Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 639: Chapter 134: The Truffle Fungus Knows Not of Day and Night, the Cicada Knows Not of the Seasons

"Secondly, the cultivation techniques of the Flame Dynasty are more complete than those of the Nine Kingdoms, and the progress in cultivation techniques will likely be much faster than that of the martial artists in the Nine Kingdoms. In terms of pill resources, it is bound to far exceed what the Flame Dynasty can offer. To the Nine Kingdoms, being able to consume a pill that enhances a grade in the lower grade realm is already an extremely precious item, but in the Flame Dynasty, it may not be considered much."

"If the martial artists of our Liang could have such resources, their strength would certainly increase significantly."

Hearing Lin Chen’s words, Jia Nanzhu nodded: "You are right, it is a misconception of mine. The gap between the Nine Kingdoms and the Flame Dynasty is vast, but it doesn’t mean that you young people have such a huge gap as well. If you were given the same cultivation resources as the geniuses of the Flame Dynasty, even there, you could compete with those super geniuses."

"Showing you this letter is just to let you know about the arrival of martial artists from the Flame Dynasty. Lord Kong and the others will handle it well, so you don’t need to worry too much."

Seeing Lin Chen in contemplation, Jia Nanzhu was afraid that Lin Chen might overthink, so he offered some reassurance.

"I understand."

Lin Chen didn’t tell his teacher that he was just thinking about which sect from the Flame Dynasty had come to the Nine Kingdoms this time.

If he knew the name of the sect, perhaps he could ask his senior brothers in the Martial Arts Mountain about the Canglan Sect, allowing him to look into it thoroughly.

"Teacher, today I need to make a trip to Raozhou Prefecture."

"To the Shu Mansion and Jiang Mansion?"

"Yes."

"Go ahead, the village has me watching over it, nothing will happen."

"Thank you, teacher."

After bidding farewell to his teacher, Lin Chen left the village for Raozhou Prefecture.

This time, apart from meeting Instructor Yu, what he wanted most was to meet his future mother-in-law.

Back then, the jade pendant his mother-in-law gave him was of great help when he absorbed and refined the Li Fire energy. Without the cooling energy from the jade pendant, he would have been burned to ashes by the Li Fire long ago.

This jade pendant is probably capable of more than just sensing exotic herbs, and his future mother-in-law’s identity is probably not as simple as he imagined.

Yesterday, while talking with his parents, he subtly inquired about his father. His future father-in-law, when he was in the village, did not seem much different from other youths.

It was only after he entered the Martial Hall that he soared to the skies.

Before that, in terms of height and build, he didn’t have much of an advantage over the other youths in the village.

However, out of respect for his future father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lin Chen did not dig any deeper.

...

Raozhou Prefecture.

This time, Lin Chen headed directly to the Jiang Mansion.

He wasn’t sure if Instructor Yu was in the Shu Mansion, but his future mother-in-law would certainly know.

Because whenever his teacher’s wife was in the Shu Mansion, she would have the leisure to visit the mother-in-law’s courtyard to admire the flowers, or if she needed to step out of the courtyard, she would inform the mother-in-law.

"Young Master Lin has arrived."

The butler of the Jiang Mansion was quite happy to see Lin Chen visit, warmly welcoming him into the mansion.

Now the whole mansion knew that their young lady and Young Master Lin were in love with each other, and Young Master Lin was their Jiang Mansion’s prospective son-in-law.

A son-in-law who was first on the Hidden Dragon Celestial List, made them all feel proud.

"Young Master Lin, coincidentally the master has returned today. I will notify him."

Hearing that his father-in-law was also home, Lin Chen twitched a bit, as he and his father-in-law rarely saw eye to eye, and meeting him would probably mean another staring contest.

Front courtyard of the Jiang Mansion.

A servant had already hurried to inform them, and as Lin Chen stepped through the courtyard gate, he heard his father-in-law’s voice.

"The son-in-law has come!"

That call of "son-in-law" gave Lin Chen goosebumps instantly, a thought flickered through his mind, that perhaps there were three hundred axemen hidden in the courtyard, ready to rush out and chop him into pieces upon his acknowledgment.

But seeing his father-in-law sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, looking at him with a doting father’s eyes, and seeing two other middle-aged men and several young people standing aside, Lin Chen understood the situation.

Thankfully, it wasn’t a Hongmen Banquet, he could relax.

He quickly stepped forward and respectfully greeted: "Little son-in-law greets Lord Taishan."

"Oh, I was just too excited, forgetting that you haven’t yet engaged with Qing’er, called you son-in-law too early, you should address me as Uncle."

Lin Chen: ...

Others present: ...

Facing his father-in-law’s behavior of wanting to flaunt but unwilling to acknowledge him as a son-in-law, Lin Chen internally gave a slight eye roll, but had to accept it due to his respect for Senior Sister Jiang and his mother-in-law.

"Nephew greets Uncle Chu."

Among the two middle-aged men at the stone table, one was Lin Chen’s acquaintance, met during a previous visit to the Jiang family when his father-in-law used Lin Chen to suppress Uncle Chu’s flaunting.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen nodded to Jiang Cheng and Chu Xi, who were standing aside. Seeing Lin Chen’s gaze, Jiang Cheng smiled back, whereas Chu Xi’s eyes had a trace of daze.

The last time she brought Brother Cheng to the Jiang Mansion, it was with a heart to flaunt before Jiang Qing, not expecting Jiang Qing’s chosen one to surpass Brother Cheng in potential and various aspects, yet she refused to concede.

Brother Cheng, originating from the Jiang family in the Jizhou Prefecture, a family renowned in martial arts, had a father at the Fifth Grade realm. With the family’s martial resources, she thought he would not be far off from Lin Chen.

But in just over a year, the gap had already widened.

Brother Cheng had yet to enter the Hidden Dragon List, while Lin Chen was already the first on the Hidden Dragon Celestial List, hailed as a super genius across the Nine Kingdoms, a universally recognized top talent among the young generation of the Nine Kingdoms.

Even those hostile to Liang, including martial artists from Han Kingdom, Zheng Kingdom, and Xiang Kingdom, had no rebuttal on this matter.

Now, she had completely lost the will to compete with Jiang Qing.

"This is your Uncle Zheng, and those two are his son-in-law and daughter."

Jiang Duanchao introduced the identity of the other middle-aged man to Lin Chen, who then understood the early call of "son-in-law" from his father-in-law.

Men, indeed!

In youth, they competed in strength, and reaching middle age, they competed in the accomplishments of the younger generation.

Uncle Chu and Uncle Zheng both brought their daughter and son-in-law along, how could his father-in-law miss this chance to flaunt?

"Senior Brother Lin’s name is well known to us."

Zheng Xiyin spoke with a smile, and then introduced Lin Chen to someone: "This is my husband, Yang Qiu."

In martial arts, hierarchy is determined by strength.

Hearing "Senior Brother", Lin Chen knew the woman before him was older in age, but since her strength was inferior, she couldn’t call him "Junior Brother", neither "Brother" being appropriate, so she opted for "Senior Brother".

This was a tacit rule among martial artists of the Nine Kingdoms, addressing someone younger yet stronger as Senior Brother.

...

...

Back courtyard.

An old woman reported to Zhuang Min: "Madam, the son-in-law has entered the mansion."

"Oh, returning to Poyang County at this time, has something happened?"

"This old servant doesn’t know." The old woman shook her head: "But I observed the son-in-law, there’s a subtle sign of an innate realm, perhaps not far from the Upper Grade."

"So soon?"

Zhuang Min’s exquisite eyes revealed a hint of surprise. Upper-Grade Martial Artists might not be remarkable, but given Lin Chen’s age, getting close to Upper-Grade within a short span would definitely earn him recognition as a genius, even within the Flame Dynasty.

"It seems that during this period, Lin Chen must have had some fortuitous encounters."

"I think his strength has surpassed the master’s already."

Upon hearing these words from the old woman, a scene seemingly amusing came to Zhuang Min’s mind, making her cover her mouth to stifle her laughter.

"Madam, what are you laughing at?"

"Imagine if the master were to duel with Lin Chen and got defeated—where would he put his face as the father-in-law?"

The old woman: ...

With her understanding of the master, it’s likely he might even leave home in embarrassment.