[{"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-544":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},2266379,4424,"Chapter 544: Where Does His Confidence Come From?","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-544",544,"\u003Cp>A storage box for the Preheaven Fourth Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen still felt some anticipation, gripping the storage box in his hand and sending his spiritual sense into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, Lin Chen retracted his gaze with a self-satisfied smile, and in his hand now rested a jade slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within Yun Ye’s storage box were many elixirs useful to a Preheaven Fourth Realm cultivator, along with several treasures, but what caught Lin Chen’s attention most was this jade slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Yun Ye’s storage box, this jade slip had been placed separately, indicating that Yun Ye valued it greatly—specifically, the content within the jade slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A jade slip that could draw the attention of a Preheaven Fourth Realm cultivator must contain something extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen plunged his spiritual sense into the jade slip; after several dozen breaths, he withdrew it, his face lit with surprise and delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jade slip contained a martial scripture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>《Nine Heavens Piercing Cloud Scripture》\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was akin to the Canglan Divine Scripture, recording multiple cultivation methods, many of whose described powers left Lin Chen astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Yun Ye had used any of these techniques during his battle, Lin Chen might not have defeated him so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this jade slip isn’t from the Yun Clan’s lineage—if it were, Yun Ye would have already learned it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen fell into thought for a while, forming a hypothesis: this 《Nine Heavens Piercing Cloud Scripture》 was the upper volume, meaning a lower volume must exist—and very likely, this scripture originated from the Eastern Young Master .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how noble the Eastern Young Master ’s identity, to attract martial cultivators, he must offer something compelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the grand political landscape, he had learned of it from Yin Yue—centuries ago, many had predicted the Yan Emperor’s Divine Seal would collapse, yet even now, it still stands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A martial cultivator’s lifespan is limited; even if the Eastern Imperial Court rises one day, who knows whether it will be decades, a century, or longer…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only tangible gains can sway geniuses like Yun Ye, who hail from ancient clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Give the upper volume, withhold the lower…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This aligns with the art of governing subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After securing the jade slip and Yun Ye’s storage box, Lin Chen began searching for the entrance to the fourth layer of the secret realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time flow here is half that of the outside world, but for those who entered, this pace was still not what they sought—enter the fourth layer, and the time flow becomes only one-quarter of the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time the Thousand Fold Secret Realm opens, everyone heads to the fourth layer; beyond that, it depends on individual ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way to the fourth layer, Lin Chen found no further gains; he wasn’t surprised by the lack of rewards in the second and third layers—he had wasted time in the first layer, while others had entered the second layer ahead of him, so the path he now walked had long since been cleared, and any valuable items along it had already been taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth layer!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant Lin Chen stepped onto the fourth layer, pressure surged—several times stronger than the third layer—forcing his body sharply downward, his legs feeling as if filled with lead; had he not prepared in advance, possessed a robust physique, and activated the Immortal Technique beforehand, this blow alone would have crushed him to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This pressure did not come from any single direction, but filled the entire space, like countless tons of invisible heavy water surging and crushing in from all sides, from every inch of the void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body, his movement, his speed, his breath—even his vision—became sluggish and heavy under the immense pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the pressure of the fourth layer of the Thousand Fold Secret Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen adjusted his breathing rhythm and began walking; soon, he spotted others who had entered—three sat cross-legged on a nearby earth slope. When they saw Lin Chen, their eyes flickered with surprise, but they merely nodded; Lin Chen returned their smile and continued forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time flow in the fourth layer was now only one-quarter of the outside world, and most who entered remained here to cultivate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Food, elixirs, scriptures…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every martial cultivator who entered had prepared accordingly; according to Qian Lang, the average time spent inside during the Thousand Fold Secret Realm’s opening was six months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the sixty-odd people who entered, by the time Lin Chen reached the entrance to the fifth layer, he had already encountered about fifty, and there he met the three from the Hua Clan of Tengcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lin Chen could speak, Tengcheng’s figure stumbled down from above the entrance; upon seeing Lin Chen, Tengcheng froze, then hurriedly asked: “Did you retrieve the treasure for the Yue Clan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Tengcheng’s question, Lin Chen narrowed his eyes and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the Bing Clan and Yue Clan’s three couldn’t stop you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Lin Chen gave no answer, Tengcheng already knew the answer—and the three of them were not surprised by it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had witnessed Lin Chen’s strength; it was normal that the two from the Bing Clan plus the one from the Yue Clan lost to him. As for Yun Ye’s fate, they were unaware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So far, apart from the Fengxi Clan’s cultivator, everyone else can only stay in the fifth layer for a limited time before retreating to the fourth layer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Hua, seeing Lin Chen’s gaze fixed on the fifth layer, explained why they were waiting at the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure in the fifth layer is immense—so intense that even they cannot remain inside for long; this time, only the Fengxi Clan’s Preheaven Fourth Realm cultivator can endure it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was once another—Yun Ye—but he no longer had the chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for the warning. I’ll give it a try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen nodded, exchanged a few words with them, then stepped into the fifth layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long do you think Lin Chen can hold out in the fifth layer?” Liu Mei asked, watching Lin Chen’s figure vanish into the entrance’s depths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He should last four days—I’m calculating based on the fourth layer’s time flow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tengcheng offered his guess; from when he entered the fifth layer to when he retreated, exactly three days had passed on the fourth layer. Lin Chen was stronger than him; holding out four days should be no problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Longer than that? He didn’t believe Lin Chen could manage it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After stepping in, Lin Chen saw several figures seated cross-legged, emitting various glows, resisting the layer’s pressure while seizing every moment to cultivate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing Lin Chen enter, none of them paid him any attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The most crucial trial in the Thousand Fold Secret Realm is refining the body; only after enduring this can the time flow truly benefit you. If your body cannot withstand the pressure, you cannot genuinely cultivate your realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen recalled Qian Lang’s explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A secret realm with slowed time flow should be coveted by all—but why did only sixty enter this time? Because all ancient clans knew: if your body cannot endure the pressure, entering is meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, you must be able to reach the fourth layer—the time flow in the first three layers barely differs from the outside world. Second, you cannot cultivate many techniques, for under this crushing pressure, even walking is difficult, let alone practicing martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who come here are solely focused on advancing their realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen took a deep breath, then shut off the glow flowing over his skin and ceased activating the Immortal Technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, violent, overwhelming spatial pressure—like invisible heavy water—crushed down upon him from every pore, every inch of skin, every bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen’s body lurched downward; his spine emitted a series of sickening, faint pops. A metallic sweetness surged into his throat, which he forcibly swallowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt as if carrying a collapsing mountain as he walked, or as if plunged to the bottom of a ten-thousand-zhang deep ocean trench—intense pain surged like tidal waves from all directions, crashing against his nerves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This inhuman agony did not make Lin Chen retreat; instead, it ignited his fighting spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene mirrored his early days of cultivation—the agony of refining the Dragon Blood, the torment of the Nine Turns True Blood—flickered faintly in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had endured it then; he could endure it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen abandoned the elegant posture of standing upright—even if he wanted to, he could no longer maintain it. His legs bent slightly, his body like a drawn bow, adopting the stance best suited to absorb impact and forge every bone and muscle; each step was heavy and slow, each lift of his leg accompanied by faint creaks of stretched tendons and grinding bones, each footfall like a sledgehammer striking an anvil, the sound echoing through the silent space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others present stirred at the noise; when they looked up and saw Lin Chen, they first frowned in confusion, then, upon realizing what he was doing, sneered with contempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the start of the Thousand Fold Secret Realm, some did indeed use their bodies to resist pressure, even leveraging it to forge themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But generations of geniuses from all clans had proven one thing: this path is too difficult. Fail once, and you must retreat—so why not rely on the slower time flow here and cultivate your realm in peace? Half a year here equals five years outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the time flow is slowed tenfold, it only equals five years outside because you cannot stay here continuously—you must retreat to the fourth layer after several days to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outpacing peers by five years is already more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people soon closed their eyes; in their view, Lin Chen would abandon this foolishness within days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Thousand Fold Secret Realm always forces every overconfident soul to confront reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen’s steps were slow, but given enough time, he could cover great distance.\u003C\u002Fp>",1663,"2026-06-19T20:25:58.850Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","362643c64d64fda2cb41b6693ffc044516834e2fc654c820688e04d91404347c","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-545","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-543",591,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-cover.jpg"]