It’s nothing more than saying that he’s overestimating himself; these mockeries are something he can withstand.
"It’s not just about a hundred thousand consecutive victories. In the past, if someone was ten wins away from consecutively reaching the top, the Martial Arts Mountain would inform various sects, but by that time, only ten matches would remain, so even if other sects were dissatisfied, they couldn’t do anything about it."
Chai Daoqi noticed that his young junior brother didn’t seem to take it seriously and explained the different circumstances: "You must understand that Innate Realm martial artists have a chance to directly challenge the most recent innate martial artist on Martial Arts Mountain. Now, since you haven’t made it to the top thirty, it means that many innate martial artists can directly challenge you as soon as they enter the Martial Arts Mountain."
"Third Senior Brother, aren’t all innate martial artists within the top thirty?"
"It’s not like that."
Liang Hanyang shook his head: "Junior Brother, there are quite a few innate martial artists under twenty who are not on the Martial Arts Mountain for personal reasons, such as those from the Guixu Sword Tomb who have no interest in the Martial Arts Mountain ranking."
"These geniuses who don’t enter the Martial Arts Mountain aren’t necessarily weaker than those in the top thirty; in fact, many are even stronger."
"Martial Arts Mountain sealing you off for three days gives these people the opportunity to challenge you, should they wish to enter the Martial Arts Mountain."
The news has already spread; those with intentions are preparing.
"Second Senior Brother, since these people don’t care about the Martial Arts Mountain ranking..."
Lin Chen stopped mid-sentence as he understood his senior brother’s point. Not caring about the ranking is one thing, but if someone achieves a hundred thousand consecutive victories, many might believe they’re the top fighter under twenty in this generation without knowing the backstory.
How could these geniuses endure such a thing?
"I understand now."
Lin Chen’s expression turned serious. He would be facing the challenge of all the innate martial artists under twenty in the Flame Dynasty this time.
There were the top thirty innate martial artists in front of him, and others were eyeing him from behind.
To achieve a hundred thousand consecutive victories, his opponents weren’t just these thirty innate martial artists.
"Afraid?"
Du Xiaofeng’s voice came through, and Lin Chen shook his head after hearing his master’s words, then smiled: "I’m not afraid, Master. Instead, I feel it’s thrilling."
Du Xiaofeng gazed deeply at his disciple and after a while said: "There’s only three days. Although the sect has pills to boost your strength, these short-term strength-boosting pills could affect your future path on the Martial Path."
"Oh, really? There’s no other support from the sect?"
Chai Daoqi couldn’t help but speak out after hearing his master’s words. Junior Brother Lin’s current situation was all for the sake of the sect’s reputation, so surely the sect should provide some support.
"External aids can’t be used on Martial Arts Mountain. Even if Lin Chen were given some spiritual weapons, he couldn’t take them in. There are strength-enhancing pills available, but they are for long-term use. Improving significantly within three days requires forbidden drugs."
Du Xiaofeng was also somewhat helpless. The announcement by the Martial Arts Mountain caught both the Sect Leader and him off guard.
The original plan by the Sect Leader and him was for Lin Chen to break into the top thirty and then, after the Canglan Secret Realm opened, complete the final consecutive wins after emerging from it.
But now, three days later, there would likely be many innate martial artists under twenty starting to challenge Lin Chen.
"The only way is for Lin Chen to challenge the thirtieth place immediately three days from now, defeat the opponent, and exchange rankings with them. This way, those who haven’t entered the Martial Arts Mountain can’t challenge Lin Chen directly. But this would mean skipping ranks for battles, making a hundred thousand consecutive victories impossible."
"I think that’s fine too, even if it’s not a hundred thousand consecutive victories, achieving over ninety-nine thousand consecutive wins and reaching the top is still record-breaking, right?"
In Chai Daoqi’s view, losing a few consecutive victories doesn’t matter much.
"Third Senior Brother has a point. Losing a few consecutive victories doesn’t have much impact on Junior Brother Lin." Liang Hanyang rarely agreed with his third senior brother’s words.
The Flame Dynasty is vast, with many geniuses, and those who haven’t entered Martial Arts Mountain could be terrifying.
Breaking into the top thirty, so these people have no opportunity to challenge him, and waiting for the Canglan Secret Realm to open and steadily increase strength, is the best method.
"Lin Chen, decide for yourself without worrying about the sect. Follow your heart."
Du Xiaofeng looked at Lin Chen, not pressuring him but allowing him to make the decision.
This time, Lin Chen contemplated for over ten seconds. Rationality told him that giving up on a hundred thousand consecutive victories was the safest choice. He initially challenged Martial Arts Mountain not for the hundred thousand consecutive victories but for the reward of the ’Martial Arts Longevity’ title.
Give up?
Or take a gamble.
After a long pause, Lin Chen made a decision: "Master, I want to know if the sect can provide an Innate Fire?"
Du Xiaofeng’s old eyes gleamed, immediately understanding Lin Chen’s intention: "You want the Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique to break through again?"
The extent to which the Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique could be cultivated depended on how many types of Innate Fire it could absorb.
"Yes, if the sect can provide an Innate Fire, I want to try, and if I fail, I’ll give up the hundred thousand consecutive victory challenge."
"The sect can provide it."
Before Du Xiaofeng could answer, Sect Leader Ji Cangtian’s voice rang out in the courtyard.
The next moment, Ji Cangtian appeared in the courtyard.
"Greetings, Sect Leader."
"Additionally, I have news for you: Qiao Yuan has become Elder Zhao’s disciple, and Elder Zhao has exchanged an Innate Pill for him."
"Qiao Yuan exchanged for an Innate Pill?"
Lin Chen didn’t quite understand the Sect Leader’s words.
He knew what the Innate Pill was for; it allowed warriors who had absorbed the Five Elements Energy to step into innateness.
Given Qiao Yuan’s prowess, breaking through to innateness shouldn’t require an Innate Pill.
The Innate Pill is mostly for those who failed to break through innateness and have shadows or even heart demons.
"After consuming the Innate Pill, Qiao Yuan can step into innateness within two days, and his ranking on Martial Arts Mountain is below yours."
Ji Cangtian provided the answer.
Lin Chen was stunned. Qiao Yuan was ranked thirty-ninth, having been defeated by him not long ago.
Once Qiao Yuan consumes the Innate Pill and steps into innateness...
He would intercept challenges from those innate martial artists who hadn’t stepped onto Martial Arts Mountain before.
The Martial Arts Mountain rules state that innate martial artists can only challenge the nearest ranked innate martial artist.
Once Qiao Yuan steps into innateness, he will be ranked thirty-ninth, while he is thirty-sixth, so those innate martial artists who haven’t entered Martial Arts Mountain yet must challenge Qiao Yuan first.
"Sect Leader, Senior Brother Qiao, he..."
"It wasn’t the sect that found Qiao Yuan; Qiao Yuan himself went to find Elder Zhao and made such a request."
Ji Cangtian’s face was full of emotion. When Qiao Yuan approached Elder Zhao, and Elder Zhao informed him of Qiao Yuan’s decision, he was also moved.
In the courtyard, Du Xiaofeng, Liang Hanyang, and Chai Daoqi, master and disciples, were similarly moved.
Qiao Yuan chose to break through to innateness entirely for Lin Chen.
"If I am correct, Qiao Yuan is an orphan taken in by the sect, right?"
Du Xiaofeng had also taken an interest in Qiao Yuan, as he had looked into Qiao Yuan’s background.
Qiao Yuan, from the Canglan Domain, was born to a father who was an inner sect disciple in the Canglan Domain and hadn’t stepped into innateness. Later, he perished while performing sect tasks, and following sect regulations, his direct descendants would be under sect protection.
Qiao Yuan had been living in the Canglan Sect since he was six.
"May I see Senior Brother Qiao?"
"Yes."
Ji Cangtian nodded: "Go to the Canglan Main Hall. Qiao Yuan is waiting for you there, and the Innate Fire you need is also in the main hall."
...
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