Rise from a Poor Family: My Martial Arts Counterattack

Chapter 428 Zeng Xi: I Don't Have Masochistic Tendencies
Seven days later!
Lin Chen walked out of his own yard. Today was the day the spots for the Canglan Secret Realm were confirmed.

The Canglan Secret Realm of the Canglan Sect can accommodate twenty people each time it opens, but the Canglan Sect itself only has ten slots.

The sect traded the remaining ten spots with other sects.

The disciples of the Canglan Sect had no complaints about the sect giving up ten spots to other sects, because these spots brought the sect a lot of resources, or were traded with other sects for their secret realm spots.

Ten spots are available for any disciple who is at the first level of the Innate Realm and is under thirty years old.

Canglan Main Hall.

Lin Chen arrived at the square in front of the main hall, where many disciples had already gathered.

Each competition for a spot in the Canglan Secret Realm is a grand event for the sect. In addition to the disciples who are qualified to compete for the spot, many inner and outer disciples will also come to watch the battle.

"It's Senior Brother Lin."

"Senior Brother Lin Chen is here too, is he also here to compete for a spot in the Canglan Secret Realm?"

"What are you thinking? With Senior Brother Lin's strength, he will definitely get a spot. There's no need to fight for it."

Lin Chen's appearance sparked discussion among the disciples present, and countless eyes fell on him.

The shadow of the tree, the name of the person.

Reaching the summit of Martial Arts Mountain made Lin Chen known to both inner and outer disciples of the Canglan Sect.

If the sect leader and elders give someone else, even a personal disciple, a spot in the Canglan Secret Realm, it might not be acceptable to all the disciples. But if they give Lin Chen a spot, no disciple in the entire sect will object.

Reaching the summit of Martial Arts Mountain brings glory to the sect, especially by crushing the Eight Desolate Sect. This achievement alone is enough to earn a spot.

On the contrary, it would be unbelievable if the sect didn't give Senior Brother Lin a spot.

"Senior Brother Lin."

"Senior Brother Lin."

"Junior brother Lin."

At this moment, many disciples of the Innate Realm also spoke up to Lin Chen. Although they knew that Lin Chen would definitely occupy a spot, they did not have a single complaint about this situation.

If you're not convinced, then go and climb to the top of Wudao Mountain yourself.

These innate disciples had all entered Martial Dao Mountain and knew how difficult it was to reach the top. They accepted Lin Chen's decision to directly take a spot.

Lin Chen nodded and smiled at his fellow disciples who were greeting him. He also saw Qiao Yuan standing in the crowd and was about to walk towards Qiao Yuan when he stopped and turned to walk to the other side after his gaze swept across the entire scene.

Why is Senior Brother Lin walking this way?

"Do we know Senior Brother Lin here?"

"What are you thinking? Senior Brother Lin went straight to Elder Du as his master as soon as he entered the sect and has been living in the personal disciple area ever since. He doesn't even have much contact with the inner disciples. How could he possibly know us outer disciples?"

On this side of the square stood the outer disciples, who were all stunned when they saw Lin Chen walking towards them.

"Junior Brother Gu is back?"

Lin Chen spoke with a smile, his gaze falling on a figure a few rows behind the outer disciples.

Gu Kong was also extremely excited at this moment, his face flushed. He did not expect that Senior Brother Lin would greet him in public.

"Yes, I returned to the sect with Senior Brother Qin a month ago."

"You came back a month ago, why didn't you come to see me... Never mind, after things are over today, you can call Senior Brother Qin, and the three of us can get together."

Lin Chen smiled slightly; his greeting to Gu Kong in public was intentional.

Back on Martial Arts Mountain, Gu Kong was the first Canglan Sect disciple he contacted. Although he was only an outer disciple, it was Gu Kong who taught him the second level of the Canglan Finger. Moreover, if Gu Kong hadn't informed his superiors of his situation, he wouldn't have received the sect's contact so quickly.

I must remember this kindness.

With his current influence, simply greeting Gu Kong in public and showing him closeness would be enough to change the attitudes of other disciples towards Gu Kong, including some sect deacons.

"I...I'll listen to Senior Brother Lin."

Gu Kong was indeed very excited, which could be felt from his flushed face.

He didn't expect that Senior Brother Lin would come over and greet him at this moment.

When he and Senior Brother Qin returned to the sect, Senior Brother Qin specifically told him not to bother Senior Brother Lin.

Although Senior Brother Qin didn't say it explicitly, he understood what he meant. Senior Brother Lin's status in the sect was extraordinary. As an outer disciple, he shouldn't think that just because he had some interaction with Senior Brother Lin, he could get close to him.

Some thoughts are better left unexpressed.

Lin Chen talked with Gu Kong for a long time. He was willing to help Gu Kong so that he would not be bullied in the sect. However, whether Gu Kong could become an inner disciple depended on his own efforts.

Back in the area reserved for direct disciples, Lin Chen looked at Qiao Yuan.

"Is Junior Brother Qiao going to compete for a spot in the Canglan Secret Realm this time?"

Qiao Yuan's lips twitched when he heard this. If I'm not competing for a spot in the Canglan Secret Realm, what am I doing here?
"Although I can't compare to Senior Brother Lin, I still want to give it a try."

Sensing the resentment in Qiao Yuan's words, Lin Chen realized that his words had stirred up too much hatred in Versailles. After rubbing his nose, he stood to the side and didn't say anything more.

A quarter of an hour later.

With all the qualified disciples at the Innate First Realm having arrived, Sect Master Ji Cangtian and three elders emerged from the main hall.

"Ten slots are available for this year's Canglan Secret Realm opening. After discussions with several elders, one of these slots has been directly granted to Lin Chen. Do any of you have any objections?"

Ji Cangtian's gaze fell on these disciples at the Innate First Realm. All the disciples shook their heads in unison, indicating that they had no objections.

"The remaining nine spots will be allocated as follows, according to previous rules: four spots for those under 25 years old and five spots for those between 25 and 30 years old."

The Canglan Sect allocates its spots in the Canglan Secret Realm very fairly, knowing that a large age gap will widen the difference in strength between disciples, and many talented disciples suffer in this regard because they have not cultivated for long enough.

If it weren't divided in this way, the spots would probably all go to those disciples who are close to thirty years old and at the first level of the Innate Realm.

Five years is a phase, which is enough time for true geniuses to close the gap.

The disciples of the Canglan Sect, who were all innate, knew this rule and quickly divided into two groups. There were twelve people under the age of twenty-five and eighteen people over the age of twenty-five.

The way to compete for a spot is simple: it's all about fighting.

If we win, we'll secure the spot.

Soon, the disciples made way for the center of the square, and the disciples competing for the spots drew lots to determine their opponents.

To prevent clashes between strong opponents, the Canglan Sect has adopted a points-based competition system. Each disciple must fight against every other opponent once, earning 1 point for a win and 0 points for a loss. The top four disciples in the final standings will secure a spot.

The competition for spots lasted for three days.

However, after observing each disciple's battle on the first day, Lin Chen decided not to come back to observe on the second and third days.

Among the twelve disciples under the age of twenty-five, he was certain that Qiao Yuan would be among the top four.

With the strength of his soul now, after just one day of observation, he was able to discern the strength of these disciples, and the difference in their demeanor between going all out and winning easily.

That evening, Lin Chen hosted a banquet for Qin Yan and Gu Kong, and then spent the next few days cultivating in the courtyard.

three days later.

The list of nine disciples who obtained the spots was released. Lin Chen checked the list and found that it was exactly the same as what he had predicted on the first day.

……

Five days later.

A flying boat landed on the territory of the Canglan Sect.

Upon seeing this flying boat, many disciples of the Canglan Sect knew that it was the Thousand Machines Sect that had arrived. In the entire Yan Dynasty, only the Thousand Machines Sect possessed flying boats.

The title of "Master of Weapon Forgery" isn't given lightly.

"Elder Bai, it's been a long time. You're still as dashing as ever."

"Haha, Elder Zhao, you are too kind. I am old and frail, while your Canglan Sect is full of talented people."

Hearing this, Zhao Yulin smiled slightly. He knew that the "abundance of talent" Elder Bai was referring to was Lin Chen. He glanced at Zeng Xi behind Elder Bai and said with a smile, "Elder Bai, please."

"please."

……

The arrival of the Thousand Machines Sect set the stage for other sects to come to the Canglan Sect. In the following days, several more sect elders led their disciples to the Canglan Sect.

In the courtyard.

Lin Chen was entertaining Zeng Xi, not because he wanted to, but because Zeng Xi had asked the sect elders for a meeting with him.

"Brother Zeng, have some tea."

"Brother Lin, to be honest, the reason I came to see you this time is because I lost to you on Martial Arts Mountain last time. I have made some progress in my spiritual cultivation recently and want to challenge you."

Zeng Xi didn't mince words; he accepted his defeat to Lin Chen on Wudao Mountain wholeheartedly.

However, in the past few months, his spiritual power has improved again, and he happened to come to Canglan Sect this time because he wanted to fight Lin Chen again.

"Brother Lin, rest assured, I have already come down from Wudao Mountain."

Zeng Xi's meaning was clear: winning or losing would not affect Lin Chen's ranking on Wudao Mountain.

“Since Brother Zeng wants to have a friendly exchange, how could I refuse?”

Lin Chen readily agreed. His soul strength had also improved, and he could use Zeng Xi to see how much his soul had grown.

……

The courtyard where Du Xiaofeng lives.

At this moment, Du Xiaofeng was also brewing tea to entertain Elder Bai Qihua of the Thousand Machine Domain.

"Brother Bai, it seems that your clan's Zeng Xi is very confident in his own strength."

"He was arrogant and ignorant. He lost to Lin Chen on Martial Arts Mountain and was still resentful. It's a good opportunity for Lin Chen to teach him a lesson and show him that there are always people better than him."

Bai Qihua smiled slightly, picked up his teacup and took a sip, but his words made Du Xiaofeng's prepared remarks suddenly go blank.

Du Xiaofeng had originally planned that Bai Qihua would favor Zeng Xi, so he planned to set a trap for Bai Qihua, but the old man didn't fall for it at all.

"Brother Bai is joking. Since Zeng Xi dares to challenge again, his strength must have improved in the past few months. I'm afraid my disciple's chances of winning this time are not high."

"Oh, Brother Du, you have so little confidence in Lin Chen?" Bai Qihua put down his teacup. "In that case, why don't we make a bet?"

"What are you gambling?"

"I bet Lin Chen will win."

Du Xiaofeng: ...

"Ahem, Brother Bai, this isn't quite right. Lin Chen is my disciple. If word gets out that you're betting on Lin Chen to win..."

Du Xiaofeng looked troubled, but inwardly he was cursing. "You old bastard, as an elder of the Thousand Machines Sect, shouldn't you bet that your disciples will win?"

What's the meaning of betting on my Canglan Sect's disciples to win?
Boosting the morale of others while diminishing one's own prestige—is this how an elder should act?

If word gets out, aren't you afraid Zeng Xi will be heartbroken?

Bai Qihua put down his teacup and looked at Du Xiaofeng meaningfully: "Brother Du should know what my Thousand Machines Sect is best at."

"His art of weapon forging is unparalleled in the world."

"Weapon refining is inseparable from the soul. When it comes to soul cultivation, my Thousand Machines Sect is second to none. I believe no other sect dares to claim first place."

"That's natural."

Du Xiaofeng nodded. In any case, the Canglan Sect was indeed inferior to the Qianji Sect in terms of spiritual power. As for the other sects that did not recognize the Qianji Sect, that was their business, and he didn't need to argue about it here.

"So, Brother Du, do you really think that I, an elder of the Thousand Machines Sect, would be completely unaware of the spiritual strength of the juniors?"

Forgot about that.

Du Xiaofeng was furious and wanted to set a trap for the old man, but he forgot that the Thousand Machines Sect was most skilled in cultivating the soul and must have a technique for sensing the soul.

"Haha, so Brother Bai thinks Lin Chen's soul is stronger than Zeng Xi's? I really didn't realize that. I just thought that Zeng Xi was a disciple of your Thousand Machines Sect, so his soul must be much stronger than that of disciples from other sects."

Hearing Du Xiaofeng's shameless words, Bai Qihua did not expose him. Instead, he sighed and said, "Brother Du, to put it bluntly, it is a waste for Lin Chen to join your Canglan Sect with such a powerful soul."

It wasn't that he underestimated the Canglan Sect, but rather that the entire Yan Dynasty knew that those with strong divine souls should go to their Thousand Machine Domain and their Thousand Machine Sect.

The standard for Canglan Sect to recruit disciples is to look at the affinity between the disciple and the unique Canglan energy of Canglan Sect. However, over the years, all sects have realized that there is no standard for the affinity between martial artists and Canglan energy.

Some disciples with strong spiritual souls can cultivate sect techniques that are even inferior to those with weaker spiritual souls.

Even within the Canglan Sect, there is no standard for judgment, which is why the Canglan Sect, compared to other sects, chooses to drop off Canglan tokens in various places.

Although the Thousand Machines Sect also circulates the Thousand Machines Refining God Technique to the outside world, one thing is certain: the faster a genius cultivates the Thousand Machines Refining God Technique, the stronger their divine soul will become.

"Brother Bai, what you're saying is a bit off. Lin Chen's Canglan energy is extremely compatible with that of my Canglan Sect. Where else could he join if not my Canglan Sect?"

"Naturally, he should join my Thousand Machines Sect. As long as Lin Chen is willing to join my Thousand Machines Sect, with his talent in the divine soul, my sect master will personally accept him as a disciple. To be honest, Lin Chen has not received enough attention in your Canglan Sect."

Du Xiaofeng is an elder of the Canglan Sect, but among the five innate realm experts in the entire Yanhuang Dynasty, he is not the most renowned. The fact that the Canglan Sect made Lin Chen become Du Xiaofeng's disciple shows that they do not value Lin Chen.

Du Xiaofeng wasn't angry. He had indeed gotten lucky by taking Lin Chen as his disciple, but he naturally wouldn't tell Bai Qihua the inside story.

Bai Qihua's attitude, on the contrary, made him have other ideas.

Bai Qihua and Zhuang Lie of the Wanhuo Sect are somewhat similar, so I can make use of them.

……

……

In Lin Chen's courtyard.

Zeng Xi's face was pale. In just ten breaths, he felt the suppression that Lin Chen exerted on his soul and said with a bitter smile, "Brother Lin, I admit defeat."

The last time he was on Martial Arts Mountain, he was able to engage in a spiritual battle with Lin Chen for a period of time.

This time, however, he was completely suppressed from the very beginning, and he was unable to unleash his divine sense.

In the sect, he only felt this despair of being completely crushed in spirit when fighting against his senior brothers who were a level higher than him.

But now he actually felt this despair in Lin Chen.

Zeng Xi's eyes were filled with shock. She thought that her spiritual breakthrough during this period was already a great opportunity, but she did not expect that Lin Chen's spiritual progress was even more terrifying than her own.

How exactly did this person cultivate?
"Brother Lin, it's getting late, I'll take my leave now."

Lin Chen looked up at the sky; the sun was high in the sky... and there was still some time before sunset.

Has the defense been breached?
"Brother Zeng, please take care. You are welcome to come again tomorrow for tea."

Zeng Xi staggered slightly. "Again?"

He'd only come back if he's mentally unstable or has masochistic tendencies.

(End of this chapter)