Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist-Chapter 132 - 27: Appearance of Returning Gang, Great Success Within Reach

Chapter 132: Chapter 27: Appearance of Returning Gang, Great Success Within Reach

"Am I in the Martial Arts Garden?"

Feeling the softness of the cotton quilt around him, Lin Chen glanced around.

He had fainted the moment he stepped out of the iron house; most likely, he was in the Martial Arts Garden.

"Young Master Lin is awake; I will notify Steward Yan."

In front of the bed, a maid noticed Lin Chen waking up, her pretty face lit up with surprise, and after leaving these words, she ran out of the room.

Lin Chen got down from the bed and found that his entire body’s qi and blood were flowing smoothly, and there were no scars anywhere on him.

"Panel."

[Host: Lin Chen]

[Realm: Limit Opening Realm (9/24):(10/200)]

[Qi Blood: 53,500] (Click to view past qi blood growth)

[Clear Wind Palm: Perfection]

[Water Cloud Palm: Great Success (0/1)]

[Iron Bone Skill: Mastery (1/10)]

Seeing his qi blood had increased by a thousand points, Lin Chen understood that a typical increase from Nine Acupoints to Ten Acupoints should be ten thousand qi blood, but his was doubled, able to increase by twenty thousand qi blood. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

As expected, in the Opening Acupoints Realm, the more advanced, the more the qi blood increase and the greater the difference in strength.

Similarly, the difficulty in opening acupoints also increases.

This means that, in the same amount of time, more pills and rare bird meat are needed.

During this period, Lin Chen has also maintained a frequency of taking one Nourishing Acupoints Pill a day, costing over one hundred taels a month.

And for someone like Wu Ming, reaching Eleven Acupoints, the cost in silver would be even more.

"The three bottles of Nourishing Acupoints Pills rewarded by the Martial Arts Hall have already been used up, so I’ll have to spend money to buy more at the Martial Arts Pavilion."

Just as Lin Chen was pondering how many months his silver coins could last, Yan He’an appeared at the doorway.

"Young Master Lin is awake."

"I apologize for causing trouble for you, Senior."

"Young Master Lin is too courteous. To be honest, it was unexpected for you to endure thirty hammers on your first visit to the iron house. Compared to the astonishment you’ve brought me, this trivial matter is nothing. I just didn’t expect Young Master Lin to have such a precious thing as the Purple Crystal Marrow Liquid."

Yesterday, after Lin Chen fainted, Yan He’an instructed a maid to clean Lin Chen’s body, during which they saw a medicine bottle in Lin Chen’s pocket.

The inscription of Purple Crystal Marrow Liquid on the bottle made him recognize it, and thinking of its effects, he poured two drops into the bathtub.

"Senior Yan, is the Purple Crystal Marrow Liquid very precious?"

Lin Chen curiously inquired. From Lord Su’s tone, he could sense the liquid was valuable, yet he wasn’t sure just how valuable.

Since Senior Yan knew of it, it was a good opportunity to find out.

"This item is priceless in the market, almost impossible to find outside the Military Affairs Department. To martial artists practicing horizontal training, it’s like a sacred elixir. If I’m not mistaken, this Purple Crystal Marrow Liquid should have been given to you by Lord Su from the Martial Affairs Office, right?"

"Senior, you have an extraordinary insight—it was indeed a gift from Lord Su to me."

"It seems Lord Su holds you in high regard, Young Master Lin. Based on the stipend of the Director at the Martial Affairs Office, at most, one bottle can be exchanged for a year’s salary from the Military Affairs Department."

"A year’s salary only for one bottle?"

Lin Chen was stunned. Did this mean that Lord Su spent three years of his wages on him?

Seeing Lin Chen’s shocked expression, Yan He’an knew that Su Lingchuan hadn’t informed him how valuable the Purple Crystal Marrow Liquid was. Although Su Lingchuan likely intended for Lin Chen to realize the weight of this favor as he grew, Yan He’an still gained a newfound respect for Su Lingchuan’s decisiveness.

"Young Master Lin, during our service in Liang’s government, aside from the silver coin salary, there’s also a merit salary. As the Director of the Martial Affairs Office, if martial arts flourish under one’s governance, outstanding achievements will earn contribution points as rewards."

"For many officials, it’s not the silver coin salary they value, but rather the contribution points, which can be used to exchange for necessary cultivation resources at the government office’s Treasure Vault."

Yan He’an laughed while stroking his beard, "I reckon the exemplary master-disciple relationship between Young Master Lin and your instructor has brought Lord Su a considerable lot of merit—it’s only fitting for him to reciprocate."

So that’s how it is!

Lin Chen once again was filled with admiration for the Grand Ancestor Emperor of Liang, who had such a far-sighted vision. The cultivation resources in the government’s Treasure Vault were likely the kind that was hard to buy outside, even if one was wealthy; this system was what attracted the Grade-Entering Powerhouses to enter officialdom.

Otherwise, if it was just for silver taels, many martial artists’ purpose in becoming an official would just be for money-grabbing.

Regardless of whether it’s out of genuine intent or a desire for cultivation resources, achieving merits ultimately benefits the local populace.

A true gentleman judges by deeds, not intentions.

"Since Young Master Lin possesses the Purple Crystal Marrow Liquid, you can enter the iron house every five days to observe the Thousand Hammer Map."

Yan He’an’s words delighted Lin Chen. Just the first observation of the Thousand Hammer Map had advanced his Iron Bone Skill to mastery. Even if the effects won’t compare to the first time, it would still be faster than cultivating at the Martial Arts Hall.

"Senior, there’s something I’m curious about and not sure if I should ask?"

"Please speak, Young Master Lin."

Lin Chen nodded, "May I ask which predecessor authored this Thousand Hammer Map?"

In Lin Chen’s view, this Thousand Hammer Map was not less than the Martial Path Will scroll he obtained. Creating a scroll that carries Martial Path Will requires a Sixth-Grade Martial Artist, so whoever drew the Thousand Hammer Map must be of even more remarkable origin.

"I don’t know either,"

Yan He’an shook his head, noticing Lin Chen’s puzzled expression, and explained: "This map was hung on the wall by Elder Zhao. If you’re interested, Young Master Lin, when Elder Zhao returns, I could introduce you to Elder Zhao."

It was Yan He’an’s own decision to reveal Elder Zhao’s existence to Lin Chen.