"What? Cultivating to the late Nascent Soul stage with the Qian Yuan Burning Blood Divine Skill? Are you sure?"
Lu Yuyan, in particular, looked as if she had heard the most fantastical tale, her face filled with astonishment.
She herself had previously practiced this very technique, so she naturally knew how fast cultivation could be with it.
If her meridians could truly be repaired, starting from now, she could reach the late Nascent Soul stage in at most ten years!
By then, perhaps there would be hope of avenging her sect!
"Yes, I'm sure. It's just that if you do, you won't be able to cultivate any other techniques from now on."
"Your cultivation realm will be permanently stuck at the late Nascent Soul stage, unable to progress further for the rest of your life."
Lin Chen stated resolutely to Lu Yuyan.
He had to admit, the Qian Yuan Burning Blood Divine Skill was indeed a magical cultivation method. After practicing it, one's meridians would expand, and cultivation speed would increase.
However, it also fundamentally altered the cultivator's meridians.
Lu Yuyan's previous cultivation of an incomplete version of the Qian Yuan Burning Blood Divine Skill had completely damaged her meridians.
Even with a Marrow Cleansing Pill to cleanse and reshape her meridians, the underlying damage couldn't be repaired.
This meant that by practicing the Qian Yuan Burning Blood Divine Skill again, Lu Yuyan would be unable to cultivate other techniques like he could.
"Alright, I agree!"
Upon receiving confirmation, Lu Yuyan nodded profusely.
Ever since suffering the backlash from the cultivation technique, she had been counting down her days, and her husband had grown increasingly despondent.
Previously, a third-rank alchemist from the Long family had examined her meridians and declared she wouldn't live past the end of this year.
Now, not only could she survive, but she could also break through to the late Nascent Soul stage. What reason was there to refuse?
"However, where can we obtain the Hundred-Year Yellow Immortal Ganoderma?"
A comment from Long Yuling beside them once again stumped everyone.
While they weren't alchemists, they knew well that the Yellow Immortal Ganoderma was already extremely precious, let alone a hundred-year-old specimen!
Within the entire Long family, any Yellow Immortal Ganoderma over ten years old was stored in the forbidden treasure vault.
A specimen over a hundred years old – it was doubtful anyone in the entire Dragon Country's cultivation world currently possessed one.
"Actually, it doesn't need to be a hundred years old. If you can find any Yellow Immortal Ganoderma of any age within three months, I can refine a Marrow Cleansing and Bone Reshaping Pill."
As Long Yuling and Long Yixian debated, Lin Chen promptly explained.
He possessed the Nine Dragon Ring, which had a different flow of time. He could completely plant the Yellow Immortal Ganoderma seeds in the medicinal fields within the Nine Dragon Ring.
Based on his previous tests, medicinal herbs grew one year in the spiritual field for every day spent there.
This meant that as long as he had Yellow Immortal Ganoderma seeds, he could have a hundred-year-old specimen within three months!
"Oh? Yellow Immortal Ganoderma of any age? That's something we might be able to figure out."
Hearing Lin Chen's words, Long Yixian began to ponder.
The Long family in the capital was quite affluent, and their treasure vault did contain Yellow Immortal Ganoderma.
However, that vault was the Long family's most critical asset, and anyone wishing to enter required the escort of at least two Long family elders.
Their Long family branch in Zhejiang was, in the end, just a subsidiary.
To enter the capital Long family's vault and obtain Yellow Immortal Ganoderma was akin to dreaming.
"Lin Chen, this matter, I'm afraid we'll have to trouble you for assistance."
Long Yixian then furrowed his brow and looked at Lin Chen.
"Uncle, please speak. If there's anything I can do, I will not refuse."
Upon hearing this, Lin Chen agreed without hesitation.
Lu Yuyan was his martial aunt. Although he didn't know why his master hadn't personally visited, this relationship was undeniable.
Lu Yuyan's concern for his master just now wasn't feigned.
"Our Long family holds a grand family competition every ten years."
"At that time, all branches of the Long family throughout the Dragon Country will gather in the capital."
"The winners of the top three places can enter the Long family treasure vault to select treasures."
"The champion can choose three items, the second place two, and the third place one."
"I believe, with your talent, it shouldn't be difficult for you to secure a spot in the top three if you participate."
Long Yixian looked at Lin Chen, a peculiar glint in his eyes.
At this point, he could only place his hopes on Lin Chen.
He could defeat He Biao, who was at the late Core Formation stage, so perhaps he truly could contend with those arrogant geniuses.
"Dad, aren't our Long family's family competitions only open to Long family members?"
"Lin Chen isn't one of us."
As Long Yixian finished speaking, Long Yuling was the first to object.
Admittedly, Long Yixian's reasoning was sound. With Lin Chen's current combat prowess, he indeed had a chance to contend for the top three.
However, the biggest loophole, ultimately, was that Lin Chen wasn't a member of the Long family.
"Hahaha, Lin Chen, aren't you curious about what your master meant by the 'Ding Jun Mountain Agreement'?"
Hearing Long Yuling's words, Long Yixian burst into laughter and looked at Lin Chen with a teasing expression.
"Uh, Uncle, please speak your mind."
Seeing Long Yixian's gaze, Lin Chen felt an inexplicable shiver.
For some reason, he felt that Long Yixian was plotting against him!
"Your martial aunt and I, along with your master and his wife, got married on the same day. The location was precisely at Ding Jun Mountain."
"So, we made an agreement that if our children were of the same gender, they would become sworn siblings, and if they were of opposite genders, they would be betrothed."
Saying this, Long Yixian chuckled.
"Although your master has a daughter, you are his only disciple, making you half a son."
"If you were to marry into the Long family, wouldn't you also become a member of the Long family and thus eligible to participate in the competition?"
As he spoke, a smile flickered across Long Yixian's face.
To be honest, the first time he met Lin Chen, he had already considered matchmaking him with Long Yuling.
After all, he had already sensed that this young man, Lin Chen, would undoubtedly achieve greatness in the future!
He hadn't expected that his master would be Zhang Long!
If he were to truly marry Long Yuling, wouldn't the two families become even more closely related?
Coupled with the fact that Zhang Long was about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, regardless of whether Lu Yuyan's cultivation could be restored, the Long family would benefit greatly from such a marriage, securing a Nascent Soul stage backer for their family. It was a worthwhile endeavor.
"This..."
Hearing Long Yixian's words, Lin Chen became conflicted.
According to his master's wishes, he and his senior sister Zhang Ying were destined to be together.
While the method Long Yixian proposed was effective, he himself couldn't make that decision.