Chapter 184

Linhu Village!

Jia Nanzhu brought Lin Chen to personally receive the people from these three martial academies.

When they saw that Jia Nanzhu was also in Linhu Village, the instructors of the three martial academies felt somewhat helpless.

The reason they didn't disturb the Raozhou Prefecture Wuzheng Office, and didn't even go to Poyang County, but came directly to Linhu Village to find Lin Chen, was because they knew Lin Chen had returned to Linhu Village and wanted to strike first.

As recruitment instructors for martial academies, they had dealt with the Wuzheng Offices of various paths, and the Wuzheng Offices of each path would recommend some excellent seedlings to the martial academies.

However, the martial academies would not accept them just because of the Wuzheng Office's recommendation, but would give them the qualification to participate in the academy's entrance examination based on the information provided by the Wuzheng Office if the student's conditions met the standards.

In addition to the Wuzheng Office's recommendation, students who believed their strength met the standards could also go to the martial academy to sign up for the examination themselves, but the possibility of the latter passing was not high.

Generally, the Wuzheng Offices of various paths wished that students could enter the martial academies, and even pushed those who were a bit worse to the martial academies. Those that even the paths didn't push must be far from the requirements of the martial academies.

Only in a few cases would the martial academies take the initiative to recruit, and leaving a name on Mount Wudao was one of them.

"Lord Jia, there's no need for this, right? Our Lingxiao Martial Academy has taken good care of your Jiangnan Dao in the past."

Song Zhixue looked at Jia Nanzhu, feeling dissatisfied with Jia Nanzhu's request for their three martial academies to talk one by one.

In the past, your Jiangnan Dao Wuzheng Office didn't have this attitude. When recommending students to our martial academies, the words were so nice, almost explicitly saying that our Jiangnan Dao Wuzheng Office was your martial academy's back garden, and whatever students you wanted, our Wuzheng Office would send them over immediately.

But now that it was really their turn to want them, it was a different face.

It wasn't the agreed-upon back garden; why did they have to set conditions for our martial academy, and why did they have to talk privately one by one?

Jia Nanzhu's expression remained unchanged. Times change.

In the past, there was no other way. Jiangnan Dao didn't produce too excellent students, so when recommending students to major martial academies, they had to say some nice things.

The words "back garden" were not only said to Lingxiao Martial Academy, but also to Qingyun Martial Academy, Capital Martial Academy, and Canglan Martial Academy.

It's just that these words were just polite talk. After saying so many nice things, he didn't see these martial academies giving special care to Jiangnan Dao. Those who could be recruited into the martial academies were still because they passed the examination.

"Lord Jia, doing this will make our martial academy have a bad impression of Jiangnan Dao." The instructor of Qingyun Martial Academy also followed up with pressure.

Jia Nanzhu was unmoved, his old face smiling without warmth: "Did Qingyun Martial Academy have a good impression of my Jiangnan Dao before? How do I remember that last year our Jiangnan Dao Wuzheng Office recommended three students to Qingyun Martial Academy, and Qingyun Martial Academy didn't accept a single one?"

Ye Yuan was stunned by Jia Nanzhu's words. Naturally, the martial academy wouldn't give special care to Jiangnan Dao because of some nice words spoken by Jiangnan Dao.

Martial academies recruit students based solely on the students' own strength.

Of course, there were a few paths that were relatively special, and the martial academies would give some preferential treatment, because the students in these paths had higher strength.

"Our Jiangnan Dao is not the capital, and can't compare to paths like Hedong and Jiangbei. Now that we have finally produced a Lin Chen, we naturally have to strive for the greatest benefits for him. If you feel it's inappropriate, you might as well leave now."

Jia Nanzhu didn't take the pressure from the three martial academies to heart at all, unless these three martial academies didn't want Lin Chen.

Would a genius who left his name on Mount Wudao be abandoned by the martial academies?

There is competition between prefectures within Jiangnan Dao, and in Daliang, except for the Demon-Slaying Martial Academy, the competition among the other four martial academies is also very fierce. No martial academy would not want a student like Lin Chen who left his name on Mount Wudao.

In the past, the initiative was in the hands of the martial academies; now the initiative was in Lin Chen's hands. Jia Nanzhu naturally wouldn't be polite to these people.

Even if the talk ended unhappily, it didn't matter. He no longer represented Jiangnan Dao; he was just acting as Lin Chen's teacher to strive for benefits for Lin Chen.

Hearing Jia Nanzhu's direct words, Ye Yuan really wanted to just leave. This Jiangnan Dao produced a Lin Chen and treated him like a treasure!

If it were any other path, even if they produced someone who left their name on Mount Wudao, they wouldn't make such a rude request for their three martial academies to privately give conditions. It was all open competition, where everyone knew the conditions given by other martial academies and then decided whether to add some treatment.

Giving conditions privately meant that other families didn't know what kind of treatment their opponents had offered. In order to compete for students, they would look higher, and the initiative was completely out of their hands.

"Lord Jia, Lin Chen's martial arts potential is indeed not bad, but he is still only in the Acupuncture-Opening Stage, and potential is just potential. It's better to stop while you're ahead."

Ye Yuan spoke again. Although the two people beside Song Zhixue didn't speak, not speaking meant they had the same thoughts as Ye Yuan.

"Alas, since the three of you can't accept it, then forget it. Let's wait for the people from Canglan Martial Academy to come, and then I will talk to them." Jia Nanzhu sighed lightly: "It was indeed my wishful thinking. Lin Chen only left his name on Mount Wudao twice, which doesn't deserve such treatment."

Swish!

The pupils of Ye Yuan and the other two shrank, staring at Jia Nanzhu: "Lord Jia, is what you said true?"

Leaving a name on Mount Wudao once and leaving a name twice are completely different.

Many genius teenagers in Daliang might be able to leave their names on Mount Wudao once after racking their brains. As far as they know, there are many martial arts genius teenagers preparing to challenge the record after the twentieth acupuncture point of the Acupuncture-Opening Stage.

But... these genius teenagers can only leave their names on Mount Wudao once.

Leaving a name once proves that their talent is enough. If they want to continue leaving names, they have to polish for a long time at the next Acupuncture-Opening Stage, for months or even half a year...

Not to mention whether they can succeed, even if they can, the time cost and resources consumed are huge.

Martial arts still rely on strength. Potential is ultimately just potential.

The Acupuncture-Opening Stage is ultimately too low!

Those who can leave their names on Mount Wudao multiple times are not geniuses who rack their brains specifically to leave their names on Mount Wudao. These students who can leave their names multiple times are not suppressing their realm breakthrough specifically for the sake of leaving their names, but their strength far exceeds the same realm, and they have already been able to crush others. It is natural for them to succeed in leaving their names after a breakthrough.

Leaving a name on Mount Wudao twice—such a genius only appears in Daliang once every ten years, and in a path, it might be once every few decades.

We must have such a genius!

Ye Yuan and the other two looked at each other, changing from tacit pressure to mutual precaution.

Jia Nanzhu looked at the change in the three people's eyes and was not surprised at all. If Lin Chen only left his name on Mount Wudao once, asking these three martial academies to privately give conditions would likely make them unhappy. But if Lin Chen left his name twice, there would be no problem at all.

The competition among martial academies is even fiercer than the competition among prefectures and paths.

Fierce competition makes martial academies have a strong desire for genius students. The genius students here are not the genius students of various paths, but geniuses who are hard to produce in the entire Daliang for several years.

Lin Chen is precisely this kind of genius.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Since Lord Jia said so, then let's do as Lord Jia said. My Qingyun Martial Academy will go first."

Ye Yuan's attitude changed very quickly, and a smile appeared on his face, which was completely different from the gloomy and threatening look a few seconds ago.

"Qingyun Martial Academy is afraid it can't be the first."

Jia Nanzhu shook his head. Seeing Ye Yuan's confused eyes, he explained: "I naturally don't have any opinions about Qingyun Martial Academy, but I'm afraid Lin Chen's impression of Qingyun Martial Academy is not good."

"Lin Chen has a bad impression of our Qingyun Martial Academy?" Ye Yuan was surprised. With Lin Chen's family background, before he came, he shouldn't have dealt with Qingyun Martial Academy, and might not even know of the existence of martial academies.

"A few days ago, Lin Chen met two disciples of Qingyun Martial Academy..."

Jia Nanzhu didn't hide it and repeated the situation where Lin Chen met the disciples of Qingyun Martial Academy.

"Bastard, who is impersonating a disciple of our Qingyun Martial Academy!"

Ye Yuan was furious. As soon as he heard the situation, he knew that someone must be impersonating a disciple of Qingyun Martial Academy.

"Lord Jia, you know the process of our Qingyun Martial Academy recruiting disciples. It is absolutely impossible to arrange for two disciples to come. It must have been arranged by someone with ulterior motives, with the purpose of tarnishing the image of our Qingyun Martial Academy in Lin Chen's heart."

After speaking, Ye Yuan looked directly at the instructor of the Capital Martial Academy beside him.

"Why look at me? My Capital Martial Academy wouldn't do this. Who can guarantee that it isn't your Qingyun Martial Academy's disciples who are too arrogant? It's not just one or two days that your Qingyun Martial Academy's disciples have been looking down on others."

Luo Wen glared back unceremoniously, full of confidence. He didn't do this, but no matter who did it, as long as it disgusted Qingyun Martial Academy, he would only clap and say: Well done!

"Lin Lin Shidi Ye, I naturally know that Qingyun Martial Academy wouldn't do such a thing. I have also analyzed it with Lin Chen, but it ultimately made Lin Chen have a somewhat bad impression of Qingyun Martial Academy. Let these two junior brothers meet Lin Chen first, and then you can contact Lin Chen, Lin Lin Shidi Ye."

Jia Nanzhu could actually guess that someone was impersonating a disciple of Qingyun Martial Academy. He didn't care who was impersonating. Using this matter to put some pressure on Lin Lin Shidi Ye and letting the other party add more to the conditions given later was his goal.

As for who impersonated the disciple of Qingyun Martial Academy, let Qingyun Martial Academy investigate it themselves. "Two, who comes first!"

Facing Jia Nanzhu's gaze, Luo Wen and Song Zhixue pondered instead.

Originally, they thought Lin Chen left his name on Mount Wudao once, but now the information was wrong. Lin Chen left his name on Mount Wudao twice, so the treatment discussed before coming was a bit inappropriate. Both of them were also thinking about what kind of treatment they should offer Lin Chen.

"I'll go first."

A few seconds later, Song Zhixue spoke first.

"Lin Lin Shidi Luo, please!"

Jia Nanzhu smiled and took Song Zhixue into the back mountain, leaving Luo Wen and Ye Yuan behind.

Qingyun Martial Academy and Capital Martial Academy were at odds. Letting these two stay here, they would never discuss with each other what conditions to give Lin Chen or reach an alliance.

To put it bluntly, even if the two said they wanted to reach an alliance and confirmed that the conditions and treatment would not change, I'm afraid they would still be suspicious in their hearts whether the other party was deliberately setting a trap for them.

There is no trust between these two martial academies.

"Lin Chen, this is Yu Yu Jiaoxi Song from Lingxiao Martial Academy."

In the back mountain, Lin Chen stood there. Hearing his teacher's words, he immediately bowed.

Song Zhixue looked at Lin Chen, and there was satisfaction in his eyes. Although Lin Chen's face was not as fair as those children of the powerful, the scorching sun poured down through the mottled trees and landed on Lin Chen's skin, and his skin looked like semi-transparent amber.

As he stood, his eyes were spirited, his breathing was long, and his muscles and bones were trembling slightly.

If it were an ordinary martial artist, they would only think that Lin Chen's Qi and blood were vigorous and his spirit was high. But Song Zhixue, as a recruitment instructor for Lingxiao Martial Academy, had seen many geniuses and knew very clearly that Lin Chen's state was a perfect fit between his techniques and his Qi and blood.

No wonder, no wonder he could leave his name on Mount Wudao twice.

"Lin Chen, I won't talk nonsense. Regarding our Lingxiao Martial Academy, I think Lord Jia has already introduced it to you. I'll just say it directly: if you join our Lingxiao Martial Academy, you can get 1,000 credits after entering the academy. In addition, according to a series of assessment requirements of the academy, as long as you can achieve them, the credits and rewards given will be doubled."

1,000 credits!

This was what Song Zhixue had discussed with the high-level officials of the academy before coming, and it was also the treatment Lingxiao Academy had given to geniuses who left their names on Mount Wudao in the past. Now that Lin Chen had left his name on Mount Wudao twice, he had increased the rewards for Lin Chen after completing the academy's assessments.

Don't underestimate this doubling of rewards. The academy has a huge number of assessments for disciples. Every time an assessment meets the standard, cultivation resources will be given as rewards, and these resources are extremely precious.

Lin Chen's expression remained unchanged, and he said lightly: "Thank you, Yu Yu Jiaoxi Song, for your high regard for this junior."

These words meant he hadn't agreed.

Before the three martial academies arrived, his teacher had already told him the treatment that major martial academies might give. 1,000 credits were within his expectations. The conditions given by Lingxiao Martial Academy could be said to have no surprises.

"Lin Chen, our Lingxiao Martial Academy is located in Lingxiao City. The martial arts atmosphere in Lingxiao City cannot be compared to other places. In Lingxiao City, you can fight with geniuses from various countries."

Seeing that Lin Chen was unmoved, Song Zhixue couldn't help but add!

It is true that the most important city in Daliang is the capital, but in terms of the widest territory, it belongs to Lingxiao City. One Lingxiao City is worth one path.

And in the previous dynasty, and even the dynasty before that, Lingxiao City had many people from other countries. It can be said that in terms of prosperity, Lingxiao City is even above the capital.

"This junior will consider it carefully."

Lin Chen still didn't give an easy answer. Not to mention that he wasn't very surprised by the conditions offered by Lingxiao Martial Academy, even if he were surprised, he wouldn't agree so quickly.

He still understood the principle of comparing three shops. No matter what, he had to hear the conditions offered by Qingyun Martial Academy and Capital Martial Academy.

"Good."

Song Zhixue also understood this principle and didn't force Lin Chen to give an answer now. Jia Nanzhu smiled: "Lin Lin Shidi Song, please go to the side to drink tea. Old Village Chief, please trouble you to take care of this distinguished guest."

"Don't worry, Yu Yu Jiaoxi Jia, leave it to me, the old man."

Zhao Canghu didn't know Jia Nanzhu's identity, but as the village chief, he naturally knew that there was one more person in the village, and Lin Chen only said it was his teacher, so Zhao Canghu called him Yu Yu Jiaoxi.

Regarding what martial academy, Zhao Canghu didn't know either, it was just that Yu Yu Jiaoxi Jia told him today that he would need help taking care of several distinguished guests later.

Jia Nanzhu didn't tell Zhao Canghu his identity, nor did he talk about the martial academy, because although this little old man Zhao Canghu was very shrewd, he was ultimately just an ordinary old man. If he knew that the martial academy represented status and knew the strength of the martial academy instructor, he would appear restrained instead.

Watching the village chief lead this Yu Yu Jiaoxi Song away, Lin Chen said: "Yu Yu Jiaoxi, the conditions offered by Lingxiao Martial Academy are the same as you estimated."

"The martial academy has existed for so many years, what geniuses haven't they seen? They have long had a set of standard recruitment conditions." Jia Nanzhu stroked his beard and didn't feel surprised at all.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi, if so, can this disciple wait for a period of time? If I leave my name on Mount Wudao a few more times, will these martial academies offer better conditions?"

Leaving a name twice is better than once, but what about three, four, or more times?

Jia Nanzhu pondered. If it could be delayed, it would naturally be better, but he was afraid that the martial academies wouldn't be willing.

To put it bluntly, these martial academies take the initiative to recruit students because they want to take advantage and strike first. Otherwise, they could completely wait until Lin Chen reaches Organ Cultivation before coming.

"Listen to the conditions offered by Qingyun Martial Academy and Capital Martial Academy first, then make a choice."

"Good."

Poyang County Path!

At this moment, two horses were galloping wildly toward the town near the river.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi, there's no need to be so anxious."

"I have to be anxious. That Xiao Xiao Shimei of yours would never talk nonsense. Such a good seedling cannot be snatched away by the other three martial academies first."

Liu Ru shook his head. Even now, the reply he got when he asked the little girl from the Jiang family about Lin Chen still echoed in his mind.

"Lin Lin Shidi Lin has the possibility of breaking through all subsequent realms of Mount Wudao. It's not a sliver of possibility, but a very high possibility!"

To be honest, when he first heard such an evaluation from the little girl of the Jiang family, he still had some doubts in his heart. But when he learned that Jiangnan Dao had produced a second student who left his name on Mount Wudao, and it was very likely Lin Chen, the doubts in his heart were cleared away by half.

Lin Chen is now at the nineteenth acupuncture point. If he continues to leave his name on Mount Wudao later, even if he can't defeat the one at the twenty-fourth acupuncture point, that would still be leaving his name six times.

Leaving his name six times—no one in the entire Daliang has done this in a hundred years!

Even that person only left his name five times back then.

"But Yu Yu Jiaoxi, do you have such authority?"

The young man on the side couldn't help but say what was in his heart. After all, this was just the word of that Xiao Xiao Shimei Jiang. Could it be that because of this, the martial academy had to offer Lin Chen unprecedented treatment?

Not to mention whether the instructor had this power, even if he did, what if something went wrong and the martial academy held him accountable?

"You idiot, you don't know anything. The martial academy's recruitment now is to pick up leaks. I, the instructor, just won't pick up this leak."

Liu Ru knew in his heart that their martial academy still had advantages compared to these students. Whenever genius students were born, everyone tacitly agreed to come to recruit in advance, just to put pressure on the student and take the student down at the lowest cost.

But this doesn't work on a true super genius. If Lin Chen is really such a super genius, he doesn't need to offer conditions; it's enough to let Lin Chen see the sincerity of the martial academy.

PS: Sorry, my wife suspected her amniotic fluid was leaking in the early hours of last night, so I stayed in the hospital for a day. The hospital examination was suspicious but not confirmed. Friends who have had children know what it means for amniotic fluid to leak. Jiudeng stayed in the hospital with her for a day and only started typing at four o'clock when I got home. Now I will continue to write the second chapter. There are still 500 monthly tickets to 9,000. Does everyone still have any?

(End of chapter)