An Inexplicable Apprenticeship

Night was as black as ink. The stench of blood seemed to pierce through layer upon layer of palace walls, carrying faint sounds of suppressed slaughter.

Tonight was undoubtedly a night of killing.

Deep within the Eastern Palace, Ling Tian sat upright before his desk, his fingertips lightly tapping the tabletop. He had clearly sensed this unusual disturbance as well, yet his face remained calm as still water, retaining its usual indifferent, distant expression.

The next morning, Chen Lin slowly awoke from a deep sleep. Rubbing his bleary eyes, he still wore a trace of lingering drowsiness on his face.

He lazily stretched and glanced beyond the bed, only to see Little Anzi standing there unsteadily with a food tray in his hands.

"Elder Lin, it is time for you to get up and eat," Little Anzi said brightly.

Looking at the scene before him, Chen Lin could not help but sigh softly to himself.

When had he ever enjoyed such treatment in his previous life?

Clothes brought to his hands, meals brought to his mouth, with someone attending to him so meticulously.

Remembering those years spent struggling through mud, fighting desperately for a full meal, then looking at this carefree life of being carefully looked after, an indescribably complicated feeling rose within him.

Ah, he sighed silently.

In his previous life, the right to be served like this was often decided the moment one was born—whether one had been carried to term, whether one was healthy, determined more than half of everything.

The greatest watershed in life was amniotic fluid. Some were born in Rome; others were born as oxen and horses, toiling without complaint.

Yet now, he lay on this soft couch, enjoying a peace that seemed ordinary yet was incomparably luxurious.

The enormous contrast left him somewhat dazed.

Chen Lin answered, then got up. After washing up, he sat down to eat.

Along the way, he sensed the life signs of the person he had just taken in and found that they had not vanished. Good. That meant they had escaped successfully.

During the meal, he casually asked Little Anzi, "Little Anzi, did anything major happen in the palace or at court this morning?"

Having long since noticed that Chen Lin was no ordinary man, and with Crown Prince Ling Tian's secret instructions on top of that, Little Anzi did not dare conceal the slightest thing from Chen Lin.

He set down his chopsticks and cautiously reported to Chen Lin, word for word, the discussions at court that morning regarding the "Edict of Grace," along with many other matters.

After listening, Chen Lin rubbed his still-stinging eyes and thought to himself, So much happened last night and this morning. No wonder I slept so deeply and woke up feeling this groggy.

As for the "Edict of Grace" issued by Emperor Ling Cangqiong, the corner of Chen Lin's lips lifted into an almost imperceptible curve.

This move was far too grand.

If nothing unexpected happened, before long, the Marquis throughout the realm and the Imperial Court's central authorities would likely develop rifts, perhaps even turn against one another.

After all, once the fire of profit distribution was lit, who could guarantee it would not burn them?

With this move, the Emperor had first stirred up turmoil over the position of Crown Prince, causing several Princes to harbor their own thoughts and the Forces in court to churn with undercurrents. Now, through the Edict of Grace, he was quietly provoking the ambitions of the Marquis and their dissatisfaction toward the Imperial Court... His stride was so wide that one careless misstep could result in total defeat.

Moreover, matters of enfeoffment were overseen by the eldest legitimate son.

If one received too little while another received too much, it would also provoke internal conflict.

However, the shifting winds and clouds of court politics ultimately had little to do with Chen Lin.

Just as Chen Lin was pondering this, a somewhat familiar figure quietly appeared outside the courtyard gate.

It was Ling Tian.

He seemed to have just finished handling his affairs. Passing by this place, he saw Chen Lin and Little Anzi eating in the courtyard.

Little Anzi's eyes rolled, and he immediately understood. Swiftly bringing over another bowl and pair of chopsticks, he said with a beaming smile, "Your Highness, Elder Lin is eating. You came at just the right time—please join us."

Seeing how thoughtful, clever, and sensible Little Anzi was, Ling Tian's eyes flashed with a trace of approval.

The two began eating together. As Ling Tian picked up food, he said, "Elder Lin, this junior has recently been studying a Martial Skill, the Myriad Laws Heavenly Palm. I wish to improve it more quickly, and hope you can offer me some guidance."

Chen Lin smiled meaningfully. "Your Highness, the Imperial Family has so many relatives. Why cling specifically to these old bones of mine?"

A bitter look crossed Ling Tian's face. "Elder Lin, you do not know. Though the Imperial Family is vast, Imperial Father's actions in recent years... have left very few who are truly willing to help me."

Chen Lin merely smiled faintly, but inwardly thought, If I had not learned some information from Little Anzi, I truly might have believed him.

Ling Tian had silently recruited two of the Four Great Imperial Guard Commanders. He had even planted informants among some of the palace eunuchs.

Though the Divine Guard Army no longer had anything to do with him, the forces under his command were probably still not to be underestimated.

On top of that, he resided in the Eastern Palace and had the Crown Prince's personal guards, while holding spies like Little Anzi, who ran about every corner of the palace every day... Yet for Little Anzi to have remained undiscovered all this time, he must surely have been carrying some treasure that concealed his aura.

But then Chen Lin reconsidered. Even with so many resources at his disposal, without a Cave Reality Realm Expert to rely on, he would likely still be dispensable before that Emperor.

Unless he possessed other means Chen Lin did not know about.

Ling Tian keenly caught the unfathomable undertone in Chen Lin's smile. His heart tightened slightly, and he changed the subject, continuing their previous conversation. "This Myriad Laws Heavenly Palm is an Earth-tier cultivation technique. Elder Lin has surely cultivated it before as well?"

Chen Lin thought to himself, As expected of the Crown Prince... He is beginning to probe the depths of the cultivation techniques I possess.

"This old man—"

He had only just begun to respond when Ling Tian suddenly stopped eating, took up paper and brush, quickly wrote a line, and pushed it before him.

"I wish to ask Elder Lin to become my Master!"

Seeing the flash of surprise in Chen Lin's eyes, along with what seemed to be an intention to refuse, Ling Tian understood. The other party had indeed seen through his intentions.

He simply stopped hiding it and directly stated his position.

He knew very well that Chen Lin was a Dharma Aspect Realm Cultivator and had been concealing his true realm all along. This showed that the man's ambitions ran deep.

And if he himself could Ascend the throne, he would naturally have enough to satisfy whatever the other party sought.

Dharma Aspect Realm Cultivators were rare and invaluable combat power on the battlefield. Chen Lin had mastered so many cultivation techniques; his strength was surely no small matter.

There was already a shortage of Dharma Aspect Realm Experts on his side. With a figure like Chen Lin holding the fort, not only could he impart his cultivation insights and guide him in the Myriad Laws Heavenly Palm, he could also greatly strengthen the foundation of Ling Tian's power.

This was absolutely a crucial move.

Little Anzi's eyes went wide, his mouth slightly agape, his face filled with disbelief.

This Crown Prince, whose power could blot out the sky, wanted to take a Master?

And not just anyone—Elder Lin?

He admitted that Elder Lin was not simple, but surely it did not warrant this much.

Seeing this, Chen Lin thought to himself, Good. This game of chess is finally beginning to reveal its true face.

He had originally only intended to establish preliminary contact, yet the other party had taken a single step directly to the end, leaving him unable to fathom him.

And by becoming the Crown Prince's secret Master, he would naturally be able to gain easier access to those deeply hidden Imperial Family cultivation techniques.

With the Crown Prince as his disciple, if those so-called "Imperial Family cultivation techniques" were to find their way into his hands in the future, would that not be perfectly reasonable?

After all, between Master and disciple, imparting skills and sharing one's gains were only natural.

Even if he could not pass on King Tier techniques, there were still Heaven Tier techniques!

Taking a step back, even if everything proceeded step by step, once he truly grew powerful through these cultivation techniques, helping Ling Tian ascend the throne would be as easy as turning over one's hand, would it not?

By then, he could use his disciple's authority to gather all kinds of wondrous techniques and secret arts from across the realm. In the end, perhaps he truly could build upon this foundation to create a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering Great Dao that belonged to him alone!

However, he knew clearly in his heart that he absolutely could not agree immediately.

What cannot be obtained is forever in turmoil!

Moreover, the other party had identified him directly, which clearly meant there was an Expert behind him as well. Even if Chen Lin refused today, Ling Tian would continue to pester him.

Just as he was about to open his mouth and refuse, Ling Tian suddenly waved his hand. An invisible barrier instantly enveloped the entire room, cutting off all outside prying.

What happened next caught Chen Lin even more off guard. Without any warning, Ling Tian dropped to his knees with a thud, respectfully performing the grand bow of a disciple before him.

This entire sequence was as swift as lightning, leaving Chen Lin no room to refuse.

Ling Tian knew clearly that opportunities vanished in the blink of an eye.

Once he missed today, by the time the other party had truly grown his wings, it would likely be too late to recruit him.

This was how he had always treated the people he recruited—once he had his eye on them, he would seize them quickly, precisely, and ruthlessly, leaving no room for anything else.

That was also why the subordinates he recruited were so fiercely loyal to him.

He had to seize every opportunity before him, rather than wait until the other party soared into the sky and only then drown in regret.

And what that Old Daoist had said surely referred to the person before him.

Take a gamble!

Even if this was not the man, it would do no harm. He would not lose out.

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