Refining medicine can't save Doupo!

Chapter 658 Ancient Emperor's Cave!

Just as Xiao Yan and Yao Chen, master and disciple, were showing their affection, Jiang Lin also sent Su Qian and the others away.

Su Qian and the others didn't say much, but gave a general report on the development of Canaan Academy in the past two years and the major events that had occurred.

In reality, there weren't many truly major events. After all, with Venerable Qinghai of the Holy Soul Hall keeping things under control, the Soul Hall and other super Dou Sheng forces maintained restraint, designating the Black Corner Region as a separate 'technology testing zone' for the Spirit Craftsmen. Without other Dou Sheng forces causing trouble, Canaan Academy didn't experience any major problems.

Furthermore, Canaan Academy's composition is very complex. To put it simply, Canaan Academy and the Holy Soul Hall have now developed a division of labor in technology. With the support of Jiang Lin's plan, Canaan Academy has allocated most of its spirit gathering array technology to the Holy Soul Hall. Then, Canaan Academy began to focus on building its spirit stone system.

In other words, Canaan Academy now has the backing of the Soul Palace, plus its mysterious dean. Canaan Academy also has ties to the Thunder Clan. Therefore, Canaan Academy can navigate both the legitimate and illegitimate worlds with ease.
"Hmm, the development speed is somewhat beyond expectations, but it's still reasonable." After seeing off Su Qian and the other Canaan Academy executives, Jiang Lin asked Hun Ke'er to coordinate with Yao Tianhuo, and at the same time, took Ling Jiu to familiarize herself with Canaan Academy. Afterwards, Jiang Lin went alone to the bottom floor of the Burning Heaven Refining Tower and released Gu Xun'er.

"Hmm, how should I put it?" On the lowest level of the Burning Heaven Refining Tower, inside the Burning Heaven Disc, Jiang Lin looked at Gu Xun'er in front of him, who was still emitting a faint, somewhat suppressed aura of a Nine-Star Dou Zong, and raised his eyebrows slightly.

"What, are you starting to act like a monster? Be careful, or I'll tell Sister Xian'er!" The clever Gu Xun'er naturally saw through Jiang Lin's thoughts, so she smiled sweetly and said in a teasing tone.

"Hey, go out and appease your powerful one-star Dou Zong hidden guard first." Jiang Lin smiled, then shook his head and pointed Gu Xun'er to a passage leading to the upper level, so that Gu Xun'er could go and appease her powerful hidden guard.

Gu Xun'er rolled her eyes, somewhat speechless. Although Elder Ling was weak now, he was still a powerful one-star Dou Zong! Well, okay, a one-star Dou Zong is still weak.
"This is such a headache. This is the first time I've felt troubled because my cultivation is progressing too fast." Gu Xun'er pouted, her face filled with the worries of a young lady from a prominent family.
"It's only a matter of time." Jiang Lin shrugged, then suddenly his eyes lit up: "Hey, if you feel your cultivation level is too high, Little Fairy Doctor's End Power can erase those unnecessary cultivation levels that bother you without any damage." Jiang Lin chuckled.

"Only an idiot would do that!" Gu Xun'er rolled her eyes at Jiang Lin, then stopped complaining about her high cultivation level and fast pace, and quickly headed towards the top of the weapon-refining tower.

"We've gained so much." After Gu Xun'er left, Xiao Yixian, Xiao Lan, Zi Yan, Cai Lin, and the others began to emerge from Jiang Lin's body.

Xiao Lan and Xiao Yi Xian are together; they're on the same side, so there's nothing to worry about.

Although Cai Lin is a bit special, she doesn't have any other super forces behind her, and Jiang Lin has been able to keep her detained, so it's not too bad.

Zi Yan, isn't this her mount?
As for Xiao Yan, there's no need to elaborate. Xiao Yan himself is a super beneficiary; he would be crazy to expose his own secrets.

What? You're asking about Kelly from the Merfolk? That girl went to the Whale Clan to find Yuanxue. She doesn't dare go back to the Merfolk, and going to the Dou Qi Continent feels too far, so she decided to follow Yuanxue, which would be safer.

Therefore, among the group of people around Jiang Lin, only Gu Xun'er is a bit complicated.

"Sigh, at first I thought it would just be a simple trial where everyone could level up happily together, but who knew it would be so exaggerated?" Jiang Lin nodded, agreeing with Little Fairy Doctor's complaint.

After Zi Yan, Cai Lin, and the others came out, they couldn't help but frown: "The air outside is really polluted. It's not as good as the environment in the spirit space."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lin looked disgusted: "No, let's not. Just thinking about you having to eat, drink, and relieve yourselves makes me feel nauseous."

"???" Everyone was shocked when Jiang Lin said this, and they all looked at him with disbelief.

"Who's eating, drinking, or defecating here?!" Zi Yan was furious. After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, their bodies had undergone astonishing changes. They fed on energy, and fasting was the norm. Who would defecate in your spirit space?!

Little Fairy Doctor rolled her eyes at Jiang Lin, her earlobes slightly red, and spat out, "Stop saying such strange things."

"Ugh, it's just that something feels weird." Jiang Lin realized his thoughts were a bit too disgusting and wicked, so he rubbed his forehead.

“Alright, let’s get back to the point. Gu Xun’er’s background is different, so we can’t force her. But it’s also good that she knows my background. For me, the worst outcome would be to side with the Soul Clan and become the world’s biggest villain. But whether her Gu Clan can escape disaster is another matter.” Jiang Lin began to talk about Gu Xun’er.

Gu Xun'er was somewhat of an accident, and Jiang Lin hadn't expected the Ancient Sea Secret Realm to hold so many secrets. However, Jiang Lin was alright; his worst-case scenario wasn't actually that bad.
Furthermore, Jiang Lin suspected that the Soul Craftsman had an affair with the Thunder Clan. The fact that the Soul Craftsman knew Xiao Xuan's whereabouts was quite alarming.
Jiang Lin suspected that, given the right conditions, Soul Crafters had the potential to form their own distinct lineage and operate independently.
As core members of the Soul Clan, Soul Craftsmen hold a very special position. While other forces consider core members of the Soul Clan to be villains, Soul Craftsmen may have connections with other Dou Sheng (Battle Saint) forces.
If the Thunder Clan has already become so close to the Soul Craftsman that they've been exchanging Fire Source Crystals together, then it's hard for Jiang Lin not to suspect that the Soul Craftsman might also have some kind of ambiguous relationship with the Flame Clan, Medicine Clan, Stone Clan, and the other remaining imperial clans.
In addition, Jiang Lin also has the card of Dragon Emperor Lan Hong. Although it is unknown whether Lan Hong still has the right to speak for the Dragon Clan, what if he can recruit a few Dragon Clan Battle Saint Baby Dragons?

So if Gu Xun'er really wants to go head-to-head, then Jiang Lin isn't too afraid, he just might lose some better development opportunities.

Furthermore, Jiang Lin also possesses an ace in his hand: the protagonist Xiao Yan, whose identity was revealed by Ling Jiu.

Given the resentment the Soul Emperor harbors towards the Xiao Clan, if the Soul Emperor were to become an emperor, then Xiao Yan should also become an emperor, otherwise the protagonist's halo wouldn't work.

So in the end, Jiang Lin can simply hide in the Ancient Sea Secret Realm and wait until Soul Emperor becomes an Emperor and can open the Ancient Sea canned goods. By then, Xiao Yan will have almost become an Emperor as well.
However, in the end, Gu Xun'er's words, "Sister Xian'er," made Jiang Lin put aside all his thoughts.

Gu Xun'er was a smart person. She had realized how terrifying Jiang Lin was. At the same time, she also understood that the Gu Clan was a lazy imperial clan. Whether for herself, for Xiao Yan, or for the Gu Clan, Xiao Xun'er had no reason to be an enemy of Jiang Lin, who had just brought her to the Nine-Star Dou Zong realm.

Since that's the case, Jiang Lin didn't bother with worrying about gains and losses anymore. The most terrifying people in this world are never the smart ones. If Gu Xun'er's personality were similar to Zi Yan's, Jiang Lin would never dare to let Zi Yan go back.
"Sigh, Sister Xun'er is a smart person. She won't be our enemy, and knowing that you don't want to be with the Soul Clan, she won't push you towards them." Little Fairy Doctor sighed softly. She was actually worried about Jiang Lin and Gu Xun'er becoming enemies, not because she was worried about Gu Xun'er, but because she was worried about Jiang Lin's great cause being damaged.

“Yes, I know.” Jiang Lin nodded, then looked at the others. On the other side, Gu Xun’er, who was walking towards the top of the Burning Heaven Refining Tower, considered the consequences of various choices in her mind, and finally sighed helplessly.

She certainly wouldn't be an enemy of Jiang Lin; that would be a very irrational act. Moreover, the ancient clan wouldn't gain anything either, because if Jiang Lin, who was hiding among the Soul Clan's forces, were to suffer even the slightest threat to his life, the Soul Clan would definitely benefit.
Gu Xun'er was frustrated by one thing: she suddenly realized that if she became Jiang Lin's enemy, then...
Her Xiao Yan brother almost always questioned her while mercilessly unleashing the Buddha's Fury Lotus Cannon upon her.
"Why?!"

Buddha's wrathful lotus cannon!

"Why!!"

The Buddha's Fiery Lotus Cannon!!
"what!!!"

Super Buddha's Wrath Lotus Cannon!!!

Hmm. That scene is a bit too beautiful. Just thinking about it makes Gu Xun'er's lips twitch.

'I don't know what kind of bewitching potion that guy gave Brother Xiao Yan, but I have no doubt that Brother Xiao Yan would rather give up everything to avenge Brother Lin.' Gu Xun'er thought about her position in Xiao Yan's heart, which was probably not even as high as that of a man, and felt even more helpless.
'Sigh, I really can't do anything with you guys.' Gu Xun'er shook her head, banishing the strange thoughts from her mind, and then prepared to meet her powerful Elder Ling.

"Hmm, do you guys smell anything different?" At the bottom of the Burning Heaven Refining Tower, Lan Hong, who had been curiously observing her surroundings, suddenly woke up and looked at the strange energy environment around her with some curiosity.

Because Jiang Lin and Little Fairy Doctor had all been released, the Origin Qi on everyone's bodies began to be absorbed and transformed by the Heaven and Earth Battle Qi. Strands of Origin Qi, like transparent steam, kept rising from everyone's heads.

However, Lan Hong suddenly looked strangely at the magma passage below the Burning Heaven Refining Tower. Her perception was stronger than others, so she could sense that the surrounding primordial energy seemed to be sinking.

"Hmm?" Jiang Lin looked down at the underground magma beneath the Burning Heaven Refining Tower. In his spiritual vision, he saw colorless gas sinking and sinking among the colorful liquids, and then disappearing.

Jiang Lin glanced at Little Fairy Doctor and the others, and found that none of them felt anything.

As if thinking of something, Jiang Lin looked at Lan Hong, and Lan Hong also looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

"You all cultivate here first, I'll go down and see what's going on." After leaving these words, Jiang Lin gave Lan Hong a look, and then went directly into the underground magma through the magma passage. Lan Hong followed him instantly.

"Senior seems to have something to say?" After entering a world of crimson magma, Jiang Lin's spiritual eyes locked onto the direction of the sinking source energy and quickly followed it.

"Hmm, it wasn't very obvious before, but it became more obvious after we entered this place. I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I think I can smell the aura of a dragon." Although Lan Hong had keen senses, she also knew that Jiang Lin's spiritual eyes would be even more extraordinary, so she followed closely behind Jiang Lin.

"The aura of a dragon." Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow slightly. He wasn't very familiar with the dragon race. Perhaps he had 'seen' the aura of a dragon before, but missed it because he didn't recognize it.

"The aura of a true dragon." Lan Hong frowned slightly. She was familiar with the Dou Qi Continent and knew that dragons shouldn't be in these places.
"And it's still there. Although very faint, it's a pure-blooded true dragon, and it has to be at the Saint rank, otherwise it wouldn't be so concentrated." Lan Hong's gaze grew increasingly complex. A Saint-rank pure-blooded true dragon here? Staying for a long time??
Jiang Lin remained silent, his expression still. He already had a bold guess in his mind: if it was true, then this group of people truly possessed a destiny.
Thanks to the cheating of the fourth level of spiritual eyes, Jiang Lin followed the source energy dissipated by Little Fairy Doctor and others, and quickly arrived at a seemingly ordinary magma area deep underground.

Jiang Lin reached out to try and sense the surrounding space, as this was the area where the source energy had disappeared. Unfortunately, Jiang Lin could not sense any anomalies in the surrounding space at all.
Instead, Lan Hong, who had relied on her dragon nose to sniff her way through, suddenly tugged at Jiang Lin's sleeve. Under Jiang Lin's questioning gaze, Lan Hong led him deeper into the cave, bypassing countless turbulent currents and karst caves, finally arriving at an ancient stone gate.
"..." Jiang Lin stared at the ancient stone gate before him, remaining silent for a long time before finally sighing and saying to Lan Hong, whose expression was strange, "Well, sometimes the nose is a little more useful than the eyes."

“No.” Lan Hong shook her head. She knew that Jiang Lin’s eyes were even more abnormal. He must have directly seen the spatial anomaly, while she had only found this hidden ancient stone door by ‘finding people’.

"Didn't you say that the Dragon Emperor of the Dragon Clan has been missing for thousands of years?" Lan Hong's expression was very strange. Because Jiang Lin was not familiar with the aura of the Dragon Clan, he could not see the 'Dragon Mark World' in Lan Hong's eyes.

"Hmm?" Jiang Lin suddenly looked at Lan Hong, his eyes flickering slightly.

Lan Hong ignored Jiang Lin's gaze and stepped forward, where she cleaned a mysterious dragon-patterned mark from an extremely hard rock near the ancient stone gate.
“This mark… Dragon Pattern Dragon Emperor Dragon Pattern Candle Kun… So he took my place.” Lan Hong touched the dragon pattern on it, her expression extremely interesting.

"You recognize it?" Jiang Lin looked at the dragon-patterned characters in Lan Hong's hand, his brain starting to work at lightning speed.

"Dragons have very long lifespans. Ten thousand years is not surprising to us." Lan Hong's eyes flickered, and she finally sighed, pointing to the dragon-patterned characters on the surface as she said to Jiang Lin:
"I haven't converted to the mainland calendar yet, but the Dragon Calendar above shows that Zhukun arrived here thousands of years ago."

"Huang, Kun, enter the imperial palace, stay." This is the literal meaning of the dragon pattern.

Zhu Kun was worried that the dragons wouldn't be able to find him, so he left this message, implying that if he didn't come out, it meant that it was very dangerous inside.

However, Zhu Kun's worries were clearly unfounded, because no dragons came here for thousands of years afterward. If it weren't for Lan Hong, even Jiang Lin would have overlooked the 'I was here' or 'I stayed here' information left by Zhu Kun due to unfamiliarity with the area.

"The Imperial Palace." Jiang Lin looked at the seemingly simple and ancient stone gate in front of him and sighed helplessly.

At this moment, he was like some kind of incompetent idiot.
Giving it to him wouldn't be of any use.
(End of this chapter)