Ling Tian's Visit

The next day, dawn had only just begun to break.

Chen Lin lay on the rocking chair, feeling the cool air of early morning. In that brief tranquility, the Great Sun Scripture within him quietly circulated, drawing the purest wisp of sunlight essence from the hour before dawn into his body. His cultivation had actually advanced another step—Core Pill Sixth Layer!

He could not help but laugh, half amused and half exasperated. His leveling speed was practically easier than lying down.

Though with resources, it would be even faster.

Other than cultivation, he seemed not to have seriously made a move yet.

Besides the Great Sun Scripture, another Earth-tier cultivation technique, the Moon Radiance Heavenly Scripture, also circulated within him.

One absorbed the essence of the daytime sun, while the other took in the Spiritual Energy of the nighttime moon. Complementing each other, they turned his body into an ever-burning furnace that absorbed the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth without pause, day and night.

The Primordial Pill within him was no longer merely golden. It now mingled the blazing heat of the sun with the cold clarity of the moon, its aura dazzling and bizarre. Even Chen Lin himself felt a little bewildered.

Still, who cared?

His strength was steadily improving. That was better than anything else.

Moreover, he had long cultivated these techniques to Great Perfection. His foundation was firm, and he could operate them with perfect ease. How could there possibly be any conflict?

Just as Chen Lin's thoughts drifted, a figure appeared before him.

It was Crown Prince Ling Tian.

Ling Tian's face carried a trace of incredulous astonishment as he stared intently at Chen Lin.

He had never expected that this seemingly ordinary Elder Lin had also cultivated the Great Sun Scripture!

He himself cultivated this technique as well, using it as an auxiliary method to enhance the tyrannical power of his own cultivation technique.

This technique was remarkably extraordinary. If Little Anzi had not inadvertently revealed it yesterday, and if the Divine Treasury Realm old man beside him had not hinted that Elder Lin was no simple man, he would hardly have believed it.

As for why it was not Heaven Tier, it was a little difficult to comprehend...

It depended on talent.

At this moment, Ling Tian's surprise had been replaced by realization.

He straightened his robes anew, then cupped his hands deeply toward Chen Lin with even greater respect and solemnity. "Elder Lin! I heard that you are also proficient in the Great Sun Scripture... This junior has a matter on which I dare ask for your guidance!"

Chen Lin raised his eyes slightly and carefully examined the flow of blood and qi around Ling Tian.

Having cultivated the Great Sun Scripture to Great Perfection, his ability to discern its aura naturally far surpassed that of others.

With just one glance, he understood everything.

The other party had cultivated the Great Sun Scripture to Minor Accomplishment.

"Your Highness may have guessed already," Chen Lin said.

He would offer guidance, but not yet.

After all, he had to consider the other party's dignity. If he appeared overly eager to instruct him, it would instead ruin the proper measure between them.

Ling Tian drew a deep breath, as if making up his mind. "Elder Lin, I know you must be holding something back. How about this? This junior has a Heavenly Dragon Spirit Medicine here. I have heard it has remarkable effects in strengthening the physique, so I will present it to Elder Lin. I only ask Elder Lin to offer a few pointers. This junior will be endlessly grateful!"

Heavenly Dragon Spirit Medicine?

Chen Lin secretly laughed. This thing indeed had an impressive reputation. It could strengthen one's constitution and benefited Cultivators from Foundation Establishment to Primordial Pill. However, with the body-tempering technique he cultivated, combined with the True Sun Fire tempering him day and night, his physique had become so powerful that even he found it difficult to gauge. This spirit medicine would likely have negligible effect on him.

But...

This was not a bad beginning.

Besides, as a Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer Expert, if he displayed utter disdain for the Heavenly Dragon Spirit Medicine, it would instead arouse suspicion.

"Very well."

Upon hearing Chen Lin agree, Ling Tian's face instantly blossomed with wild delight. He hurriedly handed over the Heavenly Dragon Spirit Medicine, which emitted a faint medicinal fragrance.

Chen Lin accepted it calmly, then immediately pointed out several bottlenecks and doubts that Ling Tian himself had found difficult to overcome.

If you cannot find the book by searching its title, try searching for the author instead. It may simply have been renamed!

In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Ling Tian felt a flash of inspiration in his mind. He suddenly saw the light, already comprehending the path toward Great Accomplishment in the Great Sun Scripture.

He instinctively looked at Chen Lin, and his eyes could not help carrying a few traces of sincere admiration and fervor. Yet he concealed those emotions extremely well in the depths of his gaze.

So he really had been hiding his abilities!

This was an Earth-tier cultivation technique. For him to offer guidance so casually, he had to have reached Great Accomplishment or Perfection.

It seemed this Elder Lin was no ordinary man. And he was willing to guide him, even seeming inclined to approach him... This was an opportunity.

Why not seize it?

After all, he and the other party already had a connection.

Presumably, Elder Lin had deliberately struck up a conversation through Little Anzi and that Divine Treasury Realm old man earlier for this very reason—to forge a bond!

Just as Ling Tian was about to offer his thanks, "Elder Lin, this junior..."

Chen Lin interrupted him before he could finish, a gentle smile on his face. "Your Highness."

Those two words fell lightly from his lips, and Chen Lin gently shook his head.

That shake of the head was like a stone cast into a lake, stirring ripples in Ling Tian's heart. He was suddenly startled, then understood—right!

The fervor and admiration in his eyes just now had likely shown a little too clearly.

Elder Lin's identity was mysterious. As Crown Prince, if he appeared too eager, he might instead provoke the other party's wariness or contempt.

Thinking this, Ling Tian quickly composed himself. After exchanging a few more words with Chen Lin, he found an excuse, cupped his hands in farewell, and left.

After watching Ling Tian leave, Chen Lin shook his head. This morning, he had lured Little Anzi into saying a few things.

The situation was becoming a little difficult now, Crown Prince.

The undercurrents among the other princes were truly surging.

Then Chen Lin continued resting on the rocking chair, involuntarily absorbing the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth.

The moment Ling Tian stepped into the Eastern Palace, the Divine Treasury Realm old man silently appeared at his side.

"Elder Qin, your guess was indeed correct." Ling Tian's gaze was profound as he spoke softly to the old man.

Upon hearing this, the old man merely fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice carrying the air of one who saw through everything. "That Elder Lin is likely already in the Dharma Aspect Realm. Otherwise, with my cultivation, it would have been impossible for me to be misled without realizing it."

"Your Highness, a Dharma Aspect can increase your chances in the struggle for the throne by several points." The old man's words carried unquestionable weight.

Ling Tian nodded solemnly, calculating the chessboard he had long laid out in his heart.

There was also what that Daoist had told him!

It seemed it was about to come true.

"By the way, Imperial Father's side..."

"His Majesty is currently devoting all his efforts to thoroughly investigating the Cultivators colluding with the Nine Nether Sect." Elder Qin frowned slightly and shook his head. "It seems to involve a figure of tremendous importance. His Majesty is personally overseeing the matter. Tug one hair and the whole body moves; it is not appropriate to disturb him too much for now."

Having said this, Elder Qin fell silent.

Ling Tian sighed softly after hearing this, a complicated glimmer flashing through his eyes. "In that case, it depends on how he chooses for himself."

"By the way, how is the infiltration of the Shadow Guards progressing?" Ling Tian asked instead.

Elder Qin nodded slightly, his voice low. "Apart from the Commander and those core members, our people have basically infiltrated every position. We await only Your Highness's command."

"Good!" Ling Tian finally revealed a satisfied smile.

The Shadow Guards were Imperial Father's most secretive force. That he could gradually bring them under his control was undoubtedly an immense source of support.

Yet as master and servant spoke in low voices, a maid crouched behind a nearby cluster of flowers, ears pricked, hearing their conversation with perfect clarity.

The next moment, she suddenly raised her head. Terror and greed still lingered on her face, but it faced only her own empty neck—at some unknown moment, her head had already separated from her body and rolled to the ground, its eyes instantly losing all light.