Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Fire Refining Platform!

The place where disciples of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect practice and compete.

On the Fire Refining Platform, there stand nine iron pillars, each engraved with runes.

The Ten Thousand Flames Sect doesn’t have many disciples; many are in long-term seclusion refining the Innate Fire. Unlike the busy Task Hall of the Canglan Sect, the busiest place here is the Fire Refining Platform.

When Lin Chen and Zhao Haoyang arrived at the Fire Refining Platform, many disciples of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect were already there, preparing for their sparring.

”Fellow Junior Brothers, I am going to duel with Lin Chen from the Canglan Sect on the Fire Refining Platform, and I would appreciate it if you could give us some space for an early match.”

Zhao Haoyang had a very unfriendly attitude toward Lin Chen, but he was quite courteous to the other sect disciples.

Upon hearing Zhao Haoyang’s words, many disciples of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect suddenly turned to look at Lin Chen. Once they confirmed it was indeed the same Lin Chen they had seen at the Martial Arts Arena not long ago, the place instantly filled with chatter.

”It really is Lin Chen from the Canglan Sect. Why has he come to our Ten Thousand Flames Sect?”

”Why do you care? Didn’t you hear Senior Brother Zhao say he is going to duel Lin Chen on the Fire Refining Platform?”

”Senior Brother Zhao is strong, but if he duels Lin Chen, the chances of winning seem slim.”

The disciples of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect were abuzz with discussion, and some already left to notify others.

No matter why Senior Brother Zhao and Lin Chen are dueling, such an event shouldn’t be missed.

After the other disciples made way, Zhao Haoyang led Lin Chen onto the Fire Refining Platform.

”Lin Chen, our Ten Thousand Flames Sect’s Fire Refining Platform is infused with various Innate Fires within the fire columns. When our sect’s disciples compete in fire manipulation skills, there are three rounds. The first round is about who can summon more Innate Fire.”

Zhao Haoyang’s eyes focused intently on Lin Chen, who glanced at the nine stone pillars and nodded to indicate his understanding.

Only then did the disciples below know that Zhao Haoyang wasn’t planning to duel with Lin Chen but to compare their fire manipulation skills.

”I knew it couldn’t be a fight; Senior Brother Zhao is not arrogant like that.”

”If it’s about controlling Innate Fire, Senior Brother Zhao’s chances of winning are higher.”

”That’s right. I watched Lin Chen’s battle on Martial Arts Mountain. Although he has refined Innate Fire too, it’s only two flames. In terms of controlling Innate Fire, he surely can’t match Senior Brother Zhao.”

The disciples below shifted from prior concerns, thinking no one could match their sect in manipulating Innate Fire.

Not even the top of Martial Arts Mountain could.

Meanwhile, other Innate disciples in the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, including many direct disciples, were informed.

”Junior Brother Zhao wants to compete with Lin Chen in manipulating Innate Fire; this is interesting, definitely worth watching.”

”It seems Junior Brother Zhao was provoked somehow, but the fact that Lin Chen dared to accept makes me curious.”

Many direct disciples were visibly intrigued, unlike the other disciples who simply assumed Zhao Haoyang was bound to win.

Lin Chen had just reached the peak of Martial Arts Mountain and was on the rise. He wouldn’t have accepted Junior Brother Zhao’s challenge without reason.

For Lin Chen to dare to accept, he must have had something to rely on.

That’s precisely what intrigued them, wanting to know on what Lin Chen relied, what gave him confidence.

As Zhao Haoyang explained the rules of the duel to Lin Chen, more and more people began to gather around the Fire Refining Platform.

”Senior Brother Qin has arrived.”

”Senior Brother Zhang is here too.”

”All these direct disciples are showing up. It hasn’t been this lively at the Fire Refining Platform for a long time.”

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Finally, a steward of the Innate Third Realm acted as the referee for this duel.

”To summon Innate Fire, which of you will go first?”

The referee looked at Zhao Haoyang and Lin Chen. Zhao Haoyang, seeing Lin Chen remain silent, directly said, ”I’ll go first, so you can see how to summon Innate Fire. Don’t say afterward that my victory was unfair.”

In Zhao Haoyang’s mind, he wanted to defeat Lin Chen to prove his talent to Elder Wan; he wanted to win in a way that left Lin Chen with nothing to say.

Lin Chen didn’t say anything; he just stepped back to the corner outside the nine fire pillars of the Fire Refining Platform.

Zhao Haoyang stepped into the center of the nine fire pillars, where the area beneath his feet was etched with many runes. When combined, these runes formed a flame pattern.

Zhao Haoyang stood at the platform’s center with a calm expression, while the surrounding Ten Thousand Flames Sect disciples watched eagerly.

After a few moments, Zhao Haoyang’s hands began forming seals, and his aura steadily rose.

”Is that the Fire Merging Technique?”

Upon seeing Zhao Haoyang’s hand seals, Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew those hand seals too; they came from the Fire Merging Technique.

As Zhao Haoyang began to activate the Fire Merging Technique, the flames atop the nine fire pillars changed, becoming lively. The inscriptions on the pillars flickered in the flames, and the speed of the entire Fire Refining Platform accelerated quickly.

”Senior Brother Zhang, how many Innate Fires do you think Junior Brother Zhao can summon?”

”With Junior Brother Zhao’s talent, five Innate Fires shouldn’t be a problem.”

Zhang Tai made a prediction, as Junior Brother Zhao’s talent and strength already qualified him to become a direct disciple. The reason he hadn’t was that Junior Brother Zhao wanted to study under Elder Zhuang.

He heard the news that Elder Zhuang refused, which other elders might have agreed to.

Every direct disciple knew Elder Zhuang’s criteria for accepting disciples were the strictest. Over the years, few disciples caught Elder Zhuang’s eye, and those who did usually became disciples of other elders, leaving Elder Zhuang without a single disciple yet.