Ye Chen was somewhat surprised by the words. Turning around, he saw it was Elder Lin, the one with a thousandfold multiplier, who had spoken. Was she really that eager to help?

Ye Chen had no objections. As long as Tian Mingzi was dealt with, he didn't care whether he personally delivered the blow. Besides, this Elder Lin, with her thousandfold multiplier, was someone worth getting closer to in the future. Letting her handle this would give him an excuse to offer a gift in return later. So, with a smile, Ye Chen said, "Thank you, Elder Lin."

Lin Qingtan nodded, her face shrouded in mist as she fixed her gaze on Tian Mingzi. In a calm voice, she said, "I'll give you three breaths to escape. After that, I'll make my move."

Tian Mingzi's face flickered between pale and ashen. A dignified cultivator at the Deity Transformation stage, yet here he was, treated like some lowly grunt. But he had no choice but to accept it. After all, trying to steal the Holy Son's woman was a crime worthy of death. Still, this Holy Land elder, at the same cultivation realm as him and only slightly stronger at best, had the audacity to act so superior?

In the next moment, Tian Mingzi's body erupted with raging underworld flames, transforming him into a towering black volcano. The Three Mysterious Transformations of the Underworld Flame—this was Tian Mingzi's strongest state, unleashed in an instant. He hoped this elder's arrogance would give him a sliver of a chance to survive. Having finally reached the Deity Transformation stage, with a lifespan of a thousand years, who would willingly throw it all away?

With the underworld flames blazing, Tian Mingzi's speed was breathtaking. In a flash, he had already fled a hundred miles. By the time three breaths had passed, he was five hundred miles away.

Ye Chen watched Lin Qingtan with a peculiar expression, a hint of concern creeping in. Could this Lin Qingtan be some distant relative of Li Feihuang? Did their bloodline carry this same baffling confidence? Was her bravado about to backfire spectacularly? With his Kun Peng Wings, Ye Chen could probably catch up, but that would be more than a little awkward.

Yet, despite Tian Mingzi's blazing speed, Lin Qingtan remained utterly unfazed. Only after three breaths had passed did she slowly raise her hand and say in a serene tone, "Frozen for Thirty Thousand Miles!"

A terrifying force descended from the distant heavens. Tian Mingzi, who had been fleeing frantically, came to an abrupt halt, as if encased in ice. Shimmering blue ice blades surrounded him, and even his burning underworld flames were frozen solid in that moment. The skies for a hundred miles around him transformed into a world of ice and snow, where everything was sealed in frost, devoid of any breath of life.

Had Tian Mingzi just… fallen like that?

Ye Chen was genuinely taken aback. Were all Holy Land elders this formidable? This thousandfold Elder Lin Qingtan was something else. Yet, he could faintly sense that the frozen world in the distance wasn't born of icy power but of yin nether energy. Her physique or bloodline likely had some connection to yin nether, and it was clearly of an exceptionally high grade. No wonder she was a thousandfold existence.

Meanwhile, Hua Yunfei and the other Holy Land elders watched the scene with quiet sighs but said nothing.

Lin Qingtan lowered her hand, and the frozen world shattered. Tian Mingzi crumbled into dust, vanishing into the heavens and earth, not even his divine soul escaping.

Lin Qingtan looked at Ye Chen and spoke in a cool, measured tone. "The Holy Son's talent is extraordinary, but along your path, you've likely faced few peers of equal caliber. Your experience in true battles against prodigies is lacking. Once we return to the Holy Land, seek me out. I'm willing to help you hone your techniques and advance further."

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Ever since Ye Chen revealed his Heavy Pupils, Lin Qingtan, though reluctant to admit it, knew she had missed her chance. Yet, Ye Chen's terrifying fortune, as if he were the favored son of the Heavenly Dao itself, sparked her anticipation. With such divine favor, could he one day obtain a treasure capable of aiding her?

That was why Lin Qingtan had taken the initiative to act, even offering to help Ye Chen sharpen his combat experience against other prodigies. By drawing closer to him and building a bond, she hoped to benefit from his favor in the future. Perhaps, just maybe, she could share in the Heavenly Dao's grace and find a solution to her own problem.

In the past, Lin Qingtan had firmly believed that human will could overcome the heavens. But after reaching the Deity Transformation stage, she found herself unable to resolve the issue with her physique, her cultivation stuck without an inch of progress. This forced her to change her perspective, pinning her hopes on the fortune of a prodigy like Ye Chen.

It was a gamble. Even if Ye Chen were to obtain a treasure capable of solving her physique's issue, there was no guarantee he'd be willing to part with it. Still, Lin Qingtan was willing to take the chance.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow at her words, sensing that she likely had some favor to ask of him. Otherwise, as a Deity Transformation prodigy herself, why would she show such enthusiasm toward him, the Holy Son? But he wasn't put off by it—quite the opposite. He was intrigued.

Most people disliked being asked for help, as it meant giving something up. But for Ye Chen, giving was gaining. And this Elder Lin Qingtan, with her thousandfold base multiplier, could yield unimaginable rewards if a critical hit triggered.

So, with a smile, Ye Chen nodded. "Thank you, Elder Lin. Once we're back at the Holy Land, I'll definitely seek you out. You've not only helped me eliminate a great enemy but also offered to refine my skills. As a token of gratitude, please accept this gift. I hope you won't refuse."

With that, Ye Chen presented the Kun Peng Imprint, obtained during his recent heavenly tribulation, and offered it to Lin Qingtan.

Lin Qingtan froze, staring at the Kun Peng Imprint before her. This was undoubtedly a supreme treasure, one that could potentially allow her to comprehend a Treasure Technique from the Kun Peng's arsenal. Even for a Holy Land expert, the Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques were far from common. After all, even Immortal Emperors of old had sought to collect such techniques. And yet, Ye Chen was simply giving it to her?

She quickly waved her hand. "It was a small effort, nothing worth such a gift!"

The Kun Peng Treasure Technique was precious, but it wasn't what Lin Qingtan truly wanted. What she sought was Ye Chen's goodwill. Accepting the gift would turn their interaction into a transaction, which wasn't her goal.

But Ye Chen's expression was resolute. "Elder, you've looked out for me, and I'm deeply grateful. If you refuse this gift, my heart won't be at ease. And if that's the case, I wouldn't feel right troubling you at the Holy Land."

Lin Qingtan hesitated, caught in a dilemma. She needed to build a strong relationship with Ye Chen. Helping him improve his combat experience would foster that bond. If she refused the gift and he truly stopped seeking her out, it would be her loss.

Besides, the Kun Peng Treasure Technique was undeniably tempting. She had been trying every method to resolve her physique's issue. She had once taken in Li Feihuang in exchange for a True Phoenix Treasure Technique. Now, if she could acquire a Kun Peng Treasure Technique, it might offer a chance to address her problem.

So, she decided to accept it. She could find a suitable gift to return the favor later. Moreover, the new Holy Son's generosity was striking. If he were to encounter the opportunity she needed in the future, his magnanimous nature made it likely he'd share it with her.

Her expectations for Ye Chen grew even stronger, and her desire to build a closer relationship with him deepened. After a moment's hesitation, Lin Qingtan accepted. "Very well, thank you, Holy Son. When you establish your own peak in the Holy Land, I'll present you with a generous gift in return."

Seeing her accept, Ye Chen broke into a wide smile.

In his mind, a system prompt sounded: "Congratulations, Host, for successfully gifting an item! Gift: Kun Peng Imprint. Reward processing… Thousandfold feedback in progress… Critical hit reward triggered! Reward: Kun Peng Treasure Technique, combat experience of the Vicious Ten' Kun Peng at the Nascent Soul stage…"

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