Alliance

When Lin Ye woke up, he found himself lying in an unfamiliar room.

The room was small, simply furnished, and kept very clean.

He tried to move, but sharp pain surged from every part of his body. His left shoulder and chest felt as if his bones had been shattered and then forcibly fused back together; every breath he took felt like a tearing sensation.

"Don't move around." Chen Feng's voice came from the doorway.

He walked in carrying a bowl of medicine, which was dark brown and emitted a pungent, bitter, and bloody odor.

"This is the Bone-Knitting Muscle-Regenerating Soup; I got it from the Alchemy Hall." Chen Feng helped Lin Ye sit up and brought the bowl to his lips.

He took the bowl and downed it in one gulp.

As the liquid entered his stomach, it turned into a warm current that surged through his limbs and bones. Especially around his wounds, it felt as if countless insects were crawling, leaving him feeling both itchy and numb.

"How long have I been unconscious?" Lin Ye asked, his voice hoarse.

"Three days." Chen Feng took the empty bowl. "You were severely injured. Four of your ribs were shattered, your left scapula was completely broken, your meridians were damaged, and you lost too much blood."

"What about Zhao Liang?"

"His body is in the cave. The cave collapsed, so he won't be discovered for a while." Chen Feng looked at him. "But Zhao Liang was a distant nephew of Elder Wang from the Inner Sect. He will definitely investigate this thoroughly."

"Have they traced it to me?"

"Not yet." Chen Feng shook his head. "That night, someone saw you go to the back mountain. The Law Enforcement Hall has already begun investigating in secret."

Lin Ye fell silent. Killing Zhao Liang had been a matter of pure necessity; if he hadn't killed him, he would have been the one to die.

"Why are you helping me?" He looked at Chen Feng.

Chen Feng walked to the window and looked out at the bamboo forest, his back appearing somewhat blurred in the mottled light and shadow.

"I owe you my life." He said slowly. "Back at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, you didn't have to look out for me."

"Just for that?"

"Not entirely." Chen Feng turned to look at him. "Lin Ye, do you know what kind of place the Qingyun Sect is?"

"A place for cultivation."

Chen Feng smiled, his tone laced with mockery. "It is a place for cultivation, but it's more like a chessboard. We are all chess pieces, manipulated at will by those who stand high above."

"So?"

"So, I want to cooperate with you." Chen Feng looked straight at Lin Ye. "A true partnership—not an exchange of interests, but as allies. On this chessboard, we support each other and carve out a path to survival."

Lin Ye looked at him without speaking.

In the room, there was only the rustling sound of wind blowing through the bamboo leaves.

After a long while, Lin Ye spoke slowly: "What do you want to do?"

"Strive to become strong—strong enough that no one dares to treat us like chess pieces." Chen Feng said, enunciating every word. "And then, flip this chessboard over."

"Flip the chessboard?" Lin Ye laughed.

"With just us? Two Body Tempering realm cultivators?"

"Just because we can't now doesn't mean we won't be able to later." Chen Feng's eyes were firm. "You have talent, methods, and ruthlessness. I have hidden cards you don't know about. If we join forces, we might just have a chance."

"Are your hidden cards the 'people behind you'?" Lin Ye asked.

Chen Feng's pupils constricted. "You know?"

"Zhao Mingxuan warned me to stay away from you, saying the waters behind you run deep."

"Zhao Mingxuan..." Chen Feng's expression turned cold. "He is no good. He recruited you only to use you as a pawn, to be discarded once used. He definitely knows about the Zhao Liang incident, but he doesn't care. Because in his eyes, you aren't worth the effort of protecting."

"I know, and I wasn't counting on him anyway."

Lin Ye tried to sit up straight, the sharp pain causing cold sweat to bead on his forehead. He gritted his teeth and endured it. "Tell me your plan."

"First, we must survive the immediate crisis." Chen Feng said. "Elder Wang will definitely trace Zhao Liang's disappearance back to you. Even without evidence, he will use other means to deal with you. The Outer Sect Competition is a perfect opportunity."

"Make a move during the competition?"

"The competition is a public event, so Elder Wang can't act openly. He will arrange for someone to 'accidentally' cripple or even kill you during a match. What we need to do now is become strong enough to handle any crisis during the competition."

"And then?"

"Then, enter the Inner Sect." Chen Feng said. "Only by entering the Inner Sect can we truly step into the core of the Qingyun Sect. There are more resources and opportunities there; it is the only place where we can grow strong quickly."

"If I enter the Inner Sect, Elder Wang won't let me off even more."

"That is why we need to find a backer." Chen Feng said. "Zhao Mingxuan won't do; he is too calculating."

"Do you have a target?"

"Qin Lie, the Peak Master of Green Bamboo Peak in the Inner Sect. He is a martial arts fanatic with a straightforward temperament; he hates schemes and calculations more than anything. Furthermore, he has a history with Elder Wang. If we can become his disciples, Elder Wang will be wary."

Chen Feng said in a deep voice, "The Outer Sect Competition is our chance. As long as we perform well enough, we will attract attention. Even if he doesn't take us in, we can find ways to make contact."

Lin Ye was silent for a moment, then said: "Let's get through the competition first."

"How much longer until your injuries recover?"

"Seven days," Lin Ye said. "I also need some cultivation techniques."

"Cultivation techniques?"

"My current techniques are not enough." Lin Ye did not elaborate.

"I will find a way," Chen Feng said. "In seven days, I will give you an answer. For these few days, stay here and recover from your injuries; don't go anywhere. This place is very hidden, and basically no one will come by."

"By the way, I've already spoken to Zhao Xiaosi and told him you are in seclusion. As for Zhou Bapi, he won't say anything unnecessary."

Chen Feng pushed the door open and left.

Lin Ye looked at the bamboo forest outside the window, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

He did not know how much of Chen Feng's words were true or false.

But he knew that he truly needed an ally right now.

"A pawn..." he whispered to himself, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Then let's see who is the pawn and who is the player.

Collecting his thoughts, Lin Ye began to examine his injuries. The Bone-Knitting Muscle-Regenerating Soup was effective, and combined with his current recovery rate, he should be able to recover seventy to eighty percent within seven days.

"First, I must break through to the ninth level of Body Tempering," Lin Ye thought to himself.

At the ninth level of Body Tempering, the physical body undergoes a transformation, and recovery speed increases significantly; it might even accelerate the healing of his injuries.

He was severely injured now, and forcing a breakthrough carried too much risk.

"Heal first, then cultivate."

Lin Ye sat cross-legged and began to circulate the Azure Origin Technique.

At the same time, he recalled the battle from that night.

"The gap between the True Qi Realm and the Body Tempering Realm is too vast," Lin Ye felt a sense of dread in his heart.

With the augmentation of True Qi, strength, speed, and defense were all comprehensively improved. True Qi could be projected for both offense and defense, and it could also augment martial arts, doubling their power.

Lin Ye calmed his mind and focused on healing.

Days passed one by one.

Under the dual effects of the Bone-Knitting Muscle-Regenerating Soup and the Azure Origin Technique, his injuries healed quickly.

Seven days later, he had recovered more than eighty percent, with only a dull ache remaining in his chest, which basically did not affect his cultivation.

That evening, Chen Feng arrived.

He brought a bundle with him.

"The things you wanted," Chen Feng said, placing the bundle on the table.

Inside the bundle were ten Blood Origin Pills, which could replenish blood energy and accelerate injury recovery. There were five True Essence Pills, which could assist in breaking through the Body Tempering realm. There were also three technique manuals.

Vajra Indestructible Body, a high-grade mortal-tier body-refining technique; after practicing it, physical defense increases greatly.

Wind Chasing Steps, a high-grade mortal-tier movement technique; it is faster than Flowing Cloud Steps, though slightly less agile.

Thunderbolt Sword Technique, a high-grade mortal-tier sword technique; the sword style is fierce and domineering, with power greater than the Thirteen Swords of the Clear Wind, though it consumes more energy.

In addition, there was a map.