From Fanwu to Xinghai

Chapter 45 The Storm Is About to Change

Three days later, at the Qingyun Sect's council hall.

Lin Chen stood in a corner of the council hall, watching the crowd inside discussing amongst themselves.

Today is the Qingyun Sect's regular meeting day.

All the inner sect elders and core disciples were summoned here to discuss important matters of the sect.

On the surface, this was to discuss the attack on Yanhuang Pass.

But in reality, everyone knows what the real issue is.

"The attack on Yanhuang Pass indicates a major vulnerability in the border defenses." An elder with white hair and beard stood up, his voice booming. "I believe we should immediately dispatch an elite force of disciples to the border to provide support."

"Easy for you to say," another elder sneered. "Who should we send? How many should we send? How long will they be gone? Have you thought about those questions?"

"Of course, we'll send our strongest disciples! At least fifty elite Dan Yuan realm cultivators!"

"Fifty Core Formation Realm cultivators? Do you know what that means? It means a third of the sect's elite will leave. What if someone takes advantage of this situation?"

The two argued back and forth, getting into a huge fight.

Lin Chen stood in the corner, observing coldly.

He saw it very clearly.

The focus of these elders' arguments was not Yanhuang Pass at all.

Instead, they used this opportunity to vie for control of the sect's discourse.

That's enough.

An old and dignified voice rang out, silencing everyone.

Lin Chen looked in the direction of the voice and saw an old man with white hair and beard, exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom, sitting in the main seat.

That is the sect leader.

The nominal supreme leader of the Qingyun Sect.

His gaze swept across the entire room, finally settling on Zhao Yuanzhen.

"Zhao Yuanzhen, what do you think?"

All eyes were on Zhao Yuanzhen.

He stood up, a faint smile on his face.

"This disciple believes that there is no need to rush the matter of Yanhuang Pass."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

"Why?" The white-haired elder frowned. "The soldiers on the border are suffering; how can we stand idly by?"

"Because we have more important things to do." Zhao Yuanzhen's voice was calm. "Although Yanhuang Pass is important, it is, after all, a border region. Even if it is breached, the impact on the dynasty will be limited. But if the sect is unstable internally, that would be a major event that shakes its very foundation."

He paused, his gaze sharpening:

"As far as I know, there has been a lot of turmoil within the sect recently. Some people have released prisoners from the forbidden area, some have colluded with foreign enemies, and some have even attempted to overthrow the sect. Sending more people to the border will be futile if these matters are not thoroughly investigated."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

Everyone understood the implication in his words.

The person he was referring to as "the one who released prisoners from the restricted area" was Shen Qingluan.

The person he was referring to who "colluded with foreign enemies" and "intended to overthrow the sect"...

Lin Chen felt a cold gaze fall on him.

He looked up and met Zhao Yuanzhen's gaze.

Those eyes held an undisguised murderous intent.

"Zhao Yuanzhen, what do you mean by that?"

Shen Qingluan's voice came from the palace gate.

Everyone turned around to see her slowly walking into the council hall, her expression calm and composed.

Her complexion was much better than it had been a few days ago, but it was still somewhat pale.

"Elder Shen," Zhao Yuanzhen bowed slightly, a respectful smile on his face, "this disciple is merely stating the facts and has no intention of targeting anyone."

"Is that so?" Shen Qingluan walked up to him, her gaze sharp as a knife. "Then tell me, who is the one who 'released prisoners from the forbidden area'? Who is the one who 'colluded with foreign enemies'? Who is the one who 'intended to overthrow the sect'?"

Zhao Yuanzhen's smile froze for a moment.

He didn't expect Shen Qingluan to make a public attack.

But he quickly regained his composure.

"What I say is true," he said. "The entire sect witnessed the unusual activity at the Demon Suppression Tower that night. Does Elder Shen intend to deny that someone broke into the seventh floor of the Demon Suppression Tower that night?"

Shen Qingluan's eyes narrowed slightly.

Zhao Yuanzhen continued:

"Breaking into the Demon-Suppressing Tower and rescuing prisoners who should have been suppressed—what crime should this be punished according to the sect's rules?"

"A prisoner?" Shen Qingluan sneered. "Who are you talking about?"

"This disciple does not know," Zhao Yuanzhen said, "but since they are prisoners of the Demon Suppression Tower, they must be extremely vicious. Elder Shen's unauthorized release of them will likely require an explanation to the sect."

His words were extremely hurtful.

Characterizing Shen Qingluan's act of releasing people as "releasing prisoners" directly puts her on the opposite side of the entire sect.

Shen Qingluan's face darkened.

She knew that Zhao Yuanzhen was playing word games.

The person she saved that night was herself, not some prisoner.

But she couldn't tell the truth.

Because the truth involves Su Wan, the dimensional rift, and Lin Chen's background.

These things must never be known to outsiders.

That's enough.

The sect leader's voice rang out again, interrupting the exchange.

"We'll discuss this later," he said. "The most urgent task is to deal with the crisis at Yanhuang Pass."

His gaze swept across the entire room:

"I have decided to send a team of twenty elite disciples to Yanhuang Pass to provide support."

His gaze fell on Lin Chen, pausing slightly:

"Lin Chen will lead the team."

These words caused another uproar in the hall.

Why send Lin Chen, a disciple at the early stage of the Spirit Cultivation Realm, to lead a team to support the border?

Is this a joke?

Zhao Yuanzhen's expression also changed.

He frowned, about to say something, but the sect leader raised his hand to stop him.

"This is my decision." The Sect Leader's voice was unquestionable. "If any elders have objections, they may reserve their right to object."

Zhao Yuanzhen opened his mouth, but ultimately did not utter a word of objection.

He knew that the sect leader was protecting Lin Chen.

Sending Lin Chen to Yanhuang Pass would allow them to temporarily avoid the turmoil within the sect.

Once Lin Chen has made contributions at the border, it won't be so easy for Zhao Yuanzhen to touch him again.

That's a brilliant move—a strategic retreat to advance.

Zhao Yuanzhen sneered inwardly.

But he won't give up so easily.

A place like Yanhuang Pass was the perfect place for him to make his move.

For Lin Chen to go there was like stepping into the gates of hell with one foot in the grave.

After the meeting concluded, Lin Chen walked out of the council hall.

Xiao Yan was waiting for him at the door.

"How is it going?" Xiao Yan asked.

"It's alright," Lin Chen said. "At least we're safe for now."

"Temporarily?" Xiao Yan frowned. "The Sect Leader is sending you to lead a team to Yanhuang Pass. Isn't that pushing you into a fire pit?"

"Quite the opposite," Lin Chen said. "This is to protect me. Within the sect, Zhao Yuanzhen can act at any time. But at the border, he'll have to think twice before he tries to harm me."

Xiao Yan was taken aback for a moment, then understood what he meant.

The border region is not like a sect.

That place was a battlefield, a true carnage.

All schemes and tricks are useless in the face of real swords and guns.

If Lin Chen can achieve military merits at the border, his position will be more secure.

If Zhao Yuanzhen tries to harm him again, he'll have to consider the consequences.

"What do you plan to do?" Xiao Yan asked.

"Of course I'm going," Lin Chen said. "And not just going. I'm going to make Yanhuang Pass my stage."

His gaze deepened:

"There are three thousand soldiers there, five hundred and twenty-seven promises, and the place my father once protected. I must go, and I must win."

That afternoon, Lin Chen received the official transfer order.

Three days later, he will lead twenty inner disciples to Yanhuang Pass.

Time is very tight.

But Lin Chen knew this was his only chance.

Before heading to Yanhuang Pass, he had a few things to do.

First, go find Shen Qingluan and find out the truth about the border wars that the dynasty has been waging for the past ten years.

Second, go find Chen Xuanfeng and see if there's any way to solve his problem of his lifespan ending.

Third, and most importantly!

He was going to the Time Corridor to find Lin Yuan.

In the evening, Lin Chen arrived at Shen Qingluan's residence.

This is a quiet little courtyard, filled with green bamboo, and the air is filled with a faint bamboo fragrance.

Shen Qingluan was drinking tea at the stone table in the courtyard.

When she saw Lin Chen come in, she nodded slightly, gesturing for him to sit down.

"Did the sect leader send you to Yanhuang Pass?" she asked.

"Yes."

Do you know what this means?

"I know," Lin Chen said. "The sect leader is protecting me."

Shen Qingluan looked at him, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes.

"You're smarter than I thought."

"But I'm not just here to thank you," Lin Chen said. "I want to ask you something."

"What?"

"The dynasty's border wars over the past decade." Lin Chen's gaze was fixed on her. "Why did you ask me to investigate this matter?"

Shen Qingluan fell silent.

She picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

After a long silence, she finally spoke:

Do you know when Yanhuang Pass was established?

"It's said to have been thirty years ago."

"Yes, thirty years ago," Shen Qingluan said. "At that time, the barbarians invaded, and the border was in dire need of attention. The dynasty built three passes in the north, and Yanhuang Pass was one of them."

She paused:

"But what you don't know is that since the establishment of Yanhuang Pass, border wars have never stopped."

Lin Chen frowned.

This is inconsistent with what he knew.

As far as he knew, the barbarians had been driven back five years earlier.

"You mean...?"

"What I mean is, the barbarians weren't defeated," Shen Qingluan's voice turned low, "they were wiped out."

Lin Chen's pupils suddenly contracted.

Extermination of the entire clan?

The barbarian tribe, once a powerful race that dominated the north, was actually wiped out?

"Who did this?"

"I don't know." Shen Qingluan shook her head. "But one thing is certain: the force that wiped out the barbarians was neither the dynasty's army nor any known sect."

"Who is that?"

"This is the secret I'm going to tell you." Shen Qingluan put down her teacup, her gaze sharpening. "For the past thirty years, a mysterious force has been secretly manipulating the dynasty's border wars. They instigate conflict, deplete resources, and then reap the benefits."

"The three thousand soldiers of Yanhuang Pass are just their pawns."

Lin Chen felt a chill rise up his spine.

Three thousand soldiers.

Five hundred and twenty-seven promises.

It turns out that from the very beginning, they were just pawns being used.

"Does Lin Yuan know about these things?" he asked.

"He was the sole survivor of that war thirty years ago," Shen Qingluan said. "His father was killed by that mysterious force."

Lin Chen fell silent.

He remembered what Lin Yuan had said during the trial.

"I was late last time."

It turns out that wasn't just a casual remark.

It was a blood feud spanning thirty years.

"There's one more thing," Shen Qingluan suddenly said.

"What?"

"I have found a solution to Chen Xuanfeng's lifespan problem."

Lin Chen suddenly looked up.

"What method?"

"Dimensional Pill," Shen Qingluan said. "I mentioned that ancient alchemy furnace to you before. There are some residual spiritual liquids of Dimensional Pills in the furnace, which can extend lifespan."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Lin Chen suddenly stood up. "I'll go get it!"

"No rush." ​​Shen Qingluan pressed his shoulder. "The spiritual liquid in the Dimensional Pill is too concentrated; an ordinary person would burst if they took it directly. It needs to be diluted with a special formation, but what formation?"

She paused, her gaze becoming meaningful:

"It's in your father's manuscript."

Lin Chen was stunned.

Father's manuscript?

He quickly took the manuscript out of his pocket and carefully examined it.

Sure enough, on the last page of the manuscript, there was a line of extremely small writing:

"The dimensional dilution formation requires time as the guide and space as the foundation, going against the current upstream and going with the flow downstream."

It was a complex array of diagrams that ordinary people couldn't understand at all.

But for Lin Chen, that array diagram was like something etched into his bones, something he could understand at a glance.

This is the bloodline of the guardians of time.

"It seems your father foresaw all of this," Shen Qingluan said. "He left the manuscript to you not only so you could find me, but also to protect Chen Xuanfeng."

Lin Chen gripped the manuscript tightly, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

Father.

The person he had never met.

The man who burned through his lifespan to save his mother.

The person who orchestrated all of this thirty years ago.

Who exactly is he?

Why did he do that?

Is he... still alive?

"There's one last thing." Shen Qingluan's voice pulled him back from his reverie.

"Lin Yuan is not your father."

Lin Chen was stunned for a moment.

"I know," he said. "Lin Yuan said he was another awakened Time Guardian."

"No, you don't know." Shen Qingluan shook her head. "Lin Yuan isn't another Awakened One. Who is he?"

She paused, her voice becoming unusually heavy:

"He is your father's brother."

Lin Chen's mind exploded.

Father's...brother?

The boy he met during the trial turned out to be his uncle?

"How is this possible?" His voice trembled slightly. "Wasn't my father an only child? Uncle Chen never mentioned that he had any brothers!"

"Chen Xuanfeng doesn't know," Shen Qingluan said. "There are very few people in the whole world who know about this."

Why?

"Because Lin Yuan is not a person of this era."

Shen Qingluan stood up, walked to the window, and turned her back to Lin Chen:

"He was from thirty years ago. He was the one who traveled through the river of time with your father. He is also... the only one who has survived the river of time."

Lin Chen felt a wave of dizziness.

The long river of time.

Through.

Thirty years ago.

These words collided in his mind, piecing together a truth he could hardly believe.

His father did not live in seclusion somewhere.

Instead, they are trapped in the river of time.

Lin Yuan was the only one who escaped.

Late at night.

As Lin Chen walked out of Shen Qingluan's residence, her words were still echoing in his mind.

He needs to process this information.

He needs to find Lin Yuan and ask him directly.

He needs to go to the Time Corridor.

No matter how dangerous it was, he was determined to go.

Because there, the answer he has been searching for for sixteen years may be hidden.

Lin Chen looked up at the night sky.

The twinkling stars seemed like countless eyes watching him.

Father.

mother.

Lin Yuan.

Yanhuang Pass.

And that mysterious power.

All the mysteries point in the same direction.

He wants to become stronger.

He needs to know the truth.

He wants to break all these shackles.

Even if there are mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, he will forge ahead without hesitation.