[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback":3,"chapter-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-117":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rising from Obscurity: My Martial Path Comeback",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2265952,4424,"Chapter 117: Brother Zhao, I Hope Your Mouth Stays This Tough","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-117",117,"\u003Cp>“Panel!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned to his courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen immediately summoned the panel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Host: Lin Chen】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Realm: Extreme Opening Meridian (12\u002F24): (15\u002F300)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Blood Qi: 125000】 (Expand to view past blood qi growth)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Clear Wind Palm: Perfect】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Iron Bones Technique: Perfect】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Water Cloud Palm: Great Achievement (0\u002F1)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his blood qi value, Lin Chen couldn’t help but let out a soft whistle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This blood qi was terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he embarked on the Extreme Martial Path, each meridian he opened increased his blood qi by twice that of an ordinary martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For men like Fei Hong, breaking from nine to ten meridians meant gaining ten thousand blood qi; his own gain was twenty thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From nine to twelve meridians, his three openings added sixty thousand blood qi, while Fei Hong and the others gained only thirty thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood qi represents strength and speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Lin Chen’s simple, observed understanding—he had yet to calculate the exact formula for how much blood qi translated into how much power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From twelve to thirteen meridians was another hurdle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen didn’t know how much blood qi would increase from twelve to thirteen, but when his Iron Bones Technique reached perfection, the change in the panel’s progress bar gave him confidence for the county contest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The progress bar had risen from two hundred to three hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant that now, each meridian breakthrough granted him three times the blood qi increase of an ordinary martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The further he progressed, the more blood qi he gained; as his multiplier increased, the extra blood qi became an utterly terrifying number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His decision to take the Meridian-Opening Pill now was the result of deep thought after seeing the panel’s change last night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iron Bones Technique perfected, breakthrough to twelve meridians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The progress bar became three hundred, meaning each meridian breakthrough now required ten more days than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides time, there was cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the 【Water Flows Naturally】 Destiny, he didn’t need to worry about later stages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rewards from the March Contest were nearly spent; only by winning this county contest could he afford silver to continue his cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his talent ensured future support from the Wuzhengsuo and even Master Su, having silver on hand kept his heart steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulling out the Meridian-Opening Pill from his sleeve, Lin Chen didn’t hesitate—he swallowed it and struck with Clear Wind Palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuzhengsuo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Tai Rubai’s report, Su Lingchuan’s expression shifted repeatedly; after a long silence, he sighed: “You didn’t need to do this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, Lin Chen acts out of gratitude toward you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingchuan was moved. No wonder Yu Yongnian of the Martial Hall had valued Lin Chen so deeply—even after leaving Poyang County, he still sent money and went to great lengths to prepare two letters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gratitude returned, pure heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he weren’t the head of Poyang County’s Wuzhengsuo, and if Lin Chen were merely a student of Poyang’s Martial Hall, he would have taken Lin Chen as his personal disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But due to his position, to avoid suspicion, he could not accept Lin Chen as a disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking Lin Chen as a disciple now would not help him—it would harm him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing Tai Rubai off, his confidant stepped out from behind the screen and remarked: “Master, Lin Chen has a heart of gratitude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If not for a man who remembers kindness, would Yu Yongnian have gone to such lengths for him? Would Master Li of Quzhou have expended his own blood qi to guide Lin Chen with martial will?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tai Rubai had not fully disclosed Lin Chen’s experience at the Li residence—he only told Su Lingchuan that Master Li had used martial will to guide Lin Chen to perfect Iron Bones Technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingchuan knew something of the Li family of Quzhou; Master Li’s blood qi was already declining, and forcibly invoking martial will would only accelerate his aging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before guiding Lin Chen, Master Li must have tested his character, confirming he was not an ungrateful man, before offering such full support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about the county contest reward?” the confidant asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After pondering, Su Lingchuan slammed his hand on the table: “Since Lin Chen has such ambition, I won’t be outdone—I’ll add another Meridian-Opening Pill to the first-place prize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wuzhengsuo treasury had no Meridian-Opening Pills; Su Lingchuan had been able to offer one in the March Contest because the Wuzheng Force had approved it—and other counties had received the same reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for this county contest, the Wuzheng Force had already set the prizes; to award a Meridian-Opening Pill, Su Lingchuan would have to spend his own contribution points to exchange for one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Meridian-Opening Pill cost thirty contribution points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about second and third place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lingchuan rolled his eyes: “I only care about first place. Second and third get nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The confidant understood—his master truly wouldn’t take a single loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Poyang County, Jiang Qing had left; only Lin Chen had the strength to challenge the two fifteen-meridian students from Yanshan County. Rewarding second and third would be aiding Yanshan County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You go to Yanshan County yourself. Tell Zhang Wang: ask him if he accepts this challenge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later, Lin Chen exhausted the Meridian-Opening Pill’s effects and broke through to thirteen meridians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took the second pill immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two more days passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Panel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Host: Lin Chen】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Realm: Extreme Opening Meridian (14\u002F24): (10\u002F300)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Blood Qi: 215000】 (Expand to view past blood qi growth)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Clear Wind Palm: Perfect】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Iron Bones Technique: Perfect】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Water Cloud Palm: Great Achievement (0\u002F1)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling his surging blood qi, Lin Chen now felt confident he could knock out his own self from four days ago with a single punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An ordinary martial artist gains fifteen thousand blood qi per meridian after twelve; he gains forty to fifty thousand. This meant that at thirteen meridians, he equaled an ordinary martial artist at fifteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his perfected Clear Wind Palm and Iron Bones Technique, even if the two from Yanshan County had sixteen or seventeen meridians, he could still fight them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The county contest was only three days away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That morning, Lin Chen stopped training and, with Fu Ang and Gu Shan, followed Master Tai away from the martial hall toward the Wuzhengsuo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two-county contest would be held in Raozhou Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These students were departing today for Raozhou Prefecture, where they would rest one day to recover and prepare for the contest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poyang County’s eight martial halls had over a hundred new students, eighty of whom had taken Meridian-Opening Pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not every new student qualified to attend the county contest in Raozhou—only the top twenty from the March Contest had eligibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lin Chen arrived at the Wuzhengsuo training ground, students from other halls had already gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Zeng, Miss Fu, Miss Gu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Master Zeng leading the Jingshui Martial Hall group, Lin Chen stepped forward to greet them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ceng Qingyao saw Lin Chen and smiled with satisfaction—she was the only person present, besides Tai Rubai, who knew Lin Chen had perfected Iron Bones Technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. You haven’t disappointed me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen knew she meant his perfected Iron Bones Technique—he smiled humbly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Brother, now that you’ve moved to Zhenyue Martial Hall, you won’t be returning to Jingshui Martial Hall anymore? That won’t do… many junior sisters still long to admire your charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Jingya teased Lin Chen, but she spoke the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the past three months, Lin Brother had rarely returned to Jingshui Martial Hall; many junior sisters had whispered about him privately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Brother’s charm has won the hearts of many junior sisters; while the older sisters remain loyal to the students of the neighboring Tiexue Martial Hall, many junior sisters now look down on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Jingya recalled something one senior sister had said and couldn’t help laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These little girls know nothing—Lin Brother may be great, but you can’t touch him. But those guys from Tiexue? They actually hand out Zikou Pills.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen smiled—he took it as playful banter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lin Chen returned to the Jingshui group, other students, especially Fei Hong and the others, had been watching him closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two months ago, all the martial halls thought Lin Chen had ruined himself—having won first in the March Contest, he’d become arrogant and chosen the Extreme Martial Path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after Lin Chen crushed Wu Ming with absolute power in the Wuyuan battle, all the martial halls once again recognized him as the senior brother among the new students of the Eight Martial Halls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhao, why the long face? Isn’t the county contest something to be happy about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tai Rubai also walked up to Zhao Qifeng, head of the Storm Wind Martial Hall, and asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This time, our Storm Fist Dojo is just a supporting role—what’s there to be happy about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qifeng had a clear sense of his own limits: his dojo’s Zhang Qing, though he had opened twelve acupoints, had only achieved minor mastery in Storm Leg so far. Such strength might have been respectable in past years, but this year—especially in the county combat—made him nothing but cannon fodder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two students from Yanshan County who had opened fifteen acupoints were known to all the dojo masters, but they kept quiet, fearing it would crush their disciples’ morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing is absolute. Who could have imagined before the March combat that Lin Chen would take first place?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention of Lin Chen, Zhao Qifeng’s gaze turned toward the Still Water Dojo: \"Tai Shixiong, Lin Chen is a disciple of Still Water Dojo—why are you so pleased? He’s merely studying Iron Bone Art under your dojo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Senior Su personally reported Lin Chen to the Wuzheng Office. Lin Chen is not only a disciple of Still Water Dojo, but also officially registered as a disciple of our Zhenyue Dojo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tai Rubai chuckled. Zhao Qifeng froze, his eyes narrowing with disdain: \"Tai Shixiong, your appetite is… disgraceful. Are you really willing to sacrifice your dignity just for official credit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who in Poyang County doesn’t know Lin Chen is a disciple of Still Water Dojo?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Won’t you be laughed at for snatching the fruit like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Lin Chen later comes to train Storm Leg at your Storm Fist Dojo, wouldn’t your dojo register him as one of your disciples?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qifeng replied solemnly: \"I, your younger brother, am not like you, Senior Brother. I still have some pride.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zhao Qifeng’s view, Lin Chen, pursuing the extreme martial path, could master at most two arts—he could never take on a third.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two arts were already extremely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three? That’s sheer stubbornness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Lin Chen had already perfected Iron Bone Art before entering the ranks was already astonishing talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Lin Chen would never come to his dojo, Zhao Qifeng spoke with renewed confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tai Rubai gave Zhao Qifeng a long, meaningful look. He had intended to share some information with him, but since Zhao Qifeng was so defiant, he decided to say nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s see if you’ll still be this stubborn after this year’s county combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1851,"2026-06-19T20:25:56.550Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3e386b1b32e71df119e2d4419c44058f75fae0019df27c52a32f846c4c449c96","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-118","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-116",591,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-cover.jpg"]