Chapter 910 - 142: The Thousand Mechanism Sect’s Probe

Late at night!

In the Li Family’s backyard, the Li Clan Leader was respectfully standing in front of Qiu Wangqiu.

Though he was in the Late Period of the Innate Fifth Realm, he dared not put on the airs of the Li Clan Leader before this man.

Not only is Elder Chou himself a strong Sixth Realm Innate cultivator, but just the Thousand Mechanism Sect he represents is something the Li Family cannot afford to offend.

The Li Family’s foundations are all in the Thousand Mechanism Domain; with just one command, the entire Li Family would turn to ashes and be wiped from existence overnight.

"Is this all the information on Xiao Yan?"

Qiu Wangqiu looked at the news about Xiao Yan handed over by the Li Clan Leader and frowned slightly. He originally thought Xiao Yan was secretly cultivated by the Li Family for many years, but it turned out they had only known him for less than a month.

"Your Li Family is truly bold, placing the family’s hopes on someone with such mysterious origins."

Faced with Qiu Wangqiu’s displeasure, the Li Clan Leader showed a helpless expression. The Li Family wasn’t entirely pinning its hopes on Xiao Yan alone; there were three other alchemists, but those three didn’t even make it to the top hundred. However, it was clear Elder Chou was unconcerned about that.

Moreover, there’s another important reason related to the Thousand Mechanism Sect’s Artifact Refining Competition, which never restricts the identity of the participants. Even if Xiao Yan is a demon or has killed disciples of the Thousand Mechanism Sect and is wanted by them, as long as he’s not discovered during the Alchemy Competition, his results remain valid once out.

Consequently, forces like theirs from the Li Family never care about the origins of the invited artifact refiners, as long as they can ensure the competitor will give their all during the competition.

Of course, it’s not appropriate to say this now.

"Elder Chou, our Li Family has also investigated Xiao Yan. He’s not an Innate martial artist from the Thousand Mechanism Domain but came directly to Hundred Refinements City from the Outer Domain, accompanied by a little girl. We think... his background shouldn’t be too suspicious, which is why we invited Xiao Yan to represent our Li Family in the competition."

The Li Clan Leader meant that if Lin Chen were a tribulation cultivator or similar martial artist, he wouldn’t bring along a little girl. Xiao Yan resembles more those martial artists who usually travel across domains.

Qiu Wangqiu naturally understood the underlying meaning in the Li Clan Leader’s words. He wasn’t here to blame the Li Family; everything they did did not break the rules set by the Thousand Mechanism Sect. He originally thought only Wei Yang had mysterious origins, but now there’s Xiao Yan, meaning his analysis before his senior was wrong, which discontented him slightly.

If Wei Yang possibly came from there, then where does Xiao Yan hail from?

"Elder Chou, why don’t I call Xiao Yan here, so you can ask him directly? I’m sure he wouldn’t dare hide anything."

The Li Clan Leader tentatively offered. For the Li Family, Xiao Yan’s role was no longer significant. After securing a top ten, their interests were not only maintained but could grow further, which was already guaranteed. If the Thousand Mechanism Sect truly wanted to investigate Xiao Yan, offending him wouldn’t be their concern.

He knew what weighed more heavily.

"I have previously stated at the Celestial Craft Pavilion that no contestant should be disturbed; now you expect me to break my own word?"

"Elder Chou, I didn’t mean that."

"Enough, I’m not blaming your Li Family either. Since your Li Family promised Xiao Yan two top-tier Divine Soul techniques, I’ll provide those techniques for you."

The Li Clan Leader, hearing these words, quickly said, "How could we trouble Elder Chou..."

But before finishing his sentence, he abruptly stopped, seeing the cold intent in Elder Chou’s eyes.

"Thank you, Elder Chou."

The Li Clan Leader immediately understood that Elder Chou giving two top-tier Divine Soul techniques likely had other intentions, and he only needed to comply.

...

Thousand Mechanism Sect’s Inheritance Pavilion.

Qiu Wangqiu looked at the twenty-one jade scrolls in the pavilion. These were the top-tier Divine Soul techniques of the Thousand Mechanism Sect, aside from the Divine Control Record.

"These two will do."

Qiu Wangqiu extended his hand to pick up two jade scrolls. The Divine Soul techniques recorded within them were derived from the Divine Control Record, requiring mastery of the Divine Control Record first to train in them.

Whether Xiao Yan had trained in the Divine Control Record would depend on if he could master these two techniques.

...

...

Guest courtyard.

After Li Qin left, having delivered the techniques, Lin Chen looked at the two jade scrolls in his hand, letting his divine thought immerse in them. However, after reading them, his expression became peculiar.

These two Divine Soul techniques gave him a sense of familiarity, resembling the Divine Control Record quite a bit, more like the evolution of the Divine Control Record.

If one hadn’t trained in the Divine Control Record, one wouldn’t discover this, but Lin Chen had trained in the Divine Control Record. Even though he hadn’t fully mastered it yet, he sensed these two techniques were definitely related to the Divine Control Record.

The Divine Control Record is the sect’s ultimate skill of the Thousand Mechanism Sect, yet these two techniques have some connection with it. How did the Li Family obtain them?

Could it be I’m overthinking?

That these two Divine Soul techniques the Li Family sent share similarities with the Divine Control Record merely because, at the pinnacle of Divine Soul management, everything becomes akin? It’s not an impossibility, describing it as paths converging, like choosing between a large road or a small path, even traversing mountains and rivers; in the end, all lead to the same place.

"What’s wrong? Is there an issue with the two techniques sent by the Li Family? Are they not top-tier in power?"

Seeing Lin Chen’s fluctuating expression as he held the two jade scrolls after Li Qin left, Yin Yue asked curiously.