CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: SECURING FIRST PLACE

Soon, the news of Ye Yun and Chen Tao’s defeat spread, and the students began to discuss fervently.

Tang Xuehai anxiously counted the number of skeletons.

Until Lee Zaiqing came over and brought out sixteen skeletons.

"Where’s your captain?" Tang Xuehai asked Lee Zaiqing.

"We split up."

"Was there a disagreement?" Tang Xuehai frowned.

Lee Zaiqing didn’t hide anything and recounted the entire story truthfully.

Tang Xuehai listened to the twisted plot and felt a headache, saying, "That’s not what they said."

"I’m just telling the truth, whether you believe it or not is up to you."

Although Lin Chen advised him to keep this matter under wraps, or else Lee Zaiqing might be seen as a "defector" by the Inner Courtyard, making life difficult.

But Lee Zaiqing is straightforward, saying things as they are.

Tang Xuehai realized the seriousness of the situation and said, "I’ll investigate this matter, and if it’s true, I’ll handle it."

Lee Zaiqing just nodded and left.

...

Lin Chen and the others came out later, and he was extremely happy because Lee Zhen promised him that if he got first place, he would help him find evolution materials and a Catalyst Master.

But Lee Zhen wasn’t there, only his assistant was present.

"Chairman Lee is out on business, so he sent me to receive you," the assistant said.

Lin Chen didn’t ask much, thinking that "leaders" are always busy, and he pointed to the bags of skeletons on the ground, asking, "What should we do with these?"

"Just hand them over to the Inner Courtyard," the assistant counted them, and was astonished to find thirty bags in total.

Thirty skeletons, definitely securing the first place.

Cai Yuanji worriedly asked, "Would they embezzle them?"

"Don’t worry, the Inner Courtyard wouldn’t stoop so low," the assistant shook his head.

Afterwards, Lin Chen and the others handed over all thirty bags of skeletons in front of everyone, causing the Inner Courtyard’s students to lose face instantly.

"They must have been lucky, the Resentful Spirits weren’t strong this time."

"Don’t be sour, I heard they defeated both the first and second teams, and even won against a level 15 Thunder Pattern Beast."

"Does this mean our top spot on the Hundred Stars Chart just goes to someone else?"

Lin Chen and his companions proudly held their heads high, as did their Spirit Beasts, even though the Little Fox didn’t contribute, it still basked in the glory.

They rightfully earned the first place with their strength, naturally, they could be proud.

It’s a pity Xiaobai was still unconscious and couldn’t come out to flaunt.

"Wait a moment," Tang Xuehai called out to them.

He approached and recounted Lee Zaiqing’s words, Lin Chen and the other two were stunned, but those who knew Lee Zaiqing’s character didn’t find it surprising.

"It’s mostly true," Lin Chen nodded.

"Anything else?" asked Tang Xuehai.

The three shook their heads, the matter about Qin Shaoshao was known only to the four of them, and no one else was aware.

Lin Chen didn’t want them to know, as Qin Shaoshao’s Celestial Spirit Body was quite special.

"Alright, I will verify it," Tang Xuehai’s expression turned serious.

Lin Chen pondered for a moment, then asked, "If it’s verified, Lee Zaiqing’s accomplishments..."

"Even if it was given, it will count; we only look at the quantity," Tang Xuehai said.

Lin Chen and his companions were then at ease and decided to return to the city.

They quickly grabbed a meal, and then Lin Chen hurried home with Xiao Hong because they were quite exhausted these past few days.

On the same day, the Inner Courtyard’s Hundred Stars Chart was announced.

What shocked the Inner Courtyard was that the first position was left blank.

The second place was held by Lee Zaiqing alone, not a team.

What’s more puzzling was that the favorites, Ye Yun and Chen Tao, were both not on the list.

At once, it caused a stir within the Inner Courtyard, prompting an intelligence-gathering operation to find out what happened.

....

Inner Courtyard

In a forest, a handsome young man was just finishing guiding Spirit Beast training, when a student hurriedly ran over, saying, "Ning Tian, your little brother Ning Zimo took first place."

Ning Tian, upon hearing this, didn’t even turn his head and said, "Is that so?"

"Yes, he does have some strength," the student said.

Seeing Ning Tian disinterested, the student added a few more words before leaving.

However, after the student left, Ning Tian’s expression changed slightly, his lips curling into a slight smile, seemingly a bit pleased.

At the same time, back at home, Lin Chen first summoned Xiaobai because it had already woken up.

Seeing that it was home, Xiaobai comfortingly let out a moo.

Lin Chen quickly cleaned its horns, unsure if it was because the bones of the Thunder Pattern Beast had been weathered for too long, there was no bloodline extracted.

Regarding the bloodstains on the horns of Xiaobai, there were indeed three, but the Hidden Bloodline was relatively low, and the only slightly higher one was Ye Yun’s Spirit Beast.

[Blood Hunter Beast]

[Dominant Bloodline: Blood Hunter Beast 50%, Bloodthirsty Beast 25.5%]

[Hidden Bloodline: 14.55%]

[Polluted Bloodline: 9.95%]

Lin Chen saved it, labeled it, then went to bed, while Xiaobai and Xiao Hong were already asleep from exhaustion, and Lin Chen didn’t want to wake them, so he found a corner of the bed and went to sleep.

It’s undeniable, being at home feels comfortable, even though the house is shabby and small.

In the middle of the night, Lin Chen didn’t know how he woke up, but when he opened his eyes, he saw someone floating above his head...

"Ah!!"

Lin Chen was startled, waking both Xiaobai and Xiao Hong.

Xiaobai, seeing Lin Chen frightened, immediately went into combat mode.

"You... you..."

Lin Chen stuttered.

Because this person was none other than Qin Shaoshao.

Xiaobai immediately canceled its combat mode because Lin Chen had said that not even ten Niu Nius could defeat her.

Lin Chen, clutching his chest, said, "Elder... elder, appearing in the dead of night like this will scare people to death."

"If you do nothing wrong by day, you fear no ghosts knocking at the door by night,"

Qin Shaoshao descended; her pupils still dim and lifeless.

Her body had come out, but her heart hadn’t.

Lin Chen didn’t bother to explain, calming his heartbeat before asking, "Is there something you need from me, elder?"

Although seeing Qin Shaoshao appearance, even though it had been over a thousand years, she still looked younger than Lin Chen.

"When is the burial?"

"That... I don’t know yet..."

Lin Chen understood now, she wanted to pay respects to Su Yu and Qin Hao.

Thinking it over, he said, "If the elder doesn’t mind my humble abode, feel free to stay here; the academy is probably handling things now..."

As he spoke, Lin Chen looked at Qin Shaoshao expectantly.

He wasn’t after her beauty; he was after her power.

This world was too dangerous, and having someone strong by his side would bring immense security.

Qin Shaoshao hadn’t harmed him before, and surely wouldn’t now.

Qin Shaoshao pondered for a moment and finally nodded.

With the change of times, she no longer had a home here long ago.

Lin Chen quickly got up, and the trio of one person with two beasts made some adjustments, clearing out the attic to make a room for her.

"Thank you," Qin Shaoshao expressed her gratitude, sitting alone at a table, repetitively picking the petals of a flower.

As he approached, Lin Chen could hear her counting aloud.

Though she often miscounted, it was unclear whether it was intentional or because of poor math skills.

Each time she erred, she’d conjure another flower petal.

Being a Wood Element Beastmaster with a unique Celestial Spirit Body, this wasn’t difficult for her.

Lin Chen mused, she must have used this to while away the centuries, caught in her dream.

Finding the atmosphere a bit dull, Lin Chen asked, "When did the elder arrive?"

"Just when you were dreaming," Qin Shaoshao replied without lifting her head.

Lin Chen froze...

Dreaming?

He seemed to have a spring...

Given Qin Shaoshao’s knack for creating dream worlds, could she see through others’ dreams?

Lin Chen’s facial muscles twitched, wishing he could slap himself.

Better to stay silent if you don’t know what to say.

And just like that...

The atmosphere grew even more awkward.