Chapter 587: Chapter 101: Celestial List Number One Appears, First Battle Against Canglan Sect (Part 2)

"Let’s go."

Hou Zhantian cheerfully approached everyone, today Liang truly felt proud, as the results had surpassed the previous session.

...

...

As disciples from various martial academies departed, eagles flew in all directions.

Some were from the martial academies of various countries sending messages back home, while others were from the Yan Country Royal Family.

As early as when Lin Chen defeated Bian Xinjie, Murong Yan had already left the stands, returned to her Manor, and issued orders.

In the span of a single night, with the arrival of a new day, the tea houses and taverns of various countries... once again became lively.

Inside the Manor.

Lin Chen did not go to the plaza today, with only two matches today, the next round would be held tomorrow.

These two matches didn’t involve Liang Martial Arts Academy, so for him, watching held little meaning.

By comparison, what he wanted more was to enhance his own strength. In recent days, he clearly felt his power steadily increasing; this was the advantage of Nine Revolutions True Blood Refining the Viscera and Entering the Grade.

He didn’t need to rely on external aids, nor elevate the tier of a Spirit Soldier to enhance his strength.

He only needed to continuously deepen his understanding of the Martial Path.

The fastest way to enhance one’s understanding of the Martial Path is to improve one’s comprehension, finding suitable martial opponents to test one’s cultivation techniques.

Martial Arts Mountain is the most suitable place.

At the steps of Martial Arts Mountain.

[Name: Lin Chen]

[Sect: Canglan Sect]

[Martial Arts Mountain Ranking: 85308]

[Points: 4700]

"Begin the challenge!"

One match, two matches, three matches...

Continuous challenge, reaching one hundred and eight matches.

Seeing his rank rise by one hundred and eight places, Lin Chen’s face revealed a smile.

Though those opponents in the Martial Arts Mountain ranking match were strong, Lin Chen looked at his points and whispered, "Activate points exchange."

[A strand of Celestial Gang Thunderfire: One hundred points]

...

...

Turning a page, Lin Chen’s gaze was drawn to the last line of text.

"Anyone ranked sixty thousand or above may unlock Divine Soul items for exchange."

Rank sixty thousand?

Lin Chen’s eyes held a contemplative expression; now the items appearing on the panel were mostly energies or cultivation techniques, but for him, they weren’t needed at the moment.

Instead, this exchange for Divine Soul items caught his attention.

Lin Chen deeply understood the importance of the Divine Soul to a Martial Artist; his strongest card wasn’t even the Mountain Suppressing Chart, but rather his powerful Divine Soul.

Thus, the Flame Dynasty’s Martial Arts Mountain also set requirements for points exchange items, needing some good items like a high ranking to qualify for exchange.

Rank sixty thousand!

Currently, I’m ranked 85200, still 15000 places away from sixty thousand.

Fifteen thousand, that distance is not small; at least in the short term, I’m afraid it’s not reachable.

"Take it slow, since there are Divine Soul items available for exchange, I must make it to the top sixty thousand. For now, I can save the points and use them when the time comes."

As Lin Chen stepped down from Martial Arts Mountain, ready to practice the "Joyful Ascension Scroll" to wash away his fatigue, footsteps sounded at the courtyard gate.

"Senior Brother Lin."

At the door appeared the figure of Meng Xing.

"Junior Brother Meng, has something happened?"

Seeing Meng Xing’s troubled expression, Lin Chen wondered if today’s battles had any unexpected events?

"Senior Brother Lin, today Huo Ruohong from the Han Kingdom’s Hundred Battle Martial Arts Academy came."

Huo Ruohong?

Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly; he was familiar with this name, with each update of the Hidden Dragon List, this person always ranked at the top.

The number one on the Celestial List, a disciple of Han Kingdom’s Hundred Battle Martial Arts Academy!

"Huo Ruohong is from the Han Kingdom’s Hundred Battle Martial Arts Academy; originally, he wasn’t participating in this ranking match, but he suddenly appeared today, clearly because of Senior Brother Lin."

Without Meng Xing’s explanation, Lin Chen could also guess that this Huo Ruohong came for him.

Originally, the Han Kingdom thought with Bian Xinjie, Ling Tianhao, and Lu Ningchuan, three Celestial List disciples participating, it was enough to secure the first place in the ranking match.

However, after successively defeating Lu Ningchuan and injuring Bian Xinjie, beyond the Han Kingdom’s expectations, Han Kingdom sent Huo Ruohong to prevent the first place from falling into the hands of Canglan Martial Arts Academy.

"Came at the right time," Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Meng Xing also smiled, "The Han Kingdom and Yan Country border each other, but from the border to the Yan Capital, it takes a day’s journey, so Huo Ruohong must have set off as early as yesterday to arrive today."

Lin Chen nodded; Huo Ruohong should have set out the day after his brilliant performance in the Thousand Illusion Secret Realm, right when the knockout stage started.

From this, Han Kingdom is indeed cautious.

Han Kingdom’s caution further demonstrates their emphasis on this first place in the ranking match; it’s no longer a mere contest among young talents, but an initial clash between Liang and Han Kingdoms.

Compared to Liang Kingdom, Han Kingdom can’t afford to lose.

To lose means the Han Kingdom’s martial dominance, whether among top-grade martial artists or the younger generation, starts to weaken.

In contrast, Liang Kingdom doesn’t face such pressure.

Meng Xing came only to inform Lin Chen about Huo Ruohong but didn’t stay long, and after Meng Xing left, Vice Director Chen Shan of Canglan Martial Arts Academy also came to the courtyard, briefly mentioning Huo Ruohong. However, more importantly, he advised Lin Chen to maintain a normal mindset, not to care about winning or losing, acknowledging that Canglan Martial Arts Academy had done well to reach this point.

After Chen Shan left, no one else came; Hou Zhantian did not visit the Manor.

Lin Chen understood that Dean Hou didn’t visit to avoid putting pressure on him, but through Vice Director Chen’s words, he could sense the wariness towards Huo Ruohong.

Just a month shy of turning twenty, despite not being Seventh Grade yet, rumors from three months ago suggested Huo Ruohong might have already broken through to Seventh Grade.

Although Huo Ruohong appeared today, he didn’t display his true power. With his aura concealed, not even Vice Director Chen could determine Huo Ruohong’s realm.

"A Seventh-Grade Martial Artist?"

Lin Chen took out the Martial Arts Seal; on Martial Arts Mountain, he was currently facing Seventh-Grade Martial Artists.

With a thought, Lin Chen once again entered Martial Arts Mountain.

"Challenge."

...

...

Flame Dynasty.

Canglan Domain, Canglan Sect.

"Junior Brother Gu broke through to Seventh Grade?"

"Yes."

A young boy nodded, "Broke through the day before yesterday."

"Not bad, breaking through from Entering the Grade to Seventh Grade in just two years, such a cultivation pace is also enough to rank in the top ten."

Hearing this, the boy’s face lacked any joy, as he understood that what this senior brother referred to as the top ten was only in the Outer Sect.

Canglan Sect divides into Inner and Outer Sects; the Inner Sect has a thousand disciples, while the Outer Sect has thirty thousand; his goal wasn’t the Outer Sect, but the Inner Sect.

To enter the Inner Sect, unless chosen directly by an Inner Sect Elder as a disciple, he must first become an Outer Sect disciple, then rank in the top ten of the Outer Sect competition to enter the Inner Sect, or by entering the top sixty thousand on Martial Arts Mountain.

The Outer Sect competition occurs every three years; the previous one just ended, and he didn’t want to wait another three years.

For him, the only chance was to break into the top sixty thousand on Martial Arts Mountain.

"Senior Brother, I’ll head back to continue cultivating."

"Go ahead."

Watching the boy’s retreating figure, the young man displayed a scornful look. Coming from a desolate place, yet still dreaming of joining the Inner Sect, does he truly think entering the top sixty thousand of Martial Arts Mountain is so easy?

Returning to his own abode, Gu Kong opened the pill bottle he retrieved, consumed a pill, and began to meditate for refinement.

A quarter of an hour later, once the surging aura stabilized, Gu Kong’s hands held a seal, different in that a mountain silhouette was carved onto it.

...

Martial Arts Mountain.

Vast plains.

Lin Chen observed the opponent appearing before him; judging by appearance, the opponent seemed younger than he.

Yet Lin Chen was used to it; as the rank advanced, the opponents he encountered tended to be younger.

For this situation, Lin Chen wasn’t particularly surprised.

The martial artists ranked later on Martial Arts Mountain were considered ordinary talents, making it onto the list by cultivating over many years, nearly all reaching the mountain’s age limit.

Those encountered now were true geniuses.

Regarding those further ahead, Lin Chen anticipated encountering older individuals; with all being top geniuses, in a scenario where talent differences aren’t significant, cultivation duration becomes the advantage.

Following usual protocol, Lin Chen prepared to make a move, but when he saw the opponent’s opening gesture, he paused.

This raised-hand stance was so familiar.

Canglan Finger!

Though unable to hear the opponent’s voice, observing their lip movements paired with the familiar gesture, Lin Chen promptly realized the opponent mouthed "Canglan Finger."

Had he encountered a Canglan Sect disciple?