Sage Tablet

The Heaven Sacrifice Talisman...

As soon as Lin Shuguang heard the name, he knew it was no ordinary item.

"How is it used specifically?"

Ancestor Chen shook his head, "I've never refined this item because I didn't want to get entangled with the karma of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, so I'm not clear on its specific effects. However, the Sect Master of Taiyi Immortal Sect that day seemed to have mentioned it... it involves merging essence and blood, using it as a medium to sacrifice to the heavens, and then you will receive a gift from the heavens."

"A gift from the heavens? For example..." Lin Shuguang actually felt a bit of anticipation.

Ancestor Chen knew what Lin Shuguang was thinking. He spoke first, "According to ancient historical records, when those Human Emperors sacrificed to the heavens back then, they could not only obtain rare Treasure Medicines, or Divine Weapons and Sharp Tools, or breakthroughs in their cultivation... You must understand, how could ordinary people like us have the qualification to contact the heavens? Only those Human Emperors holding the Heaven Sacrifice Talisman had the qualification to communicate with the heavens, so what they received was naturally the best."

The Heavenly Dao is heartless. To us mortals, even the best things are probably no different from weeds by the roadside in the eyes of the Heavenly Dao."

"So..." Lin Shuguang's eyes lit up, "Doesn't that mean I'm going to get rich?"

Ancestor Chen shook his head again, "You probably forgot one thing. Thirty thousand years ago, the Heavenly Dao underwent a change. Otherwise, the one who ascended to the position of Human Emperor wouldn't have held the position for so long... So I guess, even if you sacrifice, what you get won't compare to the ancient era."

"That's fine too. As long as it can increase my current strength, I don't expect to get any ancient treasures. With my current strength, even if I obtained an ancient divine item, I wouldn't be able to protect it."

"That's true." Ancestor Chen deeply agreed, "Xuanyuan City's power is far beyond your imagination. Perhaps in your eyes, the Spirit Transformation Realm and True Fate Realm are very strong, but in Xuanyuan City, they are still not enough to be seen. The one in Xuanyuan City has probably touched the threshold of the Great Sage in these years..."

"Great Sage?" Lin Shuguang feigned ignorance.

Ancestor Chen said in a low voice, "Above the True Fate Realm is the Nirvana Realm, which is also the realm where I am currently stuck. Above the Nirvana Realm is the Great Sage... Legend has it that in ancient times, it was the Sage Era, when the Sages ruled the world. If an Ancient Emperor could truly achieve the Great Sage, perhaps the world would no longer be in a state of Three Kingdoms' Hegemony...

Ahead is Xuanyuan City. Once you enter, someone will take you to the Black Prison. Speak less and do less. My Baojian Sect doesn't need you to do anything. Just follow your own thoughts. If I have to say what my Baojian Sect expects, it is for you to practice martial arts, become stronger, and survive!"

Lin Shuguang came with the Supreme Token, which meant giving Baojian Sect hope.

After all, the gap between him and the Thirteenth Generation Guardian Supreme was too long, and the difference in cultivation was too great.

Therefore, no one could guess the true thoughts of that Guardian Supreme.

Now, with no direction for deduction, the only thing they could look forward to was Lin Shuguang, this "medium" that connected Baojian Sect with the Thirteenth Generation Guardian Supreme.

"Let's go."

The gates of Xuanyuan City slowly opened.

Lin Shuguang carefully put away the Heaven Sacrifice Talisman, then waved his hand and swaggered across the gates of Xuanyuan City.

Ancestor Chen watched him enter Xuanyuan City from behind.

"Rumble—"

The gates of Xuanyuan City slowly closed again.

"Hey! You brat!"

Ancestor Chen suddenly became furious.

"My sword!"

His previous sword was tightly held in Lin Shuguang's arms. If Ancestor Chen hadn't reacted suddenly, that sword would have been "hugged" into Xuanyuan City by Lin Shuguang.

"Would you believe me if I said I didn't do it on purpose?" Lin Shuguang said with a sincere expression.

Ancestor Chen's face darkened.

With a wave of his hand, his sword was pulled by a force and flew out of Lin Shuguang's arms. Under Lin Shuguang's wistful gaze, it passed through the remaining fist-sized gap in the gate and flew back into Ancestor Chen's hand.

"Bang!"

The gate closed.

Lin Shuguang looked regretful.

Ancestor Chen was both angry and amused. This brat!

Just as he was cursing...

"Fellow Daoist Chen, aren't you coming in for a seat? Several fellow Daoists are waiting for you..." As Ancestor Chen turned to leave, a figure suddenly appeared beside him. The figure wore a Crane Robe like an immortal master, and had a White Hair and Youthful Complexion, looking kind and benevolent.

"No, I just came to see someone off." Ancestor Chen's expression returned to one of aloofness.

"Was the person just now the Saint Child of Baojian Sect?" the white-haired old man asked with a smile. If one observed carefully, they would easily see that the old man's figure was actually composed of countless air particles, not a physical body at all!

"Yes or no, don't you old ghost already have the answer? Why ask such a redundant question?" Ancestor Chen glared at him impatiently.

The white-haired old man narrowed his eyes, and a sharp glint flashed. He probed again, "Is it related to the Supreme Token?"

As soon as he finished speaking.

This Gaseous Clone vanished into thin air under Ancestor Chen's cold snort.

Ancestor Chen grabbed his sword, turned, and disappeared into the wind and sand.

"He's anxious."

The mountains were like swords, piercing straight into the clouds.

In a place filled with ethereal immortal energy, flying cranes flew in pairs, like a celestial scene.

In a certain pavilion, an old man with a faint smile on his face spoke.

It was the white-haired old man who had just spoken with Ancestor Chen of Baojian Sect.

"Did the Supreme Token really enter the mortal world?" Beside him, a woman couldn't help but ask.

A burly middle-aged man couldn't help but chime in, "Rumor has it that the Supreme Token was taken by a powerful expert from the Baojian Sect thirty thousand years ago, carrying that expert's mark. Even when the Baojian Sect was almost wiped out, it never reappeared. It's truly strange... That old man Chen from the Baojian Sect refused Xuanyuan City's invitations multiple times, yet he suddenly sent disciples this year... If this has nothing to do with the Supreme Token, you can chop my head off!"

"What use is your head!" The woman glanced at him dismissively. Before the burly middle-aged man could speak, she turned to the white-haired elder, "Sect Master Mei, in your opinion, is the Baojian Sect plotting something?"

"The Baojian Sect's plot... there naturally is one," the white-haired elder said slowly.

The woman and the middle-aged man exchanged glances, both looking hesitant. "The Baojian Sect has withdrawn from Xuanyuan City for many years. Our strength has long surpassed theirs. Even if they were to send their ancestors to Xuanyuan City, it would take at least eighty to a hundred years to reach our level. What exactly are they trying to plot now?"

The white-haired elder looked at the two of them. "The matter of the Supreme Token has been spread for a long time, it's no secret. But no one can be sure if the Baojian Sect expert who took the Supreme Token back then did anything to it... If they truly tampered with it, let alone you, even if you added all of us old guys from the sects, we still wouldn't be a match for that senior... Do you know why?"

Meeting their gazes, the white-haired elder sighed, "Because that was a true ancient powerhouse. As far as I know, those who could become Guardian Supremes in the Baojian Sect back then were all top-tier experts, at least Great Sages."

"Great Sage..." The woman and the middle-aged man exchanged glances, revealing deep reverence in their eyes.

The burly middle-aged man couldn't help but ask again, "I've always been puzzled, why does Sect Master Mei, who is already at the Nirvana Realm, still treat that Chen from the Baojian Sect as an equal?"

The woman spoke up at this point, "I told you you're brainless, and you still don't believe me!"

The burly middle-aged man glared angrily, and the woman continued, "That old man Chen was a major figure personally appointed by the Ancient Emperor back then. Do you think you're some kind of ugly duckling? If he wasn't capable, do you really think the Ancient Emperor would easily send a mere True Fate Realm cultivator to such an important position?"

The white-haired elder, addressed as Sect Master Mei, said slowly, "Chen Changsheng is no ordinary person. With his strength, even some early-stage Nirvana Realm cultivators are not his match... The Baojian Sect ultimately has its foundations."

"Really?" The middle-aged man's pupils contracted. "He's that strong? Doesn't that mean as long as he breaks through to the Nirvana Realm, he will inevitably affect us?"

"He doesn't have many years left to live... That's what the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets personally said. His words are like destiny, you should know that best," the woman said faintly, looking at him.

The middle-aged man frowned irritably. "Why is this Baojian Sect so troublesome? Isn't it fine for them to stay outside? Why do they have to enter Xuanyuan City? It's disturbing our peace."

The Baojian Sect losing its Imperial Lineage back then was not solely the work of the Jade Void Palace. Naturally, some people worried that the Baojian Sect would send down some powerful figures and disrupt the existing balance.

"What about that young man?"

"According to Baojian Sect's usual practice, he would naturally have gone to the Black Prison."

"Black Prison... I heard His Majesty intends to select outstanding talents from there. Is that true?"

"It should be true. Many noble families have sent their disciples to the Black Prison recently... The environment there is harsh, and generally, no one wants to go. Now, it has become a coveted spot that everyone is scrambling to get into."

"What exactly is His Majesty thinking?"

"The Emperor's heart is unfathomable. Let's not discuss it."

Lin Shuguang was unaware that he had already attracted attention. He was currently following a young man silently.

"Esteemed sir, where did you come from before?" The young man, unaware of Lin Shuguang's background, was very respectful.

Moreover, Lin Shuguang was someone personally selected from above.

It was inevitable that people would speculate about his extraordinary origins.

Lin Shuguang slightly raised his eyes and said faintly, "What, do you need to investigate such a matter again? Before entering the Black Prison, shouldn't your superiors have already reviewed it?"

The young man's expression changed slightly. "Sir is joking, I didn't mean that."

He zipped his lips and quickly led Lin Shuguang to the Black Prison to complete the procedures.

After receiving an identity token, the young man, wanting to make a good impression on Lin Shuguang, busied himself by saying, "Sir, you must keep this identity token safe. In the future, rewards and punishments will be based on the records on this token... The white mark on this token indicates that you have no achievements yet. If you achieve merit and get promoted in the future, another stripe will be added."

"How many stripes do you have now?" Lin Shuguang played with the identity token, asking curiously.

The young man's face turned a little awkward. "Sir is joking. I am merely a servant and am not qualified to receive an identity token..."

This was also a thorn in the young man's heart.

Who would want to be a servant to be slaughtered for their entire life? He had finally seized an opportunity, a chance to get close to a prominent figure!

In his eyes, someone like Lin Shuguang, who would be personally appointed by the higher-ups, must be a prominent figure!

He wanted to latch onto Lin Shuguang's coattails, which was why he had been so subservient earlier. He hadn't expected that his attempt to build a friendly relationship would instead make Lin Shuguang impatient.

"Sir, your accommodation is in Kaoshan Garden, and it costs one hundred Gold Leaves per month..."

"So expensive!" Lin Shuguang almost turned around and left.

Old Man Chen hadn't told him that living in this Black Prison would cost so many Gold Leaves...

Even though he had just followed Old Man Chen to raid the stronghold on Donghua Island, this money wouldn't last. One hundred Gold Leaves a year, and the accommodation alone was so expensive. One could imagine the prices here...

With miscellaneous expenses, it would likely cost tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of Gold Leaves.

"Expensive?" Wang Erfa was stunned, seemingly not expecting this Lord Lin's reaction to be so strong.

Was one hundred Gold Leaves a lot?

For a disciple with Lin Shuguang's "great" background, shouldn't it be just a drop in the bucket?

Wang Erfa suddenly had an ominous feeling. "Sir, the price of Kaoshan Garden is acceptable. The truly expensive place is Gushan Garden. Because it's close to the Sage Tablet, the housing there has been speculated to cost one hundred thousand Gold Leaves per month... Spending one hundred thousand Gold Leaves allows one to feel the Sage Charm from the Sage Tablet day and night, which is actually a good deal..."

Lin Shuguang: "..."

Xuanyuan City was too crazy.

"Can't one normally approach and observe the Sage Tablet?"

Wang Erfa shook his head. "Those living in Gushan Garden are basically disciples from noble backgrounds. They wouldn't let others easily approach after spending so much money... In this regard, the Black Prison is also implicitly understood. It's probably worth the price, sir. Do you want to live in Gushan Garden?"

"I'll go to Kaoshan Garden. The name suits my taste."

Lin Shuguang's expression remained unchanged.

He secretly took note of the Sage Tablet in his heart.

He was brought to Kaoshan Garden, and Lin Shuguang "painfully" spent a hundred Gold Leaves to secure his lodging there.

As he crossed the grand entrance of Kaoshan Garden, many people around looked over.

Upon noticing Wang Erfa trailing beside Lin Shuguang, those people withdrew their attention.

"Another tender bird has arrived..."

"How many newcomers have come this month? What is the higher-ups thinking?"

"This kid can afford to stay here, he's probably not the descendant of some big shot. Those people usually go to Gushan Garden."

Lin Shuguang paid no mind and found one of the rooms. It was similar to a hotel or guesthouse, but unfortunately, there was no separate courtyard.

"Sir, please contact me anytime if you need anything. Starting tomorrow morning, you will officially begin handling matters in the Black Prison. The official from the office just gave you a small booklet. It records the work locations and times you need to be at. Please do not be late, sir."

Lin Shuguang nodded.

Wang Erfa waited for a while and saw that Lin Shuguang did not bestow money like other wealthy young masters. His heart sank.

"Could he really be a pauper?"

His previously subservient expression turned disdainful after crossing the threshold of Lin Shuguang's room.