Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Martial Arts Academy Main Hall.

Lin Chen saw the headmaster again.

”You came at the right time, I was just about to tell you something.”

Hua Qianwu said in a deep voice upon seeing Lin Chen’s arrival: ”The top ten Earth List competition in the Ze Kingdom has been canceled.”

”Canceled?”

”Because Ze Kingdom does not allow Liang martial artists to enter, and you were arranged by the Martial Arts Garden to be on the eighth place of the Earth List, the Martial Arts Garden decided that this competition does not conform with the rules set by the Hidden Dragon List.”

Lin Chen did not expect the Martial Arts Garden to abolish this arrangement.

”There were no Ze Kingdom geniuses in this year’s top ten Earth List, so Ze Kingdom was eager to abolish it. The reason given by the Martial Arts Garden cannot be refuted even by the Han Kingdom, so the matter was left unresolved.”

Hua Qianwu explained the inside story to Lin Chen. For Ze Kingdom, it was unwilling to share its domestic Secret Realm with foreign martial artists. It was only due to the conditions offered by the Martial Arts Garden and the compensation given to Ze Kingdom that they agreed.

But now the Martial Arts Garden has canceled it, no longer providing compensation to Ze Kingdom, and naturally, Ze Kingdom wouldn’t selflessly nurture foreign geniuses.

Unless other countries are willing to cover the conditions offered by the Martial Arts Garden, but it’s apparent that the other countries have no such intentions.

”Because of this matter, other countries have some complaints against the Han Kingdom.”

Hua Qianwu smiled while stroking his beard. Except for the Zheng Kingdom, the other countries were pressured by the Han Kingdom to blockade Liang, causing significant losses. Now they cannot even enter the Yunze Land of Ze Kingdom, only adding to their dissatisfaction against the Han Kingdom.

”Didn’t the Han Kingdom think of compensating Ze Kingdom?”

Lin Chen was puzzled. Since the Han Kingdom wanted other countries to isolate Liang, naturally, they should offer these countries some advantages. Relying on pressure to make countries blockade Liang is not a superior strategy.

As for the Yunze Land incident, after the Martial Arts Garden withdrew, if the Han Kingdom communicated with Ze Kingdom to offer compensation, it would allow martial artists from all countries to continue entering Yunze Land, thereby not only satisfying these countries but also tempting other undecided countries.

”You don’t understand the Han Kingdom.”

Hua Qianwu laughed heartily: ”It’s true that the Han Kingdom is the oldest country among the Nine Kingdoms, but precisely because of this, there are several factions within the Han Kingdom—the Royal Family, the Academies, and several noble families, who are not entirely united.”

Lin Chen suddenly understood that there were both open and secret power struggles within the Han Kingdom, but because of its dominant position among the Nine Kingdoms, it maintained balance by plundering martial resources from other countries.

”About the Han Kingdom, just know a little bit. You came to find me for something?”

”Headmaster, I have found a method for the Eighth to even the Ninth Transformation.”

”What?”

A gleam appeared in Hua Qianwu’s old eyes: ”Lin Chen, the Nine Revolutions Viscera Cultivation Method is no small matter. During this time, Lord Kong has also been trying to find a way for you.”

”I forgot to mention something to the headmaster last time, it happened at the ruins in Coastal County...”

Lin Chen briefly recounted his experiences at the ruins of the Heaven-Supporting Sect.

”Did you really have such a fortune?”

Hua Qianwu’s eyes showed shock, the Martial Arts Seal could be refined again, and even connect to the Flame Dynasty.

”Have you mentioned this matter to anyone else?”

”No.”

Lin Chen shook his head: ”I only discovered the changes of the Martial Arts Seal recently when I used it.”

”This matter is of utmost importance; I will write to Lord Kong, and until he replies, do not tell anyone else.”

Seeing the headmaster’s serious expression, Lin Chen nodded. He understood the gravity of the matter, possibly even involving the secret of the Grand Ancestor Emperor.

After all, the Martial Arts Mountain was created by the Grand Ancestor Emperor, and since the Flame Dynasty also has a Martial Arts Mountain, there should be some connection between them.

...

...

Capital of the Liang Kingdom.

”Lord Kong, a letter from the Canglan Martial Arts Academy, marked as top secret.”

”Bring it up.”

Kong Qifeng raised his eyebrows and put down the memorial he was holding. Only matters regarding Lin Chen’s Nine Revolutions Viscera Cultivation would employ top-secret communication.

After a while, Kong Qifeng closed the letter and said to the middle-aged man at the door: ”I need to go to the Imperial Palace, prepare a carriage.”

”Understood.”

...

...

Two hours later, a carriage departed from the Imperial Palace, exited the capital, and sailed south with the current.

...

Five days later.

Lin Chen met Lord Kong in the main hall.

To Lin Chen’s surprise, the one sitting at the highest seat in the hall was not Lord Kong, but a slightly chubby young man.

The young man was currently looking at him with curious eyes.

”Lin Chen, there’s no need for an introduction for Lord Kong. Let me introduce you to this person, our Liang Kingdom’s Third Prince.”

Third Prince?

Liang Royal Family?

This was Lin Chen’s first time meeting a person from the Liang Royal Family. He immediately bowed and said, ”Greetings, Third Prince.”

”Haha, Young Master Lin, there is no need for formality. You are the pride of Liang, and in the future, Liang will rely on you.”

Hearing the Third Prince’s reply, Lin Chen was puzzled. This didn’t seem like the way an imperial prince would speak.

No matter how talented he was, in the eyes of the royal family, he was just a subject.

”Lin Chen, the Grand Ancestor Emperor left a decree: Liang belongs to the people, not the royal family.”

Kong Qifeng saw the confusion in Lin Chen’s eyes and smiled as he explained.

The Liang Royal Family holds supreme prestige in Liang, not just because of the Grand Ancestor Emperor. It’s also because the Liang Royal Family strictly adheres to the Grand Ancestor Emperor’s ancestral precepts, and the family does not regard Liang as their private possession.

All of Liang’s national policies are managed by the Imperial Court and their respective departments. The royal family rarely intervenes.

The Imperial Court governs local Government Offices, the Military Affairs Department manages local martial arts clubs, and the Military Department oversees Liang’s army camps. The three departments each have their responsibilities.

The Liang Royal Family has a transcendent status in Liang, and only steps in to resolve matters when the three departments cannot handle them.

”This time, the Third Prince accompanies me to tell you something about the Grand Ancestor Emperor.”

Kong Qifeng looked at Lin Chen. He had long known from the secret message sent by Hua Qianwu about Martial Arts Mountain being able to connect with the Flame Dynasty. He then went to the palace to see Your Majesty, but the emperor did not explain, only sending the Third Prince to accompany him to Canglan Martial Arts Academy.

”Lin Chen, the Third Prince has something to tell you.”

Seeing Lord Kong and the Headmaster leave the great hall, Lin Chen was even more puzzled. What could be so secret that even these two lords could not know?

”Lin Chen, this is by the decree of my father. This matter is of great importance. Although Lord Kong and Lord Hua are pillars of Liang, the ancestral instructions must not be defied, as set by the Grand Ancestor.”

The Third Prince scratched his head as he explained to Lin Chen, then his expression turned serious: ”Lin Chen, what I’m about to say relates to the biggest secret of our royal family. It must not be disclosed to a third party.”

”Rest assured, Your Highness, I will not reveal it.”

Lin Chen nodded heavily. Given the Third Prince’s grave manner, even to the point where Lord Kong had to leave to avoid suspicion, it was inevitably a shocking secret.

”The Grand Ancestor was not from the Nine Kingdoms.”

Liang Xun’s first words were like a bombshell, making Lin Chen’s eyes contract sharply. The first thought that flashed through his mind was that the Grand Ancestor Emperor, like him, might also be a transmigrator.

But Liang Xun’s second sentence quickly dispelled this speculation.

”You might have guessed that the Grand Ancestor was from the Flame Dynasty; otherwise, he wouldn’t have created Martial Arts Mountain.”

”Yes, I had some doubts before.”

Knowing that the Grand Ancestor Emperor came from the Flame Dynasty did not surprise Lin Chen much. Ever since he had known that the Flame Dynasty had a Martial Arts Mountain, he had a bold guess in his heart.

There are no such coincidences in the world.

”The Grand Ancestor accidentally arrived at the Nine Kingdoms, overthrew the previous dynasty, and established Liang, after which he modeled Martial Arts Mountain on it.”

”So the royal family knew about the Flame Dynasty’s existence early on?”

”Yes.”

Liang Xun nodded, then smiled and said, ”You must be wondering why we didn’t notify the Imperial Court or let Lord Kong and others know about the Flame Dynasty?”

Since the Third Prince did not hide anything, Lin Chen spoke directly: ”Indeed, I have such doubts. Logically, knowing about the Flame Dynasty early on could allow us to prepare sooner.”

”Not letting Lord Kong and others know was to protect Liang.”

Liang Xun forced a smile, seeing Lin Chen’s puzzled look, and spread his hands: ”That was the exact words from father. Before Lord Kong entered the palace, I was unaware of these secrets.”

”After Lord Kong entered the palace, he informed father about your situation, and then father summoned me to tell me about the Grand Ancestor’s origins. Father’s direct words for me to convey to you were: You only need to know that the Grand Ancestor came from the Flame Dynasty.”

”Not telling the Imperial Court is to protect Liang; not telling you is for the same reason.”

Seeing the Third Prince’s expression, Lin Chen knew that there was nothing more to ask. The Third Prince had said everything he knew.

As for more about the Grand Ancestor Emperor and the Flame Dynasty, only the current emperor knows.

”This time father sent me to Canglan Martial Arts Academy, apart from telling you all this, primarily because of another matter. You practice the Nine Revolutions True Blood Refining the Viscera, right? Currently, you have reached the Seventh Transformation?”

”Yes.”

Seeing Lin Chen nod in acknowledgment, Liang Xun’s expression turned somewhat strange. Though he had already learned it from Lord Kong on the way, hearing Lin Chen confirm it again was still shocking.

The difficulty of the Nine Revolutions True Blood Refining the Viscera was something only the royal family understood.

The Grand Ancestor, when he succeeded in practicing, called it ”luck”. After that, his uncles and several grandparents tried, but eventually gave up.

Even he was the same; he had to give up after the Third Transformation.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t endure the pain of the Third Transformation, but that the Third Transformation was the limit. The pain of the Six Transformations beyond it would exponentially increase, and without all Nine Revolutions, all previous efforts were wasted.

He couldn’t endure the later revolutions, so he chose to give up.

Being able to endure the Seventh Transformation...

Liang Xun believed that if he told his kin that someone reached the Seventh Transformation, they probably wouldn’t believe it.

”Father said, the remaining two transformations can use Celestial Gang Thunderfire without issue. Celestial Gang Thunderfire contains two energies. However, the fusion of Celestial Thunder and Earth Fire in Celestial Gang Thunderfire causes significant damage once it enters the body, thus something is needed to assist.”

After saying this, Liang Xun took out a box from his robe.

”This Snow Lotus Pill can alleviate the pain caused by Celestial Gang Thunderfire, and father sent it for you.”

There was one thing Liang Xun didn’t say, the entire royal family had only this one Snow Lotus Pill. The Grand Ancestor originally had two, one of which he took himself, and this is the remaining one.