76: Chapter 76 Secret Talks at the Merchant Guild and the Challenge Letter from Jianmen

Inside a secret room of the Wantong Trading Firm, decorated a hundred times more luxuriously than the Lin Family's study.

The sandalwood incense was of a higher grade; it was "Dragon Saliva Fragrance," a specialty of the Central Continent capable of calming the mind and gathering Spiritual Qi.

The walls were not inscribed with ordinary sound-insulating runes, but were embedded with a solid, priceless piece of "Silent Basalt," sufficient to block the Divine Thought prying of a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.

The smile on Qian Baiwan's face was much more sincere than last time; he spread his chubby palms, and a ray of spiritual light gathered in them, transforming into a vibrant, three-dimensional sand table.

That was the miniature of the Salt and Iron Ancient Road.

On the northern section of the sand table, over a dozen soft white light spots twinkled like stars in the sky.

"Clan Head Lin, please look." Qian Baiwan pointed at the light spots, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "These thirteen locations are the supply points and hidden warehouses that our Wantong Trading Firm has spent three years secretly establishing in the northern section of the Ancient Road. The small ones can accommodate five people for three months of rest, while the large ones are sufficient to store a hundred loads of grain and hide fifty soldiers. As long as we can open the entire route, our Wantong Trading Firm can guarantee that the Medicinal Pill and local specialties shipped from the Southern Region will appear on the shelves of any major city in the Central Continent within seven days! All logistics, warehousing, and even the connections to grease the palms of various forces in the Central Continent will be handled entirely by our side!"

He paused, and a sharp glint flashed in his narrowed eyes: "Profits shall be divided according to investment and actual contribution. Clan Head Lin provides the most competitive Medicinal Pill supplies and uses your influence in the Southern Region to assist us in handling some... local relations. How about it?"

Lin Chen's gaze did not linger on that tempting northern section, but instead fell on the dark red area in the southern section of the sand table, which represented the territory of the Iron Sword Sect.

There, it was a chaotic blur, with only a few scattered black skull markers representing known dangerous areas.

His fingers were still subconsciously rubbing the rough stone ring on his thumb.

Qin Ruowei stood quietly behind him, her gaze equally calm, as she quickly evaluated the exaggeration and potential traps in Qian Baiwan's words.

Although she did not directly participate in the decision-making, every subtle change in her expression would become a reference for Lin Chen's judgment.

"Manager Qian is full of sincerity, and I appreciate it." Lin Chen spoke, his voice steady. "But one must eat one bite at a time. In the initial stage of cooperation, I suggest we focus only on jointly developing the northern section and conducting in-depth 'exploration' of the southern section. Directly conflicting with the Iron Sword Sect does not serve the interests of either party."

The fat on Qian Baiwan's face twitched imperceptibly.

This Lin Chen was even more steady and difficult to deal with than he had imagined.

"That is natural, that is natural." He immediately beamed with a smile. "Harmony brings wealth, after all!"

"Therefore," Lin Chen's index finger lightly traced the edge of the dark red area on the sand table, "I need to share the detailed intelligence that your firm possesses regarding the entire line of the Salt and Iron Ancient Road. Not just the geography, but also all the risk points, Yao Beast habits that you know of, and even... the personnel movements within the Iron Sword Sect."

Qian Baiwan's smile faltered slightly.

"One last point," Lin Chen continued, as if he hadn't noticed his hesitation. "'Exploring' the southern section carries extremely high risks. My Lin Family will provide personnel, but your firm must also provide armed guard support of the same level. It can be your own guards, or reliable Loose Cultivator that you hire."

The air in the secret room went quiet, with only the faint "hissing" sound of the Dragon Saliva Fragrance burning to be heard.

A layer of fine beads of sweat seeped from Qian Baiwan's forehead. For the first time, he put away his slick merchant mask, his eyes becoming sharp as he stared fixedly at Lin Chen, seemingly wanting to see even the slightest trace of wavering on his calm face.

But he failed.

Lin Chen's eyes were like an unfathomable ancient well, calm and waveless, yet seemingly capable of swallowing everything.

After a long while, Qian Baiwan let out a long breath and squeezed out a smile again, only this time the smile contained a bit more helplessness and admiration: "Fine! Clan Head Lin is truly a person who accomplishes great things! I will agree to it! We can draft a memorandum of cooperation first; although it is not a legal contract, it can serve as proof of sincerity for both you and me!"

Just as Qin Ruowei took out a blank Jade Slip and prepared to record the terms of the memorandum, the transmission talisman at Lin Chen's waist vibrated very slightly.

He picked it up nonchalantly, and with a sweep of his Divine Thought, he saw it was a secret report from Liu Yuan.

His brows raised imperceptibly.

"Manager Qian," Lin Chen put down the Jade Slip and looked at him. "It seems our actions have already alerted the tiger. My people just reported that the Iron Sword Sect has strengthened patrols and hidden sentries at several key passes in the southern section of the Ancient Road. Furthermore, over the past two days, unidentified Cultivator have been scouting around Qingzhou City, asking whether my Lin Family has had any contact with the Wantong Trading Firm."

Qian Baiwan's reaction, however, was unexpected to Lin Chen; he just gave a "heh" sound, with no surprise on his face at all. "Clan Head Lin's intelligence network is truly remarkable. However, I have also just received word of this matter. My firm also keeps a few 'ears' within the Iron Sword Sect. The Sect Leader, 'Mountain-Breaking Sword' Sect Master Shen Cang, has a heart of iron and is extremely tough and exclusionary; he views the Salt and Iron Ancient Road as his own whetstone for sword training and will not allow others to touch it in the slightest. Our previous attempts were all mercilessly driven back by him. Clan Head Lin, you must be prepared; he will soon make a move."

Before Qian Baiwan's words had even faded, far away in the Iron Sword Sect, inside the main hall of Broken Sword Peak, a cold Sword Qi pressure was spreading.

Sect Master Shen Cang sat high on the Sect Master's throne cast from black iron, his face as dark as water.

He was tall and sturdy, wearing a simple gray robe, but on his back was strapped a heavy sword as broad as a door panel. Even though the sword was not unsheathed, that heavy Aura capable of splitting mountains and breaking peaks was already pressing down so hard that it made people unable to breathe.

Below the hall, Chu Yun was dressed in white, standing tall and handsome, his expression as cold and sharp as ever.

"...The situation is exactly so. In that team of Lin Family scouts, I sensed a pure Sword Intent originating from a young man. After verification, it should be Lin Chen's eldest son, Lin Haoyu." Chu Yun reported in a steady tone. "And the eyes we have planted in Qingzhou City have also confirmed that Lin Chen has just entered the secret room of the Wantong Trading Firm again."

"Hmph!" Sect Master Shen Cang gave a heavy cold snort, and the temperature of the entire hall seemed to drop by several degrees. "A nouveau riche who rose to power relying on women and Medicinal Pill, yet he dares to covet the sword-training ground of my Iron Sword Sect? Colluding with those merchants reeking of copper is even more absurd!"

"Master," Chu Yun cupped his hands and said neither humbly nor arrogantly. "The Lin Family may not be worth worrying about, but that young man's sword heart is pure and his potential is astonishing. If he can be introduced into the Dao of our Sword Sect, he may well be a piece of uncut jade. Moreover, the Lin Family was able to rise rapidly from obscurity, and its Clan Head, Lin Chen, is definitely not a mediocre person. If a large-scale conflict breaks out directly, even if we win, both sides will suffer, which would just allow that old fox from the Wantong Trading Firm to sit back and reap the benefits."

He paused and offered his suggestion: "Why not... follow the ancient etiquette of our generation of Sword Cultivator and send a 'Sword Testing Post'. If the Lin Family can accept it, it will prove they have the qualifications to sit down and talk with us; if they cannot accept it, they will have suffered a loss and will naturally retreat in the face of difficulty. Also, taking this opportunity, I would like to personally test the depth of that Lin Haoyu, to see just how far his sword has reached."

Sect Master Shen Cang's deep gaze rested on Chu Yun for a moment, and the Sword Qi pressure in the hall slowly receded.

He nodded, his voice like a booming bell: "I will leave it to you. You go and deliver the post; as for the person testing the sword, use your own discretion."

"Yes, Master." Chu Yun bowed and accepted the order.

The next morning, a ray of sunlight just illuminated the main gate of the Lin Family residence.

An Iron Sword Sect Disciple, carrying an ancient long sword on his back with a cold and arrogant expression, stood quietly in front of the gate like a sharp sword unsheathed.

He did not announce himself, nor did he make a scene, but the sharp Sword Qi on his body made no one within a radius of ten zhang dare to approach easily.

It was not until the Lin Family guard commander arrived upon hearing the news that he took out a gold-plated battle post sealed with sharp Sword Qi from his bosom and said coldly: "Iron Sword Sect battle post, to be delivered personally to the Lin Family Clan Head."

The battle post was quickly delivered to Lin Chen's study.

Lin Chen exhaled Spiritual Qi from his fingertips, carefully dissolving the Sword Qi on the Seal.

The Sword Qi was extremely condensed; even with his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation, he felt his fingertips go slightly numb.

He unfolded the battle post, and lines of handwriting that looked like they had been carved by a sword or chiseled by an axe came into view, sharp and revealing:

"I have heard that the Lin Family is interested in the commercial profits of the Ancient Road. The Ancient Road is a place for my Iron Sword Sect to sharpen swords and temper the heart, not a place for vulgar merchants to tread. Now, I specially dispatch my Disciple Chu Yun to set up a ring at the 'Eagle Sorrow Ravine' pass of the Salt and Iron Ancient Road at noon three days from now to test the sword. If the Lin Family can withstand three strikes from Chu Yun, the Iron Sword Sect will acknowledge that you are qualified to discuss the affairs of the Ancient Road. If you dare not or cannot, then please abandon this thought forever."

The signature consisted of two murderous characters and a name—Mountain-Breaking Sword, Sect Master Shen Cang.

Once the battle post appeared, the entire upper echelon of the Lin Family was shaken.

In the council hall, the atmosphere was grave.

"This is naked military intimidation and also a test of our bottom line!" Liu Yuan's face was serious as he tapped his finger on the battle post on the table. "Accept it, but with what can we accept it? Chu Yun, the chief true Disciple of the Iron Sword Sect, is rumored to already be at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and his 'Cold Blade Sword Art' is superb, with few rivals among the same Rank. Besides the Clan Head, who in our Lin Family can withstand his three strikes? But if we don't accept, all our previous efforts will be in vain, and we will become the laughingstock of the entire Southern Region!"

Qin Ruowei frowned, worrying: "The risk is too great. This is clearly a trap; what if the Iron Sword Sect has set an ambush at Eagle Sorrow Ravine..."

Just as everyone was discussing and at a loss, a clear and firm voice came from the doorway.

"Father, let me go."

Everyone turned around to see Lin Haoyu in a crisp martial outfit, standing at the door, no one knew for how long.

He looked at Lin Chen with burning eyes, his gaze devoid of any fear, containing only boiling Battle Intent.

"I have seen that Chu Yun from afar. His Sword Intent is sharp and pure, like ice that has frozen for ten thousand years; for me, he is exactly the whetstone I have been seeking!" He strode into the council hall, bowed to Lin Chen, his voice resonant and powerful. "I have had some insights on the Ancient Road recently and have been feeling stuck at a Bottleneck; I need a real, practical battle to verify them! Even if I am not his match, being able to personally experience the demeanor of a true Sword Cultivator Master will do nothing but good for my future Sword Dao, with no harm at all!"

Lin Chen looked at his son, who stood straight before him like a sharp sword about to be unsheathed, thoughts racing through his mind.

He remembered the [Progeny Talent In-Depth Insight] function on the System panel that had been stored and unused all this time.

This battle was extremely dangerous.

But, perhaps it was also the key opportunity for Haoyu to break through the Bottleneck and even open up a new situation for the entire Family.

In the end, Lin Chen agreed to Lin Haoyu's request to fight.

But he immediately issued strict instructions, requiring Liu Yuan and Qin Ruowei to formulate the most comprehensive backup and retreat plan, ensuring that if things went wrong, they could rescue Haoyu at the first opportunity.

At night, he personally handed Haoyu an inner armor meticulously crafted by Su Qingyao using heavenly silkworm silk and soft jade, checked all his equipment, and repeatedly urged him on tactics: "Remember, do not seek victory in this battle, only seek to withstand three strikes. Use your keen perception of the environment, use your Comprehension Ability of Sword Dao, use skill to break force, use softness to overcome hardness, and maneuver with him."

Deep in the night, inside the study.

Lin Chen looked at Lin Haoyu's sleeping profile and finally made up his mind, silently chanting in his heart: "System, use [Progeny Talent In-Depth Insight] on Lin Haoyu."

[Ding! In-Depth Insight activated... Analyzing...]

A pale golden light screen that only Lin Chen could see swept over Haoyu, and then lines of information appeared before his eyes:

[Progeny: Lin Haoyu]

[Talent: Innate Sword Bone (Hidden, current development 15%)]

[Hidden Potential:]

[1. Sword Heart Clarity: Possesses extremely high affinity for Sword Dao Law, requires extreme emotions or life-and-death experience to trigger.]

[2. Sword Intent Affinity: Possesses extraordinary perception and imitation ability for various Sword Intent drifting between heaven and earth.]

[Best cultivation direction: Recommended to be placed in life-and-death sword battles in extreme environments, observing Sword Intent duels of high-level Sword Cultivator, and comprehending the essence of sword arts with different attributes to complete oneself.]

Looking at these lines of text, Lin Chen's heart suddenly steadied.

Innate Sword Bone! Sword Heart Clarity!

So that was it.

The last trace of hesitation in his heart vanished with it. This battle, Haoyu must go.

He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air; his eyes held both gratification for his son's talent and a mixture of deeper anticipation and worry.

Three days later, Eagle Sorrow Ravine will not just be a three-strike agreement.

That will be the Lin Family's new generation, truly stepping onto the center stage of the turbulent Southern Region for the first time.

The wind has already risen.