Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 757: Chapter 56: You Call This Weak?

Five days later.

There was a slight sound coming from the Fire Cave, and Du Shuang immediately looked toward the fire cocoon.

As an innate martial artist, no matter how small the noise, he couldn’t escape the perception of the divine soul.

As his gaze fell on the fire cocoon, cracks began to appear all over its surface.

Crack, crack, crack.

Like the sound of an eggshell breaking, Du Shuang stared intensely, wanting to see what changes Lin Chen would undergo this time upon emerging from the cocoon.

Crack!

When the loudest sound was heard, the whole fire cocoon shattered completely, and a wave of energy hit.

Du Shuang’s gaze started to become confused.

In front of him, there was no sign of Lin Chen, only a pair of deep blue eyes.

Just by making eye contact with these eyes, Du Shuang not only became confused in expression, but his whole being began to gradually turn stagnant.

"Wake up!"

A voice sounded, making Du Shuang shiver, and the pair of deep blue eyes in front of him disappeared. When he came to his senses, Elder Zhuang had somehow already stood beside him, and Lin Chen was also standing in front of him.

"Brother Du, I apologize for not controlling myself earlier."

Lin Chen apologized to Du Shuang, explaining that at the moment of breaking out of the shell, he failed to control his energy, creating an illusion for Du Shuang.

Fortunately, Elder Zhuang arrived in time, preventing Du Shuang from losing himself in the illusion, leaving his divine soul unharmed.

"Elder Zhuang, Brother Lin... what exactly happened just now, those eyes?"

Du Shuang’s face showed a hint of fear, though he didn’t understand what had happened. Even now, the image of those eyes lingered in his mind, causing him to feel a shiver deep within his divine soul.

"You’ve fallen into Lin Chen’s illusion, and as an innate martial artist, not realizing you’ve been caught in an illusion is simply foolish."

Hearing Elder Zhuang’s reprimand, Du Shuang’s face turned slightly red, embarrassedly lowering his head. He truly didn’t notice when he fell into the illusion.

Despite being at the late period of the innate first realm, he hadn’t even detected it himself. Does that mean Lin Chen is nearly invincible in the innate realm?

Gasp!

Considering Lin Chen’s breakthrough into the innate realm, according to the news from the Canglan Sect, it’s been barely half a year, whereas he has been in the innate realm for a full five years.

"Get lost."

Zhuang Lie impatiently waved him away. Du Shuang understood that Elder Zhuang wanted to inquire about Lin Chen’s Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique. He wanted to stay and listen but seeing Elder Zhuang’s clear displeasure, decided against it.

"Disciple takes leave."

Du Shuang departed, and Zhuang Lie turned his gaze toward Lin Chen: "What is the change brought about by the third transformation of your Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique?"

Upon hearing Elder Zhuang’s inquiry, Lin Chen did not respond verbally; instead, he willed a change with his mind.

His originally jet-black long hair transformed into flowing flames of three colors, and his face was covered by a mask made of interwoven patterns of the three flames. The golden wings that were previously on his back now appeared on his shoulders, resembling shoulder guards, with a shifting crimson-gold hue.

With a thought, these golden guards extended backward to a length of three feet, no longer in the shape of wings, more resembling two long golden blades.

His entire body at this moment was covered by a layer of crimson and gold armor, concealing the critical parts of his body.

This is the form of the third transformation of the Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique.

Lin Chen did not offer a verbal explanation because he didn’t know how to describe it. If in a previous life, he might have said his form resembled a mech warrior transformation, but obviously, the Flame Dynasty lacks the concept of mechs.

"War Puppet form?"

Seeing Lin Chen’s transformed state, Zhuang Lie showed an expression of surprise. This third transformation was vastly different from Lin Chen’s previous two forms.

Such is the wonder of the Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique; no one can predict what the final form will be.

Even with the same three kinds of innate fire, the sequence of refinement can lead to different transformations.

"War Puppet?"

Lin Chen did not expect Elder Zhuang to describe it this way but recalled those War Puppets he had seen at the Heaven-Supporting Sect ruins, which indeed bore some resemblance.

"You’ve only been in the Flame Dynasty for a short time, so it’s normal not to know about War Puppets. Once you visit the Thousand Mechanism Domain, or encounter disciples from there, you’ll understand War Puppets. Many martial artists in the Thousand Mechanism Domain primarily rely on war puppets they’ve crafted to fight."

Zhuang Lie thought Lin Chen was unfamiliar with War Puppets, so he explained briefly.

"I understand, elder."

"This form of yours can create illusions?"

"Yes."

Lin Chen nodded, with a ghostly blue flicker in the eyes beneath the mask, where starry vortices reflected within his pupils, and an invisible energy wave emanated from around him.

Zhuang Lie squinted slightly, raised his right hand gently, and pressed his finger down through the air, where energy rippled open like waves from his fingertip.

The illusion began to collapse before it could form.

"Your illusion is effective against those in the innate first realm; against the innate second realm, it might only hold for a few breaths. If the opponent is prepared, it’s hard to be effective."

Zhuang Lie offered his assessment, and Lin Chen laughed: "The elder is right. My illusion is indeed somewhat weak."

"A bit weak?"

If it weren’t for seeing the genuine expression on Lin Chen’s face, he would have suspected the boy was feigning modesty.

A realm illusion that can trap martial artists of the same level, and he calls that weak?

The Flame Dynasty boasts numerous geniuses, but how many dare claim invincibility at the same level?

And Lin Chen, by combining his understanding of Illusory Sea Heart Flame with the Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique, can already conjure an illusion realm—a tremendous fortune.

Several disciples of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect have refined the Illusory Sea Heart Flame, but they can only use it during combat to attack the opponent’s divine soul.

Creating an illusion realm is not a divine technique of the Illusory Sea Heart Flame.

Lin Chen’s accomplishment is mostly due to the Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique.

The Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique is rightly famed for having neither upper nor lower limits.

Cultivating this technique can lead to great transformation, but it can also result in stagnation of power.

"Lin Chen, I previously promised that if you could refine three paths of Innate Fire, I would open the cultivation techniques of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect to you. However, I must now go back on my word."

"Go back on your word?"

Lin Chen was taken aback, swiftly responding, "The fact that I could refine the Illusory Sea Heart Flame is entirely due to your support, Senior, providing me with pills and the Illusory Sea Heart Flame itself. Your words humble me."

Though disappointed at not being able to view the Ten Thousand Flames Sect’s cultivation techniques, Lin Chen felt only gratitude towards Elder Zhuang.

Simply because of his appreciation for talent, knowing Lin Chen would never join the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, he still provided many resources.

Seeing Lin Chen’s sincere gaze, Zhuang Lie felt even more guilty.

He offered Lin Chen an almost impossible task, and Lin Chen, risking life and limb, completed it, only to find Zhuang Lie unable to fulfill his part of the bargain. Despite Lin Chen’s casual words, refining the Illusory Sea Heart Flame surely involved great hardship.

As someone who cultivated from the Innate Realm, Zhuang Lie knew each refinement of Innate Fire was an adventure.

Among his peers, half fell during the refinement of Innate Fire.

No matter how thorough the preparation, certainty could not be ensured—at best, confidence could reach seventy or eighty percent, leaving room for potential failure.

Good fortune might allow recovery with some recuperation.

Poor luck could mean loss of life or crippling of power.

"Though I’ve gone back on my word, if you return to the Ten Thousand Flames Sect in two years, the cultivation techniques will be open to you, provided you reach the Innate Second Realm within that time."

Zhuang Lie spoke slowly, seeing Lin Chen’s puzzled expression, smiling: "Don’t ask me why. If you truly have doubts, ask your master when you return—he will tell you why."

"I shall remember, Senior."

Lin Chen sensed a hint of satisfaction in Elder Zhuang’s words, understanding that surpassing the Innate Second Realm in two years would bring rewards beyond viewing the Ten Thousand Flames Sect’s cultivation techniques.

"Do you have a Hundred Objects Box on you?"

"Yes."

Lin Chen quickly retrieved the Box of All Things his brother gifted him; Zhuang Lie’s hand reached into his robes and emerged with a bag seconds later.

"Within here are Fire Nurturing Pearls—a compensation from me."

"Senior Zhuang, that’s unnecessary. I am already deeply grateful."

Lin Chen was quick to decline; the Fire Nurturing Pearl is a unique treasure of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect used to elevate the tier of Innate Fire.

Innate Fire varies in strength—not inherently, but through subsequent growth.

A thousand-year-old Innate Fire is undoubtedly stronger than one a hundred years old.

It’s due to absorbing energy over centuries, fostering self-growth.

Innate Fire starts at the First Tier; the three he refined were all at that level, and a Second Tier would have been beyond his success.

Innate Fire reaches up to the Third Tier, and the Ten Thousand Flames Sect’s Fire Nurturing Pearl allows enhancement of its tier.

For Innate Fire to ascend from First to Second Tier demands a vast quantity of Fire Nurturing Pearls—a single pouch from Elder Zhuang would be insufficient. Yet power enhancement isn’t solely reliant on tier elevation.

Tier elevation offers a qualitative leap.

Much like martial artist realm cultivation, breaking through realms dramatically shifts power, yet variation persists within the same realm.

"These Fire Nurturing Pearls are meaningless to me—enough with the hemming and hawing."

Zhuang Lie gave Lin Chen a stern look; these pearls were reserved for future disciples, though upon meeting Lin Chen, he realized his sect’s disciples hardly stirred his heart to accept new disciples. Moreover, the pearls have an expiry—after ten years, their energy dissipates completely.

"Thank you, Senior."

Lin Chen respectfully accepted the bag of Fire Nurturing Pearls, giving Elder Zhuang a sincere bow.

"Be on your way—it’s time you leave the Ten Thousand Flames Sect. Return to the Canglan Sect tomorrow; there’s no need for further farewells."

Zhuang Lie sighed softly, turning away, leaving a solitary silhouette.

Lin Chen watched Elder Zhuang’s solitary figure depart, opening his mouth, wishing to speak yet unable to vocalize his thoughts.

Even if aware of Elder Zhuang potentially feigning a lonely act, the assistance provided was genuine. Such kindness he etched into his heart, intent on repaying someday.

A few breaths later, Lin Chen gathered his emotions, eyes looking towards his display, smiling at the numerical changes he witnessed.