Cultivation Begins with Skill Points-Chapter 192: Princess Jiang Yuan

As he pushed the door open, a familiar figure was standing in the courtyard.

"Sister Jiang Yuan, pays her respects to Senior Brother."

Zhong Lin frowned slightly, the person who had arrived was none other than the Third Princess of Great Chen, Jiang Yuan, whom he had personally escorted to the Great Chen Capital.

At this moment, Jiang Yuan was gazing intently at Zhong Lin, regret filling her heart.

Why didn’t I make more effort to win him over back then?

If absolutely necessary, even drugging him and sneaking into his bed at night would have been fine!

In less than a year, from the last meeting as a Second Grade Martial Artist in the Meridian Passage Realm, to now an Innate Martial Artist, a Grandmaster Level expert, the transformation between then and now feels like a dream.

If only I had succeeded in winning him over then, even if it was just a night of pleasure, I wouldn’t be in such dire straits now.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yuan felt even more regretful.

Zhong Lin chuckled lightly and said, "I didn’t expect to see the ’Lady Crown Prince’ in person. You’re not in the Capital handling state affairs, how come you’ve returned?"

Regarding this sister Jiang Yuan, Zhong Lin held considerable respect.

Although he hadn’t actively followed her activities lately, some news had still reached his ears.

After returning to the Capital, Jiang Yuan opened the gates of slaughter, and in just half a month, several princes fell under her hands, her strength and resolute approach shocking the entire Capital.

Of course, such actions also terrified the other princes and princesses, who jointly petitioned the current Emperor to punish her, believing her too ruthless, as she could kill even her own brothers without reason.

In the face of the joint petition of princes and princesses, Jiang Yuan was incredibly strong-willed, directly presenting evidence of multiple assassination attempts against her, silencing the court. Eventually, the old Emperor firmly stood by her side, partly due to the influence of an elder of the Royal Family.

The old Emperor was ailing, and Jiang Yuan, as a woman, began to preside over state affairs, issuing a series of policies beneficial to the country and people, eradicating many corrupt officials with her strong hand, subduing her siblings. For a time, her reputation throughout Chen Country was at its peak, and the people called her the "Lady Crown Prince."

Being called the "Lady Crown Prince" by Zhong Lin, Jiang Yuan blushed slightly, and with a hint of coquettishness, said, "Senior Brother just loves to tease me."

Fortunately, there were no members of the Chen Country court here, otherwise seeing Jiang Yuan so gentle would surely make them gasp as if they’d seen a ghost; in the court, she always appeared indifferent and ruthless, never showing such a side.

Zhong Lin stepped over to his deck chair, lay down on it, closed his eyes slightly, and relaxed comfortably.

Jiang Yuan, with understanding, picked up a teacup from the stone table, poured tea, and respectfully presented it to Zhong Lin.

Zhong Lin glanced at her, reached out to take it, and took a small sip.

"When someone gives you a gift, they surely have a request. Speak, what is it you’re asking for?"

Jiang Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "Junior Sister wishes to ask Senior Brother for an elixir."

"What elixir?"

"Breakthrough Pill."

Zhong Lin raised an eyebrow, looking at Jiang Yuan with a knowing smile, expressing a wealth of emotion without words.

You must be dreaming!

With a thud, Jiang Yuan fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

"Father is gravely ill, and I was given a critical mission. Since taking over state affairs, I’ve eliminated traitorous officials, eradicated members of the Royal Family, issued a series of beneficial policies, and killed countless corrupt officials, yet although the country’s situation has improved, it’s still like cooking oil on a fire."

"Now many officials and noble families are colluding in secret, leading to unrest and gangs of bandits running rampant, and some are even conspiring with enemy nations to rebel."

"If not for our Royal Family elder suppressing them, the entire Great Chen would have been engulfed in flames and torn apart long ago."

"Now our Royal Family elder is about to pass away, and the many forces long suppressed will surely no longer restrain themselves, uniting to stage a rebellion, and the Great Chen will fall into chaos."

"Senior Brother, the Great Chen is on the brink of disaster. Please, for the sake of once being a citizen of Chen Country, save Chen Country."

Zhong Lin slowly sat up, looking down at the kneeling Jiang Yuan, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"Moral blackmail?"

"Junior Sister wouldn’t dare. It’s truly out of desperation that I’ve come to ask Senior Brother. I know the Breakthrough Pill is incredibly precious. The Royal Family of Great Chen is willing to pay any price."

Jiang Yuan lowered her head, whole body pressed against the ground, teary eyes filled with despair.

Unfortunately, this move was useless against Zhong Lin. Besides, even if Zhong Lin were willing, Yu Jinglei wouldn’t agree.

The Breakthrough Pill pertains to the sect’s inheritance mission, and Yu Jinglei’s requirement for Zhong Lin was that it must only be given to disciples of the Sword Cauldron Sect, the treasure should never benefit outsiders.

Zhong Lin sneered, "Any price? I’m now an Innate Strong Person. What could you possibly offer to entice me? Power? Treasure? Or beauty?"

Jiang Yuan’s expression turned desolate; this world revered martial strength, fists equaled power. An Innate Realm Martial Artist, a Grandmaster Level supreme master, if he wished, could establish his own kingdom and possess anything he desired.

"Senior Brother, should you choose to aid us, you may ask anything of Great Chen. I myself could even..."

Zhong Lin waved his hand impatiently, "Enough, you’re not worth the price. Leave the mountain before the Sect Master cuts you down! I’ll pretend you never came."

Jiang Yuan’s face went pale, a sense of humiliation surged in her heart. She was a princess, admired by countless, now kneeling to beg, offering herself, only to be told she wasn’t worth the price.

Jiang Yuan wiped the tears from her eyes, stood up slowly, took a deep breath, her demeanor transforming from vulnerable to exuding a sense of regal authority.

"Senior Brother, Junior Sister wishes to make a deal with you. Surely you’re struggling with how to fill the three hundred sixty Innate Acupoints in your body, aren’t you?"

Zhong Lin squinted his eyes, deeply considering Jiang Yuan.

"You know quite a lot?"

Jiang Yuan came forward as well, meeting his gaze with pride: "My Jiang Royal Family has also produced Innate Strong People, naturally knowing the knowledge of Innate Realm cultivation. Alas, Breakthrough Pills are too rare, and dual-system talents appear only once in a century, leading to the no Innate strong people shameful to our ancestors. But does Senior Brother know that my Jiang Royal Family never lacks First Grade Martial Artists?"

"What exactly do you mean?"

"Cultivation in the Innate Realm requires continuous absorption of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi to strengthen Innate True Qi, then nurturing acupoints, opening acupoints, filling all Innate Acupoints with True Qi, which would take at least a hundred years. With Senior Brother’s pride, you surely won’t be satisfied with meditating for a hundred years. My Jiang Royal Family holds a secret cache, within it a Spiritual Pool, capable of purifying the body and absorbing Spiritual Energy. This is why my Jiang Royal Family never lacks First Grade Martial Artists. As long as Senior Brother is willing, Junior Sister can guide you into our Royal Family’s secret cache for cultivation." Jiang Yuan said loudly.

"Secret cache... Spiritual Pool..."

Zhong Lin suddenly slapped the table, releasing the aura of an Innate Martial Artist, enveloping the entire Green Bamboo Courtyard with a tremendous, mountain-like pressure.

In an instant, Jiang Yuan felt as if Zhong Lin transformed into a towering Divine Mountain before her eyes, while she was naught but an ant at its base. Overwhelming fear surged through her heart, causing her knees to buckle as she knelt again.