"Uncle, I truly cannot make this decision."
"It's still a long way off from September. How about we wait until after the Southwest Grand Competition, and I'll consult my master before giving you an answer?"
Lin Chen gave an awkward smile and explained.
His master was currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, and no one was allowed to disturb him.
He could only inquire after his master emerged from his retreat.
"You indeed are a filial child!"
Upon hearing Lin Chen's reply, Long Yixian nodded slightly.
He was well aware of his daughter's charm.
There was no young man who had met her who wasn't smitten.
Furthermore, Long Yuling was his daughter, the eldest daughter of the Long family, and the sole heir to the Long family's future.
It could be said that marrying Long Yuling meant gaining the entire Long family.
For a penniless cultivator like Lin Chen, it was impossible not to be tempted.
However, he could still maintain his integrity and stated he would only make a decision after consulting Zhang Long. This demonstrated that Lin Chen was a trustworthy person.
"Very well, since you've made your decision, and the Southwest Grand Competition is also approaching."
"Yuling, you'll take Lin Chen with you in advance this time. It's a good opportunity to meet some of the elder predecessors."
"I will stay home to look after your mother this time and won't accompany you, but the Grand Elder will be going with you."
Long Yixian stood up and instructed Long Yuling.
There was no other way. Lin Chen's talent was simply too dazzling.
He understood Zhang Long; it was impossible for the latter to become a third-grade alchemist.
The only one with the talent to become an alchemist was Lin Chen.
A third-grade alchemist! Even at the Long family's Kyoto headquarters, the highest-ranked alchemist was only fourth-grade.
But that fourth-grade alchemist had dedicated decades to the path of alchemy before reaching that level.
And Lin Chen? He was only in his early twenties. Even if he started cultivating from childhood and took twenty years to become a third-grade alchemist, such talent would be among the absolute best in the entire Dragon Country!
After bidding farewell to his mother, Lin Chen and Long Yuling boarded a plane bound for Beichuan City in the southwest.
Beichuan was located in the heart of the southwest and was the venue for the Southwest Grand Competition.
Lin Chen and Long Yuling's task was to first visit a few prominent families and sects that were familiar with the Long family to familiarize themselves.
After all, this Grand Competition was different from previous ones. The Long family was now aiming for the top three positions!
More importantly, the Southwest Grand Competition was always held within a secret realm.
Inside, not only were there extremely dangerous demonic beasts, but the fellow cultivators were also a significant concern.
This competition was different from the Zhejiang Province competition. There would be no protective barriers within the secret realm, nor would there be protective jade talismans.
If they truly encountered danger, people would actually die!
Although Lin Chen's cultivation was profound, the cultivators who could enter the secret realm this time were all paragons among paragons.
There would be no shortage of Core Formation stage cultivators.
She had observed Lin Chen's combat style; his ability to fight above his level relied primarily on sneak attacks.
If he couldn't find some allies, he'd be in dire straits if he were surrounded within the secret realm.
"Lin Chen, the power structure in the southwest can generally be divided into five sects and four families."
"The so-called five sects and four families are the collective term for the nine major forces in the southwest."
"The Sun family, one of the five sects and four families, is who we're going to visit today."
In the car, Long Yuling took the initiative to drive and introduce the situation to Lin Chen.
"Do any of these five sects and four families have Nascent Soul stage cultivators?"
Hearing Long Yuling's explanation, Lin Chen became curious.
The southwest was vast, and it was naturally incomparable to Zhejiang Province.
Even the top families in Zhejiang Province had powerful Golden Core stage cultivators. Wouldn't the five sects and four families in the southwest have Nascent Soul stage powerhouses?
"Where are you getting that idea? The spiritual energy in the world is scarce nowadays. It's already incredibly difficult for ordinary people to reach the Golden Core stage."
"Nascent Soul stage powerhouses are now only possessed by the top families or sects in the Dragon Country."
"The reason they are honored as the five sects and four families is primarily due to their deep heritage."
Long Yuling explained to Lin Chen as she drove.
Not everyone was as fortunate as Lin Chen, having a Half-step Nascent Soul stage cultivator as a backer.
"The Sun family, which we are visiting, has eight cultivators at the peak of the late Golden Core stage!"
"As for other Golden Core stage cultivators, there are dozens of them!"
Long Yuling said with a sigh.
In Zhejiang Province, if a family had even one Golden Core stage cultivator, that force could instantly be considered first-rate.
However, in the southwest, such powerful figures were not so rare.
However, when Long Yuling and Lin Chen arrived at the entrance of the Sun family's villa, they were stunned by the scene before them.
At the entrance of the Sun family villa, a densely packed long queue had formed.
Upon closer inspection, all those visiting were cultivators!
"There are so many people?"
Seeing the bustling scene at the entrance, Lin Chen was utterly astonished.
Cultivators in the Qi Refining stage were considered top-tier powerhouses in Hangzhou.
But to his surprise, at the entrance of the Sun family, even those serving tea and water were in the Qi Refining stage!
"Of course. The Southwest Grand Competition is fast approaching, and the Sun family, as one of the five sects and four families, is also one of the organizers of the Southwest Grand Competition."
"They have ten competition slots."
"Given the Sun family's heritage, these ten individuals will undoubtedly be Golden Core stage cultivators."
"All these people are rushing to curry favor!"
Long Yuling looked at the scene with a hint of envy.
It seemed this Southwest Grand Competition was indeed different from the past.
"Hello, we are from the Long family of Zhejiang Province, here to pay respects to Elder Sun San, Sun Zhihao. This is our visiting card."
"In addition, here are ten second-grade Spirit Guiding Pills we've prepared."
Long Yuling led Lin Chen forward and handed the visiting card and gifts to the guards.
"We're not accepting. Please go back."
"Our Sun family is not receiving guests at the moment."
However, the guard directly refused, not even accepting the gifts.
From his perspective, the people visiting the Sun family recently were all representatives of major families from various regions.
The Long family of Zhejiang Province? He had never heard of them!
"We had a prior appointment with Elder Sun to meet today."
Long Yuling said to the guard with a troubled expression.
The Sun family had a relatively good relationship with the Long family. If they couldn't even meet the Third Elder of the Sun family now, there was no point in forming an alliance with the Sun family.
In this Southwest Grand Competition, without any backing, let alone a top-three finish, they wouldn't even have a chance to enter the top ten!