[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback":3,"chapter-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-42":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rising from Obscurity: My Martial Path Comeback",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2265877,4424,"Chapter 42: First Platform Battle (Happy New Year)","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-42",42,"\u003Cp>The fighting platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen’s arrival drew no reaction from the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the twelve platforms, only the last five were unoccupied; the rest had warriors dueling atop them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the most crowded platform was the third.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of onlookers there was several times that of the others; both combatants wore masks, and his gaze was drawn because one of them was using Water Cloud Palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be one of the senior sisters from Jing Shui Martial Hall?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the warrior wielding Water Cloud Palm wore a demon mask with green face and fangs, the physical differences between male and female forms were still evident, and since Water Cloud Palm was being used, Lin Chen guessed it must be one of the hall’s senior sisters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The senior sister’s Water Cloud Palm flowed like clouds and water; the entire platform was filled with palm shadows, forcing her opponent into constant defense until he was backed into a corner and fell off the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This one’s quite strong—already defeated four opponents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This person’s Water Cloud Palm has reached proficiency, with six meridians opened. They’ve likely trained at the hall for over two years—not one of the hall’s rising stars.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The onlookers speculated about the identity of the masked female warrior, and Lin Chen, after analyzing, found their guesses plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top senior sisters from last year’s cohort were all at least at the twelve-meridian stage—their realm didn’t match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excluding last year’s top senior sisters, the only new student whose realm matched was Sister Jiang—but her Water Cloud Palm shouldn’t have reached proficiency yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Proficiency in martial arts techniques can be gained through time; if one isn’t exceptionally lacking in talent and dedicates effort and time, it’s possible to reach proficiency in Water Cloud Palm within a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked senior sister is likely a long-term student of the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who have already left the hall generally don’t wear masks to conceal their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the senior sister defeat her opponent and step down to rest beside the platform, Lin Chen turned his gaze away—his purpose in coming to the Wuyuan fighting platform wasn’t to watch matches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had only two goals: to gain real combat experience, and to claim the ten-silver-tael prize for the platform champion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first platform had just concluded its match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen walked to the referee’s station below the platform and presented his Wuyuan identification token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The referee was a middle-aged man with a few strands of white hair; Lin Chen immediately understood he was over forty, his vital energy beginning to decline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White hair was a sign of declining vital energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only those with one to two meridians opened may ascend the platform. Any falsification will result in disqualification and permanent ban from Wuyuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Elder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the man’s vital energy had declined, Lin Chen did not underestimate him—not only because he represented Wuyuan, but because even decline is a gradual process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, he himself was not yet the man’s match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen registered his identification number and ascended the first platform; shortly after he stepped up, the previous victor returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man in his twenties sneered at Lin Chen: “Another greenhorn from the martial hall. I’ll defeat you in ten strikes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen said nothing. The man looked twenty-five or six, yet was only at the two-meridian stage—his martial achievements were modest, and his words clearly carried hostility toward martial hall disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was likely a warrior who failed to enter the hall, or one who ranked at the bottom within it—such people were, in truth, extremely jealous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lin Chen did not underestimate him; at this age, the man had trained for at least seven or eight years, and unless he was an idiot, his technique proficiency was certainly high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Bin let out a cold snort, bent his knees, then exploded upward like an eagle in a storm, leaping instantly before Lin Chen’s face, his right leg sweeping through the air with a whistle, striking straight for vital points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen shifted slightly, like a breeze through the forest, stepping back several paces to evade Wu Bin’s sweeping kick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You won’t even stand and fight? How dare you step onto the platform!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lin Chen retreat, Wu Bin’s eyes filled with contempt; his attacks accelerated again, each kick filled with malice and impatience—he intended to defeat Lin Chen within ten strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After retreating several times, Lin Chen’s back touched the platform’s edge, yet he remained calm; the leg technique the man used was unfamiliar, but after a few exchanges, he had already grasped its patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man claimed he’d defeat him in ten strikes because his leg technique relied on speed—but now, though the assault remained fierce, its accuracy had begun to drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All you do is dodge? Are all martial hall disciples such cowards? If you’re so timid, why even come to the platform? Go back to your hall and play house with your fellow students.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lin Chen evade every attack, Wu Bin grew impatient and began taunting him verbally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you wish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen murmured softly, and as Wu Bin’s kick extended, its momentum still unspent, he sidestepped effortlessly, then countered with a palm strike—his Clear Wind Palm technique displayed its essence perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palm moved like a breeze, the body following the strike; the blow landed precisely on Wu Bin’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The powerful palm wind sent Wu Bin staggering backward, but Lin Chen gave him no chance to recover—he flashed forward again, landing a series of palm strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Bin excelled in leg techniques, but once Lin Chen closed the distance, his legs could not be used effectively—he could only flail wildly with his fists to defend himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As palm met fist, Wu Bin’s eyes bulged—he felt his entire hand bone had been jarred out of alignment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strike while the iron is hot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the martial hall, or when sparring with Lu Yongfeng and others, Lin Chen would have stopped here—but facing this man, he had no intention of holding back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to platform rules, the match only ends if one side surrenders or falls off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three more palm strikes landed in succession!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Bin was blasted off the platform and crashed to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first platform had drawn little attention before, but with Wu Bin’s thunderous fall, many eyes turned toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the fight on the first platform really this intense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wu Bin lost? He’s not a new student from the Qing Feng Martial Hall, is he? A veteran?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Bin had some reputation on the platform, known as the gatekeeper of the first platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had trained in martial arts for ten years; though his realm was low, his technique proficiency far surpassed that of any new student from the major martial halls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if he’s from last year’s cohort, defeating Wu Bin is impressive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not the best, but better than most—likely a veteran student who trained hard in the hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the onlookers came from modest backgrounds; their current realms were achieved mostly through sheer time and endurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Bin rose from the ground, glaring at Lin Chen with hatred; after a long moment, he turned away reluctantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen did not leave the platform to rest—he had not even used his full strength against Wu Bin, and had no need to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his first battle, Lin Chen noticed the difference between fights on the Wuyuan platform and those among martial hall students: here, combat was more real, more brutal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet precisely this kind of fighting stirred his blood—warriors should fight this way, truly. The loser doesn’t merely fail—he may also be injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new year, a fresh start—can’t I ask for a monthly vote and continued reading?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1300,"2026-06-19T20:25:56.550Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","566fda0734ad425913ec513e1fe05308925e565888b37664d171d55c2d568eb5","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-43","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-41",591,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-cover.jpg"]