Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 331: Chapter 103: The Military Affairs Department Is Also Waiting!

This is the charm of Senior Brother Lin, which Li Zhe simply cannot compare to.

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Jiangnan Dao Martial Affairs Hall.

At this moment, Zhang Difeng was also hosting a banquet for Ye Yuan and the other two.

As the Deputy Hall Chief of the Martial Affairs Hall, it was his responsibility to recommend Jiangnan Dao students to the major academies. Ye Yuan and his companions were merely admissions instructors of the academies and naturally didn’t warrant personal reception by Senior Brother Shao, unless a vice dean or dean of an academy personally came.

In fact, for the Deputy Hall Chief to personally host the three was already considered a high-standard reception.

There was no choice; Jiangnan Dao was at the bottom among all Da Liang territories. Even though it was known that academies had a standard for student recruitment, whether one could enter the academy ultimately depended on passing the assessment. Still, being academy admissions instructors held some weight.

Going to an academy with an invitation letter was different from going independently. The former only required passing the final assessment, while the latter had to break through several rounds among thousands of assessed martial artists, and these three instructors had the authority to issue invitation letters.

”Have the three of you adapted to Jiangnan Dao after staying for two days?”

Zhang Difeng, as usual, planned to start with local customs, then lead to the talented students of Jiangnan Dao, and finally propose whether more invitation letters could be given to Jiangnan Dao students.

But unexpectedly, the three didn’t respond to his words at all.

”Lord Zhang, the scenery of Jiangnan Dao needs no mention. The plethora of mountains and the convergence of lakes and rivers are impressive. However, the reason the three of us came here to Jiangnan Dao was for official business, leaving us no time to savor the beautiful scenery.”

Ye Yuan was the first to speak, calmly saying, ”Let me speak frankly. The potential of Jiangnan Dao’s students this year is somewhat lacking. So far, the three of us have only issued three invitation letters.”

”Only three?”

Zhang Difeng was shocked. The major academies would customarily issue at least five invitation letters even in lean years.

Although obtaining an invitation letter did not guarantee entry to the academy, the number of invitation letters represented the academy’s regard for Jiangnan Dao students, and to some extent, the face of Jiangnan Dao.

”Should the three of you perhaps observe further? The list I recommended to you includes many students with good potential. Isn’t three a bit too few?”

”Lord Zhang, it’s not that we are unwilling, but that the potential of Jiangnan Dao students this year truly doesn’t meet the requirements. We cannot violate the academy’s rules.”

Luo Wen spread his hands, while Song Zhixue added, ”The rules for academy admissions have been set for many years. If every jurisdiction doesn’t follow the rules, things would be chaotic.”

To hell with rules!

Zhang Difeng cursed inwardly. If these three were officials of the Martial Affairs Hall, he would have slapped them long ago.

Rules aren’t set in stone.

The imperial court doesn’t manage academy admissions; how admissions are done is up for the academies themselves to decide.

However, he sensed something amiss; these three emphasized the rules repeatedly. Was someone breaking the rules?

”Have the three of you encountered any dissatisfaction in Jiangnan Dao? Feel free to speak.”

Zhang Difeng no longer fussed in circles with the three. Five invitation letters were a must, affecting Jiangnan Dao’s face and impacting the morale of Jiangnan Dao students.

Ye Yuan and his companions exchanged glances, and finally, Song Zhixue spoke, ”Lord Zhang, the situation in Jiangnan Dao is known to all our academies; help was extended to Jiangnan Dao in previous years. But just because a genius emerged, should Jiangnan Dao turn their back?”

Turn their back?

Zhang Difeng narrowed his aged eyes. The only one who could be called a genius by these three was Lin Chen.

So these three had already visited Poyang County to meet Lin Chen, but there was a deviation in recruiting him, leading to unpleasantness?

Junior Brother Jia is also in Poyang County. Was there a conflict between Junior Brother Jia and these three?

In matters concerning Lin Chen, Zhang Difeng didn’t respond hastily, curious as he asked, ”What do you mean by that?”

”Lord Zhang, let me be candid. Lin Chen was able to leave his name twice on Martial Arts Mountain, and his potential is indeed impressive. But Lord Zhang should also know about the academy recruitment rules. Enrolling students before they complete Refining the Viscera, especially when the student is highly favored, means extending enough favorable terms, without further delays, as it shows distrust toward the academy.”

Listening to Song Zhixue, Zhang Difeng understood.

In short, it was that Junior Brother Jia and Lin Chen felt the conditions offered by the academies were insufficient, while the academies were unwilling to raise their terms, resulting in a falling-out?

No, it’s normal for Lin Chen, being young, to feel dissatisfied, but Junior Brother Jia wouldn’t act on impulse. Regardless, Lin Chen was inevitably going to enter the academy; there was no need to make the situation tense.

So, was there some other hidden reason?

Qingyun Martial Arts Academy, the Capital City Academy, Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy... and isn’t there Canglan Martial Arts Academy?

”What the three of you said makes sense, and the academy certainly has its rules. However, I’m curious why Canglan Martial Arts Academy didn’t look for Lin Chen?”

When Zhang Difeng mentioned Canglan Martial Arts Academy, Ye Yuan and his friends’ expressions turned sour, and Zhang Difeng instantly realized the problem lay with Canglan Martial Arts Academy.

So the three academies wanted to pressure Lin Chen together, but Canglan Martial Arts Academy didn’t go along with it.

”Canglan Martial Arts Academy broke the rules. We have reported this to the academy, and Canglan Martial Arts Academy will have to provide an explanation. When that time comes, Canglan Martial Arts Academy will retract their promises to Lin Chen. For Lin Chen’s own good, I suggest that Lord Zhang advises Lin Chen not to be lured by temporary benefits. The Martial Path is a long journey.”