Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Upon seeing his own realm and spirit tier values, Lin Chen took a deep breath.

Although he had a premonition that successfully cultivating the first layer of the Inextinguishable Divine Face Body would result in a huge increase in strength, he didn’t expect such a terrifying increase.

From the Seventh Grade to the Fourth Grade, he leaped from the top of the lower grade to the top of the middle grade, crossing three realms.

As for the spirit realm, it also rose by three tiers, even higher than the realm by one grade.

”The Inextinguishable Divine Face Body is not just as simple as body tempering. After all, the innate fire itself has the effect of tempering the divine soul, it’s just that ordinary martial artists cannot absorb and refine it.”

Lin Chen’s eyes gleamed with contemplation. This time, his rapid surge in strength owed the most to the Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique and sufficient Li Fire, but the [Martial Arts Longevity] and the [Light of Liang] on the panel also played a role.

This time, his ranking on the Martial Arts Mountain advanced by tens of thousands of places, with his divine soul effectively improving by dozens of levels. The one percent increase in [Martial Arts Longevity] was an additional one percent on top of his current divine soul strength.

This improvement is extremely terrifying because his base is continuously growing. To put it bluntly, a one percent increase in his divine soul now is equivalent to dozens of increases before.

”Lin... Lin Chen?”

Just as Lin Chen was immersed in the rapid advancement of his strength, a voice full of surprise came from afar. Lin Chen turned toward the voice and upon seeing the elderly figure, a smile immediately spread across his face.

”Duke!”

”Hahaha, it’s good to see you’re fine. I really thought...”

Fang Funan, seeing Lin Chen unharmed, stepped forward and grabbed Lin Chen’s hand. Lin Chen could feel the old man’s genuine joy and excitement.

”This junior apologizes for making you worry, Duke.”

”It wasn’t just me worrying. The Left Prime Minister and Lord Kong from your Military Affairs Department came, as well as Jia Nanzhu from Jiangnan Dao, and even your mentor... If it weren’t for the lack of information being disclosed from within the formation, even more people would have come.”

Lin Chen was taken aback, realizing that staying inside for so long would surely worry those outside, but he didn’t expect Lord Liang to personally come to the Li Fire Path.

”Let’s talk after we get out.”

Fang Funan didn’t let go of Lin Chen’s hand, directly pulling him toward the exit.

He didn’t know what changes had occurred inside the formation, but there was no rush to find out. Leave the place first and make sure Lin Chen was completely safe before discussing further.

...

At the jade monument entrance, when they saw the Duke leading Lin Chen out, the elderly observers were all visibly astonished.

The news of Lin Chen’s disappearance and uncertain life status inside the formation was concealed from the public, but as part of the top brass of the Southern Garrison Army, these elderly men knew. This was because they had to be on guard in case the Li Fire awoke, and Fang Funan didn’t hide this fact from them.

A genius like Lin Chen perishing inside the formation was naturally a painful loss. Seeing Lin Chen come out unharmed now, smiles graced all their faces.

”Keep guarding here to prevent any unforeseen incidents.”

After instructing the group, Fang Funan, pulling Lin Chen along, headed straight to the temporary camp set up in the valley.

”Tell me what happened inside the formation.”

”Yes.”

Lin Chen nodded and recounted encountering the Nansha Three Islands and martial artists from the Han Kingdom within the formation, the cultivation technique to absorb the Li Fire obtained from Martial Arts Mountain, and the recent agreement with the Li Fire.

After listening to Lin Chen’s account, Fang Funan’s old face was filled with murderous intent.

”Nansha Three Islands... I have long suspected that the Nansha Three Islands were plotting something, but without evidence and with our Liang being at war with the Han Kingdom and Zheng Kingdom, I’ve had to endure temporarily.”

”The Han Kingdom and Zheng Kingdom have gone to war with us?”

Lin Chen was surprised, expecting the Han Kingdom to manipulate other countries into warring with Liang as before, not expecting the Han Kingdom to step in directly.

”The Han Kingdom is now at war with our country, although both sides are restrained. In contrast, Zheng Kingdom is hell-bent on waging a full-fledged war against Liang, almost mobilizing all its national strength.”

”And what about the other countries?”

Given the Han Kingdom’s tendencies, it wouldn’t simply allow the other countries to stand by. They would likely be coerced into joining the siege against Liang.

”When Zheng Kingdom ambushed Lingxiao City the same day, Pei Qingming, with a single sword, slayed the Sea Demon King, scaring away tens of thousands of Zheng Kingdom troops. The other countries, once eager to act, also lost their nerve.”

Fang Funan stroked his beard with a smile, and Lin Chen’s eyes lit up, ”Brother Pei is impressive indeed.”

”Pei Qingming is naturally a genius of our Liang, you need not belittle yourself. In another decade or so, you too will become the stabilizing needle of Liang, deterring the other countries from daring to act rashly.”

Fang Funan had high expectations for Lin Chen. To become a nation’s stabilizing needle, one must reach the upper grade realm and excel within it. Typically, even moderately talented middle-grade martial artists take over a decade to ascend from middle to upper grade, and another decade or so from upper grade to the pinnacle.

But Fang Funan had great faith in Lin Chen. With Lin Chen’s talent, it wouldn’t take him over thirty years; just another decade or so, and Lin Chen would rise to prominence.

This was a consensus shared between him and Kong Qifeng and a few others. They, the older generation, would protect Lin Chen and Pei Qingming, giving them the time to grow over the next decade or so.

”Duke, what about the Nansha Three Islands?”

”No need to bother; they brought this upon themselves.”

Fang Funan waved his hand, ”I know what you’re thinking. The Nansha Three Islands parted from our Liang hundreds of years ago. Even ordinary citizens long ceased any sense of belonging to our Liang. The sins created above are theirs to bear.”