On the steps, Lin Chen was panting heavily.
That Senior Zhang Chu, was only at the Opening Acupoints Realm of Six Acupoints, but the gap in Qi Blood between him and myself was quite large. The reason he could persist for so long was because of that palm technique.
In that palm technique, I saw the shadow of a sword.
Every palm strike was like a sword, unpredictable and unfathomable.
Transforming palms into swords!
How did he achieve this?
Although my Clear Wind Palm and Water Cloud Palm have reached perfection, with every palm as light as the breeze, there is still a gap compared to him.
[The next opponent is about to be transported to the next realm!]
The voice echoed on the steps, and Lin Chen took a deep breath. The next mont, he felt his entire body once again returning to its optimal state.
[Opening Acupoints Realm of Seven Acupoints, Dou Ping from Hedong Path, Xingzhou Prefecture in Liang Calendar Year 147!]
Whoosh!
As soon as the voice fell, Lin Chen didn’t hesitate at all and charged fiercely towards a corner of the arena.
Bam!
The two figures collided. Lin Chen staggered back several steps, glancing down at his left shoulder where there was a distinct five-claw blood scar.
Despite his perfected Iron Bone Skill, the opponent could leave a bloody mark with just one claw.
Lin Chen fixed his gaze on his opponent. This was his second encounter with him. The first ti, he only saw the opponent transform his hand into a claw and strike towards him, followed by excruciating pain in his chest, and then he fell to a lower realm.
However, after three claws, Lin Chen was defeated once again.
This ti, he did not fall further; the light curtain on the steps dispersed, restoring a cold silence, and Lin Chen’s gaze fell on Zhao Cangsheng standing below.
"You managed to hold on for a quarter of an hour, not bad, co down now."
Zhao Cangsheng gestured to Lin Chen: "To which acupoint did you progress?"
"I was defeated by the Opening Acupoints Realm of Seven Acupoints," Lin Chen answered truthfully.
"The Seventh Acupoint, that’s actually better than I expected. I thought you could only contend with the Opening Acupoints of Five Acupoints, but you managed to surpass the Sixth Acupoint, which is surprising."
Hearing this, Lin Chen’s lips twitched slightly. Being able to defeat the Opening Acupoints of Six Acupoints didn’t seem like sothing to be overly proud of.
"Don’t think I’m trying to console you. Since the Martial Arts Mountain was set up here, most students in each batch can barely defeat opponents with a ten acupoint difference, and only a few can make it within the Ten Acupoints. Like you being able to enter the Seven Acupoints on your first try, on average, there is only about one per cohort."
This ti Zhao Cangsheng didn’t undermine Lin Chen; the path of martial arts isn’t just about using setbacks to spark determination.
"Being able to leave your na on these steps ans you’re among the prodigy geniuses of the Martial Path of Liang in the past three hundred years, and you are the most distinguished existence in each realm."
Hearing this, Lin Chen thought of his doubts and curiously asked: "I’m puzzled. Why are the seniors in each realm different? Logically, if a senior can be first in the Opening Acupoints of Ten Acupoints, shouldn’t they also be first when they break through to Eleven Acupoints?"
Thinking back to the seniors he had just t, not a single na was repeated, which left him puzzled.
"Because these geniuses, in order to leave their nas on the Martial Arts Mountain, deliberately controlled their realms."
To Lin Chen’s puzzlent, Zhao Cangsheng stroked his beard and smiled: "Once you understand the mysteries of the Martial Arts Mountain, you’ll know why this is the case."
"Please enlighten , Senior Zhao, I’m all ears," Lin Chen requested.
"The Martial Arts Mountain was created by the Grand Ancestor Emperor with great effort, and those who can leave their nas on the steps receive extrely generous rewards. Let tell you this, if you can leave your na on the steps, the Military Affairs Departnt will send people specifically for you."
"This is a reward beyond the Martial Arts Mountain. Once you leave your na, you’ll receive a reward bestowed by the Martial Arts Mountain, sothing invaluable."
Zhao Cangsheng squinted his eyes: "For three hundred years, many prodigy geniuses, upon learning about the Martial Arts Mountain, focus their goal on their current realm or the next few acupoint realms, continuously improving themselves to eventually have their nas rembered on the Martial Arts Mountain."
"The reason they can’t leave their nas at the next step isn’t because they haven’t left it before, but because they were soon replaced by others."
"If they were replaced, shouldn’t all nas left be replaced? How could only one remain?" Lin Chen frowned and asked.
"A martial artist with potential is called a genius, but being a genius is rely a title and doesn’t represent strength. These geniuses who leave their nas have trained to their utmost to leave their nas at their current acupoint realm, nearly exhausting any potential for improvent. After successfully leaving their nas, they break through to the next realm, but it doesn’t an they will stay as long in the next realm."
"There are a total of twenty-four acupoints in the Opening Acupoints Realm, so is it possible to stay in the Opening Acupoints Realm for twenty-four years?"
Lin Chen finally understood what Senior Zhao ant.
These predecessors who left their nas tried every possible way to enhance their strength at their respective acupoints, expending a lot of ti. But if every acupoint is delayed in this way, by the ti their Qi Blood declines, they might not have even reached the Grade Entry Realm.
It’s not a lack of willingness, but an impossibility.
"The Martial Arts Mountain of Liang was built by the Grand Ancestor Emperor in the tenth year after founding the nation. Over the years, there have been geniuses in the Opening Acupoints Realm who consecutively left their nas across five acupoints. But to date, only two acupoints still retain their nas, the other three acupoint realms having been challenged by others. When you break through to Twenty Acupoints, you will et that person."
Zhao Cangsheng smiled at Lin Chen: "Don’t think about leaving your na yet. You only need to enter the six acupoint difference; you will receive a reward from the Martial Arts Mountain. Although it’s the lowest, it’s enough to make martial artist of the Opening Acupoints Realm go crazy outside. This is one of the reasons many geniuses want to co here."
"Additionally, have you ever thought about what the other two steps are?"
Hearing Zhao Cangsheng ntion the other two steps, Lin Chen thought for a mont and asked: "Are they the Refining the Viscera and the Grade Entry Realm?"
"When you can leave your na there, you’ll understand."
Zhao Cangsheng was deliberately being mysterious to provoke Lin Chen’s competitive spirit. Only with a desire to compete and a sense of curiosity would he walk down the path Zhao had researched over the years.
"During the day, you will join them for special training, and at night, co to the bamboo forest outside. As for the resources needed for your martial arts cultivation, you don’t need to worry about them. Your score is sufficient, and I will exchange them for you."
"Thank you, Senior."
Although Lin Chen knew that Zhao Cangsheng was taking such care of him to get him to try that astonishing path of cultivation, he still expressed his gratitude.
"Once you go out, if you see that brat Min Huanbo, pass a ssage from : if he tries anything sneaky again, I’ll break his legs."
Lin Chen: ...
Thinking of Instructor Min waiting eagerly by the iron gate with an expectant look, and then delivering Zhao’s words...
It might be a bit too cruel a blow to Instructor Min.
The iron gate opened, and Lin Chen walked out. Min Huanbo, eagerly anticipating his arrival, imdiately broke into a smile upon seeing Lin Chen.
"How was it?"
"Disciple failed."
"Entering the Martial Arts Mountain ans there’s no such thing as failing. Which acupoint step did you stand on? Did you reach Four Acupoints?"
In Min Huanbo’s mind, Lin Chen standing on the fifth Opening Acupoint step, might, after three months of special training, have the chance to reach the Seventh Acupoint and earn the Martial Arts Mountain’s reward.
Lin Chen’s mouth twitched slightly; Instructor Min’s estimation of him was even lower than Zhao’s.
Zhao estimated he could stand on the fifth Opening Acupoint step, while Instructor Min estimated he was at the Fourth Acupoint.
"What, did you only reach the Fourth Acupoint?"
Seeing Lin Chen not answering, Min Huanbo frowned. If it was only the Fourth Acupoint, hoping to reach within the Sixth Acupoint range in three months would be difficult.
"Disciple stood on the Sixth Acupoint." Lin Chen decided not to be secretive and answered directly.
Min Huanbo was stunned for a mont, then his face broke into a radiant smile, though he internally cursed, "Zhao, you old fox, you always pick out the good seedlings."
Calling him Senior Zhao was a show of respect for his sacrifices for Liang, but cursing him was an expression of dissatisfaction with his actions.
In Min Huanbo’s mind, these sentints were not contradictory.
"Do you have any questions about Martial Arts Mountain?"
"Instructor Min, I saw three staircases. Why are they all called Martial Arts Mountain, and what are the other two staircases?"
Since Senior Zhao was being mysterious, Lin Chen decided to ask Instructor Min.
"Although it seems like three staircases, it actually represents countless steps. The first staircase represents the strongest martial artists within our Liang in a single minor realm. Only after leaving your na on the first staircase can you enter the second, but I don’t know what the second one is either."
Min Huanbo did not hide anything, fearing Lin Chen would think less of him. He truthfully admitted he didn’t know.
Not even he knew, and there weren’t many in Jiangnan Dao who did either.
Perhaps only soone at Lord Academic Platform’s level would know the secrets.
"You could inquire with Senior Zhao; perhaps he knows."
Thinking of Lord Academic Platform, Min Huanbo suggested to Lin Chen that he ask Senior Zhao.
"Senior Zhao didn’t say, he just told to participate in the special training and strive to stand on the eighth Opening Acupoint."
"Senior Zhao was here?" Min Huanbo was surprised and warily looked around.
"Yes, right after I ca down from Martial Arts Mountain, Senior Zhao was at the base of the stairs, but he has already left."
Ultimately, Lin Chen didn’t relay Senior Zhao’s harsh words because a good person like Instructor Min shouldn’t suffer such brutal harm.
Hearing that Senior Zhao had left, Min Huanbo breathed a sigh of relief.
"There’s no rush about the Martial Arts Mountain; as for the special training, it starts in half an hour. Follow ."
Min Huanbo led Lin Chen away from the area and headed towards another part of the valley.
Upon arrival, Lin Chen was dumbfounded by the scene before him.
This was the special training?
Wasn’t this a holiday retreat?
Before him lay several tables loaded with gourt food, and even from afar, the aroma of at was unmistakable.
Seeing Lin Chen’s astonished expression, Min Huanbo’s lips curled into a cruel smile. The delicacies were tempting, but acquiring them wouldn’t be easy.
Once everyone was present, Lin Chen and the others would learn what it ant to yearn for unreachable delicacies.
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