208: Chapter 208 Armory, Lin Mansion

Lin Sheng walked in front with big, purposeful strides.

Chen Ran followed slowly behind.

The two of them, one after the other, exited the prison.

The morning light was just beginning to appear.

Pedestrians on the street were gradually increasing.

A carriage was already waiting outside the gate.

"Get in."

Lin Sheng pointed at the carriage, his tone brooking no argument.

Chen Ran didn't ask much and honestly climbed into the carriage.

Lin Sheng followed closely behind.

With a flick of the horse whip, the wheels rolled forward.

The two sat opposite each other, neither speaking.

The atmosphere was somewhat stifling.

Chen Ran leaned against the carriage wall, closing his eyes to rest.

He was calculating what Lin Sheng was up to.

Why drag him around so early in the morning?

About half an hour passed.

The carriage slowed down.

Finally, it came to a halt.

"We're here, get out."

Lin Sheng was the first to lift the curtain and jump down.

Chen Ran followed him out.

Looking up, he was instantly stunned.

Before him lay a sprawling mansion.

The vermilion-lacquered gate towered high, and in front stood two white jade stone lions as tall as a man, looking majestic and imposing.

Four guards in tight-fitting martial attire stood at the entrance, each with a steady aura.

On the plaque above the door, two gold-leafed characters were written in a bold, sweeping calligraphy.

Lin Residence.

Chen Ran's eyelid twitched.

"The Lin family?"

He turned his head to look at Lin Sheng, curious:

"Brother Lin, why are we here?"

Lin Sheng glanced at him and said testily.

"What? Are you afraid I'll eat you?"

"Follow me in."

After saying this, he clasped his hands behind his back and strode up the steps.

Seeing it was Lin Sheng, the guards hurriedly bowed and pushed open the gate.

"Second Young Master."

Lin Sheng nodded slightly and led Chen Ran through the gate.

As soon as they entered, Chen Ran was shaken by the scene before him.

What is a wealthy and powerful family?

This is what a wealthy and powerful family is.

Entering, one was met with a huge spirit wall, carved with a lifelike picture of a hundred beasts.

Circling around the spirit wall, there was a wide bluestone path leading straight to the main hall.

On both sides of the path, exotic flowers and herbs vied for beauty.

Rockeries and flowing water were arranged in an orderly and aesthetic fashion.

The morning sun sprinkled over the courtyard, and the dew on the leaves shimmered with crystal-clear light.

The air was filled with the fresh fragrance of flowers and plants.

Every dozen steps or so, an exquisite sheep-horn palace lantern was hung.

Teams of guards clad in soft armor patrolled in the shadows; the security was tight.

From time to time, maidservants in green clothing shuttled back and forth carrying tea and pastries.

Their steps were light, and their conduct was strictly disciplined.

Although Chen Ran had spent quite some time in the capital, this was his first time entering such a top-tier noble residence.

He had to admit, it was indeed magnificent.

It was countless times better than his own dilapidated little courtyard.

As one of the Four Great Families of the capital, the depth of the Lin family's foundation was evident.

Lin Sheng walked in front, his peripheral vision constantly observing Chen Ran's reaction.

Seeing that he was only surprised at first, and then regained his calm.

His eyes scanned around, strolling leisurely as if he were walking through a vegetable market.

Lin Sheng nodded inwardly.

This kid has good composure.

If it were an ordinary Martial Artist, upon entering the Lin family gate, their legs would be trembling.

The two passed through several courtyards.

They arrived in front of a secluded courtyard.

A plaque hung above the courtyard gate, inscribed with the three large characters "Martial Arts Hall".

It should be the place where the Lin family descendants usually practiced.

Next to it was a three-story pavilion named the "Hidden Martial Arts Pavilion".

Lin Sheng stopped and turned to look at Chen Ran.

"That girl Lin Wan is always nagging about you in my ear all day long."

"Since your Comprehension Ability is good, you don't need to go around trying to get Cultivation Technique from those prisoners anymore. Come to my Lin family Armory and pick a few decent martial arts."

Chen Ran was stunned.

Come to pick martial arts?

Why does everyone want him to pick a martial art?

Last time it was Lin Wan, and this time it was her second brother, Lin Sheng.

He felt speechless inside.

However, although he thought this way, he couldn't show it on his face.

Chen Ran put on a flattered expression.

"Does Brother Lin mean I can enter the Lin family Armory to choose a Cultivation Technique?"

Lin Sheng looked at his expression and nodded with satisfaction.

"That's right."

"The Lin family Armory houses nearly half of the world's martial arts classics."

"Although the top-tier Cultivation Technique are not passed on, the rest are enough to serve you for a lifetime."

Lin Sheng paused, his tone becoming serious.

"Since you are Lin Wan's person, when you go out in the future, you represent the face of our Lin family."

"If the martial arts you use are too shabby, it will be the Lin family who loses face."

"Go in later and pick two profound martial arts; don't embarrass us outside."

Chen Ran nodded repeatedly.

"Thank you for your cultivation, Brother Lin."

This free meal, might as well eat it.

Going in and picking two books to save face is fine too.

Lest he expose his trump cards whenever he makes a Move in the future.

"Let's go."

Lin Sheng turned around and led Chen Ran toward the Hidden Martial Arts Pavilion.

Just then, a maidservant walked along the path in the distance.

She was dressed in green clothes and a jade-colored skirt, carrying a basin of clear water.

When passing by Chen Ran, the maidservant subconsciously looked up.

The moment she saw Chen Ran's face, the maidservant froze.

The water basin in her hand almost tipped over.

This... isn't this that Chen Ran?

How could he be here?

Still following behind the Second Young Master?

Xiao Qian's heart pounded wildly.

No, this matter must be told to the Young Miss immediately.

She didn't even bother to greet them, hurriedly turned around, carried the water basin, and trotted away, her figure disappearing.

The two walked to the front of the Hidden Martial Arts Pavilion, where two tall and burly men stood, their auras extremely terrifying.

Just at a glance, Chen Ran could feel the extremely thick Qi and blood rushing towards him.

Chen Ran narrowed his eyes; these were actually two Peak Return to Truth Realm guards.

He saw Lin Sheng take out a token and hand it to the guards at the door.

After the guards verified it, they opened the heavy bronze door.

"Go on in."

Lin Sheng looked at Chen Ran.

"I will wait for you outside."

"Remember, you can only choose from the first and second floors."

"The time is half an hour; I won't wait past that."

Chen Ran nodded.

He stepped into the Hidden Martial Arts Pavilion.

The door slowly closed behind him.

Chen Ran looked around.

The space inside the Hidden Martial Arts Pavilion was huge, with rows of tall bookshelves arranged neatly.

They were filled with various martial arts classics.

The air was filled with a faint scent of ink and the medicinal smell of paper mothproofing.

Chen Ran pulled out a book at random.

"Mountain Opening Fist Manual", second-rate martial art.

Chen Ran shook his head and put it back.

He pulled out another one.

"Flowing Cloud Sword Technique", second-rate martial art.

Chen Ran sighed.

It seems the first floor is all common goods.

He skipped the first floor directly and went up the stairs to the second floor.

The bookshelves on the second floor were significantly fewer than on the first.

The classics placed there were also more exquisite.

Chen Ran Mental Energy swept across.

Instantly taking in the situation of the entire second floor.

Most of the Cultivation Technique were first-rate, and occasionally he could see a few incomplete copies of ultimate arts.

For an ordinary sixth-grade Martial Artist, this was definitely a dream treasure house.

But for Chen Ran, the attraction was not great; at the very least, it had to be a complete ultimate art.

Although his Mad Tiger Saber Technique was also an ordinary martial art, it had already been deduced by him to the Perfection Realm using the heavenly book of prison suppression.

Its power far exceeded these ordinary first-rate Cultivation Technique.

With his current cultivation progress, generally only martial arts at the ultimate art level would be instilled; first-rate ones were already a bit unable to keep up.

Chen Ran walked around the bookshelves.

He really couldn't pick anything he was interested in.

He stroked his chin.

Since he was here to put on a show, he might as well just take two books.

It would be best if they were the flashy kind, looking powerful but actually useless.

Chen Ran's gaze searched the bookshelves.

Finally, his gaze rested on an ancient book covered in dust.

"Falling Flower Divine Sword Palm".

Chen Ran's eyes lit up.

This name sounds very impressive.

He flipped it open to look.

The Move were gorgeous and complicated, like falling flowers.

It would definitely be pleasing to the eye when fighting.

But the lethality was pitifully small.

It was perfect for covering his tracks.

Chen Ran nodded with satisfaction and tucked the "Falling Flower Divine Sword Palm" into his robe.

Still need one more.

He walked around again.

In a corner, he found a "Roaming Body Bagua Steps".

A movement-based martial art.

It focused on being elegant and agile; it was perfect for escaping or maneuvering.

Chen Ran put away the two Cultivation Technique.

The half-hour hadn't passed yet, and he wasn't in a rush to leave, otherwise he would arouse Lin Sheng's suspicion.

He simply leaned against the bookshelf and closed his eyes to rest.

In the rear residence of the Lin family, inside a quiet boudoir.

Lin Wan was standing in front of a bronze mirror, playing with a white jade hairpin in her hand, already dressed in a neat gold-embroidered Flying Fish Robe.

She stared at herself in the mirror, not knowing what she was thinking.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open violently.

"Young Miss! Young Miss!"

Xiao Qian ran in, panting.

Because she ran too fast, the water basin in her hand almost tipped over.

Lin Wan frowned slightly,

"Early in the morning, what is the meaning of this panic? What happened?"

Xiao Qian gasped for air, pointing outside.

"Chen... Chen..."

Lin Wan's heart skipped a beat, and she stood up abruptly.

"Chen Ran? What happened to him?"

Xiao Qian swallowed, finally catching her breath.

"Young Master Chen... Young Master Chen is here!"