Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 266: Chapter 78: All Old Foxes

In Shao Jingshan’s mind, if there’s any student in Raozhou Prefecture who might make a mark on Martial Arts Mountain, it’s only that little girl from the Jiang Family.

After all, she’s the daughter of Jiang Duanchao!

”No, it’s Lin Chen from Poyang County!”

The elder on the left didn’t leave them hanging; Shao Jingshan squinted slightly: ”Are the people from the Raozhou Prefecture Military Affairs Department still here?”

”They’re waiting just outside the courtyard.”

”Invite them in.”

...

...

A quarter of an hour later, Xu Luncai withdrew, leaving only Shao Jingshan and the three elders in the courtyard.

”Sir, I never expected Lin Chen to have such potential.”

”The potential is there, but the resource consumption is also significant. According to the message from the Special Training Ground, the resources used by Lin Chen alone are enough for several students to go from Opening the Acupoints to Refining the Viscera.”

”So what?” The elder on the left scoffed, ”Junior Brother Jia, if I give you the same resources, can you cultivate a student like Lin Chen for me?”

Shao Jingshan laughed warmly, ”Senior Brother Zhang is right. Compared to Lin Chen’s potential, these resources are trivial. Lin Chen indeed has some boldness, not only walking the path of Extreme Martial Arts but also daring to try Zhao Cangsheng’s cultivation theory.”

”Sir, it’s not that I’m against consuming resources on Lin Chen; it’s just that if we can save, we should save. Perhaps saving a little now will mean Jiangnan Dao gains another Grade-Entering Martial Artist in the future,” Jia Nanzhu explained. ”Sir, you should know that I’ve been researching the ratio of realm breakthroughs to cultivation resources over the years. The rewards and resources allocated to students across all Military Affairs Departments and Offices in Jiangnan Dao were set by me.”

”When it comes to the consumption of cultivation resources at various realms, no one in Jiangnan Dao understands better than me.” With that, Jia Nanzhu clasped his hands and said, ”Sir, please allow me to visit the Special Training Ground and guide Lin Chen’s subsequent martial arts cultivation, aiming for him to make a name on Martial Arts Mountain as soon as possible.”

”Shameless!”

Zhang Difeng finally realized what Jia Nanzhu intended.

This isn’t about opposing Lin Chen’s resource consumption; it’s about taking the opportunity to go to the Special Training Ground and possibly even making Lin Chen a direct disciple.

His calculations were truly cunning.

”Junior Brother Jia, what do you mean no one in Jiangnan Dao understands better than you? The assessments and rewards you set were meant for ordinary talents. Can Lin Chen be considered ordinary? If anyone should go, it’s me. At least ten years ago, I had a disciple who reached this stage on Martial Arts Mountain.”

”Senior Brother Zhang, if I’m not mistaken, you said ten years ago that you wouldn’t take any more disciples. It’s inappropriate for you to guide Lin Chen.”

”I’m just going to guide Lin Chen, not take him as a disciple,” Zhang Difeng argued.

”Really?” Jia Nanzhu sneered, ”Why don’t you swear on it, Senior Brother Zhang?”

”Jia Nanzhu, would you dare to swear?”

The two confronted each other, ready to fight at a moment’s notice, setting the whole courtyard on edge.

”Junior Brothers, stop fooling around, what kind of decorum is this if seen by others?” Shao Jingshan said sternly, causing Jia Nanzhu and Zhang Difeng to exchange a glance before reluctantly averting their gazes.

”Sir, I’m not fooling around. Not long ago, regarding the model martial arts student in Jiangnan Dao, I said Lin Chen was suitable, but Junior Brother Jia denied it. Isn’t sending him to the Special Training Ground disheartening Lin Chen?”

”Senior Brother Zhang, while I do call you Senior Brother, you’re really tarnishing my name,” Jia Nanzhu said, agitatedly, ”You stated Lin Chen’s accomplishments could indeed inspire students in Jiangnan Dao, but... you followed it with a ’but’. We’re both old hands here, who are you pretending to be the good guy for?”

After speaking, Jia Nanzhu looked at Shao Jingshan, ”Sir, I wasn’t denying Lin Chen at the time. I wanted to come up with a method that all the prefectures could agree on, considering Lin Chen’s modest strength, leading to a public nomination.”

”Public nomination, my foot! Lin Chen is just a fisherman’s son. In a public selection, where would he stand an advantage? That’s unfair to Lin Chen.”

”You want fairness, Zhang Difeng? Why didn’t you oppose it back then?”

”I didn’t understand your sinister intentions at the time.”

With ’sinister intentions’ thrown in, Jia Nanzhu became furious, ”Baldness Zhang, do you want to fight?”

”I’ve long wanted to confront you, Ill-intentioned Jia. Let’s settle this.”

”Is it that neither of you two listens to what I say anymore?”

Seeing them about to come to blows, Shao Jingshan released an oppressive force, and the terrifying aura of a Third Grade martial artist instantly subdued Jia Nanzhu and Zhang Difeng.

”Stop performing in front of me. Rest assured, I have no intention of taking Lin Chen as a disciple.”

Shao Jingshan knew perfectly well why these two junior brothers were making such a fuss; they were just worried he might also consider taking Lin Chen as a disciple.

Indeed, he had a fleeting thought, but given his position, he knew it wouldn’t be appropriate to take Lin Chen as a disciple.

”I am the Hall Chief of the Military Affairs Hall; it’s not suitable for me to take Lin Chen as a disciple, and the same goes for you two. Don’t harbor any intentions toward Lin Chen.”

Upon hearing this, Jia Nanzhu and Zhang Difeng both looked disappointed, realizing they had forgotten this provision.

The Military Affairs Department has regulations: those in key positions aren’t allowed to take martial artists under their jurisdiction as disciples.

”Sir, what if I resign from my position?”

Jia Nanzhu suddenly spoke, stunning both Shao Jingshan and Zhang Difeng.

”Junior Brother Jia, don’t joke around.”

”Sir, I am not joking.”

Jia Nanzhu said solemnly, ”Since that battle back then, I’ve had a hidden ailment, making further progress on the Martial Path impossible. Over the years, I’ve focused my energy on nurturing students, hoping Jiangnan Dao would produce another martial arts genius. I know Lin Chen’s situation very well, and not long ago, I asked Qiu Rufeng to deliver a Cultivation Technique book on archery to Lin Chen.”