Qianye City.

Martial artists in the city were collecting the bodies of Eight Desolate Domain martial artists, cleaning the bloodstains on the streets.

All martial artists were thankful for surviving the ordeal, and a rainbow light descended from outside the city onto the City Lord’s Mansion.

“Senior Brother Lin.”

As soon as Lin Chen landed, Gu Kong stepped up and fell to his knees in front of Lin Chen with a loud thud.

“Junior Brother Gu, what are you doing?”

“Senior Brother Lin, I didn’t know the relationship between the Murong girl and you, and left her in the city, almost causing a big mistake. I’m willing to accept any punishment from Senior Brother.”

Gu Kong’s face was filled with guilt, knowing that a significant part of his current strength was due to Lin Chen.

Senior Brother Lin had taken good care of him; even after Lin Chen left the sect, he got into the Inner Sect thanks to Lin Chen’s connections. The Inner Sect seniors, including Steward Gao, were also very supportive of him.

Without Senior Brother Lin, he definitely wouldn’t have reached the Peak of First Grade within these three years, now being just one step away from the Innate First Realm.

“It’s not your fault; you did nothing wrong.”

Lin Chen helped Gu Kong up. With the Eight Desolate Domain martial artists about to invade, Gu Kong had led the city martial artists in resistance, which wasn’t wrong, especially since Gu Kong didn’t know about Murong Yan’s connection to him.

“Comfort the city’s martial artists, and don’t be stingy with compensation for those who died in battle.”

“Yes.”

Lin Chen patted Gu Kong on the shoulder, watched him leave, then turned around and entered the City Lord’s Mansion.

After killing Wu Ke, he went to several surrounding cities and slaughtered all remaining Innate Martial Artists of the Eight Desolate Domain before returning to Qianye City.

In the City Lord’s Mansion courtyard, Murong Yan’s face had regained its color. Before leaving, Lin Chen had given Murong Yan some healing elixirs. The pills he carried could save any martial artist below Entering the Grade as long as they had a breath left. Murong Yan’s issue was merely an overconsumed Divine Soul.

For ordinary martial artists who hadn’t Entered the Grade, this would be considered a serious injury, requiring months to heal, as Innate-level pills are not affordable for them.

“You’re back.”

Seeing Lin Chen, Murong Yan flashed a gentle smile, while Su Qin sensibly left the courtyard, even closing the door.

Under the moonlight, Murong Yan had shed the deliberately plain outer layers, and her pure silk robe flowed like clouds over water. Her delicate shoulders and neck were faintly revealed beneath the sheer fabric, the moonlight imbuing her skin with a frosty sheen, her long hair was tied up, with a few strands softly falling beside her neck, accentuating her graceful swan neck.

A moon-white skirt hugged her elegantly, a silk band defining her slender waist, and as she walked, the hem of her dress rippled like watery waves, her gaze and movements enchanting.

One word: enchanting.

Two words: very enchanting.

As Murong Yan gracefully approached, Lin Chen was about to speak, but Murong Yan pressed a jade finger against his lips: “Don’t say anything…”

The moonlight was captivating, the beauty enticing…

Lin Chen embraced the beauty, and even the moon hid shyly among the clouds.

The shadows on the bed spoke of unending longing, eliciting shy laughter from the beauty…

…

…

The next day.

Su Qin watched her princess gaze towards the city gate, her face showing hesitation.

“Princess, why won’t you leave with Young Master Lin?”

Su Qin couldn’t understand her princess’s thoughts. She’d spent over two years searching for Young Master Lin, and now that she’d found him, she was going to part ways.

If she were the princess, she’d choose to go with Young Master Lin.

She didn’t believe Young Master Lin would refuse if the princess requested to stay with him.

“Now is not the usual time; the Eight Desolates Sect and Canglan Sect are at war, and the Canglan Sect is at a disadvantage. As a celestial pride disciple of Canglan Sect, Lin Chen cannot remain uninvolved; he came to Qianye City because he’s heading to Ten Thousand Flames Sect.”

Murong Yan shook her head; as a woman, she knew when to cling to her man and when not to be caught up in emotions.

“But the princess can go with Young Master Lin to Ten Thousand Flames Sect. With Young Master Lin’s strength, it wouldn’t delay much even if he took the princess.”

“It’s not the same.”

Even though Aunt Qin was very loyal to her and would never betray her, there were certain things she couldn’t share with Aunt Qin.

Lin Chen had told her about the battlefield situation, including the Canglan Sect’s current disadvantage. From Lin Chen’s words, she’d detected hints; this sect war seemed more complex, and Lin Chen’s tone carried a sense of crisis.

She didn’t know where Lin Chen’s sense of crisis came from, but she didn’t want to become a burden for him.

Lin Chen’s strength seemed formidable to Aunt Qin and herself, but in the grand sect war between Canglan Sect and Eight Desolates Sect, even the slightest misstep could lead to peril, unable to alter the outcome.

“Miss Murong, Senior Brother Lin asked me to escort you to the sect.”

From outside the courtyard, Gu Kong’s voice came, and Murong Yan replied, “Alright, please wait a moment.”

“Aunt Qin, pack our things, let’s go.”

…

…

Outside Qianye City, after a brief night with Murong Yan, Lin Chen couldn’t help but feel a touch of longing.

Yet, no matter how reluctant he felt, he couldn’t take Murong Yan with him.

Upon returning to the sect, Martial Uncle Ye’s words filled Lin Chen with a sense of impending danger. Although reaching the Peak of the Innate Fourth Realm in just three years was nothing short of a miracle, it still wasn’t enough…

He had given Murong Yan many pills, along with some Divine Soul Cultivation Techniques; once she reached the sect, Murong Yan should be able to break into the Innate Realm.

…

…

A day later.

Lin Chen arrived at the border between Canglan Domain and Ten Thousand Flames Domain. The first time he ventured to Ten Thousand Flames Sect, he had met Senior Brother Wen Yunting here, who had been very courteous and informed him about some aspects of Ten Thousand Flames Domain to avoid encountering volcanic eruptions on his way to the sect.

This time, upon returning to the sect, he saw Senior Brother Wen’s name on the sacrificial monument.

The sacrificial monument was erected by the Sect Leader himself after the war with Eight Desolates Sect began, initially with only one stone inscribed with names of Innate disciples who had perished in battle. But now, one had become three.

Each stone was filled with names.

Lin Chen had deliberately checked; he recognized many familiar names, including Senior Brother Wen’s.

Currently, the border was no longer guarded by Canglan Sect disciples; Lin Chen didn’t delay and directly stepped into the territory of Ten Thousand Flames Sect.

…

…

At the mountain gate of Ten Thousand Flames Sect, there stood the same giant monument.

Back then, he had felt the scorching heat of the azure blue flames, and now, standing here again, Lin Chen felt the yearning within him for the Innate Fire.

The Glazed Purifying Fire could cleanse impurities.

Impurities in a martial artist’s body, in medicinal materials, in artifact refining materials…

Impurities from all things under heaven could be cleansed.

Suppressing his inner desire, Lin Chen had come to Ten Thousand Flames Sect not only because Elder Zhuang had invited him, showing great regard, but also to explore the path of Innate Fire refining.

Gazing at the golden flaming waterfall descending from the heavens at the mountain gate of Ten Thousand Flames Sect, Lin Chen stood quietly, waiting for disciples of the sect to appear.

“Who goes there… Lin… Lin Chen?”

The Ten Thousand Flames sect disciple who appeared at the mountain gate was surprised upon sensing Lin Chen’s presence with his Divine Thought.

“I received an invitation from Elder Zhuang of your sect to visit.”

Lin Chen cupped his fists, and just as he finished, Zhuang Lie’s familiar voice sounded from within the mountain gate, “Stop dawdling, hurry up and get over here.”

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