Chapter 185: Canglan Martial Academy: Feel Free to State Your Conditions

A quarter of an hour later!

Lin Chen met with Song Zhixue, Ye Yuan, and Luo Wen all at once.

The three had already privately offered their conditions. By comparison, the conditions offered by the Capital Martial Academy were slightly higher, but not to a degree that satisfied Lin Chen.

"Lin Chen, how about it? Have you made a decision? No matter which one you choose, we won't be angry; after all, they are all martial academies of our Great Liang."

Ye Yuan spoke with a chuckle. He was the last to negotiate privately with Lin Chen. After stating his conditions, he had also subtly mentioned that the Qingyun Martial Academy had the most disciples who went on to become imperial officials. For someone like Lin Chen with an ordinary family background, he would certainly have to take the Martial Exam path. Joining Qingyun Martial Academy would make his future development in the imperial court much smoother.

After all, those who came from the same martial academy shared a bond of brotherhood, which could be helpful for looking out for one another in the court later on.

"Three Instructors, this junior has an idea I would like to discuss with you."

"What idea? Speak freely." Luo Wen replied with a smile; he couldn't let Ye Yuan be the only one building rapport with Lin Chen.

"Martial academies generally recruit disciples at the Organ Cultivation stage. This junior has yet to reach Organ Cultivation. Could it be possible to postpone this for a while, and wait until I have stepped into Organ Cultivation before we discuss it further?"

Lin Chen did not say he wanted to continue challenging the Martial Way Mountain for a name inscription; he only said he would wait until he reached Organ Cultivation.

But as soon as Ye Yuan and the others heard this, they knew what Lin Chen was thinking. He was not satisfied with the conditions offered by their three academies and wanted to wait until his strength improved to demand better treatment.

As for how he would demand it, it would naturally be by continuing to challenge the rankings on the Martial Way Mountain.

"Lin Chen, your request wouldn't normally be an issue, but the martial academy has its rules. If you wait until a student reaches Organ Cultivation, you can only enter the academy through the normal assessment path. The rewards you receive will depend on your performance in the academy's assessment."

Song Zhixue wore a troubled expression. This was a rule of the martial academies—not just one, but a rule shared by all four, including the Canglan Martial Academy.

For talented youths with potential, the academies could recruit in advance and offer certain conditions, provided the student was below the Organ Cultivation stage. If the youth had already reached Organ Cultivation, they could only follow the academy's normal assessment method.

"Lin Lin Shidi Song, this rule wasn't required by those above; it can still be flexible."

Jia Nanzhu spoke up. This rule was not required by the authorities above, but was an agreement reached internally by the martial academies to prevent overly fierce competition for talented students.

With this rule, if they wanted to recruit talented students, they had to do so before the other party reached Organ Cultivation, which tested their judgment even more. After all, the strength of the Open-Acupuncture stage was too low; if they spent a great price and the student's subsequent growth in the academy didn't meet expectations, the academy would become a laughingstock.

But more importantly, it was used to pressure students not to hold out for better offers. If the conditions were acceptable, they should agree; otherwise, once they reached Organ Cultivation, those conditions would be gone, and they would have to earn their treatment through assessment results, facing competition from other geniuses arriving to enroll.

This was a gentleman's agreement between the martial academies.

"Lord Jia, this martial academy rule has existed for over a hundred years; how can it be changed just like that?" Luo Wen shook his head.

"If this old man remembers correctly, Pei Qingming was an exception back then."

Hearing Jia Nanzhu mention Pei Qingming, the pupils of Luo Wen and the other two contracted. This man really dared to bring that up.

Who was Pei Qingming!

At thirty-two, he had already entered the Fourth Rank realm, just one step away from the Upper Rank.

He was someone who had the potential to step into the Upper Rank realm before the age of thirty-five.

He had inscribed his name on the Martial Way Mountain five times, and his name still remained at the twenty-fourth Open-Acupuncture spot on the Martial Way Mountain to this day.

He was recognized as the number one genius since the founding of Great Liang.

Back then, Pei Qingming had indeed caused their martial academies to scramble for him; the recruitment instructors had almost come to blows in front of the Pei residence.

To hell with the gentleman's agreement.

As long as they could snatch Pei Qingming, it meant the academy's future ranking would surely rise, and that was indeed the case. Pei Qingming eventually joined the Lingxiao Martial Academy, and under his leadership, that year's Lingxiao Martial Academy ranking surged to third among the Nine Nations.

Jia Nanzhu mentioning Pei Qingming—he really dared to think big.

They admitted Lin Chen had good potential, having inscribed his name on the Martial Way Mountain twice, but he was still a significant distance away from Pei Qingming.

Not to mention Pei Qingming's five inscriptions, the gold content of his inscription at the twenty-fourth Open-Acupuncture spot alone was enough to crush everything else.

The three remained silent, not refuting him; this was to give Lin Chen some face.

Seeing the three of them silent, Lin Chen pursed his lips and said, "Three seniors, this junior will be blunt: I still wish to continue challenging for a name inscription on the Martial Way Mountain."

Since these three felt he couldn't compare to Pei Qingming, Lin Chen simply laid his cards on the table. According to his teacher, when Pei Qingming had inscribed his name on the Martial Way Mountain four times, the major martial academies couldn't sit still, but the Pei residence simply invited the people from the major academies to rest in the guest courtyard, not giving them a chance to see Pei Qingming.

Even so, the recruitment instructors of the major academies had no complaints, simply because of one sentence from Pei Qingming: he was concentrating on challenging the twenty-fourth Open-Acupuncture spot on the Martial Way Mountain and could not meet with the instructors to avoid distraction. This one sentence kept these instructors residing in the Pei residence for over two months.

"Lin Chen, we can understand your thoughts, but rules are rules. If you don't accept now, once we leave, you will only be able to head to a martial academy on your own after you reach Organ Cultivation."

Ye Yuan spoke, his tone firm. Lin Chen looked toward the other two.

Luo Wen's expression was the same. Although Song Zhixue still wore a smile, he did not respond to the gaze Lin Chen cast his way.

The meaning of the three was clear: Lin Chen only had this one chance.

"Three seniors, even if I subsequently inscribe my name on the Martial Way Mountain, the martial academy will not recruit me in advance?" Lin Chen asked again to confirm.

"No," Ye Yuan answered affirmatively.

The atmosphere suddenly turned somewhat stiff.

"Why must you few Junior Brothers be so rigid?"

Jia Nanzhu spoke up. He had originally thought that at least one of these three academies would be willing to accept Lin Chen's request.

After all, it was only asking them to delay the recruitment time, not to increase the conditions right now. If Lin Chen failed to inscribe his name on the Martial Way Mountain later, there would naturally be no need to increase the treatment.

He hadn't expected that these three wouldn't even give this opportunity.

Jia Nanzhu understood. The reason the three martial academies were willing to make an exception for Pei Qingming back then was not just because of the potential Pei Qingming displayed, but also because Pei Qingming came from the Pei residence and, more importantly, from the Zhixing Dao.

The only one-character-named Dao in Great Liang, and also the most prosperous among the many Daos in Great Liang.

Not only in the number of martial artists but also in their strength, the Zhixing Dao completely crushed other Daos.

Daos like the Jiangnan Dao, even three of them combined, couldn't compare to one Zhixing Dao.

If Lin Chen also came from a prestigious family like the Pei residence, or from the Zhixing Dao, given the influence of the Zhixing Dao in the Great Liang martial arts circle, these three would definitely consider the request Lin Chen proposed. But it was precisely because Lin Chen's background was ordinary, and he was from the Jiangnan Dao.

The Jiangnan Dao couldn't even compare to the neighboring Jiangbei Dao. Even the martial artists of Wenzhou Prefecture longed for Jiangbei rather than Jiangnan. Among the major Daos, the Jiangnan Dao was the bottom-tier existence.

"Lord Jia, you are the former Deputy Director of the Jiangnan Dao Martial Administration Office; you should know the situation of our martial academies. How about this... I will add two hundred academy credits for Lin Chen."

Song Zhixue spoke, and Luo Wen and Ye Yuan on the side, seeing this, also offered the same conditions.

Adding another two hundred credits.

This was already the limit of what they could offer, and in their view, it was already enough.

Lin Chen looked toward his teacher. He was truly hesitant now, unsure whether he should agree to this.

Jia Nanzhu was also pondering in his heart. He naturally wouldn't tell Lin Chen the reason why the three martial academies were so firm; there was no need to let Lin Chen harbor resentment toward the three academies.

Some things would naturally be understood once Lin Chen grew to a certain height.

"How about this, we will give you another quarter of an hour."

Luo Wen feigned generosity. He saw that Lin Chen was somewhat wavering, and he believed the conditions he offered were the best of the three. Lin Chen would surely choose the Capital Martial Academy, so he still needed to leave a good impression on Lin Chen to avoid harboring resentment toward the academy.

"Good, then I'll trouble the three Junior Brothers to wait a moment longer..."

Before Jia Nanzhu could finish his sentence, his expression turned stern. His aura erupted, and he stepped in front of Lin Chen. The aura he radiated caused the expressions of Luo Wen and the others to change involuntarily. What was the meaning of this?

Was he trying to use his strength to pressure them?

But soon they knew what had happened, and they also turned their heads one after another, looking at the figure falling rapidly from the sky, their eyes filled with caution.

"Do not misunderstand, this one is Liu Ru, an instructor from the Canglan Martial Academy!"

In mid-air, the newcomer announced his identity. The aura on Jia Nanzhu vanished, and he returned to Lin Chen's left side.

"Lord Jia, please don't take offense. I was in a hurry to get here, so I was a bit rushed."

Liu Ru's face was somewhat flushed. Even as a Ranked martial artist, in order to arrive at Poyang County as quickly as possible, he had abandoned his horse and used his own footwork, arriving here in one hour; his own consumption was also immense.

After explaining, Liu Ru looked at Lin Chen: "You must be Lin Chen, right? Not bad, a man of talent. No wonder that little girl from the Jiang family keeps praising you."

Lin Chen looked at this instructor from the Canglan Martial Academy with some confusion. Hearing the other party's words, he thought for a moment and knew that the "little girl from the Jiang family" the other party spoke of must refer to Jiang Jiang Shijie.

"Before I came to you, Lin Chen, I went to Raozhou Prefecture and recruited that little girl Jiang Qing to our Canglan Martial Academy, which is why I was delayed for some time. Jiang Qing's evaluation of you is very high indeed."

Luo Wen and the other two on the side, hearing Liu Ru's words, secretly thought that things were not looking good. This fellow Liu Ru had come prepared.

They didn't know who Jiang Qing was, but for Liu Ru to repeatedly mention her in front of Lin Chen, and since she was also a new disciple recruited by Canglan Martial Academy this year, she must be in the same cohort as Lin Chen. Their relationship was likely not ordinary.

"Jiang Jiang Shijie is too kind; this junior is nothing special." Lin Chen replied with a polite, humble phrase.

"Excessive humility is pride." Liu Ru raised his hand, stopping Lin Chen's pleasantries, his gaze sweeping over Ye Yuan and the other two, feeling fortunate that he had arrived at the right time.

Once Lin Chen wrote his name on the disciple letter of any of these three academies, there would be nothing left for him to do.

"Lin Chen, I won't beat around the bush. I'll tell you straight: our Canglan Martial Academy values you highly. This trip to Raozhou Prefecture to recruit Jiang Qing was precisely because we knew you and Jiang Qing had a good relationship, so we specifically recruited Jiang Qing into the academy as well. Otherwise, based on Jiang Qing's strength, she is still some distance away from the requirements for our Canglan Martial Academy's active recruitment."

When Liu Ru said this, his face was full of sincerity. If the disciple from Canglan Martial Academy who had accompanied him heard this scene, his jaw would likely drop.

What did he mean by recruiting Jiang Qing for Lin Chen's sake?

It was clearly because Jiang Qing's father had come out of the Canglan Martial Academy. Long before they set off, the academy had already decided to recruit Jiang Qing.

Unfortunately, among those present, Lin Chen didn't know this, Ye Yuan and the other two didn't know this, and the only one who did, Jia Nanzhu, didn't intend to expose this Yu Yu Jiaoxi Liu.

Regardless, when this Yu Yu Jiaoxi Liu said these words, it meant that the Canglan Martial Academy truly valued Lin Chen highly, even going so far as to lie through his teeth to win Lin Chen's favor.

Shameless!

Ye Yuan and the other two looked at Liu Ru with anger. The Canglan Martial Academy had truly fallen to use such tactics just to recruit Lin Chen.

To recruit one disciple, they even recruited the woman that disciple had feelings for; such methods were too shameless.

"I will make a promise to you here, Lin Chen: any conditions the other martial academies have given you, our Canglan Martial Academy can also give you. If you have any other requirements, feel free to state them!"

Liu Ru looked at Lin Chen with a hopeful smile. Lin Chen also felt somewhat moved in his heart. He felt the sincerity of the Canglan Martial Academy; at least compared to the three academies like Qingyun, Canglan Martial Academy could be considered full of sincerity.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi Liu, this junior has only one request, which is to wait a little longer. This junior still wishes to continue challenging the Martial Way Mountain."

Hearing this request from Lin Chen, Liu Ru had a look of surprise on his face, and even fell silent for a moment.

Seeing Liu Ru's expression, Ye Yuan and the other two laughed. So much for your big talk just now; what now? Do you dare to agree to Lin Chen's request?

What the three didn't know was that Liu Ru was already laughing in his heart.

If Jiang Qing's praise of Lin Chen, including the introduction of many of Lin Chen's deeds, were somewhat exaggerated due to her relationship with Lin Chen, then hearing Lin Chen's request now, he was instead certain that what Jiang Qing said must be true.

If Lin Chen didn't have this confidence, he would never have proposed such a request.

On the way here, he had already anticipated how he should respond if Lin Chen proposed such a request.

The disappearance of his smile and his feigned silence were just an act for the three fellows on the side.

Recruitment is not only a test of judgment but also involves scheming against other families.

Liu Ru's expression changed constantly: frowning one moment, relaxing the next, his demeanor filled with hesitation mixed with thought, and thought mixed with doubt...

After a long while, Liu Ru gritted his teeth: "This instructor can agree to your request!"

"Liu Ru, have you gone mad!"

"Liu Ru, do you want to violate the martial academy agreement?"

As soon as Liu Ru said this, before Lin Chen could respond, Ye Yuan and the other two couldn't help but speak up first.

The martial academy agreement was a rule established by the four martial academies. Whoever dared not to comply would surely be denounced by the other three.

"What agreement? How come I don't know of such an agreement? Was it required by the imperial court, or was it stipulated in our martial academy joint regulations?"

Regarding the glares from Ye Yuan and the other two, Liu Ru didn't care at all. This agreement was just a private understanding between the four academies; it hadn't been recognized by the imperial court, nor was it recorded in the joint regulations of the Nine Nations' martial academies.

Ignoring the fiery glares of the three, Liu Ru looked at Lin Chen: "This instructor can agree. The purpose of our Canglan Martial Academy is to cultivate martial arts geniuses for our Great Liang. Since you have the heart to challenge the Martial Way Mountain, there is no reason for the academy not to support you."

"Thank you, Yu Yu Jiaoxi Liu."

Lin Chen cupped his hands. At this moment, he had already made up his mind. As long as the final conditions offered by the Canglan Martial Academy were not bad, he was definitely going to this Canglan Martial Academy.

"Don't thank me yet. However, the academy can wait for you, and can even increase the conditions based on the number of times you inscribe your name on the Martial Way Mountain." Liu Ru waved his hand and said with a chuckle: "But the academy also has one requirement: you must first sign the disciple letter of the academy. You can rest assured about the conditions... our Canglan Martial Academy will absolutely not renege on the debt because you signed it."

"Good, I am willing to sign!"

This time Lin Chen did not hesitate, and didn't even ask for his teacher's opinion.

Qingyun Martial Academy, Capital Martial Academy, and Lingxiao Martial Academy were using the fact that they were the stronger side to pressure him into bowing his head; how could he not see that?

Not to mention the exaggerated words about dying for one who appreciates you, but the sincerity of the Canglan Martial Academy was right there. Even if the subsequent resources added were not much, it was still above those three.

"Choosing Canglan Martial Academy will definitely not be a mistake."

Hearing Lin Chen agree, Liu Ru directly took out the disciple letter. Ye Yuan and the other two on the side saw this and were about to speak to stop it, but Jia Nanzhu's aura erupted once again, locking onto the three.

"Three Junior Brothers, you've had a hard journey from afar; why not go to Poyang County to rest first."

Under Jia Nanzhu's aura lock, Ye Yuan and the other two could only swallow the words that reached their lips. They were only recruitment instructors for the martial academies and were only at the Seventh Rank realm, far inferior in strength to Jia Nanzhu.

This Lord Jia was warning them that they were not allowed to interrupt the signing between Lin Chen and the Canglan Martial Academy.

Unless what they wanted to say right now was a decision to increase Lin Chen's treatment, otherwise this Lord Jia would definitely make them suffer some secret losses.

"Since that is the case, the three of us take our leave."

In the end, Ye Yuan and the other two left the back mountain with grim faces. By the time they walked out of the back mountain area, the expressions of all three were incomparably ugly.

"No wonder the Jiangnan Dao has been at the bottom of martial arts for many years. With a dignified Deputy Director of the Martial Administration Office having such a style, one can imagine what these students are like." Luo Wen gave a cold snort, and this time Ye Yuan unusually didn't bicker with Luo Wen, also angered by Jia Nanzhu's actions just now.

"The Canglan Martial Academy is afraid that they think this Lin Chen is the second Lin Lin Shidi Pei. Back then, in the competition for Lin Lin Shidi Pei, the Canglan Martial Academy lost. This time they are thinking of winning it back, but a genius like Lin Lin Shidi Pei is not so easily encountered."

Song Zhixue spoke gloomily. Back then, in the competition for Lin Lin Shidi Pei, the conditions offered by the Canglan Martial Academy were not inferior to their Lingxiao Martial Academy, but Lin Lin Shidi Pei eventually chose the Lingxiao Martial Academy, which had always been a pain for the Canglan Martial Academy, and they were still brooding over it to this day.

It was just that comparing Lin Chen to Lin Lin Shidi Pei, the Canglan Martial Academy really dared to think big.

PS: Still missing the last hundred-plus monthly tickets, fifteen minutes left, can it be reached?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 186 =====