Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 181 The Royal Ancestor Zhao Wuji

The Empress led Lin Chen through numerous palace restrictions to a secluded palace deep within the imperial palace.

The palace looked quite old, with moss climbing the steps and the doors tightly closed, exuding an air of antiquity.

"The Ancestor is inside," the Empress whispered.

Lin Chen glanced at it, nodded, and pushed the door open to go inside.

The palace door creaked open as Lin Chen pushed it open.

A musty smell mixed with sandalwood wafted out, and Lin Chen raised his hand to fan it before stepping inside.

The light from the ever-burning lamp, a dim, yellowish glow, cast swaying shadows on people's faces.

The white-haired old man on the prayer mat turned around, startling Lin Chen.

Good heavens, his face is wrinkled like old tree bark, but his eyes are frighteningly bright, staring straight at you as if they can see right through you.

"Ancestor, this is Lin Chen, the Prince of Zhenbei." The Empress followed behind, her voice low.

Zhao Wuji sized Lin Chen up and down, looking him over for several breaths before speaking in a hoarse voice:

"Heroes emerge from among the young; they have the same spirit as Lin Pojun back then."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow slightly: "Ancestor, have you met my great-grandfather?"

"I've met you before." Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered, as if recalling some old memory.

"One hundred and eighty years ago, in the battle of Dongli, Lin Pojun single-handedly held off an army of fifty thousand men with just a spear."

I had just entered the realm of celestial beings when I first saw it from afar.

"Then you must be a true elder," Lin Chen casually cupped his hands in greeting. "His Majesty said you wish to see me?"

Zhao Wuji didn't beat around the bush and nodded directly:

"My lifespan is coming to an end, and I would like to ask those two immortal beings in your household... to give me some guidance."

He spoke frankly, without any of the usual ambiguity.

Lin Chen enjoys dealing with this kind of person.

"Sure," Lin Chen answered readily, taking two steps forward and getting a closer look at Zhao Wuji's old face.

"However, I have a question to ask first."

"Excuse me."

"You yourself should assess your chances of breaking through to the level of a terrestrial immortal... what are the odds?"

Zhao Wuji remained silent.

The hall was so quiet that only the crackling of the eternal lamp wick could be heard.

After a long pause, Zhao Wuji gave a bitter smile and held up three fingers that looked like withered tree branches:

"Thirty percent."

"Thirty percent..." Lin Chen stroked his chin. "That probability is about the same as betting on 'sic' or 'big'."

"I understand," Zhao Wuji sighed. "Without external assistance, the chances of success are slim."

Lin Chen then asked, "How old are you this year, sir?"

Two hundred and eighty-eight.

"Hmph, then you should be worried." Lin Chen nodded. "At most, a Celestial Realm cultivator has a lifespan of three hundred years, not even counting damage to their foundation. Yours..."

Zhao Wuji's eyes dimmed: "Without a miracle, I don't even have three more years to live."

Lin Chen gave Zhao Wuji a deep look, and said in a deep voice:

"Okay, I agree, but—"

He paused, and both Zhao Wuji and the Empress stared at him.

"The two people in my household can come and give you some pointers, but how much you can understand depends entirely on your own destiny."

But I can't guarantee anything. If it doesn't work out, please don't blame me.

Zhao Wuji jumped to his feet, his hands trembling with excitement:

"Thank you very much, young friend Lin! I am deeply grateful—"

"No, no, no!" Lin Chen quickly stepped forward to support him.

"You're so old, yet you bow to me. I'd be shortening my lifespan by doing so. Let's make an equal exchange; neither of us owes the other anything."

The Empress watched from the side and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It's finally done.

But before she could finally breathe a sigh of relief, Zhao Wuji spoke again.

His face flushed slightly, and his voice lowered a few decibels: "Young friend Lin... I have another request."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow: "Go ahead."

"Within the royal family, there are also a few celestial beings," Zhao Wuji said, his words slightly stammering.

"Stuck in the late stages, past my peak for many years... I was thinking, since we're going to invite you anyway, why not... offer some pointers as well?"

The Empress's expression changed instantly: "Ancestor! This—"

Lin Chen raised his hand, signaling the Empress to remain silent.

He stared at Zhao Wuji, then suddenly laughed: "Ancestor, you're pushing your luck a bit too far."

Zhao Wuji's face turned even redder, but he stubbornly refused to back down.

"I know this request is excessive, but... the world is about to undergo a great change, and if the royal family could have a few more peak Celestial Realm experts..."

Even having one or two more terrestrial immortals would be a good thing for Dayan and the Eastern Region.

Young friend Lin, you are also a person of the Great Yan, this…”

"The world has undergone a tremendous change." Lin Chen repeated, then smiled.

"I've heard this many times before, and the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion has said it too. Now you're saying it again, what exactly is going to change? Is the sky collapsing or the earth sinking?"

Zhao Wuji's expression turned serious: "Your Highness, this matter... I am not entirely clear about it either."

However, the person from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion cast a divination at the cost of his lifespan, saying that "spiritual energy will be restored, ancient roads will be reopened, and all races will vie for supremacy."

No one can predict exactly when, where, or how things will change, but it's always good to be prepared.

Lin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he secretly thought to himself:

I knew the world couldn't be that simple, that there was no way to beat it all, and that there would always be new challenges.

Lin Chen remained silent, but the Empress's palms were sweating with nervousness.

This is going too far. The guidance of a terrestrial deity is not something you can just ask for casually.

Lin Chen's promise to the ancestor alone was already a huge favor.

Now we also have to involve other members of the royal family...

If it were her, she would have lost her temper.

After a long pause, Lin Chen finally spoke: "Alright."

The empress was taken aback.

Zhao Wuji was also taken aback.

"Okay...okay?" The Empress couldn't believe it.

"Yes." Lin Chen nodded, "But there are conditions."

"Please speak, young friend!" Zhao Wuji said quickly.

Lin Chen held up one finger: "First, I only provide guidance. Whether they can break through depends on their own destiny. My people are not responsible for guaranteeing their advancement."

"Of course!"

"Secondly, after the breakthrough, I will have to take the blame for these favors. It's not that I'm stingy, it's just that in this world, you have to settle all the debts of gratitude."

Zhao Wuji and the Empress exchanged a glance.

"Of course," Zhao Wuji said solemnly.

"If we can break through, they will surely be grateful for your great kindness, young friend. I, in the name of the royal family, guarantee that the royal family will acknowledge these favors."

"Third—" Lin Chen turned to look at the Empress, a half-smile on his face.

"His Majesty owes me another favor."

The Empress bit her lip: "...Okay."

"Great!" Lin Chen clapped his hands lightly. "Then it's settled. When do we start?"

Zhao Wuji's voice trembled with excitement: "If it's convenient... the sooner the better."

"Then tomorrow." Lin Chen said readily. "I'll have those two from your household come over and give you a special meal."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Zhao Wuji bowed deeply, and this time Lin Chen did not stop him.

When the old man straightened up, his eyes were actually a little wet.

He was 288 years old, stuck at the peak of the Celestial Realm for almost a hundred years, and his lifespan was about to end. The despair was overwhelming... but now he finally saw a glimmer of hope.

The Empress's feelings were also complicated.

She looked at Lin Chen, thinking about the look in his eyes just now and how he asked her for a favor...

The Empress's heart skipped a beat. Could this guy be...?

The empress's cheeks suddenly flushed.

"Oh, right," Lin Chen suddenly interrupted the Empress's reverie.

"I'm telling you this upfront, so you'd better be prepared."

The guidance from a celestial being might be different from what you expect.

Sometimes, a single word or glance can be the key to a connection.

If you understand, you understand; if you don't... that's fate.

Zhao Wuji solemnly replied, "I understand. On the path of cultivation, everyone depends on their own destiny."

"Alright, let's do it this way." Lin Chen turned to look at the Empress.

"By the way, Your Majesty, I've kept a record of those two favors you owe me."

The Empress's heart pounded, but she forced herself to remain calm and said, "I remember."