20: Female City Lord

Feeling the surging power within his body and his cultivation base on the verge of breaking through, the look in Lin Chen's eyes as he gazed at Bai Ruoxue became increasingly satisfied.

This was truly an unexpected delight.

Originally, he had only intended to humiliate her severely and make her pay the price for her stupidity and arrogance, but he had not expected to trigger a new function of the System.

"Loyal Servant"? This term was far more interesting than a mere "female slave."

"Alright, stop crying." Lin Chen's voice remained calm. "As my female slave, you must act like one. Now, go and scrub the courtyard outside clean with your hands, inch by inch. If I see even a single fallen leaf before I return, you won't be eating."

After speaking, he no longer paid attention to the woman on the ground whose delicate body was trembling violently, and turned to Lin Xiaoya and Lin Ziyan. "I am going into seclusion to attempt a Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm. You two are to act as my Protectors."

"Yes, Young Master (Saint)!" the two women replied in unison, their eyes filled with worship and adoration as they looked at Lin Chen.

The news of Lin Chen's seclusion was not deliberately concealed.

The entire Family, and even the upper echelons of the whole of Qingyang City, were closely monitoring every move of this newly promoted "Saint."

When they learned that he was attempting a Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm, everyone felt a shock in their hearts.

Someone at the "Body Refining" stage could actually go head-to-head with a half-step Golden Core.

If he were to Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm, just how terrifying would he be?!

The three Grand Elders of the Family, upon learning the news, exchanged glances and saw the bitterness and relief in each other's eyes.

Fortunately... they had not chosen to fight to the death that day. Otherwise, the Family might already be a river of blood by now.

"Pass on my order," the White-Haired Grand Elder sighed and issued the command. "From today onwards, send all Medicinal Pills and Spirit Stones in the Family treasury that are helpful for Breakthroughs to the Saint's courtyard! Spare no cost; support the Saint's Breakthrough with all our might!"

They knew very well that the stronger Lin Chen was, the safer the Family would be.

Lin Chen's rise was already unstoppable.

The only thing they could do now was to go with the flow and firmly tie the Family's fate to this behemoth that was about to set sail.

Meanwhile, at the City Lord's Mansion in Qingyang City.

Inside a grand hall decorated more luxuriously than an imperial palace, a beautiful middle-aged woman wearing purple-gold python robes, with a dignified countenance that commanded awe without anger, was listening to the report of her subordinate.

She was the City Lord of Qingyang City, Luo Bingli! A genuine powerhouse at the Early Stage of the Golden Core!

She was also the number one expert in all of Qingyang City on the surface!

"Oh? That little fellow from the Family who has been silent for over a decade actually possesses such strength?" Luo Bingli picked up a cup of Spirit Tea and said with great interest, "He injured that half-step Golden Core old hag from the Family with one punch, and even scared that arrogant woman, Bai Fengyi, into personally coming to seek peace?"

"Yes, City Lord," the spy below replied respectfully. "And... according to the latest news, the Bai Family's Prodigy, Bai Ruoxue, seems to have been detained by Lin Chen and has not yet returned."

"Interesting, truly interesting." The corners of Luo Bingli's mouth curled into a playful smile.

In this world where there are many more women than men, a powerful male who has suddenly risen and possesses a top-tier Bloodline has a strategic value no less than that of a large Spirit Stone mine!

As the City Lord, she naturally could not remain indifferent.

"Prepare a generous gift and draft an invitation," Luo Bingli set down her teacup and ordered indifferently. "Seven days from now is my birthday. Tell them that I wish to invite this young Qilin from the Family to my mansion for a chat."

"Yes!"

Three days later. Inside Lin Chen's closed-door cultivation chamber.

"Boom—!!!"

A terrifying aura, far exceeding what it was before by several times, erupted violently from within Lin Chen's body!

The five hundred Dragon-Elephant phantoms that originally swirled around him seemed to undergo some kind of sublimation at this moment, becoming more solid and more formidable!

And within his Qi Sea, those nine layers of Qi Refining vortexes had long since disappeared, replaced by a golden Dao Platform condensed from incomparably pure Chaos spiritual power!

On the Dao Platform were imprinted mysterious patterns of galloping Dragon-Elephants, emitting a supreme aura that seemed to suppress the ages!

Foundation Establishment Realm, achieved!

"Hoo..." Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, and a golden divine radiance flashed across them, actually piercing two bottomless small holes into the stone wall in front of him!

"Is this... the power of the Foundation Establishment Realm?"

He clenched his fist, feeling the seemingly endless power within his body, and his mouth couldn't help but curl slightly upward.

If it could be said that he was previously "invincible below the Golden Core."

Then now, he had absolute confidence that even if a true Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator stood before him, he could... blast them apart with one punch!

【Playing the pig to eat the tiger】? No, from today on, he, Lin Chen, no longer needed to play any role. He was invincible!

"Congratulations, Young Master, congratulations on successfully breaking through!" Outside the chamber, the joyful voices of Lin Xiaoya and Lin Ziyan could be heard.

Lin Chen smiled slightly and pushed the door open to step out.

In the sunlight, the two stunning beauties were looking at him with worship. And not far behind them, a figure wearing coarse hemp clothes, who had been silently sweeping the floor, trembled violently upon seeing him come out, subconsciously lowering her head, not daring to meet his gaze.

It was none other than Bai Ruoxue. In the few days since he had last seen her, the arrogance on her had long been worn away completely, replaced by a numbness and humility that had seeped into her bones.

Lin Chen glanced at the System panel.

【Subjugation Target: Bai Ruoxue】【Current Subjugation Level: 30%】

"Hmm, not bad, a hardworking employee." Lin Chen thought to himself.

Just then, Lin Ziyan stepped forward and handed a beautifully crafted gold-stamped invitation to Lin Chen.

"Saint, this was just sent over by someone from the City Lord's Mansion."

Lin Chen took the invitation, opened it, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"City Lord's birthday banquet?" He chuckled. "It seems someone can't sit still anymore."

"Saint, this is likely... a Hongmen Banquet." Lin Ziyan warned, "The City Lord, Luo Bingli, is unfathomable and has always been overbearing. Her inviting you at this time is likely to test, or even... suppress you."

"Hongmen Banquet?" Lin Chen's smile became even brighter. "Perfect, I just broke through and was worrying about not having anyone to practice on."

"Tell the messenger that seven days from now, this Saint will attend the banquet on time."