Chapter 160: Jiang Qing

On a slope in the valley, the mist over the lake could be vaguely seen several dozen miles away.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

Lin Chen and Jiang Qing both remained silent.

Jiang Qing was silent because all the words she had prepared before coming were now useless; there was no need to say them anymore.

She had learned the full story of the competition for the model student of Jiangnan Dao from her mother's reply, and she knew what had happened in Raozhou Prefecture during this time.

Originally, she had intended to come and comfort Lin Chen a little, telling him to endure and not act on impulse.

Whether it was the Huo family or the Li family, neither was someone Lin Chen could deal with right now. As for the competition for the model student of Jiangnan Dao with Li Yuan, losing wasn't a shameful thing.

Li Yuan had the Li family behind him, and his father was even a Sixth-Rank martial artist; the resources he could provide were not something Lin Chen could compare to.

If he felt depressed, she would help him beat up Huo Tong a few more times to vent his anger.

But now, she felt there was no need to say anything at all.

The one who needed comforting was not Lin Chen, but herself.

She, with twenty-two acupoints opened, had been defeated by someone with seventeen.

If she hadn't cheated and used the Martial Dao Will her father had left on her, she wouldn't even have been able to get close to Lin Chen.

Of course, this also had to do with her underestimating the enemy earlier; she had looked down on the power of Lin Chen's arrows, which caused her to fall into a passive position.

But no matter how she looked for reasons or tried to explain, it was useless.

She had twenty-two acupoints opened, while Lin Chen only had seventeen.

Losing to someone of a lower realm when one's own realm is higher—there was no excuse for that.

She really wanted to ask Lin Chen how he cultivated.

……

……

Lin Chen looked at the ever-changing expressions on Jiang Jiang Shijie's pretty face and felt a bit guilty; if he had known it was Jiang Jiang Shijie, he would have held back a bit earlier.

No, he had already held back. That palm strike just now was purely defensive, relying more on the power of the Iron Bone Art. If he had used the Wind and Cloud Palm, Jiang Jiang Shijie would have had to retreat at least three steps.

Now, he had a rough idea of his own strength.

Three palm strikes could send a Jiang Jiang Shijie flying; his overall strength should be enough to take on five Sister Jiangs.

Provided that Jiang Jiang Shijie didn't use that special effect move from just now.

Thinking of the long spear that had manifested in front of Jiang Jiang Shijie, Lin Chen found an entry point for conversation and asked, "Jiang Jiang Shijie, what kind of technique was that long spear you just used? If you had used that spear earlier, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to take even one strike."

Jiang Qing looked at Lin Chen with deep, melancholy eyes. If she didn't know that Lin Shidi's family background meant he truly didn't understand these things, she would have suspected anyone else of mocking her.

Lin Chen:?

Jiang Jiang Shijie's look made it seem like he was a heartless man. Had he asked a question he shouldn't have?

"That is the Martial Dao Will my father left in my body. It can be used to deal with enemies when I encounter danger. Anyone below the Organ Cultivation Stage cannot withstand a single strike."

"Martial Dao Will can be placed inside someone else's body?"

Lin Chen was shocked. Wasn't Martial Dao Will meant for later generations to comprehend techniques?

Doesn't this mean that any descendant of a family with a Ranked martial artist has this kind of protective Martial Dao Will?

"Martial Dao Will has infinite uses, but not just anyone can receive it into their body. It is very complex; even ordinary Ninth-Rank or Eighth-Rank martial artists cannot do it."

Seeing Lin Chen's puzzled look, Jiang Qing pondered for a moment and said, "For a Ranked martial artist to split a wisp of their own Martial Dao Will for someone else, they must at least reach the Seventh Rank. Furthermore, the person receiving this Martial Dao Will must take a Martial Inheritance Pill at the time of reception; otherwise, not only will they fail to receive the Will, but they will also suffer irreparable damage to their own body."

Lin Chen understood. Ordinary Ranked family descendants didn't have the qualifications, so Jiang Jiang Shijie's family was extraordinary indeed.

Raozhou Prefecture, the surname Jiang...

Lin Chen's pupils constricted slightly. He looked at Jiang Qing in disbelief. Could Jiang Jiang Shijie be related to Provincial Graduate Jiang?

But the timeline didn't match. Provincial Graduate Jiang had only been a Ju Ren for ten years, and adding the few years of cultivation before becoming one, it added up to at most fifteen or sixteen years. It was impossible for him to have been married and had children before he started learning martial arts.

Before entering the Martial Hall, Provincial Graduate Jiang was just a bullied child in Linhu Village and hadn't been married; otherwise, the village chief couldn't have been unaware of it.

In fact, Lin Chen had suspected early on whether Jiang Jiang Shijie might be related to Provincial Graduate Jiang, but because of the age factor, he had eventually dismissed it.

But now, listening to Jiang Jiang Shijie's words, he felt more and more that there was a great connection between Jiang Jiang Shijie and Provincial Graduate Jiang, unless Jiang Jiang Shijie was not from Raozhou Prefecture but from somewhere else, or perhaps they weren't father and daughter but just distant relatives.

But the village chief had also said that Provincial Graduate Jiang was the only descendant of the Jiang family.

Forget it, he wouldn't think about it. Whatever background Jiang Jiang Shijie had didn't have much to do with him.

If Jiang Jiang Shijie wanted to say, she would tell him herself.

"All assessments and duels in the Martial Administration Hall prohibit students from using external forces, so Lin Shidi doesn't need to worry about Li Yuan releasing any Martial Dao Will. Once released, it's equivalent to admitting defeat."

Seeing Lin Chen silent, Jiang Qing thought he was thinking of Li Yuan because of the Martial Dao Will on her, so she gave him a reassurance.

Lin Chen nodded slightly. He could understand this point. If Martial Dao Will could be used in the various duels arranged by the Martial Administration Hall, the Martial Administration Force, and the Martial Administration Office, then students whose families didn't have Seventh-Rank martial artists wouldn't need to participate at all. "Jiang Jiang Shijie, can this Martial Dao Will be used an infinite number of times?"

"Naturally not. The one I revealed is a silver Martial Dao Will, which can only be used six times. This first time was just used on Lin Shidi."

Jiang Qing's eyes were somewhat resentful. Lin Chen felt a bit awkward. Jiang Jiang Shijie's words... were too easy to misunderstand. What did she mean by "the first time was given to you"?

It was just that the people in this world were relatively simple and didn't have so many "quick-witted" people.

"Generally speaking, below the Organ Cultivation Stage, there are only three types. Just looking at the appearance, if it's brass-colored, with your current strength, Lin Shidi, you should be able to withstand it. If you encounter a silver one like mine, you must be careful. And if you encounter a golden one, run as far as you can."

Speaking to the end, Jiang Qing's expression became serious: "Those powerhouses plant Martial Dao Will into their descendants' bodies. If an Upper Three Rank martial artist makes a move, the planted Martial Dao Will is a golden mark. Anyone below the Ranked Tier will undoubtedly die if they touch it."

"Upper Three Ranks?"

Lin Chen gave a bitter smile: "Sister, you think too highly of me. Even without using Martial Dao Will, I couldn't possibly be an opponent for descendants from such families."

"That's not necessarily true."

Jiang Qing curled her lips. Although her father wasn't an Upper Three Rank, he had the potential to be. Even so, she wasn't Lin Shidi's match, so descendants from those Upper Three Rank families might not necessarily be stronger than Lin Shidi.

However, this remark had the suspicion of boasting about her own family background, so Jiang Qing didn't say it out loud.

"I was originally worried that Huo Tong would cause you trouble during the special training ground duel in two months, so I specifically beat him up twice. Now it seems there's no need to worry. If I can beat Huo Tong up, it will be even easier for Lin Shidi."

Huo Tong?

Lin Chen thought for a moment: "Is he a descendant of the Raozhou Prefecture Huo family?"

"Yes."

"Thank you, Sister, for venting my anger."

Lin Chen smiled. He could imagine that with Jiang Jiang Shijie's personality, she would never show mercy to enemies, so Huo Tong must have been beaten up extremely miserably.

"By the way, Lin Shidi, are you related to the Li family?"

Jiang Qing suddenly thought of something, parted her red lips, and asked lightly.

"Sister is talking about the Quzhou Prefecture Li family, right? I visited Quzhou Prefecture and met Elder Li once."

Facing Jiang Jiang Shijie, Lin Chen didn't hide anything and told her about his experience of meeting Elder Li, only downplaying the contempt the Li family's eldest young lady had shown him.

"I see. I thought you had been favored by the Li family's young lady and were the future son-in-law of the Li family."

Jiang Qing's voice rose a few notches unconsciously. Lin Chen was startled: "Jiang Jiang Shijie, why would you think that?"

"It's rumored outside that Elder Li ran to the Martial Administration Hall and slammed the table because of you, just because he took a fancy to you becoming his granddaughter's husband."

Lin Chen's mouth opened slightly. He didn't expect such an outrageous rumor to exist outside. But on second thought, if he were an uninformed outsider, he would probably think the same.

Otherwise, the Li family had no connection to him, and he wasn't even a student from Quzhou Prefecture; why would Elder Li slam the table and throw cups at the Martial Administration Hall for him?

It can only be said that sometimes reasonable brain-filling is one of the reasons why rumors are believed.

"Alright, everything that should be said has been said. I'm leaving too. During the duel at the two special training grounds, Lin Shidi, you must show mercy."

Jiang Qing blinked at Lin Chen, her long eyelashes carrying a playful look that made one want to reach out and flick them. Lin Chen really couldn't help it, but just as his hand was raised, he realized what he was doing and hurriedly pretended to be calm and rubbed his eyes.

"I'll see you off, Sister."

"No need."

Jiang Qing seemed to have noticed something as well. Her pretty face was rarely stained with a blush, and with a trace of panic, she didn't dare to look at Lin Chen's eyes, lowered her head, and turned to leave.

Watching Jiang Jiang Shijie's graceful figure depart, Lin Chen turned to look at the mist in the lake in the distance.

The shyness of a young girl lowering her head was better than all the beautiful scenery in the world.

……

……

Three days later.

【Gap of five acupoints, conditions met, obtained Qi-Blood Furnace reward.】

Four days later.

【Gap of four acupoints, conditions met, obtained Qi-Blood Furnace reward.】

Five days later.

【Gap of three acupoints, conditions met, obtained Qi-Blood Furnace reward.】 Six days later.

【Gap of two acupoints, conditions met, obtained Qi-Blood Furnace reward.】

Seven days later.

【Gap of one acupoint, conditions met, obtained Qi-Blood Furnace reward.】

Eight days later.

Standing on the steps, Lin Chen faced the senior with seventeen acupoints opened. After six hundred breaths, he was defeated due to one careless move.

The ninth day.

Lin Chen challenged again, but this time he was defeated after seven hundred breaths.

The tenth day, defeated after a thousand breaths.

Lin Chen didn't continue to challenge, because he knew that if he continued like this, the result would still be the same; he would eventually be defeated by one move, it was just a matter of time.

In terms of attack, he and this senior could be said to be evenly matched; the difference was that this senior could endure and withstand more than he could.

【Host: Lin Chen】

【Realm: Perfect Open-Acupuncture Stage (17/24)】

【Qi-Blood: 950,000/3,300,000】

【True Blood: 673,000】

Compared to ten days ago, when Jiang Jiang Shijie came, his True Blood could be said to have doubled.

Of course, this was only possible with the massive, unlimited supply of cultivation resources at the special training ground.

Every time he went to the treasury, he could feel the look in Master Yang's eyes change from surprise to numbness.

Although his strength would increase as his Qi-Blood grew, he was also getting closer to opening the next acupoint.

Once he broke through to nineteen acupoints, he would have to change to another senior as an opponent.

In this way, he was afraid he would never have the chance to leave his name on Mount Wudao, or perhaps he would only have that one chance when he reached twenty-four acupoints.

For over three hundred years in Daliang, countless martial artists had wanted to leave their names on Mount Wudao. The reward for leaving one's name must be extremely generous, and Lin Chen didn't want to take it only once.

"Iron Bone Art, if I could cultivate the second half of the Iron Bone Art, perhaps I would have a chance to defeat this senior."

……

……

Min Huanbo listened to Lin Chen's request with a look of confusion on his face.

He had already cultivated so many techniques, plus archery, and he still wanted to cultivate other techniques?

At the Open-Acupuncture Stage, cultivating too many techniques was not a good thing.

Greed leads to poor digestion.

Even if his Martial Dao comprehension was excellent, it couldn't withstand such squandering, but he still asked:

"What technique do you want?"

"Zhen Yue Pu."

Min Huanbo thought for a moment: "Zhen Yue Pu? Is it the Zhen Yue Pu of the Huang family in Huizhou Prefecture?"

"The instructor also knows about Zhen Yue Pu?"

"Zhen Yue Pu is famous; naturally, I know it. I understand."

Min Huanbo suddenly realized why Lin Chen wanted this technique.

"There are rumors outside that most of the hard-body techniques in the entire Jiangnan Dao are derived from the Huang family's Zhen Yue Pu. Are you trying to further improve your Iron Bone Art?"

"Yes."

"If it were other techniques, the special training ground could get them for you. Even if the special training ground didn't have them, they could be searched from the Martial Administration Hall's library. But if it's Zhen Yue Pu, the special training ground really can't get it for you, and even the Martial Administration Hall would find it difficult."

"Why?" Lin Chen was curious.

"Zhen Yue Pu was created by the ancestor of the Huang family in Huizhou Prefecture; it is not an official government technique."

Seeing Lin Chen's puzzled expression, Min Huanbo explained in detail: "Daliang's Martial Dao techniques, especially Ranked techniques, are actually divided into two categories. One category belongs to the imperial court; these techniques can be learned in the imperial court or the Martial Administration Force, and can be redeemed as long as there are enough contribution points. But there is another category, which is created by individual Martial Dao powerhouses. These techniques belong to those powerhouses and are generally only passed down to their family descendants."

"If a Martial Dao powerhouse chooses to hand over their self-created technique to the imperial court, the court will evaluate it and provide equivalent resources or contribution points. But they can also choose not to hand it over. However, if it is discovered that someone is using this technique to do evil, the court will go to that family, so such families rarely pass the technique on to outsiders."

Lin Chen suddenly understood. No wonder Elder Li said that if he wanted to obtain the second half of the Iron Bone Art, he needed to go to Huizhou Prefecture.

"Or, I could go and ask Elder Li for advice, and by the way, express my gratitude to him."

For Lin Chen, the only attraction left at the special training ground was Mount Wudao and the resources. He didn't plan to challenge Mount Wudao in the short term, and as for the resources...

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi Min, if I want to leave the special training ground to go to Huangshan, is it possible?"

"In principle, students cannot leave the special training ground within three months. You were able to leave last time because you encountered a special situation."

Min Huanbo stroked his beard, but Lin Chen's eyes lit up. As long as it was "in principle" not allowed, it meant it was still possible.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi Min, I have already challenged the senior at sixteen acupoints on Mount Wudao."

Lin Chen revealed a piece of information. Min Huanbo didn't react for a moment: "That's not bad, keep up the good work... You say that again?"

"A few days ago, I challenged and defeated the senior at sixteen acupoints, and I have fought the senior at seventeen acupoints several times, but every time I was just a move short. If I could cultivate the second half of the Iron Bone Art, perhaps I would have a chance to defeat that senior."

"How many acupoints do you have opened now?"

Min Huanbo's voice trembled slightly. Although he had long known Lin Chen had seventeen acupoints opened, he still wanted to confirm it again.

"I have seventeen acupoints opened!"

"You wait here!"

Leaving these words behind, Min Huanbo moved like a gust of wind, his figure quickly vanishing in front of Lin Chen.

A cup of tea's time later, all six instructors, including Chen Ping, arrived, looking at Lin Chen as if he were a monster.

"Lin Chen, Yu Yu Jiaoxi Min said you have already defeated the senior at sixteen acupoints on Mount Wudao. Is this true?"

"Yes." Lin Chen nodded heavily.

"This is no small matter, you must not lie!"

Chen Ping had to confirm it again. It wasn't that he doubted Lin Chen, but that in the ten years of the entire special training ground, no student had been able to reach this step.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi Chen, can't you check the students' situation on Mount Wudao?"

"We can't. Unless one can leave their name, no one can know the battle record of a martial artist who climbs Mount Wudao, and Mount Wudao itself is not an assessment target for the special training ground."

The Mount Wudao of the special training ground is a benefit for those students with potential, not an assessment target.

The students' assessment is the checkpoints they set up, but Lin Chen had cleared them early on and had already passed with full marks.

"Then I can't prove it, but I can swear."

"No need to swear, I just wanted to confirm."

Chen Ping and Min Huanbo looked at each other, thinking of the cultivation resources Lin Chen had consumed during this time. With so many resources, if it were other students, they would probably have gone straight to the Organ Cultivation Stage, but Lin Chen had only opened three acupoints.

Calculating this way, it was acceptable that Lin Chen could stand in front of a senior of the same realm.

"Lin Chen, you want Zhen Yue Pu, right? We will report this matter to the Academy Master. You just wait patiently at the special training ground for a day."

"Thank you, Yu Yu Jiaoxi Chen."

Lin Chen nodded in agreement. If the Academy Master stepped in, the probability of success would be much higher than him going to Huizhou Prefecture to beg the Huang family for the secret manual.

This was also the reason why he didn't hide his battle record on Mount Wudao.

He could enjoy the special training ground's cultivation resources without limit, wasn't it because of the Martial Dao talent he had displayed?

Hiding his battle record and going to the Huang family in Huizhou Prefecture to beg for a secret manual—that wasn't being cautious, that was being stupid!

……

……

That day.

Min Huanbo's figure left the special training ground. This matter was of great importance. After the decision of the six instructors, they didn't use a flying letter to inform the Academy Master in Raozhou Prefecture, but instead, he personally went to Raozhou Prefecture to inform the Academy Master.

That night!

In the Raozhou Prefecture Martial Administration Office, there was the sound of a teacup shattering.

An hour later, led by the Deputy Director of the Martial Administration Office, Xu Lun, six light cavalry left the office overnight, heading towards the Jiangnan Dao hub.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 161 =====