Chapter 371: The Meeting Between Gu He and Jiang Lin
Jiang Lin's spiritual perception—or rather, the spiritual perception of the Ling race—possesses a special mechanism called "cognitive protection." When facing an existence beyond one's understanding, it automatically blocks all related information, creating an "invisible" state within the spiritual perception. The first time Jiang Lin triggered "cognitive protection" was when he first encountered Yao Chen; at that moment, Xiao Yan was completely invisible within Jiang Lin's spiritual perception.
Within the Ling race's spiritual perception, all things in the world emit colors of varying intensity, which is why their spiritual sight is sometimes called "spiritual eyes."
Ordinary people appear as insignificant stones by the roadside, while Dou Qi experts appear as glowing clusters of light. Some light clusters are so intense they resemble stars in the sky. Without cognitive protection, encountering such top-tier experts would be like "examining the sun under a microscope," potentially frying the mind.
This cognitive protection varies inversely with the individual's strength. It is said that newborn Ling infants rarely cry and often appear dazed, because even in their first moments, they are discerning whether the adult smiling at them is a human or a ghost. Thus, the Ling race is one of the few Imperial races with "nurseries," and higher-ranking members are forbidden from wandering in front of infants.
With my half-step Ling realm peak perfected spiritual state, theoretically, I shouldn't encounter anyone here in this remote area that triggers cognitive protection, Jiang Lin thought as he calmly walked with Pei Xuan toward the Alchemy Guild. His steps were steady, but inside, he was somewhat frantic.
Maybe they're just passing by, he reasoned.
After all, if the person were truly targeting him, Jiang Lin wouldn't be able to simply pass by unscathed.
As long as the mysterious expert has no ill intent, it's fine… The real concern is whether this means other strong beings will also appear here, he thought cautiously. If the old man with the compass was treasure hunting, it was likely other treasure-hunting teams might appear nearby.
From Jiang Lin's experience reading novels in a past life, such encounters usually involved the protagonist—like Xiao Yan—joining a treasure-hunting team mid-way, seizing the secret treasure by chance, and concluding the plot.
As long as they're not after me, it's fine, Jiang Lin analyzed. If they were targeting him, their terrifying strength would have seen through him instantly. The fact they didn't act indicated they had another purpose.
Still, I should stay wary of others, he thought. Approaching the Alchemy Guild entrance, Jiang Lin took out paper and pen, quickly wrote down his request for assistance, and handed it to Pei Xuan.
"Go to the Yunlan Sect, deliver this to their Sect Leader, then return with Senior Yun Shan and the others."
Beep! Player Pei Xuan, you have a new task pending completion!
After assigning the task, Jiang Lin entered the Alchemy Guild alone.
The protagonist truly is the protagonist. Coming to Gamma Imperial City seems to have immediately triggered a 'main quest', he thought. Jiang Lin made his way to the second floor of the Alchemy Guild and headed toward Farma's office, silently grumbling that the "Xiao Yan task trigger" seemed to have activated.
From past novel experience, a sudden appearance of a high-level expert in a low-level area generally signifies a main quest about to be triggered. Jiang Lin, viewing Xiao Yan as the "acknowledged protagonist," naturally assumed Xiao Yan had triggered it.
Indeed, in Jiang Lin's perspective, Xiao Yan's arrival coincided with the appearance of a mysterious expert in Gamma Imperial City—surely a task trigger.
"Master Jiang, come, come!" As Jiang Lin walked, lost in thought, he entered Farma's office and heard Farma's warm voice.
Inside, three men of varying ages were seated on leather sofas not far away. Jiang Lin glanced up, seeing Farma, Gu He, and one of Gu He's frequent disciples looking toward him.
"Ah, Farma President, please still call me Junior Master Jiang. 'Master' sounds a bit old-fashioned," Jiang Lin said, hearing Farma's enthusiastic greeting, feeling slightly helpless. He refrained from correcting "Master" to avoid awkwardness.
Gu He: "…"
Though Jiang Lin's tone was mild, Gu He inexplicably felt a trace of offense.
"Hahaha! No worries! Come, come, sit!" Farma stepped forward to pat Junior Master Jiang's shoulder, but due to perspective, seeing Jiang Lin's large frame up close made his eyelids twitch slightly—this was hardly "small."
"…." Feeling an unexpected hostility, Jiang Lin quickly said, "Better just call me Master Jiang."
Jiang Lin, spiritually perceptive, seemed to detect Farma's hidden ill intent, realizing "Junior" was indeed inappropriate for him.
"Hahaha!" Farma, as if realizing something, blushed slightly, then laughed and led Jiang Lin to sit opposite Gu He in the reception area.
Gu He nodded subtly to Jiang Lin in greeting.
Jiang Lin, observing this bespectacled, well-dressed elder, nodded back. For some reason, this was Jiang Lin's first formal interaction with Gu He.
"I remember our last meeting with Master Gu He, it was then… a pleasure to meet you again," Jiang Lin said with a smile.
"…." Gu He and Farma's faces twitched. On first hearing, it seemed harmless.
"Of course, the most memorable was in the Tagore Desert, our first encounter, and an experience I needed a lifetime to heal from," Gu He said after a pause, smiling without warmth.
Jiang Lin felt his face twitch slightly—a lifetime to heal, really? Such a dramatic way of speaking.
"Don't worry. As they say, Dou Tools and strange flames are merely external things. True strength comes from oneself and the strength within one's heart," Jiang Lin said lightly.
Gu He calmly responded: "I have no grand ambitions, only to preserve the old ways, refining pills and relying on external objects."
"…." The others were silent.
"Can you two get to the point?" Farma couldn't help but complain.
But Gu He glanced at Jiang Lin, who also smiled silently, and continued their banter.
(END CHAPTER)
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