The box was jade-white and square, with a stone monkey pattern engraved on each side. The Chu princess opened the box, revealing a milky-white jade pendant inside. The jade pendant exuded spiritual energy and was incredibly mystical, also engraved with stone monkey runes!
"Could this be...?" Lin Changqing's eyes widened suddenly. He stared directly at the jade pendant in the Chu prince's hand, sensing its extraordinary nature.
Moreover, the jade pendant was engraved with stone monkey runes, and he could vaguely see various symbolic patterns appearing on it, depicting the stone monkey wreaking havoc in the Heavenly Palace and spitting true fire. This made him think of something.
A guess formed in his mind: could this be the other half of the Yin-Yang Jade Pendant? But as soon as he thought this, he quickly dismissed it as unrealistic, since the Chu princess had just said that the piece that fell into the Eastern Region had already been taken by Qin Wushang, and the other piece was far away in the Central Region.
How could the jade pendant from the Central Region end up in the hands of the Chu princess?
"Your Highness, could this be one of the Yin-Yang Jade Pendants, the one from the Central Region?" Lin Changqing asked, taking a deep breath.
"That's right, this is the other Yin-Yang Jade Pendant from the Central Region," the Chu princess nodded. "My father obtained it five years ago. Qin Wushang probably never imagined that the other Yin-Yang Jade Pendant from the Central Region would be obtained by my father, right?"
"When my father initially learned that the other Yin-Yang Jade Pendant was in the Central Region, he gave up searching for it, as it was too difficult to find a jade pendant in the Central Region. However, heaven never seals off all exits. Five years ago, my father actually discovered an ancient teleportation array in the Chu capital, and the destination on the other side of this ancient teleportation array was none other than the Central Region, which undoubtedly greatly shortened the time. Normally, it would take decades to travel from the Eastern Region to the Central Region, but using this teleportation array only takes a day!"
"This is too coincidental. The Chu capital actually has a teleportation array leading to the Central Region," Lin Changqing narrowed his eyes. This was indeed like having a pillow delivered when you're sleepy!
The biggest problem in finding the Yin-Yang Jade Pendant in the Central Region was the long distance. Just traveling would take decades, and the Starry Sky Ancient Road would open in five years.
By the time you arrived in the Central Region, everything would be too late, but this teleportation array solved a major problem!
"It is indeed very coincidental," the Chu princess nodded. "This ancient teleportation array undoubtedly solved a major problem in finding the Yin-Yang Jade Pendant. Of course, having the teleportation array doesn't necessarily mean we could obtain the Yin-Yang Jade Pendant, as the Central Region is too vast and has too many ruins. Even if we entered the Central Region, it would be difficult to find. But coincidentally, when my father arrived in the Central Region through this teleportation array, he met a local hegemonic sect. He consulted the secret books of this hegemonic sect and, with the help of this hegemonic sect's local power, he actually found the location of the other jade pendant!"
"Isn't it a coincidence? Don't you think heaven never seals off all exits? Heaven allowed Qin Wushang to obtain a jade pendant, but it didn't mistreat our Chu Kingdom either. We also obtained a jade pendant!"
Hearing this, Lin Changqing inhaled sharply. It really was the Yin-Yang Jade Pendant! He suddenly felt excited and thrilled!
Now everything was fine. The last obstacle preventing him from obtaining the Stone Monkey Celestial Art was gone.
On the other hand, he also felt that the Chu emperor was indeed extraordinary. Since he had a way to find the jade pendant in the Central Region, and the Chu princess said that the Chu emperor had met a hegemonic sect there, although she didn't elaborate, Lin Changqing guessed that there were many secrets involved.
A hegemonic sect in the Central Region might have experts at the Harmony Dao, Tribulation Transcendence, or even Loose Immortal stages.
To be able to meet such a hegemonic sect and find the Yin-Yang Jade Pendant there, Lin Changqing could only say that this Chu emperor indeed had extraordinary qualities!
"Young Master Lin, I will now give you this jade pendant," the Chu princess said, handing the jade pendant to Lin Changqing. "On the way to the Stone Monkey Secret Realm, my father told me that this jade pendant is the Chu Kingdom's greatest sincerity towards Young Master Lin. With this jade pendant, the Stone Monkey Celestial Art will be in Young Master Lin's grasp. Now, can Young Master Lin see the sincerity of our Chu Kingdom?"
The Chu princess looked at Lin Changqing with a smile. This jade pendant was the key to obtaining the Stone Monkey Celestial Art, but she gave it to Lin Changqing without the slightest hesitation.
On the one hand, even if she didn't give the Yin-Yang Jade Pendant to Lin Changqing and kept it for herself, the Chu princess alone wouldn't be enough to compete with the Fourth Prince, so giving it to Lin Changqing didn't matter.
This Yin-Yang Jade Pendant would have more value in Lin Changqing's hands than in her own.
On the other hand, the Chu princess felt that Lin Changqing himself was more valuable than the Stone Monkey Celestial Art.
What the Chu Kingdom needed was someone who could contend with, or even surpass Qin Wushang in the future, not a Stone Monkey Celestial Art.
Even if she kept the Yin-Yang Jade Pendant for herself and obtained the Stone Monkey Celestial Art, so what?
She still couldn't defeat Qin Wushang, right?
In that case, why not treat it as an investment from the Chu Kingdom and give it to Lin Changqing?
The Chu princess felt that this investment was very worthwhile. Her Chu Kingdom wanted to use the Stone Monkey Celestial Art and this Yin-Yang Jade Pendant to recruit Lin Changqing!
Lin Changqing took two deep breaths. He didn't act coy. He took the jade pendant in his hands, repeatedly touching it. Then, he looked at the Chu princess and said, "Your Highness's kindness, the Chu Kingdom's kindness, Lin will never forget. In the future, if the Chu Kingdom has any orders, I will definitely go through fire and water, without hesitation!"
Lin Changqing wasn't just saying empty words. He was genuinely sincere. Looking back at this Starry Sky Road journey, the Chu princess had indeed helped him greatly. First, she helped him obtain the Bronze Fruit, which greatly increased his cultivation. Then, he experienced the Primordial World and witnessed Pangu and Hongjun, indirectly allowing him to refine the Immortal King Body. Next, she lent him the Azure Sky Lamp, and finally, she gave him the Yin-Yang Jade Pendant, indirectly giving him the Stone Monkey Celestial Art.
How could Lin Changqing not be grateful to the Chu princess and the Chu Kingdom? This kindness was indeed unforgettable.
Although Lin Changqing knew that the Chu Kingdom was trying to recruit him, the gifts the Chu Kingdom had given were too great.
"Young Master Lin doesn't need to thank me. From now on, Young Master Lin is a member of the Chu Kingdom. Isn't it right for our Chu Kingdom to help the Chu Kingdom's genius obtain the Stone Monkey Celestial Art? After all, Young Master Lin's strength is our Chu Kingdom's strength," the Chu princess replied with a smile. Her words were very clear, further recruiting Lin Changqing, meaning that you, Lin Changqing, are now a member of the Chu Kingdom.
Lin Changqing ate their food and took their gifts, so he immediately nodded and said, "To be frank, Your Highness has indeed helped me greatly along the way. I understand that the Chu Kingdom wants to recruit me. From now on, I am naturally a member of the Chu Kingdom. When I become strong in the future, I will never allow the Wu Kingdom to destroy the Chu Kingdom!"
"Haha, with Young Master Lin's promise, I can rest assured," the Chu princess's clear and cold face broke into a smile. Hearing Lin Changqing's promise, she was very happy and relieved. Finally, the Chu Kingdom's final step in recruiting Lin Changqing was successful. From now on, the number one genius of the Seven Kingdoms was from the Chu Kingdom.
As long as Lin Changqing grows up, the Chu Kingdom will have someone to contend with Qin Wushang in the future!
