One two-hour period later.
In the courtyard, Liang Hanyang and Chai Daoqi stared curiously at Lin Chen. Since they entered the courtyard, their gaze had not left him.
During the two-hour period after being chased out by their master, the two didn’t just stand around foolishly waiting. Instead, they went to find Steward Gao to learn about Lin Chen’s situation.
Faced with Liang Hanyang and Chai Daoqi, Gao Zeming didn’t hide anything since they were from the same sect; even if he didn’t speak, Junior Brother Lin would tell them later anyway.
Because Gao Zeming did not hold back, both Liang Hanyang and Chai Daoqi were shocked.
The wasteland island of the Eastern Sea region was one thing, entering the Innate state before the age of twenty was another.
What shocked them was Lin Chen’s origins, the son of a fisherman from an ordinary village on a barren island...
Could such a background be associated with a super genius?
If that were all, they would merely lament that Junior Brother Lin might be heaven’s favored child, born humble yet blessed with opportunities on the Martial Path.
But from Gao Zeming’s narrative, they comprehended Lin Chen’s entire journey since stepping onto the Martial Path.
From the Martial Arts Hall to the Martial Arts Academy...
Gao Zeming thoroughly disclosed all the information he had discovered to them.
Recalling the content of the two letters from Junior Brother Lin that Gao Zeming had given them, they were still deeply shaken.
From being the son of a fisherman to reaching this point, Junior Brother Lin’s experiences cannot simply be summarized as a humble birth but favored by the heavens.
And then, they learned how Lin Chen encountered danger and utilized Martial Arts Mountain, remaining undefeated in a battle at Martial Arts Mountain, and relying solely on a formula to cultivate the Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique, which left them profoundly astonished.
With their current realm, subduing Li Fire to cultivate the Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique was not difficult. However, back then, Junior Brother hadn’t entered the Innate Realm, and for a martial artist below Innate, touching Li Fire was akin to courting death.
The situation was extremely perilous, with only a single chance, and Junior Brother managed to grasp it, which was what shook them the most.
Putting themselves in his place, if their positions with Junior Brother were reversed, they feared that the success rate of their cultivation under those circumstances would be less than ten percent.
"Lin Chen, these are your two senior brothers."
After their master spoke, without waiting for Lin Chen to speak, Chai Daoqi said, "Junior Brother, I am your Third Senior Brother, and this is your Second Senior Brother."
"Junior Brother greets Second and Third Senior Brothers."
Their master hadn’t said much about his three senior brothers, so Lin Chen only knew he had three senior brothers.
"You brothers should converse more amongst yourselves, I will go to see the Sect Leader."
Since Lin Chen had condensed the Heart of Canglan and reached the Innate Realm, it was necessary to inform the Sect Leader. Although he was Lin Chen’s master, decisions regarding Lin Chen’s advancement on the Martial Path were no longer his to dictate alone.
After Du Xiaofeng left, Chai Daoqi revealed his true nature, stepping forward and patting Lin Chen’s shoulder, "Junior Brother, I was shocked for quite a while after hearing about your feats from Senior Brother Gao."
"Senior Brother praises me too much."
"There are no outsiders here, so there’s no need for us brothers to be so reserved amongst ourselves. If you’re impressive, you’re impressive. Your experiences can be called legendary. Compared to you, the sect disciples are far from your level."
Hearing this, Lin Chen realized that his Third Senior Brother must be the outgoing and carefree type.
However, he found it difficult to respond to such praise.
"Alright, don’t scare Junior Brother."
Liang Hanyang interrupted Chai Daoqi, who would have continued, looked at Lin Chen, and smiled, "Junior Brother, that’s just how your Third Senior Brother is. Don’t take his words too seriously. Among us four brothers, besides Senior Brother, whom we cannot contradict, you can listen to us only if you find reason in what we say."
"Uh..."
Lin Chen was a bit taken aback, not expecting his Second Senior Brother to say such words, which made him more curious about their Senior Brother.
"Junior Brother, let me tell you a secret. Our Senior Brother entered the sect the earliest; at that time, our master was extremely earnest about disciple training, demanding absolute rigor from Senior Brother... Do you know what nickname Senior Brother has in our sect?"
Chai Daoqi chuckled slyly, and seeing Lin Chen shake his head, he answered, "The Stubborn Gentleman."
The Stubborn Gentleman?
"The Stubborn Gentleman sounds better than what he is privately called, which is Old Stickler. Set in his ways, inflexible, and unyielding to change. When he was a steward in the sect, some disciples committed minor infractions he wouldn’t overlook, where another steward might turn a blind eye. But in his hands, it was about following rules strictly, with no leniency."
"Back then, I was confined for a month by Senior Brother, a whole month without seeing daylight, without anyone to talk to, and not released even a moment early, proving just how strict he was."
"But don’t worry, Senior Brother has been away for nearly ten years and shouldn’t be returning to the sect soon. Moreover, you’ve reached the Innate Realm. When Senior Brother returns, you can always find an excuse to avoid him if necessary."
Hearing this, Lin Chen couldn’t help but twitch a little. It seemed Senior Brother had disciplined Third Senior Brother quite a bit; otherwise, Third Senior Brother wouldn’t have suggested avoiding him.
"Third Junior Brother, stop speaking nonsense."
Liang Hanyang also seemed a bit helpless and explained to Lin Chen, "Don’t listen to your Third Senior Brother’s ramblings. Senior Brother isn’t as fearsome as he implies. He simply has high expectations of us. Back then, our master was in seclusion, and both your Third Senior Brother and I trained under Senior Brother. His strict teachings were meant to guide us further along the Martial Path."