When I stopped licking, the lady panicked.

Lin Xuan helped him up and said, "That's not necessary. I didn't take it to heart anyway."

The old man chuckled and said, "It's a pity that I, Liu Yu, have lived most of my life, yet my character is inferior to that of a younger generation. I am truly ashamed..."

Lin Xuan put the Spirit Berry into his storage pouch and said, "Senior, you don't need to worry about it. I think what you should do now is go and see Fan Jiang."

"He seems to have suffered a great blow; I wonder if he might try to commit suicide."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yu seemed to wake from a dream. He quickly thanked Lin Xuan and ran out to find Fan Jiang.

Lin Xuan left the alchemy workshop and immediately ran into the eunuch who had led him to the Wanzhen Medicine Warehouse.

"Your Highness, you have one more chance to go to Langhuan Pavilion to choose martial arts techniques. Do you need this old servant to lead the way?" the eunuch asked.

Lin Xuan originally didn't want to go. After all, the powerful cultivation techniques and martial arts were all in his mind, and he didn't think that the martial arts in Langhuan Pavilion could compare with those he had cultivated in his previous life.

However, since we're already here, let's go and take a look, otherwise wouldn't it be a waste of the opportunity?

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Father-in-law," Lin Xuan said, clasping his hands in a fist sa

The eunuch smiled and said, "Your Highness, please follow this old servant."

Lin Xuan nodded and followed the eunuch to the entrance of Langhuan Pavilion.

Located in the northwest corner of the palace, Langhuan Pavilion is constructed entirely of dark jade-colored cloud-patterned stone. The pavilion is three stories high and stands majestically.

The gate is made of sandalwood, and various birds and beasts are carved on it, so lifelike that they inspire awe.

It is said that the birds and beasts on this door are for the purpose of protecting the pavilion. If any foreign enemies invade, the reliefs on it will come to life and transform into monsters to attack the foreign enemies and protect the Langhuan Pavilion.

After all, the Langhuan Pavilion contains nearly half of the original martial arts manuals of the Great Qing Dynasty. If it were stolen, the foundation of the Great Qing Kingdom would be shaken.

Above the entrance to Langhuan Pavilion hangs a black plaque with gold patterns, bearing three large characters written in a vigorous and elegant style: Langhuan Pavilion.

The characters are inlaid with tiny pieces of gold leaf, which glitter in the sunlight.

The steps are made of white marble and have ninety-nine steps, each with faint runes engraved on it.

It is said that this is part of the protective formation of the pavilion. If an ordinary cultivator steps onto the steps without permission, he will be immediately bounced away. Only with the permission of the pavilion guardian or by breaking through to the Hearing Dao Realm can one safely ascend the steps.

On each side of the pavilion stood ten stone figures, all dressed as imperial guards in black armor.

They held gilded spears in their hands, the tips pointing diagonally at the ground.

The stone figurine has luminous pearls embedded in its eyes. They are not clearly visible during the day, but once night falls, they emit a faint light, as if the stone figurine has come to life.

According to the eunuch who led the way, these stone figures are also part of the protective formation of the pavilion. Like the reliefs on the door, they will come to life and resist external enemies as long as the person guarding the pavilion recites the incantation.

"It seems that Langhuan Pavilion is indeed very important, as it has been reinforced with three layers of defense," Lin Xuan sighed.

The eunuch smiled and explained, "Daqing established its nation through military force, so naturally it regards martial arts as the foundation of the country."

Lin Xuan said, "But this has also led to the current situation of valuing martial arts over literature. Although there are many martial arts practitioners in Daqing, there are too few soul practitioners, and even fewer Dao practitioners, not to mention other cultivation schools."

"Not only that, Daqing's literary tradition has also stagnated. In three years, a 'Poet Immortal' will emerge, but apart from her, no other talented people will appear in the literary world."

The eunuch was taken aback and asked, "Does Your Highness mean that a great poet will emerge in Daqing three years from now? But how does Your Highness know about events three years from now?"

Lin Xuan was speechless, realizing he had let something slip, and then said, "I can observe the stars."

"I see, Your Highness is indeed very knowledgeable!" the eunuch said with a smile.

Lin Xuan smiled and said, "Father-in-law, may we go in?"

"Of course." The eunuch nodded and called inside, "His Majesty has decreed that they may proceed."

After saying that, the eunuch looked at Lin Xuan again and said, "Your Highness, that's enough."

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

He turned and walked up the steps.

Lin Xuan looked around at the stone figures; they were carved so lifelike, they looked just like they were alive.

Moreover, Lin Xuan also sensed the Daoist techniques of Daoist cultivators from them.

Lin Xuan sighed, "It seems that Daqing is not without Daoist cultivators, just few."

"Moreover, they have probably all been incorporated into the imperial court."

Lin Xuan walked into Langhuan Pavilion, and was immediately stunned by the magnificent scene before him.

From the outside, Langhuan Pavilion doesn't look very big, but once you go inside, the vast space is several times larger than it appears from the outside.

The gilded bookshelf stood straight and tall, as if reaching into the clouds.

The various scrolls on the bookshelf were all enveloped in an energy, and if your skills weren't up to par, you wouldn't be able to open them even if you got your hands on them.

Lin Xuan walked in, and suddenly, a phantom blocked his way.

"Who is it?" the illusory figure asked.

Lin Xuan said, "Lin Xuan."

"The winner of this martial arts tournament?" the phantom asked.

"That's right." Lin Xuan nodded.

The illusory figure circled Lin Xuan once, then said, "But why do I sense the aura of a demonic beast emanating from you?"

Lin Xuan explained, "Because I have refined items from demonic beasts."

The illusory figure frowned and said again, "You also have the same scent as royalty."

Lin Xuan was taken aback and said, "Perhaps it's because I just met His Majesty."

"No, it's not a smell, but a scent from your blood, yet it's not pure, as if it's been forced onto you," the phantom said. "What exactly are you?"

Lin Xuan asked, puzzled, "What am I? I am, of course, a human."

The illusory figure silently circled Lin Xuan again and again, but ultimately couldn't discern anything, and said, "You're very strange... Have you had anything transplanted into your body?"

"What was transplanted? You mean the Supreme Bone?" Lin Xuan asked.

"You also have the Supreme Bone??" the phantom asked.

"Me too? Who else has it?" Lin Xuan asked.

The illusory figure said, "Emperor."

"The Emperor?" Upon hearing what the illusory figure said, and connecting it with what Luo Zongfu had said earlier about the Lin family's connection to the royal family, Lin Xuan quickly guessed what it was.

Could it be that the Lin family is related to the royal family by blood?

"Does Your Majesty also possess the Supreme Bone?" Lin Xuan asked in surprise.

The illusory figure said, "It's not just Your Majesty; the late Emperor also had it."

Lin Xuan was startled, thinking: Could it be that the emperor's supreme bone was also transplanted from his father? Just looking at the transplantation of supreme bone, our Lin family and the royal family do have some similarities.

"Very well, I can't figure out why either. Since you are the winner of the martial arts competition and the emperor sent you, then you may go in."

The phantom seemed unwilling to dwell on the issue any longer and allowed passage directly. "There are all sorts of martial arts techniques and skills displayed there, but remember, do not take any martial arts that exceed your cultivation level."

"Because those cultivation techniques and martial arts skills all have barriers set up, if your cultivation level does not meet the minimum requirements, you will not be able to break through the barriers."

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "Understood."

"Go," the phantom said, then vanished from the spot.