Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 107: Chapter 13: First Hearing of Entering the Grade, the Youth Chooses the Path of Limit (Bonus Chapter)

One foot into the grade!

Lin Chen’s pupils contracted slightly, but just this point alone was not enough to captivate him.

With the existence of the ”Natural Progress” Life Chart, there is no concept of a bottleneck for him, and entering the grade is just a matter of time.

Unless entering the grade is not as simple as he imagined, not merely a bottleneck in terms of realm.

”In Poyang County, there have been no less than a hundred martial artists achieving perfect viscera refining in the past ten years, but less than one out of ten could eventually enter the grade.”

Su Lingchuan’s eyes gleamed with wisdom as he continued, ”The three great realms of body forging – Qi cultivation, opening the acupoints, and refining the viscera – already push the limits of human potential. Without special circumstances, there is no possibility of further improvement in the physical body after achieving great success in viscera refining. To advance from refining the viscera to entering the grade is no longer merely a breakthrough in physical strength.”

”In Poyang County over the past ten years, there have been as many as a hundred martial artists achieving great success in viscera refining, but less than one out of ten could enter the grade. This is because, from viscera refining to entering the grade, any rare bird or pill that replenishes Qi and blood is useless. To take this step, one must coalesce Martial Path Will.”

Martial Path Will?

Lin Chen’s eyelids drooped slightly as he thought about that scroll.

”Each of the eight great martial arts halls possesses a set of grade-entering techniques. The difference between these and ordinary techniques is something you should understand without my saying, and the reason these techniques can explode with power several times their own strength lies in the word ’grade.’ These techniques inherently contain Martial Path Will.”

”There are various ways for a martial artist to coalesce Martial Path Will. The most common is to use a ’weapon’ as the embryo, harmonizing oneself with the weapon’s divine soul to stimulate Martial Path Will through the weapon’s spirit. This is the grade-entering path most martial artists take, including myself.”

Upon hearing this from Lord Su, Lin Chen thought back to when Hall Master Kong took him to meet Hall Master Zeng, who was holding a horizontal saber, and Hall Master Kong said that Hall Master Zeng was comprehending the blade spirit at the time.

After a moment of contemplation, Lin Chen asked again, ”Lord, are martial artists on this path extremely rare?”

Su Lingchuan looked sharply at Lin Chen and said, ”I can only tell you that one hundred thirty years ago, Poyang County had only one martial arts hall. All students had to cultivate three techniques, and viscera-refining martial artists were extremely rare, but once someone entered viscera refining, it was as if one foot had already stepped into the grade.”

Such a high grade-entering ratio?

Lin Chen was surprised, realizing that this so-called extreme cultivation path was the path martial artists had to take a hundred years ago.

”One hundred thirty-five years ago, Master Su of the Martial Arts Department created another path to enter the grade, which involved coalescing Martial Path Will through weapons. Since then, martial arts halls in each county began to change, and Poyang County’s halls split into eight, forming the current structure.”

”Since the change, the number of viscera-refining martial artists in Liang has skyrocketed, but the proportion of those who can enter the grade has decreased.”

Having heard this, Lin Chen understood.

The grade-entering path created by that Master Su lowered the difficulty of opening the acupoints and refining the viscera in the early stages, leading to a significant increase in the number of viscera-refining martial artists. Even though the proportion decreased, as long as the base number was large enough, the total number of those entering the grade was still greater than before.

”Lord, are there differences between the two different cultivation paths after entering the grade?”

”For those who coalesce Martial Path Will through weapons, to further advance on the Martial Path, they need to continuously elevate the weapon’s grade and collect numerous precious materials. Those who enter the grade through the limit of cultivation techniques do not need to collect weapon materials on their subsequent martial arts path.”

Su Lingchuan knew what Lin Chen was concerned about because he himself had asked his teacher the same question years ago. He continued, ”The difference in strength depends on the individual. If the weapon of a grade-entering martial artist is nurtured to be strong enough, they can be invincible within the same realm.”

The word ”also” encapsulated everything.

Lin Chen discerned the subtext of Lord Su’s words. Martial artists who enter the grade through weapons derive their strength from the weapon’s grade, while those following the path of cultivation technique extremity can be invincible within the same realm without needing a weapon.

”It seems that the path of extreme martial arts is more suited for me.”

Lin Chen made a decision. This decision was not born out of blind confidence but precisely because of recognizing his weaknesses, he decided to choose this path.

Entering the grade through weapons requires nurturing the weapon, collecting materials, and upgrading the weapon’s grade. Those of noble lineage have wealth and connections, giving them an advantage over him in gathering materials.

Regardless of whether it is the ”Natural Progress” Life Chart or possible future titles, they all pertain to himself.

It’s truly as they say, the poor rely on mutation, and the rich rely on technology.

This principle is eternally valid, even in the Otherworld.

”Lord, I wish to follow the path of extreme martial arts.”

Lin Chen was not one to be indecisive. Having analyzed the pros and cons, he provided his answer.

”Good!”

Su Lingchuan stroked his beard and said, ”I’ll inform the Mountain Suppressing Martial Arts Hall on your behalf, you just go.”

”Thank you, lord.”

After encouraging Lin Chen with a few words, Su Lingchuan bid him farewell. Lin Chen left the hall, and a servant was waiting at the door to guide him to the treasure vault of the Martial Arts Institute.

Four hundred taels in silver tickets, and two Acupoint Opening Pills!

This was his reward for winning first in the competition, of which two hundred taels were a reward from the government office, as told by people from the Martial Affairs Office.

He was carrying a huge sum!

Leaving the Martial Affairs Office, Lin Chen’s smile broadened. He had obtained two hundred seventy taels from Zhou San, and after paying back Junior Brother Lu and the others, he now had a total of six hundred twenty taels. With more rewards surely coming from the martial arts hall, and considering the value of the two Acupoint Opening Pills, he was a burgeoning millionaire with a thousand taels.