Poyang County.
A burst of excitement!
The gates of the Jingshui Martial Arts Hall, Mountain Suppressing Martial Arts Hall, and Gale Martial Arts Hall were all adorned with banners.
"Celebrating our disciples for making a mark on Martial Arts Mountain and breaking a 30-year record in the Jiangnan Dao!"
The actions of these three martial arts halls made the other four halls look on with envy.
In contrast, the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall was silent!
"Vice Hall Master Qi is a sinner of our Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall!"
The seniors, current hall master, and instructors of the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall felt incredibly frustrated.
The honor originally belonged solely to the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, at least unrelated to the Jingshui Martial Arts Hall.
But now people mention Lin Chen and think of the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, but what comes to mind is the hall’s disdain for Lin Chen.
The hall master and instructors of the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall could foresee that the quality of the academy’s students in the coming year would decline, and as Lin Chen continued to rise on the Martial Path, the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall would repeatedly be brought out and disgracefully displayed.
The Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall was nailed to the pillar of shame among the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls in Poyang County, and Qi He and Zhao Ce would be nailed to the shame pillar of the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall.
Poyang County Martial Affairs Office.
Su Lingchuan and He Ruyun were at the moment sipping tea and chatting, their faces wearing smiles.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Su."
"And congratulations to you, Senior Brother He."
The two exchanged a smile. This time, both the Military Affairs Hall and the Xingdao Prefecture issued announcements, and being the Director of the Poyang County Martial Affairs Office, Su Lingchuan’s achievements needed no words, while He Ruyun also shared in the glory.
Lin Chen was not only a student of the Poyang County martial arts hall but also a resident of Poyang County.
"Junior Brother Su, since there are no outsiders here, I’ll speak frankly. Initially, when Lord Xing arrived and targeted Lin Chen, I was indeed hesitant, as Lord Xing is the Director of the Military Affairs Department while I am just the County Magistrate of Poyang County." He Ruyun recalled the imposing presence of Xing Huaifeng and couldn’t help but sigh, "I eventually chose to oppose Lord Xing, not primarily because of Lin Chen, but more so due to my official position."
"If an official does not make decisions for the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes."
He Ruyun’s expression was solemn. From a personal standpoint, he should have opted to avoid the matter, preventing any possible repercussions on himself no matter the final outcome.
"But I’m the County Magistrate of Poyang County, and Lin Chen is one of my people. If I were to protect myself selfishly, I couldn’t live with that."
"Junior Brother understands Senior Brother."
Su Lingchuan deeply approved. Like He Ruyun, his family background was quite well-off, and taking up the position of an official in Liang was not just about gaining contributions or accessing resources from the Imperial Court’s vault, but also pursuing great aspirations.
"I just didn’t expect Lin Chen to be so promising. Recently, the Raozhou Prefecture has sent a message, asking me to provide a detailed report on Lin Chen to send there."
He Ruyun smiled, having only stayed true to his principles, never expecting such a reward.
The Raozhou Prefecture requesting detailed information on Lin Chen was in preparation for engraving his name on the Martial Encouragement Stele.
Special Training Ground.
Jia Nanzhu looked at the notice from the Military Affairs Hall, a look of doubt in his aged eyes.
He hadn’t anticipated that Lord Shao would publicly announce it directly. He initially thought Lord Shao would choose to conceal Lin Chen’s identity and only disclose it after things had settled down.
Since Lord Shao opted to make it public, and the Jiangnan Dao Xingdao Prefecture followed with an announcement, there was certainly a reason for their joint decision.
In the bamboo forest.
Jia Nanzhu looked at Lin Chen, who had just emerged from the bath barrel, and tossed the two announcements over, saying with a smile, "Have a good look. In the whole Jiangnan Dao, you are the first in over a decade to have both the Military Affairs Hall and Xingdao Prefecture issue an announcement simultaneously. In the Opening Acupoints Realm, you are the first in thirty years."
Twenty years ago, a martial artist from the Jiangnan Dao won third place in the Martial Arts Examination, prompting both the Military Affairs Hall and Xingdao Prefecture to issue an announcement, but that martial artist was already in the Grade Entry Realm and quite well-known in the Jiangnan martial arts circle.
Lin Chen took the two notices, glanced at them curiously, and scratched his head a little sheepishly after reading them: "I’m really not as outstanding as they say on these."
Jia Nanzhu chuckled, "No need for humility. Being able to make a mark on Martial Arts Mountain is enough to prove your talent on the Martial Path. As Martial Arts Mountain progressed, it became increasingly difficult to make a mark."
Martial Arts Mountain had existed for over two hundred years. Initially, the names changed frequently, almost monthly, then annually, then every few years. In the past fifty years, the turnover of names on Martial Arts Mountain had become slower, often taking a decade to change.
The reason was simple. Each marking surpassed its predecessor, making it increasingly difficult for successors. Many martial arts powerhouses have predicted that in thirty years, the names on Martial Arts Mountain might see no further changes.
Lin Chen understood Instructor Jia’s words, likening it to refreshing records in a game; level by level advancement, ultimately reaching a limit beyond which it was almost impossible to surpass.
"Raozhou Prefecture and Poyang County have already prepared a grand ceremony, awaiting your glorious return as a Martial Arts genius. Have you considered going back to Poyang County now? The special training ground here will permit your return."
Jia Nanzhu laughed as he asked Lin Chen, who shook his head and replied, "The three months aren’t up yet. I won’t go back. The Opening Acupoints Realm is only a minor stage on the Martial Path, and the road ahead remains long and arduous for me."
Lin Chen could imagine that the village head must be arranging for Uncle Xu to clean the ancestral hall, waiting for him to return to the village for a ritual.
If he had to partake in another ritual, he would need to remember all the names on those ancestral tablets by heart, able to recite them backward.
"I initially thought if you failed the Martial Arts Mountain challenge, I’d have you take the Flood Dragon Blood for one last push. Since you succeeded, there’s no worry. Regardless of whether you can absorb the Flood Dragon Blood, you need not fret over it."
All the auxiliary medicinal materials to assist in absorbing the Flood Dragon Blood have been fully gathered.
Hearing this, Lin Chen’s eyes lit up. Having experienced the effects of bathing in Snake Monster Blood, he was well aware of the benefits, and the Flood Dragon Blood would far surpass it.
"Prepare well, I’ll start preparing the medicinal concoction for you now."
For Lin Chen, the so-called preparation means not overtraining today and not injuring his body.
Watching Instructor Jia start mixing the medicinal liquid, Lin Chen left the Bamboo Grove with the quiver on his back.
The Mountain Suppressing Chart cannot be practiced further now, as the third layer is related to the Five Viscera, which requires him to step into the Refining Viscera Realm. For now, he can still practice the Gale Leg and Fear of Death Arrow.
Lin Chen’s figure began to crazily shuttle through the valley jungle, holding the Snake Shadow Bow in his hand, once again starting his frenzied training.
"Junior Brother Lin really doesn’t stop for a moment."
Xue Yun and the other two watched Lin Chen’s figure moving through the jungle with a look of admiration on their faces.
"No wonder Junior Brother Lin can leave his name on Martial Arts Mountain; his steadiness is something I can’t match."
Du Yong sighed lightly. If he could leave his name on Martial Arts Mountain, he’d probably be preparing a grand feast at home right now, calling friends and inviting fellow apprentices, directly booking the best brothel in the Prefecture City.
Not indulging for a month would be impossible.
But who can practice martial arts nonstop every day?
"Junior Brother Lin is born for the Martial Path. Such people are beyond our reach." Xue Yun looked at Lin Chen’s departing figure and said softly, "There are those few people whose sole pleasure lies in continuously ascending in the Martial Path, uninterested in anything else. Junior Brother Lin should be such a person."
Lin Chen’s figure shuttled through various places in the valley, admired not only by Xue Yun and the other two but also by the other students of this session who looked at Lin Chen with fervent eyes.
If at first Yu Fei and the others still entertained thoughts of catching up to Lin Chen, by now those thoughts were gone.
Chasing with one’s life?
In the special training ground for over two months, Yu Fei and others had also been to Martial Arts Mountain, knowing how terrifyingly powerful those seniors who left their names there are.
Without personal experience, they still held ambitious dreams of leaving their names on Martial Arts Mountain.
However, the reality of three punches shattered their dreams, making them proclaim they were ordinary people.
Leaving a name on Martial Arts Mountain was already unthinkable; succeeding in a challenge at a gap of six acupoints was their attainable goal.
If they could make a tiny step forward, it would be enough to make them ecstatically happy.
Xue Yun and the other two envied, Yu Fei and the others admired, while at this moment Min Huanbo and others were confidently engaging in a verbal exchange with Zhang Jiang and others at the adjacent special training ground.
"This inter-training ground duel has always been the tradition, why would you seniors want to refuse?"
"Tradition, you say? Why did you all choose to opt-out in previous sessions, but now we can’t?"
"Senior brothers, with students having perfect technique and realm mastery on your side, aren’t you afraid of being laughed at for choosing to forgo?"
"Chen Ping, we’re not going to argue further with you. This match is canceled!"
"Senior Brother Zhang, I have a suggestion. If you think Lin Chen’s strength is too overwhelming, why not have Lin Chen face all your students alone?"
Once Min Huanbo suggested this, Zhang Jiang and the others were left speechless. The suggestion was tempting.
They knew well how strong leaving a name on Martial Arts Mountain meant. Lin Chen could be considered invincible beneath the Refining Viscera, but on their side, there were two at the Opening Acupoints with twenty-four acupoints open, and fourteen with twenty open. Facing sixteen people, they may not lack a chance for success.
"If it’s a battle of attrition, then forget it."
In a battle of attrition, they still stand no chance.
"How could it be a battle of attrition, just pick a venue and enter all at once, no rules."
Min Huanbo chuckled as he spoke, seeing how agreeable Min Huanbo sounded, Zhang Jiang and others grew cautious instead.
"Senior Brother Zhang, to be frank, I brought this suggestion out of curiosity. It’s been years since any student from Jiangnan Dao left their name on Martial Arts Mountain, so it is intriguing to see what level of strength a genius who left their name there actually possesses."
Sensing Zhang Jiang and others’ caution, Min Huanbo explained: "Don’t you senior brothers want to find out?"
Yes!
In their hearts, Zhang Jiang and the others all agreed simultaneously.
"Alright, that’s settled then." Eventually, Zhang Jiang and the others couldn’t resist the temptation and agreed.
"Since you senior brothers agreed, we should now discuss the stakes of the match next."
"Forget the stakes."
"What meaning does a duel hold without stakes?"
"Junior Brother Min is right, adding a few stakes is still necessary."
While Min Huanbo and Zhang Jiang and others were discussing the stakes, Lin Chen also returned to the Bamboo Grove, and Jia Nanzhu had already prepared the medicinal liquid.
"The Flood Dragon’s blood is extremely overbearing, you must be mentally prepared."
"I understand, Instructor."
Lin Chen nodded in agreement. Back when he pursued the path of True Blood Opening the Acupoints, he endured the pain of qi and blood turmoil. To train for the Mountain Suppressing Chart, he also withstood extreme physical pressure.
As long as he doesn’t die, there is no fear.

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