Xue Qinghe's Probe (1)
Lin Chen put away the invitation and continued to circulate his Soul Power.
The gray Soul Power surged through the meridians, impacting the tiny branches and constantly expanding the foundation.
He knew very well that befriending Xue Qinghe was essentially an investment, and only by continuously demonstrating his value could this "friendship" be maintained.
Strength is always the foundation for success.
As night deepened, the fluctuations of Soul Power in the cultivation room gradually stabilized.
Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, a gray glint flashing in them before disappearing.
He stood up and walked to the window.
The lake surface shimmered, and the moonlight shone on it, making it look like it was covered with a layer of shattered silver.
The academy in the distance was quiet, with only the night patrolling deacons carrying lanterns slowly walking along the forest path.
Heaven Dou City is vast, and the water is deep. He used to be just an academy student, diving beneath the surface.
Now, Xue Qinghe has offered him a ladder, inviting him to surface and see a wider view.
So he went with the flow.
Look at the intricacies of this entire continent; just how deep does it go?
Let's see if this pawn can stir up trouble throughout the city.
Three days later, at dusk, a black wooden carriage stopped precisely at the gate of the back mountain of the academy.
The carriage is entirely black, yet it exudes a restrained nobility. Ice lotus patterns are engraved on the shafts and doors. The two horses pulling the carriage are pure white, without a single blemish, and are exceptionally fine, clearly the best of the best.
The coachman had a calm demeanor and stood ramrod straight, clearly Soul Master with a military background.
Lin Chen changed into a plain brocade robe, no longer wearing his academy uniform, which made him appear even more handsome and upright. Amidst the surprised and envious gazes of the students, he boarded the carriage.
The carriage slowly started moving, heading towards the core area of Heaven Dou City.
The sound of the wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs gradually subsided until they finally came to a stop.
The coachman's respectful voice came from outside the carriage. "Young Master Lin, we've arrived."
Lin Chen lifted the carriage curtain and stepped down from the carriage shaft.
The vermilion gates of the East Palace were far more solemn than he had imagined. The gates were inlaid with nine gilded door studs, four on each side and one in the center at the top—a feature reserved for the Crown Prince's ceremonial gate.
Six imperial guards of the Eastern Palace, clad in golden armor, stood ramrod straight below the steps. Each of them possessed a refined aura, with even the weakest among them having the cultivation of Soul Ancestor Master. The leader, in particular, had eyes like an eagle and a posture as straight as a pine tree, exuding a subtle sense of oppression at the Soul King level.
In the darkness of night, the walls of the East Palace stretch as far as the eye can see, the outline of its double eaves and overlapping tiles undulating under the night sky, like a sleeping giant beast, whose every breath exudes an invisible pressure.
Lin Chen's gaze swept over the ice lotus emblem on the mansion gate, and a barely perceptible tremor ran through his heart.
Tsk tsk, Qian Renxue, the young master of the Spirit Hall, a pawn who has been lurking in the Heaven Dou for many years, and now the eldest prince of the Heaven Dou, she has really planned things very deeply.
He remained expressionless, bowing slightly. "Thank you for showing me the way."
A palace attendant dressed in a blue robe stepped forward, bowed, and led the way. "Young Master Lin, please. His Highness has been waiting for quite some time."
After passing through several palace gates and winding through corridors and screen walls, we finally arrived at a side hall overlooking the water. The hall was brightly lit, and the faint sounds of string and wind instruments drifted from afar, as if a banquet was being held in the main hall.
However, in the side hall, there was only one seat and one table, and no outsiders were present.
Xue Qinghe rose from his seat, dressed in a black casual robe with dark gold cloud patterns embroidered on the collar. His face was gentle, and a perfectly measured smile played on his lips. He personally greeted Lin Chen at the palace entrance, "Young friend Lin Chen, you've finally arrived. I've been looking forward to it for several days, eager to see the young hero who turned the tide in the Great Soul Arena."
His demeanor was approachable and his bearing dignified; he was exactly the kind of Crown Prince who treated scholars with respect.
If he hadn't known the truth about him beforehand, Lin Chen would have almost been fooled by this gentle and mild-mannered appearance.
He bowed slightly, his attitude respectful but not humble. "Your Highness flatters me. I merely won by chance and am unworthy of the title of hero."
"Too much modesty is just being pretentious." Xue Qinghe smiled and offered a helping hand, leading him into the hall. "The front hall is too noisy; it's not the place to talk. I've prepared a pot of fine tea; let's speak privately."
Lin Chen understood. Now, let's get to the point.
He nodded slightly. "How dare I disobey?"
The side hall overlooks the lake in the back garden. The window is half-open, and the evening breeze carries the fragrance of lotus flowers. Tea is brewing on the stove, and steam rises gently. There is no one else in the room except for two people sitting opposite each other. It is so quiet that you can hear the soft sound of the tea boiling.
Xue Qinghe personally poured him a cup of tea, speaking casually as if in a chat, "You're young, but you fight very well. The Eight Desolations Battle Team is considered a mainstay among the Bronze Soul Fighter, and you actually led them to a comeback victory. That's not easy."
"It was all thanks to my teammates' desperate efforts; I just happened to seize an opportunity." Lin Chen held his teacup, his fingertips slightly cool, his tone calm. "Team battles are never a one-man show."
"Oh?" Xue Qinghe raised an eyebrow and smiled. "It's rare to see such a humble young man like you. These days, young Soul Master want the whole world to know after just one win, but you're pushing the credit onto your teammates."
"Your Chaos Pearl Martial Soul is quite rare. In all my years of life, I've seen many dual-elemental Martial Soul, but one that combines control, offensive, and spatial attributes is a first."
Xue Qinghe held the jade cup and took a small sip. "May I ask who your master is? With such skill in training disciples, I would like to pay him a visit."
Lin Chen paused slightly in his cup-holding hand, then put it down, smiling faintly, "Your Highness flatters me. My martial Martial Soul is a congenital mutation, and I was trained by several instructors at the academy; I'm hardly a master. My achievements today are entirely due to the academy's cultivation."
In short, he subtly and cleverly glossed over the matter of his mentorship, neither boasting about his background nor revealing any details.
A hint of surprise flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes, then he smiled.
This child, though young, is very tight-lipped.
Xue Qinghe nodded, not dwelling on the topic any further. He then casually changed the subject, asking, "Speaking of Soul Master, do you usually pay attention to the political landscape of the continent? Currently, two great empires stand side by side, the Upper Three Sects each occupy a region, and the Spirit Hall is spread throughout the north and south. What do you think the future of this world will be like?"
After asking the question, he held his teacup and looked at Lin Chen's face. He seemed calm, but his eyes held a sharp scrutiny.
Lin Chen raised his eyes, put down his teacup, and said humbly, "This junior is still young and has been cultivating at the academy. I have never traveled far and dare not presume to comment on the state of the continent."
He first lowered his stance, adopting the air of a naive young man, then paused before adding a pertinent remark, "It's clear that the Spirit Hall is powerful, with branches all over the continent; the two great empires check and balance each other, each with its own foundation; Upper Three Sects have a long and deep-rooted lineage. This tripartite balance of power is stable for now."