<h4>Chapter 1096: Chapter 1103: Martial Arts Bottleneck</h4>


    A month passed, and everything was proceeding methodically.


    Ling Chen’s life also returned to normal, basically revolving around the same three ces: his home, the base, and the construction site.


    The project under Tang Guolun’s charge advanced quickly, with three construction teams working together, nearly a hundred people in total. In just a month, the main framework was almostpleted. Ling Chen visited the site every day to inspect the work. The architectural ns for Dragon Tiger Tower were designed by Tang Guolun, and Ling Chen, after a brief review, entrusted him with the task entirely.


    Ling Chen knew Tang Guolun’s capabilities well, and since he trusted him, he let him handle things without interference. There was no need to y the expert when he wasn’t.


    Aside from the construction of Dragon Tiger Tower, Ling Chen’s greatest concern was Ling Kun. However, as time passed, Ling Kun and the porridge girl seemed to have vanished without a trace.


    "Hey! Ling Chen, do you think... the people from Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion might have captured your father?" asked Hu Fei.


    "No." Ling Chen had his suspicions before, prompting him to contact Song Ge from Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion for information. Due to Su Zhengyang and his wife’s situation, Ling Chen found it inappropriate to contact Su Mei directly, making Song Ge his onlymunication channel.


    Fortunately, despite the many incidents urring at Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, Song Ge’s attitude towards Ling Chen remained unchanged. From Song Ge, Ling Chen learned that Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion hadn’t captured Ling Kun, but they had intensified their efforts and expanded their search range.


    "I believe your father might have gone abroad. Otherwise, it’s impossible that there’s absolutely no news."


    Ling Chen had considered Hu Fei’s guess. If that were the case, he could breathe a sigh of relief. After all, Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, despite its vast influence, was limited to domestic affairs and hadn’t extended its reach abroad. Thus, as long as Ling Kun stayed abroad, he would be safe.


    Returning home, Ling Chen lingered a while in the living room, chatting with Yang Qingling, then went to his room.


    Lately, Ling Chen devoted most of his energy to enhancing his skills. He was preparing for the worst; if Ling Kun were connected to Su Zhengyang and his wife’s deaths, his rtionship with Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion would undoubtedly be strained. Therefore, more than any other means, improving oneself was paramount.


    The Prajnaparamita Sutra was an Internal Cultivation Method Ling Chen had never abandoned. However, the progress slowed as he advanced, practically stagnant like a turtle’s pace. After reaching the Earthly List ranking, Ling Chen felt he hadn’t progressed for a long time, lingering in ce.


    It wasn’t due toziness; no matter how busy each day was, Ling Chen would make time to reinforce the Prajnaparamita Sutra. Yet, it seemed to have hit a bottleneck, requiring a specific opportunity to break through.


    Months ago, at Han Mingchao’s home, Ling Chen and Leng Feifei had a significant encounter. Based on the characteristics of Prajnaparamita Sutra, there should have been substantial improvement, but surprisingly, the Sutra remained as calm as water.


    Ling Chen remembered He Ziyun once mentioning that all top-tier mental methods encounter several challenges, and oveing them leads to a new realm. This was Ling Chen’s current pressing issue.


    From the martial arts manuals obtained from the Ling Family, Ling Chen had meticulously reviewed them. Despite possessing many long-lost skills and Inner Strength methods, they offered no solution to Ling Chen’s current dilemma.


    "Better to learn thoroughly than superficially!"


    With this belief, Ling Chen forsook the practice of other martial arts, focusing all his mind on the Prajnaparamita Sutra.


    During meditation with closed eyes, he lost track of time until his phone rang from the bedside.


    Picking up the phone, Ling Chen nced at the iing call number on the screen, feeling a bit curious, unsure who was calling.


    Upon answering, Ling Chen said "Hello," and asked, "Who is this?"


    "It’s me."


    Hearing the familiar voice over the phone, Ling Chen immediately recognized who it was.


    Lin Qiqi!


    During the siege on the Ling Family, Lin Qiqi, following Ling Chen’s advice, escaped first and was not caught by Pang Jiulin. Back then, Lin Qiqi had taken Ling Chen’s phone number, promising to contact himter. Now, more than a month had passed, and she finally had news.


    "Miss Lin, are you okay?"


    "You don’t need to worry about that. I’m contacting you to inform you that a core figure from the Ling Family has been residing secretly in East Sea City. I recently obtained this information. As for the person’s address, I haven’t discovered it yet."


    Core figure?


    Ling Chen was taken aback. He thought the Ling Family’s important figures had all fled abroad, but unexpectedly, one remained hidden in East Sea City.


    "I understand. Miss Lin, thank you for providing this information."


    "Don’t thank me. I just want revenge, that’s all. Alright, I can’t talk much now. I’ll notify you when I find more clues," Lin Qiqi said before hanging up abruptly.


    Setting down the phone, Ling Chen turned to look out the window, his gaze flickering slightly. Lin Qiqi’s information wasn’t exactly good news; a core figure hidden in East Sea City undoubtedly posed a problem, potentially monitoring his every move.


    While pondering, his phone rang again—it was Hu Fei.


    "Hey! Fatty, what’s up?"


    "Do you have time now? I have a major discovery. You bettere over," Hu Fei said with a trace of excitement, suggesting he had made a significant breakthrough.


    "Hold on, I’m on my way."


    Leaving his house, Ling Chen drove his Audi towards the base. Halfway through, he gradually reduced his speed, nced at the rearview mirror, and slightly curved his lips.


    For the past few days, Ling Chen felt he was being followed whenever he went out. However, his driving skills allowed him to easily shake off pursuers. But today was different; they seemed to have increased their personnel. Previously there was only one car; now it’s increased to five, indicating they no longer wanted to lose track of him.


    Ling Chen had always wondered who was tailing him, and after receiving Lin Qiqi’s call, he spected that the mastermind might be the Ling Family’s core figure.


    "Alright! Since you want to y, I’ll y along."


    With this thought, Ling Chen floored the elerator, and the Audi’s speed surged, overtaking several cars.


    At this point, the five trailing cars couldn’t be bothered about being discovered. They quickly increased their speed, sticking closely behind Ling Chen’s car to prevent him from slipping away again.


    Ten minutes passed and the number of vehicles on the road dwindled. Ling Chen was now on a small road leading to the outskirts. In this area, buildings were sparse, and traffic was low, allowing the car speed to be pushed to its limit.


    Seeing Ling Chen gradually pull away, the five cars following him elerated immediately, maintaining a distance of approximately 20 meters.