Lin Fei returned to his cave dwelling.
At this moment, the maid serving Lin Fei reported, "Elder, a letter just came from the inner sect addressed to inner sect disciple Lin Fei. After the inner sect elder learned about it, they forwarded the letter here."
"A letter?" Lin Fei took the letter.
Lin Fei had only been an inner sect disciple for a few months and only a small number of people in the Nine Profound Sect knew that Lin Fei was now a Grand Elder. Others didn't know his identity at all. But even in the inner sect, Lin Fei hadn't made many acquaintances. Who sent him the letter?
Lin Fei opened the letter. Upon reading the contents, he understood. It turned out that the letter was from Chen Lian. When Lin Fei first entered the inner sect and was preparing to sell his outer sect courtyard, it was Chen Lian bought it.
Moreover, Lin Fei accepted Chen Lian's invitation and became a guest elder of the Chen family. At that time, the Chen family gave Lin Fei 15,000 taels of silver, which was to be paid annually.
They had paid a year's worth of silver in advance, which showed sincerity. After all, Lin Fei had not yet become an acquired martial artist at that time.
Lin Fei did a quick calculation. He had been a guest elder of the Chen family for less than a year. That is to say, he had taken the silver and was still a guest elder of the Chen family.
Now, Chen Lian sent a letter. She mentioned that the Chen family had encountered some troubles. They hoped Lin Fei could go to the Chen family and help them resolve the issue. The Chen family had prepared a generous reward for Lin Fei's assistance: 10,000 taels of silver!
If Lin Fei were an ordinary acquired martial artist, this reward would be quite impressive. It did demonstrate considerable sincerity. However, Lin Fei was now an innate martial artist! So, how much should an innate martial artist be rewarded for their assistance?
"Never mind, I did accept the Chen family's silver after all. And indeed, I am currently a guest elder of the Chen family. Bring Chen Lian here, and I'll ask her in person what troubles the Chen family has encountered."
"Yes, Elder."
The maid left the cave dwelling. It wasn't long before the maid brought Chen Lian to the cave dwelling.
Chen Lian's face was full of confusion. She was still in the outer sect of the Nine Profound Sect. Judging by the situation, it seemed difficult for her to reach the seventh level of Body Refining before the age of twenty.
It was unlikely that she would become an inner sect disciple. Of course, this was normal. Chen Lian's talent was quite average. Being able to stay in the outer sect was already quite good. She could provide the Chen family with information about potential disciples.
It should be noted that the Chen family didn't have Lin Fei as their only guest elder.
Chen Lian looked at the cave dwelling with a mix of apprehension and confusion. She had been doing well in the outer sect. Suddenly, she was informed that the Grand Elder had summoned her. But what could a Grand Elder want with an insignificant outer sect disciple like her?
Chen Lian couldn't even enter the inner sect. When she needed to contact their guest elders in the inner sect, she could only send a message through someone. What merit or ability did she have to be invited by the Grand Elder?
"Chen, the Grand Elder is inside. Please come in."
The maid brought Chen Lian to the entrance of the main hall and stopped. Chen Lian hesitated a bit, but she quickly stepped inside.
She didn't dare to look up at the Grand Elder sitting at the top. Instead, she quickly entered the main hall and respectfully knelt down, saying, "Disciple Chen Lian pays her respects to the Grand Elder."
"Chen Lian, you're here. Lift your head and take a look at who I am."
A young voice entered Chen Lian's ears she faintly felt it was familiar. She cautiously raised her head and looked at the Grand Elder sitting at the top. However, when she saw the person clearly, her eyes widened in shock. A look of disbelief appeared on her face.
"You... you are Senior Brother Lin Fei? But... why are you in the Grand Elder's cave dwelling? Could it be that you have become a disciple of the Grand Elder?" Chen Lian immediately thought of a possibility.
"Disciple?"
Lin Fei smiled enigmatically, his gaze fixed on Chen Lian, "Some time ago, I advanced to the innate realm and became a Grand Elder of the Nine Profound Sect. So, I am the Grand Elder!"
Lin Fei's words exploded like a thunderbolt in Chen Lian's mind.
"What? Senior Brother Lin, you are the Grand Elder? And you have advanced to the innate realm..."
Chen Lian was a skilled socializer among the Nine Profound Sect's outer disciples. But now, her mind was completely blank and she didn't know what to say.
Lin Fei being a Grand Elder, an innate martial artist, and a martial arts master was beyond her imagination.
"Chen Lian, I don't have time to joke with you. I am still a guest elder of the Chen family, after all. I have taken the Chen family's silver, and a year has not yet passed. During this year, no matter what troubles the Chen family encounters, I can help resolve them. Chen Lian, are you sure you still want me to help resolve the troubles faced by the Chen family?"
Lin Fei's meaningful words brought Chen Lian back to her senses. She seemed to regain her usual calm demeanor.
Chen Lian immediately replied, "No, Grand Elder Lin, it's just a trivial matter for the Chen family. How could we bother the Grand Elder with it? But, may I ask the Grand Elder, can the Chen family announce the fact that you are our guest elder?"
Chen Lian asked cautiously. She was still shocked in her heart that how the acquired disciple they had originally hired suddenly become an innate master and a Grand Elder of the Nine Profound Sect.
This status was incredible. At the very least, if Lin Fei were associated with the Chen family, Even if it was just a little connection, it would be great news for the Chen family!
"Of course, I am indeed your guest elder."
"When the one-year period is over..." Chen Lian hesitated to ask.
"Do you still want me to be your guest elder? But can your Chen family afford to support a martial arts master?" Lin Fei said calmly.
When the one-year term expires, Lin Fei's price won't be the same. To be a guest elder? Of course, it's possible! As long as they can provide treasures that can significantly improve his True Intention Scroll or rapidly enhance his saber intent.
As long as they have those treasures, then there would be no problem supporting him as a guest elder. However, if it's just some silver, It would be of no use to Lin Fei now.
"Ah... I apologize for my thoughtlessness."
Chen Lian's expression stiffened slightly. Indeed, Lin Fei was now a martial arts grandmaster and a Grand Elder of the Nine Profound Sect. As soon as the one-year term with the Chen family ends, if the Chen family wanted to continue supporting him, they would have to pay the price of a martial arts master.
Could the Chen family afford to support a martial arts grandmaster? It seemed impossible.
"Grand Elder, I will take my leave now!"
Chen Lian respectfully saluted and then hurriedly left the cave dwelling. She had to hurry back and report this news to the Chen family.
The Chen family would be shocked as well. Originally, they had hired an acquired disciple as a guest elder. But in the blink of an eye, he became an innate master and even a Grand Elder of the Nine Profound Sect. This was like a pie falling from the sky. What a profit!
If the Chen family could make good use of their relationship with Lin Fei and announce their connection with Lin Fei, from then on, the Chen family might soar to new heights. Who would dare to provoke them?
"Guest elder..."
Lin Fei thought of the Zhang family. He was also a guest elder for the Zhang family. However, ever since the last time when Lin Fei helped the Zhang family to drive away the disciples from Autumn Haze Mountain, the Zhang family seemed to have not encountered any troubles.
"Next, I should focus on cultivation. I must at least reach the middle stage of the True Intention Scroll and make my Saber Qi more profound, only then can I fight with Saber Qi for an extended period. I also need to continue honing my Martial Dao True Intents. I should go to the Ancestral Master Peak to polish them..."
Lin Fei got up, left the cave dwelling, and headed towards the Ancestral Master Peak.