At midnight.

Crack~

A dart shot into Lin Ping's room from outside Changmen Palace.

The dart was very swift and fierce, and the method used to throw it was also very special. If it had been used for a surprise attack, its killing power would have been outstanding, and it would have been very difficult for one to defend themselves.

It was even from an expert in darts.

However, the dart shot into Lin Ping's room, not to launch an attack nor harm him. Instead, there was a letter attached to it. The dart had been used to send a message.

What happened?

Lin Ping, who had been in the process of meditation and cultivation, furrowed his eyebrows slightly upon seeing this.

Over the past few years, many uninvited guests had visited Changmen Palace at night, and some people had accidentally charged into Lin Ping's room. However, no matter who the invited guest was, their objective was always Chun Fei, not a eunuch like Lin Ping who swept the floor.

However, tonight was an exception.

It was very obvious that someone was looking for him.

He stretched out his hand, and his internal energy swirled. Then, the dart and the letter flew into his hand.

There were no words on the letter, only a strangely-shaped turtle.

At first, Lin Ping did not intend on caring about the letter. No matter who wanted to look for him, they could just come in.

However, when he saw this turtle, he could not help but laugh.

Then, he quickly got up and silently opened his door. His body leaped slightly, and he flew out of Changmen Palace like a sparrow.

In a flower garden not too far away from Changmen Palace, a eunuch wearing clothes with blue and yellow stripes was waiting for Lin Ping's arrival.

This person was none other than Little Guizi1, the current favorite of the Emperor who had more influence than many managers in the 24 government offices.

It was obvious that Little Guizi had come to look for Lin Ping under the Emperor's orders.

After the ninth prince failed to probe for information, the Emperor had given up on roping in the mysterious grade-9 master in Changmen Palace. However, when the ninth prince brought back information that the ordinary eunuch who swept the floor in Changmen Palace was possibly a grade-7 master, he thought about it and sent Little Guizi to make a final attempt.

"Little Guizi, long time no see."

In the night.

When Little Guizi saw Lin Ping arriving so gracefully, Little Guizi widened his eyes and said with great shock, "What wonderful qinggong! Little Lin, I never thought that you would actually become a martial arts expert!"

Little Guizi laughed and said, "Little Guizi, aren't you the same? Your dart techniques were very impressive. If I wasn't prepared, it would be difficult even for a grade-6 master to defend themselves."

Since Lin Ping had decided to meet his old friend of many years, he did not plan to completely conceal himself and act like an ordinary person who could not fight.

After all, from how Little Guizi had shot the dart, he had definitely obtained some evidence and knew that Lin Ping was cultivating martial arts.

Thus, there was no meaning in acting any further.

Little Guizi shook his head and said, "The Emperor only personally passed on this secret art to me after I paid a heavy price. After a full six years of diligent practice round the clock, I was barely able to reach my current strength. Little Lin, how about you?"

Lin Ping thought about it and said with great confidence, "Me? I was more hardworking than you, and I've cultivated for a longer period of time! I put in countless sweat and effort to attain my current achievements."

Little Guizi said with indignance, "At the very most, you have only been in Changmen Palace for no more than eight and a half years! However, an ordinary person like you became a grade-7 master in eight and a half years! This pace is just too fast and too exaggerated!"

When Lin Ping heard this, his heart could not help but skip a beat. "Little Guizi, how did you know that my cultivation base has reached grade-7?"

He had hidden his strength very well over the past few years of sweeping the floor in Changmen Palace. Thus, outsiders did not know his strength, and all thought he was an ordinary eunuch.

Only Chun Fei and Yun Su knew something about this.

How did Little Guizi know about it?

Even his grade-7 cultivation base was not his true strength.

"Little Lin, is your master the mysterious grade-9 master in Changmen Palace?"

Little Guizi did not wait for an answer. Instead, he asked in a serious tone, "There's no need to hide the truth from me. The fact that there is a grade-9 master in Changmen Palace is no longer a secret. You should know about the incident that happened on the night after I sent Chun Fei back to Changmen Palace better than me. Directorate of Palace Seals Manager Luo Feng died in Changmen Palace, and the famous devils of Jianghu, Black and White Impermanence, also died in Changmen Palace!

"As for you, Little Lin, you were able to thoroughly remold yourself and become a grade-7 master in the short span of eight and a half years. With such shocking speed, it is only possible for you to achieve such results if you were personally taught by a grade-9 master."

Lin Ping did not express his opinion.

However, a name suddenly appeared in his mind at this moment — Xia Qiyu.

The ninth prince had just visited Changmen Palace today and spoke about some principles with great vehemence.

He seemed magnanimous and righteous, but was extremely scheming and calculative.

Could it be him?

It seemed like the ninth prince was much more complex than he had imagined!

Little Guizi continued to speak. "Lin Ping, if that mysterious grade-9 expert is really your master, could you ask him to come out of seclusion and accept His Majesty's invitation to resist the barbarian envoys that are about to arrive in the capital?"

Lin Ping had a guess in his heart, but he did not say it. He simply rejected him. "Little Guizi, if you came to find me for this matter, I'm afraid that you will have to go back in disappointment."

"Don't reject me yet. Hear me out." Little Guizi waved his hand and said in a serious tone, "Even though your master is a grade-9 expert and a very impressive person, since he is hiding in the imperial compound, he must have other plans. As long as he can go into battle and resist the barbarian envoys, His Majesty can promise him that he can raise any requests to His Majesty! Furthermore, after this incident is over, Little Lin, your future prospects will be boundless. His Majesty has promised that you can succeed Luo Feng's position and become the new Directorate of Palace Seals Manager!"

"Little Guizi, thank you for your kind intentions. However, I don't need it."

Lin Ping did not even think about it and rejected him.

The Directorate of Palace Seals Manager?

To 99% of the eunuchs in the imperial compound, this position was the greatest temptation.

But it was a pity.

Putting aside the position of Directorate of Palace Seals Manager, even if he was given the position of Eastern Depot Superintendent or Emperor, to the current Lin Ping, he did not have any interest in these at all.

"Is there really no room for negotiation on this matter?" At this moment, Little Guizi's usually weird expression was now extremely heavy.

Lin Ping still nodded his head.

"Okay then."

Little Guizi was silent for a moment before he finally sighed.

However, he did not leave after this. He looked at Lin Ping with some pity and unwillingness in his gaze.

After thinking about it, he started to chat as if nothing had happened. "In reality, the Emperor doesn't have much hope in this matter and simply asked me to give it a try. After all, the Empress's brother, the General Who Stabilizes the North, has invited his master, Invincible Iron Fist Shi Chengtian, to the capital. You must've heard of Senior Shi Chengtian, right?"

Lin Ping nodded his head and said, "I heard that he is a long-established grade-9 master."

"Yes! He is long-established, and he once fought three grade-9 masters on his own many years ago without being at a disadvantage!" Little Guizi laughed, as if he was joking around. "How is it? He must be much more impressive than your master, right?"

Lin Ping did not argue with him and said, "Perhaps."

"It's not 'perhaps'. He's definitely more impressive than your master! He far surpasses your master!"

When Little Guizi saw Lin Ping's indifferent expression, his tone was suddenly much more serious.