In the eyes of many, Lin Zhengren was a man of integrity and virtue, elegant and courteous.

And very resilient.

Or perhaps, “resilience” was the deepest impression Lin Zhengren left on these people during this period.

One picks the soft persimmons to squeeze.

They all knew how many people vied to fight Lin Zhengren, and how much effort it took for those who “accidentally” encountered Lin Zhengren in the selection battles.

Every single person who managed to face Lin Zhengren was naturally confident of a sure victory.

On paper, everyone’s combat power seemed stronger than Lin Zhengren’s.

And indeed, it was true.

After a difficult victory in the preliminary rounds, Lin Zhengren was almost completely suppressed in the next two rounds of battles.

He was battered and bruised in every fight.

But in every fight, he gritted his teeth and persevered, enduring from beginning to end. He always managed to find the opponent’s flaws in a losing battle, ultimately snatching victory from defeat.

He was indeed not strong enough, but he was also very resilient.

It commanded respect.

Stumbling all the way, he had somehow reached this point.

In Jingjie, a certain elegant courtyard.

Lin Zhengren humbly retreated from the courtyard, saying sincerely, “Please stop here, everyone, there is no need to escort me further. Senior Sister Jiang’s suggestion, Zhengren will certainly consider carefully.”

After a long exchange of pleasantries, the people inside dispersed, and the courtyard gate closed.

Lin Zhengren’s elegant face still showed no sign of annoyance or resentment. He only looked a little worried, shook his head, and sighed as he returned alone.

As one of the Dao-aligned states, the increasingly prominent Zhuang Kingdom could also occupy a decent courtyard in the Jing Kingdom’s territory.

Of course, it was far from comparable to a Dao-aligned state like the Sheng Kingdom.

There was even less need to compare it with the Jing Kingdom’s team.

Lin Zhengren returned to the courtyard belonging to the Zhuang Kingdom and closed the courtyard gate. He sat alone on the stone chair in the courtyard, waiting in silence.

Du Ruhui was not idle at the Guanhe Platform; he had been socializing and making friends these past few days. The rising Zhuang Kingdom needed a corresponding position in the current world, but this was not easily obtained.

The dignified Grand Minister of Zhuang Kingdom, dining with others every day, pondering the thoughts of various parties… It must be said that Du Ruhui had sacrificed too much for this country.

However, Lin Zhengren had also been out every day during this time. Besides participating in the selection battles, he also worked hard to make connections. He had earned a good reputation in the circle of Dao-aligned states’ prodigies.

In short, both of them were actually very busy and worked very hard, with little time for private communication.

But tonight, they had to talk.

Lin Zhengren sat quietly, with great patience.

Many people were eager to fight him, but weren’t those who rushed to squeeze the soft persimmon also the targets he “selected”?

Although he seemed to have done nothing but wait.

The effort of waiting is often only seen after the results are revealed.

And Lin Zhengren was never lacking in patience.

He waited until deep into the night before the elderly man with hair as black as ink stepped into the courtyard.

Seeing Lin Zhengren’s posture, Du Ruhui didn’t say much. He sat opposite him at the stone table and asked calmly, “Is something the matter?”

Lin Zhengren had won the preliminary matches for several consecutive days, all very “difficult” victories.

Regardless of his personal feelings, regardless of who he valued more, as the Grand Minister of Zhuang Kingdom, he would take good care of Lin Zhengren’s feelings.

The current Lin Zhengren was qualified for him to consider his feelings.

Lin Zhengren raised his eyes and looked at the Grand Minister.

A day of socializing had not brought him much fatigue.

But the persistent wrinkles on his face still spoke of his painstaking efforts.

Few Divine Abyssal Realm powerhouses needed to be so tired. Especially since he also possessed a top-tier divine ability like “Close at Hand, Worlds Apart.”

Looking at Minister Du’s benevolent face.

For a moment, Lin Zhengren even thought of his grandfather.

But he quickly extinguished the thought.

In this world, there could never be another person who would treat him like his grandfather did.

Never again.

He was very clear about this.

He didn’t actually need to think about anything anymore, as he had already decided. But sitting opposite Du Ruhui, he still allowed himself to ponder for a while longer.

He weighed his words carefully.

Then he said, “Today, Senior Sister Jiang Limeng of the Sheng Kingdom came to see me.”

Du Ruhui raised his eyelids: “Oh?”

Du Ruhui was noncommittal, only asking, “What is your opinion?”

Lin Zhengren placed his hands on his knees and said solemnly, “The national interest lies where Zhengren’s opinion lies. It’s just that Zhengren is dull and doesn’t know how to choose for the fortune of our Zhuang Kingdom, nor does he know which path to take for the prosperity of our Zhuang Kingdom. Therefore, I have come to seek guidance from the Grand Minister.”

For Zhuang Kingdom to gain a status commensurate with its strength, the opinions of other Dao-aligned states were very important, and the opinion of the Sheng Kingdom, the strongest Dao-aligned state, was even more important.

When Du Ruhui himself spoke to the strong cultivators leading the Sheng Kingdom’s team, he was very respectful. Of course, it was also very normal for a Divine Abyssal Realm cultivator to show great respect to a True Immortal of the current age.

It was for these reasons that Lin Zhengren could not make the decision himself.

Hearing Lin Zhengren’s sincere confession of loyalty, Du Ruhui smiled kindly.

The two talents who came out of Wangjiang City’s Dao Academy had completely different personalities.

If one had to compare them.

The person before him was sincere to the point of being slightly calculating, ultimately not as straightforward and selfless as Fu Baosong.

Both of them possessed the ability to handle affairs.

Lin Zhengren was adept at winning people’s hearts, and Fu Baosong’s personal charm was also very convincing. In this regard, each had their strengths.

But in terms of extraordinary strength, Lin Zhengren was still superior.

The two of them had different uses and had to be placed in different positions.

The evaluations and calculations in his heart would not be spoken aloud.

Du Ruhui said with emotion, “Unknowingly, you have reached this point. It truly makes this old man proud.”

Lin Zhengren said respectfully, “It is all thanks to your painstaking guidance that I have fortunately achieved these meager results.”

Du Ruhui chuckled, “You earned it yourself.”

After smiling, he suddenly looked at Lin Zhengren’s eyes: “If I let you fight with all your might, how confident are you?”

Lin Zhengren had anticipated this question.

Therefore, he already had an answer.

“I had contact with Senior Sister Jiang in the Huangliang Secret Realm and can be considered to understand her. I have also observed her a lot these days. Senior Sister Jiang is a prodigy from a major state, highly talented, strong, with rare divine abilities, and rich combat experience. My talent is inferior, my cultivation realm is inferior, my cultivation technique is inferior…”

Lin Zhengren said in a low voice, “I have only sixty-five percent confidence.”

Du Ruhui smiled.

He knew Lin Zhengren’s extremely cautious personality. When facing a matter, he wouldn’t speak with absolute certainty. Sixty percent or more meant eight or nine parts for others.

“Then.”

Du Ruhui said, “You might as well resist ‘meaninglessly’ for a while. Someone must enter the main competition. This old man believes that not only Jiang Limeng is suitable, but you are also very suitable.”

Lin Zhengren did not agree immediately, but said, “There is one more thing Zhengren is worried about.”

Meeting Du Ruhui’s questioning gaze, he said, “Regarding the resources behind the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, I don’t know if we can take them, or if we can handle them.”

Du Ruhui reached out and patted his shoulder: “Letting you young people worry and fret about these matters.”

He let out a long sigh: “It is this old man’s fault…”

“Just fight with all your might.”

He withdrew his withered hand and got up to walk towards the room.

Only leaving his voice in the courtyard—

“Behind the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, if we can have a place. Then this old bone of mine, I will not hesitate to leave it there.”