"Miss, young master, you've arrived. The master is waiting for you inside."
An elderly steward in gray robes, with a kind face, approached and bowed.
"Uncle Zhou, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Lin Shiyun's face flushed red as she spoke softly.
"Let's go."
Uncle Zhou smiled, knowing the young lady's shy nature, and said no more.
He led the way ahead.
Before long, the old steward brought Lin Xuan and Lin Shiyun to a spacious hall, then withdrew.
In the hall, seated at the head was a middle-aged man in white robes, with a handsome face bearing some resemblance to Lin Shiyun. Though he exuded no aura of power, he seemed like a sleeping lion, containing formidable strength.
Lin Shiyun released Lin Xuan's arm, walked over to the middle-aged man's side, and said sweetly:
"Daddy, Brother Lin Xuan is here."
"Mm."
The middle-aged man smiled, affectionately patting Lin Shiyun's head.
At this point, Lin Xuan naturally understood the identity of this white-robed middle-aged man.
"Disciple Lin Xuan pays respects to Third Elder!"
Lin Xuan immediately bowed in greeting.
"Sit."
Lin Qiyuan's voice came.
Lin Xuan found himself rising involuntarily, as if guided by an invisible force.
In that instant, Lin Xuan's heart shook violently.
It seemed this Third Elder's strength was even greater than he had imagined.
Then, Lin Xuan walked over and sat down on a chair nearby, his gaze fixed on Lin Qiyuan.
Lin Qiyuan's face was as chiseled as if carved by knife and axe, enough to captivate any woman.
But what truly drew Lin Xuan's attention was Lin Qiyuan's attribute panel.
Swish!
"Name: Lin Qiyuan." "Cultivation: Condensation Realm, Second Layer." "Talents: Supreme-grade cultivation talent, Mid-grade strength talent, Low-grade speed talent, Low-grade sharp metal attribute talent, Low-grade crimson fire attribute talent, Substandard blade path talent." "Martial Arts: Golden Flame Art (Fifth-grade mid-tier, Minor Mastery), Crimson Flame Blade Technique (Fifth-grade mid-tier, Minor Mastery), Fissure Gold Fist (Fifth-grade low-tier, Major Mastery), Jade Tempering Art (Fifth-grade mid-tier, Minor Mastery), Drifting Crossing (Fifth-grade low-tier, Major Mastery)..." "Carried Treasures: None"
Gazing at Lin Qiyuan's attribute panel in the void before him, Lin Xuan's heart trembled.
Hadn't the rumors always said Lin Qiyuan was at the peak of the Qi Transformation Realm?
But now he was at the Condensation Realm, Second Layer!
The martial realms Lin Xuan knew were: Body Tempering Nine Layers, Orifice Opening Realm, Qi Gathering Realm, Qi Transformation Realm, Condensation Realm, and Spirit Opening Realm.
The Condensation Realm was a level above the Qi Transformation Realm, an even stronger stage.
Lin Xuan hadn't expected Lin Qiyuan to have quietly broken through to the Condensation Realm, and even to the Second Layer.
Clearly, this wasn't a recent breakthrough but had happened some time ago.
Even when Lin Qiyuan was still at the peak of the Qi Transformation Realm, he was the strongest in Qingyu City, unmatched by anyone.
If news of his breakthrough to the Condensation Realm spread, the higher-ups of the other three major forces would likely be stunned.
At that level, they wouldn't even think of fighting him.
The two sides were no longer on the same plane.
Still, this didn't concern Lin Xuan much.
After a moment of shock, Lin Xuan's heart turned to immense joy.
No wonder he was the strongest in Qingyu City—this attribute panel was truly rich.
So many treasures, and none of low grade.
Far beyond what Lin Qixing, the Grand Elder, and other Lin family higher-ups could compare.
Lin Xuan naturally had no intention of letting these go.
With a thought.
"Ding, consumed 10,000 energy points, copy successful. Obtained [Supreme-grade cultivation talent]."
"Ding, consumed 10,000 energy points, copy successful. Obtained [Minor Mastery Fifth-grade mid-tier martial art Crimson Flame Blade Technique]."
"..."
In an instant, he copied all the treasures from Lin Qiyuan that he deemed valuable.
The cost was that the energy points he had accumulated over these days were drained, leaving only 10,000.
But gaining so many treasures made this cost negligible.
All of this happened in the span of a breath, and no one present noticed anything amiss.
Then, Lin Qiyuan's voice came.
Lin Xuan snapped back to attention.
"Solid foundation, worthy of the chief disciple position."
Lin Qiyuan said with a light smile.
With his eyesight, he could tell that Lin Xuan's foundation was far more robust than that of Lin Yun and other Lin family disciples.
Probably unmatched in all of Qingyu City.
That put him somewhat at ease.
"Thank you for the praise, Third Elder."
Lin Xuan replied.
"With talent like this, you're worthy of Yun'er."
Lin Qiyuan continued.
"Daddy, how can you say that..."
Hearing this, Lin Shiyun's face turned crimson, a lovely sight.
Though their relationship was already clear, her father's words still made her shy.
"Third Elder, rest assured. Lin Xuan will treat Yun'er well and never let her down!"
Lin Xuan vowed solemnly.
At that, Lin Shiyun's gaze softened, fixed on Lin Xuan's handsome face, unable to look away.
"Mm."
Lin Qiyuan nodded, then looked at Lin Shiyun.
Seeing his daughter like this, he could only sigh inwardly.
Then he asked again:
"In half a month, the four major forces will hold a competition, and the Flowing Cloud Sect will come to recruit disciples. Are you confident?"
"Disciple is confident!"
Lin Xuan replied firmly, full of self-assurance.
The Flowing Cloud Sect was one of the four great sects of Cangyuan Kingdom, its power rivaling even the royal family.
And Qingyu City fell within its jurisdiction.
Every three years, the Flowing Cloud Sect sent people to recruit new disciples.
The four major forces' competition was held for this purpose.
At that time, the younger disciples of the four forces would clash to determine the top ten.
They would then earn the right to go to the Flowing Cloud Sect.
Lin Xuan had long understood all this.
Likewise, he was absolutely confident.
Even if he didn't consider how much his strength would improve in half a month, he could already secure a spot in the top ten.
"Mm."
Lin Qiyuan smiled, even more satisfied.
Then, after a few casual questions, he let Lin Xuan and Lin Shiyun leave.
What they didn't know was that after they left, the smile on Lin Qiyuan's face vanished instantly.
Replaced by a look of solemnity and worry.
It finally dissolved into a sigh.
As if filled with endless nostalgia and reluctance.
...
After leaving the Third Elder's residence, Lin Xuan and Lin Shiyun exited the Lin family estate and continued strolling through Qingyu City, enjoying themselves.
Though Qingyu City was just a small town in Cangyuan Kingdom, it was no less impressive than a prefecture-level city from his past life.
It boasted many unique sights.
How could two Body Tempering Realm martial artists explore it all in a short time?
Over these days of wandering, they hadn't revisited a single spot, which was quite refreshing.
Time flowed like water, slipping away unnoticed.
In the days that followed, Lin Xuan returned to his previous routine.
Most of the day, he accompanied Lin Shiyun, wandering and sightseeing.
At night, he devoted himself to closed-door cultivation.
As the chief disciple, his monthly resource allocation rivaled that of an elder, combined with the elixirs and spiritual herbs he had copied.
Coupled with his unmatched talent in Qingyu City.
Even with only half the day for cultivation, his progress was astonishing.