Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 187: Chapter 50: Contest for Jiangnan Dao Exemplary Student

Inside the iron house.

The light flickered intermittently.

Lin Chen stood there calmly, each time the heavy hammer fell, his Iron Bone Skill also operated throughout his body.

The initial hundred hammer strikes could no longer cause him any harm.

Originally, after achieving perfection in the Iron Bone Skill, Lin Chen didn’t plan to continue coming to this small iron house to endure the hammer strikes anytime soon, he wasn’t a masochist.

But with both the Water Cloud Palm and Clear Wind Palm breaking limit, a thought suddenly came to his mind, wondering if the Iron Bone Skill could also reach the limit-breaking point.

This time, with his Qi Blood surpassing the 300,000 mark, Lin Chen could distinctly feel a significant change in his body compared to before.

Ever since achieving perfection in the Iron Bone Skill, Lin Chen’s command over his body had reached an astonishing level.

This was something unattainable with the perfection of Clear Wind Palm and Water Cloud Palm.

Only the Horizontal Training technique could achieve this, and Lin Chen speculated that perhaps only a Horizontal Training technique at the level of Iron Bone Skill could achieve this.

According to Elder Li, the Iron Bone Skill is not an ordinary Grade-Entering Technique, but a Middle-Grade Technique, with its latter section meant for Grade-Entering Martial Artists to cultivate.

He had not yet entered the grade; to cultivate the latter section Mountain Suppressing Chart, the current strength of his body was not sufficient.

One hundred and fiftieth strike!

As one hammer fell, Lin Chen trembled all over, yet his face revealed an expression of excitement. Although he was not a masochist, the fall of these heavy hammers made his whole body’s Qi Blood surge, pain mixed with a sense of gratification, which was indeed quite captivating to him.

Especially after his Qi Blood value surpassed the 300,000 mark, at this moment, as his Qi Blood surged within, the speed at which it operated was even faster than when he exerted his full effort to operate the Iron Bone Skill.

However, this operation lacked direction.

If his Qi Blood was a flame imprisoned, in the past, operating Iron Bone Skill was equivalent to unlocking the shackles, allowing the flame to eject in the desired direction.

But after being struck with the hammer, the shackles were likewise unlocked, yet the flame uncontrollably splattered in all directions.

The speed of the former vastly lagged behind the latter.

”Perhaps I could try not controlling it, letting Qi Blood collide within my body. If my body endures long enough, could it develop resistance?”

A daring thought emerged in Lin Chen’s mind, as there was still half of the Purple Crystal Marrow Liquid left; even if his body got injured, it could recover.

The only thing to endure was the pain from Qi Blood colliding within the body.

The so-called resistance refers to still having adequate combat power even when wounded.

Simply put, if injuries are frequent enough, the body becomes accustomed to them.

It’s undeniable that this was a very bold idea.

But this idea emerged in Lin Chen’s mind after battling the Snake Monster.

If he could maintain combat power in a wounded state or preserve his strength in a short time, he would have an additional edge when facing formidable enemies.

Iron Bone Skill, a type of Horizontal Training technique, focuses on training the exterior; but could the interior possibly be trained as well?

Thud!

As the next heavy hammer fell, Lin Chen ceased to operate the Iron Bone Skill for defense, feeling as if a storm was raging within him, his complexion turning pale instantly.

With 300,000 Qi Blood chaotically colliding within, like raging waves, Lin Chen’s body trembled unceasingly, biting his teeth tightly to prevent the blood welling up in his throat from spilling out.

One hammer, two hammers, three hammers...

After enduring three hammers, Lin Chen could no longer hold on, spewing a mouthful of blood.

”Cough cough.”

Lin Chen staggered out of the iron house, returning to his courtyard; the maid in the Martial Arts Garden seemed to have anticipated this, already preparing warm water in advance.

Pouring a drop of Purple Crystal Marrow Liquid into the bath barrel, Lin Chen stepped directly into the barrel, beginning to absorb the medicinal effects of the Purple Crystal Marrow Liquid.

After half a two-hour period, stepping out of the bath barrel, Lin Chen immediately reviewed his panel, discovering no change in his Qi Blood value on the panel, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

Whether this approach would leave hidden troubles in his body depended on whether there were changes in Qi Blood value by tomorrow.

...

...

Raozhou Military Affairs Department.

Su Lingchuan waited in the backyard, unaware of why his teacher suddenly summoned him to the Military Affairs Department.

Could it be that the Snake Shadow Bow has a significant background, and the teacher has discovered its true origins?

It seems that this is the only possibility.

A tea’s time later, the courtyard door was pushed open. Seeing his teacher come in, Su Lingchuan hurriedly saluted. Meanwhile, his heart skipped a beat; his teacher’s expression seemed to reflect some dissatisfaction.

”I reported Lin Chen’s achievements to the Jiangnan Dao Military Affairs Hall, but the hall suppressed it.”

”Suppressed it?”

Knowing the reason for his teacher’s dissatisfaction, Su Lingchuan first let out a sigh of relief—at least it wasn’t something he did wrong that angered his teacher.

But immediately, Su Lingchuan also became angry: ”Why would the Military Affairs Hall suppress it? Given Lin Chen’s background and the accomplishments he has achieved thus far, even if he can’t be directly selected as the Jiangnan Dao Academy Model, they should at least send someone to investigate.”

The Jiangnan Dao Academy Model is not only an honor but also affects the resource allocation from the Military Affairs Hall. Naturally, Su Lingchuan knew the hall wouldn’t agree just because of a document from his teacher.

The proper procedure is for the Military Affairs Hall to send someone to investigate, verify Lin Chen’s achievements, then report up, and finally discuss whether Lin Chen is qualified to be established as the Jiangnan Dao Academy Model.

Without even conducting an investigation, directly reaching a conclusion, this move by the Military Affairs Hall clearly doesn’t follow protocol.

”That old thing from Hongdu Prefecture directly declared Lin Chen’s strength insufficient. Academy Model isn’t a contest of poverty; it’s not about who comes from poverty gets to be a model. Otherwise, just go to the roadside and pull a beggar in.”

Su Lingchuan’s mouth twitched. That director from Hongdu Prefecture is really good at sleight-of-hand; a roadside beggar can cultivate to Open fourteen acupoints and walk the extreme path.

Qiu Rufeng, in front of his disciple, didn’t hold back, directly cursing: ”And then there’s that old scoundrel from Wenzhou Prefecture, being sarcastic, saying Lin Chen walks the extreme path, then gets selected as the Jiangnan Dao Academy Model—it’s all calculated by me. He almost explicitly said I deliberately arranged for Lin Chen to walk the extreme martial arts path to add points for his selection as the model.”

”And then there’s that old guy from Huizhou Prefecture, saying if Lin Chen walks the extreme martial arts path and isn’t graded within three years, the Jiangnan Dao will become a laughing stock for other paths.”

After the cursing, Qiu Rufeng’s tone finally softened: ”Unexpectedly, Quzhou Prefecture even supported Lin Chen.”

”Teacher, Quzhou Prefecture supports Lin Chen. It should be because of that Elder Li from Quzhou.”

Su Lingchuan knew how Lin Chen perfected his Iron Bone Skill, and with Elder Li’s influence in Quzhou, convincing the director of Quzhou Prefecture’s Military Affairs Department not to oppose wasn’t too difficult.

”Old man understands this too—Elder Li is quite optimistic about Lin Chen’s future.”

Su Lingchuan contemplated for a moment: ”Teacher, other prefectures opposing is quite expected. If Lin Chen is set as the Jiangnan Dao Academy Model, the cultivation resources from the Military Affairs Hall will surely tilt towards here in Raozhou. With more resources for our Raozhou Prefecture, other prefectures will have less. But why did the Military Affairs Hall suppress it?”

Controversy and opposition are undoubtedly present.

What Su Lingchuan couldn’t comprehend was why the Military Affairs Hall would suppress it.

”In Raozhou Prefecture, some also disagree.” Qiu Rufeng said softly.

”Is there opposition in Raozhou Prefecture as well?”

This time, Su Lingchuan was truly shocked. If Lin Chen is selected as the Jiangnan Dao Academy Model, the beneficiaries are all the Martial Academy’s disciples from Raozhou Prefecture. Given his understanding of Lin Chen, Lin Chen hadn’t offended any martial arts clans.

Besides the Shao family that already moved, no other families in Poyang County hold malice against Lin Chen, but the Shao family shouldn’t have such influence.

”Old man doesn’t know who opposes him, but there are only a few families who could influence the Military Affairs Hall.”

Qiu Rufeng snorted lightly. Throughout Raozhou Prefecture, only four families could influence the Military Affairs Hall.

”Jiang, Huo, Shu, Lv.”

”Jiang Family?” Su Lingchuan, in the presence of his teacher, didn’t conceal his suspicions, but after proposing Jiang Family, he immediately dismissed it, not waiting for his teacher to respond.

”Scholar Jiang came from Linhu Village. Although there’s something peculiar between Scholar Jiang and Linhu Village, having such promising young talent from his hometown, he wouldn’t hinder his prospects. Moreover, Scholar Jiang’s daughter has a good relationship with Lin Chen, making it even less likely.”

”Eliminating Jiang Family, Lord Lv from Lv Family has shifted focus to the Capital Region in recent years. The Lv Family is likely relocating entirely to the Capital Region and doesn’t care much about Raozhou Prefecture’s affairs anymore.”

”The Huo Family and Shu Family...”

Su Lingchuan frowned; both families have been in Raozhou Prefecture for over a century. Unlike the newly risen Jiang Family, which is still climbing, these two families have already started their decline.

However, the dead camel is bigger than the horse. The last clan leaders from Shu and Huo families were Fifth-Grade powerhouses and left numerous connections.

”Shu Family... Inspector Shu!”

Su Lingchuan’s eyes suddenly brightened, turning to his teacher: ”Teacher, the disciple mentioned before that Lin Chen could obtain the Opening Acupoints Pill due to Shu Suwan from the Shu Family helping. Based on my later investigation, Shu Suwan and Yu Yongnian seem to have some connection. Could that be relevant?”

Qiu Rufeng’s aged eyes slightly squinted, aware of the implication in his disciple’s words.

The Shu Family looks down on Yu Yongnian and thus dislikes Lin Chen; after pondering for a while, he said: ”The current clan leader of the Shu Family is extremely wise. Even if they were dissatisfied with their daughter’s feelings for Yu Yongnian, knowing Lin Chen’s potential, they wouldn’t act rashly—they can completely wait.”

”Considering Yu Yongnian’s mentor-disciple relationship with Lin Chen, even if Yu Yongnian hasn’t had significant success in martial arts, as long as Lin Chen progresses far in martial arts, it’s like Yu Yongnian’s success is tied to Lin Chen’s progress. The Shu Family’s clan leader can understand this.”

Su Lingchuan’s mouth slightly opened, initially thinking his teacher’s analysis was exaggerated, but upon further thought, it did make some sense.

The greater Lin Chen’s martial arts realm, the higher Yu Yongnian’s status rises.

With many stories of masters gaining prestige through their disciples, Liang is no stranger to such instances.

”Then it can only be the Huo Family. But what enmity could the Huo Family possibly have with Lin Chen?”

PS: This Chapter is only three thousand words; not playing coy. Additional Chapters count above ten thousand words per day, so today, either two more Chapters or one large Chapter exceeding seven thousand words—sincerely seeking subscriptions and monthly votes. The first three months after release are crucial.