Yuexuan's path of cultivation was far more difficult than Lin Chen had imagined.
He had just emerged from the bloody city of slaughter, accustomed to the clash of swords and the power of souls, his hands used to wielding hammers and longswords. Suddenly picking up a delicate musical instrument plectrum and touching the strings felt incredibly awkward. He knew nothing of rhythm or meter; his fingers were stiff when playing the zither, producing chaotic and jarring sounds. When playing the flute, his breath was disordered, and the melodies were utterly incoherent. Compared to the noble children around him who had been trained in music and etiquette since childhood, he was far inferior. His attempt at learning an instrument was a complete mess.
In class, the noble students around him watched his clumsy and awkward movements and chuckled in hushed tones, their eyes full of mockery and disdain. They gossiped among themselves, thinking that he had the reputation of being a genius but couldn't even learn the basics of etiquette and music, and was not worthy of staying in Yuexuan.
The whispered taunts reached his ears, and Lin Chen's aura instantly froze. The murderous aura of his Killing God Domain surged uncontrollably, a chilling killing intent quietly spreading, and a hint of crimson flashed in his eyes. The instincts he had developed over the past year in the Killing City made him want to take action immediately and intimidate these noisy people.
He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, and with all his might, he suppressed the surging murderous intent back into his heart, the crimson in his eyes gradually fading. He had come to Yuexuan to hone his ferocity and master the domain of the God of Slaughter; if he lost control because of a few mocking words, then this trip would be meaningless. He lowered his eyes and composed himself, no longer paying attention to the surrounding ridicule, but simply practicing repeatedly, his fingertips becoming red from the effort, yet he remained calm and focused, embarking step by step on the path of learning etiquette and music.
While he was diligently studying, Xiao Wu quietly came to Yuexuan, found a secluded spot to meet him, and, with a somewhat nervous expression, told Lin Chen all the information that Dugu Yan had given him.
"Brother, Tang San came to the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy, but he offended Prince Xue Beng as soon as he enrolled. Prince Xue Xin was furious and directly invited Senior Dugu Bo to drive Tang San and his party away! I heard it from Yan Zi. I've been hiding in the mansion and haven't met Tang San."
Upon hearing this, Lin Chen's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly relaxed, and his tense brows unfurrowed. His biggest worry was that Tang San and Tang Hao would see Xiao Wu and discover her true identity as a soul beast. Now that the two had not met, Xiao Wu was naturally out of danger.
He reached out and gently patted Xiao Wu's head, soothing her in a soft voice: "It's okay. As long as they don't find you, you'll be safe. Continue to hide your whereabouts and don't show yourself easily."
Xiao Wu nodded obediently, then remembered something and quickly added, "By the way, Yu Tianheng from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and Teacher Qin Ming also left with Tang San and the others."
Lin Chen merely raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. Qin Ming's departure from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was foreshadowed in the original story, but Yu Tianheng's departure as well was somewhat unexpected. However, these people were not of much concern to him, and he was too lazy to delve into it, waving his hand and saying, "These are all unimportant, let them be."
Xiao Wu suddenly remembered something, her face instantly fell, and she glared at him angrily: "Brother, what did you do to offend Zhu Zhuqing?"
Lin Chen was taken aback: "What's wrong?"
"What else!" Xiao Wu put her hands on her hips, looking displeased. "Zhu Qing heard that you were in Heaven Dou City, so she left Shrek Academy and came to Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy! She even had a big fight with Dai Mubai over this. If Rongrong and Yanzi hadn't intervened, things would have gotten even worse!"
After listening, Lin Chen immediately understood a bit and murmured, "It seems that this little girl really wants to become stronger on her own, and she is completely disappointed in Dai Mubai."
Seeing his thoughtful expression, Xiao Wu subconsciously thought of Zhu Zhuqing's alluring figure, and jealousy surged up instantly. She reached out and grabbed Lin Chen's soft side, giving it a hard twist: "You still want more! Tell me honestly, how exactly did you provoke her?"
But Lin Chen remained calm, showing no sign of pain.
His physical body had long been repeatedly tempered and strengthened by the Thor's bloodline and the Dragon God's martial soul, making it as hard as a top-grade soul bone. Xiao Wu's soul power was only around level 30, so this amount of force was like a tickle to him.
Fearing that Xiao Wu would continue to cause trouble, Lin Chen simply recounted how Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong had joined forces to ambush him on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, but were instead subdued by him.
Xiao Wu breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, let go of his hand and pouted: "So that's how it is... Well, I don't care. He came all the way to Tian Dou just for you. You can figure out how to handle this yourself, or you'll end up attracting a bunch of unwanted suitors."
Lin Chen muttered under his breath, "Why are there so many undesirable suitors?" He watched Xiao Wu turn and leave angrily, but didn't chase after her to explain. Right now, suppressing his Killing God Domain and tempering his character were his top priorities; other trivial matters could wait. He turned and returned to his residence in Yuexuan, continuing to practice his zither with focused concentration.
To facilitate his studies and avoid disturbances, Lin Chen rented an entire detached building within the Moon Pavilion as his residence. The tranquil environment was perfect for calming his killing intent. Di Qiu'er and the others would occasionally come to visit. Lin Chen had already asked Dugu Bo to arrange for Di Qiu'er to enter the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy. With her talent and auspicious beast background, she had likely already taken Yu Tianheng's place after his departure and become a key figure being cultivated by the academy.
Lin Chen didn't take any of this to heart.
Once the Continental Elite High-Level Soul Master Tournament is approaching, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy will naturally send someone to notify him to assemble and depart. Right now, all he needs to do is calm down and completely temper the ferocity he brought from the City of Slaughter.
Time flies, and three or four months have passed in a flash.
Through days of immersion in music and etiquette training, Lin Chen had long since shed his initial awkwardness and roughness. His voice was melodious, his movements elegant, and his murderous aura was deeply concealed within him, with only a sharp glint occasionally flashing in the depths of his eyes. Coupled with his near-perfect appearance, honed by the bloodline of the Thunder God and his dragon body, his upright posture, and his gentle yet subtly sharp temperament, he immediately captivated the hearts of countless noble ladies within the Moon Pavilion, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at him.
The most infatuated among them was Princess Xue Ke of the Heavenly Dou Empire, who would find excuses to get close to him almost every day, her eyes never leaving his figure.
But Lin Chen ignored this, his mind not on romance at all.
On this day, a series of steady and extremely imposing footsteps came from outside the Moon Pavilion.
The servant respectfully announced the arrival of a distinguished guest.
Lin Chen pushed open the door and stepped out, his gaze slightly narrowed.
There were two people standing in front of him, and he recognized them at a glance—
It was Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. He was dressed in an elegant brocade robe, with a gentle and refined temperament. His smile was as warm as a spring breeze. He seemed harmless, but he had a deep mind.
Beside him stood an old man with white hair, his figure as straight as a sword, his hair and beard all white but his eyes as sharp as sword light, his sword intent restrained. It was Sword Douluo Chen Xin. Just by standing there, the surrounding air seemed to freeze slightly.
Behind Ning Fengzhi stood a young figure.
The man was dressed in a pure white prince's robe with gold trim. His long hair was tied up, and his face was handsome and gentle. His eyebrows and eyes carried a touch of the unique elegance of the Tiandou royal family. There was a perfectly gentle smile on his lips, and his demeanor was dignified and proper. He looked like a refined and benevolent prince.
Ning Fengzhi walked slowly to Lin Chen, smiled gently, and introduced, "Lin Yuan, let me introduce you. This is the eldest prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, my disciple, and now His Highness the Crown Prince—Xue Qinghe."
Lin Chen's discerning eyes flickered slightly, revealing that the gentle prince before him was actually a woman. Yet, he showed no emotion whatsoever. Following the aristocratic etiquette he had learned at Yuexuan, he bowed slightly and spoke with respectful demeanor: "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Xue Qinghe waved his hand, his smile gentle, his tone full of praise: "Brother Lin Yuan, you have such cultivation at such a young age, and you were able to escape from the City of Slaughter unscathed. Your talent and temperament are rare in this world."
Lin Chen's escape from the City of Slaughter was no secret. He had no intention of concealing it, and Dugu Bo deliberately spread the word. After some investigation, the noble families of Tiandou City were all shocked—to be able to survive the hellish City of Slaughter was beyond the description of a genius; he was a ruthless person who dared to fight through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Lin Chen smiled faintly, not taking credit: "Your Highness is too kind. It was just a bit of luck. There are too many people and too many eyes at the entrance, so this is not the place to talk. Please follow me."
He led Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Xue Qinghe into the detached building he had booked, and into a spacious and elegant hall. After everyone was seated and servants served tea, the four of them began to talk formally.
Xue Qinghe looked at Lin Chen, his smile becoming even more amiable: "Brother Lin Yuan, there's no need for such formality. I'm a few years older than you, but if you don't mind, you can call me Brother Xue from now on."
Lin Chen remained calm and smiled politely: "Since Your Highness is so kind, then I shall take the liberty of addressing you as Brother Xue."
But deep down, he was already secretly cursing:
You little brat, pretending to be a man is one thing, but you even dared to take advantage of me and make me call you "brother." You better pray that I get enough out of you today, otherwise, I'll settle this score with you one punch at a time.
Lin Chen, Xue Qinghe, and Ning Fengzhi chatted for a few moments, their conversation ranging from the power structure of the continent to the undercurrents and conflicts within the Heavenly Dou royal family. Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe subtly probed, trying to draw Lin Chen into their camp.
Lin Chen, however, simply dodged the question tactfully, stating that he had no intention of getting involved in court intrigues and only wanted to focus on cultivation and preparing for the Continental Soul Master Competition.
After a slight pause, Lin Chen changed the subject, took out an exquisitely crafted, dark crossbow from his spatial ring, pushed it towards Ning Fengzhi, and said with a smile:
"Sect Leader Ning, I have a batch of weapons I'd like to do business with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. You might want to take a look at this. It's called the Zhuge Divine Crossbow. It can be activated without soul power and is strong enough to break through the defenses of soul masters below level 50."
Ning Fengzhi's pupils suddenly contracted, and he immediately reached out to take it.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has only ever possessed auxiliary martial souls. The safety of the sect rests entirely on the two titled Douluo, Sword and Bone. Once the two elders are gone, the sect is in grave danger. This weapon, which can instantly grant ordinary disciples lethality, is like a godsend to him.
Xue Qinghe also looked surprised, clearly not expecting Lin Chen to have such a trump card.
"Seeing is believing." Lin Chen stood up. "Please come with me outside and try it out for yourselves."
The four of them walked out of the small building and came to a wide open space behind the Moon Pavilion.
Lin Chen originally wanted to demonstrate to Ning Fengzhi himself, but Sword Douluo Chen Xin stepped forward and said indifferently, "No need to trouble yourself, I will take care of you for a few moves."
Lin Chen did not refuse, and with a flick of his wrist, several Zhuge crossbows appeared in his hand at the same time.
The next moment, a dense barrage of crossbow bolts whistled through the air, their angles tricky and their speed extreme, raining down on Sword Douluo like a storm.
With a flick of his sword intent, Chen Xin deflected all the crossbow bolts, which shattered upon impact with the invisible sword energy.
Although he wasn't harmed in the slightest, Sword Douluo still nodded solemnly:
"Its power is indeed remarkable, and its speed and stealth are both excellent. Soul masters below level 50 would have no chance of resisting it without top-grade soul bones or special defensive skills."
After the group returned to the small building and sat down, Ning Fengzhi could no longer contain his excitement and leaned forward to ask, "Young friend Lin Yuan, I wonder if you would be willing to part with the blueprints for the Zhuge Divine Crossbow and sell them to my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
Lin Chen smiled faintly and nodded calmly: "Okay. But I need two things, and only Sect Leader Ning can provide these two things."
Ning Fengzhi's face remained warm and friendly, but inwardly he was already on guard. This kid had clearly come prepared, waiting to exchange the blueprints for the treasures of his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. His first thought was the Distraction Control Technique; that wasn't exactly a top-secret sect secret, so exchanging it for the blueprints wouldn't be a bad deal. But the other thing…
Before he could think further, Lin Chen slowly spoke:
"First, I want the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's Distraction Control Technique."
Secondly, I want the sword manual passed down through the Sword Douluo family.
Ning Fengzhi was immediately surprised. He had guessed that the distraction control was involved, but he hadn't expected that this person would even dare to ask for the Sword Douluo's family sword manual.
Chen Xin, standing to the side, raised an eyebrow and looked sharply at Lin Chen: "Boy, I've heard a little about your martial spirit. It's not a sword-type. What use is a sword manual to you?"
Lin Chen didn't say much, but just smiled slightly and his soul power stirred slightly.
In an instant, a sharp, sword-shaped bone blade imbued with the aura of violent thunder stretched out from behind him. The blade was wrapped in fine purple lightning, its sharpness was intimidating, and its shape was as slender as an ancient sword. It was none other than the external soul bone, Thunder Prison Sword.
"This junior does not have a sword spirit," Lin Chen said, pointing to the Thunder Prison Sword behind him. His tone was respectful but not arrogant. "However, this external spirit bone of mine manifests in the form of a sword. His Excellency Sword Douluo has devoted his life to sword cultivation and his swordsmanship is unparalleled in the world. Therefore, I have the audacity to request to see the Sword Douluo family's heirloom sword manual in order to hone my swordsmanship skills."
Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment and said, "This matter is of great importance. I need to return to the sect and discuss it with the elders before I can give you an answer."
Lin Chen nodded, not urging him, but instead slowly took out a stack of more precise and sharper drawings and gently pushed them to the table.
"Sect Master Ning, please wait. I also have some design drawings for several top-tier hidden weapons here, which I would like to present to you as well."
He pointed his fingertip at the drawing and began to speak, one point at a time:
"These three items can be considered the pinnacle of concealed weapons."
The first type, Peacock Feather, can break all Soul Master skills below level 70, and even the Martial Soul True Body can be destroyed.
The second type is the Rain of Pear Blossom Needles, known as the strongest single-target hidden weapon. A single strike can kill even a non-defense-type Soul Douluo.
The most powerful of these is called the Buddha's Wrath Tang Lotus, a supreme treasure with wide-area destructive power. Once detonated, it can instantly kill more than forty Soul Saints who have activated their Martial Soul True Body and are capable of flying through the air.
Ning Fengzhi was deeply shaken upon hearing this, and his gentle eyes suddenly lit up.
Peacock Feather, Rain of Pear Blossom Needles, Buddha's Wrath Lotus... any one of these weapons alone would be enough to overturn the fighting power of a sect, let alone all three together. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School could forge all of these hidden weapons, the sect's safety would be guaranteed. Even if they lost Sword and Bone Douluo in the future, they would be able to protect themselves and even dominate the region.
He suppressed his excitement and looked at Lin Chen: "Young friend, do you have any finished product samples? Let me witness its power firsthand."
Lin Chen shook his head slightly: "I only have blueprints, not the actual objects. The materials required for these hidden weapons are extremely rare and of very high quality. Looking across the entire continent, I'm afraid only Gengxin City, the blacksmith capital, could possibly gather them all. Especially the Buddha's Wrath Tang Lotus and the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle, the main materials are extremely rare in the world. I have marked the specific details on the blueprints."
He neatly stacked all the blueprints and pushed them toward Ning Fengzhi, his tone calm and solemn:
"I am willing to offer you the blueprints for these three top-tier concealed weapons, along with the designs for all other conventional concealed weapons."
"I only ask that Sect Leader Ning facilitate the deal and grant me the Distraction Control Technique and the Sword Douluo's family sword manual. That's all."
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