Chapter 210: Lin Chen: Seniors, Senior Brothers, and Ants (Second Update)

The martial arts arena!

Jiang Duanchao and Chu Ming stepped back, while Lin Chen and Jiang Cheng stepped up.

Zhuang Min, Shu Suwan, and the others stood to the side, their faces showing no signs of worry. With Jiang Duanchao and Chu Ming present, even if Lin Chen and Jiang Cheng truly got carried away, they could intervene immediately.

"Brother Cheng will definitely win."

Chu Xi clenched her fists and muttered softly. Jiang Qing glanced at Chu Xi but did not speak to refute her.

There was no need to refute.

She believed in Lin Shidi's strength.

"Lin Shidi, please!"

Jiang Cheng smiled as he looked at Lin Chen. Lin Chen understood in his heart that this man would not strike first; after all, having broken through to the Organ Cultivation Stage a step ahead of him, striking first would seem lacking in grace.

"Jiang Shixiong, please enlighten me."

Lin Chen nodded. While his voice still lingered in the air, his figure had already pierced through the air like an arrow released from a bowstring. The moment Lin Chen moved, Jiang Cheng's expression turned serious; the knotted muscles on his arms suddenly tightened, his gaze locked firmly ahead.

Unfortunately, Lin Chen's speed was even faster than he had imagined, especially as he closed the distance, his figure vanishing like a ghost.

"Not good!"

Jiang Cheng's pupils shrank, but his reaction was extremely fast. Though he couldn't locate Lin Chen's figure, he immediately arched his body, shifted to the left, and simultaneously threw a punch toward the front-left.

Bang!

Lin Chen appeared exactly to Jiang Cheng's left. As fist and palm collided, a cloud of dust kicked up from the bluestone floor, and Jiang Cheng stumbled back three steps.

"Such fast movement technique!"

Chu Ming, who was watching the battle, had a look of surprise in his eyes. He wasn't surprised that Lin Chen's strength was on par with Jiang Cheng's—having left his name on Mount Wudao seven times, Lin Chen was naturally much stronger than the average Organ Cultivation practitioner after entering that stage. What surprised him was Lin Chen's movement technique.

This speed of movement didn't seem like something achievable just after stepping into the Organ Cultivation Stage, yet he could still shift his position and change direction at such high speed.

"It's just alright."

Jiang Duanchao remained calm. Chu Ming curled his lips—just alright? Even you didn't have this speed back in the day.

But there was no helping it; since Lin Chen might be Jiang Duanchao's future son-in-law, a father-in-law could say whatever he pleased.

On the arena!

Lin Chen was also somewhat surprised by Jiang Cheng's reaction, being able to capture his change in position so precisely. This was a movement technique he had evolved after comprehending the Gale Leg.

Indeed, one cannot underestimate the people of the world.

Compared to Lin Chen's surprise, Jiang Cheng was currently shocked.

That last move—he hadn't actually discovered Lin Chen appearing on the left. He just hadn't been sure where Lin Chen was and had chosen a direction to move at random; it was purely blind luck that he had hit the mark.

Lin Chen's speed shocked him, but Lin Chen's strength made him feel even more incredulous.

That collision had made the web between his thumb and index finger go numb. One had to know he had been in the Organ Cultivation Stage for two months and had completely refined his heart, whereas Lin Chen had only just stepped into the Organ Cultivation Stage; he likely hadn't even finished refining his heart.

"It seems I cannot hold back my strength, or I might flip the boat."

Lin Chen's figure rose again, his Wind and Cloud Palm executed with full force. The martial arts arena was filled with the sounds of wind and thunder, and everyone saw the sky full of palm shadows surrounding Jiang Cheng.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

In just a few breaths, the two had exchanged blows several times. Each time, Jiang Cheng retreated a few steps, the bluestone beneath his feet shattering and kicking up a spray of gravel.

Throughout the entire process, facing Lin Chen's ghostly movement and terrifying palm power, Jiang Cheng had no power to counterattack and could only defend passively.

"Jiang Cheng has lost."

Chu Ming sighed. By now, Jiang Cheng couldn't even touch Lin Chen's body, and he was inferior to Lin Chen in both speed and strength. There was no need for this battle to continue.

"Jiang Duanchao, you've found a good son-in-law."

"This kid is just average; he's still far from meeting the requirements to be my son-in-law."

As soon as Jiang Duanchao said this, Chu Ming fell silent instantly. He felt there was no need to continue talking to this guy, or it would only make him feel even more uncomfortable.

"Stop!"

Chu Ming flashed into the arena. Without any visible movement, Lin Chen felt a terrifying force before him that forcibly halted his figure, and the same happened to Jiang Cheng on the other side.

Jiang Cheng's face was pale. He looked at Lin Chen and smiled bitterly: "Lin Shidi is formidable. Truly worthy of being someone who left his name on Mount Wudao seven times. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

He had no choice but to accept it.

Jiang Cheng could feel that while Lin Chen's palm technique was terrifying, the attacks were not fierce or ruthless. Clearly, he had held back to save face for him; otherwise, he would have been defeated even faster.

Truly worthy of being a genius claimed to be comparable to Senior Pei, to have such strength just after entering the Organ Cultivation Stage.

"Jiang Shixiong, you flatter me."

Lin Chen also spoke with a smile. He had indeed not gone all out, having only used the first four moves of the Wind and Cloud Palm.

"You men only know how to fight and kill all day long. Wouldn't it be better to plant some flowers and grass?"

Zhuang Min spoke up. Don't look at how her husband and Chu Ming bickered; the two families had an excellent relationship, and Zhuang Min didn't want to make Jiang Cheng feel awkward.

"I know my sister-in-law loves flowers and grass. I even brought some flower and grass seeds with me this time. Look at my memory, I almost forgot about it."

Chu Ming also changed his tone, stopping the talk of the sparring match and instead chatting about flowers and grass.

……

……

Jiang Fu's back garden.

Lin Chen and Jiang Qing were strolling along the corridor.

"Shidi, when do you plan to go to the Canglan Wu Yuan?" Originally, Jiang Qing knew her father might not necessarily want Lin Chen to go to the Canglan Wu Yuan with them, but after today's events, her father would no longer object.

"I'm not quite sure yet. Tomorrow, I have to go to Mount Huang in Huizhou Prefecture with my instructor first. The Zhenyue Manual I cultivate is a technique of the Huang family, and the head of the Huang family instructed the instructor to have me come over once I reached the Organ Cultivation Stage."

Lin Chen briefly explained the Zhenyue Manual he cultivated and what the instructor had said.

Jiang Qing's eyelids fluttered slightly. If Lin Shidi had to go to Huizhou Prefecture, then they couldn't travel to the Canglan Wu Yuan together.

"The Zhenyue Manual is a Huang family technique. The Huang family must have kept secrets, or they have cultivation tips. Having you go to Mount Huang this time should be to tell you some tips for cultivating the Zhenyue Manual."

"Hmm, I think so too."

"When the Huang family first gave you the Zhenyue Manual technique, they didn't tell you the cultivation tips. At the time, they were likely just doing a favor for the Wuzheng Office. This time, you left your name on Mount Wudao seven times and revealed your potential; the Huang family having you go again is likely because they want to win you over."

The best way to win over a young genius is through marriage.

The Huang family certainly wouldn't lack young girls of the same age as Lin Shidi; even if the direct line of the Huang family didn't have any, the collateral branches certainly would.

"The head of the Huang family accepted my instructor as a disciple at the time. Speaking of which, I can be considered a grand-disciple of the Huang family head, so there shouldn't be a need to win me over."

Lin Chen smiled slightly. He didn't know Jiang Qing's current thoughts and just analyzed the situation.

The Huang family didn't need to win him over. It was highly likely that the cultivation tips for the Zhenyue Manual might be related to Mount Huang. According to what Zhuang Laozhang Li had said back then, the Zhenyue Manual was something a Huang family ancestor had comprehended after cultivating in seclusion on Mount Huang for over a decade.

"Does Shijie remember the place where you took Shidi to comprehend the Water Cloud Palm?"

When Jiang Qing heard this, she understood Lin Chen's meaning and nodded her head slightly: "It must be that the Huang family knows there is a special place there that helps with the cultivation of the Zhenyue Manual. In that case, Lin Shidi indeed needs to make a trip to Mount Huang."

Knowing Lin Chen's relationship with the Huang family and figuring out the Huang family's purpose in having Lin Chen go to Mount Huang, the worry in Jiang Qing's heart vanished.

"When is Shijie going to the Canglan Wu Yuan?"

"Three days from now. At that time, Father will take me to the Canglan Wu Yuan."

Hearing that his future father-in-law would be taking Jiang Qing to the Canglan Wu Yuan, Lin Chen was no longer worried either.

Judging from the situation in Jiangnan Dao, Daliang was still very safe, not to mention having a mid-tier powerhouse like his father-in-law.

The two chatted for about another quarter of an hour. A servant came to notify them that the kitchen had prepared the meal, and only then did they both follow the servant to the dining courtyard, still feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

……

……

After the meal.

Lin Chen and his Shiniang left Jiang Fu and returned to Shu Fu.

They had dinner at Shu Fu that evening. What Lin Chen didn't expect was that the Shu family placed great importance on him; not only did his Shiniang's father appear, but her older brother and several other managers of the Shu family all came.

This meal was naturally a pleasant one for both host and guest.

That night, after cultivating in the Shu family courtyard for two hours, Lin Chen returned to his room to rest.

A silent night.

The next morning!

The morning light was faint.

Two horses rode out from Shu Fu, left the city, and headed toward the southeast.

From Raozhou Prefecture to Huizhou Prefecture, it only took one day of travel, but from entering the Huizhou Prefecture border to Mount Huang, it would take another day.

On the official road, the flow of people was endless.

"Lin Chen, since you started practicing martial arts, you have always been in the Martial Hall, and then you went to the Martial Hall... up until now, you have mostly been cultivating under the Wuzheng Office system. In terms of martial arts cultivation, I have nothing left to teach you, but the martial arts circle is not just the Wuzheng Office system. After stepping out of the Wuzheng Office, there is a broader Martial Way World. Today, your instructor will teach you a lesson outside of the Wuzheng Office."

Yu Yongnian recalled some of the losses he had suffered and the scams he had fallen for when he first walked out of the Martial Hall back in the day; these were all precious experiences.

Although Lin Chen's martial arts talent was strong, and he might even enter the Ranked Tier after coming out of the Wu Yuan, some experiences were universal.

"When wandering outside, you must learn to observe people's expressions, especially to judge the other party's strength and background from subtle details. Try your best not to provoke people stronger than yourself."

Yu Yongnian slowed his horse: "There are some people who cannot be identified just by looking at their clothing and appearance, but one can actually distinguish them a bit from their figure."

Lin Chen showed a listening posture.

"Don't provoke a one-armed swordsman, a bearded spearman, a lone woman..."

"Why is that?"

"Those who use blades are mostly decisive in killing, and one-armed swordsmen even more so. This type of person either doesn't strike, or once they do, it's a fight to the death. As for the bearded spearman, it's because the spear follows a path of bravery and rigidity. Anyone who keeps a beard has extremely astonishing spear skills. As for the lone woman... for a woman to be able to walk alone in the martial arts world, that already proves her ability."

"This disciple understands."

Lin Chen nodded. What the instructor said was the same meaning as the types of people one shouldn't provoke mentioned in the martial arts novels he had read in his previous life.

Monks, Taoists, widows, dwarves, children...

If one added those mentioned in later novels, there were also blind men playing the erhu, old men fishing, blacksmiths, servants... those shouldn't be provoked either.

Those with the surname Ye, surname Su... those from the four great families shouldn't be provoked either...

Lin Chen had long ago summarized it in his heart: the martial arts world is divided into three types of people: one is the senior, one is the senior brother, and the other is the ant.

Those you can't beat are seniors, those whose background you can't figure out are senior brothers, and those you can beat are all ants. Just remember this principle.

Just as Lin Chen's thoughts were flying, noisy sounds suddenly came from ahead. Lin Chen and his instructor Yu Yongnian looked at each other, saw a group of people gathered on the official road ahead, slowed their horses, and slowly approached.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 211 =====