Chapter 403

Twenty-first, twentieth...

Fifteenth, fourteenth...

The depression of the Eight Desolations Sect disciples goes without saying, but at this moment, the cheers of the Canglan Sect disciples were continuous.

After defeating Yu Nanchun, Lin Chen pressed on with a single effort, killing his way into the top ten in one go.

Perhaps it was this battle with Yu Nanchun that allowed those innate martial artists to see Lin Chen's true strength. These opponents either took the initiative to concede at the start, or, like Zhang Xu, conceded after exerting their full strength and failing to defeat Lin Chen.

Genius martial artists under twenty have pride, but they are not arrogant people.

Knowing they are no match, why fight to the death?

They had already seen clearly that this time, Lin Chen's summit challenge mainly relied on those at the very front to block him.

As for consuming Lin Chen's innate energy... after entering the top thirty, innate martial artists who hadn't entered Martial Way Mountain no longer had the chance to challenge Lin Chen directly.

Lin Chen didn't need to rush to continue challenging at all; he could completely challenge one match and rest for one match.

But Lin Chen didn't stop, instead challenging continuously, which just went to show that Lin Chen was still at his peak and his strength hadn't been affected.

"Fifteenth place, Junior Shidi should stop."

"Fourteenth place, Junior Shidi has no need to be so anxious."

"Thirteenth place, oh my... what is Junior Shidi trying to do."

On the Canglan main hall plaza, Chai Daoqi was very anxious. Senior Brother Lin should stop; Martial Way Mountain didn't stipulate that the one-hundred-thousand-match winning streak had to be challenged in one go.

"Junior Shidi can't be unaware of this, right?"

Liang Hanyang on the side couldn't help but roll his eyes and whispered, "Junior Shidi knows. Junior Shidi doing this must have his reasons."

"Lin Chen is doing it for the points." Du Xiaofeng gave the answer.

His own disciple had informed him that after starting the one-hundred-thousand-match winning streak, Martial Way Mountain would grant ten thousand points for every victory.

Winning one more match meant ten thousand more points, which meant he could exchange for more treasures to improve his strength on Martial Way Mountain.

Challenging to the top in one go was clearly an impossible thing. Before stopping, acquiring more points to improve his strength, and also being able to deter other geniuses, meant he wouldn't be challenged during the time he stopped.

【Entering the Martial Way Mountain top ten, special exchange list opened.】

Returning to the Martial Way Mountain steps, Lin Chen listened to the prompt from Martial Way Mountain and didn't choose to continue challenging.

The Martial Way Mountain top ten would have a special panel to exchange for some special items; Lin Chen had already learned this from his Master before starting the challenge.

This was also the reason he chose to challenge to the top ten in one go.

"Open personal points."

Lin Chen whispered, and the panel of his status on Martial Way Mountain appeared before him.

【Name: Lin Chen】

【Sect: Canglan Sect】

【Name: Lin Chen】

【Sect: Canglan Sect】

【Martial Way Mountain Ranking: 10】

【Points: 288971】

With points approaching two hundred ninety thousand, Lin Chen's eyes also became heated.

【Open exchange list.】

As Lin Chen's words fell, what appeared before him this time was the Martial Way Mountain exchange list.

Only this time, the exchange list contained many treasures that hadn't been there before.

【Brilliant Star: Thirty thousand points】

【Xuanming Heavy Water: Thirty thousand points】

【Wu Yanjing: One thousand points/breath】

……

……

The dazzling array of treasures were all things that hadn't been there originally.

Lin Chen didn't rush to exchange, but instead committed the names of these treasures on the list to his mind. The next moment, with a thought, he exited Martial Way Mountain.

Canglan main hall plaza.

When Lin Chen's figure appeared, Chai Daoqi finally let out a long sigh; the heart he had been holding could finally be put down.

"Junior Shidi, not bad."

Liang Hanyang looked at Lin Chen with a smile. Lin Chen smiled slightly at his Second Senior Brother, then looked toward the Sect Master and his Master: "Disciple has not failed the mission."

"Hmm, better than the result I anticipated."

Du Xiaofeng stroked his beard and smiled, his face showing unconcealable satisfaction. The goal he had set for Lin Chen was to first enter the top thirty, and then slowly plot to advance, entering the top ten within three months would be enough.

Lin Chen's gaze looked toward Qiao Yuan again. Qiao Yuan forced a smile onto his face; perhaps because he didn't like to smile normally, this smile appeared very stiff.

"Enter the hall and speak."

Ji Cangtian led the few into the Canglan main hall.

"Lin Chen, with your current strength, you can still advance a few more places on Martial Way Mountain, but wanting to contend for the top spot, I fear there are still risks. Your Master and I discussed that we would wait until you come out of the Canglan Secret Realm before challenging again."

The Canglan Secret Realm opening still had nearly five months left.

No one stipulated how long Lin Chen had to succeed in reaching the top; he could delay it for five months, and after coming out of the Canglan Secret Realm, launch the final assault.

Five months?

Lin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly; he wasn't in a rush to reach the top in a moment.

Waiting another five months was also fine.

"Since you've waited five months, why not wait another month? Of the nine people ranked ahead of you, three will turn twenty in six months and will have to leave. Junior Shidi, you can challenge three fewer people."

Chai Daoqi chuckled. The martial artists in the top ten of Martial Way Mountain were all extremely close to twenty years old.

Compared to these people, Lin Chen's greatest advantage was his youth; he still had a year before turning twenty.

"If Junior Shidi can wait, you don't need to challenge; in a year, you'll be number one."

Among the current top ten martial artists on Martial Way Mountain, his own Junior Shidi was the youngest. If he were Junior Shidi, he would simply not challenge, wait for the time of those ahead to run out and their rankings to be revoked, and automatically become number one on Martial Way Mountain.

"What are you thinking?"

Du Xiaofeng glared at his third disciple unhappily. If Lin Chen hadn't chosen to start the Martial Way Mountain one-hundred-thousand-match winning streak challenge, it would have been fine. Now that the entire Yan Imperial Dynasty knew about this, if he finally chose to rely on the age advantage to wait out those ahead, he would likely become a joke.

Most importantly, the one-hundred-thousand-match winning streak meant he couldn't let the rankings be postponed; he had to challenge before the nine ahead turned twenty.

Continuing to challenge after coming out of the Canglan Secret Realm was the most appropriate.

This time, they were just caught off guard by Martial Way Mountain, but the benefit was that Martial Way Mountain gave point rewards.

Points many times higher than in the past!

"Lin Chen, tell us all the items in the Martial Way Mountain exchange list."

Du Xiaofeng spoke, and Lin Chen nodded: "Master, this time the Martial Way Mountain exchange list has Brilliant Star, Xuanming Heavy Water..."

"Wu Yanjing?"

Ji Cangtian's eyes lit up when he heard Lin Chen mention this item: "I didn't expect this year's Martial Way Mountain to actually have such a good thing."

"Sect Master, is this Wu Yanjing very precious?" Chai Daoqi on the side asked curiously. As an innate second-stage martial artist, he had never even heard of Wu Yanjing.

"Wu Yanjing is not a treasure, but something used to deduce martial arts. In Wu Yanjing, one can discover some flaws in one's martial arts techniques and accelerate the comprehension of martial arts techniques."

Du Xiaofeng spoke to clear up their confusion, while continuing: "Lin Chen, you haven't been in the sect long, and you haven't been able to practice many of the sect's techniques. If you are in Wu Yanjing, you can quickly comprehend these techniques."

Hearing his Master's words, Lin Chen nodded. Looking at it this way, Wu Yanjing was indeed something he needed.

"In addition, that Xuanming Heavy Water is also a rare treasure. A single drop of Xuanming Heavy Water can allow your acupoints to be widened, allowing them to contain more innate energy, letting you condense innate crystals more rapidly later on."

The innate first stage is the Qi Transformation Stage, while the innate second stage is the Crystal Condensation Stage, which requires condensing innate crystals in twenty-four acupoints in the body.

"Then should disciple..."

"No need to rush."

Ji Cangtian raised his hand to stop Lin Chen from continuing, then looked at everyone present: "Having challenged so many matches on Martial Way Mountain, you should be tired. Go back and rest first."

Hearing the Sect Master's words, Lin Chen was somewhat stunned. Why did he want him to go rest when everything was fine?

"Sect Master, Junior Shidi..."

"What are you nagging about? Lin Chen has challenged many matches in a row and needs quiet cultivation."

Chai Daoqi had just opened his mouth, and before he could finish, he was slapped on the back of the head by Du Xiaofeng, so he could only cover his head aggrievedly.

Finally, Du Xiaofeng took Lin Chen and the three disciples away, and Zhao Yulin also took Qiao Yuan and left the hall.

Du Xiaofeng and Zhao Yulin knew very well that the Sect Master suddenly interrupting Lin Chen wasn't because Lin Chen really needed to rest; I fear there were other matters.

Or perhaps the Sect Master had some plans in mind but hadn't been able to make a final decision and needed time to think...

Both of them thought of the Supreme Elder at the first moment.

Only when it involved the Supreme Elder could the Sect Master not make a decision easily.

"Qiao Yuan, I fear that from now on, within the sect, you will be overshadowed by Lin Chen."

On the way back, Zhao Yulin spoke slowly to his disciple. Looking at the Sect Master's attitude, it was clear he wanted to give Lin Chen some benefits, and it was highly likely to be a massive benefit that required alarming the Supreme Elder.

"Lin Chen can bring glory to the sect; disciple can accept it."

Qiao Yuan wasn't a fool, or rather, everyone in the hall, except for Chai Daoqi who didn't react at the first moment, vaguely guessed something.

"Rest assured, Master will also do my utmost to cultivate you, and from now on, I will not take in any more disciples."

Zhao Yulin looked at his disciple's demeanor, and his heart was also filled with emotion. In terms of belonging to the sect, I fear that among all the personal disciples, none were deeper than his own disciple.

"Thank you, Master."

"Silly boy, you are my disciple; if I don't cultivate you, who would I cultivate?"

……

……

In the courtyard, Lin Chen was still cultivating.

Late at night.

Lin Chen suddenly looked toward the left side of the courtyard. When he saw the figure standing there, he hurriedly said: "Disciple greets the Sect Master."

He didn't know how long the Sect Master had been standing there, but he was able to discover the Sect Master because he had just finished cultivating and the Sect Master had revealed his aura.

"Follow me."

Ji Cangtian nodded toward Lin Chen, his figure leaping and transforming as he headed toward the north.

Hearing this, Lin Chen also hurriedly followed.

Two figures, one in front and one behind, ten feet apart, traveled all the way north within the Canglan Sect until two hours later, when they stopped at the top of a mountain peak.

"Do you know where this is?"

The bright moon hung high, and everything on the mountain peak was clearly visible.

"Disciple does not know."

Lin Chen shook his head. He had been recalling the sect map in his mind, but after an hour, he realized he had already left the area of the sect map.

This seemed to be that mountain range area of the Canglan Sect.

"This is Canglan Peak."

"Canglan Peak?"

Lin Chen recalled, and in the sect map he had seen, there was no mountain peak called Canglan Peak.

After all, the two characters "Canglan" were the representation of the Canglan Sect; it couldn't be easily named on a mountain peak.

"From the way you came, you have already passed three sect formations, and the last formation is one that even your Master and the others cannot break."

Ji Cangtian turned back to look at Lin Chen, and seeing the shocked expression on Lin Chen's face, he smiled: "Don't be too nervous. The reason I brought you here is also because I obtained permission from several Supreme Elders."

The sect's Supreme Elders, although Lin Chen hadn't seen them, he had heard of them; they were Vientiane Stage martial artists, the true pillars of the sect.

"Our Canglan Sect ancestors refined Canglan energy right here, and later founded the Canglan Sect. See the abyss of the cliff on this side of the mountain?"

Following the direction of Ji Cangtian's gaze, Lin Chen looked over and saw that on the right side of the mountain was a cliff, while on the opposite side of the cliff was a mist, and below was an abyss.

This scene reminded him of the abyss that appeared when he first comprehended the Canglan Divine Canon.

"Does it look familiar?"

"Hmm."

Lin Chen nodded: "Disciple also saw an abyss when I comprehended the Canglan Treasure Canon, and it is somewhat similar to this."

"The Canglan Treasure Canon was originally transformed by the ancestor based on the scene here. The abyss below this cliff is the birthplace of our Canglan Sect."

Ji Cangtian's eyes became profound: "You comprehended the Canglan Divine Canon and cultivated the Canglan Force; this is your opportunity. However, I must tell you a secret now: Canglan Force is actually a technique, not a simple application of Canglan energy."

"A technique?"

"Hmm, this technique is hidden beneath this abyss. Whether you can comprehend it depends on yourself."

Lin Chen understood why the Sect Master brought him here; this was hoping he could comprehend the Canglan Force martial art, so he could reach the top of Martial Way Mountain.

At this moment, Lin Chen was also glad he hadn't given up on reaching the top of Martial Way Mountain for the sake of keeping a low profile; otherwise, I fear that even if he had comprehended the Canglan Force, the Sect Master wouldn't necessarily have brought him here.

This place should be the most secret place of the Canglan Sect; I fear even his Master hadn't been here.

Otherwise, his Master would definitely have mentioned this to him, especially under the premise of knowing he had comprehended the Canglan Force.

"Step off the cliff and walk toward the opposite shore. Walk as far as you can. I will wait here for your good news."

Ji Cangtian's eyes carried encouragement. Lin Chen didn't hesitate, took a deep breath, and stepped off the cliff.

Stepping out, his body suspended in the air, the sensation of falling that Lin Chen expected didn't appear; instead, there was a powerful force pushing him back.

"Circulate the Canglan energy and walk forward."

Behind him, the Sect Master's voice came out. Lin Chen hurriedly circulated the Canglan energy within his body, and as the Canglan energy circulated, that pushing force disappeared.

One step, two steps...

Lin Chen walked suspended in the air toward the direction shrouded in mist on the opposite side.

"Back then, with my innate third-stage strength, I only walked thirty-six steps. How many steps can you walk, Lin Chen?"

Looking at Lin Chen's back, Ji Cangtian's eyes held anticipation. It had been a long time since anyone from the Canglan Sect had appeared here.

(End of Chapter)