pjbooks Chapter 148 Qin Guanlan's Probing, Weakness or Root?
Chapter 148 Qin Guanlan's Probing, Weakness or Root?
The outer ring of Longyuan Academy.
The war clock would ring out every so often.
The dull tolling of the bell came from the direction of the Zhenxing Army's main fortress, passed over the academy, and landed between the training buildings and martial arts arenas.
The once bustling outer ring streets are now noticeably quieter.
Many shops closed early.
The number of Zhenxing soldiers patrolling the streets has increased several times over.
Looking up, the deep blue two anchors in the depths of the main star gate are still anchored there.
The massive projection of the bronze gatekeeper stood silently behind the gate, like an ancient executioner's statue hanging above everyone's heads.
Three days to go, just over two days left.
Amidst this oppressive atmosphere, an invitation was delivered to the Starry Courtyard.
The invitation was very simple.
No threat.
The Qin family's usual condescending tone was gone.
There wasn't even a mention of "the death of Qin Xuanxiao" or "the blood feud of the Qin family."
Only one sentence.
Qin Guanlan, the main branch of the Qin family, invited Lin Yuan to a chat at Tingchao Tower on the outer ring road.
The signature is a black and gold Qin pattern.
Lin Xiaoya looked at the invitation, her face showing some nervousness.
"Brother, are you from the Qin family?"
Lin Yuan picked up the invitation and glanced at it.
"Um."
"Are they trying to cause trouble again?"
"Maybe."
Lin Xiaoya clenched her small hands tightly.
"Are you still going?"
Lin Yuan casually placed the invitation on the table.
"Let's go take a look."
Lin Xiaoya became even more nervous.
"Is there any danger?"
Lin Yuan thought for a moment.
"There was a period after he was granted the title of Marquis."
Lin Xiaoya's eyes widened slightly.
"Another late-stage Marquis-level official?"
She now knows that the late-stage Marquis is even stronger than Qin Xuanxiao.
That Zhou Xuanheng was in the later stages of being granted the title of Marquis.
Now the Qin family has another member who has reached the late stage of being granted a marquisate.
Lin Xiaoya suddenly felt that there seemed to be more and more powerful people in Longyuan City.
Lin Yuan spoke calmly:
"Don't be afraid."
Why?
"They are smarter than the Qin family of Longyuan."
Lin Xiaoya whispered:
Are intelligent people not dangerous?
Lin Yuan glanced at her.
"A smart person won't rush in to their death."
Lin Xiaoya: "..."
She suddenly realized that her brother's standards for judging whether others were smart or not seemed to be different from those of normal people.
Lin Yuan stood up.
"Keep practicing the door-locking seal."
"Um."
Lin Xiaoya nodded.
But just as he was about to leave, Lin Xiaoya ran to the door again and whispered:
"Brother, come back soon."
Lin Yuan paused slightly.
"it is good."
……
Listening to the Tide Pavilion.
This is a very quiet teahouse on the outer ring of Longyuan Academy.
On weekdays, most of the people who come here are professors from academies, scions of prominent families, or visitors from outside the city.
The teahouse is located near a branch canal called Xingchao.
The silvery-white water flowing in the branch canal originates from the main star's tidal bore and usually murmurs softly, hence the name "Listening to the Tide".
But today, the sound of water carries a sense of oppressive chill.
Because the second anchor of the main star gate is affecting the source energy of the entire Longyuan City.
Tingchao Tower has three floors.
Qin Guanlan was already sitting there.
He was wearing a long black robe with golden Qin patterns embroidered on the cuffs.
A pot of tea was placed on the table.
The tea aroma is very faint.
Like pine branches after a snowfall.
Qin Zhu stood behind him, his gray robes hanging down, his eyes half-closed.
This protector, who was in the late stage of being granted the title of Marquis, did not deliberately release his aura.
Yet the air in the entire teahouse still felt as if it were being suppressed by an invisible hand.
As Lin Yuan walked up to the third floor, several Qin Clan Star Armor Guards looked over at the same time.
Black and gold armor.
A chilling silence descended.
Every gaze was scrutinizing.
Lin Yuan did not stop.
He walked to the table and sat down.
Qin Guanlan looked at him and smiled slightly.
"Lin Yuan".
"First time meeting you."
Lin Yuandao:
"What's up?"
Qin Guanlan paused slightly.
Then his smile deepened.
He had prepared a few pleasantries.
The name Lin Yuan completely cut off all formalities.
Like a blunt knife, yet very clean.
Qin Guanlan poured a cup of tea himself and pushed it in front of Lin Yuan.
"Have some tea first."
Lin Yuan glanced at it but didn't move.
Qin Guanlan didn't care.
"Don't worry, it's not poisonous."
Lin Yuan said calmly:
"Poison has no effect on me."
Qin Guanlan's fingers paused slightly.
Qin Zhu's half-closed eyes opened a crack at that moment.
This sentence was spoken very softly.
But he's very arrogant.
It's not the arrogance of youth.
Rather, it was a calm statement of facts.
Qin Guanlan did not refute, but simply withdrew his hand, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
"I invited you here today not to resort to violence."
"It's not about seeking an explanation for the Qin family of Longyuan."
"The main branch of the Qin family is already aware of the conflict between the Qin family of Longyuan and Lin Yuan and his sister."
"I have also read the records of Qin Zhao's death, Qin Yue's death, and Qin Xuanxiao's death."
Lin Yuan did not respond.
Qin Guanlan continued:
"The Longyuan branch has done many foolish things."
"Qin Zhao is stupid."
"Qin Yue is even more stupid."
"Qin Xuanxiao is not stupid, but he underestimated the Blood-Faced Ancient Cultivator."
"So they died."
He spoke calmly.
It was as if the dead were not members of the Qin clan.
Instead, it refers to several pieces on the chessboard that have already been captured.
Lin Yuan glanced at him.
"You seem to know quite a bit."
Qin Guanlan smiled slightly.
Those who don't understand this won't live long.
"Especially in Longyuan City now."
He looked up at the window.
In the distance, the main star gate stretched across the sky, and the projection of the bronze gatekeeper remained silent.
Qin Guanlan said:
"The main gate will open."
"The Star Gate headquarters, the Star Suppressing Army, the Qin family main branch, and the four major families—everyone has been dragged into this."
"Thinking only of revenge at a time like this is too low-level."
He looked at Lin Yuan again.
"I care more about the truth."
Lin Yuandao:
"What's the truth?"
Qin Guanlan tapped the table lightly with his fingertips.
Before his death, Qin Xuanxiao sent back half a message of his lingering thoughts.
Lin Yuan's expression remained unchanged.
Qin Guanlan stared into his eyes and slowly said:
"Blood face...no."
The third floor of the teahouse suddenly became much quieter.
The sound of the tide outside the window continues to flow.
But the air in front of the table seemed to be stretched taut at that moment.
Qin Guanlan did not miss any detail on Lin Yuan's face.
But he was disappointed.
Lin Yuan did not frown.
No surprise.
There was not a single ripple.
He didn't even lift his eyelids.
Qin Guanlan continued:
"Before his death, Qin Xuanxiao desperately tried to get this half-sentence out."
"Unfortunately, the message was interrupted."
"So we can only guess."
"What is a blood-red face?"
"Not the original body?"
"Not human?"
"Not a complete ancient cultivation method?"
Or perhaps...
He lowered his voice slightly.
"Is the Blood Mask just something in someone's possession?"
Qin Zhu's gaze fell on Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan remained seated there.
He remained as calm as someone who had nothing to do with the matter.
Qin Guanlan smiled.
"I originally thought that Bloodface was your protector."
"Later I realized something was wrong."
"The guardians will protect, but not to this extent."
"Qin Zhaogang provoked you, and he died that very night."
"The Qin family's secret guards approached the Star-Rank courtyard and disappeared."
"Qin Yue guided Lin Xiaoya's dream, and the blood-stained face directly pierced through the White Pagoda."
"Qin Xuanxiao made a move, and Bloodface instantly killed a mid-stage Marquis."
"This is no longer what it means to protect the Way."
"More like a sore spot."
He paused for a moment after saying this.
"So I have a few guesses."
"Are you a disciple of Bloodface?"
Lin Yuan remained silent.
"Are you the vessel for some ancient technique passed down through the Blood Face tradition?"
Still no response.
"Are you Bloodface's weakness?"
Lin Yuan finally picked up his teacup.
He didn't drink it, but just glanced at the tea in the cup.
Qin Guanlan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Lin Yuan put down his teacup and looked up at him.
"You want to know?"
Qin Guanlan nodded.
"think."
Lin Yuan said calmly:
"You can ask Qin Xuanxiao."
The air suddenly turned cold.
The eyes of the Star Armor Guards standing behind Qin Guanlan instantly darkened.
Qin Zhu's aged eyes also opened completely.
The aura of someone in the later stages of being granted a title of nobility was silently revealed.
It's not an outbreak.
It was just a tiny wisp.
Yet, all the teacups on the three floors of Tingchao Tower trembled slightly at the same time.
The sound of stars and tides by the window seemed to be suppressed.
Qin Guanlan did not stop it.
Because he wanted to see it too.
Let's see what Lin Yuan relies on to remain so calm.
That wisp of aura from the late stage of the Marquis title descended upon Lin Yuan.
Unlike Zhou Xuanheng's Star Law Pressure, which carries the scrutiny of rules.
Qin Zhu's aura was deeper, older, and more like a black stone buried underground for many years.
It is not sharp.
But it is extremely heavy.
Even ordinary Grandmasters would experience stagnation in their qi and blood when swept by this aura.
Even grandmasters would change color.
But Lin Yuan just sat there.
The corner of the old school uniform was hanging down.
Place your finger on the table.
It didn't move.
No refund.
I didn't sweat.
There wasn't even a ripple in the teacup.
Within his body, the Supreme Star Body quietly endured.
The pressure, before it could even reach the star patterns deep within the bones, was naturally dispersed by the physical body.
Qin Zhu's expression finally changed.
It wasn't outrage.
Instead, it was solemn.
His last breath seemed to sink into a well.
It did not hit the protective seal.
It did not provoke a backlash.
It was not blocked by any external object.
Instead, it disappeared silently.
It felt like falling into an extremely deep, heavy, and stable container.
This doesn't look like a seal.
Even the strongest protective seal will leave traces of being triggered.
No matter how well-hidden the forbidden object is, there will still be fluctuations in its movement.
But Lin Yuan didn't have it.
That sense of bearing weight seemed to come from his own body.
Qin Zhu felt a slight unease.
He transmitted his voice to Qin Guanlan:
"Young Master, he's wrong."
Qin Guanlan's eyes remained unchanged as he transmitted his voice to ask:
"Seal protection?"
Qin Zhu remained silent for a moment.
"Unlike a regular seal."
"It's more like something with extremely strong bearing capacity."
"Inside him."
"Very deep."
Qin Guanlan's gaze deepened after hearing this.
He did not allow Qin Zhu to continue to exert pressure.
Instead, he raised his hand and gently tapped the table.
Qin Zhu withdrew his breath.
The third floor of Tingchao Tower returned to calm.
Qin Guanlan looked at Lin Yuan and smiled:
"You're more interesting than I imagined."
Lin Yuandao:
"Are you done talking?"
Qin Guanlan shook his head.
"not yet."
He put down his teacup, his tone becoming more serious.
"Lin Yuan, the main branch of the Qin family is not the Longyuan branch."
"We won't be as foolish as Qin Zhao, nor will we use rules to intimidate people like Qin Yue."
"As for Qin Xuanxiao..."
He paused.
"He proved with his life that there's no point in confronting a bloody battlefield head-on."
Lin Yuan looked at him.
Qin Guanlan continued:
"That's why I won't touch Lin Xiaoya."
"We won't send anyone to assassinate you."
"Furthermore, we will not create meaningless conflicts before the main battle."
"But I will definitely find out what the blood mask is."
"And what exactly are you?"
Lin Yuan said calmly:
"casual."
Qin Guanlan smiled.
"I heard that Zhou Xuanheng asked you yesterday what your relationship is with Bloodface."
"Let him go ask Blood Face himself."
"Then today, I'll ask it a different way."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Lin Yuan".
"If the main gate opens in three days, the bronze gate will truly descend."
Will the blood-stained face appear?
Lin Yuan looked out the window at the main star gate.
"It depends."
Qin Guanlan's eyes flickered slightly.
"What's going on?"
"Is it enough to eat?"
Qin Guanlan's fingers paused slightly.
A strange light flashed in Qin Zhu's eyes.
Is there enough to eat?
If someone else said that, it would sound like crazy.
But hearing it from Lin Yuan made Qin Guanlan's heart tighten even more.
Because this word corresponds perfectly to "gate-swallower".
Is the Bronze Gatekeeper not the enemy?
Not a disaster?
Or is it food?
Qin Guanlan stared at Lin Yuan.
Do you know what you're saying?
Lin Yuan withdrew his gaze.
"Know."
Qin Guanlan remained silent for a moment.
Then he suddenly laughed.
"it is good."
That's all for today.
He stood up.
"I will not bother you again before the main battle."
"But I will keep an eye on it."
Lin Yuan also stood up.
"You can look at it."
Qin Guanlan looked at him.
Lin Yuan spoke calmly:
"Don't reach out."
Qin Guanlan's smile faded slightly.
"What if I reach out my hand?"
Lin Yuan glanced at him.
"Before Qin Xuanxiao died, he also wanted to know the answer to this question."
The expressions of the Qin Clan's Star Armor Guards all changed.
A cold glint flashed in Qin Zhu's eyes.
Qin Guanlan raised his hand to stop everyone.
He looked at Lin Yuan, and after a long while, slowly nodded.
"Understood."
"I won't reach out."
Lin Yuan said nothing more and turned to leave.
He didn't drink that cup of tea from beginning to end.
Once his footsteps faded at the top of the stairs, Qin Zhu slowly spoke:
"Young Master, this boy is too arrogant."
Qin Guanlan sat back down and looked at the untouched cup of tea on the table.
"mad?"
"He's not arrogant."
Qin Zhu frowned.
"What is that?"
Qin Guanlan looked out the window.
Lin Yuan had already walked out of Tingchao Tower and was heading towards Xingshu Courtyard along the outer ring stone path.
The surrounding students kept their distance.
No one dared to approach.
"Arrogance is wanting others to know that you are strong."
Qin Guanlan said in a low voice:
He is not.
"He's just too lazy to explain."
Qin Zhu remained silent.
This statement is even more unsettling than the word "arrogant".
At least a madman cares about other people's reactions.
A person who is too lazy to explain usually means that they don't consider the other person to be on the same level.
Qin Zhu said:
"There is definitely something inside him."
"But I can't see through it."
"That sense of carrying something is neither like a protective seal nor a forbidden object."
Qin Guanlan said:
"So he is not a weakness."
Qin Zhu asked:
"What is that?"
Qin Guanlan remained silent for a long time.
Deep within the main star gate outside the window, the bronze gatekeeper's deep blue peephole gently turned once more.
He then slowly began to speak:
"More like roots."
"The root of blood."
"The root of the gate-swallower."
"even……"
Qin Guanlan did not continue speaking.
Because the second half of the sentence is too astonishing.
This might even be the real reason why the sect leader has his eye on Longyuan.
Qin Zhu said in a low voice:
"If he truly is the root, what are your plans, young master?"
Qin Guanlan looked in the direction Lin Yuan had left.
"No rush."
"The main battle will force him to reveal more."
"Zhou Xuanheng wants to investigate him."
"The sect leader wants to see him."
"The Bronze Gate will test him."
"We just need to watch."
He paused, then lowered his voice.
"Look at this root, see how deep it's driven in."
……
The Black Tower of the Celestial Patrol Bureau.
Gu Changye quickly received intelligence from Tingchao Tower.
After reading it, he smiled very softly.
"Qin Guanlan is a little faster than Zhou Xuanheng."
The subordinate asked:
"Sir, which way is faster?"
Gu Changye picked up his pen and wrote:
Zhou Xuanheng judged that Lin Yuan had a high-level protective seal within his body.
Qin Guanlan judged that Lin Yuan was not a weakness, but rather a root.
After he finished writing, he tapped the paper.
"Look."
That's the difference.
"Zhou Xuanheng stands within the General Administration's order, so he wants to bring everything under the rules."
"Seal protection, prohibited items, special protection targets, background checks."
"Qin Guanlan stood on a pile of corpses from the Qin family."
"Qin Xuanxiao's last words before his death made him afraid to use normal logic to explain Lin Yuan."
The subordinate whispered:
"Will he find out the truth?"
Gu Changye smiled.
"Finding the truth isn't that easy."
"But he's looking in the right direction."
He looked up and gazed in the direction of the Starry Courtyard.
"Lin Yuan did not deny it this time."
"They didn't hide much."
"This shows that he doesn't really care what Qin Guanlan thinks."
The subordinate was puzzled:
Why?
Gu Changye said:
"Because the main gate is about to open."
"The moment the door opens, many things can no longer be hidden."
He wrote a sentence at the end of his notes:
The main battle will bring us closer to the truth.
……
Starry Courtyard.
When Lin Yuan returned, Lin Xiaoya was practicing the door-locking seal.
When she saw him return, she immediately ran over.
"Brother, did that person from the Qin family give you any trouble?"
"no."
"What did he say?"
"I asked you something."
"What is it?"
Lin Yuan thought for a moment.
"Ask me if this is a weakness."
Lin Xiaoya looked completely bewildered.
"weakness?"
"Um."
"So, are you one of them?"
Lin Yuan glanced at her.
What do you think?
Lin Xiaoya thought about it seriously for a moment, then shook her head.
"no."
Why?
Lin Xiaoya whispered:
"Because weaknesses will be exploited."
"But it seems like all the people who bullied you are dead."
Lin Yuan paused for a moment.
I think what she said makes a lot of sense.
"Keep practicing."
"Um!"
Lin Xiaoya returned to the eaves, and the white lock pattern on her forehead slowly lit up.
Lin Yuan sat in the courtyard and looked up at the main star gate.
Qin Guanlan guessed closer than Zhou Xuanheng.
But it's only closer.
root?
This statement is not wrong.
Blood Shadow was indeed born from him.
It was indeed him who swallowed the gate.
However, whether Qin Guanlan can continue watching depends on whether he is smart enough.
Lin Yuan closed his eyes.
The Ultimate Star Furnace within his body slowly rotated.
762,000.
We are still 38,000 short of 800,000.
Before the main battle, he needs even more energy.
above the sky.
The bronze gatekeeper remained silent.
The dark blue eye on his chest seemed to glance at the Starry Courtyard once more.
Lin Yuan did not open his eyes.
He just whispered:
"I've seen enough."
"Get down."