Chapter 335: Chapter 60: Returning to the Righteous Alliance, Jiang Liqian’s Farewell

Returning to the Yanlai Realm, Lin Chen did not go to Wudu immediately.

Instead, he first visited Guangyuan Town Marketplace and Changchun Mountain Marketplace.

He retrieved all the profits from selling pills and magical treasures over the past two years, gaining nearly eight million Spirit Stones.

At this point, the number of Spirit Stones in Lin Chen’s possession reached its peak.

Close to thirty million Spirit Stones...

Of course, the majority of it came from transactions in Wenda City.

After completing these transactions, Lin Chen rushed towards Wudu without delay.

...

Righteous Alliance, Wudu.

Lin Chen used the Earth Escape Technique, silently returning to his cave residence.

"Considering the time, in the eyes of others... I have been in seclusion for almost two years."

"I must make some noise... Otherwise, I might be suspected."

Lin Chen’s mind stirred slightly, and inside him, True Essence Magical Power gathered and compressed.

Eventually, it was suppressed to about the mid-Golden Core level, erupting violently in all directions.

Boom——

After the explosion of the mid-Golden Core True Essence Magical Power, a golden light flashed across the sky.

Within a radius of ten miles, almost all cultivators noticed this anomaly.

"Oh my, which senior... broke through to the mid-Golden Core stage?"

"Haha, our Changchun Sect has gained another mid-Golden Core stage expert!"

"Judging by the direction... It seems to be Elder Lin?"

"Senior Brother Lin, he’s been in seclusion for two years with no news... Who would have thought he’d break through directly to the mid-Golden Core stage!"

In Wudu, many cultivators at the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation stages were discussing.

Not far from Lin Chen’s cave residence, Han Jihai suddenly opened his eyes.

"Hahaha, he’s broken through! In just a few years, he’s broken through to the mid-Golden Core stage!"

"My disciple Lin Chen has the potential of a True Monarch!"

Han Jihai excitedly waved his arms and stamped his feet. Over the past two years, he had sent countless Jade Scrolls and letters to Lin Chen.

Fearing Lin Chen might fail in seclusion, yet worried about disturbing Lin Chen’s breakthrough.

He originally planned that if Lin Chen did not come out of seclusion in two years, he would go and call him personally... After all, the current situation between the Righteous Alliance and Demon Sect was too difficult.

Unexpectedly, Lin Chen broke through to the mid-Golden Core stage in one go!

Now in the entire Changchun Sect, Lin Chen’s strength might rank among the top few, far surpassing his master.

...

Meanwhile, in a more distant cave residence.

Li Zhenqian, upon sensing Lin Chen’s breakthrough, had a look of astonishment flash in his eyes.

"Once again, he’s beaten me to it?"

"Damn, in just two more months I could also step into the mid-Golden Core stage..."

Li Zhenqian felt somewhat unwilling, as if Lin Chen always broke through faster than him.

"No, it must be that I’m not working hard enough!"

"I’m at the Eighth Turn Golden Core, fundamentally inferior to him... I must work harder!"

Determination flashed in Li Zhenqian’s eyes.

...

A few miles away, in another cold and quiet cave residence.

Jiang Liqian, who was cultivating, looked up towards Lin Chen nearby, with a hint of surprise in her eyes.

"So, he only broke through to the mid-Golden Core stage?"

"A Devouring Spirit Root... truly wasted in such a small place!"

After a pause, Jiang Liqian’s gaze turned to the distance.

"I’ve already obtained the Third Turn Golden Yuan Skill, and I’m not far from the Realm of True Man..."

"Originally thought that the Yanlai Realm was a quiet little place... but now it seems, with the chaos unending, a great upheaval is imminent."

"Looks like it’s time to leave here..."

...

Lin Chen slowly restrained his aura, then left the cave residence.

Upon stepping outside, he discovered a pile of Jade Scrolls and letters in the courtyard.

Most were from his master Han Jihai, inquiring if his seclusion was successful.

There were also concerns from his senior sister and several senior and junior brothers...

Even Li Zhenqian and Li Fengping sent a few letters inviting him to gather after emerging from seclusion.

Looking at these Jade Scrolls before him, Lin Chen felt quite touched.

"Alas, though Wenda City is good, it ultimately lacks those who truly care about me..."

Lin Chen silently put away these letters, then transformed into a streak of light heading towards his master Han Jihai.

First, he paid respects to his master and several senior brothers and sisters.

Lin Chen then went to meet with a few fellow cultivators with whom he had good relations within the sect.

Li Fengping, upon receiving the news of Lin Chen’s emergence, hurried over.

"Senior Brother Lin, congratulations on your successful breakthrough!"

"Brother Li, you are too kind, it was merely a lucky breakthrough." Lin Chen cupped his hands modestly.

Li Fengping, as always, was courteous, and Lin Chen responded with humility.

"Senior Brother Lin, now that you are out, why don’t you join us brothers for a little gathering?" Li Fengping invited.

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Brother Li, when do you think would be suitable?"

"Haha, there’s no better time than the present! How about tonight, at my cave residence, just invite three to five friends... a small gathering will suffice."

...

That evening, after dealing with miscellaneous matters, Lin Chen headed to Li Fengping’s residence.

Besides Lin Chen, Li Zhenqian, Ao Shixiang, Qi Changwei, and others were also present.

Altogether, there were more than ten people.

Lin Chen sat in a corner, quietly observing these senior and junior brothers, occasionally taking a sip of wine and exchanging pleasantries.

But even though Lin Chen did not want to stand out, the cultivators present vaguely centered around him.

"Senior Brother Lin, this is Junior Brother Qi... speaking of which, he is of the same rank as you."

"During the two years you’ve been in seclusion, Junior Brother Qi has successfully advanced to become a Golden Core Cultivator..."

Li Fengping pointed at a taciturn man and introduced him.

Lin Chen nodded upon hearing this and shared a drink with Qi Changwei across the table.

He had some impression of Qi Changwei as the first among that batch of disciples to be admitted.

He possessed Dual Spirit Roots and joined the Artifact Peak.

"In just seventeen short years, Junior Brother Qi has ascended to the Golden Core stage... It seems he has had some fortuitous encounters," Lin Chen thought silently but didn’t pay it much attention.

There was also Ao Shixiang, a disciple who deployed the Earth Dragon Trapping Elephant Array during the sect competition years ago and joined Lin Chen in suppressing bandits.

Though his aptitude was only considered superior, he was diligent and keen on array studies, which allowed him to break into the Golden Core Stage.

Aside from these two, the cultivators remaining at the gathering were also at the Golden Core Stage.

Lin Chen had seen some of them once or twice and could recall their names.

But most were unacquainted, lacking any interaction.

After three rounds of drinks, the Golden Core cultivators present were somewhat intoxicated.

Cultivators could get drunk but could expel the alcohol using True Essence to sober up instantly.

Yet sometimes the intoxication wasn’t just from alcohol; cultivators often enjoyed the feeling of being drunk.

Since arriving in the Cultivation Realm, Lin Chen had picked up the "bad habit" of loving to drink.

At this moment, Li Fengping lamented:

"Alas, in a blink of an eye, over a decade has passed. The senior brother is gone, the master too..."

"That Demon Sect is truly hateful! Now, the entire northern region of the Fog Country is a wasteland!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding Golden Core cultivators immediately voiced their agreement.

"Indeed! That Demon Sect has repeatedly attempted to attack us..."

"But how could they get in? Even I don’t know how to bypass the fog outside the city... Only under the sect leader’s guidance can we leave!"

"Although they can’t get in, they still torment us from outside the mist! Last month... a Golden Core senior brother from the Artifact Peak was tragically killed by the Demon Sect!"

The air fell silent.

Lin Chen noticed a few cultivators casting glances at Qi Changwei.

"Speaking of which, it seems Junior Brother Qi is about to become the Deputy Peak Master of Artifact Peak?" Li Fengping asked tentatively.

Qi Changwei nodded upon hearing this, taking a sip of wine, his face flushing more.

"Alas, it wouldn’t have come to me otherwise."

"But a decade ago, the old peak master was killed, and the new peak master died in the battle at Xinliang City several years ago..."

"Now, even the senior brother has died... Our Artifact Peak is dwindling in talent and might rank last among the four peaks."

Upon hearing this, the surrounding brothers nodded slightly.

Indeed, among the four peaks, Pill Peak was initially considered the weakest.

But now, despite having only a few disciples, each is elite.

Including Lin Chen, Pill Peak boasts four Golden Core cultivators.

Even the youngest junior brother reached the late Foundation Establishment recently and is preparing to form his core...

"Haha, let’s not dwell on unhappy matters! When Brother Qi becomes the Artifact Peak Master, you should sell us Magical Treasures at a discount!"

Li Fengping laughed while raising a toast.

Qi Changwei nodded slightly, drank his wine, and said: "Alas, my cultivation is still shallow; I lack the merit and virtue. In the future, I’ll need help from all senior brothers..."

"Of course, of course!"

"Haha, let’s drink!"

As exchanges continued, the atmosphere of the banquet gradually became lively.

Li Zhenqian had been quietly sitting in the corner, silently observing Lin Chen.

Among the cultivators present, he was the youngest, even younger than Lin Chen, not quite thirty.

But in terms of cultivation, Li Zhenqian is second only to Lin Chen.

Seeing Li Zhenqian watching him, Lin Chen raised his glass with a smile and said:

"Junior Brother Li, shall we drink?"

Li Zhenqian nodded upon hearing this and clinked glasses with Lin Chen.

Lin Chen’s eyes carried a hint of a smile, and he sighed inwardly:

"It’s been a few years since I last saw Li Zhenqian; he’s really grown quite a bit, at least more mature than before."

"It seems the battlefield really does temper one’s mindset significantly."

Lin Chen thought silently.

Speaking of Li Zhenqian’s cultivation path, he indeed resembles a protagonist template.

Born into a cultivation family, he came to Changchun Sect seeking immortality at a young age.

Endured arduous cultivation, losing senior brothers and his master one after another...

It’s quite tragic.

Yet Lin Chen, as the "benefactor," often helped him avert danger.

Now, nearly thirty years old, Li Zhenqian has shed his youthful demeanor and gained some maturity.

As Lin Chen contemplated, Li Zhenqian suddenly said:

"Lin Chen, I know you’ve broken through to the mid Golden Core stage, but I’m close too! I won’t lose to you!"

Lin Chen: "..."

"Alright, pretend I didn’t say anything; this guy is still the same..." Lin Chen silently ridiculed.

...

Everyone drank for another two-hour, and as the gathering was nearing its end, a figure suddenly appeared outside the cave.

It was Jiang Liqian.

Seeing Jiang Liqian, Li Fengping hurriedly stood up and said:

"Junior Sister Jiang, why have you come?"

Jiang Liqian said with a bright smile: "I’ve come to seek Senior Brother Lin for something..."

Upon hearing this, the people around became envious.

Jiang Liqian, in Changchun Sect, was no less of a prodigy than Lin Chen.

It was heard that she also entered the Golden Core Stage a few years ago but was even more low-key than Lin Chen, thus rarely any news of her.

Jiang Liqian called Lin Chen outside the cave and spoke to him:

"I’m leaving Changchun Sect..."