Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

In the Imperial Garden.

Su Zhe sat in his seat, and at this moment, several senior brothers around him were all smiling at him.

”So it turns out Junior Brother Su has come to Yan Kingdom with no interest in the martial arts rankings, but for the beauty.”

”To catch Junior Brother Su’s eye, the Sixth Princess of Yan Kingdom must be exceptionally beautiful.”

Listening to the words of the senior brothers around him, the corners of Su Zhe’s mouth lifted. He indeed did not come to Yan Kingdom for the academy’s ranking competition.

He is a disciple of the Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy, which is the foremost of the Four Great Martial Arts Academies in Han, and also the foremost of the Nine Countries Martial Arts Academy. Since the ranking competition began, it has only been first three times.

As a new student of the academy this year, there was no need for him to take action. He came to Yan Kingdom more out of a desire to see the Sixth Princess.

Though his earlier words were somewhat fabricated, he believes the Sixth Princess of Yan Kingdom will definitely not reject him.

The princesses of Yan Kingdom either marry into the royal families of other nations or top-tier talents among the powerful, and he fits the latter. He and the Sixth Princess would be a match made in heaven.

On the Liang Kingdom side.

Kong Qing curled his lip, ”That Su Zhe really loves to be in the spotlight. I don’t believe he doesn’t know about the Sixth Princess’s illness, asking in front of everyone was just to imply that the princess has secretly set her heart on him.”

”If Su Zhe and the Sixth Princess of Yan Kingdom get together, it would not be advantageous for our Liang Kingdom under the current circumstances.”

Meng Xing’s face darkened, but he was thinking more from Liang’s current situation.

As for romance and love... he was not interested.

”Have you two junior brothers ever thought that Su Zhe might be lying?”

Lin Chen interjected, and hearing this, Kong Qing retorted, ”Senior Brother Lin, why would Su Zhe lie about such things?”

Lin Chen: ...

He really wanted to say, because Murong Yan is not ill.

But on second thought, he held back, knowing if he spoke it might be hard to explain.

At this moment, some palace maids entered, standing in the center and started singing and dancing, marking the official start of the banquet.

”Fifth Sister, have you taken a fancy to anyone?”

Murong Shuang asked quietly to Murong Xin beside her. Among the royal family’s six princesses, only Fifth Sister and Sixth Sister remain unmarried, and as the Sixth Sister didn’t come, it clearly indicates lack of interest, leaving only the Fifth Sister.

”Fourth Sister, where is Lin Chen from Liang Kingdom?”

Murong Xin’s gaze swept over everyone across and finally landed on the Liang Kingdom’s side, asking softly.

”Has Fifth Sister taken a fancy to Lin Chen?”

”Not exactly taken a fancy, just read the information Father provided about the talents from various countries and found Lin Chen quite unique. Seems like he is from a fisherman’s family. Rising from such origins to become a model martial arts student of Liang Kingdom fascinates me somewhat.”

Murong Shuang understood her meaning. Her Fifth Sister’s curiosity about Lin Chen showed she didn’t dislike him, and perhaps even had a slight fondness. As long as Lin Chen wasn’t exceedingly unattractive, he might catch her eye, and the marriage could materialize.

Although Lin Chen’s family background was lacking, his potential in martial arts matched her Fifth Sister. The only concern was the ongoing conflict between Liang and Han kingdoms, which might complicate things if war breaks out.

But that was a concern for later. This banquet was just for an initial meeting; whether the match succeeds depends on what follows.

”Fourth row, third from the left, that’s Lin Chen over there.”

Hearing her Fourth Sister’s words, Murong Xin’s eyes fell on the young man in that seat. After a while, she smiled lightly, ”Not bad-looking, just somewhat dark-skinned, presumably from diligent training. Thinking about it, someone from such a background reaching this point must be diligent in martial arts.”

Hearing this, Murong Shuang smiled, as her Fifth Sister was making excuses for Lin Chen’s darker skin, indicating she really liked him.

In terms of appearance, Lin Chen wasn’t the most remarkable here, but he possessed a steady demeanor.

In terms of strength, Lin Chen wasn’t the strongest here either, but he was still young, with potential that rivaled anyone else present. Coupled with his legendary martial arts training in Liang Kingdom, if she wasn’t already married, she too might have been moved like her Fifth Sister.

”If only Sixth Sister were here...”

Murong Shuang couldn’t help but think of her Sixth Sister. If she were here and saw Lin Chen, would she be moved?

She was unsure whether her Sixth Sister would be interested in Lin Chen, but she was certain her Sixth Sister had never considered Su Zhe.

Her Sixth Sister had declared early on that she wanted to choose her own husband. If she had feelings for Su Zhe, she wouldn’t have taken no action a year after meeting him in Han.

This Su Zhe...

Thinking of the words relating to her Sixth Sister in Su Zhe’s speech, she could guess those were merely polite phrases from her Sixth Sister.

As the dance ended.

Martial artists from the Nine Kingdoms clapped, while at this moment some female relatives of Yan Kingdom had already set their sights on their respective targets during the maidens’ dance.

”Fifth Sister, it’s time to act.”

Murong Shuang smiled and reminded, Murong Xin’s pretty face blushed, but since she came here, she was already prepared.

In her heart, there were only two candidates she had taken a fancy to, Su Zhe from Han Kingdom and Lin Chen from Liang Kingdom. However, it was obvious Su Zhe’s heart belonged to her sixth sister. Regardless of whether her sixth sister fancied Su Zhe or not, she naturally wouldn’t focus on Su Zhe any longer.

Moreover, although Lin Chen didn’t appear as handsome as Su Zhe at first, during this dance, she realized that the more she looked at Lin Chen, the more attractive he seemed.

Murong Xin picked up her wine glass, slowly stood up, and walked out of her seat.

At the scene, not only Murong Xin was moving, but also other royal ladies, all starting to approach the ones they favored.

”It’s starting. In this first round, it’s the royal ladies from Yan Country choosing. They will proactively offer a toast to the ones they fancy. However, those not chosen still have a chance. If they have someone they favor, they can also offer a toast to the ladies later.”

Kong Qing explained the rules to Lin Chen and the others. Meng Xing curiously asked, ”Senior Brother Kong, how do you know this so well?”

”Uh... I also heard it from other senior brothers.”

Kong Qing felt embarrassed, as his family elders had informed him before he accompanied the academy to Yan Country that they would certainly be invited to a banquet and explained the banquet rules.

”Whoa!”

In the next moment, Kong Qing suddenly whispered, and Lin Chen, who was picking up food, paused, hearing Kong Qing say, ”The Fifth Princess is coming our way.”

Lin Chen looked up and saw the Fifth Princess elegantly holding a wine glass, walking over.

Murong Xin’s movement attracted the attention of most of the audience. For many martial artists, even if the Fifth Princess didn’t fancy them, as long as she chose a brother from their country, it was still an honor.

Sitting in the front row, Li Yuan and the others, seeing Murong Xin approaching, all sat up straight. It would be untruthful to say they had no thoughts about the princesses of Yan Country.

However, Murong Xin merely smiled lightly, walked past them, and continued towards the back.

”To the back, could it be that the Fifth Princess...”

Shua!

Instantly, Li Yuan’s gaze turned backward and landed on Lin Chen, and others also realized it.

If there was anyone still at the back whom the Fifth Princess could have her eyes on, it could only be Junior Brother Lin.

”They said it’s about looks, but it’s still about martial potential...”

As Kong Qing saw Murong Xin standing beside Lin Chen’s table, he whispered softly.

In this world, is there really nothing that’s not about martial potential and purely about looks?

Even a princess of Yan Country is this pragmatic?

The martial artists from other countries, upon seeing Murong Xin standing before Lin Chen and recognizing Lin Chen’s identity, were not too surprised.

After all, being the greatest genius in Liang for three hundred years, Lin Chen’s martial arts cultivation speed, similar to the previous Pei Qingming, was a great example.

Over on the side of Han Country, when Su Zhe saw Murong Xin standing before Lin Chen, his expression darkened. The Fifth Princess choosing Lin Chen meant that in her heart, Lin Chen was the most outstanding.

”If only Junior Brother Su hadn’t mentioned the Sixth Princess just now, surely the Fifth Princess would have chosen Junior Brother Su. Now Lin Chen has benefitted.”

Hearing this, Su Zhe regained a smile on his face. What his senior brother said was true. If he hadn’t just expressed his interest in the Sixth Princess, indicating his intentions, the Fifth Princess would never have chosen Lin Chen.

If he had known earlier, he should have waited a little longer, as Lin Chen gained an advantage in vain.

In terms of family background, he was the grandson of the State Preceptor of Han, while Lin Chen was merely the son of a fisherman.

In terms of strength, he was ranked first on the Earth List of the Hidden Dragon List, while Lin Chen was only eighth.

In terms of age, he was even a few months younger than Lin Chen.

In every aspect, Lin Chen was overshadowed by him.

To maintain his superiority, Su Zhe spoke, ”I, Junior Brother, have my heart set on the Sixth Princess, and this will not change. Though the Fifth Princess is quite beautiful, compared to the Sixth Princess, there’s still a gap.”

Hearing Su Zhe’s words, some of the senior brothers next to him had a look of surprise in their eyes. To make Junior Brother Su say such things, just how enchanting must this Sixth Princess be?

At this moment, Lin Chen was oblivious to the thoughts of those around him. Facing the Fifth Princess approaching with a raised wine glass, he was somewhat stunned.

Kong Qing had already explained the significance of offering a toast at the banquet. So, does this Fifth Princess have feelings for him?

But thinking about Murong Yan’s feelings for him, if he drank this wine...

Sisters...

The scene was too beautiful to think about.

”Thank you, Princess, for your favor. However, I’ve just had quite a bit to drink and am not good with alcohol.”

Wow!

As soon as Lin Chen said this, the room was in an uproar.