The speechless old monster Lin

Shen Wen stood on the deck of the flying boat, gazing at the colossal city sprawling across the earth. His long-tensed mind finally began to slowly relax.

To countless Alchemists on the continent, this was the supreme Holy Land, a hall where dreams and opportunities intertwined.

But to Shen Wen, this was home. Having grown up here since childhood, every brick, tile, blade of grass, and tree was steeped in a familiar aura.

More importantly, within this giant city directly controlled by the Pill Tower, even an organization as rampant as the Hall of Souls would never dare to easily stir up trouble.

That would be equivalent to declaring war on the entire Alchemist community of the continent, inevitably making them public enemies of the world.

The flying boat slowly descended onto the exclusive docking platform in the outer city of the Pill Tower.

Shen Wen turned and said to Cao Ying beside him, "Ying'er, I'll have to trouble you to handle the placement of the personnel on the flying boat, the temporary residence for the Snake-People Clan, and the liaison with the city first."

Cao Ying smiled sweetly, her eyes soft and warm. "Husband, you can go with peace of mind; leave this to me."

Shen Wen nodded and, without further delay, his figure flickered.

He transformed into a streak of light, heading straight toward the depths of the inner city, toward the Little Pill Tower area which was regarded as a Forbidden Ground by ordinary people.

Passing through layers of spatial barriers and secret Formations, familiar sights came into view.

The interior of the Little Pill Tower was not particularly luxurious; instead, it had a primitive simplicity and solemnity that felt like returning to one's true self.

Extremely pure energy flowed through the air, along with a tranquility settled by the passage of time.

In a study filled with ancient books and records, where the atmosphere was heavy and still, Old Monster Lin was bent over his desk, reviewing a mountain of Jade Slips and documents.

Since the fall of the previous Tower Master, the Little Pill Tower had not appointed a new leader. Most of the various complicated affairs fell onto the shoulders of him and several other senior Elders.

Sensing that familiar fluctuation, tinged with a bit of travel-worn aura, approaching from a distance.

The tip of the brush in Old Monster Lin's hand paused slightly, but he did not look up. His voice simply drifted out flatly, devoid of any discernible emotion:

"Finally decided to come back?"

The study door was pushed open, and Shen Wen stepped inside, his face habitually wearing that playful expression. "Old man, I'm back! Haven't seen you in so long, did you miss me?"

Only then did Old Monster Lin slowly raise his head, his gaze landing on Shen Wen like something tangible, scanning him from head to toe.

That gaze wasn't harsh, but it carried a heavy weight, causing the playfulness on Shen Wen's face to involuntarily recede a bit as he felt some pressure.

The study was quiet for a moment.

Suddenly, Old Monster Lin slammed a palm onto the heavy desk with a muffled 'thud,' making several Jade Slips jump.

He glared at Shen Wen, his voice suddenly rising with uncontrollable anger and lingering fear:

"Do you know how worried I was when I found out you were being targeted by those scumbags from the Hall of Souls?!"

"Provoking the Hall of Souls is one thing!"

"Young people have some blood in them; I understand not being able to stand those rats in the gutter, your Master understands!"

"But you... you actually dared to wipe out the Hall of Souls' strongholds in the Northwest Continent one by one?! Did you think you were just pulling up radishes?!"

Old Monster Lin grew angrier as he spoke, standing up and pointing at Shen Wen's nose. "Now look at you! The Hall of Souls' Kill List!"

"Your name is already on it! Do you think that's some fun list? It's a death warrant!"

His chest heaved slightly, clearly quite incensed. "Yes, you've got some skill now, you even killed a Dou Zun!"

"But do you know how deep the waters of the Hall of Souls are?"

"If they truly decided to spare no expense and sent several high-tier Tian Zun, or even the Deputy Hall Master personally across thousands of mountains and rivers—if something really happened to you, how... how could I possibly save you in time?!"

By the end, Old Monster Lin's voice held a trace of imperceptible trembling amidst the anger; it was pure lingering fear.

"Did you really think that because your Master is a Dou Sheng, you could do whatever you wanted outside, fearing nothing under the heavens?!"

"On this continent, there are people and forces who can crush you before I can even react! You brat... you're practically going to worry me to death!"

Shen Wen stood in place, quietly listening to his Master's roar, offering no defense or playful smiles.

He could clearly feel the deep concern and shock hidden behind that roar. When Old Monster Lin stopped to catch his breath, he stepped forward, picked up the teapot on the desk, poured a cup of warm tea, and handed it over with both hands.

"Master, have some tea and calm down," he said steadily. "I know I was wrong. Next time... I'll definitely be more careful."

Old Monster Lin glared at him fiercely, grabbed the teacup, gulped it down, slammed the cup back onto the desk, and snorted, "Next time? You still want a next time?!"

Shen Wen rubbed his nose and didn't take the bait.

Old Monster Lin stared at him for a long while before the anger in his eyes was gradually replaced by a complex sense of gratification.

He sat back in his chair and sighed, his tone softening considerably:

"Fine... it's good that you're back. Since the Old Ancestor personally went to fetch you, I expect those clowns from the Hall of Souls won't be able to stir up much trouble."

"Tell me about it then; just tell me what can be told."

He naturally knew that Shen Wen carried many secrets, and this trip to the Northwest must have been for some personal reasons.

Otherwise, if he really just wanted to gain experience, why choose the Northwest out of so many places?

Old Monster Lin leaned against the back of his chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest as his gaze fell on Shen Wen's face. "Speak. What exactly happened during your trip to the Northwest?"

"That business with the Hall of Souls, and this... change in you. There must be a reason."

Shen Wen knew his Master wanted a detailed report.

After a moment's deliberation, he decided to start from the 'root cause'.

"Master," his expression became more serious, "you previously speculated that I might possess some ancient Bloodline."

"During this trip to the Northwest, I indeed... sensed some clues related to myself."

Old Monster Lin's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he didn't interrupt, signaling him to continue.

"Near the Jia Ma Empire, following a vague sensation, I found a long-sealed ruin."

Shen Wen spoke without changing his expression, weaving a plausible explanation. "It seemed to be a Legacy site left by my ancestors. I obtained some things from it, including several unique Soul manipulation methods, secret techniques for tempering the Physical Body, and... insights on how to utilize Heavenly Flames more efficiently. The reason my Dou Qi can support the refinement of an Eighth Grade Pill is also related to this."

He paused, observing Old Monster Lin's expression. Old Monster Lin's eyes were deep, revealing neither belief nor disbelief, as he simply nodded slowly. "Continue."

"It was also there that I met Qing Lin." Shen Wen took the opportunity to introduce the person by his side. "That child possesses the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."

The tapping of Old Monster Lin's fingers on the armrest came to a sudden halt.

Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?

This legendary pupillary technique actually appeared in the Northwest? And it just so happened to be encountered by Shen Wen?

"Later, I met Xiao Yi Xian," Shen Wen continued. "She has the Calamity Poison Body."

The corner of Old Monster Lin's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

"As for Cai Lin..." Shen Wen's tone was calm, "She is the Medusa Queen of the Snake-People Clan, and after evolving, she became a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python."

"And Zi Yan." Shen Wen looked at his Master's gradually strange expression and mentioned the last one. "She has the Bloodline of the Void Ancient Dragon, and... based on certain signs, it's likely a lost, unawakened royal Bloodline."

Old Monster Lin: "..."

The study became so quiet that only the sound of the wind outside the window remained.

Old Monster Lin stared at Shen Wen for a long time, as if confirming whether he had misheard or if this wretched Disciple was playing a joke on him.

Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, Calamity Poison Body, Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python, Void Ancient Dragon royal Bloodline... which one of these wasn't a legendary existence? Which one wasn't a special Physique or Bloodline enough to cause a massive stir?

How many years had it been since such news was heard in the Central Plains? Yet his Disciple went to the Northwest once...

...and picked them all up in one go from that 'backwater place' generally regarded by the Central Plains as remote and barren?

This luck... no, this could no longer be described by the word luck.

"Are you sure," Old Monster Lin's voice was a bit dry, "that you went to the Northwest Continent? Not some ancient Secret Realm or Family Forbidden Ground?"

Shen Wen spread his hands. "I indeed encountered them in the Northwest. Perhaps... your Disciple's luck is just relatively good?"