6: Investment from my cousin

Hearing Lin Ziyan's voice, Lin Zhan's ecstatic expression slightly receded, replaced by a hint of surprise.

Ziyan, this child, was an orphan he adopted during his travels many years ago. She possessed extraordinary talent and a disposition as cold as snow, indifferent to everything except cultivation. Ordinarily, within the family, she rarely interacted with anyone, so why would she proactively seek Chener?

"Let her in," Lin Chen said calmly, as if he had already expected it.

Lin Ziyan, dressed in a purple dress, slowly walked into the small courtyard.

Her figure was graceful, her face exquisitely beautiful, and her temperament was cold and aloof, like a purple ice lotus growing on the peak of a snowy mountain, noble and distant.

When her gaze swept over the neatly cut Hundred Refinements Essence Stone, a barely concealed shock flickered deep within her clear eyes.

Indeed, she hadn't misjudged him.

This cousin, who had been mocked by everyone for over a decade, harbored an astonishing secret!

"Ziyan greets the Clan Head, and greets Cousin Lin Chen." She nodded slightly, her etiquette impeccable.

"Ziyan, what do you need Chener for?" Lin Zhan asked curiously.

Lin Ziyan didn't answer immediately. Instead, she took something out of her Storage Ring—a crystal-clear pill emanating a rich medicinal fragrance.

"This is... a Foundation Establishment Pill?!" Lin Zhan exclaimed in surprise.

The Foundation Establishment Pill is a precious elixir that allows cultivators at the peak of the Ninth Stage of Qi Refinement to achieve a one hundred percent breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm! In the entire Lin family, this is a strategic resource, requiring immense family contribution points to exchange for just one!

Ziyan had accumulated family contribution points for three whole years to exchange for this Foundation Establishment Pill, all to ensure a flawless breakthrough for herself.

Now, she actually took it out?

"Cousin Lin Chen," Lin Ziyan's gaze met Lin Chen's directly, her clear voice carrying an undeniable seriousness, "I know you are very strong, even stronger than anyone could imagine. But Bai Ruoxue is, after all, a well-known Foundation Establishment Third Stage cultivator. In three months, if you want to stably defeat her in cultivation, you must break through."

"This Foundation Establishment Pill is for you."

At these words, not only Lin Zhan was stunned, but even Lin Chen was somewhat surprised.

He looked at this nominal cousin, this ice beauty with whom he had almost no interaction in his memories.

Why would she do this?

As if sensing Lin Chen's confusion, a faint blush, unprecedented for Lin Ziyan, appeared on her face, but it was quickly masked by her usual coldness.

She bit her red lip lightly and continued, "I have one condition."

"Tell me," Lin Chen said, looking at her with interest.

"Three months from now, during the Annual Grand Competition, you and I will join forces to win first place in the Qingyang City Grand Competition! I want the final reward—the Azure Origin Fruit!"

Lin Zhan suddenly understood.

The Azure Origin Fruit is a spiritual fruit that can cleanse bloodlines and enhance talent. Although Lin Ziyan is a genius, she ultimately possesses a mortal bloodline, which is her greatest limitation. Her desire for the Azure Origin Fruit is to use it to break through to higher realms!

"In previous Grand Competitions, the Bai family and the City Lord's Mansion always took the top prize. Our Lin family hasn't won first place in many years," Lin Zhan sighed. "Ziyan, you want to rely on Chener... isn't this bet too big?"

A Foundation Establishment Pill was almost Lin Ziyan's entire fortune.

"It's not big," Lin Ziyan shook her head, her beautiful eyes sparkling with an unusual light as she stared intently at Lin Chen. "I believe in him."

"I'm betting he can create a miracle!"

This was a nearly blind trust, stemming from the intense shock Lin Chen had given her today!

She was a pure martial artist; she admired strength!

When Lin Chen effortlessly killed Lin Feng with a single move, when she saw that silently cut essence stone, her long-frozen heart was violently cracked open.

Rather than trusting her own systematic cultivation, it was better to place her bet on this unfathomable cousin and gamble for a glorious future!

Looking at this girl who was outwardly cold but inwardly so resolute, even a little crazy, Lin Chen couldn't help but smile to himself.

She was a clever woman.

She was using a Foundation Establishment Pill that she couldn't temporarily use to gain a future investment and a favor.

"Alright, I agree," Lin Chen reached out, but he didn't take the Foundation Establishment Pill. Instead, to Lin Ziyan's astonishment, he gently held her cool, jade-like hand.

Lin Ziyan's delicate body trembled, wanting to recoil as if shocked, but Lin Chen held her firmly, preventing her from pulling away. Her perpetually icy face instantly flushed crimson, spreading from her cheeks all the way to her fair neck.

"Cou... Cousin! What are you doing!" She was both shy and anxious, her voice even trembling slightly.

Lin Zhan, standing by, was also dumbfounded. How could his son become so... bold after his enlightenment?

Lin Chen didn't answer. Instead, he slowly channeled an extremely pure Chaotic Force through his palm into Lin Ziyan's body.

At the same time, the system prompt sounded in his mind.

"Detected a target for conquest/marriage: Lin Ziyan"

"Bloodline: Mortal Bloodline (Can be strengthened)"

"Cultivation: Qi Refinement Seventh Stage"

"Affection: 50 (Curiosity, Admiration)"

"The Foundation Establishment Pill is useless to me," Lin Chen said lightly, looking into Lin Ziyan's shocked eyes. "As for the Azure Origin Fruit you desire, there's no need for such trouble."

"I can make your bloodline undergo a transformation right now!"

As his voice fell, that Chaotic Force suddenly erupted within Lin Ziyan's body!

"Buzz!"

Lin Ziyan felt an unprecedented warm current instantly surge through her limbs and bones. Her meridians, bones, and blood were all undergoing earth-shattering changes under the cleansing of this mysterious power!

Her cultivation bottleneck, which had been stagnant for a long time, instantly loosened under the impact of this force!

Peak Qi Refinement Seventh Stage!

Qi Refinement Eighth Stage!

In just a few breaths, her cultivation soared by one stage!

More importantly, she could clearly feel that her body, her talent, were all more than a notch stronger than before!

Lin Ziyan was completely stunned. She looked at Lin Chen in disbelief, her cold, pretty face filled with shock and incredulity.

What... what kind of monster was he?

Just holding hands could improve my cultivation and talent?

This was even more terrifying than legendary divine pills and miraculous medicines!

"Now, do you still think your bet is too big?" Lin Chen asked with a smile, releasing her hand.

Lin Ziyan stared at him blankly, then looked at the Foundation Establishment Pill in her hand, which she had once regarded as a treasure, and suddenly felt it was burning hot.

She took a deep breath and made a decision that left Lin Zhan dumbfounded.

She carefully put the Foundation Establishment Pill away, then bowed gracefully to Lin Chen, her voice filled with an unprecedented gentleness and respect:

"Ziyan is willing to follow Cousin. Henceforth, I shall obey your every command!"