Chen Family Collection

After verifying his identity, he entered the inner court.

The space here was not as vast as outside. There were only twelve compartments, each displaying various Cultivation Methods and Fighting Skills.

More than ten people walked through the corridor. Some held books in their hands, while others had just entered the compartments.

"Young Master, these are all the Chen Family's Profound Rank Cultivation Methods and Fighting Skills. There are 376 sets in total: 99 Cultivation Methods and 277 Fighting Skills. You may browse through them as you please. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me," Chen Guan introduced from the side.

"More than three hundred?" Chen Cheng was surprised when he heard the number Chen Guan had mentioned.

In Chen Cheng's impression, Profound Rank Cultivation Methods and Fighting Skills were already considered high-grade in the Izumo Gama region. Yet the Chen Family possessed more than three hundred sets, which truly astonished him.

"Hehe, Young Master, you needn't doubt it. Over the years, the Chen Family's status has steadily risen. Through both legitimate and illegitimate means, we acquired a great number of Cultivation Methods and Fighting Skills. They were placed in the Dou Qi Pavilion to enrich the Chen Family's foundation," Chen Guan said with a proud smile when he saw the trace of surprise on Chen Cheng's face.

Legitimate means referred to methods inherited by the Chen Family, purchases made outside, and gifts from other families.

Illegitimate means referred to disgraceful methods such as killing and plundering, or raiding homes and wiping out clans.

The Izumo Empire was an exceptionally chaotic nation, where conflicts among major factions had never ceased. Some powerful families and sects also grew increasingly strong amid those struggles.

The Chen Family was one of the finest among them.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Cheng understood what Chen Guan meant. He did not reject such a reality. The weak were prey to the strong, and only the fit survived—this was an unchanging law since ancient times.

"I understand." Chen Cheng responded to Chen Guan, then casually entered one of the compartments.

The soundproofing inside was excellent; no sounds could be heard from elsewhere. The walls were made from a special black material and were extremely sturdy.

There were three other people inside the compartment, selecting Fighting Skills.

One of them was rather old, an outsider Da Dou Shi. Having rendered meritorious service, he had earned the qualification to enter the inner court and choose one Profound Rank Fighting Skill.

He selected with great care. For someone like him, gaining an opportunity to enter the inner court was no easy matter. He had to choose carefully and could not waste this chance.

Of the other two, one was a handsome Young Master around twenty years old, dressed in an extravagant blue robe. He casually flipped through the Fighting Skills on the shelves, his brows furrowed. Clearly, he had yet to find anything that satisfied him.

Chen Zihang, a genius of the Chen Family's younger generation, could enter and leave the inner court freely.

The other was a young girl of around sixteen or seventeen, wearing a vivid crimson dress. Her graceful figure and the budding curves at her chest constantly exuded an alluring aura.

The girl examined the Fighting Skills before her with a focused expression, her gaze never wandering. When she found a Cultivation Method that pleased her, a flash of joy suddenly appeared on her pretty face.

Name: Lin Ling

Cultivation: Seven Star Dou Zhe

An outsider can enter and leave the Chen Family's inner court? I truly can't understand it, Chen Cheng thought, but he did not say it aloud.

Chen Cheng was not that curious. Although he did not know why an outsider could enter the inner court, since the Chen Family permitted it, there must have been a reason. He could not be bothered to concern himself with it.

Chen Cheng came to a shelf and took down a Fighting Skill.

Upon opening it, he saw a brief description written inside.

Tiger's Roar Fist, Profound Middle-Rank Fighting Skill. Dou Qi was circulated through special pathways, gathering energy in both fists and granting the strength of nine oxen and two tigers to deal a heavy blow to the enemy.

Ice Palm, Profound Low-Rank Dou Qi. Using Ice Attribute Dou Qi as its foundation, it formed a special force of Qi. When striking an enemy, it entered the opponent's body and froze their internal organs.

Wind Chasing Leg, Profound Middle-Rank.

Among the Profound Rank Cultivation Methods, some had dazzling moves and special abilities, while others were broad and powerful, carrying immense force. There were indeed quite a few good things.

Chen Cheng was merely browsing casually. He had no intention of choosing a Profound Rank Fighting Skill. He only had two stages of Dou Qi at present, not even meeting the minimum requirement to practice a Profound Rank Fighting Skill.

He had entered the inner court to inspect Profound Rank Cultivation Methods and Fighting Skills merely to broaden his knowledge.

Chen Cheng continued browsing. Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a book on the shelf beside him.

It was wrapped in a pale blue cover, with patterns of clouds and a treasured sword on its surface. Its exquisite appearance suddenly made Chen Cheng's eyes light up.

"Hm?"

Chen Cheng walked toward that shelf in surprise. In a place like this, the book covers on the shelves were mostly a monotonous dark blue, enough to cause visual fatigue. Only this book was different.

The name of the Fighting Skill was written on the cover: "Wind Spirit Dividing Form Sword."

Chen Cheng reached out to take it, but just as he was about to pick it up, he felt a faint force coming from the book, as if someone else were pulling on it.

Chen Cheng raised his head in surprise and met an equally puzzled gaze.

The girl's delicate face was framed by a pair of wide eyes as she looked at Chen Cheng in confusion. As Chen Cheng met her gaze, he saw a trace of coldness in her eyes.

"You—"

"You—"

They spoke at the same time, yet neither continued. After a brief pause, Chen Cheng was the one who broke the silence.

"You want this Fighting Skill?" A faint smile rested on Chen Cheng's lips, carrying a somewhat charming air as his tone softened.

The girl was quite pretty. At least in Chen Cheng's eyes, she ranked above average. And Chen Cheng had always been rather tolerant toward girls.

"Mhm. I heard someone say that it's an exceptionally good sword technique. I searched for a long time before finding it," the girl said.

The girl's small hand still clutched the Profound Rank Fighting Skill called Wind Spirit Dividing Form Sword tightly, with no intention of letting go.

"Then I won't take what you love. It's yours." Chen Cheng released his grip, with no intention of competing for it.

His purpose had never been to obtain Profound Rank Cultivation Methods.

It was only that the name of this Dou Technique felt somewhat familiar to Chen Cheng.

The young girl took the book, thanked Chen Cheng, and left while holding it in her arms. As she departed, she noticed Chen Guan standing at the entrance, politely greeted him, and then walked out.

Chen Cheng came to Chen Guan's side and asked, "Steward Chen Guan, I just saw a Dou Technique called the Wind Spirit Dividing Form Sword. Could you tell me about its origins?"

"The Wind Spirit Dividing Form Sword?"

Upon hearing Chen Cheng's question, Chen Guan did not answer immediately, instead falling into brief contemplation.

Chen Guan knew the placement of every Dou Technique within the Dou Qi Pavilion by heart. But being suddenly asked to explain the origins of a particular Dou Technique still required him to think back.

After a while, Chen Guan finally seemed to remember something.

Chen Guan explained, "I recall that the Wind Spirit Sword is a profound Sword Skill of the Yun Lan Sect. About five years ago, a junior captured a disciple of the Yun Lan Sect and used special means to obtain this Dou Technique, after which it was added to the Chen Family's collection."

Chen Cheng's heart stirred slightly at those words.

"Yun Lan Sect?" Chen Cheng was somewhat surprised to hear the name of a sect that had left a deep impression in his memories.

"By the way, Steward Chen Guan, who is the current Sect Leader of the Yun Lan Sect?" Chen Cheng asked.

"Hehe, Young Master, the current Sect Leader of the Yun Lan Sect is no ordinary person. Her name is Yun Yun. She advanced to Dou Emperor six or seven years ago. Reaching the Dou Emperor realm before the age of twenty-five, she became the youngest Dou Emperor expert in the history of the Jia Ma Empire," Chen Guan answered truthfully.

The Yun Lan Sect was a top sect from an enemy nation, so the Chen Family paid close attention to it. They had channels through which they could obtain basic intelligence. As a steward of the Chen Family, Chen Guan was also aware of certain current affairs.

"Young Master, let me tell you a secret," Chen Guan suddenly leaned close to Chen Cheng's ear and lowered his voice, speaking softly enough that only Chen Cheng could hear. "Yun Yun, the Sect Leader of the Yun Lan Sect, is an unparalleled beauty. She remains unmarried to this day."

Chen Cheng raised his brow slightly upon hearing Chen Guan's words, then said, "I understand."