29: Boars can climb trees

Several days later, outside the mountain gate of the Purple Cloud Holy Land.

Clouds churned like the sea, and cranes cried out in unison.

Luo Bingli personally piloted a magnificent Flying Boat, carrying Lin Chen, Lin Ziyan, Lin Xiaoya, and Bai Ruoxue, who served as a "handmaiden," as it slowly descended onto the white jade plaza in front of the mountain gate.

"Welcome back to the mountain, Junior Martial Uncle!"

The few reception Disciple who had been waiting there for a long time hurriedly bowed respectfully upon seeing Luo Bingli.

However, when their gazes swept over the only male behind Luo Bingli—Lin Chen—a flash of undisguised curiosity and contempt involuntarily crossed their eyes.

Is this the man that Junior Martial Uncle used an incredibly precious "Holy Land Special Recruitment Token" to bring back from the boondocks?

He doesn't look like much.

This silent, deep-seated discrimination followed them like a shadow from the moment they stepped into the Holy Land.

"Master, this is the Purple Cloud Holy Land," Luo Bingli said, walking to Lin Chen's side and bowing slightly to introduce it respectfully. "I have already arranged a residence for you; it is one of the 'Heaven-Class' Immortal Caves with the most abundant Spiritual Qi in the Holy Land."

As she was now Lin Chen's loyal servant, she naturally prioritized her Master's interests above all else.

However, just as she finished speaking, a middle-aged woman with a stern expression, dressed in the attire of an Inner Sect Disciple deacon, walked out from inside the mountain gate.

"Junior Sister Luo, you've returned," she said in an indifferent tone. "The Sect Master has ordered that upon your return, you are to immediately take this person to the Purple Cloud Hall to see her."

"Senior Sister Wang?" Luo Bingli frowned slightly upon seeing the newcomer. "Why does the Sect Master suddenly want to see him?"

"I am merely following orders," Deacon Wang said, glancing at Lin Chen with a look of scrutiny and disapproval. "Junior Sister Luo, you should know what the Holy Land's 'Special Recruitment Token' represents. Each one concerns the future Luck of our Holy Land. The Sect Master... wants to see for herself whether what you brought back is a Qilin or just... a mutt filling the ranks."

Her words were blunt; it was clear she was extremely dissatisfied with Luo Bingli using the Special Recruitment Token to bring a man back.

Luo Bingli's Face darkened instantly.

Lin Chen waved his hand at her, signaling her not to get angry, his Face still wearing that calm and breezy smile.

"Lead the way."

Purple Cloud Hall, the symbol of the highest authority in the Holy Land.

Inside the great hall, clouds and mist swirled, and purple Qi rose.

A beautiful woman in palace attire, wearing a magnificent purple Phoenix robe and a jade crown, sat upright on a cloud bed. Her Face was stunningly beautiful, yet she possessed an unangered authority.

She was the Sect Master of the Purple Cloud Holy Land, a great Cultivator at the Late Nascent Soul Stage—Yun Yun!

When Luo Bingli brought Lin Chen into the great hall, a gentle smile immediately appeared on Yun Yun's Face, as if she were a kind Elder.

"Junior Sister Luo, you've returned. You must be tired from the journey." Her voice was graceful and pleasant, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

"Disciple Luo Bingli pays respects to the Sect Master!" Luo Bingli hurriedly bowed.

"No need for formalities." Yun Yun gestured for her to rise, her gaze then "accidentally" falling upon Lin Chen.

As her gaze swept over Lin Chen, a barely perceptible trace of disappointment flashed deep within her phoenix eyes, which were as deep as a sea of stars.

(Is this the man Junior Sister Bingli praised so highly in her letter, even going so far as to use a Special Recruitment Token to bring him back? He looks decent enough, but what a pity... he is a man after all. His bone structure seems extraordinary, but his Yang Qi is too strong and his Divine Soul is unfocused. This is an advantage at the beginning of cultivation, but the further one progresses, the more of a shackle it becomes. Bingli must have been blinded by his appearance and the meager achievements he made in the boondocks...)

Although she looked down on him in her heart, she did not show it on her Face at all.

After all, Luo Bingli was one of the Outer Sect Disciple she valued most, and she was a Golden Core powerhouse; she had to give her this Face.

She did not use her Divine Thought to forcibly probe Lin Chen like she would with an ordinary Disciple; in her view, that was a demeaning act.

"This must be young friend Lin Chen, right?" Yun Yun's smile became even kinder. "You are indeed a man of talent and extraordinary bearing. Junior Sister Bingli's judgment has always been good."

She praised him, but avoided mentioning terms like "talent" or "strength," only praising his "appearance" and "bearing." The implication was self-evident.

Luo Bingli's heart tightened; she knew the Sect Master did not think highly of Lin Chen.

"Sect Master is too kind," Lin Chen said, nodding slightly without being humble or arrogant. He had long since captured a fleeting trace of condescension deep within her seemingly kind eyes.

"Sigh," Yun Yun suddenly sighed softly, a look of "dilemma" appearing on her Face.

She looked at Luo Bingli, her tone carrying a hint of "apology." "Junior Sister Bingli, you know as well as I do. The Holy Land's 'Special Recruitment Token' is a matter of great importance. Regarding your recommendation of young friend Lin Chen this time, several Elders in the Sect have quite a few complaints..."

"They say that young friend Lin Chen is, after all... a male. To let him directly enter the Inner Sect and enjoy the treatment of a Core Disciple, I fear... it would be difficult to convince the masses."

Luo Bingli's Face instantly turned somewhat pale.

It's here!

The Sect Master is using the Elders' words to refuse him!

She was just about to open her mouth to defend Lin Chen.

Yun Yun waved her hand at her, putting that "gentle" smile back on her Face, and looked at Lin Chen.

"However, I have always promoted people based on talent, and I have never looked down on any talented Genius because of their background or... gender."

"How about this," she pondered for a moment, as if "fighting" for an opportunity for Lin Chen.

"Three days from now, our Holy Land's ranking competition for newly recruited Disciples will take place. At that time, young friend Lin Chen, why don't you participate in this competition as a newly recruited Disciple?"

"This... will not only silence the gossiping tongues but also allow you to prove your worth to everyone in a dignified manner!"

She spoke in a high-sounding manner, as if everything was for Lin Chen's benefit.

But when Luo Bingli heard this, her heart instantly sank to the bottom!

How is this giving him a chance?

This is clearly putting Lin Chen on the fire to roast!

To let Lin Chen, who comes from a "small place" and only has a cultivation of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, compete against those monsters from major top-tier forces who even have cultivation at the Early Golden Core Stage?

This is fundamentally a losing battle!

The Sect Master's goal is to make Lin Chen lose miserably in front of the entire Sect! To make him "retreat in the Face of difficulties" on his own!

In this way, she gives Luo Bingli Face (by giving him a chance), maintains the Sect's "rules," and incidentally knocks Luo Bingli down a peg, letting her know that not just any "man" can be brought into the Holy Land!

Killing three birds with one stone!

What deep scheming! What ruthless methods!

Luo Bingli was so anxious that her pretty Face turned deathly pale, and she was just about to speak.

But Lin Chen took a step forward, smiled slightly at Yun Yun, and said without being humble or arrogant:

"I have no objections to the Sect Master's arrangements."

He actually... agreed?

Luo Bingli was stunned. She looked at Lin Chen in disbelief, not understanding why he would accept this losing battle.

And on the cloud bed, a trace of imperceptible mockery flashed deep within the phoenix eyes of Sect Master Yun Yun.

(He has some courage, but unfortunately, he is ultimately a youth with a naive heart, ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. So be it, let him go and break his head and bleed; it will also settle Junior Sister Bingli's mind.)

Although she thought this in her heart, her Face revealed an even more "gentle" and "approving" smile.

"Good! Truly worthy of being someone Junior Sister Bingli values; you certainly have spirit!"

She seemed truly moved by Lin Chen's "courage," pondered for a moment, and then spoke in a tone full of "appreciation for talent" and "benevolence":

"However, I also know that this is indeed somewhat harsh for you."

"How about this," she waved her jade hand, appearing exceptionally magnanimous. "I will give you another concession!"

"You do not need to enter the top ten."

"As long as you can defeat a Golden Core Stage opponent in the competition in a dignified manner, I will consider you to have passed the assessment and recognize your status as an Inner Sect Disciple!"

When these words were spoken, a flash of joy crossed Luo Bingli's Face!

Defeat a Golden Core Stage opponent!

Although it was still very difficult, compared to entering the top ten, the difficulty of this condition was undoubtedly much lower!

In her view, with her Master's Heaven-Defying combat strength, as long as he didn't run into those top Prodigies, there was still hope to complete this goal!

The Sect Master ultimately still gave her some Face!

However, she did not see the fleeting cold sneer deep in Sect Master Yun Yun's eyes when she said this, as if she were looking at a clown.

(A Late Foundation Establishment Stage, and he dares to dream of defeating the Golden Core Genius carefully selected by my Holy Land? How ridiculous. The looser I make the conditions, the uglier you will look when you lose.)

Yun Yun seemed to feel that her "benevolence" was not enough. She looked at Lin Chen and added with a smile, in a tone that was almost "joking":

"Of course, if you can create a miracle..."

"For example, accidentally... taking first place or something."

"Then I will pay out of my own pocket and double the reward of that 【purple extreme gold pill】 for the champion!"

After she finished speaking, she couldn't help but chuckle, as if she were talking about a fairy tale.

The atmosphere in the great hall also instantly became relaxed.

Deacon Wang and the few handmaidens beside her were all holding back their laughter.

In their view, this "joke" the Sect Master made was simply too "benevolent."

A man at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage taking first place?

That is even more absurd than a boar climbing a tree!

However.

Facing these conditions that everyone thought were a "joke" and "charity."

Not a trace of being flattered, nor any anger at being looked down upon, could be seen on Lin Chen's Face.

He just bowed slightly and calmly toward the queen on the cloud bed who thought she was in control of everything, revealing a bright and harmless smile.

"Then this Disciple will thank the Sect Master for your great kindness."

"Two 【purple extreme gold pills】..."

"This Disciple will humbly accept them."