<h4>Chapter 1171: Chapter 1178: Important Clues</h4>


    In the intensive care unit, Ling Beichuany on the hospital bed, and several doctors in white coats were performing emergency resuscitation.


    With the injection of adrenaline, the straight line on the monitor finally showed a slight fluctuation. Seeing the reappearing waveform, one doctor wiped the sweat off his forehead, let out a breath, and said, "Alright, there’s no immediate danger, but we need to monitor him closely for twenty-four hours."


    Upon exiting the ward, Ling Chen and Hu Fei, who had been waiting outside, quickly approached and asked, "Doctor, how is he doing?"


    "It’s not optimistic. This is already the second time this week. His bodily functions are degrading rapidly, and he can now only be sustained by medical equipment. Moreover, he cannot eat anymore. Given his condition, living is also suffering because his life is already at its end. Even if we forcefully extend his life, it won’t be of any use. Rather than bringing more suffering, it’s better to let him go peacefully."


    Ling Chen nodded and said, "I understand. Thank you, doctor."


    "You’re wee. I’ll head back to the office. Contact me if you need anything."


    After seeing the doctor off, Ling Chen and Hu Fei pushed open the door and entered the ward. Looking at Ling Beichuan lying on the hospital bed, Ling Chen frowned slightly. More than a month had passed since theirst meeting, and Ling Beichuan appeared even older than before, hisplexion was pale, and he exuded an aura of death.


    Standing by the bedside, as if sensing Ling Chen’s arrival, Ling Beichuan moved his lips. Seeing this, Ling Chen immediately understood, removed the oxygen mask, and asked, "What do you want to say?"


    "I can’t make it," Ling Beichuan said weakly. "I’ve been to the gates of hell twice; I don’t want a third time. Do you remember the promise you made to me? If I helped you find Ling Gengqiu’s grave, would you... would you save me?"


    "As long as we find it, I will do my best to keep you alive."


    "Alright, you must remember what you said today. I’ve been investigating for years and identified two important leads: the Guo Family and the Tianling de. You can start with these to find Ling Gengqiu’s grave."


    "The Guo Family?" Ling Chen thought for a moment and asked, "Are you talking about the weapon master Guo Liang?"


    Ling Chen had visited the Guo family and interacted with Guo Liang. Guo Liang was a well-known figure, and every weapon he forged was a Divine Weapon. Moreover, the Tianling de was a Divine Weapon forged by the Guo family’s ancestor.


    "That’s right."


    "Besides you, who else knows about these two leads?"


    "Currently, only you know. I discovered these two important leads this year and haven’t reported them because I haven’t confirmed them. Now it seems, I likely won’t get the chance to tell anyone."


    "Alright, if I can find Ling Gengqiu’s grave, I’ll do everything I can to keep you alive." With that, Ling Chen left the ward with Hu Fei.


    "Fatty, strengthen Ling Beichuan’s security during this period, and expand the personnel to cover the entire hospital perimeter, not allowing any outsiders to get to him," Ling Chen instructed. Right now, he must ensure those two critical clues aren’t uncovered by others.


    Hu Fei proposed, "I say, let’s directly move the old man to the Dragon Tiger Hall and have a few doctors take care of him. With so many experts at the Dragon Tiger Hall, who would dare to cause trouble? Don’t you think so?"


    Ling Chen nodded in agreement. With Tong Zhentian overseeing the Dragon Tiger Hall, Ling Beichuan’s safety would not be an issue.


    Then, with Hu Fei’s help, Ling Chen arranged for a car and directly transferred Ling Beichuan from the hospital to the Dragon Tiger Hall. Additionally, he hired several doctors and nurses with a heavy price to take care of Ling Beichuan specifically. Who knows what secrets the old man might still be hiding; until Ling Chen found Ling Gengqiu’s grave, he couldn’t let Ling Beichuan die.


    After settling Ling Beichuan, Ling Chen returned home briefly, took the Tianling de, and immediately headed to the airport. Now that he finally had leads on Ling Gengqiu, he didn’t want to wait any longer but wanted to resolve this matter as soon as possible.


    At four in the afternoon, Ling Chen arrived at Beijing International Airport. Having visited Guo Liang before, Ling Chen got off the ne, hailed a car by the roadside, and headed straight to Guo Liang’s residence.


    Guo Liang lived in a Siheyuan, a legacy from his ancestors. After knocking on the door, the vermilion red gate opened shortly, and a young man peeked out. Upon seeing that it was Ling Chen, he immediately smiled and quickly stepped aside, gesturing wee.


    "Mr. Ling, pleasee in!"


    "Thank you!"


    Under the young man’s guidance, Ling Chen entered the inner hall. Just after sitting down, he heard a heartyughing through: "This morning, I heard magpies chirping and thought it must be an esteemed guest visiting, but I didn’t expect it to be Ling!"


    Seeing Guo Liang walk in from outside, Ling Chen hastily stood up and greeted him politely, "Mr. Guo, long time no see."


    "It has been a while, but I’ve heard a lot about your exploits. Establishing the Dragon Tiger Hall and openly embarrassing the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is already widely known."


    Ling Chen awkwardlyughed, "Good news doesn’t get out, but bad things spread a thousand miles, it seems I haven’t done anything good."


    "Honestly, I admire you. Probably only you would dare to go against the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, and that too in front of Old Su. But that’s not so bad; the Pavilion has been dominating for hundreds of years, being strong-willed all along—facing some setbacks can also be beneficial." As he spoke, Guo Liang changed the subject and asked, "You wouldn’te here without reason; is there something you need from me?"


    Ling Chen nodded, took the backpack off his shoulders, and brought out the Tianling de.


    "Mr. Guo, you once told me that this Tianling de was forged by the Guo family ancestor."


    "That’s right."


    "In that case, I suppose you’re very familiar with the Tianling de."


    Guo Liang said oddly, "Didn’t I tell you about the Tianling de thest time you visited me?"


    "Mr. Guo, as far as I know, the Tianling de seems to hide a great secret. Since the Tianling de was crafted by your ancestor, I thought you might know something about it."


    "A secret?" Now it was Guo Liang’s turn to be surprised, "I’ve never heard anything from my ancestors about it. Ling, are you sure you’re not mistaken?"


    Ling Chen pondered for a moment, then said, "Mr. Guo, to be frank, this matter is rted to my ancestor Ling Gengqiu. I’m wondering if there might be any connection between them."


    "I’ve heard of Ling Gengqiu’s name, but unfortunately, the ancestors left no secrets about the Tianling de or Ling Gengqiu. So,ing to me won’t help; even if there is indeed a secret within the Tianling de, I wouldn’t know it."


    Hearing this, Ling Chen, unwilling to give up, asked, "Mr. Guo, did the Guo family ancestor leave anything behind before passing away?"