Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 289: Chapter 87: Second Recognition, Martial Arts Seal Reward (Part 3)

”Are you not afraid of Senior Sister Jiang anymore?” Jia Nanzhu asked with a chuckle.

”Although Senior Sister Jiang is powerful, I am not confident, yet I will do my best. You are right; a martial artist must first have a heart that dares to challenge everything.”

Lin Chen laughed softly, thinking to himself that he could only apologize to Senior Sister Jiang.

...

...

”Lord Jia indeed looks after Lin Chen a lot.”

”Everyone, let’s not feign ignorance. Since Lord Jia has already mentioned it, half of the rewards this time should indeed go to Lin Chen.”

Min Huanbo and his group of six left the bamboo forest and returned to the council hall, each with a look of regret on their faces. This time, the rewards they had set were substantial, and giving half to Lin Chen was causing them some heartache.

”Alright, without Lin Chen, there would be nothing at all. Giving half to Lin Chen isn’t unreasonable.” Chen Ping spoke up, glancing at the others. ”Lord Jia is right, we’ve been too focused on personal gains and losses in this matter, overlooking the predicament Lin Chen would face if he failed.”

To have one’s name engraved on Martial Arts Mountain is to be ambitious and boundlessly arrogant.

By then, rumors would inevitably spread outside, and the public wouldn’t believe it was us who arranged this for Lin Chen. They would think Lin Chen, after making a name on Martial Arts Mountain, had become arrogant and careless.

”Senior Brother Chen is correct; we didn’t consider this thoroughly. I have no objections to giving half the rewards to Lin Chen.”

”Saying it this way, suddenly giving Lin Chen seventy percent of the rewards doesn’t seem as significant anymore.”

Chen Ping smiled slightly, about to respond, when footsteps were heard at the door. He looked in that direction.

”Instructor, there’s a message from the Military Affairs Hall.”

Xue Yun walked into the hall holding a sealed scroll. Chen Ping reached out to take it and began to open it, while Min Huanbo and the others watched with curiosity. Why would the Military Affairs Hall send a message at this time? Could it be that the rewards for Lin Chen have arrived?

Yet, that couldn’t be right, as Lin Chen was expected to go to the Military Affairs Hall to claim his reward according to the rules.

So was the message asking them to escort Lin Chen to the Military Affairs Hall?

Chen Ping broke the seal and, upon a quick glance at the contents, his pupils shrank abruptly as he stood silent with the paper in hand.

”Senior Brother Chen, what’s written in the message from the Military Affairs Hall?”

Seeing Chen Ping’s expression, the others grew even more curious about what was written that it could evoke such a reaction from Senior Brother Chen.

”The Military Affairs Hall asked us to inquire with Lin Chen if he has made his name again on Martial Arts Mountain.”

A few moments later, Chen Ping finally spoke, and his words left Min Huanbo and the others stunned.

”Haha, Senior Brother Chen, you must be joking. Why would the Military Affairs Hall send a message to ask this? Lin Chen just engraved his name at the Opening of Eighteen Acupoints, and only a few days have passed...”

The man stopped mid-sentence, suddenly recalling that Lin Chen had recently mentioned he had reached the Opening of Nineteen Acupoints.

”The Military Affairs Hall wouldn’t ask us without reason; surely there is someone, likely a student from Jiangnan Dao, who has made a name on Martial Arts Mountain, and Lin Chen’s chances are high. Let me go and ask.”

”I’m coming too.”

”Wait for me, Senior Brother Chen.”

Min Huanbo watched as his senior brothers left quickly and followed suit. While they could wait here for the news, everyone was eager to find out if it was really Lin Chen and didn’t want to just sit around.

”If it is Lin Chen, then why didn’t he mention it earlier? Wait a minute...”

Min Huanbo felt he was onto something; Lin Chen had returned to the bamboo forest, and they had immediately informed him of the duel, which he then declined due to supposed insufficient strength.

”That kid is something else.”

Engraving his name consecutively at the Opening of Eighteen Acupoints and Nineteen Acupoints, this strength was more than capable of dominating.

Lin Chen deliberately declined, as for the purpose... naturally, it was to negotiate for better terms.

Smart kid, even those from humble backgrounds can be so cunning?

...

...

”Are you saying you engraved your name on Martial Arts Mountain again?”

In the bamboo forest, Lin Chen did not hide from Jia Nanzhu the fact that he had made his name for a second time on Martial Arts Mountain.

Jia Nanzhu’s breath was slightly rapid, and seeing this, Lin Chen took out the Martial Arts Seal from his chest.

”This is the reward I received for engraving my name a second time on Martial Arts Mountain.”

”A Martial Arts Seal?”

Seeing the seal in Lin Chen’s hand, Jia Nanzhu spoke softly, now thoroughly convinced of Lin Chen’s claim.

”You’ve indeed given me a shock. I never doubted your potential to make a name a second time, just didn’t expect it so soon.”

The old eyes of Jia Nanzhu gleamed with admiration. Such a genius appearing in Jiangnan Dao, especially from a low-class family, was astonishing.

”Instructor, what is the use of this Martial Arts Seal? After I received it, I gained Martial Points...”

”I don’t know either.”

Jia Nanzhu shook his head directly. ”I’ve only heard that as long as a genius gets their name engraved twice on Martial Arts Mountain, they receive a Martial Arts Seal. And having it means you can enter Martial Arts Mountain at any time. Beyond this, I know nothing of its other uses.”

What little information he possessed was only because of his position as the Deputy Hall Chief of the Military Affairs Hall.

”Then about the second step of Martial Arts Mountain?”

Since Jia the Instructor didn’t know, Lin Chen didn’t dwell on it and continued asking about what intrigued him most.

The second step of Martial Arts Mountain—what exactly was it that required 10 Martial Points to access?

”I’ve never been to the second step; you’re asking the wrong person. If you’re curious, after the duel, come with me to the Military Affairs Hall, and someone there will clarify your doubts.”

Jia Nanzhu smiled and shook his head. Martial Arts Mountain was indeed mysterious, and even he knew very little about it.

Throughout Jiangnan Dao, perhaps only Lord Shao had some understanding of Martial Arts Mountain.

Since Lin Chen had engraved his name twice on Martial Arts Mountain, Lord Shao would surely want to see Lin Chen personally.

...

...

Jiangnan Dao, Military Affairs Hall.

Shao Jingshan received the message from the Military Affairs Department, his old eyes filled with contemplation.

The Military Affairs Department actually wanted to keep Lin Chen’s second naming a secret?