Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Xu Guanlan lost!

Without admitting defeat verbally, Martial Arts Mountain automatically detected his unconsciousness and removed him from Martial Arts Mountain.

On the light screen, Lin Chen’s figure also disappeared shortly after.

Compared to the excitement of the Canglan Sect disciples and the amazement of many spectators, the Innate Martial Artists ranked above Lin Chen were now deep in thought.

They were considering whether they had the strength to fight against Lin Chen.

They faced only two options: admit defeat like Xue Xing or fight Lin Chen with all their might.

But if their strength was lacking, Xu Guanlan’s fate lay before them.

To lose so badly in front of the many martial artists of the Flame Dynasty, as long as Lin Chen continued to walk in the Flame Dynasty, his name would definitely be brought up.

And they knew that with Lin Chen’s talent and the nurturing of the Canglan Sect, he was destined to become a powerhouse in the Flame Dynasty in the future.

In contrast, admitting defeat voluntarily was inconsequential, as spectators’ attention would gradually fade over time.

...

”Senior Brother Zhao, do you think I should admit defeat?”

The young man looked at his senior brother and asked.

”Unless you have a 40% chance of making it a draw or holding out for more than a hundred breaths, don’t fight recklessly.”

Hearing this, the young man’s expression dimmed; he understood his brother’s meaning.

His brother didn’t expect him to have a 40% chance of winning, only a 40% chance of avoiding a crushing defeat.

His brother was saving face for him, implicitly indicating he wasn’t a match for Lin Chen.

”No one remembers the defeated, even if I manage over a hundred breaths against Lin Chen, it doesn’t mean much.”

The young man shook his head helplessly; given this, he decided to admit defeat.

...

Martial Arts Mountain.

Sixth place, fifth place, fourth place...

All admitted defeat.

This time, the many martial artists watching didn’t react with shock, but rather a sense of regret.

Regret for not witnessing the battle of the Innate Martial Artists.

Admitting defeat faced with insurmountable strength was wise.

There was no need to stubbornly endure.

Already ranked fourth, Lin Chen looked at the three ahead of him and chose to continue challenging.

”Challenge again?”

Seeing Lin Chen appear on the light screen, many martial artists watching had puzzled expressions; they thought Lin Chen would temporarily pause at fourth place to adjust his state to peak condition before further challenges.

The difference between the top ten and the top three of Martial Arts Mountain was significant.

The top three of this year’s Martial Arts Mountain have held their positions for half a year, while the remaining top ten positions have changed hands several times within that timeframe.

The top three of Martial Arts Mountain greatly surpass the other seven in the top ten in strength.

Martial Arts Mountain plains.

Lin Chen looked at his opponent and bowed: ”Please guide me.”

”No need to rush into action.”

Feng Yichuan in a blue robe waved his hand at Lin Chen: ”May I ask you a question?”

”Please ask.”

Hearing the request, Lin Chen’s expression turned a bit odd; he recalled Xue Xing asking a question before directly admitting defeat, was this opponent going to do the same?

Would a genius ranked top three in Martial Arts Mountain directly admit defeat?

”If I admit defeat, will you immediately challenge the second rank?”

Feng Yichuan gazed intensely at Lin Chen, awaiting his reply.

”Yes.”

Lin Chen pondered for a moment before answering.

If Feng Yichuan admitted defeat, he would challenge the second rank.

”It seems you are confident in your strength, then... in a while, I will choose to admit defeat.”

Feng Yichuan smiled as he spoke, leaving Lin Chen confused: ”Why do you wish to do this?”

Having reached the top three, Lin Chen didn’t think Feng Yichuan believed he lacked the strength to fight him.

”I’ve challenged Zeng Xi thrice and lost all three times; to be honest, I dislike him, but I don’t have the ability to defeat him. If you can beat him for me, I’ll give you the opportunity.”

Feng Yichuan spread his hands, speaking plainly, and Lin Chen suddenly understood; it was borrowing a knife to kill.

Well, more accurately, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Lin Chen didn’t know the dynamics of the three fights between Feng Yichuan and the second-rank Zeng Xi, but he could tell from Feng Yichuan’s tone that his animosity was genuine.

”If I were to fight you, even in defeat, your trump card would be exposed, making it impossible to immediately challenge Zeng Xi. This would give Zeng Xi time to prepare, and if you then lost to him, it would only add to my frustration.”

Feng Yichuan spoke with confidence; Lin Chen’s strength was formidable but not to the point of forcing immediate surrender; he had no intention of being Zeng Xi’s stepping stone.

By admitting defeat, Lin Chen could keep his trump cards hidden, ready for Zeng Xi.

Even if Lin Chen eventually lost to Zeng Xi, it would at least ensure Zeng Xi paid a price, as Martial Arts Mountain wouldn’t heal injuries sustained in battles between Innate Powerhouses.

If Zeng Xi got hurt, it brought satisfaction to Feng Yichuan.

As for his ranking dropping one place, Feng Yichuan was indifferent; even without a challenge from Lin Chen, he would be disqualified for being over twenty in four months.

”Challenge Zeng Xi within three two-hour periods, and I’ll admit defeat, or we could fight; it’s your decision.”

Everything that needed to be said has been said. Feng Yichuan is now waiting for Lin Chen’s answer.

Giving Lin Chen three two-hour periods to prepare is based on his estimation that Lin Chen’s original plan might have been to challenge him first, and then not urgently challenge the ones ahead. Moreover, the Canglan Sect elders did not hastily analyze Zeng Xi’s situation for Lin Chen, nor did they provide a battle plan.

If Lin Chen loses to him, there will be no chance to challenge Zeng Xi, making any prior preparation pointless.

Although three two-hour periods is a bit short, it should be enough for Lin Chen to gain a detailed understanding of Zeng Xi from the sect’s elders.

”Within three two-hour periods, I will challenge Zeng Xi.”

Lin Chen provided his answer, and Feng Yichuan gave Lin Chen a deep look: ”Alright.”

Reaching this point, Feng Yichuan believes Lin Chen wouldn’t deceive him.

”I concede!”

Feng Yichuan lightly whispered to the heavens, and after a few breaths, his figure began to slowly fade away.

”Lin Chen, Zeng Xi’s greatest strength is his Divine Thought.”

As his figure disappeared, Feng Yichuan’s voice echoed.

...

”Hiss, did Feng Yichuan just concede?”

”How is this possible? Why would Feng Yichuan concede?”

”Is Lin Chen’s strength truly at such a level?”

”Impossible, I rather believe that some agreement was reached between the Canglan Sect and the Daluo Sect, and Feng Yichuan was ordered by the sect leaders to concede.”

Someone proposed a conspiracy theory, simply because Feng Yichuan’s concession was too shocking for them.

After all, this is Feng Yichuan, known as the number one Celestial Pride under the age of twenty in the Southern Domain, not just a single domain but across the entire southern domains of the Flame Dynasty.

Everyone in the younger generation throughout the southern domains of the Flame Dynasty knows Feng Yichuan’s name.

Why would this person concede?

At the Daluo Sect, Feng Yichuan descended from the Martial Arts Mountain and saw the strange gazes of several senior and junior brothers around him. Without explanation, he stood with his arms folded, waiting for the battle between Lin Chen and Zeng Xi.

...

At the Canglan Sect,

Lin Chen descended from the Martial Arts Mountain, and many figures filled the yard.

His master, his second senior brother, and third senior brother, including Qiao Yuan and Elder Zhao, were all present.

”Little junior brother, you’re impressive, even making Feng Yichuan concede actively,” Chai Daoqi said with a smile. Lin Chen, upon hearing this, shook his head: ”Feng Yichuan didn’t concede because he thinks I’m not his opponent, but for other reasons.”

”What reasons?” Qiao Yuan asked immediately.

”Feng Yichuan and the second-ranked Zeng Xi have enmity. He didn’t want to battle me exhaustively, exposing his trump cards and benefiting Zeng Xi in the end, so he chose to concede.”

Lin Chen’s answer made the expressions of several people in the yard become peculiar. Liang Hanyang clucked his tongue: ”That’s really capricious.”

”No, that’s not right,” Chai Daoqi thought of something: ”It’s not right, this doesn’t make sense. Even if you managed a narrow victory, you would have enough time to recover your injuries, and Zeng Xi wouldn’t gain the upper hand. On the contrary, if you lost to Zeng Xi, wouldn’t Feng Yichuan’s proactive concession give Zeng Xi the chance to mock him?”

”I agreed with Feng Yichuan to challenge Zeng Xi at the Martial Arts Mountain within three two-hour periods,” Lin Chen said. Upon hearing this, a gleam appeared in the elders’ eyes, and the other three quickly understood.

They realized Feng Yichuan’s true intention.

It was to have Lin Chen fight desperately against Zeng Xi. If Lin Chen wins, his proactive concession won’t matter, but if Lin Chen loses, Zeng Xi will also be injured, giving Feng Yichuan the chance to catch up during Zeng Xi’s recovery period.

A double-edged strategy.

”That Zeng Xi is a disciple of the Thousand Mechanism Sect. Disciple of the Thousand Mechanism Sect will either not enter the top thirty of the Martial Arts Mountain, but once they do, they are always in the top three,” Du Xiaofeng said slowly. Since their disciple had already agreed with Feng Yichuan, there was no going back, and what he could do now was provide his disciple with more information about this Zeng Xi.

”Master is right. I specifically investigated the recent top thirty of the Martial Arts Mountain. The Thousand Mechanism Sect had a total of three disciples enter the top thirty, and their final rankings are first, second, and third...”

Liang Hanyang continued, as his little junior brother was about to undertake the climb to the top of the Martial Arts Mountain. As a senior brother, he couldn’t help in other ways, but he could certainly assist in researching the opponent.

”Zeng Xi’s Divine Soul is exceptionally strong...”

...

...

Thousand Mechanism Sect.

When he saw Feng Yichuan concede in the light curtain, Zeng Xi slowly left.

This scene left several disciples of the Thousand Mechanism Sect puzzled.

”Senior Brother Zeng, where are you going?”

”To prepare to accept Lin Chen’s challenge.”

”Huh?”

The disciples exchanged glances, wondering if Senior Brother Zeng means that Lin Chen would challenge him immediately?

It shouldn’t be, right?

Even though Feng Yichuan conceded, if it were them as Lin Chen, they would definitely have a detailed discussion with the sect’s elders to understand their opponent, that is, Senior Brother Zeng, and wait a few days before proceeding to the next challenge.

This would undoubtedly be the safest approach.

”I don’t understand Lin Chen, but I understand Feng Yichuan,”

Zeng Xi said, stepping away and leaving behind this remark. His grudges with Feng Yichuan extended beyond just the ranking competition on the Martial Arts Mountain. Given Feng Yichuan’s decisive concession, he already guessed what Feng Yichuan had planned.

This guy definitely reached an agreement with Lin Chen. Within twelve two-hour periods, Lin Chen would surely challenge him.

Otherwise, Feng Yichuan would not have chosen to concede.

This guy wants to reap benefits without sowing.