In the dusk of the Zilian Mountains, the miasma is unusually thick.
"Creak!" "Creak!"
In a cave halfway up the cliff, munching sounds could be heard.
The ground was covered with precious Second-tier Jade. The young sapling sat on the ground, cramming the jade into its mouth like eating jelly beans. It had strong teeth that could bite into spirit jade. Anyone else would likely break their teeth.
"All gone? Nothing left?"
The little sapling suddenly reached out to the empty space, realizing it had finished eating.
Lin Chen sighed and gave it a few more spirit coins.
"Lin Chen, you're so stingy." The little sapling looked disdainful. "Don't you have the Three-pattern Spirit Jade? Why don't you let me eat that?"
"You've eaten up all the spirit jade, and you've lost the money on the road. Do you have no shame?" Lin Chen glared at it angrily.
Although the sapling had strong digestion and could convert the jade into spiritual energy for cultivation, Lin Chen still had to be careful. When away from home, a penny could be essential. If one didn't have some spirit jade, they may be restricted everywhere.
"Xiao Chen, does your spirit beast have a name?" Lin Ning'er sat aside and watched this scene with a smile, her beautiful eyes curving into crescent moons.
"Not yet." Lin Chen smiled. For the past few days, they had been in constant danger. He had been focused on getting stronger and hadn't had time to think about other things.
Lin Ning'er picked up the sapling and said with a smile, "How about I give him a name? Since he's so good at eating, how about calling him 'Tuntun'?"
"Tuntun?" Lin Chen heard this and laughed in amusement. "Sister, you can call him whatever you want, even if you call him 'Rice Bucket,' I don't mind!"
"You nitwit!" The young sapling glared, the green leaves on its head trembling. It pondered seriously and then nodded, "This name... well, not bad. From now on, your brother Shu will be called 'Tuntun'!"
It seemed to have understood the word "eat" profoundly.
That night, after devouring over twenty Second-tier Spirit Jade and seven Third-tier Spirit Jade, Tuntun finally advanced to the next level! Both the human and the sapling reached the fifth level of the Earth Spirit Realm formidably.
As the sky brightened, Lin Chen carried Lin Ning'er on his back and left the Zilian Mountain. He initially wanted to rush back to his family and kill the traitor Lin Hongbin, but he realized it would be inconvenient to carry his sister on his back. If she got hurt in the battle, it would be disastrous. She couldn't practice cultivation, and her body was too weak to withstand the impact of spiritual energy.
After leaving Fanyun City, Lin Chen hired a carriage and headed for the Imperial City, which they could reach within half a day.
On the way, he chatted with the driver.
"Young master, are you going to the Imperial City to seek medical advice?" The coachman asked with a grin.
"Yes." Lin Chen nodded. The driver wasn't from Fanyun City and didn't recognize him.
The coachman laughed. "The Imperial City is indeed remarkable. Our Great Cang is becoming more and more prosperous... By the way, do you know about Princess Snow? She just entered the Fengjian Sect for three days, and she was taken in by Feng Bumei as a disciple! I heard that even the Li Fire Sect has reached out to her!"
Hearing the news about Su Huanxue, Lin Chen couldn't help but feel a chill, and the temperature in the carriage dropped.
"Xiaochen, calm down..." Lin Ning'er quickly patted Lin Chen's shoulder, signaling him not to be agitated.
The coachman seemed oblivious to this and continued. "It's just a pity that Lin Chen, the former number one genius of our Da Cang Kingdom, has now been reduced to a useless person..."
"The Fengjian Sect said he cheated on his spirit path. I think there must be a hidden secret. Although I've never met Lin Chen, I know his character! He has been fighting for his family and country for five years and has dedicated himself to cultivation. With such a proud character, there's no way he would cheat even if he died!"
"How can the Imperial City not understand the truth that even a commoner like me understands? It's really strange. Do they have to demote the former genius to be worthless? Is what the Fengjian Sect said must be right?" The coachman was cynical and couldn't help but say more.
Lin Chen lowered his head, his face expressionless. After experiencing great ups and downs, he no longer cared about the outside world's evaluation of him. Good or bad, he had already decided on the path he would take next.
The carriage arrived at the Imperial City, and Lin Chen paid the toll. As he looked up at the majestic ancient city nestled in the mountains, a sense of simplicity and vicissitudes engulfed him.
"Sister, you carried me on your back and walked out of here the last time." He was condemned by the City Lord Zhao Wuji on the Imperial City Square, deprived of his fame, and made to suffer like a stray dog. Zhao Wuji also issued an order forbidding anyone from lending his sister a carriage. Lin Ning'er, already weak, carried him on her back for three days and three nights before returning home. Lin Chen would never forget this blood feud.
"Xiao Chen, promise sister not to be impulsive." Lin Ning'er's beautiful eyes were full of worry. "Your cultivation has been crippled. Even if you reawaken a spirit beast, you will still be inferior to the true geniuses... We are like rootless duckweeds now. Even if you have hatred in your heart, you must endure it. We have no backers and cannot afford to offend those powerful forces!"
Lin Chen nodded and said softly, "Sister, don't worry, I won't be impulsive!"
Sitting on Lin Chen's shoulder, Tuntun curled its lips upon hearing this. Let this kid endure? What a joke! Given his temperament, he wouldn't want to spend a night if he had a grudge.
Lin Chen put on his bamboo hat and carried Lin Ning'er on his back. He found a restaurant to stay temporarily while inquiring about the Lihuo Sect's opening of a ring. Fortunately, he had arrived just in time. Yesterday, the Lihuo Sect opened an arena in the Imperial City Square, and a total of forty to fifty young people had signed up. After several rounds of screening, the finals were about to begin.
Zhao Long, the son of City Lord Zhao Wuji, and Su Cheng, the Seventh Prince of Da Cang Kingdom and the younger brother of Su Huanxue, would start the final competition in an hour! After all, there was only one quota for Li Fire Sect. Everyone was filled with ambition—becoming an outer disciple of the Lihuo Sect would mean becoming a master in these five countries. It was the strongest sect here!
After Lin Ning'er fell asleep, Lin Chen put on his hat again and went downstairs.
"Prepare some food and bring it to my sister when she wakes up." Lin Chen took out a spirit jade and instructed the waiter.
"Okay, sir, don't worry!" When the waiter saw Ling Yu, his eyes lit up.
"Lin Chen, you have to think carefully. Once you reappear in the imperial city, you will definitely become the target of public criticism again!" Tuntun reminded him.