Lingxiao City!
Today, in all the taverns and tea houses, wherever martial artists gathered, everyone was discussing one thing.
Compared to the challenges at Sihe Martial Arts Academy and Pilgrim Martial Arts Academy two months ago, this time the impact was evidently greater.
Many Grade-Entering Martial Artists were also involved.
Great Success in Viscera Cultivation, and not far from Entering the Grade.
For the average martial artist at the Great Success in Viscera Cultivation Realm, the Grade-Entering Martial Artists would not pay attention, although only a step away, this step was an insurmountable gap for many martial artists.
But for the three brothers of Yu Beichen, and Lin Chen, these martial artists at Great Success in Viscera Cultivation, all the Grade-Entering Martial Artists knew they would inevitably Enter the Grade.
Lingxiao Martial Arts Garden!
The favorite place for the martial artists of Lingxiao City, where there are arenas for martial artists to spar and places for them to communicate.
The most important thing is, the Martial Arts Garden spans the Nine Kingdoms, and many martial artists are members of the Martial Arts Garden.
Deep inside the Martial Arts Garden.
A woman in a red dress, her face cold, looked expressionlessly at the few people in front of her.
"Elder Zhao, you should be flexible."
"Be flexible? You mustn’t forget the agreement the Martial Arts Garden had with that Grand Ancestor Emperor of Liang when it entered Liang, that we would never interfere with the Imperial Court of Liang."
Zhao Qianqiu, with a frosty expression, looked at the four people before her. All five of them were Golden Garden Elders of the Liang Martial Arts Garden.
There are nineteen branches of the Martial Arts Garden in Liang, and she was responsible for four of them.
A year ago, she was not a Golden Garden Elder, just an ordinary Silver Garden Elder responsible for two Martial Arts Gardens, but due to discovering Lin Chen, she rose to become a Golden Garden Elder, taking on two more Martial Arts Gardens.
The entire system of rules for the Liang Martial Arts Garden was established through discussions among the Golden Garden Elders, and this time, the four Golden Garden Elders in front of her were pressing her to agree to change the rules of the Martial Arts Garden.
"Times have changed, the other kingdoms have already decided to establish the Hidden Dragon List, and based on current information from the Nine Kingdoms, Liang only has ten young talents on the list this time, with the strongest being Lin Chen, discovered by Elder Zhao, ranking only tenth."
An elder on the left said in a deep voice: "When the Martial Arts Garden entered Liang, it vowed not to interfere with the Imperial Court. The mission of the Martial Arts Garden is to cultivate talent in the Martial Path, but given Liang’s current situation, it’s impossible to give rise to true talent."
"Indeed, if Liang doesn’t change, it will inevitably fall behind."
Zhao Qianqiu looked coldly at them. They did not genuinely care about the martial path talents of Liang; they only feared Liang’s decline might affect their evaluations.
The Martial Arts Garden also evaluates these elders.
Discovering talent is what the Martial Arts Garden requires of them, which is why she was able to become a Golden Garden Elder due to discovering Lin Chen.
Originally, without comparison among the Nine Kingdoms, talents from other countries did not affect them, but things are different now. The Hidden Dragon List combines martial path talents from the Nine Kingdoms, and if Liang’s talents are at the bottom, it means the Martial Arts Garden is ineffective.
"Elder Zhao, it’s not just us calling for change in the Liang Imperial Court. The Royal Family and the Imperial Court probably have this intention too. Recently, when the three brothers of Yu Beichen from the Nansha Three Islands came to Lingxiao City to challenge, none of the talents from Liang capable of defeating them showed up."
At the head position, an elder over fifty years old with sharp eyes stroked his beard and said: "According to my knowledge, younger members from the Five Clans of Guan have come to Lingxiao City. If they were to defeat the three Yu Beichen brothers, what would that mean for Liang, Elder Zhao?"
Zhao Qianqiu was silent, a glint of malice in her eyes. She certainly knew what it meant.
This meant the Five Clans of Guan and some other Martial Arts Clans in Liang would take the opportunity to demand changes to the policies of the Military Affairs Department of Liang, since the ones salvaging Liang’s reputation were talents nurtured abroad.
This would be a blow to the Military Affairs Department, proving the policies are a failure.
For Zhao Qianqiu, if Liang chose to change, it might be a good thing for her, but she hadn’t agreed yet because of Lin Chen.
She became a Golden Garden Elder due to discovering Lin Chen, but without the Martial Hall under the Military Affairs Department, youths like Lin Chen would have no chance to enter a Martial Arts Academy, obtain an Opening Acupoints Pill, or appear in the Martial Arts Garden.
Perhaps, with Lin Chen’s martial path talent, he would eventually Enter the Grade, but being late by a step would mean being late by every step thereafter.
Even if years passed or he lagged behind by just half a year, she might have no interest in Lin Chen, nor would Yan He’an give him any extra attention.
If Liang could produce a Lin Chen, who’s to say there wouldn’t be a second?
Even without Lin Chen’s level of talent, at least it gives those from ordinary backgrounds an opportunity.
This was the reason she hadn’t agreed.
But she also knew, opposing this alone was of no use, not even Lord Kong from the Military Affairs Department could withstand the pressure.
The secret exposed by the Snow Region this time was too shocking.
"Elder Zhao, what do you think?"
Facing the gaze of the four in front of her, Zhao Qianqiu felt helpless. Her red lips parted slightly as she was about to agree when footsteps suddenly resounded from the courtyard entrance.
"Elders, the results are out!"
The courtyard door swung open, and a middle-aged man ran in hurriedly.
"What was the result?"
A Golden Garden Elder asked in a deep voice on the scene.
"The results of today’s battle at Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy have come out, Liang won!"
"Just that?"
Several Golden Garden Elders showed a look of displeasure, they knew the outcome of this battle long ago; in the end, it would be Liang who emerged victorious, the Nansha Three Islands were used this time.
Seeing the elders’ expressions unchanged, the middle-aged man was somewhat surprised. Could it be that the elders already knew the news?
But that couldn’t be right, he was the only one here, so where did they get the information?
The middle-aged man glanced at Zhao Qianqiu and suddenly realized, remembering that it was Zhao Elder who discovered Lin Chen.
"I was too excited. With Elder Zhao here, the elders should have known the result of this battle long ago. I take my leave."
Zhang Shun’an’s excitement was not only because Lin Chen was a member of the Martial Arts Garden but mainly because he himself was a martial artist from Liang. Lin Chen’s victory was immensely satisfying.
"Wait!"
Zhao Qianqiu called after Zhang Shun’an, "What do you mean by that?"
Zhang Shun’an stopped and turned around to see the puzzled expressions of the elders. He was a bit frozen, "Didn’t the elders know that Lin Chen defeated Yu Beichen and his two companions?"
"Lin Chen defeated Yu Beichen?"
Zhao Qianqiu slapped the armrest with his fair right hand, turning it into powder, and stood up, revealing his graceful figure as the long skirt slipped down.
"Say that again?"
"In the first match, Di Qian and two others lost to the Yu Beichen trio. Later, Lin Chen appeared and, together with two others, faced Yu Beichen’s group, winning this battle!" Zhang Shun’an, not understanding why Elder Zhao was so excited, quickly replied.
"I understand!"
The elder sitting at the head, after a brief shock, suddenly laughed.
"This must be arranged by the Liang Imperial Court, letting Lin Chen go on with the children of the Five Clans of Guan. In this way, at least some face was saved for Kong Qifeng, and the Military Affairs Department was spared pressure, showcasing their painstaking efforts."
"It seems so, the handling is indeed good. This way, Cui Yunfan and the others show strong capabilities, able to face three with two. As for Lin Chen... he just stayed on stage."
Another Golden Garden Elder, smiling, agreed that Lin Chen hadn’t been in Refining the Viscera for long, and having him on stage was more like playing a mascot role.
This was to save face for Kong Qifeng and the Military Affairs Department!
Giving face to Kong Qifeng and the Military Affairs Department, they could then push the Military Affairs Department to change policies, and Kong Qifeng could use this as a step down.
"The Five Clans of Guan are quite calculating."
Listening to the elders, Zhang Shun’an was utterly confused, "What Five Clans of Guan, and what saving face for Lord Kong?" He couldn’t understand.
"Elders, the victory in this battle was all because of Lin Chen. Lin Chen and the other two were on stage, but those two fell for Yu Beichen’s tricks and got severely injured at the start. When everyone thought Liang would lose, Lin Chen brought out a bow and arrow, defeating Yu Beichen and his brothers with just three arrows."
Seeing that the elders seemed to misunderstand, Zhang Shun’an couldn’t help himself and described the battle in detail, mimicking the motion of drawing a bow at the end.
The courtyard became silent instantly!
After a while, a pleasant laugh sounded.
Zhao Qianqiu looked at the four startled, feeling it was so ironic.
"Alright, I must go see Lin Chen now. Elders can discuss a little longer."
Zhao Qianqiu departed gracefully; she had to meet Lin Chen.
Initially, she was merely interested in Lin Chen and acted casually, not expecting him to bring such a surprise.
"Regarding the Hidden Dragon List, could you elders also discuss the rankings with the elders from other countries?"
At the doorway, Zhao Qianqiu turned back, smiling brightly.
"Go ahead, Zhao Elder. We’ll argue for Lin Chen on the Hidden Dragon List. Currently, his ranking there is too low."
The four elders in the courtyard finally reacted, not showing any anger.
Because they also realized, though this time was a bit embarrassing, Lin Chen’s outstanding performance meant changes in his ranking on the Hidden Dragon List, which was also to their credit.
While most credit belonged to Zhao Elder, they could still share in the glory.
Zhao Qianqiu gracefully turned, unconcerned about Lin Chen’s Hidden Dragon List ranking; the four were very self-serving. But precisely because of that, concerning their interests, they would fight tooth and nail.
"Yan He’an said that Lin Chen wanted to see me several times."
Recalling Yan He’an’s report that Lin Chen tried to meet him several times to express his gratitude in person, a beautiful curve formed on Zhao Qianqiu’s red lips.

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