Chapter 106: Pseudo Martial Will

Wu Garden.

“Has Lin Brother also received a courtyard in Wu Garden?”

Lu Yongfeng and the others followed Lin Chen to a certain courtyard in Wu Garden; upon learning that this courtyard was granted to Lin Chen, their emotions were complex.

Both astonished and yet feeling it was only natural.

Owning a courtyard within Wu Garden had become a symbol of status for many martial artists in Poyang County.

Even among Qi-Refining martial artists, not every one could secure a courtyard in Wu Garden.

Only those with exceptional potential—those who, even if unable to enter the ranked realm, could still reach the peak of Qi-Refining before their vital energy declined—were granted this privilege.

Lu Yongfeng and the others understood: Wu Garden believed Lin Brother had the potential to reach the peak of Qi-Refining.

Not just Wu Garden—even they themselves felt Lin Brother possessed such potential.

Fortune has finally smiled upon him!

In the past, even if Lin Brother’s talent were extraordinary, his family’s limited wealth would have left him struggling to afford further martial cultivation.

The three were unaware of the Wuzheng Office’s martial prodigy policy.

It was precisely because the Wuzhengsuo had placed great importance on this year’s cohort that Lin Brother gained the opportunity to rise through his martial insight, earning rewards that compensated for his lack of silver.

“Lin Brother, you dealt such a harsh blow to Wu Yong—won’t Qianshan County…?”

“What’s there to fear?”

Before Zhao Jingchuan could finish, Fu Ang interrupted: “It was the Feiyang Martial Hall that struck first with cruel intent—so how can you blame Lin Brother for retaliating? The Qianshan County Wuzhengsuo won’t trouble Lin Brother, and neither will Feiyang Martial Hall. The only ones who harbor hatred toward Lin Brother are Wu Yong’s family—but Lin Brother is a martial hall student; unless Wu Family dares to defy all norms, they won’t dare target him.”

The status of a martial hall student is a protective talisman.

No faction dares to strike at a martial hall student unless they believe they can act with perfect secrecy, undetected by the Wuzhengsuo.

But Lin Brother just struck Wu Ming—should anything happen, Wu Family’s suspicion would be the greatest, and Wu Family may not withstand the Wuzhengsuo’s methods.

Fu Ang sneered: Wu Family’s influence lies in Qianshan; it cannot reach into Poyang County. Even if their reach were that long, whether they’d dare act remains doubtful.

Generally, when a powerful faction truly intends to kill a martial hall student, they don’t target the student directly—they strike at the student’s family.

The Wuzhengsuo guarantees the student’s safety, but not the safety of the student’s family.

“But that applies only to ordinary students. Given Lin Brother’s emerging martial talent, the Wuzhengsuo will secretly watch over his family.”

Fu Ang didn’t voice this: every county had its own family factions, and none could tolerate outside powers intruding into their territory.

Over the years, Poyang County’s top families have changed several times—old ones declined, new ones rose—but all shared one trait: they were all native Poyang families.

“Lin Brother, having defeated Wu Ming, Qianshan County will likely study and target you.” Cheng Ying worried.

“Even without today’s battle, Qianshan County would still fear Lin Brother. With sufficient strength, any targeting is useless.”

Fu Ang spoke with great arrogance—he believed martial artists spoke through strength. This was county rivalry, under the watch of the martial hall and Wuzhengsuo; no one dared use underhanded schemes.

“Fu Brother is right. Even if I hadn’t acted today, Qianshan County has likely already studied me thoroughly.”

Lin Chen nodded, agreeing with Fu Ang’s words.

“Lin Brother probably doesn’t know much about Qianshan County’s martial hall students. Let me tell you.”

Fu Ang himself had been unaware of Qianshan County’s students, but after the Wuzhengsuo announced the county duel in three months, he and Gu Shixiong and others deliberately researched their profiles.

“Qianshan County, like us, has always ranked last in the prefectural exams. Either Poyang County or Qianshan County is last—that’s why this year’s duel is between our two counties.”

Lin Chen instantly understood: the strong compete against the strong, the weak against the weak.

Poyang and Qianshan belonged to the weaker group.

“Qianshan County has five martial halls—three fewer than ours. In their recent internal competition, Wu Ming placed third. The top two had already opened nine acupoints during the match, just like Jiang Sister.”

Fu Ang’s expression turned serious: “Those two likely have at least eleven acupoints opened, and they haven’t even taken the Wuzhengsuo’s Qiaotong Elixir yet.”

“As for their cultivation level, both had already achieved minor mastery of their respective martial arts; by the time of the county duel, they may reach great mastery.”

While improving martial art proficiency demands higher insight, it doesn’t mean there are no shortcuts.

But the cost is high—though if the county duel’s rewards are rich enough, the cost is bearable.

“Lin Brother, have you heard of martial will?”

“Martial will?” Lin Chen’s eyes sharpened; he shook his head: “Never heard of it.”

“Sixth-rank martial artists can inscribe their martial insights onto scrolls. Observers may gain glimpses of the art’s true essence; if insight is sufficient, they may even achieve instant perfection!”

“Instant perfection? So you mean the two from Qianshan might use martial will?” Cheng Ying’s mouth opened slightly.

“What are you imagining? Is it that easy?”

Fu Ang shook his head. Seeing Cheng Ying’s displeased look, he chuckled: “How many sixth-rank martial artists are there in Raozhou Prefecture? Qianshan County has none. And the material to carry martial will is extremely rare—worth a thousand gold pieces.”

“A thousand gold pieces—not silver taels!”

Fu Ang emphasized again: “Moreover, even sixth-rank masters expend tremendous mental energy to leave behind martial will. Only close relatives would endure such a burden.”

Lin Chen’s face showed curiosity, but inside, his mind churned with waves.

He hadn’t realized the martial will scroll he obtained from Zhou San’s home was so valuable—so Master Dai Jingfeng must have been a sixth-rank or even stronger martial artist.

How could such a master’s martial will end up in Zhou San’s hands?

“Forget sixth-rank martial will—but pseudo-martial will is possible. A ranked martial artist who cultivates the same art can perform it, and observers may gain insight through watching.”

“Pseudo-martial will has far lower requirements: just one ranked martial artist, and one who cultivates that exact art. But its effect pales beside true martial will—it often takes over a month to achieve breakthrough.”

Over a month?

Having used a martial will scroll, Lin Chen understood the difference from Fu Ang’s description alone.

He had achieved perfect mastery of Qingfeng Palm in a single night from the scroll.

Beyond time, there was also a difference in scope.

Dai Jingfeng may never have cultivated Qingfeng Palm, yet it allowed Lin Chen to perfect it—meaning true martial will scrolls were universally applicable to all arts.

Pseudo-martial will was more like targeted training.

…

…

After chatting with Lu Yongfeng and the others, Lin Chen had planned to return to Zhenyue Martial Hall with Fu Ang, but Yan He’an called out to him.

Lin Chen bid farewell to Lu Yongfeng and the others, including Fu Ang.

“Young Master Lin, congratulations on winning the three-month competition.” Once Fu Ang and the others left, Yan He’an smiled warmly.

“I owe you thanks, Elder. Had you not arranged those opponents for me earlier, I could never have perfected Qingfeng Palm so quickly.”

Lin Chen was deeply grateful to Wu Garden; it had greatly aided his Qingfeng Palm cultivation.

Yan He’an smiled faintly: “Wu Garden merely added a touch of elegance. I stopped you because I heard you’re now cultivating Tiegu Gong?”

“Yes. I wish to try walking the path of martial extremity.”

Lin Chen answered honestly. Even Fu Ang knew he pursued the path of extremity; Yan Elder could easily guess it too.

“Young Master Lin, you have ambition. I’ll take you somewhere.”

Zhao Elder had instructed Lin Chen to proceed to Courtyard No. 2 upon opening nine acupoints—he already knew what happened on the arena.

Deep within Wu Garden.

Courtyard No. 2 was no different from the others.

Lin Chen glanced curiously at the courtyard gate. Yan Elder had remained silent the whole way; Lin Chen suppressed his curiosity and followed quietly.

“Young Master Lin cultivates Tiegu Gong. Fortunately, Wu Garden possesses the Thousand Hammer Scroll—it has extraordinary effects on hardening arts.”

As he opened the gate, Yan He’an finally revealed something.

“Thousand Hammer Scroll?”

“This scroll was created by a martial master who cultivated a hardening art. You’ll understand the details soon.”

Yan He’an teased, leading Lin Chen into the courtyard.

Upon entering, Lin Chen’s gaze instantly fixed on a small iron house in the yard.

A house entirely forged of iron stood within the courtyard.

“Young Master Lin, the Thousand Hammer Scroll is unique—it can only be stored within an iron house.”

“So you mean I must enter this iron house?”

“Yes.”

Yan He’an smiled mysteriously, his old eyes holding a hint of mockery: “Young Master Lin, I won’t hide it—viewing the Thousand Hammer Scroll aids your Tiegu Gong cultivation, but the pain far exceeds your daily training. Whether you enter is your choice.”

“Since I’ve come this far, I’ll go in.”

Lin Chen smiled lightly. He was deeply curious—the Thousand Hammer Scroll was kept with such solemnity by Wu Garden; it couldn’t be ordinary.

He stepped toward the iron house, pulled open the latch, cast one final glance at Yan He’an, then strode inside.

“Young Master Lin, you have only two viewing opportunities per month.”

As Lin Chen vanished from sight, Yan He’an called out, then whispered once the iron door shut:

“The Thousand Hammer Scroll requires at least nine acupoints opened to endure. The last one who entered lasted only three cycles. Can Lin Chen hold on for a hundred breaths?”

Since the scroll was placed in Wu Garden, the longest anyone had endured was ten cycles—but that one had already opened ten acupoints.

(End of Chapter)