Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

”If I were to spar with Senior Brother Li now, at least I’d be able to push him back a few steps.”

Lin Chen whispered softly, then started to look around. With all his injuries healed, he began to wonder where exactly he was, and more importantly, how to get out.

Suddenly being pulled into this place, if Senior Sister Jiang found out, she would surely worry about him. Leaving soon would lessen her concern.

A quarter of an hour later, Lin Chen stopped walking.

In front of him appeared a palace.

An ice-blue palace formed by Canglan energy.

Could there really be a palace under Canglan Lake?

Lin Chen wondered whether the academy’s leaders knew about this. If not, it proved the palace’s mysteriousness. If they did, then the palace might hold the greatest secret of the Canglan Martial Arts Academy, a secret he couldn’t comprehend as a mere disciple.

Carrying this hope, Lin Chen walked towards the palace gate, then suddenly quickened his pace, his figure like a flowing light, hiding to the side of the palace.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

As Lin Chen concealed himself by the palace’s side, the sound of something breaking through the air reached him. Four figures came from another direction and finally landed before the palace gate.

”This is the True Monarch Canglan’s Mansion, hidden indeed under Canglan Lake.”

Three men and one woman, all appeared young, their eyes on the palace filled with fervor.

”The Canglan Martial Arts Academy holds treasures unknowingly, only eyeing Canglan energy, unaware that compared to this mansion, the energy is utterly insignificant.”

The young man on the far left spoke disdainfully about the academy. Beside him, the woman couldn’t help but ask curiously, ”Brother Qin, what exactly is the origin of this Canglan Mansion?”

”I don’t mind telling you. The Canglan Mansion is the residence of a True Monarch-level figure from the Canglan Sect. As for the True Monarch... you might understand them as beyond First Grade experts.”

Qin Tian glanced at the other three, a trace of mockery in his eyes; martial artists of the Nine Kingdoms simply didn’t understand what True Monarch-level experts were.

The other three heard this, their faces even more excited.

”So inside is the martial legacy of that True Monarch?”

”The martial legacy must be inherited by disciples of the Canglan Sect. You shouldn’t even think about it, but a True Monarch’s mansion will surely have many valuable things. When the time comes, picking a few items randomly will be enough for you.”

”Brother Qin speaks truly. How could we dare to covet the legacy of the Canglan Sect? We’ll just wait for Brother Qin to obtain the legacy and then take care of little sister.”

The woman’s voice was charming, and Qin Tian chuckled; though she wasn’t exceedingly beautiful, her skills were top-notch and good enough for his amusement.

”Rest assured, as long as you behave...”

Poof!

Before Qin Tian finished speaking, his expression suddenly changed. He pushed away the woman leaning against him, and at the same time, another man instantly threw a dagger, stabbing it into his companion’s chest.

Qin Tian looked down at the dagger in his chest, then at his companion, who was also attacked and whose face was turning dark, as it was clear the dagger was laced with poison.

”You... aren’t you afraid of the Canglan Sect’s revenge?”

”Bah!”

The woman spat disdainfully, ”You really consider yourself a disciple of the Canglan Sect. You just happened to obtain notes left by the sect’s predecessor. Let me tell you this: you’ve revealed everything while dreaming.”

”No... impossible!”

Qin Tian was in disbelief. He never spoke in his sleep, nor leaked his secrets.

”Junior Sister, why talk with this fool? Just finish him off.”

The young man’s gaze showed killing intent, eyeing Qin Tian. If it weren’t for the Canglan Mansion, he wouldn’t have let his junior sister sacrifice herself to Qin Tian.

”Senior Brother, don’t rush. Let him die with clarity.”

The woman glanced charmingly at her senior brother, then turned to Qin Tian, ”I practiced a Charm Art that can make people reveal the truth when exhausted. Although you were cautious, you still spilled most of the truth.”

”You strike at me, aren’t you afraid of your superiors’ punishment?”

Hearing Qin Tian’s words, the woman’s brother suddenly laughed aloud: ”You fool, you still don’t believe it. You’ll die here, and we’ll easily fabricate a story that the True Monarch Mansion had dangerous traps, and you inadvertently triggered one and lost your life. Who could verify this lie?”

”If you don’t wish to die miserably, you better spill everything about the Canglan Mansion. Otherwise, I don’t mind carving the flesh off your body piece by piece. You’ve been poisoned with Soft Tendon Powder; within a two-hour period, you’ll be powerless, and your Martial Path Will will be sealed.”

Qin Tian pressed his lips tightly. The man flashed to Qin Tian’s side, grabbing his arm and yanking it forcefully, the crisp sound of bones breaking rang out as he tore off the arm.

”Ah!”

Qin Tian let out a painful roar as blood sprayed from the broken arm.

”Qin Tian, speak up; the sooner you speak, the less you’ll suffer. My senior brother is an expert at torture.”

Qin Tian’s eyes were filled with fiery rage, but glancing at his arm still in the man’s grip, his spirit deflated instantly. He knew the pair wouldn’t let him live.

”I’ll tell you, but you must promise to grant me a swift death.”

”I promise, once you tell us everything, my senior brother and I will end your suffering quickly.”

The woman hurriedly swore, even stepping forward to press on the wound on Qin Tian’s arm, sealing the blood flow with her power.

”Brother Qin, you can speak now.”

”The Canglan Mansion is a residence of a True Monarch from the Canglan Sect. This True Monarch didn’t leave a martial legacy here but left a Canglan Order, which with it, can travel to the Canglan Sect. Even if you can’t pass the exam to become a formal disciple, you can become an outer disciple.”

Canglan Order?

The woman exchanged glances with her senior brother, continuing to probe: ”Is the Canglan Sect very powerful?”

”I don’t know, but I know the True Monarch’s status in the sect is akin to an academy instructor, and a True Monarch’s strength surpasses First Grade.”

”You’re lying!”

”I’m... I’m not lying.”

Qin Tian’s eyes showed a trace of panic, and the woman sneered, ”According to you, the True Monarch’s status is merely like an instructor, out searching for talented disciples for the sect. So why would he leave a mansion here? Did he predict someone would come after his death?”

”I’m not lying, that’s what was noted by the True Monarch himself. The Flame Dynasty mandates leaving a martial legacy in desolate areas, and all sects must move their martial artists yearly. The True Monarch failed to find a suitable successor for his martial arts but had to leave within the mandated time, so he left the Canglan Mansion.”

The woman carefully examined Qin Tian for a while, then smiled charmingly, ”I believe Brother Qin isn’t lying.”

Hearing her words, Qin Tian breathed a sigh of relief.

”Junior Sister, is there anything else you need to ask?”

”No more; even if we inquire about the dangers inside the palace, we wouldn’t know if it’s true.”

”Then I’ll send this guy on his way.”

”Senior Brother, wait.”

The woman suddenly stopped her brother, her face blushing slightly, ”I know you’re upset with my dealings with Qin Tian, but big sister, I had no choice; it’s the superiors’ requirement.”

”Junior Sister... I’m not blaming you,” the senior brother quickly explained.

”I don’t believe you.”

”Really, Junior Sister, I know you didn’t want this.”

”If it’s true, then right here and now, in front of this man, you should have me. That way... you’ll rid yourself of the grudge.”

With her words, Qin Tian’s eyes widened, while the senior brother was stunned. But in his moment of stupefaction, the woman already pressed herself against him, caressing his arm, her breath fragrant, ”Only then can Senior Brother truly let go.”

”Alright!”

The man glanced at Qin Tian to the side, his eyes holding a trace of fervor, as he embraced the woman’s waist.

Bam!

...

The woman’s face showed disbelief, looking down at the bloody palm print on her chest, while she still held a hairpin in her hand.

”Junior Sister, there’s only one Canglan Order, which you’ve correctly guessed,” the man wore a cold smile, pushing the woman away.

”Rest assured, I won’t let you be lonely, I’ll send your lover to join you soon enough.”

PS: Damn, instantly blocked, and there’s nothing wrong here; it’s truly bland.