Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

"The sky is getting dark, let’s return to the inn."

Qu Feng said with a smile, leading everyone away from the Martial Arts Palace.

...

...

Inn.

Lin Chen was residing in a small courtyard annexed to the inn. As usual, he was practicing in the courtyard, but this time he stopped after only one two-hour period.

"Thank you, little brother."

Receiving the Four Treasures of the Study from the waiter’s hands, Lin Chen walked into his room, spread the paper out, and while grinding the ink, he examined the "Joyful Ascension Scroll."

"View flowers to dispel anger, listen to rain to forget worry."

"Drink deeply the dew of Three Mountains, drunkenly lie on a Five Lakes boat."

"With intention arise Parting Clouds Hand, the heart clears, naturally carefree."

These were the fifteen characters of the first "Pleasure Chapter." The second page had not been opened since he bought the book, despite two full two-hour periods having passed.

No matter what secret the "Joyful Ascension Scroll" held, Lin Chen’s principle was not to delay his practice.

Stay calm when encountering problems.

Now that practice was over, he could study it.

"Joyful Chapter"

[Admiring the moon brings freedom, facing the wind dissolves all worries.]

[Singing high beyond the Nine Heavens, the spirit roams the Four Seas Isles.]

[Laugh and discuss the affairs of the universe, freely indulge in roaming.]

The third Chapter: "Ascension Chapter"

[Ride the wind to explore the Eight Extremes, tread waves to play in the Nine Netherworld.]

[One thought penetrates the profound mysteries, myriad methods are all empty and illusory.]

[Transcend and escape the dusty web, ascend to the ultimate bliss and rest.]

On the fourth page, Lin Chen initially thought there would be other Chapters, but found the fourth section was annotations.

[The wonders of the three Chapters—Pleasure, Joyful, Ascension—are indeed rare, but I only favor the Joyful Chapter.]

Following these annotations was a seal, evidently a person’s name. Lin Chen carefully identified the four characters: Wind-Riding Layman.

The fifth page, similar annotations.

[Observe heaven and earth to forget worries, ride things to wander the mind carefree, truly the joy of the two words ’joyful’.]

Page six, page seven...

All the way to page fourteen, all were similar.

This reminded Lin Chen of many famous paintings and calligraphy from his past life, where some renowned individuals would inscribe, yet here in Liang, among the Noble Families practicing martial arts, seemed overly pretentious, somewhat incongruous with Liang’s martial arts.

The most critical was that Lin Chen did not find the poetry particularly commendable, as they were all extremely simple and commonplace.

"There are certainly Martial Arts Powerhouses who are pretentious, but not enough to have so many inscriptions, or perhaps this is like the ’Stone Soul Sticker’ I saw at Elder Lord Li’s residence?"

Lin Chen recalled how the thrill of copying the "Stone Soul Sticker" once gave him a sensation akin to martial arts cultivation.

As the brush moved, the Qi Blood circulated within, each stroke felt like completing a circulation of breath control.

Because of this experience, he decided to try copying the "Joyful Ascension Scroll."

Remembering the content of the three Chapters, the ink was well ground, Lin Chen focused, lifting his brush to start copying the script from the Joyful Ascension Scroll.

After the first attempt, there was no change.

Lin Chen was not surprised; people aren’t fools, nor was he the only smart one. The fact that Elder Lord Li had seen potential in his calligraphy copying illustrates that copying calligraphy was known to aid martial arts cultivation, which was not a secret.

At least, nobles like Ye Feng should be aware.

This "Joyful Ascension Scroll" had possibly changed hands several times; previous owners might have practiced copying it, and if they had gained from it, they would not have sold it.

Copying calligraphy requires not just capturing form, but spirit as well.

Yet he hadn’t even accomplished the form!

Calligraphy is not something to rush.

Once, twice...

The night drew on, candlelight from the inn’s lattice windows cast flickering shadows on the rice paper.

As the pen flowed, Lin Chen appeared tireless.

"Pleasure Chapter," again and again.

"The heart clears, naturally carefree!"

When the final stroke of "carefree" ended, the sound of the watchman’s clappers was heard outside.

"It’s already fifth watch?"

Lin Chen glanced outside, the horizon’s first light was faintly visible.

Staying up late was no concern for Lin Chen.

With his physical condition, even staying up one or two nights straight wouldn’t affect him too much, but he usually went to bed by the fourth watch at the latest.

This time, he unknowingly copied until the fifth watch.

Previously, staying up late didn’t tire him, but it felt different than this time.

If he had to describe it, he felt refreshed, with no drowsiness.

"So be it, since I’m not tired at all, I shall continue practicing."

Lin Chen set down the brush; he didn’t know the origins of the "Joyful Ascension Scroll," but he discovered at least one benefit: extending his practice time.

Five-watch autumn!

The cold dew was dense!

The Palm Wind roared in Lin Chen’s courtyard!

In the neighboring courtyards, as Ye Feng and others heard the Palm Wind, they emerged, their gazes admiringly fixed on Lin Chen’s courtyard.

No wonder he could become a Martial Path model for Liang’s Martial Arts Academy students; Senior Brother Lin’s diligence surpassed the rumors.

"I don’t envy Junior Brother Lin’s achievements at all."

In the neighboring courtyard, Qu Feng, still lying in bed, muttered a sentence before turning over and going back to sleep.

...

...

The next morning.

Lin Chen bid farewell to Ye Feng and others, agreeing to meet again at the Canglan Martial Arts Academy.

Ye Feng and his companions needed to take entrance exams at the Eight Directions City; with their skills, passing was no issue, but the process was necessary. Lin Chen, however, directly followed Qu Feng to the Canglan Martial Arts Academy.

And as Qu Feng led Lin Chen to Canglan Prefecture, meanwhile at Canglan Martial Arts Academy, many instructors were engaged in a heated verbal exchange.