Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 67: Chapter 63: Arrange Some Martial Artists from Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall for Him

A courtyard deep within the Martial Arts Garden.

A young woman lay lazily on a chaise lounge, holding a piece of paper in her hand.

”Lin Chen, a disciple of Jingshui Martial Arts Hall, has achieved Small Success in Clear Wind Palm. Interesting indeed.”

”Elder, do you need me to find out why Lin Chen, who practices the Clear Wind Palm, became a disciple of Jingshui Martial Arts Hall?”

The referee who had spoken to Lin Chen earlier now stood respectfully in front of the woman and asked.

”No need.”

The woman’s arm, as fair as white jade, was raised: ”It’s just that kind of thing, keep an eye on it. We can send more martial artists his way, preferably those from the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall.”

As if imagining something amusing, the corners of the woman’s mouth lifted slightly: ”Arrange for those who have achieved Small Success in Clear Wind Palm from Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall to duel with him, but do not expose Lin Chen’s affiliation with Jingshui Martial Arts Hall.”

Upon hearing their Elder’s instructions, Yan He’an understood her intentions.

Arranging duelists from the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall against Lin Chen, those martial artists from the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall would only assume Lin Chen is one of their own, unaware that they are fostering a disciple for Jingshui Martial Arts Hall.

The Elder is definitely stirring things up.

As a subordinate, he could only wholeheartedly meet the Elder’s wishes without letting Lin Chen’s identity be revealed.

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Lin Chen did not expect the Martial Arts Garden to act so quickly.

When he arrived at the Martial Arts Garden the next day, the referee informed him that three martial artists had already accepted the challenge.

A prize fight!

Martial artists can choose to make it public or keep it private.

The so-called private duel does not take place on the stage but somewhere else in the Martial Arts Garden.

After considering for a moment, Lin Chen ultimately decided to keep it private.

With the martial arts hall competition approaching, he did not want to expose too much of himself and risk being targeted by other martial arts hall students, which is one reason he wore a mask.

In the courtyard.

Lin Chen met his first opponent.

A thirty-year-old man, upon seeing Lin Chen wearing a mask, furrowed his brows slightly and asked, ”Are you a new student at this martial arts hall?”

Aside from the new students, there seemed to be no need to wear masks.

”Yes.” Lin Chen replied.

”You...”

Beside him, Yan He’an coughed, ”Ahem, by the rules, you are only to duel on stage, and not to discuss anything else.”

Upon hearing this, the man no longer asked further, but there was a sense of puzzlement. A new student from the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, having achieved Small Success in Clear Wind Palm, would surely be valued by the hall, with no need to come to the Martial Arts Garden for a challenge.

Even if he wanted to advance his understanding of the Clear Wind Palm through dueling, he could do so with the Instructors at the hall or against senior students arranged by the martial arts hall.

There were quite a few students and Instructors in the martial arts hall who had achieved Small Success in Clear Wind Palm.

Although puzzled, the man wouldn’t refuse the five taels of silver waiting to be taken.

The two stepped onto the stage, Lin Chen cupped his fist, warily prepared; the Martial Arts Garden would sponsor his first prize money, but if he lost the first match, he would have to pay for the subsequent ones himself.

He had no money, so losing was not an option.

”Though we are Junior and Senior Brothers, I won’t hold back. Be careful, Junior Brother!”

When his words fell, the man’s figure swayed like a phantom, closing in on Lin Chen. His right hand formed a palm, gently pushing forward, a soft yet powerful force surged from his palm, transforming into an invisible wind blade, aiming directly at Lin Chen’s chest.

Faced with this onslaught, Lin Chen remained unfazed. Instead, the corners of his mouth lifted into a slight smile. His figure turned lightly and seemed to merge into the wind, skillfully evading the attack.

Simultaneously, he lifted his left hand, also executing the Clear Wind Palm. However, his technique bore a subtly imperceptible twist.

”Indeed, he has achieved Small Success in Clear Wind Palm!”

As Li Muyun missed his first strike, a smile appeared on his face. His initial move was merely a probing one, and now it seemed that this junior by a dozen or so generations was no less proficient in the Clear Wind Palm than he was.

The Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall has produced a fine talent this time.

If that’s the case, he might as well impart some more guidance.

The two exchanged moves, palm winds intertwined, the sound of whistling wind could be heard throughout the courtyard. Lin Chen could sense that this person was not using full force; was this a way of feeding him moves?

Lin Chen didn’t care what the other thought; he intended to seize this opportunity.

Practicing the Clear Wind Palm alone was entirely different from deploying it in a duel. In combat, it was about the adaptation and flexibility of the palm technique.

He gained a lot from observing the opponent’s palms.

Especially now as night fell, [All the Way Black] was activated, allowing him to be immersed in this battle, capturing some nuances of his opponent’s technique.

Improve, and improve again!

Li Muyun watched his junior brother grow more confident with each blow, a look of satisfaction on his face. However, after several dozen moves, his smile began to fade.

He found himself caught in the rhythm of his junior brother’s palm technique, failing several times to interrupt it. If this continued, with one rising and the other falling, he would lose to his junior brother.

For Li Muyun, this was unacceptable.

He could offer guidance to his junior brother, but he couldn’t afford to lose to him.

Five taels of silver might not be much of a gain for someone like him, who had only opened four acupoints and wouldn’t see much improvement in his life, but losing it would be painful.

Lin Chen, naturally, was unaware of Li Muyun’s thoughts. At this moment, he only felt that his strikes were becoming more fluid, and some of his confusions about the Clear Wind Palm were gradually being resolved.

After thirty breaths!

When three consecutive palms landed on his opponent, causing the opponent to fall off the platform, Lin Chen broke out of his focused state.

He had won!

Lin Chen whispered to himself, ”Panel.”

[Clear Wind Palm: Small Success (4/10)]

The progress in Clear Wind Palm had increased by 2 points.

Li Muyun looked at Lin Chen, who remained silent on stage, with an angry expression on his face, feeling that this junior brother was being quite disrespectful.

”Farewell!”

Li Muyun left with a darkened face, and when Lin Chen realized what had happened, he didn’t know what to say.

”Young master, do you wish to challenge the next one?”

Yan He’an asked with a smile. He hadn’t practiced the Clear Wind Palm, but he had observed the battle clearly, feeling that Lin Chen had made noticeable progress in it.

”Continue.” Lin Chen nodded.

Yan He’an walked out of the courtyard with a smile, and after a brief tea break, brought in another martial artist.

This time, the opponent said nothing, immediately stepping onto the platform. Lin Chen cupped his fists in salute before making the first move.

Only after exchanging blows did Lin Chen realize that this was another martial artist who practiced the Clear Wind Palm.

What a coincidence.

Lin Chen felt a bit regretful that although this person also had small success in the Clear Wind Palm, they seemed slightly inferior to the previous opponent. However, the way they executed the technique ”Wind-Rolling Clouds” caught his attention.

”Wind-Rolling Clouds” is a killing move in the Clear Wind Palm, but it has a noticeable pause to gather momentum. This person cleverly integrated a punch into the technique, offsetting this flaw.

After a hundred breaths, he defeated the opponent.

This time, Lin Chen chose not to continue challenging but to rest instead.

After two consecutive battles, he wasn’t unscathed, having taken several blows himself, and his Qi and blood were also churning.

As he adjusted his breathing, he recalled the battle just now.

A quarter of an hour later, Lin Chen looked at Yan He’an, ”Senior, let’s stop here for today.”

He had gained some insights and knew that it was time to focus on understanding, rather than continue fighting.

”Alright, I’ll notify the other martial artists to return at this time tomorrow.”

Yan He’an’s expression didn’t change, though he glanced at the sky and said, ”If Young Master Lin doesn’t wish to return to the martial arts hall, you can rest in the Martial Arts Garden. The Martial Arts Garden can provide a courtyard for Young Master Lin.”

In the Martial Arts Garden, only Viscera-Refining Martial Artists are qualified for a courtyard, but Yan He’an was willing to open this door for Lin Chen.

In other sects, a thirty-year-old Viscera-Refining Martial Artist is far more important than a young acolyte who has merely opened four acupoints, but here in the Martial Arts Garden, a sixteen-year-old with small success in cultivation techniques is far more valued than a thirty-year-old Viscera-Refining Martial Artist.

Lin Chen pondered for a moment and finally agreed, ”Thank you, Senior.”

It’s usually prohibited for students to stay overnight outside the martial arts hall, but since he had taken leave to practice the Flying Swallow Technique before, doing so now for the Clear Wind Palm should be acceptable.

Rules are generally only for ordinary students, Lin Chen was well aware of this.

Like Senior Sister Jiang, the martial arts hall requires students to wear training uniforms, but whenever she appeared in public, she never wore a uniform.

Soon after, a maid from the Martial Arts Garden led Lin Chen to a courtyard. It was smaller than the one Junior Brother Zhao had taken him to before, but Lin Chen was already very satisfied. This courtyard was much larger than the small dormitory cottages provided by the martial arts hall.

Taking advantage of the night!

Lin Chen stood in the courtyard, recalling the battles earlier, and soon found himself in a state of transcendence.

The night was silent, and the palm winds spoke of the young man’s effort.

As well as the constantly falling leaves.

[Clear Wind Palm: Small Success (5/10)]

[Clear Wind Palm: Small Success (6/10)]

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PS: Brothers, the new book period is about to end. The following week is crucial. The editor said to hold it out next week for a recommendation. This is a critical week, asking for next month’s ticket to know that you’re still here, alright? Love you all, mwah mwah.