The Mystery of Qingtan

In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.

To quickly complete the task Lin Chen had entrusted to him, Lin Zhentian had forcibly cut more than half off what had originally been a month-long journey.

Traveling day and night without rest, Lin Zhentian took a full ten days to reach Lin City in Great Yan Commandery.

It had to be said that, given Lin Zhentian's Late Heaven Origin Stage strength, this speed was quite impressive. He had truly done everything he could.

Of course, if Lin Zhentian possessed strength above the Three Creation Realms, it would be a different matter. The distance from Qingyang Town to Lin City, which seemed quite far to ordinary people, was hardly worth mentioning before those with even a little strength.

Strength determined one's horizons. Was that not why most living beings on Tianxuan Continent remained confined to a certain region? For someone at the peak of the Creation Realm, leaving the Great Yan Dynasty might not be difficult, but if they wished to leave the Eastern Profound Region, they might exhaust their entire life without ever seeing the end.

Inner City of Lin City, within Lin Tao's courtyard.

"Old friend, regarding Young Master Lin Chen... I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to inform the Grand Elder on my behalf."

Lin Zhentian knew that his strength was limited, and he was not a member of the Lin Clan Inner Family. Meeting Lin Mu was practically impossible, so he could only trouble his old friend Lin Tao.

When Lin Tao first saw Lin Zhentian arriving in Lin City, he was somewhat taken aback. However, once he learned the reason, he no longer found it strange.

Within the Lin Clan, the relationship between Lin Chen and Grand Elder Lin Mu was no secret. Anyone with even a little status or strength knew of it.

"The Grand Elder has always kept a low profile. Unless there are important clan affairs to handle, he rarely shows himself. Ordinary people find it difficult to meet him, and even to see him once, the Elders must report upward layer by layer. But since you were sent by that kid Lin Chen, there's no need for such trouble."

"Those Elders of the Three Creation Realms within the clan know how to weigh the pros and cons. Because of that kid Lin Chen, even if they rashly disturbed the Grand Elder, he would not blame them once he learned why."

Unlike Lin Chen, who could act freely within the Lin Clan, ordinary members of the Lin Family—even an external affairs Elder like Lin Tao, who bore the Lin Clan's name—found it quite difficult to meet Lin Mu.

On Tianxuan Continent, no matter where one went, the hierarchy was generally strict and distinct.

Strength determined one's treatment. Reporting directly to those above one's rank was a privilege possessed only by a select few.

"Since that is the case, then I'll trouble you, old friend."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhentian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile.

After Lin Zhentian left, Lin Chen did not remain in Ironwood Manor waiting idly. Instead, he returned to his room at the Lin Family Back Mountain, murmuring obscure incantations as he quietly cultivated his Spiritual Power.

Unlike his slow Origin Energy cultivation, it had only been a few months since his Spiritual Power reached the level of a Four Symbol Master. Though his realm had already stabilized, if he could further strengthen his Spiritual Power for the coming battle, his confidence would increase considerably.

Although he had no doubt that Lin Mu would arrange assistance for him, there were some matters he still needed to handle personally.

Based on what he knew of Yue Shan from the Blood Wolf Gang, unless Lin Chen displayed absolute strength, the chances of Yue Shan handing over the Ice Fire Snake Scale Fruit were practically zero. On the contrary, after making outrageous demands, Yue Shan might even covet Lin Chen's wealth and scheme to harm him.

Unlike Lei Bao, whose strength was insufficient, Yue Shan, at the peak of the Core Formation Realm, could make a decent living anywhere in the Great Yan Dynasty. The Lin Clan's status and Lin Chen's strength, which was on the same level as Yue Shan's, could not guarantee that he would not take desperate risks.

Though Yue Shan's talent and strength posed no threat to him, Lin Chen did not like leaving behind future troubles. At this point in time, even insignificant people could be frightening. He had to plan before acting and proceed with caution in all things.

Before long, he would put human nature to the test.

Whether Yue Shan survived would depend on himself.

Likewise, this would be a test of Lin Chen's own strength.

"Qingtan, this is where Big Brother lives. We can't just go inside."

"It's fine, Brother Lin Dong. I secretly came here yesterday after I stopped feeling cold. That big brother wasn't inside."

"We'll just play inside for a while and come right out. Big Brother's home is much better than ours."

"But if Father finds out..."

As Lin Chen concentrated on cultivating his Spiritual Power, several childish voices rang out one after another beyond the room, causing him to stir from his seated meditation on the bed.

Though his cultivation had been interrupted, Lin Chen was not angry.

One could not blame those who did not know, and besides, Lin Dong and Qingtan were only children. At present, the two of them were still at an age of innocence and ignorance.

"There happens to be someone in the room today. The two of you can come in..."

As for the Lin Dong siblings, Lin Chen was far more interested in Lin Qingtian than in Lin Dong. This was not only because Lin Qingtian possessed the high-grade Yin Sha Energy he needed, but also because of Lin Qingtian's mysterious origins.

To Lin Chen, although he was quite familiar with this world and even possessed a degree of foresight, many unsolved mysteries still remained in his heart.

Lin Qingtian's origins were one of them.

Lin Qingtian was originally from the Great Thousand World. How had he come to this sealed Tianxuan Continent? Ever since Lin Chen arrived on Tianxuan Continent, this question had surfaced in his mind from time to time, yet he had never found an answer.

He could not find enough evidence on Lin Qingtian to verify certain suspicions in his heart and determine exactly how Lin Qingtian had come from the Great Thousand World to Tianxuan Continent.

But there was one thing he could be certain of.

The spatial nodes connecting the Great Thousand World to Tianxuan Continent were not unique. The spatial node Lin Qingtian had passed through was definitely not the place where the Symbol Ancestor had sealed Demon Emperor Yi Mo ten thousand years ago. In that respect, Lin Qingtian's origins bore some resemblance to his own.

However, the difference was that Lin Chen did not come from the Great Thousand World, nor did he possess any medium that could lead to it. Furthermore, his soul was exceptionally complete and pure. Not only did he retain the memories of his previous life, but even his bloodline, flesh, and bones had been condensed by heaven and earth.

But aside from his unusual constitution, Lin Qingtian was no different from the children of Tianxuan Continent.

The more Lin Chen thought about it, the more firmly he believed in some of his own deductions.

The existence of both Lin Qingtian and himself was undoubtedly influenced by the will of the Great Thousand World.

Fifty thousand years ago, the Great Thousand World had been invaded by the Outer Realm Evil Tribes from the Heaven Origin Realm. Countless living beings had perished, planes had shattered, and the Great Thousand World, which had already developed sentience, naturally refused to sit still and await death.

Thus, under the influence of the Great Thousand World's will, the favored children of destiny from every continent and every plane beneath it emerged one after another.

Yet in the end, not everyone could break through the limits of themselves and heaven and earth, truly grow strong, and become a force helping the Great Thousand World resist the invasion of the Outer Realm Evil Tribes.