Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 465 The Visit of the Five Major Forces

Breakfast was served in a private room by the window on the second floor.

With the window half-open, the most bustling street in Tianyuan City was right under their noses.

Lan Fenghuang, Lingbo, Yaoyao, Shishi, and Shishi were already seated, but none of them touched their chopsticks.

At this moment, Lin Chen pushed the door open and sat down, picking up the bowl of porridge and pouring it into his mouth.

Lan Fenghuang looked at Lin Chen, a slight smile curving her lips: "How did the talks go?"

Lin Chen chewed his porridge and mumbled, "It's alright."

After swallowing the porridge in his mouth, he added, "By the way, tell me about the Gu God Temple after you finish eating."

Blue Phoenix nodded.

Yao Yao chimed in from the side, "Husband, I'll go too."

Lin Chen glanced at her: "Where are you going?"

Yao Yao said matter-of-factly, "I'll protect you."

After she finished speaking, she patted her chest, making a loud thumping sound, like she was beating a drum.

Lin Chen couldn't help but laugh: "You're going to protect me? I'd be grateful if you didn't make my legs go weak."

Yao Yao blushed slightly and spat, "Husband, that's going too far. It's always you..."

Yao Yao was too embarrassed to say what came next.

Lin Chen coughed lightly: "Eat, eat. You should stay home and keep your girlfriends company. The Ten Thousand Mountains are not a vacation spot."

"Oh~" Yao Yao pouted, a little disappointed.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Breakfast had just been cleared away, and the plates and bowls hadn't been completely collected when Mei Jiu Niang pushed open the door and came in. She looked at Lin Chen with a somewhat complicated expression and said:

"Elder Xiao Yi of Kunlun Domain, Deputy Island Master Xu Tian of Penglai Immortal Island, Deputy Sect Master Qingyangzi of Qingyun Sect, and Sword Thirteen, Second Sword Master of Tianjian Pavilion—"

Mei Jiu Niang paused, then added:

"Master Xukong, the abbot of the Arhat Hall on Mount Sumeru, has also arrived. He's downstairs right now and says he wants to see you."

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers twice on the table.

The three holy lands and two major factions are all here.

When did I become so prestigious? Lin Chen thought to himself.

He didn't deliberately hide the news of his arrival in Zhongzhou, and he attended a banquet at the City Lord's Mansion last night. It would be strange if the major powers didn't react.

I just didn't expect them to arrive so quickly and all at once.

Even Mount Sumeru, which is supposed to be a secluded and closed-off area, has sent people. This is quite intriguing!

Various thoughts flashed through Lin Chen's mind, and he spoke calmly:

"Let them come up."

Mei Jiu Niang nodded, turned around and left.

Yao Yao immediately jumped up from her chair: "Should I hide?"

Lin Chen chuckled lightly: "Why are you hiding?"

"I'm afraid of embarrassing you."

"You're already embarrassing enough by jumping up like this."

Yao Yao: "..."

-

A moment later, the five people filed in.

Xiao Yi was walking at the very front.

White hair, gray robe, thin face, gentle eyes.

But beneath its gentle exterior lies a sharp edge, like a knife hidden in its sheath.

The Grand Elder of Kunlun Domain, with a cultivation level in the late stage of Celestial Immortal, ranks among the top three influential figures in Zhongzhou.

This kind of person is the center of attention wherever he goes, but at this moment he walked very naturally, unhurriedly.

Xu Tian followed behind.

He was fair-skinned and beardless, slightly plump, and wore a blue brocade robe, looking like a wealthy landowner. When he smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits, making him appear particularly kind.

The deputy island master of Penglai Immortal Island, with a cultivation level of mid-stage Celestial Immortal.

But Lin Chen knew that the kinder a person's smile was, the more cunning they were.

Qingyangzi was in third place.

He was dressed in a blue long gown, like a scholar taking the imperial examination, and looked to be in his thirties.

But the sense of age in those eyes was like aged tea that had been steeped for hundreds of years; one look and you knew this person was no ordinary person.

The deputy sect leader of Qingyun Sect, with a cultivation level of mid-stage Celestial Immortal.

Jian Shisan was dressed in black, holding a sword, with a cold and stern face.

He didn't look at anyone; his gaze was fixed on nothingness, but Lin Chen knew he was looking at everyone.

The Second Sword Master of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, with a mid-stage Heavenly Immortal cultivation level, is in charge of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion's conquests.

This kind of person is the legendary ruthless and taciturn person—no, they don't say anything at all.

The person walking at the very back was an old monk.

He wore a gray monk's robe, his white eyebrows drooped to the corners of his eyes, his face was kind, and he held a string of prayer beads in his hand. He walked slowly, but each step was steady.

Master Xukong, abbot of the Arhat Hall on Mount Sumeru, with a cultivation level of late-stage Celestial Immortal.

The air in the private room changed as the five people walked in.

It wasn't a murderous aura, but rather an overwhelming presence that made it difficult for even five celestial beings to breathe.

Yao Yao was unusually quiet, hiding behind Ling Bo, only showing half of her face.

Xiao Yi was the first to speak, clasping his hands in a respectful greeting, his white hair swaying slightly:

"Young Master Lin, I am Xiao Yi from Kunlun Domain. I apologize for my intrusion and hope you will forgive my visit."

His tone was polite but not humble, and he struck the perfect balance.

Lin Chen waved his hand: "Elder Xiao, you're too kind. Please have a seat."

The five people sat down in the guest seats.

Shishi and Shishi brewed tea, one cup for each of them, and steam rose gently from the cup.

Shi Shi and Shi Shi poured tea with their usual steady movements, but Lin Chen noticed that their fingers trembled slightly.

It would be strange if they weren't nervous sitting opposite five of the most outstanding figures in the Central Plains.

Xiao Yi picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and looked at Lin Chen.

He's the kind of person who doesn't like beating around the bush; he speaks directly and frankly.

It's not because I can't turn, it's because there's no need.

Once he reaches his position, he doesn't need to beat around the bush when talking to anyone.

"Young Master Lin, I am a straightforward person and don't like beating around the bush. I'll just say it directly: what does Your Highness think of the extraterrestrial passage?"

Lin Chen picked up the teacup, gently blew away the foam, took a sip, and slowly put it down.

"Watch while sitting."

The private room was quiet for two seconds.

Xiao Yi was stunned for a moment, and Xu Tian froze, their smiles freezing on their faces.

Qingyangzi's eyebrows twitched, as if he was thinking about what those words meant.

Jian Shisan remained expressionless, but the fingers holding his sword tightened slightly.

Xiao Yi was the first to react, and he smiled without changing his expression:

"Young Master Lin is quite the joker."

Lin Chen looked completely innocent: "I'm not joking, I'm telling the truth. What can a country bumpkin like me from the Eastern Region do? I can only sit and watch."

Even Xiao Yi didn't know how to respond this time.

Xu Tian coughed and spoke.

His voice was gentle, with a tone of negotiation. Slightly overweight people always speak in a kind manner; this is both a talent and a weapon.

"Young Master Lin, I am Xu Tian from Penglai Immortal Island."

The teleportation array between Zhongzhou and Dongyu has been built for several months, and the exchanges will become more and more frequent in the future.

"I've come here for two reasons, firstly to see you, young master, and secondly—"

He paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "I'd like to ask Young Master Lin if you'd be interested in making connections with Penglai Immortal Island?"

Lin Chen looked at him and understood.

They came to probe the situation, to find out if he was the "last chance".

After all, if even Yan Ruyu could be scoured, let alone top-tier forces like theirs.

"Vice Island Master Xu, what you said is incorrect."

Xu Tian narrowed his eyes slightly: "What's wrong?"

"I'm just a minor prince of the Great Yan Dynasty; I have an empress above me," Lin Chen said with a smile.

"Your Penglai Immortal Island is powerful. I fear that associating with you would cause the Empress to misunderstand and tarnish the integrity of my Lin family."

Xu Tian opened his mouth, but was speechless for a moment.

Xiao Yi spoke up to help him out of the predicament:

"Young Master Lin is too kind. Your name is known to everyone in Zhongzhou."

"The Great Yan Zhenbei King, a king of equal rank, the Empress's husband, and the de facto ruler of the Eastern Region—we know a little about these things."

Lin Chen looked at Xiao Yi and said with a forced smile:

"Do you know that I have a bad temper?"

Xiao Yi chuckled and said, "I've heard about it."

"Do you know that I'm a womanizer?"

Xiao Yi smiled even wider: "I've heard about it too."

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table:

"So you still dare to befriend me? Aren't you afraid I'll abduct the girls from your sect?"