Chapter 1526: Chapter 1624: Do You Have Someone You Like?
âAlright, no need to search anymore, Iâm right here.â Fang Lin knew he couldnât remain hidden any longer, fearing that if Dugu Nian were to continue this game, it might scare the three from the Long Family into illness, and thus he walked out directly from behind the hall.
Seeing Fang Lin reveal himself, Dugu Nian merely curled his lip and said nothing.
The three from the Long Family each had different expressions, especially Long Zhixin, who stared blankly at Fang Lin with her beautiful eyes as if she were entranced.
âFang Lin.â Long Zhixin called out, but Fang Lin did not respond. Instead, he seriously approached Dragon Haotian and bowed slightly.
âFang Lin pays respects to Elder Long.â Dragon Haotian didnât quite know how to react, he glanced at Dugu Nian, who had no reaction.
âLong time no see, young friend Fang Lin, I hope youâve been well.â Dragon Haotian said with a smile, not showing any airs of superiority despite being referred to as an elder, and did not feel smug at all due to Fang Linâs form of address.
On the contrary, Fang Linâs term of âelderâ made Dragon Haotian somewhat nervous. Knowing that he, Dragon Haotian, needed to be humble in front of Dugu Nian, and also aware of Fang Linâs relation to Dugu Nian, Dragon Haotian dared not presume the status of an elder with Fang Lin â at most, they could converse as equals.
âThank you for your concern, Elder. Despite many hardships, Fang Lin is standing well and healthy. I intended to visit the Long Family earlier, but too many affairs kept me, so itâs remiss of me not to have welcomed you instead.â Fang Lin said with a light smile, respectful in demeanor yet speaking with neither servility nor overbearance, leaving no fault for Dragon Haotian to pick at.
âYouâre too courteous, young friend Fang Lin,â Dragon Haotian chuckled.
Fang Lin then looked towards Long Zhiming and Long Zhixin, choosing to ignore the latterâs resentful eyes.
âLong, itâs been a while.â Fang Lin greeted Long Zhiming with a cupped fist salute.
Long Zhiming also responded with a cupping fist salute: âI havenât yet congratulated Brother Fang for the significant improvement in your cultivation, and for joining the ranks of the Longevity.â
Fang Lin laughed: âIt was merely a stroke of luck. It canât compare to Longâs steady and solid cultivation progress.â
Long Zhiming shook his head: âBrother Fang, youâre too modest.â
Long Zhiming was very clear though, that there was already a significant gap between himself and Fang Lin, which was virtually unimaginable.
When Fang Lin used to be the Hall Master of the North Town Hall of the Pill Alliance, he had visited the Long Family, and they had sparred within the grounds.
At that time, there wasnât much difference between Long Zhiming and Fang Lin, with Fang Lin having only a slight edge. If it was a matter of life and death, it was not certain who would come out on top.
Back then, Fang Lin and Long Zhiming were considered to be on par in terms of strength, although Long Zhimingâs realm was a bit higher. After all, Long Zhiming was of the Long Family and was older than Fang Lin, boasting more cultivation time and resources than Fang Lin.
But now, Long Zhiming had only just stepped into the Spirit Source realm, and entering the Longevity Realm seemed like an age away.
However, Fang Lin had already taken the step ahead, entering the Longevity Realm, and although only in the Minor Longevity, he could ultimately be considered among the Long-lived Ones, thus creating a chasm-like gap between the two.
Moreover, Long Zhiming had heard that in the battle at the Extreme North Icefield, Fang Lin was able to contend against an Immortal.
Although it sounded incredible, this also demonstrated the immense strength that Fang Lin possessed today.
It was at this moment that Fang Lin finally turned towards Long Zhixin, who was unable to forget about him.
âZhixin, itâs been many years since we last met. Has the Shaking Three Mountains technique I taught you become unfamiliar?â Fang Lin said with a smile, his demeanor relaxed as if catching up with an old friend whom he hadnât seen for years.
Zhixin pursed her lips: âWhat you taught me will naturally not become unfamiliar; itâs thoroughly engraved in my memory.â
Fang Lin nodded: âThatâs good to hear. Iâm guessing Miss Zhixin must now truly be a Master of Pill.â
Seven years ago, Long Zhixin already possessed the strength of a Master of Pill, yet she hadnât received the title due to her inability to pass the respective examination.
During these seven years, however, Long Zhixin finally passed the test and successfully became one of the Five Cauldrons Pill Refiners.
Nevertheless, Fang Linâs brilliant record of attaining Master of Pill at the age of twenty somewhat overshadowed Long Zhixinâs accomplishment at the age of twenty-three, making it seem less astonishing.
Of course, had there been no prodigy like Fang Lin before her, then Long Zhixinâs attaining Master of Pill at twenty-three wouldâve been sensational.
Long Zhixin looked at Fang Lin, hesitating to speak, her eyes revealing a complexity of emotions that was difficult to articulate.
Fang Lin could naturally discern that special emotion in Long Zhixinâs eyes, but he simply sighed inwardly.
âChief of the Dragon Family, besides the matters of the Pill Alliance, are there other things youâve come for?â Fang Lin shifted back to the main topic, without elaborating further.
Dragon Haotian glanced at Dugu Nian, who wore an indifferent expression.
âThe matters of the Pill Alliance are secondary; itâs just that the Qing Nation and Tang Country are both seeking pills from our Alchemy Tao families. Meanwhile, due to the Demon Beast clanâs large-scale invasion, Yuan Country is also seeking assistance from the Long Family. I have yet to respond to any of them. However, Iâm curious about the stance of the Sky Swallowing Palace?â Dragon Haotian said.
Hearing this, Fang Lin looked towards Dugu Nian, as the Sky Swallowing Palaceâs master was not him but Dugu Nian.
âPromise them, but only put in half the effort,â Dugu Nian said.
Dragon Haotian understood immediately and nodded.
âChief of the Dragon Family, I must remind youâalthough the Alchemy Tao families are now unified, you need to keep a sharp eye on some snakes and rats. Donât let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch. Sky Swallowing Palace has been watching some of these families for a long time,â Dugu Nian continued, a cold smile on his face.
Dragon Haotian was shocked; this was a warning for him. And he understood without guessing that those âsome Alchemy Tao familiesâ mentioned by Dugu Nian surely referred to the few led by the Ling Family.
Although those few families of the Ling Familyâs Alchemy Tao circle were now led by the Long Family, the Ling Family was still rather arrogant and domineering. Their rise had been too swift, making them too conspicuous. Coupled with the great momentum of the Alchemy Tao families now, the Ling Family displayed signs of self-inflation.
Furthermore, the long-standing grudges and constant targeting by the Ling Family toward Fang Lin were well-known, causing Fang Lin quite some trouble.
âI understand how to proceed,â Dragon Haotian said with a fist salute.
Dugu Nian smiled lightly: âThis Hall Master can also promise the Chief of the Dragon Family that, should there come a day when the Long Family wishes to replace the Pill Alliance, Sky Swallowing Palace will certainly provide strong support.â
âI offer my thanks in advance to the Hall Master of Sky Swallowing Palace,â said Dragon Haotian with due respect.
Just then, Long Zhixin suddenly spoke out: âFang Lin, do you have someone you like?â
ps: The first update has arrived; continuing to write.
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