Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 301: Chapter 92: Competing for Exemplars in the Military Affairs Hall

Islands!

Lin Chen and Jiang Qing strolled leisurely.

”Junior Brother Lin, oh no, now I should call you Senior Brother Lin.”

Jiang Qing looked at Lin Chen with a smile, to which Lin Chen blushed and said, ”Senior Sister, just call me Junior Brother, I’m not used to hearing Senior Brother.”

”What’s there to be unaccustomed to? In the Martial Path, the realm is foremost, whoever is stronger is the Senior Brother.”

Hearing Senior Sister Jiang’s words, Lin Chen couldn’t help but mutter, ”First call sister, then call girl, finally call sweetheart.”

”Junior Brother Lin, what did you say?”

”Nothing.”

Lin Chen gave an awkward smile, ”Once a Senior Sister, always a Senior Sister, especially since Senior Sister has always taken good care of me. The relationship between us shouldn’t be judged by the typical martial artist terms.”

”Then by what relationship?” Jiang Qing suddenly asked.

Lin Chen was startled, not yet understanding the meaning behind Senior Sister Jiang’s words. Jiang Qing brushed a lock of hair from her forehead and continued, ”Junior Brother Lin doesn’t know about the Martial Arts Academy, so let me tell you about it.”

Talking about serious matters, Lin Chen became more earnest. He indeed hadn’t heard of the Martial Arts Academy.

He only knew that each path had a Military Affairs Hall, then below it was a Military Affairs Department, followed by a Martial Affairs Office, and below that were the Martial Arts Hall and the Martial Hall.

The Liang’s martial training system only went as far as the Martial Hall, beyond that he truly didn’t know.

Some potential martial artists, after staying at the Martial Hall for three years, the strong ones could directly participate in the Liang Martial Arts Examination, while those slightly lesser could catch up after waiting a few more years.

”Liang’s Military Affairs Hall only has the Martial Hall level, many martial artists do not know that above the Martial Hall there is a Martial Arts Academy, because the Martial Arts Academy is not open to regular students and does not belong to the Military Affairs Hall.”

Jiang Qing knew that with Lin Chen’s family background, it was impossible for him to know the existence of the Martial Arts Academy, and the Martial Arts Hall Master probably wouldn’t tell him these things for fear of distraction. Or more accurately, even some Martial Arts Hall Masters may not know of the Martial Arts Academy’s existence.

”There are a total of five Martial Arts Academies in Liang, all established decades after the Liang Dynasty was founded. These Five Great Martial Arts Academies all have different backgrounds and origins. The earliest was the United Martial Arts Academy, created by several Martial Arts Powerhouses to better educate the youth of Liang in the Martial Path. The instructors at the academy were at least Middle Grade martial artists, with many being Upper Grade.”

Upon hearing this from Jiang Qing, Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed. An academy actually had Upper Grade level instructors?

Upper Grade martial artists, in the Liang Imperial Court, are at least Third Grade officials, even if the lowest Third Grade, in Jiangnan Dao, they are at the Xingdao Master level, true regional giants.

”The United Martial Arts Academy cultivated many martial talents, but for reasons unknown, it later split into three, forming three separate academies. After that, multiple academies appeared, but most couldn’t last. Until now, Liang only has five academies remaining.”

Jiang Qing provided Lin Chen with a detailed overview of the Five Great Martial Arts Academies, all of which she had learned from her father.

”Qingyun Martial Arts Academy, Capital City Martial Arts Academy, Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy – these three academies originated from the split of the United Martial Arts Academy. Among them, both Qingyun and Capital City Academies are in the Liang Capital. Aside from the local Capital City’s young martial talents, they recruit very few students from other paths; sometimes a path doesn’t even get a single quota a year.”

”Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy is located in Lingxiao City, which is not part of any path. The city is equivalent to a path and is Liang’s largest city, even larger than the Capital. In terms of strength among the Five Great Martial Arts Academies, Lingxiao Academy is even above Qingyun and Capital City.”

”Next is the Canglan Martial Arts Academy, located in East Sea Path. Its strength is slightly lower than the first three academies, but its martial arts cultivation system is unique. The main advantage is its excellent student benefits, making it the best choice for those from less affluent families.”

Lin Chen nodded to indicate he understood.

”Considering your talent, Junior Brother Lin, any of these four academies would accept you. You’ll be able to choose based on which offers the best conditions.”

”Senior Sister, aren’t there supposed to be Five Great Martial Arts Academies? We’ve only mentioned four, what about the other one?”

”The last academy is quite unique, with extremely high entry requirements. It enrolls fewer students each year than even Qingyun and Capital City, and its training resources are inferior to the other four.”

Hearing this, Lin Chen was puzzled. It has fewer resources than the other four, and yet has higher requirements. How does this fifth academy compete with the others?

”Senior Sister, could you tell me more about this fifth academy?”

”The fifth academy is called the Demon-slaying Martial Arts Academy, located on the border of the Northern Frontier. It was established by the first Northern Garrison Marquis, and the only benefit of entering the academy is that once you pass the academy’s assessment, you immediately receive a Hundred-Flag Rank in the army.”

Seeing Lin Chen’s curiosity, Jiang Qing explained the situation of the Demon-slaying Academy.

”However, even the Hundred-Flag Rank can’t compare in terms of salary to the other four academies. In terms of resources, the Demon-slaying Academy is weaker than the other Four Great Academies, and the mortality rate of its students is extremely high. Often, only half of a cohort survives graduation.”

Lin Chen was astonished. High mortality, the worst conditions, and the highest requirements... How does the Demon-slaying Martial Arts Academy continue to survive?

Pushing these questions aside for now, Lin Chen asked a more pressing question, ”Senior Sister, since the major academies aren’t related to the Military Affairs Hall, the Imperial Court probably doesn’t support them either. How do these academies operate, and what is the purpose of founding them?”