The Imperial Capital's Winds and Clouds, Heroes Bow in Submission!

"BOOM!"

The moment they left Black Rock City, Hai Bodong's Dou Qi surged uncontrollably!

The pressure of a six-star Dou Emperor rippled outward, at times faint and at others overwhelming.

He gazed at the faint outline of the city on the distant horizon, his eyes beneath his silver brows filled with unbridled spirit!

It was time to let those factions know.

The Ice Emperor, who had vanished for so many years, had returned—and his strength was even greater than it had been in the past!

The stifling frustration of being trapped all these years had dissipated, making him wish he could fly directly above the Holy City of Jia Ma this very instant.

"Lin Chen, what are your plans for the future?"

Hai Bodong suppressed the excitement in his heart, turned to look at the black-robed youth beside him, and spoke with clear anticipation.

"If you don't mind, would you be willing to return to the Mite'er Family with this old man to stay for a while?"

"The medicinal ingredient shops in the Imperial Capital are ten times more numerous than those in Black Rock City, and high-grade ingredients are common. It would be convenient for you to collect what you need."

He knew Lin Chen's value all too well—the youth could casually refine perfect grade-six pills and had even helped him break through to a six-star Dou Emperor!

He was practically a golden thigh to cling to!

Lin Chen looked toward the distance; the Woe Poison Body within Xiao Yi Xian also required high-grade medicinal ingredients to suppress.

Not to mention Fa Ma's invitation and the attention of the Imperial Family—going to the Imperial Capital was already a step in his plan.

He caught a glimpse of Xiao Yi Xian's slightly anxious expression out of the corner of his eye, then looked at Qing Lin, who was clutching the corner of Xiao Yi Xian's robe with a timid look in her eyes.

Settling them in the Mite'er Family is safer than having them run around with me, he thought to himself.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he nodded gently: "Very well."

"Excellent!"

A light instantly ignited in Hai Bodong's eyes, and the tense expression he had worn since returning home softened significantly.

He hurriedly turned to the side and gestured with a "please": "Then let us depart immediately!"

The two soared into the air, turning into four streaks of light as they headed straight for the Holy City of Jia Ma.

Hai Bodong deliberately released the full aura of a six-star Dou Emperor.

Although Lin Chen did not intentionally display his strength, the calm aura surrounding him was particularly striking.

He spread his arms, holding Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, one in each arm!

When the four figures appeared above the Holy City of Jia Ma, the city defense guards immediately entered a state of high alert.

Dozens of armored soldiers pointed their spears toward the sky, and the leading commander shouted sternly: "Halt!"

"Unauthorized entry above the Holy City of Jia Ma is prohibited! State your names and your purpose immediately!"

But before the words had even left his mouth, he was forced to one knee by the Dou Emperor aura radiating from Hai Bodong. Cold sweat seeped through the gaps in his armor, and his face turned deathly pale in an instant.

The other soldiers trembled violently, their spears clattering to the ground; they didn't even have the courage to look up.

"This... this is the aura of a Dou Emperor!" a soldier exclaimed with a trembling voice.

His gaze was fixed on the silver-haired figure in the sky, and he suddenly cried out in shock: "It's Lord Ice Emperor Hai Bodong!"

"He's back! It's the Dou Emperor!"

The news spread as if it had grown wings.

Inside the Imperial Palace, the dark guards responsible for security rushed into the council hall at the first opportunity to report loudly to Jia Xingtian, who was busy reviewing memorials.

Spies from the Alchemist Guild scrambled toward the guild building, shouting "The Ice Emperor has returned" over and over.

The elders of the Nalan Clan were sitting in council when they heard the news; they stood up instantly, their eyes filled with shock.

Mu Chen, the patriarch of the Mu Clan, rushed out of his home and looked up toward the direction of the Mite'er Family.

With Hai Bodong back, the existing power structure of the Imperial Capital is bound to be shaken! he thought to himself.

Above the Mite'er Family estate, Hai Bodong, Lin Chen, and the others hovered in the air.

A powerful aura instantly enveloped the entire estate.

The guards within the estate took to the sky immediately, led by none other than the patriarch of the Mite'er Family, Mite Tengshan.

He wore purple robes and released the full aura of a peak Dou King, intending to sternly reprimand the intruders.

But when he saw the familiar silver-haired figure in the sky, his voice came to an abrupt halt.

His cloudy eyes widened, his hands trembled as he stroked his beard, and his lips quivered; he was so excited he couldn't even finish his sentence: "Hai... Old Hai?"

"Is... is it really you? You've finally returned!"

Over the years, although the Mite'er Family had remained among the top factions in the Imperial Capital, they had always lacked confidence due to the absence of a Dou Emperor.

Tengshan had been unable to sleep at night, fearing that one day the Nalan Clan or the Mu Clan would join forces to suppress them, or that the Imperial Family would weaken their influence.

Now that Hai Bodong had not only returned but had also broken through to a six-star Dou Emperor, the weight that had been on his heart for years finally lifted.

Old tears welled up in his eyes involuntarily, sliding down his wrinkled cheeks.

"Tengshan, it has been many years. You have aged quite a bit."

Hai Bodong swooped down, landing in the manor's courtyard. He raised a hand to pat Tengshan on the shoulder, his tone tinged with a touch of nostalgia.

Looking at this clan elder who had grown so much older than he remembered, a warmth stirred in his heart—the Mite'er Family was, after all, his roots.

"Welcome back, Elder Hai!"

Tengshan was the first to bow, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

Behind him, the clan elders, guards, and even the maids within the manor knelt in unison, shouting in one voice.

The sound resonated throughout the entire manor, clear enough for pedestrians on the distant streets to hear.

As Tengshan rose, his gaze instinctively fell upon Lin Chen, and his heart skipped a beat.

He could clearly sense that Elder Hai's attitude toward this black-robed youth was distinctly different—it lacked the gentle warmth one might show a junior, carrying instead a trace of subtle, profound respect.

One had to remember, Elder Hai was a six-star Dou Emperor; there were very few people in the entire Jia Ma Empire who could command such respect from him.

What exactly was this youth's background?

Just as he was about to ask, Hai Bodong suddenly raised his voice, his tone becoming incredibly solemn: "Tengshan, and everyone in the family, listen well!"

"This is Master Lin Chen. Not only is he my closest friend, but he is also my benefactor, to whom I owe a debt of rebirth!"

"That I was able to recover my strength and even break through to a six-star Dou Emperor is entirely thanks to Master Lin Chen's assistance!"

As these words fell, the manor went deathly silent. Every eye was fixed on Lin Chen, filled with utter shock.

Tengshan's mouth hung open, unable to utter a word for a long time.

He had assumed Lin Chen was merely a junior of Elder Hai's, never imagining he was the man's benefactor, let alone the one who helped him reach the Dou Emperor realm!

Before the crowd could react, Hai Bodong continued in a deep voice: "From this day forward, when you see Master Lin Chen, you must show him even greater respect than you show me!"

"Should there be any negligence, regardless of rank or status, you will be strictly punished according to clan rules!"

His voice, infused with Dou Qi, reached every corner of the manor, each word striking heavily upon the hearts of those present.

Everyone was stunned!

Elder Hai actually wanted them to show more respect to a youth than to himself?

Though a storm raged in their hearts, no one dared to question Hai Bodong's order—he was the pillar of the family, and his word was the supreme command.

Tengshan was the first to snap out of it. He quickly straightened his robes and bowed deeply to Lin Chen, his tone filled with utmost reverence: "Mite Tengshan, on behalf of all members of the Mite'er Family, welcomes Master Lin Chen!"

"If the Master has any needs, even if it requires utilizing the family's core resources, the Mite'er Family will do everything in its power to satisfy them!"

"Welcome, Master Lin Chen!"

The elders and guards behind him followed suit, shouting in unison once more.

This time, the curiosity was gone, replaced only by pure awe and veneration.

Lin Chen nodded faintly in acknowledgment.

His expression remained calm, as if the grand display had nothing to do with him.

Yet, this indifference only made him appear even more unfathomable in the eyes of the Mite'er clansmen—to remain so composed amidst such a scene only proved he was long accustomed to such reverence.

"Oh, right," Hai Bodong suddenly remembered something. He turned to gesture toward Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, adding to Tengshan, "These two are Master Lin Chen's companions, Miss Xiao Yi Xian and Miss Qing Lin. They are also honored guests of our family."

"You must see to it that they are well-tended; do not allow the slightest negligence."

Tengshan quickly turned to the two women and bowed again: "Greetings, Miss Xiao Yi Xian. Greetings, Miss Qing Lin."

Xiao Yi Xian felt somewhat flustered by the grand reception and quickly raised her hand to return the gesture, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Qing Lin, however, was frightened and hid behind Xiao Yi Xian, revealing only her round eyes as she peered timidly at Tengshan, unable to speak a word.

Seeing this, Tengshan quickly beckoned to the maids behind him.

He specifically chose the two who looked the most clever and sensible, whispering instructions: "You two are responsible for attending to these young ladies' daily needs. You must serve them with your utmost effort."

"If any mistakes are made, you alone will be held accountable!"

Watching this, Lin Chen advised Tengshan: "Find a quiet courtyard for them to stay in, preferably far from the main quarters, to avoid any disturbances."

"They will be staying for a while, and I entrust their safety to you."

"Rest assured, Master!"

Tengshan patted his chest, his tone incredibly solemn.

"I shall have the Quiet Heart Courtyard in the West Wing prepared immediately—it is the quietest spot in the family estate. Usually, only I go there to read; no one will disturb them!"

"I will also station ten Dou Ling-level guards outside the courtyard to ensure the ladies' safety!"

With that, he immediately summoned the steward and began issuing personal orders, terrified of any oversight.

A short while later, the group entered the main hall of the Mite'er Family.

The hall was luxuriously decorated; the mahogany tables and chairs were polished to a shine, and precious calligraphy and paintings hung upon the walls.

But just as they sat down, before the maids could even serve tea, a vast and imposing aura surged rapidly from afar, coming to a steady halt above the manor.

Immediately following, a calm and powerful voice resonated throughout the entire estate: "Jia Xingtian of the Jia Ma Imperial Family, here to pay a visit to Elder Hai and Master Lin Chen!"

The hall fell silent in an instant, everyone's gaze fixed on the entrance, their eyes filled with shock.

Teng Shan even stood up instinctively—Jia Xingtian was the guardian of the Imperial family, a peak nine-star Dou Emperor, and one of the most powerful individuals in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

To have arrived so quickly? And he had specifically mentioned Master Lin Chen, clearly coming for him!

Upon hearing this voice, a familiar smirk tugged at the corner of Hai Bodong's mouth as he called out to the air: "Old Xingtian, it's been so many years, yet your nose is still as sharp as ever!"

"I've only just returned and you've already tracked me down. Have you been keeping people watching me this whole time?"

Before the words had even faded, a figure appeared at the entrance of the hall.

The newcomer wore a simple hemp robe and possessed an ordinary-looking face, yet his eyes were as sharp as a falcon's.

As he swept his gaze over the crowd, an invisible pressure descended; it was none other than Jia Xingtian.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes locked onto Hai Bodong, a hint of mockery in his tone: "Hai Bodong, you old thing, you disappear for so many years only to cause such a stir the moment you return."

"A six-star Dou Emperor's strength—that actually surprises me a little. I thought it would take you at least a few more years to break through."

"Likewise."

Hai Bodong retorted without hesitation, picking up his teacup to take a sip: "Aren't you still stuck at the peak of the nine-star Dou Emperor level?"

"After all these years, you still haven't managed to touch the threshold of a Dou Ancestor?"

Though they belonged to different factions, the two had fought side-by-side against a magical beast tide decades ago; they were old comrades who had braved life and death together, as well as old rivals who constantly vied with one another.

They had always spoken to each other directly, without a shred of formality.

The crowd in the hall watched this scene, secretly clicking their tongues—only Old Hai would dare to speak to Jia Xingtian like that.

After the banter, Jia Xingtian's gaze finally shifted to Lin Chen in the main seat, his expression instantly turning solemn.

He scrutinized the youth before him, growing more alarmed the longer he looked—Lin Chen's cultivation was clearly only at the Dou King level, yet his aura was more composed than that of many Dou Emperors.

Furthermore, he could not see through Lin Chen's background at all, which meant one of two things: either Lin Chen possessed a special concealment technique, or his true strength far exceeded what he displayed!

Either way, it was enough to warrant his full attention.

Just then, a maid's voice came from outside: "Master Qie Mi'er, Vice President of the Alchemist Guild, has arrived!"

"Nalan Su, Patriarch of the Nalan Clan, has arrived!"

"Patriarch Mu Chen of the Mu Clan has arrived!"

As the bigwigs stepped into the hall one after another, the atmosphere grew heavy.

Qie Mi'er wore the white robes of the Alchemist Guild with a fifth-tier alchemist badge pinned to his chest, his eyes burning as he looked at Lin Chen the moment he entered.

Nalan Su looked anxious, wiping sweat from his forehead from time to time; he was clearly here for Nalan Jie's condition.

Mu Chen wore a dark brocade robe and a gentle smile, though his eyes were secretly observing Lin Chen.

He wanted to figure out exactly what was so extraordinary about this youth that he could earn the respect of Hai Bodong.

Qie Mi'er spoke first, his tone inquisitive: "Master Lin Chen, President Fa Ma saw your methods in Black Rock City and has been singing your praises ever since he returned."

"I am just curious, what is the tier of the medicinal pills you refine..."

He asked the question directly, for in the Jia Ma Empire, an alchemist's tier determined their status—if he were third or fourth tier, he might still be recruited.

If he were fifth tier, he would have to be treated as an honored guest; if he were sixth... Qie Mi'er dared not think further.

After all, in the entire Jia Ma Empire, President Fa Ma was the only fifth-tier alchemist.

Everyone in the hall held their breath, eyes fixed on Lin Chen. Even Jia Xingtian leaned forward slightly, clearly just as curious about the answer.

Lin Chen's fingertips twitched, and a wisp of pale golden flame quietly emerged.

The moment the flame appeared, the temperature in the hall soared, and a rich medicinal fragrance permeated the air.

It made an alchemist like Qie Mi'er's eyes light up—the quality of this flame was extremely high, at least at the level of a Heavenly Flame!

Immediately after, an alchemist badge engraved with the word "Sixth-Tier" floated out from Lin Chen's storage ring and hovered in mid-air.

The surface of the badge shimmered with a brilliant white light, exceptionally dazzling.

"I have merely refined a few sixth-tier pills in passing; it is nothing of note."

Lin Chen's tone was indifferent, as if he were speaking of a trivial matter, and with a light flick of his finger, the flame and the badge were retracted.

Yet these plain words, coupled with that sixth-tier alchemist badge, struck the hall like a thunderclap!

"Six... sixth-tier alchemist?!"

Qie Mi'er stood up abruptly, pointing at the floating badge, his voice trembling, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief: "Is... is this real?"

"You are actually a sixth-tier alchemist?! And at such a young age?"

He had spent decades in alchemy only to barely reach the peak of the fifth tier, never even touching the threshold of the sixth.

That the youth before him was already a sixth-tier alchemist completely overturned his understanding of the craft!

Nalan Su, who had been filled with anxiety over his father's condition, stood frozen as if struck by lightning.

The way he looked at Lin Chen shifted instantly from a "petitioner" to a "worshipper"—to be able to move a sixth-tier alchemist to act and purge the poison, no matter the cost, would be a monumental blessing!

He even began to regret that the reward he had prepared might be too meager, terrified that Lin Chen would refuse.

Mu Chen gasped, the smile on his face instantly turning incredibly solemn.

He had originally only intended to "show his face" and see if he could mend relations with Hai Bodong.

But now it seemed that befriending Lin Chen was the most important thing of all!

A Tier 6 Alchemist was enough to make any faction go mad.

If he could establish a good relationship with Lin Chen, the Mu Clan would have no need to worry about their development for the next few decades!

He secretly rejoiced that he hadn't been negligent; otherwise, he would surely be regretting it bitterly right now.

A flash of shock crossed Jia Xingtian's eyes, his fingers subconsciously clenching his sleeves.

Although he had guessed before, he hadn't expected Lin Chen's alchemical prowess to be this terrifying!

The value of a Tier 6 Alchemist was even higher than that of a Dou Emperor—after all, a Dou Emperor could be cultivated through family inheritance, but a Tier 6 Alchemist relied entirely on talent and opportunity; even with money, you might not be able to hire one!

He calculated inwardly: the reward of a Break Sect Pill offered by the Imperial Family was likely a bit "shabby."

He would have to add more chips later to ensure Lin Chen agreed to refine the pill.

Mite Tengshan was trembling with excitement, his hands tightly clasped together, his old face filled with wild joy.

The way he looked at Lin Chen was as if he were seeing the future of his family—the family had not only welcomed back Elder Hai, a six-star Dou Emperor, but had also retained a Tier 6 Alchemist!

This kind of fortune was something the Mite'er Family hadn't encountered in hundreds of years!

With these two big figures present, let alone stabilizing their position, becoming the number one faction in the Imperial Capital was not impossible!

"My god! It's actually a Tier 6 Alchemist! No wonder Elder Hai respects the Master so much; if it were me, I'd respect him too!"

"A teenage Tier 6 Alchemist—if this got out, the entire Dou Qi Continent would be shaken, right?"

"Our Jia Ma Empire has finally produced another Tier 6 Alchemist!"

"I was actually in the same hall as a Tier 6 Alchemist just now; if I told anyone, they'd definitely think I was bragging!"

"Our Mite'er Family has truly hit the jackpot!"

The murmurs in the hall could no longer be suppressed; everyone looked at Lin Chen with eyes full of awe and worship, their very breathing becoming cautious.

Hai Bodong watched this scene, though he had long expected it:

When he had witnessed Lin Chen refine a perfect Tier 6 pill with his own eyes back in Black Rock City, his shock had been even more intense than everyone present.

At this moment, it was merely seeing it again.

Lin Chen remained indifferent to the surrounding reactions, raising his hand to put away the badge and the flame, his expression still calm, as if the shock he had just caused had nothing to do with him.

Jia Xingtian was the first to recover, clearing his throat to suppress the agitation in his heart.

His attitude toward Lin Chen became increasingly solemn, even carrying a hint of ingratiation: "Master Lin Chen, regarding the Break Sect Pill I mentioned to you before..."

"You also know that this old man has been trapped at the peak of the nine-star Dou Emperor for many years, always wanting to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm."

"If you can help me refine a Break Sect Pill, the Imperial Family is willing to offer two Tier 7 Monster Cores, three thousand-year-old Dragon Whisker Ice Fire Fruits, and five eight-hundred-year-old Snow Jade Bone Ginsengs."

"Additionally... you may choose any three items from the Imperial Treasury!"

He deliberately emphasized the tone of the last sentence; one had to know that the Imperial Treasury held many ancient relics that even Dou Emperor powerhouses coveted.

This was already the greatest sincerity the Imperial Family could offer.

Lin Chen nodded slightly; these rewards were indeed generous, especially the thousand-year-old Dragon Whisker Ice Fire Fruit, which was the exact main ingredient he needed to refine a certain pill.

He spoke indifferently: "Provide your own materials, and I can refine one."

"Many thanks, Master! Many thanks, Master!"

Jia Xingtian was overjoyed, the wrinkles on his face blooming into a smile as he hurriedly said: "I have already prepared the materials; they are kept in the Imperial Treasury and can be retrieved at any time!"

"When it is convenient for you, I will personally bring the materials to you!"

Nalan Su, who was standing to the side, saw this and hurriedly stepped forward, bowing deeply to Lin Chen:

"Lin..."