C94 Zhang Xiaoyu Who Had Instantly Entered the Innate Stage!

"Liu, have you lost your mind?" Zhang Yongnian couldn't hide his disbelief as he stared at Vice-chairman Liu, visibly shaken. Despite knowing about the multitude of fearsome adversaries Lin Chen faced, Vice-chairman Liu seemed to be deliberately seeking them out. Wasn't that akin to signing one's own death warrant?

"Like Mr. Lin said, everyone has the right to make their own choices," Vice-chairman Liu responded with a nonchalant air. "As for me, I choose to place my trust in Mr. Lin, as well as in my own judgment."

Realizing that Vice-chairman Liu was resolute, Zhang Yongnian let out a sigh and held back any further comment. He turned to Lin Chen, bowed respectfully, and promised earnestly, "Mr. Lin, the herbs you require will be in your hands within three days."

Lin Chen simply nodded, offering no additional words, and watched as Zhang Yongnian took his leave. Yet, Lin Chen found himself unexpectedly taken aback by Vice-chairman Liu's decision.

"Brother Liu, I'm quite curious—what makes you trust me so much?" Lin Chen inquired with a smile.

Hearing Lin Chen address him as Brother Liu, Vice-chairman Liu couldn't help but join in the laughter. Feeling a sense of camaraderie with Lin Chen, Vice-chairman Liu saw no need for secrecy.

"If even the Chung family disciples from the capital place their trust in Mr. Lin, what do I, from the modest Liu family of A City, have to fear?" he said.

No sooner had Vice-chairman Liu finished speaking than a terrifying aura erupted from a corner of the room. All eyes darted toward the source of the disturbance. There sat Zhang Xiaoyu, cross-legged on the floor, her eyes tightly shut, the source of the fearsome aura.

"Holy smokes, is that the aura of a Xiantian master?" Huang blurted out, unable to contain his astonishment, his eyes wide with amazement. Not just Huang—Chung Yu too was agape, looking utterly gobsmacked.

"This is indeed the aura of a Xiantian master," someone confirmed. "But really, isn't this to be expected for someone in Mr. Lin's inner circle?"

Vice-chairman Liu, puzzled by the astonishment on Chung Yu and Huang's faces, voiced his confusion. After all, becoming a Xiantian expert typically required an immense amount of time and innate talent. Under normal circumstances, Vice-chairman Liu might have been taken aback to see Zhang Xiaoyu reach such a lofty status at her young age.

Zhang Xiaoyu is one of Lin Chen's associates, and to Vice-chairman Liu, that's pretty much par for the course.

Considering Lin Chen's formidable reputation, it stands to reason that his circle wouldn't be filled with ordinary folks.

Take Chung Yu and Huang, for instance—neither of them could be considered run-of-the-mill.

"Vice-chairman Liu, what if I told you that this girl was just an average person before she set foot on antique street?" Huang managed to say, despite his twitching cheek.

To those gathered, being an Innate expert wasn't particularly impressive.

Yet, Zhang Xiaoyu's transformation from an average individual to the Innate Stage in under an hour was nothing short of miraculous.

With a thud, Vice-chairman Liu lost his balance and plopped down on the ground.

Huang's bold declaration in front of Lin Chen clearly indicated Zhang Xiaoyu's previous status as an ordinary person, leaving no room for doubt.

In that moment, Vice-chairman Liu's face was a picture of astonishment as he repeatedly murmured, "How is this possible!"

"If an ordinary person can ascend to the Innate Stage in less than an hour..."

"Then what does that say about us cultivators and all the years we've spent in practice?"

Vice-chairman Liu's words, though better left unsaid, struck a chord with Chung Yu, Huang, and Liu Wu, leaving them visibly disconcerted.

The comparison was stark and unflattering.

Zhang Xiaoyu had achieved Innate expertise in under an hour, while they had dedicated years to reach the same level.

Chung Yu and Liu Wu, in particular, had always seen themselves as prodigies. Now, next to Zhang Xiaoyu, they felt like nothing more than scraps.

"Ahem, well, you see..."

"Xiaoyu's Innate strength was bolstered with the help of pills," Lin Chen interjected, trying to mitigate the blow to their egos.

"Though she's reached the Innate Stage, her combat and cultivation experiences are still vastly inferior to yours."

Lin Chen, observing the crestfallen expressions around him, spoke with a hint of embarrassment.

After all, these were his people, and shattering their confidence would ultimately backfire on him.

"Pills? Piled up to achieve this?"

The group was taken aback once more, trying to process the revelation.

If pills could turn ordinary people into Innate Stage warriors, doesn't that mean Lin Chen and Zhang Xiaoyu are essentially gaming the system?

Consider this: many spend their entire lives practicing without ever crossing the Innate Stage threshold.

Yet Zhang Xiaoyu breezed right into it. Imagine the uproar if word got out.

"Wait, stockpiling pills?"

"Is Mr. Lin an Alchemist too?"

Vice-chairman Liu's eyes widened as the realization hit him, and he stared at Lin Chen in awe.

Being known as Master Kunlun was intimidating enough.

But an Alchemist too? Lin Chen was in a league of his own!

"Using Huang and Chung's words, I guess I'm what you'd call an Earth Grade Alchemist."

"However, that's beside the point."

"The Innate Stage is merely the beginning of cultivation. Don't overthink it."

Lin Chen gave Vice-chairman Liu a nod, downplaying the revelation.

Earth Grade Alchemist? Not a big deal?

Vice-chairman Liu's eyes nearly popped out of his head, his inner monologue itching to let loose a tirade.

If being an Earth Grade Alchemist wasn't a big deal, then what was?

But then, a fervent gleam took over his gaze.

He understood the implications of being an Earth Grade Alchemist all too well!

With Lin Chen's dual identity as Master Kunlun and an Earth Grade Alchemist, aligning with him was undoubtedly the smartest move of his life!

Reflecting on Zhang Yongnian's refusal, Vice-chairman Liu couldn't help but feel relieved at his own foresight.

Had he missed the chance to work with an Earth Grade Alchemist, he'd be too ashamed to face his ancestors after passing away.

"Boss, are you implying that I could potentially mass-produce Innate Stage masters?"

While Vice-chairman Liu was basking in his smugness, Chung Yu timidly posed the question.

The query sent shivers down the spines of Vice-chairman Liu, Liu Wu, and Huang.

They had been so preoccupied with Lin Chen's status as an Earth Grade Alchemist and Zhang Xiaoyu's power surge that they overlooked this pivotal issue.

Think about it: the ability to mass-produce Innate Stage masters—what would that entail?

It meant that Lin Chen, if he so chose, could effortlessly assemble an army of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of Innate Stage experts!

With that kind of power, it wouldn't matter whether it was Sun Xiangguo, Elder Mo, or the Southern Barbarian King; with a mere wave of their hand, they could command thousands of Innate Stage experts to raze an enemy's stronghold to the ground.

"Do you think the Innate Stage is just any old thing?"

"And mass-produced at that!"

As the others looked on with anticipation, Lin Chen couldn't help but roll his eyes in exasperation.

"Cultivation is an act of defying the heavens. Creating a few of these beings now and then isn't a big deal."

"But if the numbers get too high, I'm afraid I'll be reduced to ashes by a heavenly tribulation one day!"

After Lin Chen finished speaking, the group didn't show any signs of disappointment; instead, they breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Being too defiant against the natural order could provoke not just the ire of the heavens, but it might also lead every person in the world to conspire against you.

"Liu, let's move on to the third matter now."

"I plan to use this calligraphy painting, along with ten Spirit Return Pills, to issue a bounty on Sun Xiangguo and Elder Mo!"

Lin Chen paused briefly before continuing.