Liu Xinzhi

Lin Chen did not avoid her gaze. Instead, he met it with a cold glare.

This woman was deeply scheming. Staying in the sect would surely bring no good.

He had no idea which brain-dead fool in the sect had decided to keep her here.

Tomorrow, he would definitely ask Senior Brother.

Lin Chen lowered his head, looking toward the Yellow-grade technique area, and reached out to grab a Jade Slip.

But Liu Ruyan across from him asked, "This junior brother, do we know each other?"

Even her voice was exactly the same.

Lin Chen put down the Jade Slip, raised his head again, and replied with a blank expression.

"We're both thousand-year-old foxes—why play tricks on me?"

"What fox... tricks? Lecher! Hmph!"

Liu Ruyan actually got angry, walking over from the other side. "Explain yourself!"

Lin Chen let out a cold laugh, looking down at her from above. "Liu Ruyan, you incited Huang Mingyuan and the other selected disciples to slander me, and got expelled from the sect.

Now you suddenly return. What are you plotting? Do I really need to spell it out?"

Pfft!

Hearing his words, Liu Ruyan suddenly burst out laughing.

For a moment, it was like a hundred flowers blooming.

But Lin Chen's heart remained utterly calm, only feeling baffled.

This woman truly was a lunatic.

After laughing for a good while, Liu Ruyan shot Lin Chen a glance and said coquettishly, "You're Lin Chen, right?"

"I go by the same name, standing or sitting!" Lin Chen's face returned to calm.

Since he already knew this woman's true face, there was nothing to fear.

Meet a soldier with a weapon, meet a flood with an earth dam.

"My name is Liu Xinzhi. I'm Liu Ruyan's older sister."

Hearing her words, the coldness on Lin Chen's face did not lessen by even half.

"You really hold a grudge. I apologize on my sister's behalf. She's just too impulsive—she doesn't have any bad intentions." Liu Xinzhi bowed slightly, her attitude sincere.

But Lin Chen waved his hand dismissively. "No need. I don't want any connection with the Liu Family. Please go."

With that, he stopped looking at her and focused on selecting techniques.

Liu Xinzhi pouted, lightly stamped her foot, and turned to the other side.

Still, she occasionally lifted her head to steal a glance at Lin Chen.

No one knew what she was thinking.

Lin Chen had opened his Sea of Consciousness, greatly enhancing his mental power.

Without even raising his head, he was fully aware of this woman's every move.

He noticed that Liu Xinzhi was indeed different from Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan was the seductive, mature type, good at manipulation and control.

But this Liu Xinzhi was dignified, steady, and graceful.

Seeing that she made no excessive moves, Lin Chen stopped paying attention.

Soon, he found the techniques he wanted.

All were Yellow-grade, Beginner level.

And they seemed to be a complete set.

Wood Element Art, Fire Element Art, Earth Element Art, Metal Element Art, Water Element Art.

"System, can these five techniques be learned simultaneously at the Initiate level?"

[Host, yes]

"Won't Wood Element Art and Eternal Spring Art conflict?"

[After system detection, Wood Element Art is a simplified version of Eternal Spring Art, sharing the same origin. They can be fused.]

Lin Chen was startled. "They can be fused?"

[Host, fusion is also a form of advancement. Any advancement allows for the exchange of cultivation.]

"I see."

Lin Chen thought for a moment. "To reach the Initiate level for these five techniques, I just need to use Gold Coins, right?"

[Yes, Host. After Initiate, there is Fusion, which requires Spirit Stones.]

"Alright, then for me..."

Lin Chen hadn't finished speaking when he suddenly heard someone scolding from behind.

"Who let a menial in here? Don't you know what this place is?"

"Elder, but the sect rules state that any disciple of the sect can..."

"Bullshit!"

The duty disciple tried to argue, but the newcomer cut him off with another rebuke.

"How many menials ever manage to ascend to the outer sect? If they take the techniques and leave the sect, what kind of impact would that have? What losses would the sect suffer? Can you bear that responsibility?"

Lin Chen ignored the speaker and immediately ordered the system to exchange for cultivation.

In an instant, five auras exploded within his body.

The sheer force startled even Lin Chen himself.

He thought he would be torn apart by that surge of energy.

Yet, to his amazement, the five auras each followed their own path, never interfering with one another.

Moreover, after completing a full cycle, they became endlessly self-sustaining, forming a massive circulation.

"I'm talking to you! Get out now—this is no place for a menial!"

At that moment, the voice came again from behind.

A powerful force locked onto Lin Chen and hurled him out the door.

Lin Chen picked himself up off the ground, dusted off his clothes, and only then looked at the elder who had just spoken.

Then he turned to the duty disciple and gave an apologetic smile. "Senior Brother, I've dragged you into this."

The duty disciple lowered his head with a bitter expression.

Lin Chen finally addressed the elder. "Esteemed Elder, the Green Mountain Sect is a place where reason prevails, isn't it?"

"Of course reason prevails. Menial disciples have a mixed Five Elements Root, making it impossible for them to ever break through the limits of the Qi Condensation Realm. They only need to cultivate the basic techniques issued by the sect—there's no need for them to come here."

The elder spoke with righteous indignation.

His voice was loud, immediately drawing the attention of many disciples.

"Isn't that the menial who came up the mountain earlier?"

"He just got thrown out by Elder Li—how embarrassing."

"I don't get it. What's a menial doing here? Are they all this idle now?"

To be honest, on the Sect Leader Peak, Lin Chen had felt a sense of equal treatment.

But here, it was blatant class discrimination.

In these people's eyes, a menial was worthless.

Nothing but trash.

Not even worthy of setting foot here.

He was itching to go over to the trial grounds and show off his abilities.

But correcting techniques and spells required Spirit Stones.

He only had fifty left.

Worse still, some high-level techniques and spells required cultivation base to support them, and his current cultivation was still far too low.

His purpose in coming here, aside from seeking techniques, was also to look up some historical records.

Judging by the current situation, it seemed impossible now.

He raised his head to glance at the elder, then swept his gaze across the crowd, memorizing every face.

"Since menials aren't welcome here, I'll come back with a different identity."

Lin Chen's words immediately drew a burst of mockery.

He didn't argue or defend himself. Instead, he formed a sword seal with his hand, and a flying sword appeared beneath his feet.

The next moment, he transformed into a streak of light and sped away into the distance.

"He can use the Sword Control Art? How is that possible?"

"That level of sword control is even more practiced than mine—at least a decade of training."

"No way? How could a menial cultivate the Sword Control Art?"

At that moment, even the elder was taken aback. He quickly turned and asked, "What's his name?"

"Elder, he hadn't registered yet when he was..." The duty disciple looked aggrieved.

"I know."

Just then, Liu Xinzhi walked out from inside.

Her stunning beauty immediately drew gasps of admiration.

But she was clearly used to it and paid it no mind.

"Elder, this person is the only menial worker from Sect Leader Peak—Lin Chen."

The elder paid it no mind at first, but a moment later he jolted awake. "Who did you say he is?"

"Lin Chen? The one the Scripture Depository and the Sect Leader were both fighting over, the one you just drove away, Elder."

Liu Xinzhi's words struck the elder like a sharp blade, burying deep into him.

He was merely a minor elder of the Scripture Depository, handling trivial daily affairs.

Today he had thought to be diligent, but who knew he would offend such a heavyweight.

The Scripture Depository had even put out a bounty—whoever could recruit Lin Chen would be rewarded with fifty thousand Spirit Stones.

Now he feared he had completely lost his chance.

"Hahaha... I just sensed that young friend Lin Chen has arrived. Where is he?"

At that moment, a delighted laugh rang out from the sky.

Everyone looked up to see a Purple-Robed Elder descending from the heavens.

"G-g-g... Grand Elder!" The Elder Li who had just caused trouble could barely stammer out the words.

"Where is he? Where is my young friend?" The Purple-Robed Grand Elder's face was radiant as he looked around eagerly.

He had been careful beforehand, leaving a mark in the formation—the moment Lin Chen set foot in the Scripture Depository, he would sense it immediately.

"He... he left," Elder Li answered timidly.

The Purple-Robed Grand Elder saw his expression and understood at once. His smile vanished, replaced by a grim countenance.

An overwhelming pressure instantly rippled outward.

Thud!

Elder Li fell to his knees on the spot. "It was my fault. I didn't recognize Lin Chen, and I drove him away."