Chapter 234

Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan!

Chaoyang Pavilion!

At this moment, Meng Xing and six or seven other students from the new intake all had rather grim expressions.

"I just received news that the Zheng Guo Sihe Wu Yuan has held an exchange with the Qingyun Wu Yuan, and the Qingyun Wu Yuan was soundly defeated. The Jingdu Wu Yuan also lost to the Xiang Guo Chaosheng Wu Yuan. The next target for these two academies is very likely the Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan."

Hao Jifeng of the Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan had a very serious expression; these two academies had come prepared this time.

There were some things he could not yet tell his disciples. Just a short while ago, Xiang Guo and Zheng Guo both had conflicts with Daliang at the border, but they hadn't gained any advantage and had retreated in disgrace after leaving behind hundreds of corpses.

Only the high-level officials of the imperial court and the military knew of this, but the court would issue secret dispatches to the main officials at the prefecture level. A Wu Yuan Dean's status is not below that of a Prefecture Governor, so naturally, he would also be notified.

Three days ago, the Chaosheng Wu Yuan of Xiang Guo, led by a Vice Dean, went to the Jingdu Wu Yuan for a martial arts exchange, while the Sihe Wu Yuan of Zheng Guo also led a team to the Qingyun Wu Yuan. It is hard not to link this to the border conflicts.

Xiang Guo and Zheng Guo lost face at the border and want to win it back at the martial academies.

The ranking tournament of the Nine Nations' Martial Academies represents the strength of the younger generation of the nine nations. The common people and martial artists of Daliang do not know the results of the ranking tournament because the four major Daliang academies never rank high, and the imperial court naturally does not publicize it much.

However, the other nations are different, especially those at the top of the rankings. In order to promote their own nation's martial strength as superior to others, the ranking tournament is publicized and open nationwide.

"Dean Hao, how many moves did Kong Qing exchange with the opponent?" Meng Xing raised his head to ask.

Kong Qing is the number one disciple of this year's intake at the Qingyun Wu Yuan. From Kong Qing's exchange with the opponent, Meng Xing could roughly judge the strength of that disciple from the Zheng Guo Sihe Wu Yuan.

"Thirty moves!"

As soon as Hao Jifeng's words were spoken, the expressions of the other disciples present became even grimmer.

They had also heard of Kong Qing's name; before he had even reached the Organ Refinement stage, his reputation as a genius had already spread beyond the capital, and even the prefecture where they were located had heard of him.

"Kong Qing was defeated in thirty moves, and Zhang Ming only lasted ten!"

These words were like another heavy hammer falling on the hearts of the disciples present. Zhang Ming is the number one disciple of the new intake at the Jingdu Wu Yuan, and his strength is not much different from Kong Qing's.

"Dean Hao, if that is the case, this disciple fears he will not be able to defeat the opponent either."

Meng Xing was confident in his own strength and believed he was by no means inferior to Kong Qing or Zhang Ming, but he would not be arrogant enough to think he could defeat Kong Qing or Zhang Ming within thirty moves.

"If even Lin Lin Shixiong Meng is no match, then who else in the academy could be?"

"Does this mean that if these two academies come to our Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan, our academy will also follow in the footsteps of the Qingyun and Jingdu Martial Academies?"

Internal exchanges between the four major Daliang martial academies are one thing; losing to other academies is unpleasant, but that is a domestic affair. However, now that the other side has taken the initiative to come and provoke us, if we lose—and lose to Zheng Guo and Xiang Guo—it would be a great humiliation.

The disciples present all came from martial arts families and knew at least something about the relationships between the nine nations.

"Dean Hao, can we not refuse?"

A disciple spoke up, but as soon as he said this, he was met with the contemptuous gazes of others.

To be afraid before the battle even begins is an even greater humiliation.

Do they really think Zheng Guo and Xiang Guo are kind-hearted? If the academy dared to refuse, those two would likely return to their countries and publicize everywhere that the Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan was too afraid to spar.

They wouldn't even need to return home. As the largest city in Daliang, Lord Lingxiao City already gathers martial artists from all nine nations, and major events from every country circulate through the taverns and teahouses every day.

Within a day, the news would spread throughout Lord Lingxiao City, and the Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan would be ridiculed until it couldn't hold its head up.

"Do your best."

Hao Jifeng sighed softly. He told Meng Xing and these disciples in the hope that they might work harder these days to see if they could improve their strength, though he didn't hold out much hope.

Seeing Dean Hao's look of disappointment, Meng Xing pondered for a long time and said, "Dean Hao, I actually think there is one person who could be a match for these two."

"Who?"

"Lin Lin Shixiong."

Back at the Canglan Wu Yuan, no one except himself knew the process of his battle with Lin Lin Shixiong.

Although he didn't like to lie, he didn't want too many people to know about such an embarrassing matter.

He could only withstand three moves from Lin Lin Shixiong!

The reason he lasted so long was that he realized Lin Lin Shixiong was giving him a chance to display his skills; otherwise, the battle could have ended much earlier. Furthermore, he had used a secret family technique, the price of which was lying in bed for seven days, being carried all the way back to Lord Lingxiao City from the East Prefecture.

And this secret technique had a limit on how many times it could be used—only once every three months. Even if he wanted to use it again, the time hadn't passed, and forcing it would only destroy his martial foundation.

"Lin Chen of the Canglan Wu Yuan?"

Hao Jifeng looked deeply at Meng Xing. He hadn't asked much about Meng Xing's defeat to Lin Chen at the Canglan Wu Yuan back then.

He wasn't surprised that Lin Chen won, after all, he was the genius touted as surpassing Pei Qingming.

The reason he chose to go to the Canglan Wu Yuan for an exchange was simply because Meng Xing wanted to fight Lin Chen, and the academy was just fulfilling Meng Xing's request.

"Lin Lin Shixiong Meng, even if Lin Chen..."

"In the Martial Way, the capable come first. Even if Lin Lin Shixiong is not from our Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan, it is not inappropriate to address him as Lin Lin Shixiong."

Meng Xing directly interrupted Fu Ze's words. Fu Ze was startled, but under Meng Xing's piercing gaze, he changed his address: "Even if Lin Lin Shixiong might be a match for those disciples from the two academies, Lin Lin Shixiong is not a disciple of our Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan."

"I mean, even if our Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan loses, it doesn't matter. When those two academies go to challenge the Canglan Wu Yuan, Lin Lin Shixiong will also win back face for our Daliang."

Hiss!

Hao Jifeng's old eyes shrank upon hearing Meng Xing's words. Meng Xing had reminded him!

Because Lin Chen joined the Canglan Wu Yuan, the number of talented disciples recruited by their three academies this year was ten percent less than the previous year, and they were all good prospects.

If all three of their academies were defeated by the Sihe and Chaosheng Martial Academies, and in the end, the Canglan Wu Yuan turned the tide and defeated these two academies, preserving face for Daliang...

He could imagine that with the temperament of that old fellow Hua Qianwu, he would likely publicize this until everyone in the world knew.

As for next year's recruitment...

Once this situation occurred, next year the three of them would only be able to pick up what the Canglan Wu Yuan didn't want.

"Meng Xing, you think so highly of Lin Chen—do you believe Lin Chen can defeat the opponents?"

Hao Jifeng's expression was very serious. Meng Xing pondered for a moment and held up three fingers. What did Lin Lin Shixiong Meng mean by holding up three fingers?

"Lin Lin Shixiong Meng, are you saying that Lin Chen... Lin Lin Shixiong has a thirty percent chance of winning?" a disciple guessed.

"I won't hide it from you junior brothers: back when I fought Lin Lin Shixiong, I was defeated in three moves."

Hao Jifeng:...

Fu Ze:...

Other disciples:...

The entire Chaoyang Pavilion was silent.

After a long while, Hao Jifeng stared intently at Meng Xing and asked, "Meng Xing, is this true?"

"Dean Hao, this disciple has no need to lie about such an embarrassing matter."

Seeing Meng Xing's bitter smile, Hao Jifeng believed that what Meng Xing said was true, while the other disciples, especially Fu Ze, had looks of disbelief on their faces.

He had been right outside the courtyard gate at the time, and he could never have imagined that Lin Lin Shixiong Meng had been defeated by Lin Chen in just three moves.

"Lin Lin Shixiong Meng, but at that time, I, your junior brother, heard movement for a long time outside the courtyard gate?"

"Lin Lin Shixiong was just saving face for me. If Lin Lin Shixiong had attacked with all his might, I would have been defeated in three moves. But Lin Lin Shixiong didn't; instead, he gave me the opportunity to display my fist techniques, and only when he saw that I was truly exhausted did he end the battle."

Fu Ze was silent. He finally understood why Lin Lin Shixiong Meng's attitude toward Lin Chen had undergone such a complete reversal after coming out of the courtyard, treating him with the courtesy of a "Lin Lin Shixiong" despite not being from the same academy.

So it turned out Lin Chen had let Lin Lin Shixiong Meng into the courtyard to spar and not let others watch from the sidelines in order to preserve Lin Lin Shixiong Meng's face.

If he were Lin Lin Shixiong Meng, he would also feel gratitude toward Lin Chen.

"I understand this matter now. Do not mention it to outsiders."

Hao Jifeng let Meng Xing and the others leave, while he stood in the pavilion, stroking his beard and pondering something.

If that Lin Chen could truly defeat the young martial artists from the two nations, the academy could still maneuver a bit. It was just that old fellow Hua Qianwu—he feared it wouldn't be so easy to let the person go.

This matter would still need to be discussed with the Dean.

"Lin Lin Shixiong, have you heard?"

"What?"

Lin Chen, who had just come out of his courtyard, looked puzzled upon hearing Fang Zhan's words.

"The Xiang Guo Chaosheng Wu Yuan and the Zheng Guo Sihe Wu Yuan have sent people to our Daliang capital to spar with the Qingyun and Jingdu Martial Academies. Both the Qingyun and Jingdu Martial Academies lost, and it was a miserable defeat."

"Is that so?"

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. Having been in the academy for nearly three months, he had gained some understanding of it.

Martial arts exchanges between academies, like the four major ones in Daliang, usually take place before the end of the year, and after the new year, academies from other countries start coming for exchanges. Of course, Daliang academies can also go to other countries.

They are all scheduled for after the new year, and usually, they don't start until the new students have been in the academy for nearly half a year. Now, with less than three months passed, the Xiang Guo and Zheng Guo academies have already sent people—this is clearly abnormal.

"Fourteen days ago, Zheng Guo and Xiang Guo stirred up trouble at our Daliang border and were repelled by the seniors of our Daliang military. Feeling they had lost face, they thought to win it back through martial arts sparring."

Xiao Yaojin also walked out of the courtyard at this moment, speaking up to resolve Lin Chen's confusion.

As the young Marquis of the Xiao family, he didn't come to the Canglan Wu Yuan alone; he was accompanied by guards. These guards maintained correspondence with the Marquis's residence, and although the border conflict wasn't in the Northern Frontier, the Xiao family certainly knew about it.

"Do Zheng Guo and Xiang Guo frequently stir up conflicts at our Daliang border?" Lin Chen asked curiously.

"No."

Xiao Yaojin shook his head: "Xiang Guo and Daliang haven't had a conflict for nearly ten years. As for Zheng Guo... this conflict was only because the imperial court announced the history of the Demon Race harming our Daliang years ago, and since these Demon Race members are mostly in Zheng Guo, the common people have deep hatred for Zheng Guo, and Zheng Guo, feeling dissatisfied, retaliated."

"Zheng Guo only dares to pull these little stunts; they wouldn't dare to engage in a real, full-scale battle."

Fang Zhan curled his lips, looking at Zheng Guo with utter disdain.

This group of people who rely on beasts cannot be called humans at all; they are beast-men.

"Since Xiang Guo hasn't had a conflict with Daliang for ten years, why this time? Could it be that they have formed an alliance with Zheng Guo?"

"Probably not." Xiao Yaojin pondered and explained: "Daliang is sandwiched between Zheng Guo and Xiang Guo. The two nations shouldn't have formed an alliance before clashing with us. My family elders speculate that there might be some changes in the Snow Region."

"Snow Region?"

This was another place Lin Chen had never heard of.

"Lin Lin Shixiong, the Snow Region is the border area between Daliang and Xiang Guo. It is extremely cold, uninhabited, and consists entirely of snow-capped mountains," Fang Zhan explained to Lin Chen.

Lin Chen nodded. An extremely cold, uninhabited place used as a border between two countries is indeed the best choice.

"Xiang Guo certainly didn't have an alliance with Zheng Guo before the conflict, but it is very likely they reached some agreement after the conflict; otherwise, these two academies from the two nations wouldn't have headed to the capital at the same time."

Lin Chen agreed with Xiao Yaojin's judgment.

But such national affairs were still too distant for him; he was still just a small Organ Refinement martial artist.

"Junior Lin Lin Shixiong, the Dean wants you to go to the main hall!"

Just as Lin Chen and Xiao Yaojin finished their conversation and were preparing to continue climbing Canglan Peak, a martial academy disciple came to pass on the message.

(End of chapter)