Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

"Senior Brother Lin is at an age where he shouldn’t be caught up in romance..."

"Isn’t your home in the Northern Border, why did you move to the seaside?"

Fang Zhan interrupted Xiao Yaojin, seeing Xiao Yaojin’s puzzled expression, he retorted irritably, "What does Senior Brother Lin and Junior Sister Jiang’s relationship have to do with you? Your home isn’t by the sea, so why are you meddling so much?"

"I..."

"What do you mean ’I’? Did I say anything wrong? Just because your Xiao Family only knows how to slay demons doesn’t mean others have to be like you. Let me ask you, did Senior Brother Lin and Junior Sister Jiang’s relationship delay their cultivation?"

Xiao Yaojin pursed his lips and chose to remain silent.

Over two months, Senior Brother Lin hadn’t slacked off in his cultivation; this was something Xiao Yaojin had seen with his own eyes.

"I think Senior Brother Lin is doing great. Every time he takes a medicinal bath, Junior Sister Jiang helps add the herbs. It’s so nice... We have to add the herbs ourselves."

Fang Zhan looked envious, and seeing Fang Zhan’s expression, Xiao Yaojin strode away without further ado.

"Tsk tsk tsk, the Xiao Family is a bunch of demon-slaying maniacs, father didn’t say anything wrong," Fang Zhan muttered, looking at Xiao Yaojin’s departing figure.

Xiao Yaojin stopped in his tracks, Fang Zhan’s expression changed, smiling, thinking that he had spoken too quietly for Xiao Yaojin to hear.

"Also, don’t call me Junior Brother; it’s not certain who is stronger between us."

Fang Zhan: ...

...

...

Twelfth Peak Foot Villa.

Murong Yan made tea and served it to Lord Murong.

"How could I trouble a princess to make tea?"

"Fourth Uncle, you are an elder, and at the Canglan Martial Arts Academy, there is no Princess Murong Yan, only the disciple Murong Yan."

Lord Murong smiled gracefully, "The princess is right."

"Fourth Uncle, what do you think of Lin Chen?"

After pouring tea for Lord Murong, Murong Yan also poured herself a cup, but she only savored the aroma, without tasting it.

"Not simple."

"How is he not simple, and how does he compare to the Three Heroes of Yan Kingdom?"

"Naturally, he cannot compare," Lord Murong replied without hesitation.

"Oh, why does Fourth Uncle think so?" Murong Yan’s eyebrows rose slightly, somewhat surprised.

"That Lin Chen’s potential is not inferior to the Three Heroes of Yan Kingdom, but the situation in Liang is unique. Unlike our Yan Kingdom, other nations do not prohibit martial artists from visiting, nor do they harbor hostility towards us. Once Lin Chen enters the grade, relying solely on Liang’s martial arts resources, he will gradually fall behind."

Lord Murong stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming with amusement, "Decades ago, Liang produced a Pei Qingming, who was once hailed as a once-in-three-century genius, and the entire Liang had high hopes for him. But what was the result? To this day, he still hasn’t entered the Upper Grade. Liang’s martial arts cultivation system is destined not to produce true geniuses."

"It seems Fourth Uncle has opinions about Liang’s martial arts cultivation system?"

"Liang is too isolated, thinking from top to bottom about avenging the past dynasty’s shame. Other nations are wary of Liang. Take Qian Kingdom, for instance; their greatest Qiankun Secret Realm can be entered by our Yan Kingdom’s talents, but Liang’s talents are barred from it."

Lord Murong shook his head, always feeling that Liang harbors too much resentment.

Your previous dynasty was weak and invaded by other countries; this was to be expected. If everyone held grudges from the former dynasty, how could the Nine Kingdoms maintain peace today?

"Though our Yan Kingdom is small, we maintain good relations with neighboring countries, and our martial arts resources are even more abundant than Liang’s. Apart from Liang, in which country do we not have talents from Great Yan?"

"Fourth Uncle speaks with reason."

Murong Yan nodded, conversing with Lord Murong for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, personally sending him off from afar.

The moment the door closed as she turned around, the smile on Murong Yan’s face vanished, replaced by an icy look.

"Fourth Uncle’s thoughts represent the views of most martial artists in Yan Kingdom, but Liang’s approach is correct."

Murmuring softly, Murong Yan chose to come to Liang instead of martial arts academies in other countries not just because of Lin Chen but because she felt a sense of crisis.

The martial arts resources in Yan Kingdom are indeed more abundant than those in Liang, but these resources are not native to Yan Kingdom; they are only transported from other countries to be sold here.

Simply because Yan Kingdom is a neutral small country not feared by others.

Yan Kingdom has produced many talents, including several First-Grade Martial Artists, yet most of these First-Grade Martial Artists reside in other countries. Except for their own Murong Royal Family, no First-Grade Martial Artist remains in Yan Kingdom.

It’s been over two hundred years since the Nine Kingdoms saw major wars, but that doesn’t mean there will never be war.

In years past, when Liang fought demons, facing the powerful Han Kingdom’s pressure, despite being inferior in strength, Liang dared to confront Han Kingdom head-on and even declared a tragic slogan to exchange Han Kingdom land for Liang land.

Even now, as long as the Imperial Court beckons, countless martial artists would respond.

But what about Yan Kingdom?

If another country were to move against Yan Kingdom, would these Yan Kingdom martial artists abroad return?

These martial arts powerhouses were only born in Yan Kingdom, leaving when reaching the Refining Viscera Realm or Entering the Grade. Do they really hold strong feelings for Yan Kingdom?

Yan Kingdom can maneuver between several nations; even among the royal families of other countries, there are unions with Yan Kingdom princesses. However, in conflicts of national interest, these marriages offer no real security.

Should a true war erupt among the nations, Yan Kingdom would be the first to be swallowed.

And the women of Yan Kingdom, especially those of the Murong Family, would become prey for martial arts powerhouses and nobles, simply because the Murong Family possesses special bloodlines that aid martial artists in cultivation.

Returning to her room, Murong Yan’s desk bore a sheet of Xuan paper with fifteen names written on it. At that moment, she picked up a brush and crossed off one of the names.

Luo Han!

...

...

That night, beneath a silver moon.

At the peak of Canglan, Lin Chen’s face contorted, his entire body nearly twisted like a pretzel.

To display one’s brilliance requires suffering in private.

To endure these two months and absorb twenty drops of Flood Dragon True Blood, he utilized the title of ’Medicine Jar Ill Body’ to withstand the pain.

Unfortunately, the pain doesn’t vanish, only delays.

Before the side effects of ’Medicine Jar Ill Body’ struck, he would come to the mountaintop of Canglan Peak; staying in the villa, he feared his cries would frighten the two junior brothers.

An hour later.

Lin Chen, soaked with sweat, lay on the grassy summit, unable even to lift his eyelids.

"Profile!"

A thought, and the profile appeared, Lin Chen compelled himself to open his eyes.

[Host: Lin Chen]

[Realm: Early Refining Viscera Realm]

[Nine Revolutions of the Refining of the Viscera: 1/9]

[Wind and Cloud Palm: Perfect]

[Gale Leg: Limit Breaking]

[Mountain Suppressing Chart: Body Tempering: 2.99]

[Title: Perfect to the Extreme (After Limit Breaking, it is perfect. Wearing this title allows integration of similar limit-breaking cultivation techniques to the perfect level)]

[Title: Medicine Jar Ill Body (When absorbing energy, pain is reduced, but doesn’t disappear, only delayed. After absorbing, feel double the pain)]

[Title: Unparalleled in the Same Sect (As a senior brother, martial arts talent naturally surpasses junior brothers) Note: Requires sincere acknowledgment from the other party]

[Life Chart: [Natural Progress]: Extreme Martial Arts First Realm, Perseverance, Slow and Steady, Unstoppable, No Bottleneck Problem.]

Seeing the value on the Mountain Suppressing Chart, Lin Chen smiled.

In two months, he managed to improve Body Tempering by more than 0.2.

No Earth Evil Qi was used for Body Tempering; it was purely his body’s strength improving.

This shows that Body Tempering doesn’t depend solely on special items for breakthroughs; grueling training also works, albeit slowly.

"Once Body Tempering reaches 3.0, entering the Third Layer, I can proceed with the realm breakthrough."

Regarding his Refining Viscera Realm progress, the dean had advised him that when his physical strength reaches a certain level, breakthrough would make the Second Transformation bearable.

"I just don’t know what level of strength I’m at now."

Lin Chen felt a tinge of regret; Junior Brother Xiao and Junior Brother Fang were progressing rapidly, but still lagging compared to him. These past sparring sessions have increasingly favored him. To avoid hurting their pride, he held back a bit in each bout.

PS: Sorry for the late update; this Chapter counts toward yesterday’s, with two more today!