127: Hayashihara's hostility

Yun Yun said in a deep voice, "I don't know whether to call you confident or arrogant. But since Young Master Lu has no intention of joining forces with me, I might as well foster a good relationship. This cold shadow shield will be a welcoming gift for Young Master Lu!"

With that, Yun Yun touched the Storage Ring on her right hand, and the cold shadow shield that the Dragon Seeking Gate Elder had given her appeared before Lu Xingchen.

Lu Xingchen did not refuse either.

More friends mean more options.

Although he didn't want to be constrained by Yun Yun, there was no need to make an enemy of her.

Moreover, he really did need the cold shadow shield.

Lu Xingchen cupped his hands slightly towards Yun Yun and said with a smile, "An earth-rank spirit artifact might not be much in the Eldest Princess's eyes, but it is a great help to me. In that case, I will accept it."

"We may not have a deal, but our friendship remains. If the Eldest Princess ever needs my help in the future, just say the word!"

Yun Yun waved her hand, "That's enough. It's not good for you to be out for too long. I hope you won't spread what we discussed today."

Lu Xingchen nodded slightly, "Of course. This Junior Brother will take his leave!"

Lu Xingchen put away the cold shadow shield and left the Eldest Princess's sleeping chambers.

On his way back to his room, he couldn't help but marvel.

This Eldest Princess was no ordinary person; she actually wanted to win him over with such extreme methods.

But it didn't matter; making another friend had no downsides.

The people of the Dragon Seeking Gate would never have imagined that the Spiritual Artifact they gave to Yun Yun would end up in his hands.

After returning to his room, Lu Xingchen continued to refine his Soul Power using the "Spirit Burning Art."

It wasn't until midnight that he lay on his bed and rested for a while.

The next day, the Liyun Kingdom's King personally saw everyone out of the imperial city.

On the back of the Wind Spirit Bird, the seating arrangement was the same as when they arrived.

Yun Li patted Lu Xingchen's shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Lu Xingchen, I went to your room last night to find you, intending to discuss Archery Skill with you, but I didn't see you. Honestly, where did you go? Did you go out for some fun?"

Lu Xingchen quickly shook his head.

"What kind of person do you take me for? I already have a Dao Companion, alright! It's just my first time in the Liyun Kingdom's imperial city, and I was quite curious about it, so I went out for a stroll."

It wasn't that Lu Xingchen felt guilty; it was just that he had already promised Yun Yun to keep it a secret, and he couldn't go back on his word, could he?

Yun Li nodded slightly, "I'll barely believe you this once!"

She continued, "Now your strength has surpassed most Inner Sect Disciples. When do you plan to enter the Inner Sect? Once you enter the Inner Sect, we can see each other every day."

Lu Xingchen said with a bitter smile, "I wish I could. But there's a strict requirement to enter the Inner Sect: one's Realm must advance to the Martial King Realm. I'm still far from the Martial King Realm!"

Yun Li said softly, "If you don't mind living off a woman, I can pull some strings for you to let you participate in the Inner Sect assessment with your Martial Spirit Realm. I believe, with your strength, entering the Inner Sect will definitely not be a problem."

Lu Xingchen nodded slightly, "That's not impossible. We'll see then; there's still a month until the Inner Sect assessment anyway."

Yun Li chuckled, "Suit yourself; the decision is in your hands."

After returning to the Cangxuan Sect, Lu Xingchen and Yun Li parted ways, and he continued to Cultivate in the Spirit Gathering Pagoda.

However, what made him feel frustrated was that breaking through from a Six-Star Martial Spirit to a Seven-Star Martial Spirit required 70,000 experience points, while idling in the Spirit Gathering Pagoda for a day only yielded 3,600 experience points.

This leveling speed was a bit too slow.

It seemed he had to seriously consider what Yun Li said.

Only by entering the Inner Sect and Cultivating on the second, or even first, floor of the Spirit Gathering Pagoda could he level up quickly.

At the same time, within the Cangxuan Sect's Inner Sect, Saint Peak.

A man in white was tasting tea.

The man was somewhat handsome, but what was more impressive was his powerful aura.

Ye Chen rushed in, respectfully saying, "Greetings, Saint!"

That's right, this man in white was the Cangxuan Sect's Saint, Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan frowned and said softly, "Ye Chen, why are you so flustered?"

Ye Chen said in a deep voice, "Saint, Lu Xingchen also participated in this trip to the Liyun Kingdom, and he was very close to Saintess Yun Li, conversing happily."

Hearing this, Lin Yuan's frown deepened.

"Yun Li has always been unwilling to become my Dao Companion, which might be related to this person. Lu Xingchen, Lu Xingchen, you shouldn't have provoked Yun Li. Ye Chen, help me deal with him. Do it cleanly, and don't ruin my reputation."

Ye Chen said in a deep voice, "Saint, I'm afraid I can't deal with him."

Hearing this, Lin Yuan was a little surprised.

"You are a Seven-Star Martial King, and that Lu Xingchen is just an Outer Sect Disciple; he probably can't even take one of your moves, can he? Why are you so wary of him?"

Ye Chen said in a deep voice, "Saint, don't be misled by Lu Xingchen's superficial strength. This person possesses a secret art that can temporarily increase his Realm. At the Eldest Princess's banquet, he defeated a Five-Star Martial King with the strength of a Six-Star Martial Spirit, and he did it in one move."

Hearing this, Lin Yuan was also somewhat surprised.

"One move? He does have some skill. Perhaps that's why Yun Li fancies him! But it doesn't matter; a Five-Star Martial King is still an ant in my eyes."

"In that case, I will find someone else to act. Ye Chen, you don't need to be involved in this matter."

"As you command!" Ye Chen slowly retreated.

Next, Lu Xingchen stayed in the Spirit Gathering Pagoda for twenty days, raising his own Realm to a Seven-Star Martial Spirit.

More importantly, he wasn't idle while idling; he alternated between refining his Soul Power and Alchemy.

Finally, on the twentieth day, his Alchemy broke through the fourth grade, and he became a Fifth-Rank Alchemist.

One must know that as long as one becomes a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, one can participate in the Inner Sect assessment.

This saved him from owing Yun Li a favor.

But there was still one problem: he had the identity of a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, but he still needed one last mission to participate in the Inner Sect assessment.

Lu Xingchen left the Spirit Gathering Pagoda and asked Li Gui about the mission, but he didn't get the answer he wanted.

In desperation, he could only go to the Mission Hall himself, intending to casually complete a mission to meet the quota.

As soon as he walked into the Mission Hall's main entrance, Lu Xingchen saw Li Hua.

This guy had also made a Breakthrough; his Realm had already risen to a Nine-Star Martial Spirit.

Seeing Lu Xingchen, Li Hua's face lit up with joy.

"Junior Brother Lu, are you here to accept a mission?"

Lu Xingchen nodded slightly, "That's right. I need to complete five missions to participate in the Inner Sect assessment, and I'm still one short."

Li Hua smiled, "I was just about to invite you to join my team."

Hearing this, Lu Xingchen's heart was filled with joy, and he said in a deep voice, "First, introduce the mission!"

Li Hua said in a deep voice, "The mission is simple: just help the Sect transport a Spiritual Artifact from the Dragon Seeking Gate to the Cangxuan Sect. It's a four-day round trip, so it won't delay your participation in the Inner Sect assessment."