Age of Evolution#

Chapter 827: Chapter 830: Aim, Endless Star Sea!_1

Seeing Lin Zhen ready to leave, Tian Hen and others were momentarily taken aback.

They had imagined countless outcomes on their way here, even considering the possibility of Jin Nuo turning hostile and fighting against them.

However, none of them anticipated this twist; Lin Zhen was actually a Saint-Level Alchemist.

A sense of absurdity surged through Tian Hen and his companions. Had they known earlier that Lin Zhen was a Saint-Level Alchemist even more powerful than Qian Tong, they wouldn’t have gone through the hardship of endorsing him.

They could have directly approached Lin Zhen to purchase elixirs.

However, it seemed that they had offended Lin Zhen now, leaving them somewhat bewildered.

Seeing Lin Zhen turning to leave, Tian Hen hastily spoke, “Wait, Lin…Saint Master Lin, may we have a word with you?”

“No time!”

“I’m willing to pay a high price to purchase your elixirs!”

Lin Zhen paused for a moment, “I’m not short of money.”

“I will trade with medicinal materials!”

“I will offer spiritual treasures!”

“I will trade with cultivation methods!”

Without turning his head, Lin Zhen walked into the house, paying no heed to the pleading voices from the group behind him.

Finally, Tian Hen gritted his teeth and said, “Saint Master, could I add you as a friend in the Dimensional Universe? Once we reach the Endless Star Sea, I’m willing to exchange God Crystals for your elixirs. The specifics can be discussed later.”

As he said this, a notification in the Dimensional Universe popped up, showing that Tian Hen had sent a friend request to Lin Zhen.

At this moment, Jin Nuo discreetly informed Lin Zhen through the Dimensional Universe that Tian Hen was the fourth resident to stay behind in the Holy Land of the Soul Lock Platform, and that he was a powerful individual. Adding him as a friend was undoubtedly beneficial.

Lin Zhen accepted Tian Hen’s friend request, then returned to his room to pack his belongings.

*********

The news that Lin Zhen was not only a Saint-Level Alchemist but was even more potent than Qian Tong quickly spread through the Dimensional Universe.

The entire Original World was shaken. Lin Zhen’s frequency of topping headline news seemed too high.

He managed to cause a stir with large-scale news every now and then, which was undeniably sensational. In the entire history of the Original World, there had only been three known Saint-Level Alchemists. Now, with Lin Zhen’s emergence, the total increased to four.

Vice Chairman Long Ge’er of the Association of Alchemists immediately contacted Lin Zhen, first conveying his congratulations, and then informing him that the Association of Alchemists had decided to commission a sculpture of him.

The Association of Alchemists had three statues- namely, Pill God Shui Wuhen, Elixir Saint Xi Erman, and Dan King Qian Tong.

These three were Saint-Level Alchemists, and only a Saint-Level Alchemist was worthy of having a statue.

Qian Tong was once hailed as a living legend. Now, the living legend had passed away, being replaced by a younger and more powerful Lin Zhen.

The Association even wanted Lin Zhen to take up the position of vice-chairman, but Lin Zhen refused. He didn’t want to be bound by cumbersome tasks.

Long Ge’er immediately offered a compromise and gave Lin Zhen an honorary vice-chairmanship. His position in the Association was second only to the chairman, and he wasn’t burdened with any duties.

This time, Lin Zhen didn’t refuse. After all, the status of a vice-chairman was more prestigious than that of a Great Elder. There was no reason for him to decline.

Countless people started to seek friendship with Lin Zhen, attempting to purchase the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill from him.

However, Lin Zhen had no plans of mass-producing elixirs through alchemy. He was out of time; it was time for him to leave.

*********

“Lin Zhen, have you really decided to leave now?”

Jin Nuo looked at Lin Zhen, who had finished packing, with some regrets.

There was just over a month left for the decennial contest of the Holy Land. However, Lin Zhen couldn’t wait. His two sons were in the Endless Star Sea, where danger could strike at any moment. He couldn’t afford to waste time idly in the Holy Land.

“Yes, Fifth Senior Brother. Though I don’t wish to, I can’t stay put. I fear I won’t be able to cultivate in peace.”

“True, if you can’t cultivate in tranquillity, no amount of hard work will be beneficial. Lin Zhen, you’re still unable to achieve a state of utter calm.”

Lin Zhen gave a bitter smile, “There are some matters one cannot easily let go.”

“Well, if that’s the case, just go. You’ve already reached the twelfth level of the Thirty-Three Sky Tower; your results couldn’t possibly fall into the Earth Class. Leaving aside all else, remember, once you reach the Endless Star Sea, you can’t stay there forever. Within ninety years, you must return at least once for the centennial student graduation exam. Your results will determine whether you’ll be allowed to remain in the Holy Land.”

“Fifth Senior Brother, I understand all this. But I have a favor to ask you.”

“Speak.”

“May I engrave two stone tablets in the Holy Land? As you know, I have a double identity, cultivating both within and outside the Holy Land. As long as I have the engraved stone tablets, I won’t stagnate in the Endless Star Sea.”

Jin Nuo considered it and nodded, “That seems reasonable. For others, it would be impossible. But you’re different. Only when your strength is sufficient to overlook all others will you have the possibility of succeeding as the resident of the Holy Land. Which two stone tablets have you set your sights on?”

“One would be the Shadowless Step which I’m currently learning. It’s necessary for me.”

“Alright, I see your mastery of the Shadowless Step is exceptional, I can engrave a copy for you.”

“For the second stele, I want to learn the Luo Heavenly Escape.”

Jin Nuo was slightly taken aback: “Are you sure you want to learn this?”

The Luo Heavenly Escape was a technique left by the first Holy Land Resident on the stele, which was also Jin Nuo’s senior brother. It was created based on teleportation.

This technique allows one to travel through elemental energy and teleport at will. Moreover, if one delved deep enough, it would even enable teleportation across vast distances.

However, learning this technique is extremely difficult, and it would take tens of millions of years to fully comprehend it.

Therefore, very few Holy Land Warriors would choose to study this stele, as it’s impossible to fully grasp the essence of the technique in just a hundred years, and thus it serves little practical use.

Lin Zhen’s decision to engrave this stele would mean permanently keeping its knowledge, which to some extent seemed somewhat like cheating.

Lin Zhen looked at Jin Nuo with anticipation: “Fifth Brother, I know this request is a bit demanding, but I can assure you that I will return to the Holy Land within ninety years to take the graduation exam. If I’m not mistaken, if I can clear twenty floors of the Thirty-Three Heavens Tower by that time, I would be eligible to erect a stele in the Holy Land, right?”

“That’s correct. Any warrior who can clear twenty levels within a hundred years not only has the right to erect a stele, but also has the privilege to continue practicing in the Holy Land and choose to engrave a stele, with a time limit of a thousand years.”

“That’s what I thought. I promise that when I return, I’ll be able to clear more than twenty floors. If I can’t accomplish that, Fifth Brother, you can take back the stele I’ve engraved. If I do succeed, then Brother Fifth will not be considered to have broken the rules.”

Jin Nuo nodded slightly upon hearing this. In this way, it didn’t really seem like he was breaking any rules. In the worst-case scenario, he could just take back the engraved stele within a hundred years.

However, in Jin Nuo’s heart, he really didn’t want to do this. He believed that with Lin Zhen’s current strength, getting through the twentieth floor in a hundred years was definitely not a dream.

“Alright! As you wish!”

Jin Nuo agreed and quickly engraved the two steles that Lin Zhen requested and transferred them into Lin Zhen’s Dimensional Universe.

“Thank you, Fifth Brother!” Lin Zhen respectfully thanked Jin Nuo.

“No need for formalities. Since you’re leaving, I can at least fulfill this request.”

“Fifth Brother, in this year’s new disciples intake, my family members and two people from the Fire Kirin clan will be participating in the Holy Land selection. If they fail the selection, Fifth Brother can dismiss them. But if they succeed and come to the Holy Land, I hope Fifth Brother would help take care of them. After all, most of them are women, and I don’t want anyone to take advantage of them.”

Jin Nuo solemnly reassured him: “Rest assured, as long as they can enter Falling Star Lake, they are like my own family. Nobody can hurt a hair on their heads. The kind of thing that happened in the New World, will never happen in the Holy Land. This is the safest place in the entire Original World.”

Having secured Jin Nuo’s promise, Lin Zhen finally felt relieved.

If even Star-Picking Island was not safe, then there probably wouldn’t be any safe place in the whole Original World.

“Fifth Brother, Lin Zhen shall take his leave.”

Jin Nuo waved his hand: “The sooner you go, the earlier you return.”

*********

Traveling by dolphin, Lin Zhen passed through the misty area and then through the portal back to Qin City.

He headed straight to the Association of Alchemists.

In the Association’s main hall, the construction of Lin Zhen’s statue was near completion, life-sized and almost identical in appearance.

The statue of Qian Tong had been moved to the fourth position.

Beneath the statue, there was an introduction about Lin Zhen being the youngest Saint-Level Alchemist in history and the honorary vice-president of the Alchemist Association.

Behind it, there were some smaller characters introducing Lin Zhen’s achievements, but Lin Zhen didn’t linger to read them.

He walked through the main hall and went straight to his floating villa in the Association.

Ning Qingxuan was still practicing there.

Just like she had anticipated Lin Zhen’s arrival, she had even prepared a lavish lunch in the villa.

“Xuan’er, did you know I was coming?” asked Lin Zhen, surprised.

“Of course. Don’t I even know the character of the man I love? Your son is in danger on the Endless Battlefield. I knew you couldn’t stay home at ease. Now that things are settled, I knew you would be leaving, and by my calculations, it should be about today.”

Lin Zhen felt touched. Xuan’er really understood him and didn’t question him about his past family matters. She completely trusted him to handle these matters well.

The two had lunch together, and then, before dusk fell, they made love, and Lin Zhen left.

“Xuan’er, you rest. I left you some elixirs that will help you cultivate. I hope when I return, Xuan’er will have reached the God Transformation stage.”

“Yes, you don’t have to worry about me. Perhaps by the time I end my closed-door cultivation, you’ll be back.”

Leaving a tender kiss on Ning Qingxuan’s forehead, Lin Zhen turned around and left.

He then went back to the Fire Kirin Clan to take care of some matters. However, he wasn’t too worried about this place considering that Su Mingyue and An Ning were surely going to the Holy Land.

Knowing that Lin Zhen was going to the Endless Star Sea, all his wives were worried and gave him endless reminders and advice.

After spending the night there, Lin Zhen left early the next morning before his tired wives woke up.

The first ray of dawn fell on Lin Zhen’s face.

Lin Zhen tilted his head up, his eyes piercing the sky. His destination was the endless starry sea!