Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Canglan Prefecture!

The largest city in area on the East Sea Path, its imposing walls resemble a crouching dragon.

When Qu Feng led Lin Chen into Canglan Prefecture, the gate guards did not hinder them at all, gazing at Lin Chen with envy and awe.

Even in the martial-path-rich East Sea Path, the disciples of the Canglan Martial Arts Academy are still figures of envy.

These soldiers were not guarding the city for the first time, and given the timing of the new student assessment, a youth being brought to Canglan Prefecture by a martial academy disciple could only mean one thing—he had already obtained a Disciple Letter from Canglan Martial Arts Academy. Only the formalities were yet to be completed.

The disciples of Canglan Martial Arts Academy never fail to enter the grade.

Stepping into Canglan Martial Arts Academy means at the very least being in the Ninth Grade Realm, and emerging from the academy, you become a figure akin to a County Magistrate.

"One academy of Canglan, half a Canglan Prefecture."

After entering the city, Qu Feng introduced Lin Chen to the situation of Canglan Prefecture.

Canglan Prefecture has the largest area within the East Sea Path, and Canglan Martial Arts Academy occupies half of Canglan Prefecture.

Lin Chen gazed into the distance; the mountain range, extending from the city gate, resembled a black serpent lying across the city. Between the overlapping peaks, flying eaves and supporting beams were faintly visible, revealing the buildings atop these mountains.

Further inward was the deep mountain shrouded in mist.

"That is the Canglan Mountain Range, and beyond the Canglan Mountain Range lies the East Sea. Our academy here has the duty of guarding against the sea demons of the East Sea. But this doesn’t concern you right now, Junior Brother."

Beyond the Canglan Mountain Range, even he hadn’t ventured there. Only those who have entered the grade, like the senior brothers, would go there.

In the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Qu Feng led Lin Chen to the gates of Canglan Martial Arts Academy.

In front of the academy gate was a spacious bluestone square, on which stood twelve copper-painted weapons, each measuring three zhang long.

Sabers, spears, swords, halberds...

"Junior Brother Lin, these twelve weapons were left by the senior brothers who graduated from our Canglan Martial Arts Academy. Each of them possessed upper-three-grade martial arts cultivation, but not everyone who reached the upper three grades could cast their weapons on this square."

Seeing Lin Chen look at the twelve weapon statues, Qu Feng explained.

"Senior Brother Qu, what does that mean?"

Lin Chen didn’t quite understand, and Qu Feng scratched his head, "I’m not entirely sure; I just heard the instructor mention it briefly. Just know, Junior Brother Lin: over the years, Canglan Martial Arts Academy has produced more than twelve upper-three-grade predecessors, but only twelve of them could have their spirit soldiers cast here."

Lin Chen understood this now.

In other words, to have one’s spirit soldier cast here, one must meet certain standards, and reaching the upper three grades is the basic requirement.

An upper-three-grade martial artist may not leave a spirit soldier statue, but those who do leave one, at minimum, are of the third grade.

Looking past these weapon statues toward the academy gate, two white jade steles, each three zhang high, stood on either side. On the left jade stele, four bold characters were inscribed: Canglan Martial Arts Academy!

The script was vigorous and forceful, with a soaring momentum!

On the right jade stele, there was a red notice pasted on it.

"Junior Brother Lin, take a guess at what’s written on this red notice."

"I’m afraid I won’t be able to guess."

Lin Chen shook his head, but seeing Senior Brother Qu winking at him, he pondered: "Could it have something to do with me?"

"Just step forward and have a look, Junior Brother Lin, and you’ll know."

Qu Feng kept the secret, leading Lin Chen toward the right jade stele. Upon reaching the front, and seeing the words on the red notice, Lin Chen understood why Senior Brother Qu had maintained the mystery.

The contents of the red notice indeed had to do with him.

[Good News]

[Congratulations to our Canglan Martial Arts Academy’s new disciple Lin Chen, for marking his name seven times on Martial Arts Mountain!]

Below this red notice was seamlessly attached another red notice.

[Congratulations to our Canglan Martial Arts Academy’s new disciple Lin Chen, for achieving the Liang Martial Arts Academy’s model title!]

"Junior Brother Lin, how does it feel?" Qu Feng asked with a smile.

"It’s too grand, making me feel ashamed."

Lin Chen shook his head; he understood the academy using his reputation to recruit genius disciples from other places. But posting such accolades at the academy gate seemed meaningless.

Those who appear at Canglan Martial Arts Academy all have it as their goal, needing no aid from his reputation.

"This is the rule of our academy; other schools, including martial halls, do the same. When a disciple achieves something, it must be announced on a red notice. Junior Brother Lin, you may not care about this, but it doesn’t mean others don’t, and it also serves as encouragement for other disciples."

Qu Feng knew Lin Chen didn’t wish to stand out too much, but this wasn’t solely about Lin Chen. If today the academy didn’t display Lin Chen’s achievements, should other disciples’ slightly lesser achievements be displayed?

If displayed, might there be rumors?

After all, if Lin Chen’s achievement of becoming a model in the Liang Martial Arts Academy isn’t announced on a red notice, can you shamelessly announce just winning first in the academy’s sparring match?

"I understand Senior Brother’s point, I just hope it can be taken down soon."

"It probably won’t be taken down soon. The earliest would be after the end-of-year exam."

"End-of-year exam?"

Lin Chen estimated that the academy entrance was already in late autumn, and with a little over three months remaining until year’s end, an exam is scheduled—is the timeframe too short?

"The end-of-year exam is held annually by the academy for both new and existing students. But given your brief time at the academy, the exam is more of a formality. You don’t have to participate if you don’t want to."