บท 49: Zhu Lin

She sat on a simple looking chair made of unknown material. The table in front of her was similarly simple and plain. Opposite to her was a similar chair. She sipped on her tea, her moves were graceful and natural. The teacup was translucent and blue in color. The silver intricate designing made it look classy. There was a similar cup in front of her as if she was expecting someone.

Shen didn't act courteously as he took the empty seat. By now his wildly beating heart already calmed down. The fragrance of tea soothed his tense nerves as he felt calm and refreshed. Just the fragrance already showed such effect, how mystical.

Shen couldn't hold his urge and took a sip from the tea. Just as the tea entered his throat, like a stream of heavenly energy they invigorated his tense and tired muscles. He felt like his body was melting from pure bliss. "Good Tea!" exclaimed Shen.

"At least you know how to appreciate good tea," the woman nodded at Shen's praise.

Obviously, Shen was ticked off by her remark. Did she think he was a barbarian? But the current him couldn't be bothered by her. This was his first having such mystical tea. He could feel his qi circulation was almost doubled!

Both of them finished their tea without making any extra noise. Shen sighed in satisfaction a few times. He could get addicted to this feeling. He especially felt satisfied because of how his body and senses were a few minutes ago.

"W—" Shen was about to speak as they both were done enjoying their teas but the lady in sky-blue dress interrupted him, "I know you have a lot to ask and I'll obviously answer your questions. How about I know about you first?."

"I'm Shen. As you said, the Inheritor of Absoluteness. I would like to learn what you know about my master." said Shen, he chose his words after much thought.

"I'm Zhu Lin of the Heaven Bamboo Clan. It's extremely normal for you not know about it. Since even I don't know how long I slept for," she paused, she knew what Shen wanted to hear as she continued, "I was defeated by your master while he was still alive. I was still proud and arrogant during that time...."

Zhu Lin of the Heaven Bamboo Clan was a once in a million years genius of the clan. Naturally, the clan didn't spare any efforts after their genius. The gazes of admiration slowly built her arrogance. Her arrogance her indeed not of thin air. Her power already reached the level of their family patriarch at the age of 29 and she was still young. In that era, even normal humans lived 300-500 years easily. 30-60 years were still young around time even for normal humans.

During one of her ruin expedition, she had a conflict with a rather peculiar guy. Even with her high cultivation base, she didn't dare to venture deep within the ruin without more experts but that person even after being a small realm (one grade) lower than her, ventured alone. The item they had been having conflict over was something that would let her breakthrough to the next realm. Then the fight broke but the man didn't have anything to gain in this fight. He already had the item on his hand, so he could just run away.

There she came up with the outrageous bet, whoever loses the fight will be others slave. The man was a small realm below her, she didn't believe she would lose but with the overwhelming difference between their strength, she lost in two moves. Even when the experts from her family joined the fray, only to be knocked out in a single move.

In the end, he gave her the item and a seal to her. "That item doesn't help me that much, my cultivation is a little harder than normal. So it is already useless to me. You can keep it. I'm building a Palace. I'm not in the need of a slave but I do require a protector. I'll find you when I need it," leaving the message, the man ventured deep inside the ruin.

30 years later, the man came to find her. She had no idea how he found her but she obliged with his condition. Much to her surprise, he didn't confine her in any way, rather gave her complete freedom. The Lust Race gave birth to his only child. He gifted them the Heavenly Emperor Palace and wished her to protect the race for 2000 years. After that, she was free to do whatever she wished.

10,000 years passed by quick, she sealed herself inside a coffin inside the palace. If the Race was in threat of extinction in this 2000 years, they were to wake her up and save the race but that time never came. The Race went extinct after 10,000 years and already forgot they had such an elder for protection. The last patriarch of her race sealed her inside the palace and activated all the traps. And stored the Heavenly Emperor Palace in a secret realm. Wishing she will wake up and carry on the Legacy of Lust Race.

Many entered the secret realm but they were never able to clear the traps and trials set inside the palace. There was different kind of trials through different doors. Even if someone was able to clear the first, all perished on the second. It was only because of the Palace reacting to Shen's Absolute Qi and Bloodline, she woke from her deep slumber.

"And here you woke me up," said Zhu Lin, finally finished her long story.

Shen took a little time to process her story. She is of unknown age but according to her story, she lived around 60 years before entering her slumber. With the effects of the coffin, she was basically 60 years old and even her cultivation talent didn't dwindle either. He did feel she hid something about their meeting but that was more like out of embarrassment. So, he didn't want to pursue the matter either and he wasn't foolish enough to ask her cultivation level.

"Then if you didn't wake up, I had to go through more trial after the one I passed?" this was something Shen didn't even want to think.

"No, if I didn't wake up, you didn't even have to through the first one," she stated as a matter of fact.

Shen didn't understand for a moment what she said before he finally understood her implications. If he didn't form a contract with the palace then he had to go through more trials but it was completely different after he formed the contract. He could already deactivate all the traps, it was thanks to her, he had to go through that life-threatening trap. He gritted his teeth, trying his best to stop himself from cursing her.

"Can I ask how much you know about my master and the technique?" Shen politely said but the vein on his forehead indicated the other way.

"Indeed. We were close for a year and I learned quite a bit. His cultivation was difficult than normal cultivators but his strength was also higher than average. His chance of leaving an offspring was extremely low too. So, he was really happy about having a child. Later I learned he couldn't pass the technique to his descendent for some reason."

"Then how do you know he is the creator of the Absolute Strengthening Technique?"

"I don't. The reason I said, he is the creator of the technique was because he did say, he didn't find any inheritance, nor did he had any master. The only possible way I see is, him creating the technique himself but looking at you that doesn't seem to be the case?"

"No, if what you say is correct, then you are indeed correct." Not any inheritance and he didn't have any masters either. It was extremely easy for Shen to understand how did he get the technique. It was the same for him. His illusory master probably existed or didn't. "So, am I the current owner of the Heavenly Emperor Palace?"

"Indeed," replied Zhu Lin, it was short and clear.

"Now that you are free would you like to go outside? Or do you still wish to be the Protector?" this was an important question. Something Shen had to know.

"Hmm... I'm not sure either. There's probably no one I know of. It's been a long time after all." she thought for a minute before replying.

"Then you are sincerely welcome to stay!" Having a strong protector was something anyone would wish. Although, he didn't have any idea whether this woman had an ulterior motive or not. Even if she had any, he doubted if he had any method to fight against her.

"I won't promise you anything but even if you get in danger, I refuse to help in any way." but it seemed she already saw through Shen's motive and shot him down.

"Hahaha, obviously, how can I ever ask a beauty such as yourself to fight for me." Shen sweated at the thought.

"Oh, you are such a gentleman but are you willing to take responsibility for the words you said?" said Zhu Lin coldly. Even the air around her froze.