Xun'er's invitation, Gu Clan Guest Elder, and the arrival of a cheat!

That night, in a private courtyard at Jia Nan Academy.

"Phew..."

Lin Chen slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes. The Dou Qi surging through his body gradually subsided, and the crimson energy rippling around him abruptly stilled before dissolving into wisps of smoke.

"A fifth-grade Crimson Flame Pill really is good stuff. Not only did it refine all the medicinal power left in my body, it also purified my rapidly increased Dou Qi considerably. That finally takes care of the unstable Dou Qi I got from popping pills to raise my cultivation."

He slowly stood and stretched his limbs, his eyes bright with excitement.

Since entering Jia Nan Academy at ten, he had advanced from the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi to a Nine-Star Great Dou Master in just six years. Anyone claiming Lin Chen had done it without popping pills would have trouble convincing even a dog!

Quite the contrary: Lin Chen had not merely popped pills, but tried every kind he could refine. Born on the Dou Qi Continent as a noble alchemist, how could he possibly not take pills?

If you did not take pills, it proved your cultivation potential was poor and nobody was willing to invest in you!

If you did not take pills, it meant you were a broke bastard with neither fortuitous encounters nor an extraordinary background!

If you did not take pills, it meant you were not a noble alchemist!

No talent, no background, and no status as an alchemist—what were you if not trash?

What? Taking pills made your Dou Qi unstable?

On the Dou Qi Continent, alchemists who knew how to take pills were the big shots. You had to take them, and you had to know how to take them. If your Dou Qi was unstable, could you not refine pills to purify it? Could you not refine beast flame or heavenly flames to temper your own Dou Qi?

As I see it, that Flame Emperor was just an ordinary fellow who was good at popping pills!

Lin Chen swept his sleeve and brushed away dust that was not even there, then picked up the Fifth-Rank Alchemist's inheritance jade slip from the table, ready to continue researching which pill he should take next.

Knock, knock!

Suddenly, knocking came from outside the door, abruptly interrupting Lin Chen's thoughts.

"You are...?"

Lin Chen opened the door. Seeing the black-robed figure standing outside, puzzlement appeared in his eyes.

"This old man is merely a servant, unworthy of being remembered by Young Master Lin Chen. Today, you displayed your prowess and astonished everyone with a single feat. My young lady would like to invite you over for a chat."

The black-robed figure was clearly an elderly man. Wearing a courteous smile, he pointed into the distance and spoke with considerable humility.

"Your young lady?"

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. Although the old man concealed it well, Lin Chen's powerful soul perception as a Fifth-Rank Alchemist keenly sensed the depth of his cultivation. His strength probably far surpassed that of an ordinary Dou Wang; he was at least a High-Rank Dou Wang.

"There's a junior at Jia Nan's Outer Academy who can freely order around a High-Rank Dou Wang?"

After a moment's thought, Lin Chen's eyes suddenly lit up, as though something had occurred to him. He gave an easy smile. "I see. Since a junior has invited me, it would be rude to refuse!"

A flicker of surprise crossed the black-robed elder's eyes at those words. He nodded slightly and could not help praising him. "Young Master Lin Chen truly possesses extraordinary bearing and courage. You are indeed worthy of being my young lady's honored guest."

"In that case, please follow this old man."

A short while later, following this "mysterious Dou Wang expert," Lin Chen arrived before a quiet, elegant little courtyard.

Lin Chen slowly pushed open the courtyard gate. Inside lay a pond filled with lotus flowers on the verge of blooming, their faint fragrance refreshing both heart and mind.

In a pavilion at the center of the courtyard, a graceful figure sat beside a stone table. Soft moonlight spilled over her, as though draping her in a veil of silvery gauze.

Hearing the gate open, the graceful figure slowly raised her head, revealing a face of exquisite, otherworldly beauty.

It was Xun'er.

"Young Master Lin Chen, please forgive me for disturbing you so presumptuously late at night."

Xun'er rose slightly, her voice as clear and pleasant as an oriole singing from a valley.

"You're too polite, Junior Xun'er. Admiring lotuses beneath the moon on such a beautiful night, at a lovely lady's invitation, is a pleasure for both the heart and eyes. How could that be a disturbance?"

Lin Chen smiled and sat beside the stone table without the slightest awkwardness or restraint, looking quite at ease.

At his words, a trace of surprise crossed Xun'er's eyes. Then she smiled faintly and cast a meaningful glance at the black-robed elder beside her.

Understanding her intent, the elder stepped forward and poured Lin Chen a cup of clear tea, then slowly withdrew to stand beside Xun'er, every inch a bodyguard.

"May I ask why you invited me here, Junior Xun'er? As far as I remember, we haven't really had any dealings with each other."

Lin Chen took a small sip of tea, wearing a warm smile as he made a seemingly casual inquiry.

"Senior Lin Chen, do you still remember the child you hit with a stone beneath the Xiao Clan Wall seven years ago?"

A faint smile appeared on Xun'er's face as she spoke with considerable confidence.

"You were that child?"

Shock appeared in Lin Chen's eyes. Surely it couldn't be such a coincidence? His father had been a guard for the Xiao Clan back then, and he himself had lived there for a time. Occasionally bullied, he had been unable to resist throwing stones to defend himself. Had I hit her?

"No. The person you hit was someone else."

A mischievous gleam flashed through Xun'er's eyes. Apparently recalling something amusing, she could not help chuckling, making her soft breasts quiver and drawing Lin Chen's gaze straight downward.

Fortunately, he withdrew his gaze after just one glance, handling the boundaries with impeccable precision.

"In any case, I owe you a favor because of that incident. But you left the Xiao Clan afterward because of it, and I never saw you again. Now that we've met, it's time I properly repaid you for that 'Stone-Throwing Favor,' Senior Lin Chen."

Xun'er suppressed her smile, her expression suddenly cooling as she returned to her usual aloof demeanor.

"You owe me a favor? Then how do you intend to repay me, Junior Xun'er?"

Lin Chen considered it briefly, still unable to figure out the reasoning. But the moment he heard the word "repay," his eyes lit up, and he eagerly spoke.

Over the years, he had popped pills like mad to avoid slowing his cultivation. Though a prestigious alchemist, he had scarcely any resources left in his Storage Ring. Now the Gu Clan Eldest Lady was offering repayment—how could he not be excited?

Seeing Lin Chen's burning gaze, Xun'er inwardly sighed. He came from a mercenary background, after all. Accustomed to greed, he throws everything else aside at the mere mention of benefits. He's hardly any better than that little thief from the Xiao Clan who tried to sneak into my room back then.

"I can give you two choices. I have a Seventh-Rank Alchemist's inheritance here, which should be quite helpful to an alchemist like you. If you want it, you may take it, and the debt between us will be settled."

"And the second choice?"

At the mention of a "Seventh-Rank Alchemist's inheritance," Lin Chen remained unmoved. A glimmer of understanding flashed through his eyes as he continued asking.

A mere Seventh-Rank Alchemist's inheritance was something he could obtain within his lifetime if he worked a little harder. Besides, was that not rather a low offer from the exalted Gu Clan Eldest Lady?

"The other choice is to become a guest elder of a major faction, receiving benefits equivalent to those of a Dou Zong. If your alchemy continues to improve, those benefits can rise further."

Xun'er smiled calmly and waved her delicate hand. A crimson jade slip and a pitch-black token of some unknown material appeared on the stone table.

Lin Chen raised his brows slightly and picked up the token first. Intricate, varied golden patterns adorned its surface, with a large space deliberately left clear in the center for a single boldly flowing character: "Gu"!

"Gu?"

"Could it be...?"

Lin Chen's expression shifted slightly. Before he could think further, a crisp mechanical voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

[Ding! A major life decision has been detected. The Future Life Simulator has been activated!]

[Current simulations available: 1]

[Begin simulation?]

I have a cheat too?

Lin Chen froze inwardly. Then Xun'er's gentle, beautiful voice reached his ears, involuntarily stirring a sense of pleasure.

"Take your time to consider it, Senior. I'm in no hurry. You can give me your answer in a few days."