Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 175: Chapter 46: Lingxiao Aspiration of the Cold Cottage, Iron Spine Bearing Heavenly Light

Martial Arts Garden!

To Lin Chen’s surprise, just as he returned to the courtyard arranged for him in the Martial Arts Garden, Senior Yan arrived right after.

”Congratulations, Young Master Lin, on winning first place in the county martial competition.”

”Senior Yan, your information is truly well-informed.”

”Nothing that happens within the martial circle of Raozhou Prefecture can be hidden from the Martial Arts Garden. I also know that just a few days ago, a spy was sent from Raozhou Prefecture to Yongfeng County.”

These words from Yan He’an clearly had a hint of meaning, causing Lin Chen’s eyes to narrow, ”Perhaps Senior He would speak more plainly.”

”The Lian Family, I fear, is colluding with the Demon Race. Raozhou Prefecture has already caught wind of this.”

The Lian Family colluding with the Demon Race?

Lin Chen frowned; the Lian Family is the largest family in Yongfeng County, with deep roots. Every martial artist knows Liang’s stance on the Demon Race; such a collusion would be courting death.

No noble family would be this foolish unless they stood to gain significant benefits, worthy of such a dangerous gamble.

”Young Master Lin had a bout with Lian Cheng at the gates of the Military Affairs Department. How did you find Lian Cheng’s strength?” Yan He’an asked.

”His strength isn’t beneath mine, especially his force; it’s only slightly weaker than mine.”

Yan He’an smiled slightly: ”Young Master Lin walks the Extreme Martial Arts Path, so your Qi Blood should naturally be much stronger than other martial artists. That Lian Cheng only has fifteen acupoints, his strength comparable to Shen Ge, yet he possesses no innate great strength. How can he compete with Young Master Lin?”

Lin Chen’s eyes lit up: ”Senior, are you saying that Lian Cheng’s immense strength has something to do with the Demon Race?”

”The rare bird meat from Poyang County can increase Qi Blood; what about demon beast flesh?”

”Demon beast flesh can increase a martial artist’s Qi Blood far beyond that of rare bird meat.”

”That’s correct.” Yan He’an nodded: ”In fact, the demon fiends of the previous dynasties, including Great Chu of the former dynasty, were rampant precisely because the court aristocratic families wanted to increase their Qi Blood by using demon race blood and flesh.”

”Senior Yan, if that’s the case, the Lian Family should have killed a demon beast and acquired its flesh. This doesn’t need to be concealed, does it?”

”Indeed, there are remnants of the Demon Race within Liang, but with the Lian Family’s power, they would not be able to find them. The only way for the Lian Family to contact the Demon Race is if the Demon Race reached out to them first. It seems the Lian Family has made some kind of deal with them.”

For Lin Chen, Yan He’an made no reservations, sharing all information gathered from various channels of the Martial Arts Garden.

Lin Chen pondered. The Lian Family’s collusion with the Demon Race—since Raozhou Prefecture has noticed, they will naturally resolve it. If the Lian Family were wiped out, it would benefit Lin Chen by eliminating a family that harbored resentment against him.

”I won’t disturb Young Master Lin any further. If you wish to gain insights from the Thousand Hammer Map, you can go on your own. I must also leave the Martial Arts Garden for a time.”

”Thank you, Senior.”

Lin Chen didn’t inquire about Senior Yan’s reasons for leaving the Martial Arts Garden, knowing their relationship was not close enough to merit such questions.

After watching Senior Yan depart, Lin Chen took out the Snake Shadow Bow from his coat.

Lord Su hadn’t asked what item he chose from the Treasure Vault, but Lin Chen knew it wasn’t due to a lack of interest—Lord Su was probably planning to ask him in a few more days.

After all, winning first place in the county martial competition awarded not only the privilege of selecting an item from the C-grade Treasure Vault by the Military Affairs Department, but also two Acupoint Opening Pills.

Having taken two pills, the extra one could be transferred to someone else, depending on the highest bidder.

Pop!

He pressed the mechanism on the bow grip, watching as the Snake Shadow Bow’s body expanded to three feet. Lin Chen once again attempted to draw the bow, and only after exerting all his strength did he bring the bowstring to a half-drawn state.

Breaking a branch, Lin Chen placed it on the bowstring, attempting to shoot from the half-drawn state.

The bowstring vibrated, the branch shot out explosively but shattered less than three feet away in mid-air.

Was it because the branch couldn’t withstand the force of the bowstring?

Lin Chen frowned, walked to the weapon rack, and slapped the sword hanging there.

The sword responded by breaking into two pieces. Lin Chen picked up the tip, placed the broken part against the bowstring, and attempted to draw the bow again.

Swish!

The sword tip shot out, but again, it burst open after less than a yard, scattering like an immortal scattering flowers.

”You think I’m shooting arrows; in fact, I’m using concealed weapons, and quite indiscriminate ones at that, like an immortal scattering flowers.”

Lin Chen found this somewhat exasperating. The sword wasn’t light either, yet it couldn’t endure the force of the bowstring—surely it wasn’t a question of insufficient hardness.

Where was the problem?

Does the Snake Shadow Bow perhaps have a special technique for drawing, or does it require a specific type of arrow?

While Lin Chen was studying the Snake Shadow Bow, far away in the Lian Family of Yongfeng County...

”Useless. This seat helped you increase your Qi Blood by fifty percent, and yet you failed to bring back what I wanted.”

In the depths of the old residence, a cold voice echoed as Lian Cheng stood with his head lowered in the courtyard. Before him stood a man covered in scales.

”Your statement is excessive. Cheng’er entered the Treasure Vault, yet the item you mentioned wasn’t there; I would say the Lian Family has completed its agreement with you.”

Outside the courtyard, two middle-aged men walked out—the Clan Leader and Great Elder of the Lian Family, also the only two Ninth-Grade Martial Artists of the family whose Qi Blood had yet to decline.

”What, could it be that your Lian Family wishes to break the agreement?”

The man with scales cast a sinister glance at the Lian Family’s Grade-Entering Powerhouses, sneering continuously.

”Our Lian Family would never break an agreement. Perhaps your information is incorrect, and that bow isn’t in the Military Affairs Department’s C-grade Treasure Vault?”