Chapter 332: Dingnan Duke Fang Funan

Dong, dong, dong!

When the people of the Daliang capital heard the twelve bell tolls, their expressions became serious.

Twelve bell tolls would only ring for major events concerning the life and death of Daliang.

A few months ago, many people didn't even know about these twelve bell tolls, especially the younger generation, until the twelve bell tolls rang not long ago, and the younger generation finally understood what they represented.

At that time, it was because Daliang had launched a full-scale war against the demon race in the Northern Border that the twelve bell tolls rang.

Why are they ringing now?

At the capital's city gate, several riders arrived in a cloud of dust.

"Good news!"

"Great news!"

"The Northern Army has completely annihilated the Northern Border demon race, securing our Daliang's Northern Border forever!"

"The Northern Army has completely annihilated the Northern Border demon race, securing our Daliang's Northern Border forever!"

The gate guards heard the shouting and cleared the way immediately, and the people who were about to enter the city also moved aside, letting the cavalry gallop in while shouting.

"The Northern Border demon race is destroyed?"

"Heaven bless our Daliang. The Northern Border demon race has plagued our Daliang for hundreds of years, and now it is finally destroyed."

Many people were stunned when they heard the cavalry's voice, and the next moment they became extremely excited. Even though most of them had never been to the Northern Border, it didn't affect their hatred for the Northern Border demon race in the slightest.

From the Daliang and even the previous dynasty... the Northern Border demon race had always harassed the border and harmed the people.

Now, Daliang had finally eliminated this hidden danger.

Many martial artists also showed expressions of reminiscence. They had all been to the Northern Border, and even if they hadn't, their fellow disciples had, and many friends and relatives were buried in the Northern Border.

Now, those who had died could finally rest in peace.

On this day, the capital went completely crazy.

In restaurants, groups of strangers could sit together, and many mansions had incense rising.

"When you offer sacrifices at home, do not forget to tell your ancestors!"

At the same time, this news began to spread to other provinces of Daliang.

Zhixing Province, Xichuan Province, Jiangnan Province...

The people were happy to hear it, and the martial artists were inspired.

Linhu Village.

Zhao Canghu, who was squinting on a rattan chair, immediately said: "Offer sacrifices to the ancestors, arrange to offer sacrifices to the ancestors."

"Village Chief, this matter has nothing to do with our village, why do we need to offer sacrifices to the ancestors?"

"What do you know? Our village also belongs to Daliang, and we are all people of Daliang. Daliang destroyed the Northern Border demon race—isn't this a great happy event? Shouldn't we inform the ancestors and pay tribute to their spirits in heaven?"

The villagers curled their lips when they heard this. The ancestors of Linhu Village, going back five generations, were all fishermen, and at that time, the ancestors didn't even know about the existence of the demon race in the Northern Border.

"I told you to go, so go. Can I not command you anymore?"

"No, we'll go right away."

Watching the young people in the village run away, Zhao Canghu snorted. Offering sacrifices to the ancestors for such a great happy event was fine. Besides... the children in the village's martial arts hall were about to charge into the Qi Refining stage, which was exactly when they needed money. If they didn't offer sacrifices to the ancestors, how could they invite those wealthy families, and how could they sell the graves in the village?

"I don't know when that kid Lin Chen will be back. Once Lin Chen is back, the graves will be easy to sell..."

Southern Daliang.

Lihuo Province.

This was the southernmost province of Daliang.

A carriage drove to the provincial capital of Lihuo Province: Nanli Prefecture.

At the city gate, a middle-aged man looked at the emblem on the carriage in front of him, a smile appeared on his face, and he walked over quickly.

"Is it Young Master Lin?"

"It is indeed me." The carriage curtain was pushed open, and Lin Chen's figure walked out from inside.

"Young Master Lin, the Duke is already waiting at the mansion and has specifically sent me to welcome you."

"How can this junior deserve the Duke's wait?"

Hearing this, Lin Chen hurriedly jumped off the carriage. He had come to Lihuo Province because His Majesty had told him that Daliang's Lihuo Province possessed fire-attribute Xiantian energy.

For this reason, he had rushed straight to Lihuo Province from the capital, taking seven days along the way.

"Young Master Lin, no need to dismount. The Duke cares most for you younger generation. Just get in the carriage and follow me. Not long ago, a group of young martial artists came to Lihuo Province, and the Duke met with them personally."

The middle-aged man explained with a smile. North Xiao, South Fang—a Marquis and a Duke both valued the younger generation of Daliang highly. The Duke had said more than once that the future of Daliang depended on the young people.

All he could do was support these young people for a few more years and shield them from the wind and rain.

The Duke, like the old Marquis of Zhenbei, was dedicated to Daliang and never had any selfish motives.

Unless there was a particularly urgent military situation that required the Duke to handle it, he would meet with any young martial artist who came to Lihuo Province to give them encouragement.

Lin Chen was even more so—number one on the Heaven Ranking of the Hidden Dragon List, already the undisputed number one among the younger generation of Daliang. The Duke had specifically set aside time to stay at the mansion these past few days after receiving the message from the capital.

Lin Chen ultimately didn't get into the carriage but walked into the city following the middle-aged man, heading toward the Duke's mansion.

Daliang currently only had one Duke, the Dingnan Duke. It wasn't that the old Marquis of Zhenbei didn't have enough merit, but that when the court wanted to confer the title of Duke on the old Marquis of Zhenbei years ago, it was rejected by him.

"If the demon race is not destroyed, how can I be a Duke?"

The old Marquis of Zhenbei used this sentence to push it away. In his words, if his Xiao family's descendants wanted to be Dukes, they had to destroy the Northern Border demon race first; otherwise, even if they had immense merit, it wouldn't be allowed.

This was a form of encouragement from the old Marquis of Zhenbei to his descendants, to prevent them from resting on their laurels and losing the firm heart to destroy the Northern Border demon race.

Fang Duke's Mansion.

In front of the imperial-bestowed plaque, Lin Chen followed the middle-aged man into the mansion and headed straight for the main hall.

But before Lin Chen could enter the main hall, an old man's figure appeared at the entrance, looking at him with a kind smile.

"Not bad, a young genius of our Daliang."

"This junior Lin Chen greets Duke Fang!"

Lin Chen bowed respectfully. Fang Funan stepped forward and took Lin Chen's hand: "No need for formalities, come in with me."

Feeling the warm, large hand of the old man, Lin Chen truly felt the care and concern this Duke Fang had for the younger generation.

With Duke Fang's status, he could have sat in the main hall waiting for him to enter; there was no need to wait at the entrance, let alone take the initiative to hold his hand like an elder of the family.

"When you became the model for martial arts students in Jiangnan Province and wrote that 'Words to Junior Brothers in Jiangnan Province,' I read it the first time. It was well-written. Although the rhetoric wasn't flowery, the words were true and sincere. Having such a heart for martial arts is truly rare."

Fang Funan held Lin Chen's hand, his eyes filled with satisfaction. Like Old Brother Xiao, what he most hoped to see was the emergence of talented martial artists among the younger generation of Daliang.

It was a pity that Old Brother Xiao had left a step early.

If Old Brother Xiao could see Pei Qingming enter the Upper Rank, see Lin Chen take number one on the Heaven Ranking of the Hidden Dragon List, and see Daliang destroy the Northern Border demon race, he would truly have no regrets.

A trace of sorrow flashed in Fang Funan's eyes, but then he smiled again: "When you became the model for martial arts students in Daliang and left your name on the Martial Dao Mountain seven times, my grandson was a bit unconvinced because he saw me praising you every day, and he kept wanting to compete with you."

Hearing this, Lin Chen also smiled. The old Duke must be talking about Fang Zhan.

"Fang Lin Shidi's strength is still very strong."

"You, no need to say these polite words to me."

Fang Funan patted the back of Lin Chen's hand: "My grandson's strength is not bad among his peers, but he is still far from you. I did it on purpose, praising you in front of him, just to stir up his competitive spirit and make him choose to go to the Canglan Wu Yuan, so he could see what a true genius is."

Lin Chen smiled. He finally understood why Fang Lin Shidi had come to the Canglan Wu Yuan; it turned out there was this old man pushing him behind the scenes.

"My grandson came back during the New Year and praised you endlessly. You are the first peer he has praised like this. What you say to him now is probably more useful than what I, his grandfather, say."

"Duke, you are over-praising me. Fang Lin Shidi just respects me as his senior brother."

"Haha, he might not be convinced by what I, his grandfather, say to him, but he will definitely listen to what you, his senior brother, say."

Fang Funan laughed heartily and didn't continue this topic, but changed the subject: "The purpose of your coming here has already been told to me by the capital, but the location of that earth fire is not very good. I will send you there personally tomorrow."

(End of chapter)