Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Liang.

Lingxiao City Gate.

At this moment, three First-Grade Martial Artists have gathered.

The Left and Right Prime Ministers, and the Minister of Martial Affairs.

Ten days ago, sects like the Nine Palaces Sect from the Flame Dynasty formed the Upper Sect Alliance and announced the division of certain regions within the Nine Kingdoms as domains under their sects’ control, requiring all local martial artists and civilians to vacate.

If anyone disobeys, they will be executed.

The Han Kingdom, Zhao Kingdom, Wu Kingdom...

The other kingdoms all chose to accept and recognized one of the sects as the Upper Sect.

Today is the day the Profound Nether Sect takes over Lingxiao City.

Facing these sects from the Flame Dynasty, and even Innate Powerhouses beyond the First Grade, Liang is very aware that with its own strength, it is no match for these sects.

This time, the three First-Grade Martial Artists have gathered in Lingxiao City, primarily to negotiate with the Profound Nether Sect to secure interests for Liang’s martial artists.

A quarter of an hour, half an hour... a full two-hour.

At the city gate, although Kong Qifeng and the others have been standing for more than half an hour, their expressions show no impatience.

According to the distance, the people of the Profound Nether Sect should have arrived already, but their delay is evidently intentional.

Not far from the city gate, some young martial artists from Liang show anger in their eyes. How prestigious are Lord Kong and the others, the backbone of Liang, yet they have been kept waiting here for more than half an hour. The Profound Nether Sect is too oppressive.

”The country is weak, and the people are humbled. Put away the anger in your eyes.”

The City Lord of Lingxiao City looked at the young martial artists behind him and spoke solemnly: ”If you truly want to be angry, channel that into your Martial Path. You all know about the Lingxiao Marquis’ pact from three hundred years ago. See how those predecessors acted.”

With the City Lord’s words, the young martial artists slowly restrained their expressions.

Lingxiao Marquis’ Pact!

This is a well-known anecdote among Liang’s martial artists.

Three hundred years ago, when the Grand Ancestor Emperor had just established Liang, struggling for initial development, neighboring countries severed their Martial Path trade with Liang, considering it illegitimate. Later, to establish Martial Path resource trade with the Zhao Kingdom, the Grand Ancestor Emperor personally went to the Lingxiao City gate pier to welcome the Zhao Kingdom’s envoy.

The Liang Calendar records that from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., the Grand Ancestor stood in the chilly spring river breeze, waiting half an hour before the Third Grade envoy from Zhao Kingdom arrived. The Grand Ancestor showed no sign of displeasure, personally escorting the Zhao envoy into the city, eventually reaching an agreement with Zhao Kingdom.

A monarch of a nation, welcoming a mere Third Grade envoy, and the envoy was late by half an hour. For Liang, this was a humiliation, but the Grand Ancestor Emperor, for the sake of Liang’s martial artists, bore this humiliation and hospitably entertained the Zhao envoy.

Decades later, before the envoy from Zhao Kingdom passed away, he revealed that his mission to Liang was not originally intended to reach a trade agreement. He was deliberately late, waiting for the Grand Ancestor Emperor’s anger as a reason to terminate negotiations.

Yet the Grand Ancestor Emperor, in the face of his half-hour late arrival, showed no hint of displeasure, welcomed him warmly, leaving a great impression. Upon returning to his country, he persuaded the monarch, eventually reaching a trade agreement with the Liang Kingdom for Martial Path resources.

But this statement from the Zhao envoy came only in his later years. At that time, Liang was incessantly mocked and ridiculed by neighboring countries because of it.

The Grand Ancestor Emperor endured such humiliation, while Liang’s martial artists quietly trained, strengthening Liang’s national power. Only then did the Zhao envoy change his words in his later years from humiliation to praise of the Grand Ancestor Emperor’s broad-mindedness.

Three hundred years later, the same scene plays out once more.

The city lord’s meaning was clear to them. To wash away today’s shame, they must forge ahead on their Martial Path. When Liang becomes strong enough, the humiliation faced by Lord Kong and the others today will turn into unperturbed praise in the future.

But if it weren’t for the weakness of the nation, who would willingly endure humiliation for future praise?

One hour later.

Two figures sliced through the sky and arrived, surprisingly two young martial artists.

The two young martial artists looked at Kong Qifeng and the others standing at the city gate, snorted disdainfully, and directly asked, ”Where is your Liang Kingdom emperor?”

In their words, there was nothing but contempt for Kong Qifeng and the others.

”His Majesty is in the capital, and has specially dispatched the three of us to welcome your sect.”

Despite the disrespect from these young ones, Kong Qifeng showed no sign of anger, explaining, ”When your sect wishes to proceed to the capital, we three will accompany you.”

”No need. Your Liang martial artists will withdraw from Lingxiao City immediately. The Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy will be disbanded on the spot. From today, Lingxiao City belongs to our Profound Nether Sect.”

Kong Qifeng was taken aback. Liang was already prepared to cede Lingxiao City to the Profound Nether Sect, but definitely not in this manner.

”About Lingxiao City, can we negotiate further...”

”What, does your Liang Kingdom not want to hand over Lingxiao City?”

The young man impatiently interrupted Kong Qifeng, sneering: ”Or does your Liang Kingdom wish to oppose our Profound Nether Sect and try the taste of extinction?”

The young man was merely at the Third Grade Realm, yet showed no respect in his words towards Kong Qifeng and the First-Grade martial artists, only threats and mockery.

Behind them, the young martial artists of Liang could no longer contain their anger, their eyes glaring fiercely at the two youths.

”Not satisfied, are you?”

The young man, having seen the anger in the eyes of Liang’s young martial artists, smiled: ”In the Flame Dynasty, a country like yours would have been annihilated long ago. Our sect’s sparing of your Liang Kingdom’s destruction is already quite merciful. If you’re not sensible, the sect won’t mind exterminating Liang Kingdom.”

Arrogant, domineering!

Kong Qifeng also felt the anger of the young disciples behind him, but he sighed softly and said with cupped fists, ”Your sect’s entry into our Nine Kingdoms’ territory must be to select some excellent disciples. Our Liang has many young martial artists who can also join your sect.”