A quarter of an hour later, Lin Chen left with a reward of twenty taels of silver.
The martial arts hall has set rigid reward criteria for its students.
Reaching Small Success in martial arts techniques within three months earns a reward of 20 taels of silver.
After Lin Chen left, only Zeng Qingyao and Kong Yinglei, the two senior and junior sisters, remained in the courtyard.
"Senior Sister, do you think Lin Chen has a chance to make it onto the genius student list?" Kong Yinglei asked curiously.
"Hard to say."
Zeng Qingyao squinted her eyes, "The genius list sees one person from each county in ten or so years. Even in the Prefecture City, sometimes not even one appears in a year."
"Senior Sister, if Lin Chen actually makes it onto the genius student list, it would also be a good thing for our martial arts hall."
The martial arts hall’s duty is to educate students.
Having a genius student is a merit equivalent to nurturing several freshmen to secure first place in the hall’s annual competitions.
After all, the new student competitions are held every year at the end of the year.
"Do you want the martial arts hall to cultivate Lin Chen?"
Zeng Qingyao clearly understood her junior sister’s little thoughts.
"I believe that since Lin Chen has a chance to touch the genius criteria, our martial arts hall should lend a hand."
Kong Yinglei did not deny it; with her senior sister’s sharp mind, her small intentions couldn’t be hidden.
"Let’s see over the next month if Lin Chen can also reach Small Success in Water Cloud Palm. If he can, I will arrange special training for him. If not, let Lin Chen focus on Clear Wind Palm, and I will find a martial artist with Perfect Techniques in Clear Wind Palm to guide him."
Zeng Qingyao had already made up her mind. Both she and her junior sister had Perfect Techniques in Water Cloud Palm. If Lin Chen progresses quickly, he could master both techniques, which would be easier than perfecting one.
If not, then let Lin Chen focus on Clear Wind Palm. Martial artists with Perfect Techniques in Clear Wind Palm are not exclusive to the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall; there are several in Poyang County as well. At that time, she would personally ask them to guide Lin Chen.
"Hehe, I knew you already thought it through, Senior Sister. I was just being redundant."
Dormitory.
Lin Chen held a list in his hand.
This list was given to him by Hall Master Kong at Hall Master Zeng’s request, detailing the Opening Acupoints Realm achievements of students from the other seven martial arts halls’ new classes.
Six acupoints opened, seven students!
Five acupoints opened, fourteen students.
Four acupoints opened: twenty-two students.
Three acupoints opened: thirty students.
Lin Chen also saw information about Junior Brother Lu and the other two, who also have three acupoints opened and are relatively early among those with three acupoints.
Overall, the four of them from the Kaohe Town Martial Hall were at about a medium level among the new disciples from the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls.
That was already quite impressive.
In previous years, students from the town were mostly at the bottom; only a few could reach middle levels. For all four from one martial hall to reach a medium level was extremely rare.
"Senior Sister Jiang occupies the Seven Acupoints spot alone. But the six acupoints students from several halls will certainly reach Seven Acupoints next month, taking up eight spots. In the remaining month, those who have opened five acupoints might also strive to advance. To enter the top ten, one must at least reach five acupoints."
The genius student criteria are very appealing!
But Lin Chen was unsure if he could achieve it. Hall Master Zeng was right: compared to next year’s elusive genius student list, next month’s martial arts hall competition was what he needed to focus on now.
The Acupoint Opening Pill and silver reward are an opportunity!
Reaching five acupoints is the ticket to the top ten.
With only one month left, moving from three to five acupoints can’t rely solely on a Nourishing Acupoints Pill every three days.
In fact, Lin Chen had also compared expenses with Lu Yongfeng and the others.
Junior Brother Lu and the other two also get a bottle of Nourishing Acupoints Pills each month, but they also occasionally buy bird meat. Aside from the Nourishing Acupoints Pills, their monthly expenses are about ten taels of silver.
That’s their limit; any more spending would strain their resources.
Because Lin Chen’s mastery in Clear Wind Palm allowed him to save on bird meat costs, relying only on Nourishing Acupoints Pills let his progress keep pace with Lu Yongfeng and the others.
"I currently have eighty-two taels. Adding the twenty-five taels from selling my next month’s armor allowance to Senior Sister Jiang, I have one hundred and seven taels, enough for two bottles of Nourishing Acupoints Pills, but not a third."
"The first bottle of Nourishing Acupoints Pills costs thirty taels, the second forty taels, and the third fifty taels."
Lin Chen felt a bit helpless; good things always come with rising costs.
He didn’t have enough cash on hand and needed to find Senior Sister Jiang first.
Cafeteria.
Approaching mealtime, Lin Chen prepared to wait for Senior Sister Jiang in the cafeteria.
"Senior Brother Lin?"
Before Senior Sister Jiang arrived, Junior Sister Xiao appeared before him.
Senior Brother?
Lin Chen was momentarily taken aback, then realized that the martial arts hall ranked by skill, not age.
Defeating Junior Sister Xiao had made him a senior brother.
From being the youngest junior brother, he had become the fifth senior brother.
"Senior Brother Lin hasn’t eaten yet, I presume."
"Mm."
I don’t know why, but Lin Chen always feels that Junior Sister Xiao is a bit different today. Is it because she’s not wearing her training clothes but a pink dress?
"So, Senior Brother Lin, shall we have a meal together? I have some questions about the cultivation technique that I’d like to ask you."
"Sure!"
Seeing the expectant look in Junior Sister Xiao’s eyes, Lin Chen pondered for a moment, then nodded.
The two entered the cafeteria and got their food. Xiao Ting noticed that Lin Chen only took beef and vegetables. Her eyes sparkled, and she ran to the rare bird meat window to get another serving of meat.
"Senior Brother Lin."
While Xiao Ting went to get bird meat, Lin Chen found a spot to sit down first. But to his surprise, Li Xue, who was originally sitting at another table, suddenly moved over with a smile, holding her bowl and chopsticks.
"Junior Sister Li..."
It was a bit awkward, but Lin Chen managed to correct himself.
"Senior Brother Lin, you eat beef every day?"
Seeing the food in Lin Chen’s bowl, Li Xue seemed surprised, covering her mouth with a small hand: "Senior Brother Lin, you’re amazing. I eat several meals of rare bird meat every month, spending so much money, yet I still can’t beat you."
What’s going on with everyone today?
Lin Chen felt that the behavior of this Junior Sister Li was very familiar, quite similar to that of Junior Sister Xiao just now.
"It was just luck. Junior Sister Li was unprepared. If you had been, the one losing would have been me."
"How could that be? I gave it my all in yesterday’s match, Senior Brother Lin, stop being modest."
Li Xue smiled slightly and pushed her remaining golden pheasant meat towards Lin Chen: "I still have some leftover golden pheasant meat here. If you don’t mind, Senior Brother Lin, could you help me finish it?"
Such good fortune?
Lin Chen was tempted as he was about to speak, a fragrant breeze wafted over, and Xiao Ting sat down beside him with a food box.
"Senior Sister Li, what a coincidence."
After sitting down, Xiao Ting greeted Li Xue, then opened the food box with her slender hands, bringing out a plate of golden pheasant meat.
"Senior Brother Lin, I’m going to ask you about the Water Cloud Palm technique later on. I can’t let you do it for free, so here’s a small token of my appreciation. The golden pheasant meat is best eaten hot; it turns tough if it gets cold."
Tough meat is no matter; if it increases Qi blood, he would eat it even if it were rancid.
Lin Chen began to understand that these two junior sisters had feelings for him.
What to do?
On one side, there’s the playful Junior Sister Xiao, and on the other, the generous Junior Sister Li...
Hmm, in terms of looks, Junior Sister Xiao has a slight edge.
But in terms of figure, yesterday he had felt Junior Sister Li’s soft warmth.
With loose training clothes, it was not obvious, but once Junior Sister Li wore tight clothes, it was completely different.
Junior Sister Xiao’s figure wasn’t hidden today in her dress, but still, Junior Sister Li was a bit lacking in comparison.
But what’s all this got to do with me?
A young man in training should not focus on such matters.
The Martial Path itself has beauties.
"Thank you, Junior Sisters Li and Xiao, I’ll gladly accept your generosity."
Lin Chen gratefully accepted from both junior sisters. The golden pheasant meat from both amounted to nearly two pounds, worth about fifty silver coins.
After the meal!
Xiao Ting looked at Lin Chen with a smile on her charming face, while Li Xue, losing in the verbal exchange, left first.
"Junior Sister Xiao, what don’t you understand about the Water Cloud Palm?"
After eating, Lin Chen asked Xiao Ting, after all, you can’t ignore a kind gesture.
"Has Senior Brother Lin eaten enough? I’m not in a hurry."
"I’m full."
After speaking, Lin Chen noticed Senior Sister Jiang entering the cafeteria.
Today, Jiang Qing was dressed in tight clothes, her hair tied up, looking clean and refreshing.
"Please wait a moment, Junior Sister Xiao."
Seeing Jiang Qing, Lin Chen’s eyes lit up, and after saying this to Xiao Ting, he got up and walked toward Jiang Qing.
"Senior Sister Jiang."
"Junior Brother Lin?"
Jiang Qing looked at Lin Chen with some confusion: "Junior Brother Lin, are you transferring the resources of an A-grade disciple this month too?"
"Yes, is Senior Sister Jiang not in need this month?" Lin Chen’s heart skipped a beat; he hoped the wealthy lady hadn’t changed her mind.
"I just think with Junior Brother Lin’s progress in martial arts techniques, if you put in a bit more effort in your realm, you might have a chance in the upcoming Eight Great Martial Arts Halls competition next month."
Jiang Qing was already aware of the rewards for the first round of the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls competition.
She thought this Junior Brother Lin should take the last month to open two acupoints, giving him a chance to fight for a top ten spot.
"You’re joking, Senior Sister, I don’t have a chance." Lin Chen said modestly.
Jiang Qing stared at Lin Chen, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to say something. But in the end, she frowned slightly, changed her words, and said: "Since Junior Brother has his own plans, then as last month, turn it into a meat voucher for Gray-winged Seagull’s meat for me."
"Please wait, Senior Sister."
Lin Chen nodded and went to the cafeteria window, exchanged the voucher for Gray-winged Seagull meat for Jiang Qing, and received the fifty silver ticket she handed him.
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
Deal done, Lin Chen left. But when he turned around, he found Junior Sister Xiao was gone.
Wasn’t she going to ask me about the Water Cloud Palm?
Are women’s words trustworthy at all?
"Junior Sister Xiao left when you went to buy the Gray-winged Seagull meat voucher."
Jiang Qing spoke softly, and Lin Chen was stunned. Turning back, he saw Jiang Qing blink her long lashes, with a sly glimmer in her clear eyes.
Lin Chen: ...

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