Chapter 203

Inside the iron vat.

Lin Chen's face was ferocious one moment, and his teeth were chattering and his whole body shaking the next.

The two strands of Flood Dragon True Blood in his body seemed to sense a threat, and they actually condensed into one, constantly colliding with the energy of the medicinal liquid within him.

Lin Chen's body was like a battlefield. Under the impact of these two energies, all his meridians experienced rupture and repair, his entire body's acupoints were constantly trembling, and even his bones were popping.

Hold on!

At this moment, Lin Chen's consciousness was not blurred.

This was different from the last time he absorbed Flood Dragon True Blood. Last time, the pain was so intense that his consciousness became blurred—this was the body's self-protection mechanism; a blurred consciousness would ignore the pain.

But at this moment, these two cold and hot energies made his consciousness incredibly clear.

Seeing him clenching his teeth so tightly that his lips were broken and blood was flowing out, his eyes wide open, Jia Nanzhu felt a sense of worry in his eyes.

"Senior Zhao, if it's not working, let's give up."

Two drops of Flood Dragon True Blood were too vast an energy for a martial artist who hadn't even reached the Organ Cultivation Stage.

If he were even slightly careless, Lin Chen's meridians might truly be completely destroyed.

Zhao Canghu was also a bit uncertain now. Although his late friend had told him before he died, based on the conclusions he reached after traveling to several countries, that a youth who followed this set of Qi and blood circulation methods could absorb at most three drops of True Blood.

But that was just theory and had never been truly practiced.

In the end, should they give up?

"Teacher, I... can hold on."

Just as Zhao Canghu was struggling, Lin Chen spoke. His voice was very soft, but both Zhao Canghu and Jia Nanzhu heard the firmness in Lin Chen's tone.

Hold on for a little longer!

A little longer will be enough!

My Qi and blood are still growing!

At this moment, all of Lin Chen's attention was focused on the panel before him, staring fixedly at the constantly rising Qi and blood value.

5.9 million, 6 million, 6.1 million...

Every bit of suffering he was enduring now would be transformed into his growing Qi and blood.

It was both pain and harvest.

In the end, there were only jumping numbers in Lin Chen's mind, and all his heart and soul were immersed in them.

One breath, two breaths...

A quarter of an hour...

Half an hour...

Seeing that Lin Chen's skin no longer showed the red and white transformation and feeling Lin Chen's long, steady breathing, Jia Nanzhu and Zhao Canghu finally felt relieved.

The two looked at each other, both seeing satisfaction in the other's eyes.

He succeeded!

Lin Chen had subdued these two drops of Flood Dragon True Blood. What he needed to do next was to slowly refine them and transform them into his own Qi and blood.

"Senior Zhao, let me take over from here."

Jia Nanzhu took the initiative to take over the task of watching over Lin Chen, not only because he was Lin Chen's teacher, but also because he noticed Zhao Canghu's exhaustion at this moment.

For this half hour, both his and Senior Zhao's minds had been extremely focused. Once they sensed even a hint of something wrong, they would immediately take action to seal Lin Chen's acupoints and force the Flood Dragon True Blood out of Lin Chen's body.

Senior Zhao was old, and his Qi and blood had already declined. Such high-intensity mental focus was no easier than fighting a ranked martial artist.

"Good."

Zhao Canghu did not decline; he was indeed a bit tired.

The decline of Qi and blood was an unavoidable thing for any martial artist.

Sitting on the rattan chair in the courtyard, Zhao Canghu looked at Lin Chen in the iron vat and felt emotional. Although Lin Chen was from a humble background, since he went to the special training ground, the cultivation resources he consumed were more than what ordinary martial family disciples could compare to.

It was also because this kid was promising; others, even if they had such an opportunity, would have to be able to endure it.

One hour later, the medicinal liquid in the iron vat had dropped by more than half. Except for some black residue at the bottom, the liquid had become clear, and Jia Nanzhu also let out a long sigh of relief.

The pain had been endured, and what followed was all harvest.

Lin Chen, who remained clear-headed, could now feel his body's Qi and blood constantly absorbing and refining the two drops of Flood Dragon True Blood that had landed in his dantian. Every time his Qi and blood circulated to his dantian, they would devour these two drops of Flood Dragon True Blood.

The Qi and blood in Lin Chen's body rolled toward the two drops of True Blood like a surging wave. When the Qi and blood receded, the two drops of True Blood were clearly smaller, and in contrast, the next wave of Qi and blood was even thicker.

Once, twice...

Lin Chen was also familiar with the process of refining Flood Dragon True Blood.

The process of Flood Dragon True Blood entering the body and destroying the meridians was also constantly expanding the toughness of the meridians and the upper limit of the Qi and blood they could withstand.

This was also the reason why his Qi and blood upper limit would constantly increase earlier.

This step was the hardest to endure, but once he endured it, what followed was absorbing and refining these two drops of Flood Dragon True Blood, transforming them into the growth of his own Qi and blood.

In the iron vat, the twenty-four acupoints around Lin Chen's body were now shining with light points. Twenty of them were as bright as fluorescent light, one was slightly dimmer, and one acupoint was changing between light and dark like a firefly.

Bang!

An explosive sound came, causing Jia Nanzhu and Zhao Canghu, who were resting on the side, to instantly look toward the iron vat.

The iron vat exploded!

Medicinal liquid splashed everywhere!

Lin Chen's feet landed directly on the ground, and the terror of the Qi and blood around his body actually formed a blood mist.

And just now, it was this blood mist that shot out from Lin Chen's body, causing the iron vat to explode.

"Good kid, the blood mist actually shattered the iron vat. This Qi and blood is probably not much different from the Demon Clan."

A bright light appeared in Zhao Canghu's old eyes. This was because Lin Chen's internal Qi and blood had grown too much, leading to an overflow of Qi and blood forming a blood mist. This situation was not uncommon in the martial arts circle.

Many martial artists took certain types of elixirs or medicinal herbs, causing their internal Qi and blood to surge far beyond their body's usual levels. The body could not bear so much Qi and blood, and this excess Qi and blood would shoot out from the pores all over the body, forming a blood mist.

But the blood mist shot out by this body instinct was mostly not very powerful, at most equivalent to a sudden rain. He was truly seeing someone like Lin Chen, who could explode an iron vat, for the first time.

"Lin Chen's Qi and blood are indeed rare in their thickness."

Jia Nanzhu also echoed, but after all, he was his own disciple, so he couldn't compare him to the Demon Clan.

"7 million Qi and blood upper limit, 6 million Qi and blood, over 5.75 million True Blood, how could it not be thick?"

Lin Chen, who had shattered the iron vat, naturally heard the words of the two elders. Looking at the Qi and blood value on his panel, he was also startled.

【Host: Lin Chen】

【Realm: Perfect Acupuncture Stage (23/24)】

【Qi and blood: 6,000,000/7,000,000】

【True Blood: 5,750,000】

It had grown by nearly 2 million in Qi and blood upper limit.

It was comparable to the total Qi and blood value of his previous dozen or so acupoints.

"Teacher, this disciple wants to head to Mount Wudao now."

Lin Chen was already impatient, but Jia Nanzhu smiled upon hearing this: "Don't be in a hurry, wait two more days!"

"Wait two more days?"

"Wait for news from Lord Kong."

In the Daliang Imperial Court, a voice suddenly emerged.

Some officials pointed out that the Martial Administration Force had made a wrong decision, and Lin Chen did not deserve the title of Daliang Martial Way Student Exemplar.

This news shocked the entire Daliang officialdom.

This was the third time since the founding of Daliang that officials had questioned a decision of the Martial Administration Force, and the last time was already a hundred years ago.

The news spread from the Imperial Court and soon reached the major martial arts families.

The Capital.

Shen Ze and a group of youths gathered in the garden.

"These people are overstepping their bounds. The affairs of the Martial Administration Force have always been independent; even the Imperial Court cannot intervene." Ye Feng was full of indignation. In his view, Lin Chen was completely worthy of the title of Daliang Martial Way Student Exemplar.

"The news I heard is that the official used the reason that Senior Pei was not rated as a Daliang Martial Way Student Exemplar back then to argue that Lin Chen is not qualified. Martial arts ultimately rely on strength, not family background."

Yue Lingxu spoke from the side; his father was also an official in the Imperial Court, so he had heard about the movements in the court.

"Lin Chen's achievements on Mount Wudao will clearly exceed Senior Pei's. He hasn't surpassed him yet only because his realm is not high enough. Once Lin Chen reaches twenty-four acupoints, he will definitely be able to leave his name on Mount Wudao. How can they say he's not qualified?"

Shen Ze looked puzzled. Lin Chen was able to leave his name at twenty acupoints, and he had experienced Lin Chen's strength himself—he couldn't even take a single palm strike, whereas Senior Pei's projection on Mount Wudao didn't give him that much pressure. "The twenty-three and twenty-four acupoint marks on Mount Wudao have already changed hands," another youth spoke up.

"Changed hands? Don't tell me that apart from Lin Chen, another terrifying genius has emerged in our Daliang who defeated Senior Pei on Mount Wudao."

Ye Feng looked incredulous. Senior Pei was known as the number one genius of Daliang in three hundred years, and now, after more than a decade, another Lin Chen had appeared, which was enough to shock him. If another genius appeared at the same time, he would truly find it hard to accept.

"It's not that they emerged from nowhere." The youth who spoke had a look of disdain in his eyes: "They returned from abroad."

"Returned from abroad? Possessing Demon Clan bloodline in their bodies?" Shen Ze looked angry: "How do these people have the face to climb Mount Wudao? Mount Wudao was established by the Founding Emperor; those with Demon Clan bloodline who enter get absolutely no rewards. What do these people want to do?"

The Daliang martial arts families were also divided into two factions.

And people like Shen Ze were all staunch anti-Demon Clan members.

"How stupid. There are people in the Imperial Court opposing it; what do you think these people want to do?"

Yue Lingxu mocked Shen Ze, and for once, Shen Ze didn't bicker with Yue Lingxu, but his expression sank: "These people want to stop Lin Chen from being selected as the Daliang Martial Way Exemplar? Does Lin Chen have a grudge against them?"

The few people in the garden fell silent at the same time. Shen Ze also reacted; Lin Chen definitely had no grudge against these people. Lin Chen hadn't even left Jiangnan Dao, so it was impossible for him to have offended them.

So, these people weren't targeting Lin Chen, which meant...

With a guess in his heart, Shen Ze's pupils shrank, and he stopped asking further. The level of struggle involved was too high; it wasn't something they, as juniors, could participate in.

Jiangnan Dao, Bu Wenbin frowned, and the Deputy Chief of the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo, Xu Lun, asked curiously: "My lord, is there something troubling you?"

"What else could it be? Lord Kong wants to select Lin Chen as the Daliang Martial Way Student Exemplar, but there is quite a bit of opposition in the Imperial Court. I fear this matter is difficult to handle."

Hearing this, Xu Lun smiled: "I thought my lord was worried about something else. This matter isn't simple. These opposing people use the excuse that Lin Chen's achievements haven't surpassed Pei Qingming's. As long as Lin Chen continues to leave his name on Mount Wudao, it will naturally leave these people with nothing to say."

"That is exactly what I am worried about. News from Linhu Village says that Lin Chen already reached twenty-three acupoints the day before yesterday. According to Lin Chen's usual practice of leaving his name on Mount Wudao upon breakthrough, two days have already passed, and there is still no name on Mount Wudao. I fear the last two marks will be difficult."

Bu Wenbin sighed. Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Xu Lun's eyes.

"Forget it, this matter is not for me to worry about. Let the Hall Chief and Lord Kong worry about it. Lin Chen being able to become the Jiangnan Dao Student Exemplar has already brought resource inclination to our Raozhou Prefecture; I shouldn't be greedy anymore."

Bu Wenbin sorted out his thoughts and then asked: "Is there anything happening in Raozhou Prefecture today?"

"The Martial Administration Offices in the counties under Raozhou Prefecture are all normal. The students of our Raozhou Prefecture are now in high spirits. According to the lists sent by the various Martial Administration Offices, the number of Organ Cultivation martial artists this year is more than thirty higher than last year."

"Haha, this is the motivational effect of Lin Chen, the Martial Way Student Exemplar."

Hearing this news, Bu Wenbin laughed loudly: "The departure of Lord Qiu really let me pick up a bargain."

"Does my lord have any other matters?"

"Lord Xu, go about your business. There is nothing urgent here."

"Then this subordinate will take his leave."

Xu Lun exited the main hall, but he didn't notice that Bu Wenbin's gaze remained fixed on his back, his eyes unfathomable.

One hour later, somewhere in Raozhou Prefecture, a snow pigeon slowly flew up and headed toward Jiangbei.

One day later!

The Jiangbei Martial Administration Hall Chief submitted a petition stating that Lin Chen should not become the Daliang Martial Way Student Exemplar.

This was the first official from the Martial Administration Force to openly oppose it!

A Third-Rank martial artist, and also a Hall Chief of a major route, the weight of his words could be imagined.

At the same time, the Prefect of Hedong Dao also submitted a petition to the Imperial Court, stating that selecting Lin Chen as the Daliang Martial Way Student Exemplar would likely be hard to convince the public.

Many youths in Hedong Dao were dissatisfied, and his desk was already piled with petitions of opposition from ranked martial artists.

The focus of these opposing words was one point: in terms of martial achievements, Lin Chen had not surpassed Pei Qingming. Since Pei Qingming had not been able to become the Daliang Martial Way Student Exemplar, by what right could Lin Chen become one?

If it was only because Lin Chen came from a humble background, wouldn't that be unfair to them, the family disciples?

In terms of merit, their family elders had once killed demons for Daliang; why should they be looked down upon instead?

What merit did Lin Chen's family have for Daliang?

His ancestors were fishermen for generations; did they catch a few more fish for Daliang?

Martial Administration Force!

Kong Qinglei was currently playing chess with an old man.

"Lin Lin Shixiong Kong, you are sitting firmly on the fishing platform."

"I wouldn't call it sitting firmly; I just find it interesting."

Kong Qinglei placed a piece, the board forming an encirclement, instantly capturing many of his opponent's white pieces.

"Xiong Hai of the Jiangbei Martial Administration Hall and Zhou Nan, the Prefect of Hedong Dao—these two are both disciples of that old gentleman, right?"

"Hmm. Although the old gentleman has retired, he is still very concerned about our Daliang."

The thin old man opposite him placed a piece, also capturing many black pieces.

"Before Daliang announces the existence of the Demon Clan, it is time to clean up a wave."

Kong Qinglei looked at his own pieces being swallowed up by more than half, but instead, a smile appeared on his face: "This old gentleman feels that since the old Marquis has left, no one can suppress him anymore."

"A dog under a stick. Back then, when the old Marquis entered the capital, he beat this old gentleman with a stick in front of all the officials. It seems he really didn't hit him wrong."

The thin old man looked at the black pieces on the board and took one of them out. Seeing this, Kong Qinglei's eyes narrowed.

"I have something to tell Lin Lin Shixiong Kong. Just yesterday, the Li family secretly submitted a petition. That old gentleman sent someone to deliver a portion of Python bloodline to the Li family."

Seeing Kong Qinglei silent, the thin old man couldn't help but say: "I know Lin Lin Shixiong thinks highly of Lin Chen, but the Li family has never made a mistake, and both Li Yuan and Li Zhe are geniuses of our Daliang martial arts. We can't just remove them because of this."

"The Li family is also interesting. First they reported the Huo family, and then they reported that old gentleman... Lin Lin Shidi is the Left Chancellor; I, as the Minister of the Martial Administration Force, cannot interfere in the affairs of the Imperial Court. Let Lin Lin Shidi handle it."

"Good. Then for this game, shall we call it a draw?"

Northern Frontier!

Xiao Yaojin came down from Mount Wudao and looked at his father: "Child failed to do it. The one who left his name at the twenty-four acupoint mark not only has Demon Clan bloodline in his body, but has absorbed at least thirty percent."

"Truly very good. In order not to let Lin Chen be selected as the Daliang Martial Way Exemplar, they are actually targeting a youth like this."

The Marquis of Zhenbei's face was livid. Xiao Yaojin lowered his head, blaming himself for being useless. If his strength were sufficient, how could he let these people be so arrogant.

"Jin'er, no need to blame yourself. Before our Daliang martial artists are ranked, they are inherently no match for those with Demon Clan bloodline. Once you are ranked and inherit your grandfather's spiritual weapon, killing these people will be like killing grass."

Seeing the dimness in his son's eyes, Xiao Pingyao offered a word of comfort.

"Father, do you think Lin Chen still has a chance?" Xiao Yaojin raised his head and looked at his father.

"It's very difficult!"

Just as Xiao Pingyao's words fell, hurried footsteps came from outside the tent.

"Marquis, Young Marquis... good news, Lin Chen of Jiangnan Dao has left his name again at the twenty-three acupoint mark on Mount Wudao."

The messenger was a personal guard of the Xiao family. Xiao Yaojin was stunned for a moment, then rushed out of the tent: "Uncle Qi, how do you know it's Lin Chen who left his name?"

The military camp had a nomination stone wall for Mount Wudao, but it wouldn't display the name of the person who left the record.

"The stone wall shows the three characters 'Jiangnan Dao', Young Marquis. Who else could it be besides him?"

The personal guard was full of smiles, and Xiao Yaojin also smiled. Indeed, coming from Jiangnan Dao, there was no one else besides Lin Chen.

"Father, if Lin Chen can leave his name at the twenty-four acupoint mark on Mount Wudao, I intend to go to Canglan Martial Academy."

The Demon-Slaying Martial Academy was founded by the first Marquis of Zhenbei. As the Young Marquis, Xiao Yaojin naturally entered the Demon-Slaying Martial Academy.

Hearing his son's words now, Xiao Pingyao did not oppose it, only responding with one word: "Allowed!"

Linhu Village.

Lin Chen came down from Mount Wudao and, facing his teacher and Senior Zhao who were staring fixedly at him, smiled brightly: "This disciple has successfully left his name!"

"Good!"

Jia Nanzhu's old face had a hint of excitement, and Zhao Canghu on the side was the same.

"Was this battle difficult?"

"The person who left the name couldn't take a single palm strike from this disciple; they were vulnerable."

As soon as Lin Chen said this, Zhao Canghu and Jia Nanzhu's pupils shrank. Zhao Canghu immediately asked: "If so, why did it take so long?"

From the moment Lin Chen took out the Martial Way Seal to enter Mount Wudao, the two had been waiting. From the time Lin Chen entered Mount Wudao until now, over a hundred breaths had passed.

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes: "This disciple left his name on Mount Wudao six times, breaking Senior Pei's record. Mount Wudao had an unexpected reward, which delayed some time."

PS: Didn't expect an update at this hour, right? The update was late yesterday, so I stayed up late to write a chapter today. With this attitude, I'm asking for monthly tickets and subscriptions.

(End of chapter)