Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

On the arena.

As Lin Chen stepped onto the stage, the scene erupted with waves of puzzled murmurs.

It’s only the fourth match, and Lin Chen is already up?

According to their habitual thinking, Lin Chen should be the last to take the stage.

The stronger one’s strength, the later one appears onstage.

This has become an unwritten rule in various competitions.

”There is still a gap in overall strength between Canglan Martial Arts Academy and Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy. The battle just now proved that. Lin Chen’s decision to go onstage now is a last resort. If they lose one more match, it would greatly impact the morale of Canglan Martial Arts Academy.”

On the stands, a martial artist analyzed rationally, believing that Lin Chen’s appearance now is to restore morale.

”It’s still unwise; even if Lin Chen wins this match, Liang Kingdom only has two victories, and they have to win four out of the next six matches, which is almost impossible.”

”It seems that Canglan Martial Arts Academy is bound to lose. The only thing remaining to watch now is whether Ling Tianhao and Bian Xinjie will make an appearance.”

Rumors outside said that Lin Chen killed the seventh on the Celestial List, Lu Chuanning, in the Thousand Illusion Secret Realm, but neither Lin Chen nor the Yan Country Royal Family responded. Lin Chen’s actual strength up to the seventh on the Celestial List has not yet been verified.

Even though the Martial Arts Garden listed Lin Chen as the seventh on the Celestial List, many martial artists still doubted it.

”It seems Lin Chen doesn’t dare to face us, quite cunning indeed.”

Seeing Lin Chen step onto the arena, Ling Tianhao snorted lightly, deeming Lin Chen’s behavior as avoiding confrontation.

”Canglan Martial Arts Academy lost, but Lin Chen didn’t lose, just trying to save some face for himself.”

Bian Xinjie believed he had figured out Lin Chen’s thoughts; Lin Chen would certainly win this match, so even if Canglan Martial Arts Academy lost later, Lin Chen wouldn’t have lost.

Lin Chen doesn’t dare to confront himself and Junior Brother Ling.

”If I had known, I would have gone onstage earlier.”

”Senior Brother Ling, if you had gone onstage a moment ago, Lin Chen might not have dared to come up.”

A disciple from Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy said with a laugh, causing the disciples there to burst into laughter.

In their view, Lin Chen’s actions were avoidance, an act to preserve his own face.

On the arena, Lin Chen completely ignored the muttered taunts from Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy’s disciples. His expression remained calm as he looked at the disciple from Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy before him, slowly drawing the Dragon Shadow Bow, just waiting for the referee’s command to start.

The disciple from Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy looked extremely grim. He didn’t expect to face Lin Chen. After yesterday’s scene, no one dared to underestimate Lin Chen, nor did he believe himself to be Lin Chen’s opponent, even as an Eighth-Grade Martial Artist.

Furthermore, he was well aware that after the previous fight, Lin Chen would undoubtedly not hold back in this one.

But to simply admit defeat, he couldn’t do it. As a genius martial artist of the Han Kingdom, he had his own pride.

At the very least, he had to take one arrow from Lin Chen; if things turned for the worse, he could admit defeat then.

Unlike Junior Brother Han, who was frightened into conceding by just a threatening sentence from Lin Chen.

”Let the match begin!”

As the referee spoke, the moment the word ”begin” fell, everyone saw a streak of golden light piercing the sky, shooting out at an unbelievable speed.

Whoosh!

In the eyes of the Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy disciple, all he saw was a streak of golden light filling his entire line of sight, and then... he knew nothing more.

From start to finish, standing still, without any reaction.

The scene was utterly silent!

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the blood hole in the forehead of the Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy disciple on the arena.

Boom!

Two breaths later, as the disciple’s body from the Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy collapsed to the ground, the scene erupted in astonished exclamations.

”One arrow, it was really just one arrow!”

”How did he do it, to kill an Eighth-Grade Martial Artist with just one arrow.”

”I only saw Lin Chen draw the bow, saw the arrow leave the string, and before I could see where the arrow went, the disciple from Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy had already fallen.”

The extreme incredulity caused these geniuses from various countries to struggle to control their emotions even at this moment.

This was an Eighth-Grade Martial Artist, not an unranked martial artist.

Bian Xinjie and Ling Tianhao’s smiles froze, shock finally appearing in their eyes.

The other disciples from Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy were slack-jawed, stunned, save for one person who showed a look of relief as if surviving a disaster.

Thankfully, he felt the crisis earlier and chose to give up.

If not, the one lying on the arena now wouldn’t be Junior Brother Zhao but him.

At the very front of the stands, Lu Qiguang’s face was ashen, while beside him, Hou Zhantian’s eyes shone with a sharp light, while his entire presence locked onto Lu Qiguang. If Lu Qiguang made any move, Hou Zhantian would act immediately.

He absolutely would not allow yesterday’s incident to happen again.

”This...is too strong. I admit, I can’t do it.”

On the Yan Country Royal Family’s side, Zuo Fei shook his head with a bitter smile. As the senior brother of the Royal Martial Academy, he admitted he could defeat this disciple from Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy, but he definitely couldn’t kill the enemy in one move.

Let alone, using a bow and arrow as a weapon.

Bows and arrows are unlike other weapons; to use a bow and arrow to instantly kill the opponent means one’s own strength must be overwhelming compared to the opponent, but if one could overwhelm the opponent, there would be no need to use a bow and arrow.

If the strength was roughly equal, a bow and arrow would be less effective compared to other weapons.

This is the common understanding of archery among the martial artists from the Nine Kingdoms, and also the reason why the number of martial artists who choose the bow and arrow as their weapon is so sparse.

Shooting an enemy dead from dozens or even hundreds of feet away is indeed thrilling, but that is based on overwhelming absolute strength.

”Now I believe Lin Chen really can defeat Lu Chuanning and is worthy of being ranked seventh on the Celestial List.”

Zuo Fei murmured, and the other disciples around him agreed.

This arrow not only killed the disciple from Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy but also proved Lin Chen’s own strength, justifying his ranking of seventh on the Celestial List.

”How did he do it?”

In the stands, Murong Xin’s little mouth was slightly open, looking at Murong Yan: ”Sixth Sister, you’ve interacted with Lin Chen in Liang Kingdom. Is Liang Kingdom secretly cultivating Lin Chen, using the nation’s resources to nurture him?”

”No.”

Murong Yan shook her head. A genius like Lin Chen would certainly be cultivated by Liang Kingdom, but their approach to nurturing young talents is different from other countries. They don’t simply provide multiple resources as other countries do, but require individuals to acquire them on their own.

”Even if Liang Kingdom is cultivating him wholeheartedly, it depends on whether he can absorb and digest it all.”

Murong Shuang analyzed rationally from the side. Every country has more than enough martial resources to nurture a young martial artist, but the problem lies in whether they can completely absorb them.

A lower-grade martial artist can only absorb and refine a few types of pills, even if they take them as meals, it won’t help; their capacity to absorb and refine is limited. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a competition of talent among these countries, and everyone would just pile on resources.

Compared to us, Liang Kingdom and Han Kingdom have more martial resources, including some special resources that can quickly enhance a martial artist’s strength, but these too have their limits. Additionally, these types of directly absorbable and refinable resources are mostly rare to come by, and the families and powers possessing them won’t easily share them.

After Murong Shuang finished speaking, she glanced at Murong Yan with a bit of envy: ”Sixth Sister, even your Fourth Sister now envies you a little, being able to find such an outstanding husband.”

Murong Yan’s cheeks blushed deeply, while a trace of helplessness flashed in her eyes: ”She actually wants to marry Lin Chen, but she still has to overcome the hurdle of Senior Sister Jiang.”

...

...

On the stage, the referee glanced at the corpse of the disciple from Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy on the ground, and his eyes held a trace of emotion as he looked at Lin Chen. However, as a referee, he naturally had to fulfill his responsibilities.

”Canglan Martial Arts Academy wins this battle. Next, Canglan Academy can choose someone to fight first.”

”Senior, there’s no need.”

Lin Chen shook his head: ”For the next match of Canglan Martial Arts Academy, let me battle again!”

Hiss!

The entire audience erupted in another uproar because of Lin Chen’s words.

”A wheel battle!”

”Lin Chen wants to choose a wheel battle!”

In the Martial Arts Academy ranking competition, personal elimination matches have a rule: if a disciple chooses to fight in multiple rounds alone, the battle must continue until they concede.

This rule has only been invoked twice since the ranking competition began.

Both times were initiated by a genius from Han Kingdom back then.

This time, even the referee showed a surprised expression.

”Are you sure you want to initiate a wheel battle?”

Once a wheel battle begins, you must either win all matches or concede; you cannot choose to end it voluntarily midway.

”I’m sure.”

Below the stage, Li Yuan and others, upon hearing Lin Chen’s words, felt a deep sense of guilt in their eyes. They knew very well that Junior Brother Lin chose the wheel battle because of the incident with Chen Dong. With these two battles of Chen Dong and Lin Chen, the coming battles are bound to be deadly.

On their side, apart from Senior Brother Hu having some chance of winning against other disciples from Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy, the others have none.

But if Senior Brother Hu goes on stage, let’s not forget that Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy still has Bian Xinjie and Ling Tianhao waiting.

”Senior Brother Li, fellow senior brothers, today let this junior brother have a moment in the spotlight.”

Lin Chen turned back and gave a slight smile to Li Yuan and others. Li Yuan remained silent, before speaking after a moment: ”Junior Brother Lin, prioritize your safety, the academy’s ranking doesn’t matter.”

”Hmm.”

Having agreed, Lin Chen turned to look at the referee.

”In that case, begin the wheel battle. As for Celestial Palace Martial Arts Academy...”

”I’ll go!”

Ling Tianhao flashed onto the stage directly.

With Lin Chen’s displayed strength, sending anyone else from their ranks would just be sending them to their death; only he and Senior Brother Bian could handle Lin Chen.

Ling Tianhao’s appearance instantly heightened the atmosphere.

It’s here!

The clash between the Celestial List martial artists they wanted to see has finally arrived.

”Lin Chen, even if you defeated Junior Brother Lu, you’re just the seventh on the Celestial List. Every rank on the Celestial List has a huge gap between them.”

Ling Tianhao’s entire aura kept climbing, his clothes fluttering without wind. The next moment, a gust of wind suddenly appeared on the stage, and with this gale, a long saber appeared in his hand.

The long saber was fierce, exuding an intense chill, and even outside the stage, many martial artists could feel the coldness emanating from it.

The Han Kingdom is the strongest with Ice Cold Technique.

PS: Seeking monthly votes, does anyone still have some left?