Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

At the entrance of Canglan Martial Arts Academy.

The Vice Director of Canglan Martial Arts Academy, along with two instructors and several disciples, were waiting at the entrance.

After ten breaths, a team appeared at the academy’s gate.

The people from Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy had arrived.

"Senior Brother Hao, it’s been a long time. You look even more distinguished than before." Jiang Mingda, the Vice Director of Canglan Martial Arts Academy, said with a smile.

"I’ve aged, not as well as Junior Brother Jiang."

Hao Jifeng, the Vice Director of Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy, dismounted and, after speaking, his gaze fell on the disciples behind Jiang Mingda.

Likewise, Jiang Mingda was also observing the six disciples from Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy behind Hao Jifeng.

This exchange between the academies was actually a duel and competition between the disciples of both sides.

In the past, among the Four Great Martial Arts Academies, Qingyun Martial Arts Academy, Capital City Martial Arts Academy, and Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy rarely took the initiative to conduct an exchange of martial arts with Canglan Martial Arts Academy. According to them, Canglan was too far away and inconvenient.

Of course, the three academies expressed their welcome for the disciples of Canglan to visit Lingxiao for martial arts exchange.

But the real reason, known well within the four academies, was that the academies like Lingxiao deemed the strength of Canglan’s disciples weaker and not worth the long journey.

In most cases, the Vice Director of Canglan would lead teams to the other academies for an exchange, but each time the results were unsatisfactory. Over time, few disciples mentioned exchange matters.

This was the first time in the past seven years that other academies had proactively come to Canglan for an exchange.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they headed towards the inside of the academy.

Vice Director opposite Vice Director, Instructor opposite Instructor, and naturally, disciples with their counterparts.

"Junior Brother Zhang, why not introduce the new disciples of your Canglan Martial Arts Academy this year?"

A disciple from the previous batch of Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy asked the disciples from the previous batch of Canglan. The previous batch from Canglan had led a team to Lingxiao for a martial arts exchange, and the disciples had met before.

Zhang Shan nodded and smiled, "This is Junior Brother Luo Han, our earliest at Canglan to complete the Two-Viscera Refinement. I think you’ve heard of him. These two are Luo Jun and Lu Tao."

"Luo Han greets all senior and junior brothers."

Being mentioned by his senior brother, Luo Han wore a modest smile on his face, but was secretly pleased.

However, many disciples from Lingxiao, upon hearing the words of Zhang Shan and Luo Han, showed little change in expression. None seemed inclined to speak, as if waiting for something.

"The others are junior brothers from the previous batch, everyone has met them, so there’s no need for further introductions."

Upon hearing these words from Zhang Shan, a young man from Lingxiao couldn’t help but ask, "Senior Brother Zhang, where is Lin Chen from your academy?"

"Junior Brother Lin?" Zhang Shan did not expect Lingxiao’s disciples to inquire about Lin Chen and explained, "Unfortunately, Junior Brother Lin is currently in closed-door training."

"In closed-door training? Then, haven’t we come in vain?"

Another young man spoke up, visibly disappointed.

"Had we known Lin Chen was in seclusion, we would have gone to Qingyun Martial Arts Academy instead."

"Lin Chen is in seclusion, what about Fang Zhan?" A female disciple asked.

"Fang... Junior Brother Fang is also in seclusion."

The unreserved words of the three new disciples from Lingxiao caused the smile on Luo Han’s face to freeze.

Although he was the first in Canglan Martial Arts Academy to complete the Two-Viscera Refinement, to these new disciples from Lingxiao, only Lin Chen seemed to matter, and they even mentioned Fang Zhan. Yet, he himself was not acknowledged, which was a massive insult to him.

Walking in the front, Hao Jifeng and Jiang Mingda naturally heard the discussions among the disciples behind them. Hao Jifeng with a chuckle asked, "Junior Brother Jiang? Is your academy’s Lin Chen in seclusion?"

"Lin Chen has been busy with training lately."

Jiang Mingda replied, as he knew the situation with Lin Chen. The director had given Lin Chen an intense training regimen that left no time for rest. At this moment, Lin Chen should be in the Horizontal Training Hall being pricked with needles.

"If he’s not in absolute seclusion, let my Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy kids have a glimpse. These young ones came for Lin Chen."

Hao Jifeng made no effort to hide that Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy chose to conduct martial arts exchange with Canglan because of Lin Chen. He spoke very frankly that Lingxiao came for Lin Chen.

As for that Luo Han...

The third among the Four Great Martial Arts Academies to complete the refinement of the heart and liver, that title hardly counted for anything.

Frankly speaking, this ranking meant nothing to the truly gifted in the academy, it was of no consequence.

"Hmm, Lin Chen should be able to find time."

Jiang Mingda agreed, knowing that Lin Chen was Canglan’s trump card, capable of attracting talents from other academies. The Canglan high ranks were well aware of this.

However, Canglan Martial Arts Academy was not just about cultivating Lin Chen; this batch had hundreds of disciples. This kind of martial arts exchange was also a rare opportunity for Canglan’s disciples.

If they wanted to see Lin Chen, they had to first test their skills against the other academy disciples.

Luo Han was unaware of the thoughts of the academy’s higher-ups. Upon learning that the Vice Director had asked him to welcome Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy today, he assumed that the academy had recognized him as the leading newcomer.

...

...

In the Horizontal Training Hall.

Lin Chen’s body is covered with silver needles, unlike before when he was lying down, now he’s able to stand.

Not far away, Xiao Yaojin and Fang Zhan lay there, also covered with silver needles, though the number was much fewer than on Lin Chen.