A Show of Both Carrot and Stick, Tracing the Treasure Vault!

The lingering heat of the Nalan Clan's banquet had yet to dissipate, but the shock and influence it brought were like a massive boulder cast into a tranquil lake.

It stirred up monstrous waves throughout the Holy City and the entire Jia Ma Empire, and as time passed, the turbulence only grew more violent.

The name of Master Lin Chen could no longer be summarized by the simple title of "mysterious young grandmaster."

Overnight, he had become the true, uncrowned king of the Jia Ma Empire—a living legend.

His prestige was so immense that it faintly surpassed even the Imperial Guardian Jia Xingtian and President Fa Ma of the Alchemist Guild.

In the days that followed, the Nalan Clan's estate was bustling with visitors.

Yet, those truly qualified to step into the inner hall to pay their respects to Lin Chen remained only the absolute elite of the empire.

After the Brand Poison was purged, Nalan Jie had spent two days in careful recovery; though he still appeared thin, his spirit was vigorous.

The Dou Qi within his body had begun to circulate smoothly once more, and it was only a matter of time before he regained his former prowess as a Dou King.

His gratitude toward Lin Chen had reached an insurmountable peak.

Nalan Su held Lin Chen in even higher regard, treating him like a deity; from top to bottom, no one in the Nalan Clan failed to hold the utmost respect and loyalty for him.

On this day, Lin Chen was in the quiet courtyard prepared for him by the Nalan family, flipping through some ancient pill formula notes he had obtained from the Alchemist Guild.

Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin were practicing quietly to the side, absorbing the medicinal power of the pills Lin Chen had bestowed upon them.

Hai Bodong sat not far away, leisurely sipping tea and enjoying this rare tranquility.

Even though this tranquility was brought about solely by Lin Chen's absolute strength.

"Master Lin," Nalan Su's respectful voice sounded from outside the courtyard.

"Sect Leader Yun Yun of the Misty Cloud Sect is here to visit; she wishes to thank you in person."

Lin Chen's gaze did not leave the scroll in his hand as he replied indifferently, "Let her in."

A moment later, a pale green silhouette walked slowly into the courtyard.

She still wore the same elegant, simple robes, which outlined her graceful figure.

The paleness and fragility that had marked Yun Yun's face in the desert were gone, replaced by the poise and cold detachment befitting the leader of the Misty Cloud Sect.

Yet, as she looked at Lin Chen, her bright eyes held extremely complex emotions.

There was gratitude, awe, curiosity, and a trace of indescribable bewilderment.

She could not, for the life of her, connect the quiet youth reading a book before her to the mysterious grandmaster who had suppressed a Dou Emperor with a wave of his hand in the desert.

Even less could she connect him to the mysterious grandmaster who, while chatting and laughing in the capital today, had refined a Tier 6 pill and purged the Brand Poison that even Gu He had found impossible to treat.

"Yun Yun of the Misty Cloud Sect, thank you, Master Lin, for saving my life in the desert that day."

Yun Yun performed a formal junior's salute toward Lin Chen.

Elder Ge Ye, who followed behind her, did not even dare to raise his head; his body trembled slightly, appearing incredibly nervous.

"It was merely a convenience." Lin Chen finally put down the scroll and looked up at Yun Yun, his gaze calm and rippleless.

"Sect Leader Yun need not take it to heart."

The more indifferent his attitude, the greater the pressure Yun Yun felt in her heart.

She took a deep breath and retrieved a jade box from her Storage Ring: "Regardless, Master, your kindness is something Yun Yun will keep in her heart."

"This is a 'Seven-Colored Spirit Jade Ganoderma' I obtained by chance. Although I do not know its grade, the energy it contains is quite strange and pure."

"Perhaps it may be of some use to you. Please accept this small token of my gratitude."

Lin Chen's gaze swept over the jade box, and with a slight probe of his Spirit Realm soul power, he sensed that the ganoderma inside was indeed extraordinary.

It contained a unique essence of heaven and earth, which had remarkable effects on nourishing the soul and tempering the physical body—a pleasant surprise, indeed.

He nodded, and Hai Bodong stepped forward to receive the jade box.

"Sect Leader Yun is very thoughtful." Lin Chen's tone remained flat.

Seeing that Lin Chen had accepted it, Yun Yun felt slightly more at ease. She hesitated for a moment before adding, "If you ever have the time, Master, the Misty Cloud Sect would welcome your visit at any time."

"Perhaps there are some ancient records and legacies within the sect that might catch your eye."

She was attempting to build a connection, and her posture was very humble.

Having experienced the events in the desert and the turmoil in the capital, she knew deeply how terrifying the power of this youth was.

The Misty Cloud Sect must never become his enemy; if they could befriend him, it would be a monumental opportunity.

"Mm, if I have time, I will go take a look." Lin Chen responded noncommittally.

He had little interest in the Misty Cloud Sect itself, but he did have some expectations regarding the ancient items they might have in their collection.

Seeing this, Yun Yun knew it was not appropriate to disturb him further. After bowing once more, she and Ge Ye respectfully retreated.

Only after leaving the courtyard did she let out a soft sigh of relief, realizing her back was already slightly damp with sweat.

Facing Lin Chen, the invisible pressure was even greater than that which she felt when facing her teacher, Yun Shan.

Not long after seeing Yun Yun off, another powerful aura approached rapidly.

Before the person even arrived, a hearty, incredibly enthusiastic laugh rang out: "Hahaha, Master Lin, this old man has arrived!"

The person who arrived was none other than Jia Xingtian, followed by Princess Yao Ye and several royal retainers.

Every face was brimming with excitement and anticipation.

In Jia Xingtian's hand, he gripped the jade bottle containing the Break Sect Pill tightly.

"It seems you are prepared, Old Jia," Lin Chen said, looking toward him.

"Prepared! Everything is prepared!" Jia Xingtian could not hide his excitement.

"The venue and the protectors are all in place; we are just waiting for the Master to lend his aid!"

Breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm was an event the Jia Ma Empire had not witnessed in nearly a hundred years, and the risks were immense.

Should any mishap occur, not only would Jia Xingtian himself be reduced to ashes, but the Jia Ma Imperial family would also suffer a devastating blow.

However, with Lin Chen—a master capable of refining a perfect Break Sect Pill and possessing a mysterious Heavenly Flame—acting as his guardian, Jia Xingtian's confidence was at an all-time high.

"Lead the way," Lin Chen said, rising to his feet with concise brevity.

The group quickly arrived at a massive Martial Arts Arena specially cleared out in the depths of the restricted royal grounds.

The perimeter had already been placed under martial law by the royal family's most elite troops, with several Dou King-level retainers guarding the four directions.

Nalan Jie, Hai Bodong, Mite Tengshan, and the few others permitted to witness the ceremony had long been waiting there.

Each of them wore an expression that was both solemn and excited.

In the center of the arena, Jia Xingtian sat cross-legged, adjusting his breathing to bring his state to its peak.

He solemnly withdrew the Break Sect Pill; the moment it appeared, a rich medicinal fragrance and a majestic surge of energy permeated the air.

It caused the surrounding natural energy to fluctuate slightly.

He looked toward Lin Chen, who gave a slight nod.

Jia Xingtian hesitated no longer; he tilted his head back and swallowed the purple-glowing, dragon-patterned Break Sect Pill!

As the pill entered his stomach, it instantly transformed into a terrifying torrent of energy, like a volcanic eruption, rushing toward every limb and bone in Jia Xingtian's body!

His body shuddered violently, his skin turning crimson in an instant as his veins bulged.

It felt as if his body were about to be torn apart by that overwhelming energy!

The intense pain forced a muffled groan from Jia Xingtian, but he gritted his teeth firmly.

He frantically circulated his cultivation technique, guiding this energy to assault the Dou Ancestor barrier that had plagued him for decades!

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

The invisible barrier was incredibly sturdy; the torrent of energy struck it time and again, yet it could hardly shake it in the slightest.

Instead, the backlash caused Jia Xingtian's blood to churn, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

The onlookers held their breath, their palms slick with sweat.

Breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm was indeed unimaginably difficult!

Just then, Lin Chen moved.

With a single step, he appeared behind Jia Xingtian as if he had teleported.

Without any superfluous movements, he simply raised his right hand.

The next moment, a strange yet sacred crimson lotus emerged from his palm, rotating slowly.

There was no terrifying heat, only a vast power that purified all things and smoothed over everything, spreading outward.

"Go."

Lin Chen whispered, and a tiny wisp of the Red Lotus Karma Fire detached itself, landing lightly on the top of Jia Xingtian's head.

"Sss—"

It was not a burning sensation, but an integration.

The expression on Jia Xingtian's face, previously twisted in agony from the energy riot, instantly relaxed significantly.

That wisp of Karma Fire acted like the most precise navigation, wandering through his body.

Wherever it passed, the Break Sect Pill's energy, which had been on the verge of spiraling out of control, became as docile as a tamed wild horse.

It converged upon the Dou Ancestor barrier with even greater precision.

At the same time, the Karma Fire was subtly burning away the minor impurities and hidden injuries that had accumulated in his meridians over the years.

This cleared his meridians further, allowing them to better withstand the force of the impact.

These changes were difficult for outsiders to see in their entirety.

But they could clearly see that Jia Xingtian's aura was becoming steady and increasingly vast at a speed visible to the naked eye!

The momentum of his assault on the barrier also became more powerful and more concentrated!

"This... what kind of divine ability is this?!" Hai Bodong muttered to himself.

He asked himself that if he were the one taking the Break Sect Pill, there was no way he could have guided that power so easily.

Nalan Jie and the others were even more dazzled, their awe for Lin Chen's methods reaching its peak.

With the assistance of the Red Lotus Karma Fire, Jia Xingtian's breakthrough became twice as effective with half the effort.

I do not know how much time passed; perhaps it was one hour, perhaps two.

Suddenly—

"BOOM!!!"

A terrifying aura, far exceeding the peak of a Dou Emperor, erupted violently from within Jia Xingtian's body, shooting straight into the clouds!

High above in the sky, the winds and clouds shifted color as vast amounts of heaven and earth energy gathered frantically.

They formed a massive energy vortex that poured downward like a funnel, surging into Jia Xingtian's body!

Every powerhouse in the Holy City of the Jia Ma Empire looked up in shock at this moment, gazing toward the direction of the Imperial Palace!

"He succeeded!!!" someone roared in excitement, though it was unclear who.

The energy infusion lasted for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense before slowly subsiding.

Jia Xingtian's tightly shut eyes snapped open, and a piercing light shot forth from them, as tangible as solid matter!

He rose to his full height, feeling the vast power surging like a sea within him, far surpassing anything he had known before.

He could not help but let out a heaven-shaking roar!

The roar was like thunder, rolling away to announce the birth of a new Dou Ancestor in the Jia Ma Empire!

"Hahahaha! I succeeded! I have finally broken through to the Dou Ancestor realm!" Jia Xingtian was overcome with wild joy, unable to contain his excitement.

He turned to face Lin Chen and, in front of everyone present, bowed deeply: "Jia Xingtian offers his deepest thanks to the Master for this grace!"

"The Imperial Family shall never forget this kindness!"

The weight of a bow from a Dou Ancestor powerhouse was immeasurable!

All those who had come to witness the event bowed in succession.

They expressed their highest respect to the young man in the center of the field who had created this miracle.

Lin Chen accepted it calmly, withdrew the Karma Fire, and said indifferently: "Congratulations, Elder Jia."

After the joy of the breakthrough had passed, Jia Xingtian could not wait to fulfill his promise.

"Master Lin, please follow me. The Imperial Treasury is now open to you!" Jia Xingtian personally led the way.

His attitude was even more respectful than before.

After breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm, he could vaguely sense the abyss-like, unfathomable power within Lin Chen, and his sense of awe grew even deeper.

The Imperial Treasury was located deep underground in the Imperial Palace, and its security was far beyond imagination.

It was riddled with traps, formations, and guarded by powerful experts.

Passing through layers of restrictions, a massive door forged from special metal and covered in runes slowly creaked open.

In an instant, the brilliance of jewels, the fragrance of medicinal herbs, and fluctuations of Dou Qi rushed toward them!

The interior of the treasury was vast, divided into several distinct areas.

Gold coins and purple-gold cards were piled like mountains, while high-tier monster cores shimmered with various lights.

Sharp weapons and armor emitted a cold glint, and precious medicinal herbs were carefully preserved in jade boxes.

Ancient scrolls were displayed on bookshelves, alongside many strange ores and works of art.

There were also some objects with archaic auras whose purposes were impossible to discern.

This was the foundation an empire had accumulated over hundreds of years!

An ordinary person entering this place would likely have been dazzled and breathless.

However, Lin Chen's gaze merely swept past those treasures of worldly value with indifference.

His footsteps did not falter for even a second.

His Spirit Realm soul power acted like the most precise radar, instantly covering the entire treasury and sensing every detail.

Jia Xingtian and the accompanying Princess Yao Ye were secretly shocked at the sight.

This Master's state of mind was truly extraordinary.

Suddenly, Lin Chen's footsteps stopped in a relatively remote corner of the treasury.

Most of the items here were covered in dust, appearing somewhat old and dilapidated.

They seemed to be "miscellaneous items" that had been appraised as having low value or were simply unidentifiable.

Lin Chen's gaze fell upon three specific items.

The first was a palm-sized, rust-covered bronze fragment.

Its edges were irregular, and it was carved with blurred, eerie runes that emitted an extremely faint spatial fluctuation.

The second was a grey, unremarkable stone bead.

It felt ice-cold to the touch, but when soul power probed into it, it was like a clay ox entering the sea; nothing could be perceived.

The third item was a withered, pitch-black tree branch.

It looked as if it had been scorched by lightning and fire, possessing no fluctuations of energy whatsoever.

Yet, the Red Lotus Karma Fire within Lin Chen's body flickered slightly in the presence of this object.

Jia Xingtian and Yao Ye were both stunned to see Lin Chen choose these three items.

The treasury was filled with treasures countless times more precious than these, so why did the Master only set his sights on these?

"Master, are you certain you wish to choose these three?" Jia Xingtian could not help but confirm.

"According to records, these items were obtained from various ancient ruins many years ago."

"However, generations of appraisers have failed to discover anything special about them..."

"These will do." Lin Chen's tone was beyond reproach as he reached out and drew the three items into his hand.

Upon touching the withered branch, the Red Lotus Karma Fire within him transmitted a clear sense of longing.

Though Jia Xingtian was puzzled, he had no objections whatsoever and immediately said, "Very well! Since the Master likes them, please take them!"

Never mind three inconspicuous trinkets; even if Lin Chen wanted to empty half the treasury right now, Jia Xingtian would agree without the slightest hesitation.

Lin Chen stowed the three items away, not sparing another glance at the rest of the treasury, and turned around.

"Let's go."

His goal had already been achieved.

True treasures often appeared unremarkable.

These three items were perhaps the most valuable existences within this entire treasury.

The secrets hidden behind them were worth his time to investigate.

Watching Lin Chen's calm, departing back, Jia Xingtian and Yao Ye exchanged a glance.

The estimation they held for this mysterious Master in their hearts was once again elevated to an unattainable height...