen's hand even tighter.

After a while, Qian Renxue raised her head, the blush on her face had faded considerably, but a hint of gentleness appeared in her eyes. "I'm starting my Fourth Trial in a few days."

Lin Chen nodded and asked, "What is the content of the Fourth Trial?"

"To fly ten thousand meters into the sky, to feel the ultimate expanse of the heavens," Qian Renxue whispered. "During the Fourth Trial, I'll be high in the sky the whole time, so I probably won't be able to be with you as often."

Lin Chen smiled and shook his head, "You don't need to worry about me. Just focus on your cultivation. Once I'm done with my work, you'll probably have finished your Divine Trial. We can meet again then."

Qian Renxue looked at him, nodded, and said, "Then take good care of yourself."

Lin Chen smiled and said, "You too."

The next day.

Lin Chen was summoned to the Worship Hall by Qian Daoliu. Qian Daoliu sat in the main seat with a list in front of him, listing all kinds of cultivation resources that the Spirit Hall could mobilize.

"These are what the Spirit Hall can provide for you," Qian Daoliu said calmly, pushing the list in front of Lin Chen. "Pills, Simulated Soul Bones, Mimicry Cultivation Environment, and even sparring partners of the Venerable level. You can call upon these things freely for the next year."

Lin Chen glanced at the list; it did indeed contain a lot of items. However, he remained silent for a moment before slowly shaking his head. "Great Enshrined, these resources are excellent, but I feel that cultivation alone is not enough."

Qian Daoliu looked at him and nodded slightly, signaling Lin Chen to continue.

"When the Abyss Plane invades, what I need is practical combat ability, not Soul Power Level," Lin Chen said. "So I want to leave the Spirit Hall for a while and go out to train."

Qian Daoliu was silent for a moment, then calmly asked, "Where do you want to go?"

"We should go back to Heaven Dou City first," Lin Chen laughed. "Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, and Ye Lingling are all there, and I've been gone for a long time, so I should go back and visit them."

"Furthermore, there's a branch of the Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City, so we can contact them anytime if anything happens."

Qian Daoliu nodded and said, "Of course, but Dugu Bo stay with you to prevent you from encountering danger."

After Lin Chen nodded in agreement, Qian Daoliu spoke again, "I have already arranged for more agents to be sent to the Far West. If there is any movement there, I will inform you as soon as possible."

"I understand, thank you for your attention, Great Enshrined." Lin Chen acknowledged again, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Qian Daoliu, and turned to leave the Worship Hall.

After leaving the Worship Hall, Lin Chen did not go to the Angel Temple to find Qian Renxue. She needed to prepare for the Fourth Trial and cultivate in peace, and he did not want to disturb her at this time.

When Lin Chen returned to the Guest Courtyard, Dugu Bo was sitting under the old locust tree in the courtyard, drinking.

Lin Chen looked at Dugu Bo and said with a smile, "Senior Dugu, pack your things, we're going back to Heaven Dou City."

Dugu Bo looked up at Lin Chen and asked in surprise, "I've only rested for a few days, and you're already taking me to Heaven Dou City again?"

"Oh dear, I've rested long enough for a few days." Lin Chen pushed open the door to the side room and began packing his things.

Dugu Bo snorted and took a swig of wine, "You little brat, you can say whatever you want, and this old man like me has to run around with you."

Despite saying that, he still stood up, hung the wine jug on his waist, and walked towards his room.

After taking a couple of steps, he turned back and asked, "Is Yan Yan still in Heaven Dou City? She should be doing well."

Lin Chen nodded and said, "Of course I am. As for whether I'm doing well or not, you'll have to see for yourself, Senior Dugu."

Dugu Bo didn't reply, but he packed his things much faster than before.

As he stuffed things into his bundle, he muttered to himself, "I wonder if that girl has been slacking off these past two and a half years. It's been so long since I've been back."

Hearing this muttered remark, Lin Chen's lips curled into a slight smile, and he thought to himself, "She really is a doting granddaughter."

The next morning, before dawn, the two set off from Spirit City.

Dugu Bo sat on the carriage shaft driving, while Lin Chen leaned against the carriage, meditating with his eyes closed. As the carriage drove out of the gate of Spirit City, Lin Chen lifted the curtain and glanced up at the mountain.

A golden light shone faintly in the morning mist from the direction of the Angel Temple.