Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Yun Zhongjin spoke, his words filled with confidence.

None of the Dan Family present felt there was anything wrong with Yun Zhongjin’s words.

Young Master Yun had the qualification to say this.

Ranked twenty-sixth on the Hidden Dragon List Earth List, not merely a Grade-Entering Martial Artist under nineteen, but a symbol of strength.

Since the Hidden Dragon List was announced, three months have passed, during which there was a dramatic change among the talents on the Earth List.

Out of the original thirty talents on the list, only about ten remain, primarily those who were already ranked higher, while those originally lower-ranked couldn’t preserve their positions despite entering the grade in these three months.

Yun Zhongjin, who was initially ranked last on the newly announced Hidden Dragon List Earth List, still stands firm on the list, advancing four positions, showing his incredible strength.

Undoubtedly a standout among the Ninth-Grade ones.

”Little sister, Young Master Yun’s suggestion shouldn’t be opposed, right?”

Dan Mufeng smiled at Dan Muqing, who then looked at Lin Chen. Seeing Lin Chen nod, she said, ”All right, let’s do as Young Master Yun suggests.”

...

...

At the Dan Family’s Martial Arts Arena, all the young generation of the Dan Family appeared.

Every year during the grand competition, the young generation of the four great families focused entirely on it.

The ranking of the competition determines the distribution of resources for the next ten years.

And cultivation resources are precisely what the younger generation needs most, closely tied to their interests.

The outcome of each grand competition significantly impacts a family’s future.

There could be an increase of about five new Grade-Entering Martial Artists between the first and fourth places in these ten years.

The rise and fall from several consecutive poor performances could gradually put one behind the other three families.

The Dan Family’s last four sessions spanned two second places and two third places, placing them overall in strength just behind the Zhuang Family among the four great families.

Apart from the young generation of the Dan Family, there were also six outsider geniuses in the Martial Arts Arena.

”Who wants to go first?”

Yun Zhongjin stood in the center with his arms crossed, gazing at the five, including Lin Chen.

No one responded.

Obviously, no one wanted to move first but preferred to let others move to analyze Yun Zhongjin’s strength.

Except for Lin Chen, seeing no reaction from others, he was about to speak when Yun Zhongjin looked at the leading man on the left side: ”No one seems willing to make the first move, so let’s go by order.”

Even though they wished to observe, the man on the left stood out in response to Yun Zhongjin’s cue.

Being invited by the Dan Family, all were talented martial artists under twenty, naturally harboring pride, and with such an audience, they couldn’t show cowardice.

”Zhao Jin, please guide me.”

Zhao Jin clasped his fist in salute, and after Yun Zhongjin returned the courtesy, he dashed forward, stirring gusts of wind.

”Good timing!”

Yun Zhongjin squinted, his figure flickered; though he moved later, he was faster than Zhao Jin by a notch.

Bam!

Dust rose in the yard as they exchanged blows, and a few moments later, the dust settled, with Zhao Jin having retreated a yard from where he initially stood.

”The next one, please.”

Yun Zhongjin remained expressionless, meaning three moves for everyone really meant three moves.

Zhao Jin stepped back silently, face calm, as the second man stepped forward.

”Sun Jiang, please guide me.”

...

...

Sun Jiang retreated two yards after three moves, looking extremely sour, while earlier Zhao Jin now wore a smile.

If it were just him losing to Yun Zhongjin, it would have been embarrassing, but seeing others perform worse than him washed away his displeasure.

As Yun Zhongjin looked at the third person, a voice suddenly came from the courtyard entrance.

”It’s not good!”

A young man rushed in hurriedly, disregarding everyone’s expressions, exclaimed, ”Just got word, two of the outsider geniuses invited by the Xiang Family are also on the Earth List, and the Zhuang Family even managed to invite Gao Yongsi.”

As soon as the name Gao Yongsi was mentioned, the atmosphere among everyone in the yard became tense.

”Brother Dan, since the Dan Family’s outsider slots are full this time, I can withdraw.”

Lin Chen looked at the man beside him, pondering, as he clearly noticed this person’s breath hitch at the mention of Gao Yongsi’s name.

So, it was because of the name Gao Yongsi that he chose to withdraw.

Gao Yongsi...

Lin Chen found the name somewhat familiar as if he’d seen it somewhere.

”Gao Yongsi is actually helping the Zhuang Family? Doesn’t that mean this time, first place is again going to the Zhuang Family, so how can the three of us compete?”

”When the Hidden Dragon List was announced, Gao Yongsi was ranked thirteenth on the Earth List, and now has risen to eighth; perhaps he is already invincible at the Ninth-Grade Realm.”

The ensuing discussions among the Dan Family’s surrounding young members reminded Lin Chen why the name Gao Yongsi felt familiar.

After the publication of the Hidden Dragon List, he also paid attention to it briefly. Although the main focus was on the top ten of the Celestial List and the top three of the Earth List, he also casually glimpsed the name of this Gao Yongsi.

To be able to rise instead of fall in such fierce competition, this Gao Yongsi’s strength is definitely extraordinary.

Moreover, combined with what the young man from the Dan Family just said, and with additional Earth List geniuses joining in, facing several Earth List powerhouses, an ordinary Ninth-Grade Martial Artist has no chance of winning; entering there would only be a path to serve as cannon fodder.

No wonder this person chose to give up.

Giving up, the Dan Family would still pay the originally agreed reward.

Although there is no life-threatening danger inside the ruins, that is relative, and Lin Chen believes that within the ruins, the four great families are surely hostile towards each other.

A simple truth: to rank high, one does not need one’s own score to be exceedingly high, as long as the opponent’s score is low enough.

Lin Chen could think of this point, and so could the other few present.

Hearing the man choose to give up, the young people from the Dan Family were in an uproar. Dan Muyuan looked very unsightly. The other party was brought by him, and now retreating at the last moment, making him lose face among the clan members.

”Since you choose to withdraw, let it be decided according to what our Dan Family and you previously discussed.”

Dan Muqing spoke, then continued: ”Now the spots are sufficient, I see no need to test this bout any further.”

”Okay.”

Yun Zhongjing nodded, he was indifferent.

He agreed to Dan Mufeng’s invitation not because he had a particularly good relationship with Dan Mufeng, but because the conditions offered by Dan Mufeng tempted him, plus he had heard about the sealed sites of the ruins of the four great families of Coastal County.

In the past, he had no need to venture into the ruins, but now with the Hidden Dragon List published, even for a talent of his level, he does not want to miss any opportunity.

To maintain ranking and achieve higher standing, he also needs to proactively seek Martial Path resources.

It seems that Gao Yongsi and the others have the same thoughts.

Otherwise, the four great families of Coastal County have been competing for so many years, yet this year they coincidentally invited the top talents of the Zhao Kingdom.

Hearing Yun Zhongjing agree directly, there was a sense of dissatisfaction in Dan Mufeng’s eyes. This time, he wanted to squeeze and occupy the spot that Dan Muqing found for Lin Fei.

The reason? There is none other than that, although Dan Muyuan is his uncle’s son, he himself lacks ambition and poses no threat to their family, whereas Dan Muqing, despite being a woman, has been running several prosperous shops in recent years, and her own strength has also reached the Ninth Grade, carrying significant weight in the hearts of some elders in the clan.

The Dan Family has no rule against women serving as clan leaders, and there was even a female clan leader in their ancestry.

If Dan Muqing’s standing in the elders’ hearts continues to rise, it would surely threaten his position, which he cannot allow.

Unfortunately, Yun Zhongjing agreed, and he could no longer refute.

...

...

”Brother Gu, sorry about that.”

As everyone departed, Dan Muqing’s face showed an expression of guilt: ”I didn’t expect my cousin to make things so difficult.”

”No problem.”

Lin Chen shook his head. Such a small conflict wasn’t worth his concern. Moreover, from the details revealed by that young member of the Dan Family earlier, he had a suspicion that the ancestral ruins of the four great families might not be simple.

”Brother Gu need not worry about safety, I will be entering with you this time.”

Dan Muqing clarified, fearing Gu Fei might be unhappy with her, thinking she hadn’t disclosed the riskiness of the competition.

Their four families’ decennial competition always stops just short of danger, since the entrants into the ruins are all geniuses of each clan, and if every family fought desperately to the death inside, such competitions would no longer be feasible.

...

...

A few days later, the first rays of dawn fell in the courtyard, and Dan Muqing came knocking.

”Brother Gu, today is the day to depart.”

The grand competition of the four great families is today.

”Alright.”

Lin Chen carried a package on his back. Seeing this, Dan Muqing smiled and said, ”Brother Gu, you can leave your bundle in the courtyard and retrieve it when you return.”

”No need, I’m used to carrying it.”

Seeing Lin Chen shake his head, Dan Muqing seemed puzzled, but didn’t press further.

Lin Chen was, of course, unwilling to put the package down. The Canglan Pearls he stealthily acquired from the Canglan Sea Race had been mostly consumed, with just thirty left.

While Lin Chen’s Qi Blood showed no significant growth during this period, the golden figure within his dantian had noticeably grown a lot.

The golden figure represented Martial Path Will, which determines the strength of most Grade-Entering Martial Artists.

Every punch, every palm strike, infused with Martial Path Will, far surpasses the power one’s flesh can exert.

Of course, Lin Chen, who practiced body tempering, was an exception.

The path of body tempering allows one’s physical strength to rival Martial Path Will, though its progression is exceedingly slow.

Exiting the Pill Mansion, Lin Chen and Dan Muqing mounted their horses, heading towards a mountain range in the center area of Coastal County.

Unlike other counties, Coastal County’s city is built around a mountain range, and the entire range is guarded by the four great families, forbidding entry to outsiders.

Qingshan Sect!

At the mountain entrance, Lin Chen halted, looking at an enormous stone tablet standing ten zhang tall ahead, with three large characters inscribed.

Qingshan Sect, which vanished five hundred years ago, leaving behind the sect’s ruins.

The ancestors of the four great families were all disciples of the Qingshan Sect.