51: Chapter 51 Fishing

After joining the guild, Lin Qing did not plan to head into the mountains immediately. Since obtaining that Rank 4 Cultivation Technique at the wilderness inn, Lin Qing had not yet cultivated it.

He planned to first Cultivate the Ronghuo Heart Pillar to Perfection to increase the speed of his body's tempering.

Thus, Lin Qing began a brief period of secluded cultivation, and the earth core milk was being consumed rapidly. His energy consumption also slowly increased due to the additional cultivation of the Rank 4 technique; he now had to make time every day to visit some shops in the city to supplement his qi-blood energy.

Only a few days into his seclusion, Su Lan came knocking. The young girl was dressed in sharp martial attire, her posture valiant. Seeing Lin Qing open the door, she immediately stepped forward, her tone carrying a hint of urgency:

"Xie Chen, stop cultivating and come with me!"

Lin Qing raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression calm. "What is the hurry?"

"It's a great thing!" Su Lan's eyes sparkled, her tone incredibly excited. "The Guild Leader is back. I'm taking you to meet her."

As she spoke, Su Lan led Lin Qing outside while enthusiastically introducing her:

"Let me tell you, our Yaojin Guild's leader not only has unfathomable cultivation, but her beauty is also unrivaled in Yanguī City."

Lin Qing paused slightly and asked casually, "The Guild Leader is a woman?"

Hearing this, Su Lan immediately rolled her eyes and looked at Lin Qing with a helpless expression:

"I say, Xie Chen, aren't you a bit too oblivious? You're so focused on cultivation that you ignore everything else. You've been in the Yaojin Guild for so long; I thought you would have at least heard of our Guild Leader's name."

Lin Qing remained silent. Since joining the guild, he had spent most of his time in secluded cultivation and indeed had not inquired much about the people or affairs within the guild.

Seeing this, Su Lan stopped teasing and slowly spoke the name that echoed through Yanguī City:

"Our Guild Leader, Chu Lingxi."

After saying this, Su Lan stopped her pace and stood to the side with her arms crossed, quietly waiting to see Lin Qing's shocked and horrified expression.

In her view, Chu Lingxi's name was a legendary existence among the younger generation throughout the Xia Kingdom.

However, the expected scene of shock did not appear.

Lin Qing's face remained as calm as still water, his eyes indifferent, as if what he had just heard was merely an ordinary name.

Now it was Su Lan's turn to be stunned. She blinked and looked at Lin Qing with disbelief, asking hesitantly:

"Xie Chen, you... you've really never heard of Guild Leader Chu's name?"

Lin Qing shrugged slightly, his tone frank. "Never heard of it."

"I give up on you!"

Su Lan was speechless and couldn't help but let out a groan, looking at Lin Qing as if he were an absolute freak.

"Our Guild Leader Chu is ranked third on the hidden dragon list. At only twenty-eight years old, she has already been at Rank 4 for many years. You are also a Prodigy on the hidden dragon list; how could you know nothing?"

Lin Qing understood, but his expression still didn't change much.

He had never made a conscious effort to learn about the hidden dragon list.

Among the top ten on the hidden dragon list, he only knew Sun Shaoping and Ye Lingchuan, and Sun Shaoping wasn't even a local Prodigy of the Xia Kingdom. As for the names of the other prodigies on the list, he had never bothered to investigate them.

The path of martial arts ultimately relies on one's own hard cultivation. No matter how famous others are, it isn't as practical as improving one's own strength.

"Let's go, take me to see her." Lin Qing didn't dwell on the topic and gestured for her to lead the way.

Su Lan shook her head helplessly, thinking that this Xie Chen was truly obsessed with cultivation. She said no more and led Lin Qing toward the main hall.

After arriving at the hall, Su Lan led Lin Qing up a wooden staircase on the side.

In the center of the second floor sat a large, heavy wooden table.

Behind the long table sat a slender and upright figure.

Chu Lingxi was dressed in a well-fitted set of black martial attire that outlined her sharp and valiant figure. Her jet-black hair was not elaborately styled but simply tied up with a black ribbon, with a few stray strands falling by her ears, adding a touch of casual freedom.

Her eyes were as sharp as swords, her nose bridge straight, and her lip line clean. She lacked the gentle beauty of ordinary women, replaced instead by an innate, awe-inspiring heroism.

Between her brows was a carefree and unrestrained temperament that didn't hide her grand ambitions or her lofty pride. She possessed both the unique charm of a woman and the peerless aura of a martial powerhouse.

Su Lan stepped forward and said playfully to the woman:

"Boss, this is Xie Chen."

Lin Qing's gaze was calm as he nodded slightly toward Chu Lingxi in the main seat. His posture was neither humble nor arrogant, serving as a greeting.

Chu Lingxi's gaze slowly fell upon Lin Qing. Her eyes, sharp as cold stars, carried a hint of scrutiny as she scanned him up and down for a moment.

After a while, she opened her red lips, her voice cold and pleasant with a unique magnetic quality. It wasn't forceful, yet it carried an inherent power that commanded trust:

"Hello, Xie Chen. I have heard much of your reputation. Welcome to the Yaojin Guild."

"Since you have joined my Yaojin Guild, you are one of us. The guild has its own benefits and welfare. If you encounter danger, the guild will step in to protect you. In the future, if you run into trouble outside, you can declare the name of our Yaojin Guild."

Lin Qing listened quietly and nodded slightly. "Thank you, Guild Leader."

Afterward, Su Lan took her leave with Lin Qing.

After meeting Chu Lingxi, Lin Qing felt no great waves in his heart. He bid Su Lan farewell and returned once more to his small courtyard to continue his bitter cultivation.

The days passed by quietly.

Over the next few days, Lin Qing immersed himself day and night in the cultivation of the Ronghuo Heart Pillar.

Finally, on his twelfth day at the guild...

The Rank 4 Cultivation Technique, Ronghuo Stake Technique, reached Perfection!

With his first Rank 4 Cultivation Technique reaching Perfection, the Breakthrough time on his panel was significantly reduced. Now, it would only take 350 days to Breakthrough to Rank 4.

Once the technique reached Perfection, the energy consumption required to maintain its operation surged again. He now needed forty catties of Rank 3 Vicious Beast meat every day.

Lin Qing calculated the money he had on hand; it was barely enough to support twenty days of cultivation consumption.

"It seems it's time to set out for the Hundred Thousand Mountains."

Living off one's savings was not a long-term solution. He couldn't wait until his money was gone to find a way; he had to prepare in advance.

Before setting out, there was some preparatory work to be done.

The longsword he had used previously was only an ordinary hundred-forged grade. It was sufficient for dealing with Rank 1 and 2 Vicious Beasts, but if he went deep into the Hundred Thousand Mountains and encountered Rank 3 or even stronger beasts, it would be somewhat inadequate.

After some selection, Lin Qing bought a heavy profound iron saber. The blade was thick and cold, its edge sharp, and its material far superior to the hundred-forged sword.

After buying the saber, he used all his remaining silver to purchase Rank 3 qi-blood pills.

After this spending spree, he only had a few dozen taels of loose silver left on him.

Burning his bridges!

Entering the Hundred Thousand Mountains this time, he had only one goal — making money.

However, his primary targets were not the Vicious Beasts deep in the mountains.

But rather those people who had been coveting the treasures on him since he stepped into Yanguī City.

Yanguī City North Gate.

Countless Martial Artists entered and left the city, either heading into the mountains to hunt Vicious Beasts or returning laden with prey; it was bustling with activity.

After stepping out of the city gate, Lin Qing did not linger at all. His body suddenly unfolded, and he shot out like an arrow from a bow, accompanied by a sharp whistling wind, charging straight toward the depths of the dense forest.

His figure sped along, leaving a trail of afterimages, his speed incredibly fast.

Such a high-profile move drew the eyes of all the Martial Artists at the city gate.

"Look! That figure, isn't that Xie Chen!"

"As expected of a Prodigy on the hidden dragon list. This speed is simply too fast!"

Discussions rose one after another, and sounds of amazement and envy were endless.

And this overly flamboyant behavior, like an open flame in the dark of night, attracted countless ill-intentioned gazes from the shadows.

The news of Lin Qing leaving the city in such a high-profile manner spread back to Yanguī City as if it had grown wings.

For a moment, several forces within the city became restless.

Teams of well-equipped Martial Artists quickly assembled. Holding their weapons, they streamed out of the city gate, following the direction Lin Qing had left, tracking him all the way.

While speeding along, the corner of Lin Qing's mouth curled into a faint arc, and a cold glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

The fish have already taken the bait.

Those pursuing Martial Artists did not yet know who the true hunter was.