Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Three two-hour periods later, after leaving the State Duke’s Mansion, Lin Chen continued his journey northward.

He did not stay overnight at the State Duke’s Mansion; after having lunch with the Old Duke, he proceeded north with Yin Yue.

He also declined the horse offered by the Old Duke, as with his current realm, even a so-called thousand-mile horse couldn’t match the speed of his own feet.

In the Innate Second Realm, traveling thousands of miles in a day is achievable.

Since Senior Brother Chu had already sent word of his return ahead to the island, Lin Chen did not choose to head directly north from the southern sea area. Instead, he inclined towards the southeast to visit the Canglan Martial Arts Academy.

Returning once, visiting the Canglan Martial Arts Academy was inevitable as it was in this academy that he absorbed the Canglan energy, enabling him to join the Canglan Sect.

In terms of his past life, the Canglan Martial Arts Academy was his alma mater.

Canglan City.

When Lin Chen and Yin Yue’s figures landed in front of the main gate of the Canglan Martial Arts Academy, Dean Hua Qianwu, along with the vice-deans and instructors, had been waiting for quite some time.

Seeing this, Lin Chen stepped forward steadily and respectfully cupped his fists:

”Disciple Lin Chen, greets Dean Hua and all the mentors.”

Hua Qianwu’s eyes showed gratification as he laughed heartily:

”Lin Chen, now that you are an Innate Powerhouse renowned in the Flame Dynasty, it should be us saluting you!”

Lin Chen shook his head, speaking sincerely:

”The dean and all the mentors’ teachings on the Martial Path, I will never forget.”

”The dean explained to me the distinctions between martial arts realms and guided my subsequent training...” Lin Chen’s gaze then fell on Zhang Qifeng: ”Instructor Zhang tailored a Body Refining training plan for me back then, which benefited me immensely.”

Lin Chen’s gaze swept over the familiar faces of the vice-deans and instructors at the academy, speaking warmly: ”If not for the academy’s nurturing, how would I become who I am today? No matter what realm I reach on the Martial Path in the future, whenever I return to the academy, I am still just a disciple.”

Hearing Lin Chen’s sincere words, Hua Qianwu and others present were deeply moved. Actually, considering Lin Chen’s current realm and prestige on Canglan Island, he no longer needed to maintain appearances. Even if he returned as an Innate Powerhouse, no one would gossip.

It could only be said that Lin Chen truly appreciated the academy’s nurturing, and standing beside him, Yin Yue appeared thoughtful as she listened to Lin Chen’s words.

...

Accompanied by Hua Qianwu, Lin Chen also entered the academy and chatted with the dean and others for a while, sharing some anecdotes from the Flame Dynasty, mainly about how various forces in the Flame Dynasty cultivated their disciples, providing references for the dean and others.

”Dean, I am going to take a look at the Canglan Lake at the back mountain.”

”Going to Canglan Lake? I was just thinking that since you’ve finally returned, I’d arrange for you to meet some of the outstanding new disciples from the academy’s two cohorts.”

”My visit to Canglan Lake won’t take long, and as for the junior disciples... there’s no need for exceptions. When the time comes, I’ll chat with everyone in the training arena.”

Lin Chen understood what the dean meant; he wanted him to encourage those talented disciples at the academy. However, in Lin Chen’s view, encouraging a few is encouragement, encouraging the entire academy’s disciples is also encouragement.

Combining the three cohorts at Canglan Martial Arts Academy, the numbers amount to no more than five hundred, and the martial arts arena can accommodate them all.

”That would be wonderful. I’ll personally arrange it and wait for your return from the Canglan Lake.”

Hua Qianwu beamed with joy. Arranging for a few promising disciples to meet Lin Chen was something Lin Chen would certainly oblige the academy with, but allowing the entire academy’s disciples to listen to Lin Chen’s talk, without his consent, he dared not arrange privately.

After Hua Qianwu left, Lin Chen looked at Yin Yue: ”Take a rest here, I’m going to visit Canglan Lake to invigorate its energies so that the academy’s disciples will have more opportunities to absorb Canglan energy.”

Yin Yue nodded, but after Lin Chen left, she didn’t stay in the courtyard. Instead, she slowly walked out of the yard.

”Instructor Zhang.”

”Little girl, do you need something?”

Passing by, Zhang Qifeng heard Yin Yue call him and smiled. He was aware of the little girl’s background, as Lin Chen had already introduced her as a descendant of his Senior Brother from the Canglan Sect, who, bored at the sect, had come along with Lin Chen.

”Lin Chen mentioned that Instructor Zhang guided him in Body Refining training methods. Could you tell me specifically about it?”

”No problem, this way... little girl, come with me and you’ll see.”

Zhang Qifeng did not refuse. Many disciples in the academy were aware of how he trained Lin Chen back then, treating today’s two cohorts of new disciples in the same way.

Horizontal Training Hall.

Zhang Qifeng introduced some Body Forging tools to Yin Yue, detailing Lin Chen’s past experiences.

”To be honest, I didn’t think Lin Chen would be able to persist back then because this set of training methods was too difficult. Tendons Separation, Bone Forging... all involve pain unbearable for ordinary people, and no disciple in the academy had managed it before.”

”Many times, I saw Lin Chen faint from the pain, and I advised him to give up...”

As Zhang Qifeng recounted, several disciples present were training and curiously looked over.

They didn’t know who this little girl was, but upon hearing Instructor Zhang’s words, each of their expressions turned odd, as this was not how Instructor Zhang spoke to them.

To them, Instructor Zhang often said:

”Back then, Lin Chen persevered with ease. Why can’t you bunch of waste do the same?”

”Waste is waste, fainting like this. At the Refining Viscera Realm, back then, Lin Chen didn’t even blink.”