C10 A Crouching Tiger Hiding a Dragon!

After Lin Chen and Su Qingxue returned to their villa, Su Qingxue soon drove off to her company. Meanwhile, Lin Chen commenced his cultivation, determined not to waste his innate talent for the mystical arts.

The Netherlord had bequeathed to him the legacy of cultivation, not to turn him into an irredeemable villain. Thus, Lin Chen understood the method of his training, despite its challenging nature and the fact that it wasn't an overnight endeavor.

However, the spiritual energy of the world around him was too sparse. He needed to find a nexus of spiritual energy to accelerate his progress, or else his cultivation would advance at a snail's pace.

He was well aware that Agosmouth was teeming with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Without uttering a word, he knew he couldn't even withstand a bullet. In the face of gunfire, his only option would be to flee.

With the start of his senior year looming, Lin Chen was eager to achieve a breakthrough to the Qi Training realm.

Once he reached Qi Training and returned to school, those who had looked down on him as a mere country bumpkin, especially the self-proclaimed elites, were in for a surprise.

Lin Chen drove to Emerald Peaks on the outskirts of Agosmouth, where the beauty of the lake and mountains was a natural delight. The area, which included a natural lake, served as the lungs of Agosmouth, brimming with abundant spiritual energy.

Across from the lake at Emerald Peaks, a senior and a junior strolled along the shore. The elder was a scholarly gentleman in his sixties, dressed in casual sportswear, exuding both vitality and youth.

Walking beside him was a young, beautiful girl in white sportswear, her hair neatly tied back, her face exquisitely delicate. She, too, was emulating the elder in her seated cultivation practice.

"Grandpa, is cultivating as a warrior truly so difficult? Why haven't I felt any surge of energy? I've been refining my body for so long; when will I reach the next level?" the playful girl asked with a hint of frustration, batting her eyelashes.

"You've done quite well to have reached the third level of body refining at your age. It requires talent, and not everyone is capable of such cultivation!" the old man said with a smile. "Reaching the third level at twenty shows you're quite gifted. With continued practice, you'll surely ascend to the next level."

Upon hearing the elder's words, a look of pride blossomed on Lan Yuanyue's face. She then asked, "So, Grandpa, if one reaches the Qi Training stage, they can pluck flowers and the moon from the sky and wield the wind as a sword to harm others, can't they?"

"Indeed, they can. However, it's rare to encounter a cultivator who has truly entered the Qi Training stage. Out of a million people, you might find only a handful!" Lan Yuanzhong said with a sigh.

Suddenly, both of their gazes were drawn to a figure swiftly moving across the vast lake's surface. They caught sight of a young man's face.

"Wow, this guy is almost walking on water, isn't he? He must be a cultivator!" Lan Yuanyue exclaimed in amazement.

Lan Yuanzhong's jaw nearly hit the ground as he incredulously watched the figure leaping through the water. He had just remarked that such individuals were one in a million, and yet, here was a cultivator before them. Wasn't this a direct contradiction to his words?

The figure moved rapidly from one end of the lake to the other, his powerful and agile body seemingly brimming with boundless strength.

"Who would have thought we'd encounter a cultivator here, and such a young one at that? Whose disciple could he be? How come I don't have such a successor?" Lan Yuanzhong muttered, his eyes wide with astonishment.

Lan Yuanyue grew anxious, "Oh, but I will become a cultivator too! I'm certain I can ascend to the Qi Training stage. Besides, you couldn't have been as formidable as him in your youth. Maybe I should go learn from him!"

"Don't interrupt him; he's in the midst of cultivation. If you're impertinent, you'll surely irritate him. Instead of gaining instruction, you'll end up causing trouble!" Lan Yuanzhong advised, his gaze fixed on the figure in the lake, his expression contemplative.

"What should we do then? Can't we approach him?" Lan Yuanyue asked, her face falling with disappointment.

She looked at her grandfather, a renowned figure whose fame resonated far and wide, a cultivator whom many formidable figures approached with respect. Yet, she hadn't expected him to hold such high regard for another.

The cultivator emerging from the lake was none other than Lin Chen.

He slipped into his clothes and breathed a sigh of contentment, "Truly, this place where the mountains and rivers meet is a nexus of spiritual energy. A day of cultivation here feels amazing!"

While swimming in the lake, Lin Chen overheard the comments of an elder and a youth about him. He wasn't interested in their assessment of his strength; he preferred to remain under the radar.

Considering he had already crossed the Dragonspire Conclave and Su Qingxue was facing her own troubles, he needed to focus on steadying himself to help his woman navigate these challenging times.

...

As evening fell, the opulent hall of Agosmouth's royal entertainment club buzzed with the comings and goings of many guests, while others mingled and awaited companions.

This exclusive club operated on a membership basis, meaning only the wealthy and prestigious could enter. Many of the young patrons boasted significant social standing.

Today, Su Qingxue was among the attendees. She typically avoided such venues, but business called—her counterpart insisted on meeting here, so she obliged.

Her stunning entrance immediately drew the gaze of many.

"Hey, isn't that the CEO of Phoenix Group, Su Qingxue? What's she doing at the club?"

"Hehe, I heard she recently married a man three years her junior. The wedding was quite the spectacle—the groom was arrested by the police!"

"So she's out to play because she's unsatisfied?"

"It doesn't seem like it. Look how she ignores all the wealthy young men trying to greet her, not even a smile!"

"She still carries herself with such pride, as if marrying into the Lin family has made her invincible!"

"I've heard Phoenix Group is having financial troubles. The banks won't lend to her anymore. She's on the brink of bankruptcy!"

"…"

At that moment, women who had encountered Su Qingxue before watched the striking figure enter with envy and snide remarks.

Clad in a long black gown with fringe-tipped high heels that highlighted her statuesque and sensual frame, she held a glass of red wine with an air of detached coolness, exuding an aura of unparalleled solitude.

"Ms. Su, you're here early!"

A voice reached Su Qingxue from behind, and she turned to see a man in a suit and leather shoes approaching.

It was Xie Shaofeng, clad in a white Armani suit, exuding elegance. They were scheduled to negotiate the acquisition of a subsidiary of the Phoenix Group today.

"You're also here quite early. Where shall we have our discussion?" Su Qingxue asked the man, her lips curving into a somewhat forced smile.

"How about I book a private room for us to talk?"