Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

”Once we enter the tomb, I will only take one item, and everything else will belong to Young Master Lin. Furthermore, for this Four Families Competition, I guarantee that the Dan Family will take first place.”

Liu Yue removed the backpack from her shoulders, revealing nearly twenty demon beast inner cores inside.

”In previous years, the total score for the first place among these four families was around sixty points, and this time won’t be much different.”

Lin Chen had learned from Dan Muqing about the points for the first place in previous competitions, and Liu Yue wasn’t lying.

In the past century, the highest score for the first place in one of the competitions was only ninety points, while the lowest was just forty points.

And now, the demon cores Liu Yue had were enough to exchange for almost thirty percent of what used to be the first-place score.

”I haven’t registered the points for these demon cores, and they can all go to Young Master Lin. In fact, all these demon cores can be given to Young Master Lin.”

Liu Yue smiled at Lin Chen, believing that since he wasn’t there for the tomb, there could only be one reason: heroes struggle to resist the charm of a beauty.

The young lady from the Dan Family was quite attractive. Lin Fei must be after her.

And to win the heart of the Dan Family’s lady, there’s nothing better than helping the Dan Family secure first place.

Although Liu Yue was generous, the more generous she was, the more cautious Lin Chen became.

A dozen or so ninth-grade demon pills were of considerable value.

When a gift is given, there must be something sought in return.

The more valuable the gift, the bigger the request.

”What is the origin of this tomb?”

Liu Yue didn’t answer immediately but pondered for a moment, then looked at Lin Chen: ”Has Young Master Lin ever heard of the Dynasty?”

”Flame Dynasty?”

Lin Chen directly guessed Liu Yue’s hidden words, and upon hearing him mention the ”Flame Dynasty,” understanding dawned on her face.

This Lin Fei was not of common origin either.

Ever since the conflict between Xiang Kingdom and Liang Kingdom in the snowy regions, matters concerning the Flame Dynasty had spread among the upper tiers of all kingdoms, and those from distinguished families had already heard of it from their elders.

However, this matter was only circulated in the upper echelons in the Nine Kingdoms, ordinary martial artists remained unaware.

”Since Young Master Lin knows about the Flame Dynasty, I will not hide it. The founder of the Heaven-Supporting Sect came from the Flame Dynasty. The sect transferred to the last leader. After that leader’s death, the sect faced internal strife and disbanded, leaving the leader’s tomb buried in this site.”

”And then?”

”It is rumored that the sect leader left a Sect Introduction Order. Those who acquire it can travel to the Heaven-Supporting Sect’s base in the Flame Dynasty.”

In the end, Liu Yue chose not to hide the secret, as she was not the only one who knew about it. Gao Yongsi was also after the Sect Introduction Order, and presumably, there might be other hidden experts as well.

The Dan Family has produced a Lin Fei, and the other two families might also have hidden experts.

”Sect Introduction Order?”

Lin Chen thought of the Canglan Order he had obtained, which signifies the eligibility to participate in the Canglan Sect’s disciple induction test.

”As far as I know, the Flame Dynasty and the Nine Kingdoms have long severed ties. Even if you obtain the Sect Introduction Order, it might not guarantee access to the Flame Dynasty or the Heaven-Supporting Sect’s main sect.”

Does Liu Yue have a way to establish a connection with the sect in the Flame Dynasty, or does she have a way to reach the Flame Dynasty?

”Young Master Lin, I apologize, but this matter involves some clan secrets, and I can’t divulge that information.”

Liu Yue shook her head slightly; Lin Chen scrutinized her for a while before nodding: ”Alright, deal.”

”Thank you, Young Master Lin.”

Upon hearing Lin Chen agree, Liu Yue’s face broke into a smile.

Choosing to collaborate with Liu Yue wasn’t because Lin Chen intended to double-cross. He already had the Canglan Order, and given the Canglan Sect’s domineering nature, he dared not consider joining another sect.

The reason for the cooperation was the interest in exploring the tomb site with Liu Yue, which might offer more insights into the Flame Dynasty.

But more importantly, Liu Yue clearly had substantial knowledge about the Flame Dynasty, and he intended to extract more information from her about it.

”Young Master Lin, as the saying goes, ’A wise man considers before he acts.’ Although a martial artist’s oath may not hold much weight, I would still prefer if Young Master Lin could swear an oath.”

Liu Yue didn’t lower her guard simply because Lin Chen agreed. Knowing that Lin Fei was aware of the Flame Dynasty made her wary that he might change his stance once inside the tomb.

Though martial artists do not suffer any backlash from breaking an oath, to go far on the Martial Path, one must possess unwavering determination. A person who breaks their word seldom advances far on their path.

A strongman’s promise is worth more than a thousand gold pieces.

”Agreed.”

Lin Chen nodded. While the Sect Introduction Order might be priceless to others, possessing the Canglan Order made it less appealing to him.

Additionally, there was another reason: any oath made by Lin Fei wouldn’t affect Lin Chen.

”I, Lin Fei, swear...”

After Lin Chen made his oath, Liu Yue’s vigilance slightly relaxed.

”Thank you for your understanding, Young Master Lin.”

After apologizing once more, Liu Yue said solemnly: ”There’s still some distance to the tomb site; please follow me, Young Master Lin.”

”Alright.”

...

...

Half a day later.

Lin Chen and Liu Yue stopped in front of a valley.

”Young Master Lin, it’s in here.”

Liu Yue surveyed the surroundings of the valley, especially when she saw the towering iron trees on either side of the valley entrance, her breathing quickened slightly. Lin Chen glanced sideways and could clearly sense it from Liu Yue’s excitement.

”The tomb of the Sect Leader is in this valley?”

”Yes.”

Liu Yue nodded, her eyes revealing a look of eagerness. Lin Chen glanced around but asked, ”Miss Liu, may I ask if there are any mechanisms or arrays guarding the tomb?”

”No, why does Young Master Lin ask?”

”Because someone has entered here before us.”

Lin Chen’s words made Liu Yue’s face change instantly: ”How did Young Master Lin figure that out?”

”The grass here has been trampled.”

Lin Chen pointed to the grass not far away. Liu Yue followed Lin Chen’s pointing and after a while, her expression turned grim.

”Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Lin. Since someone has already entered, we can’t delay any longer.”

Liu Yue looked anxious, and Lin Chen responded solemnly, and the two quickly headed deeper into the valley.

After entering the valley for less than two miles, Lin Chen saw a palace.

Using a palace as a tomb, Lin Chen had seen such a thing before, but isn’t it usually built underground? Did the Heaven-Supporting Sect’s Sect Leader build the palace directly on the ground?

Was he afraid people couldn’t find his tomb?

Or was it, like the True Monarch from the Canglan Prefecture, deliberately placed in the open so someone could come and take the Canglan Order?

”Young Master Lin is right, indeed someone has arrived here before us.”

Liu Yue looked at the opened palace doors, her anxiety on her face growing more intense, as she sprinted directly towards the palace entrance.

”Wait!”

Seeing Liu Yue’s action, Lin Chen frowned and quickly shouted to stop her.

Whoosh!

At the same time, inside the palace, a cold light suddenly appeared, slashing toward Liu Yue.

Liu Yue’s face changed suddenly; she hadn’t expected someone to lie in ambush at the palace gate.

Since they had arrived early, shouldn’t they be searching for the Sect Introduction Order?

In that moment, a cyan umbrella appeared in front of Liu Yue, and the sword light struck the umbrella, causing the light to divert several feet, slicing into a massive celestial tree to Liu Yue’s right.

Bang!

The tree was split in half directly, and Liu Yue took advantage of this moment to retreat back to Lin Chen, her pretty face tinged with a pale hue, evidently consumed greatly by the quick self-preservation moments earlier.

Inside the palace, two figures slowly walked out, and Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly.

These two people were very peculiar; their steps were extremely uniform...

Almost as if... they were like robots.

Lin Chen was certain that these two were definitely not among the forty people who entered this time. He had observed the crowd before, and although he couldn’t remember everyone’s face clearly, he at least had an impression, but these two he had no impression of at all.

”These are War Puppets.”

Liu Yue explained to Lin Chen: ”The Heaven-Supporting Sect was skilled in Artifact Refining and Alchemy, and War Puppets were products of the sect’s Artifact Refining. These War Puppets are nearly Eighth Grade.”

”War Puppets?”

Lin Chen thought of those bronze men he had encountered in the Special Training Ground before, but those bronze men were indeed incomparable to these two War Puppets.

At least from the appearance alone, these two looked no different from real people and could even hide behind the palace gates to ambush. The Artifact Refining techniques of the Heaven-Supporting Sect were indeed marvelous.

”Young Master Lin, I need your help this time, let’s each handle one War Puppet.”

Liu Yue looked at Lin Chen, but Lin Chen shook his head: ”Miss Liu, if these War Puppets were left by the former Heaven-Supporting Sect Leader, logically, anyone who arrived before us should have been ambushed by the War Puppets too. If the War Puppets didn’t succeed in the ambush, they should have been destroyed, and if they succeeded, there should be bodies left. Even if the War Puppets took the bodies, there should still be some blood left on the ground.”

Confusion can cloud judgment.

Lin Chen could feel Liu Yue’s strong desire for the Sect Introduction Order, and it was precisely this desire that prevented Liu Yue from maintaining a calm mind.

The current situation clearly contained some strange and inexplicable aspects.

With Lin Chen’s reminder, Liu Yue also realized and, taking a deep breath to suppress her anxiety, thought for a moment before smiling bitterly: ”Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Lin, I was too impatient and overlooked things.”

”If my guess is correct, these two War Puppets were indeed left by the Heaven-Supporting Sect, but the goal wasn’t to ambush and kill newcomers, or accurately, the purpose of the War Puppets’ existence is to kill those who don’t meet the conditions.”

Liu Yue also understood, if one couldn’t withstand the ambush strike of the War Puppet, they didn’t deserve to enter the palace.

And from the moment these two War Puppets appeared, even though they walked toward Lin Chen and Liu Yue, they stopped ten feet away, confirming this point as well.

War Puppets test not only strength but also the ability to think in dangerous situations.

In the past, Liu Yue might have been able to notice these nuances, but firstly, obtaining the Sect Introduction Order had been her family’s plan for many years, and now someone entering ahead of them made her unable to maintain calm, and secondly, she had just been ambushed, subconsciously assuming that the purpose of these two War Puppets was to kill everyone trying to enter the palace.

Seeing Liu Yue realize this, Lin Chen’s lips curled into a smile. It seemed that the former Sect Leader of the Heaven-Supporting Sect intended to test later comers, and these two War Puppets might just be the first step, with more challenges waiting for those entering inside the palace.