Chapter 349

Lin Chen returned home and chatted with his mother.

Lin Mu was very happy about her son's return and was about to go prepare good dishes.

"Mother, don't go to too much trouble. I don't like anything else; I just like the wine-dregs fish you make."

In the memories of Lin Chen and his original self, wine-dregs fish had always been a delicious food. If the family had extra fish, they would soak it in rice wine and then pickle it for preservation. Many martial artists from Poyang County who went out, or those who traveled for business all year round, would bring a jar of wine-dregs fish.

"Wine-dregs fish, we have some pickled at home; I'll go get it."

"Yes."

While Lin Chen was eating and talking with his parents and his second uncle and other relatives, at the Lakeside Villa, Jia Nanzhu held an envelope, a gloomy look in his eyes.

The thing he was most worried about had happened after all.

Yan Imperial Dynasty martial artists had appeared in the Nine Nations.

The arrival of the Yan Imperial Dynasty martial artists would surely change the landscape of the Nine Nations, and for Liang Guo, whether this matter was good or bad could only be passively accepted.

"Forget it, I'll tell Lin Chen tomorrow. Let him relax and be with his family today."

Jia Nanzhu ultimately did not disturb Lin Chen's reunion with his family, deciding to tell Lin Chen about this matter tomorrow.

The next morning.

Lin Chen came to the Lakeside Villa to see his teacher.

"You're here."

Jia Nanzhu was lying on a rattan chair, leisurely basking in the first rays of the morning sun.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi, your health..."

"My health is fine, just old age and declining Qi and blood. You should first look at this letter; it was sent from Lord Kong in the capital."

Having the topic diverted by his teacher, Lin Chen could only take the letter first, but after reading the contents, his expression also became serious.

"Yan Imperial Dynasty martial artists have arrived. Could it be that the Annihilation Storm has disappeared?"

"Annihilation Storm?"

Jia Nanzhu was curious. Lin Chen saw his teacher's puzzled look and repeated the information he had heard from the Sect Master of the Qingtian Sect back then.

"No wonder the Yan Imperial Dynasty was so late in coming; it turns out it was because of the Annihilation Storm. Looking at it this way, this storm must have dissipated. With the appearance of these Yan Imperial Dynasty martial artists, the war between our Liang Guo and Han Guo has temporarily ceased, and Zheng Guo has also withdrawn its troops."

"I imagine that now, the various countries are more concerned about what kind of landscape changes the arrival of the Yan Imperial Dynasty martial artists will bring to the Nine Nations; their minds are no longer on the battlefield."

Lin Chen could understand why the fighting had ceased. According to what was written in Lord Kong's letter, the few martial artists who came from the Yan Imperial Dynasty were extremely powerful, far above the First Rank. Such powerhouses were enough to have the strength to change the outcome of the war.

Without the interference of external forces, the landscape of the Nine Nations was determined by the victory or defeat of battles. But with external forces, and powerful external forces at that, even if one won on the battlefield, it was very likely that the landscape would be changed by the external forces.

"It is highly likely that those who came from the Yan Imperial Dynasty are several Innate martial artists."

Being able to make First-Rank martial artists feel threatened, Lin Chen immediately thought of the Innate powerhouses the Emperor had mentioned.

Innate-stage powerhouses who surpassed the First Rank.

"Innate martial artists?"

This was the first time Jia Nanzhu had heard of Innate martial artists: "What is the difference between Innate martial artists and First-Rank martial artists?"

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi, this disciple is not very clear either. This disciple only knows that martial artists who surpass the First Rank are called Innate martial artists. Innate martial artists are divided into six stages, and above that, there are even Wanxiang-stage powerhouses."

"Six Innate stages, and even Wanxiang?"

Jia Nanzhu's mouth opened slightly, and the next moment a wry smile appeared on his face: "Fortunately, I am already old and my Qi and blood are declining. If I were still in my youth and heard that there were many stages above the First Rank, I fear my martial arts heart would have collapsed."

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi, you are exaggerating."

Lin Chen believed that his teacher's martial arts heart would not collapse, but he would certainly be depressed for a long time.

For the martial artists of the Nine Nations, especially those genius martial artists, being able to cultivate to the mid-tier by the age of thirty was already very satisfying, and stepping into the upper-tier at fifty-six was already a sign of one's ancestors smoking from the grave.

But now, telling them that there were many stages above the First Rank was like a group of climbers looking at the unreachable mountain peak in front of them, having gone through all kinds of hardships among many climbers, finally breaking through the encirclement and climbing to the mountainside or even near the peak, only to suddenly discover that the mountain they were climbing was only the shortest one, and there were several higher mountains behind it. They would truly lose heart.

"You fought against those geniuses of the Yan Imperial Dynasty on the Martial Way Mountain. How is the strength of those geniuses from the Yan Imperial Dynasty?"

Regarding Lin Chen's combat situation on the Martial Way Mountain, Jia Nanzhu had never asked before. This was the first time he couldn't help but ask because of the shock in his heart.

"This disciple is currently ranked 40,000th. According to this disciple's judgment, to enter the top 10,000, one must at least have the strength of an upper-tier martial artist. As for the top 100... one must at least be at the peak of the First Rank."

"The top 100 requires the peak of the First Rank. Does the Yan Imperial Dynasty's Martial Way Mountain have an age limit?"

"Under twenty years old."

Jia Nanzhu:...

A long silence!

"Even you are only 40,000th. I, your teacher, am a frog in a well, looking at the sky from the bottom of a well."

Lin Chen looked at his teacher's expression. He could understand his teacher's feelings. The martial arts gap between the Nine Nations and the Yan Imperial Dynasty was too great, like an insurmountable chasm lying in front of the martial artists of the Nine Nations.

This feeling was like in his previous life, when the country he was in suffered from Western aggression at the end of the feudal era, many people stepped out of the country and saw the shock and deep despair produced by the high-rise buildings and machinery of the West.

The morning mushroom does not know the beginning and end of the month; the cicada does not know the spring and autumn.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi, the reason why Yan Imperial Dynasty martial artists can have upper-tier strength under the age of twenty is, firstly, because the land is vast and the people are numerous. The territory and population of the Yan Imperial Dynasty are hundreds of times that of the Nine Nations, so naturally, there are more geniuses."

"Secondly, the Yan Imperial Dynasty's martial arts techniques are more complete than those of the Nine Nations, so the progress of cultivating techniques will be faster than that of the Nine Nations' martial artists. And in terms of elixir resources, they must also far exceed the Nine Nations. For the Nine Nations, being able to take elixirs that raise one's rank while in the lower-tier is already an extremely precious thing, but in the Yan Imperial Dynasty, I fear it counts for nothing."

"If our Liang Guo martial artists could also have such resources, our strength would certainly increase by a large margin."

Hearing Lin Chen's words, Jia Nanzhu nodded: "You are right. It is your teacher who has fallen into a misunderstanding. The Nine Nations and the Yan Imperial Dynasty have a huge gap, but that does not mean that you young people have such a large gap. If you were given the same cultivation resources as those geniuses of the Yan Imperial Dynasty, even in the Yan Imperial Dynasty, you could compete with those super geniuses."

"I, your teacher, showed you this letter just to let you know about the arrival of the Yan Imperial Dynasty martial artists. Lord Kong and the others will handle this matter well; you don't need to worry too much."

Seeing Lin Chen in a state of contemplation, Jia Nanzhu was afraid that Lin Chen would overthink, so he comforted him.

"This disciple understands."

Lin Chen did not tell his teacher that he was just thinking about which sect of the Yan Imperial Dynasty had come to the Nine Nations this time?

If he knew the name of the sect, perhaps he could go to the Martial Way Mountain and ask the senior brothers of the Canglan Sect, so he could know the root and the bottom.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi, this disciple is going to Raozhou Prefecture today."

"Going to the Shu Mansion and the Jiang Mansion?"

"Yes."

"Go ahead. The village has your teacher watching over it, so nothing will happen."

"Sorry to trouble you, Yu Yu Jiaoxi."

Bidding farewell to his teacher, Lin Chen left the village and headed to Raozhou Prefecture. This time, besides seeing Yu Yu Jiaoxi, he wanted to see his future mother-in-law even more.

The jade pendant his mother-in-law gave him back then provided huge help when he was absorbing and refining the Li Huo energy. If it weren't for the cool energy flowing from this jade pendant into his body, he would have long since been burned to ashes by the Li Huo.

This jade pendant is likely not as simple as just being able to sense rare flowers and plants, and the identity of this future mother-in-law of his is likely not as simple as he imagined either.

Yesterday, when talking with his parents at home, he had asked his father sideways. When his father-in-law was in the village back then, his performance compared to other young men didn't have many differences.

It was only after he entered the Martial Hall that he soared into the sky.

Before this, whether in height or physique, he didn't have much advantage compared to other young men in the village.

However, out of respect for his future father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lin Chen didn't inquire too much.

Raozhou Prefecture.

This time, Lin Chen chose to head directly to the Jiang Mansion.

He didn't know if Yu Yu Jiaoxi was at the Shu Mansion, but his mother-in-law certainly knew.

Because as long as the teacher's wife was at the Shu Mansion, she would definitely come to the mother-in-law's courtyard to admire flowers when she had nothing to do. If she had something to do and had to go out, she would also tell the mother-in-law.

"Young Master Lin is here."

The steward of the Jiang Mansion was very happy to see Lin Chen visit and led him into the mansion with great enthusiasm.

Now everyone in the mansion knew that their young lady and Young Master Lin were in love, and Young Master Lin was the future son-in-law of their Jiang Mansion.

A son-in-law who was number one on the Heaven Ranking of the Potential Dragon List—saying it out loud also made them, the servants of the Jiang Mansion, feel honored.

"Young Master Lin, it just so happens that the Master is back today. I will go notify the Master."

Hearing that his father-in-law was also at home, Lin Chen's mouth twitched. He and his father-in-law didn't see eye to eye. Going to see his father-in-law, I fear it would be another staring contest.

Jiang Mansion front courtyard.

A servant had already hurried to notify them. The moment Lin Chen followed the steward into the front courtyard gate, he heard his father-in-law's voice.

"My worthy son-in-law is here!"

This "worthy son-in-law" made Lin Chen's goosebumps stand up instantly, and a thought popped into his mind: this front courtyard is ambushed with three hundred axemen, just waiting for him to say "yes," and these three hundred axemen will rush out and chop him into eight pieces.

However, when he saw his father-in-law sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, looking at him with the loving eyes of an old father, and then saw two other middle-aged men, as well as several young men and women standing to the side, Lin Chen understood what was going on.

Fortunately, it wasn't a Hongmen Banquet, so he could rest assured.

Immediately, he stepped forward with a few strides and said respectfully: "This son-in-law greets you, Zhuang Laozhang."

"Ouch, I was too excited just now and forgot that you haven't engaged to Qing'er yet. This 'worthy son-in-law' was called too early. You should still call me Uncle."

Lin Chen:...

Everyone else present:...

Facing his father-in-law's "free-loading" behavior of wanting to use him to show off while not wanting to admit his son-in-law status, Lin Chen curled his lips in his heart. There was no help for it; who told him that the other party was his father-in-law? For the sake of Sister Jiang and his mother-in-law, he could only accept it.

"This nephew greets Uncle Chu."

Of the other two middle-aged men at the stone table, Lin Chen recognized one. He had met him at the Jiang family back then, and that time his future father-in-law had used him to suppress the show-off spirit of this Uncle Chu.

At the same time, Lin Chen also nodded to Jiang Cheng and Chu Xi standing to the side. Seeing Lin Chen's gaze, Jiang Cheng smiled back, but Chu Xi, standing to the side, had a trace of trance in her eyes.

Last time she brought Brother Cheng to the Jiang Mansion, she had the intention of showing off in front of Jiang Qing. She didn't expect that the sweetheart Jiang Qing found was not inferior to Brother Cheng in potential and all aspects, and was even stronger. But she didn't admit defeat either.

Brother Cheng came from the Jiang family of Raozhou Prefecture, a martial arts family, and had a father of the Fifth Rank. In the future, relying on the family's martial arts resources, he would certainly not be worse than Lin Chen.

But she didn't expect that in just over a year, the gap had already widened.

Brother Cheng hadn't even entered the Potential Dragon List yet, while Lin Chen was already number one on the Heaven Ranking of the Potential Dragon List, a super genius shining in the Nine Nations, recognized as the number one genius of the young generation of the Nine Nations.

Even the martial artists of Han Guo and Zheng Guo, including Xiang Guo, who were hostile to Liang Guo, had never refuted this.

Now, she had completely lost the heart to compare with Jiang Qing.

"This is your Uncle Zheng, and those two are your Uncle Zheng's son-in-law and daughter."

Jiang Duanchao introduced the identity of the other middle-aged man to Lin Chen. Lin Chen could be considered to understand why his father-in-law would say that "worthy son-in-law."

Men!

When they are young, they compare their own strength, and when they reach middle age, they compare the next generation.

Uncle Chu and this Uncle Zheng both brought their daughters and sons-in-law to the door, so how could his father-in-law miss such an opportunity to show off?

"The name of Lin Lin Shixiong Lin is like thunder to our ears."

Zheng Xiyin said with a smile, and then introduced to Lin Chen: "This is my husband, Yang Qiu."

Martial artists judge seniority by strength.

Hearing this "Lin Lin Shixiong," Lin Chen knew that this woman was older than him in age, but because her strength was not as good as his, it was not easy to call him "worthy younger brother," and "eldest brother" was not appropriate either, so she simply called him "Lin Lin Shixiong."

This was also the unwritten rule of the Nine Nations' martial artists. Facing someone younger than oneself but stronger than oneself, one would call them "Lin Lin Shixiong."

Backyard.

The old woman reported to Zhuang Min: "Madam, the son-in-law has entered the mansion."

"Oh, returning to Poyang County at this time, has something happened?"

"This old servant does not know." The old woman shook her head: "However, I observe the son-in-law, who faintly has signs of the Innate, I fear he is not far from the upper-tier."

"So fast?"

Zhuang Min's beautiful eyes had a look of surprise. An upper-tier martial artist is nothing, but at Lin Chen's age, to be close to the upper-tier in such a short time, even if placed in the Yan Imperial Dynasty, he could be called a genius.

"It seems that during this period, Lin Chen must have had some more adventures."

"I see the son-in-law's strength is about to exceed the Master's."

Hearing the old woman's words, Zhuang Min seemed to think of some interesting scene and couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh softly.

"Madam, what are you laughing at?"

"You say if the Master and Lin Chen fight and the Master is defeated by Lin Chen, where should he, as a father-in-law, put his face?"

Old woman:...

Based on her understanding of the Master, she feared the Master would run away from home.

(End of Chapter)