Soon after, Lin Ya arrived before Ling Chen.
"Lin Ya of the Black Market, greetings to The Master of the Cyan Robe Association."
Lin Ya inclined her body slightly towards Ling Chen in a bow.
"Old friends eting again; there’s no need for such courtesy."
Ling Chen waved his hand and smiled faintly.
Hearing this, Lin Ya lowered her hands. Her gaze fell upon Ling Chen, and her beautiful eyes lit up.
The Ling Chen before her now was a stark contrast to his past self; he had completely shed his youthful innocence. Though still only nineteen and very young, an air of composure now surrounded him. He carried the deanor of a true leader, capable of handling major affairs with unshakeable calm.
"If you still consider a friend, just call Ling Chen," Ling Chen said with a smile.
"Then I won’t stand on ceremony."
Lin Ya knew Ling Chen wasn’t the type to use his position to bully others. Even though their statuses were now different, he remained exceptionally sincere towards his friends.
"Please, sit."
Ling Chen gestured with his hand, indicating for Lin Ya to sit at the nearby stone table.
"You surely didn’t co all this way just to visit an old friend. If there’s sothing you need, please speak directly."
Ling Chen wasn’t one to beat around the bush. After they were seated, he encouraged Lin Ya to get straight to the point.
"Since you’ve put it that way, I won’t mince words." Lin Ya nodded. "I have indeed co on an important matter, and I require your assistance."
"I’ve heard about the chaos in the Black Market." Ling Chen nodded. "The enemy’s strength is not to be underestimated. Black Chonghou is formidable, with many Top Sky Apex Strong under his command. Confronting him requires considerable courage."
At his words, Lin Ya was taken aback. "You already knew."
"I do indeed know your purpose in coming, and I also know what you want to do. However, if I help you deal with Black Chonghou, what will you offer in return once the matter is successfully concluded?"
Ling Chen was a very pragmatic person. He wouldn’t help the Black Market for no reason. If they wanted his assistance, they had to offer a sufficient price.
"I’ve already discussed this with the elders. As long as you’re willing to help, once everything is settled, we will hand over the entire territory in Black Sand Land to the Cyan Robe Association. How does that sound?" Lin Ya said, her beautiful eyes sparkling.
"The territory in Black Sand Land is indeed good, but it’s not enough."
Ling Chen shook his head, clearly unsatisfied with the terms.
The Black Market’s territory in Black Sand Land was indeed vast, with extensive business operations. Relinquishing it would an giving up a lucrative asset. However, in his eyes, it wasn’t significant enough.
"Then, Ling Chen, what is it that you desire?" Lin Ya seed to have anticipated his dissatisfaction and asked probingly.
"What I want is actually quite simple." A glint flashed in Ling Chen’s eyes. "Do you know the background of the mysterious force that helped Black Chonghou rise to power this ti?"
"I have no idea."
Lin Ya shook her head with a bitter smile. She, too, desperately wanted to know the origin and background of the powerful reinforcents backing Black Chonghou, but she couldn’t find a single clue. No one in the entire Martial World could trace such a force.
Ling Chen did not intend to hide anything. "It’s Shentu Yan, the Divine Intent Sect Master," he told Lin Ya directly.
"Shentu Yan?" Lin Ya was astonished. "Even the Divine Intent Sect couldn’t possibly possess such imnse strength, could they?"
Since the Divine Intent Sect suffered severe losses four years ago, its power had diminished considerably, now falling short of even the Sky Void Palace and the Myriad Dao Sect. How could it wield such formidable strength?
"Shentu Yan possesses Breaking Sky Spirit Liquid. I estimate he has enough on hand to cultivate a hundred Top Sky Apex Strong," Ling Chen said after a mont of contemplation. "His ambition is vast; the Black Market is rely the first piece of at he wishes to devour. The price I demand is this: when I eventually face Shentu Yan in battle, the Black Market must fully support and obey my commands. If you can agree to this, I will accept your request and help you deal with Black Chonghou."
He was a man uninterested in power and naturally had no desire to control the Black Market. Ling Chen’s sole aim was to concentrate his forces to deal with Shentu Yan.
Lin Ya didn’t respond imdiately. Ling Chen’s words carried too much weight and were too shocking; she needed ti to process them thoroughly before replying.
After several minutes, Lin Ya finally nodded. "I believe what you say. If it’s as you claim, Shentu Yan will sooner or later beco the public enemy of the Martial World. Assisting you would be a matter of course. But what happens after we defeat Shentu Yan?"
"At that ti, I will naturally no longer interfere in the affairs of the Black Market."
Ling Chen smiled faintly. If it truly ca to that, he planned to leave the Five Country Territory for the boundless Nine Provinces. He would seek his mother and the truth of his origins, and experience a far more vast world. To stay and seek dominance in the minor Five Kingdoms’ Martial World would be far too shallow for him.
"Alright. If those are your terms, I believe the elders can agree."
Lin Ya had co this ti after consulting with the Black Market’s upper echelons. Their bottom line was a willingness to fall under Ling Chen’s command, provided the Black Market’s independence and integrity were guaranteed. Now, Ling Chen had only stipulated that they follow his orders for a short period, a condition that was undeniably far more favorable.
"When do we set out?" Lin Ya asked.
"Right now. Ti is of the essence."
Ling Chen rose to his feet. Without external aid, Black Chonghou would likely be able to seize control of the entire Black Market very soon. His window of opportunity was rapidly closing.
After speaking, Ling Chen turned to Liu Feiyue. "Senior Sister Feiyue, return to Green Cloud Mountain imdiately. Summon the mbers of the Cyan Robe Association and proceed towards the Black Market Headquarters."
"Understood."
Liu Feiyue cupped her fist in salute and then departed hastily.
The Saint Witch Religion has only just stabilized; it’s not advisable to mobilize its forces. Moreover, the Saint Witch Religion is a great distance from any Black Market branch, with the Righteous Martial World territories lying in between. Dispatching troops from there isn’t practical.
Ling Chen pondered for a mont, ultimately deciding not to involve the Saint Witch Religion’s forces in this operation.
"What, you’re leaving again?"
Just as Ling Chen was deploying his plans for the Black Market operation, a lodious voice drifted over from nearby.
Following the sound, the newcor was none other than Xia Yunxin.
"This journey is of utmost importance; I must go." Ling Chen looked at the beautiful woman before him, his eyes softening. "After I leave for the Black Market, I’ll entrust the Saint Witch Religion to you. I believe that with your capabilities, by the ti I return, the strength of the Saint Witch Religion will have grown severalfold."
"You overestimate ."
Xia Yunxin shook her head. Then, she suddenly took out a jade whistle and blew it. The next mont, SWISH, a black shadow appeared in their line of sight.
"This journey is likely to be perilous. Black-robed," Xia Yunxin said indifferently, "I order you to protect Ling Chen’s safety. If anything happens to him, you don’t need to co back alive."
"Yes!"
The Black-robed imdiately cupped his fist in response.
"Let’s go!"
Ling Chen cast an apologetic glance at Xia Yunxin, then with a flash of movent, he leaped onto the back of a Skywind Hawk. Lin Ya and the Black-robed followed suit. The three, riding the Skywind Hawks, soon vanished among the clouds.
Xia Yunxin watched the Skywind Hawks depart, a flicker of apprehension in her beautiful eyes. The Jianghu was currently a tempest of undercurrents and hidden dangers; a great upheaval felt inevitable. If she had her way, she truly wouldn’t want Ling Chen to leave the Saint Witch Religion and throw himself into such peril. Hopefully, nothing goes wrong.
Sighing softly, Xia Yunxin turned and walked away.
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