The sound of hearty laughter echoed, and the three of Kong Qifeng were taken aback, immediately heading towards the entrance of the main hall.
The figure of a middle-aged man landed in front of the three at this moment.
"Elder Chen."
Seeing the visitor, the three of Kong Qifeng had puzzled expressions on their faces, wondering why this Elder Chen had suddenly come here.
The visitor was an elder of the Martial Arts Alliance, an Innate Powerhouse.
In recent months, many Innate Powerhouses have appeared on the island, all contacted by the Martial Arts Alliance.
"It seems you are not aware of the good news yet."
Chen Kui, with a smile, looked at the three of Kong Qifeng, "Your countryman Lin Chen went to the Flame Dynasty, joined the Canglan Sect, ranked tenth on Martial Arts Mountain, and achieved a hundred thousand consecutive victories..."
Chen Kui’s words left the three of Kong Qifeng stunned, temporarily unable to comprehend.
They knew of Martial Arts Mountain, and the Flame Dynasty also had a Martial Arts Mountain.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Martial Arts Mountain of the Flame Dynasty is extraordinary, a place that gathers the entire Flame Dynasty..."
Chen Kui detailed Lin Chen’s performance on Martial Arts Mountain, explaining what Lin Chen’s current rank meant.
By the end of the explanation, the three of Kong Qifeng were exhilarated, ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-one consecutive victories...
"This little guy Lin Chen..."
The Left Prime Minister couldn’t help but shake his head. They now no longer knew nothing about the Flame Dynasty. When Lin Chen left Liang, his talent and strength were considered excellent in the Flame Dynasty, but there was some distance from the very top.
No one expected that in just a few months, he would catch up with that gap. Even in a place with countless geniuses like the Flame Dynasty, he could not hide his brilliance.
"I thought Lin Chen would make some headway in the Flame Dynasty, but I didn’t expect him to stand out so quickly."
Kong Qifeng also shook his head in helplessness, finding it hard to accept the delightful surprise.
Listening to the words and expressions of the three Kong Qifengs, Chen Kui also felt emotionally moved. Not just for these three, even he found it somewhat unbelievable.
A young man walking out from a martial-arts-deprived island could, in just a few months, overpower all of the Flame Dynasty’s talents under the age of twenty and reach the tenth rank on Martial Arts Mountain.
And tenth is not his endpoint; he is poised to make a dash to the summit.
If Lin Chen truly succeeds in reaching the summit, the entire Liang will likely rise with the tide.
"I got word that the East Sea Divine Palace will send a steward to your Liang Kingdom. Lin Chen, after all, walked out from the Eastern Sea."
Chen Kui informed the three of Kong Qifeng of this news. The East Sea Divine Palace is the overlord of the Eastern Sea, controlling many islands. Since Lin Chen was born on an island, it makes sense for the East Sea Divine Palace to send someone here.
A talent of this caliber, if he truly achieves the summit, can be considered a Celestial Pride.
Even if he doesn’t hail from the East Sea Divine Palace, it’s normal for the East Sea Divine Palace to forge good relations.
The three of Kong Qifeng exchanged glances. The East Sea Divine Palace plans to send a steward to Liang?
"I’ve heard that your Liang Kingdom is considering engaging with some sects to send the domestic talents there for cultivation?"
"Indeed."
Kong Qifeng nodded, not seeing any reason to hide this matter.
"I have a suggestion that you might consider."
"Please go ahead, Elder Chen."
"No need to rush. Wait until Lin Chen finishes his challenges on Martial Arts Mountain before deciding."
Chen Kui mentioned this to intentionally offer a favor to Liang. If Lin Chen reaches the summit, the martial talents of Liang needn’t worry about attracting sects willing to accept them.
After all, if Liang produced a Lin Chen, who’s to say there won’t be another?
Even if such Celestial Pride as Lin Chen can’t be hoped for, someone slightly less talented—if they reach the Innate stage—would be a win for many second-class sects.
Sect would be willing to gamble a disciple spot for such potential.
"We are not well-versed in external matters. If Elder Chen is willing to offer some guidance, Liang would be most grateful."
Kong Qifeng made a fist salute toward Chen Kui, who waved it off with a smile, "It’s not guidance, merely sharing with you some of the consensuses in the Martial Arts Realm."
"There is indeed talk of bloodlines and regions in the Martial Arts Realm. Bloodlines refer to the descendants of some powerhouses who inherently have martial talent stronger than the average person. There are quite a few such families in the Flame Dynasty that are recognized in the Martial Arts Realm, and then there’s the regional theory."
"In places rich with spiritual energy, more geniuses and Celestial Prides emerge. Since Liang could produce a Lin Chen, it might well nurture more talents. Historically, if a genius appears in a place weak in martial arts, many sects would go there hoping to discover more talents. Ultimately, they would indeed find a few promising individuals."
Chen Kui’s words caused the eyes of the three of Kong Qifeng to light up. They understood the implicit meaning in Elder Chen’s words.
Lin Chen is now making a name for himself in the Flame Dynasty. If he reaches the top of Martial Arts Mountain, many sects will come to Liang to recruit disciples.
"Does Elder Chen mean that our Da Liang can wait for those sects to come to us on their own?"
"Not just wait."
Chen Kui’s eyes gleamed with a sharp light; since they were going to show favor, they might as well go all the way.
"As far as I know, five hundred years ago, there was once a genius from a place not strong in Martial Path within the Flame Dynasty. This genius eventually placed fifth on Martial Arts Mountain, instantly garnering the attention of all major sects. Over a hundred sects sent elders to that place to recruit disciples. Now, if Lin Chen can actually reach the top... it would be even more sensational than that."
"This talk of territory is not without basis; it is recognized even in the Flame Dynasty. Even if there are no outstanding geniuses now, what’s ten years... twenty years later... to a sect? Ten or twenty years means nothing... if they are optimistic about your Liang Kingdom, they can easily bet on the future of your Liang Kingdom."
"The Red Blood Dynasty of the East Sea once produced a genius, and subsequently, it made agreements with ten sects to hold a talent battle every five years. The top ten participants could become disciples of these ten sects, and this agreement would last for three hundred years."
"Of course, what the Red Blood Dynasty has to pay is that the dynasty’s martial artists are first challenged by these ten sects. Only those not chosen by these sects could join other sects."
"For the Red Blood Dynasty, reaching this agreement means ten martial artists from the dynasty can join these sects every five years. For the sects, they’re betting that enough outstanding talents will emerge in the Red Blood Dynasty over the next three hundred years."
The three people, including Kong Qifeng, listened quietly, occasionally exchanging glances, and finally understood Elder Chen’s meaning.
Leverage!
Use Lin Chen’s influence to make agreements with some sects, ensuring that young martial artists from Da Liang have the opportunity to leave the island and join these sects.
"Thank you, Elder Chen, for your guidance. Our Da Liang will remember your kindness."
Kong Qifeng solemnly saluted. Without Elder Chen’s guidance, they would never have thought of these things.
If a sect did approach them, expressing willingness to recruit Da Liang’s young martial artists, they would have been ecstatic and accepted without even thinking about setting any conditions.
"Haha, no need for politeness. Even if I hadn’t mentioned it, the stewards from East Sea Divine Palace would likely inform you of this. You’d better wait for the stewards from East Sea Divine Palace to arrive and listen to their suggestions before making a decision. East Sea Divine Palace isn’t likely to take advantage of Liang Kingdom."
Chen Kui didn’t stay long; he left after relaying the information.
And just half a shichen after Chen Kui left, Chu Zining rushed in from outside the palace.
"Esteemed sirs, good news. An elder from Cyan Mountain Sect has just sent a message saying they can lower the conditions. For every three disciples they recruit from Da Liang, only one measure of Innate Energy is needed."
Chu Zining was very excited. He believed the three sirs would be very excited to hear this news as well, but to his surprise, none of them showed any excitement on their faces.
The three sirs remained very calm.
Could it be that the three sirs already knew?
There was no reason; he had rushed to the Imperial Palace as soon as he got the news.
"Still asking for a measure of Innate Energy? Cyan Mountain Sect is really calculating."
"They think we don’t know about Lin Chen in the Flame Dynasty and are trying to make a deal with Liang ahead of time."
"Since Cyan Mountain Sect wants Innate Energy, just let them know Liang really can’t supply it and that we can’t reach up to Cyan Mountain Sect."
Kong Qifeng looked at Chu Zining: "Go convey this to the elder from Cyan Mountain Sect."
"Ah!"
Chu Zining was stunned. He vaguely felt something major had happened that he wasn’t aware of; otherwise, the three sirs wouldn’t have such an attitude.
"Go."
However, Kong Qifeng did not enlighten him, so Chu Zining had to leave with a head full of doubts to the elder’s quarters from Cyan Mountain Sect.
A quarter of an hour later, coming out of the courtyard where the Cyan Mountain Sect elder lived, Chu Zining’s doubts not only remained unresolved but grew even deeper.
After hearing the conveyed message, the elder of Cyan Mountain Sect suddenly changed his stance: Da Liang no longer needed to provide Innate Energy and was willing to recruit three disciples from Da Liang every five years, provided that without Cyan Mountain Sect’s consent, Da Liang’s young martial artists could not join any other sects.
...
Five days later, when the steward from East Sea Divine Palace arrived at Da Liang, and the Imperial Court issued the public document "Congratulating Da Liang’s Martial Artist Lin Chen on Martial Arts Mountain Ranking Joy" to the world, Chu Zining finally understood what was going on.
It turned out... it was because of Junior Brother Lin.
...
Poyang County.
When the document reached Poyang County and Linhu Village, the second son of the Xu Family very consciously took a broom to the ancestral hall.
A quarter of an hour later, the elderly Zhao Canghe, supported by Gu Fei, excitedly gathered the entire village: "Ancestral rites!"
Today’s ancestral rites in Linhu Village are not as simple as they used to be, now following a complete set of procedures. The entire ancestral rite lasts a whole three days.
It is said that Zhao Canghe researched over a thousand-year-old ancient books, combined with the ancestral rites culture of the whole Poyang County and even Raozhou Prefecture, to devise this set of ceremonies.
In Lin Chen’s absence, his elder brother Lin Liang stepped in to offer incense.
The Dao Master of Jiangnan Dao, the Hall Chief of Jiangnan Martial Arts Hall, the Mansion Master of Raozhou Prefecture, the Director of Raozhou Military Affairs Department, Poyang County’s Immortal Lord, and the Director of Poyang County Martial Affairs Office... all came to attend the ceremony.