Rise from a Poor Family: My Martial Arts Counterattack

Chapter 269 The Stone Tablet Test
Even after hundreds of years.

Even though the Qingtian Sect is no longer around, this stone tablet still exudes powerful energy that continuously emanates from all directions, making it a force to be reckoned with.

"The ruins of the Qingtian Sect can only be opened by the joint efforts of our four major families. If any outsider tries to open them by force, the end result will be the complete destruction of the ruins."

Seeing Lin Chen's gaze fixed on the stone tablet, Dan Muqing, who was standing to the side, offered an explanation.

Lin Chen withdrew his gaze from the stone tablet. The reason why the four major families were able to protect the ruins of the Qingtian Sect was that they would be destroyed if forcibly opened, which is why other forces in the Zhao Kingdom did not intervene.

Lin Chen turned his gaze away from the stone tablet and began to scan the entire area. He recognized the people on this side; they were all young people from the Dan family.

Not far away, stood three other groups of young people.

What attracted Lin Chen's attention the most was a group of young people on the left. The man in the blue robe standing in the middle stood out even among the many young martial artists who had entered the ranks of martial arts. He suppressed everyone else around him with his aura alone.

"Those are the Zhuang family members over there. The second one from the left is Zhuang Lei, the second young master of the Zhuang family."

Hearing Dan Muqing's words, a cold glint appeared in Lin Chen's eyes. Zhuang Lei was not bad-looking, but his face was full of arrogance. Such a person would never take those of lower status than himself seriously.

"The one leading the group on the Zhuang family's side is Gao Yongsi."

Lin Chen withdrew his gaze from Zhuang Lei. This Gao Yongsi truly lived up to his reputation as the eighth on the Earth Ranking; his aura alone could suppress a group of entry-level martial artists.

"The Xiang family is on the right. The two people standing at the front are the Earth Ranking martial artists invited by the Xiang family."

"Ahead is the Zhou family. The five foreign experts that the Zhou family invited this time are not particularly outstanding, according to the information gathered by the clan."

The so-called "not outstanding" means that one is not well-known, which means that one's strength is average.

However, after listening to Dan Muqing's introduction, Lin Chen's gaze fell on a woman in the Zhou family's line.

The woman had a beautiful face, and her extremely form-fitting long dress accentuated her perfect waistline. Just by standing there, she attracted covetous glances from many martial artists present.

"Brother Gu, is that woman pretty?"

Dan Muqing's voice drifted softly from beside him. Lin Chen smiled wryly. He admitted that the woman the Zhou family had invited was indeed attractive, but when it came to bewitching...

Junior Sister Murong is still better.

"Miss Dan, this woman is probably not simple."

Lin Chen explained that the reason his gaze fell on her was because she gave him a feeling that he couldn't see through her, and was even more unpredictable than Gao Yongsi.

It seems that the Zhou family did invite powerful outsiders to this competition, but the news was kept extremely secret.

"This woman is named Liu Yue. If Brother Gu is interested, I can ask the Zhou family to help you make a match after the competition."

Upon hearing Dan Muqing's words, Lin Chen's lips twitched. Dan Muqing had misunderstood him.

However, he didn't explain, because even if he did, no one would believe him.

The Zhou family, which harbors hidden strength, along with the Xiang family and the Zhuang family...

Lin Chen's lips curled up; this competition among the four major families was truly interesting.

……

……

As Lin Chen was observing the other three groups, their gazes also fell on his area. He could clearly sense that several eyes were on him, but they were all just glanced over and few lingered on him.

These people's gazes lingered more on Yun Zhongjin.

In their eyes, of the foreign geniuses invited by the Dan family this time, Yun Zhongjin was the most famous and the most worthy of their serious attention, while Lin Chen and the others were relatively unknown.

The four young people stared at each other silently for a long while before a voice rang out.

Several figures swept in from above, their imposing aura instantly silencing the crowd.

More than a dozen figures landed in front of the four groups of people, each led by an old man.

The heads and high-ranking members of the four major families have all arrived!
Lin Chen's eyes gleamed; these people were all mid-level martial artists.

Lin Chen had a lingering question: since he agreed to represent the Dan family in the competition for Dan Muqing, not a single member of the Dan family's leadership had shown up. If it weren't for the fact that this competition was related to the division of interests of the four major families in Linhai County over the next ten years, he would have suspected that this competition was organized by Dan Muqing and the younger generation, and that the higher-ups of the four major families didn't care at all.

"The descendants of the Qingtian Sect have all gathered to pay homage to their ancestral sect."

The four clan leaders slowly stepped forward, bowed to the stone tablet, then exchanged glances and placed their hands on the tablet.

Driven by the four energies, the already surging energy fluctuations of the stone tablet began to surge, like waves of tides flowing out one after another.

Fortunately, the mid-level martial artists from the four major families stood in front of Lin Chen and the others, blocking the outward surge of energy.

After more than ten breaths.

Suddenly, the stone tablet emitted a golden light, which shot towards the mountain range behind it like a golden dragon. The mountain range, which was originally very clear, suddenly became illusory and ethereal at this moment.

Suddenly, golden light shone down from the sky above the entire mountain range, enveloping it.

"The seal has been broken."

Dan Muqing murmured something; she had witnessed a similar scene ten years ago when she came with the elders of her clan.

“According to the rules, those under the age of twenty may enter after verification at the stone tablet.” One of the four clan leaders looked at everyone present and spoke slowly. “Verification?”

Lin Chen asked Dan Muqing curiously.

“Young Master Lin, this stone tablet can verify the bone age of the person who comes; no one can cheat.”

Seeing Lin Chen's confusion, Dan Muqing explained, "According to our ancestors, the Qingtian Sect initially recruited disciples under the age of twenty. This is why the competition among our four great families is based on age, not rank."

The competition among the younger generation is not only based on age. The reason why the four major families use twenty years old as the standard is because this stone tablet can test bone age.

Just as Dan Muqing was making her introduction, some people had already started walking towards the stone tablet.

The Zhou family members were the first to approach the stone tablet, placing their hands on it one by one in order. The stone tablet lit up with light. Lin Chen paid special attention to the woman named Liu Yue. When she placed her hand on the stone tablet, the light on it was several times stronger than that of the previous people. The next moment, Liu Yue's figure disappeared just like the previous members of the Zhou family.

"Miss Dan..."

Before Lin Chen could ask why, Dan Muqing answered first: "Back then, the Qingtian Sect set up a stone tablet at the mountain gate, not only to test bone age, but also to test the martial arts potential of the disciples who came to join the sect. Different potentials would show different colors of light. However, after so many years, the energy of the stone tablet has been almost exhausted and it can no longer test the talent of martial artists."

"But you're right, this Liu Yue is no simple woman."

Although the stone tablet can no longer detect a martial artist's potential and no other colors are displayed, the four major families have figured out some patterns after so many years of competition: the stronger the martial artist, the more intense the light displayed by the stone tablet.

"Young Master Lin, it's our turn next."

After all ten members of the Zhou family had finished their tests and disappeared from the spot, Dan Muqing gave them a reminder.

The order in which the four major families entered the mountain ruins was based on the ranking of the previous session. The family that ranked last in the previous session would be the first to enter in the next session.

The Dan family ranked third in the previous competition, and this time they are the second to enter.

"After entering the ruins, you are randomly teleported, but the earlier you enter, the greater the probability of being teleported together. The later you are teleported in, the farther apart you will be. This can be considered an advantage for the last-place finisher from the previous year."

At this moment, Dan Mufeng could no longer hold back, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "Little sister, it seems the person you found knows nothing about the Four Clans Ruins. Why don't you talk to him here for half an hour?"

After saying that, Dan Mufeng led everyone forward.

The other members of the Dan family followed behind Dan Mufeng, all of them looking at Lin Chen and Dan Muqing with amused smiles as they walked.

This was the first time they had ever seen Dan Muqing so eloquent.

She used to be known for being aloof and cold. Could it be that she's taken a fancy to Lin Fei?
"Let's go too."

Lin Chen's expression didn't change much. He called out to Dan Muqing and then walked towards the stone tablet.

As the ten members of the Dan family walked towards the stone tablet, many people's eyes fell on Yun Zhongjin, who was at the front. Yun Zhongjin, without hesitation, was the first to place his palm on the top of the stone tablet.

The stone tablet shone with light, several times brighter than Liu Yue had been before.

All members of the Dan family, including the higher-ups, smiled upon seeing this scene.

"As expected of a genius on the Earth Ranking."

"It's a pity that the potential test of the stone tablet failed, otherwise Yun Zhongjin might have been able to change the color of the light."

Yun Zhongjin withdrew his hand with an arrogant expression. His gaze turned to the Zhuang family. In his eyes, there were only three people present who were worthy of his attention: Gao Yongsi, whom the Zhuang family had invited, and the two Earth Ranking martial artists from the Xiang family.

However, Gao Yongsi's expression remained unchanged, while the two Earth Ranking warriors invited by the Xiang family had intense fighting spirit in their eyes.

A moment later, Yun Zhongjin's figure disappeared.

"Did my perception and judgment fail?"

Lin Chen frowned slightly. His senses told him that Liu Yue's strength was definitely no less than Yun Zhongjin's.

Just as Lin Chen was pondering, Dan Muqing in front of him had finished the test, leaving only him.

At the scene, most people had already turned their attention away and were still discussing the results of Yun Zhongjin's recent test, while Lin Chen placed his hand on the stone tablet.

The moment my right hand touched the stone tablet, a chill ran through me.

At the same time, Lin Chen sensed an extremely unique energy coming from the stone tablet, entering his body and scanning all parts of his body.

A light shone from the stone tablet, quickly surpassing that of Dan Muqing, and its intensity rivaled that of Liu Yue earlier.

Huh!
Among the onlookers, some were drawn by the light and exclaimed in surprise.

However, at that very moment, when Lin Chen sensed the energy flowing into his body from the stone tablet beginning to sweep towards his dantian, he chose to stop.

The moment the hand left the stone tablet, the unique energy within the body vanished.

"I see!"

Lin Chen's face showed a look of sudden realization; no wonder the light emitted by Liu Yue was not as bright as that of Yun Zhongjin.

Just as everyone was shocked that the light Lin Chen emitted from the stone tablet was only weaker than Yun Zhongjin's, Lin Chen's figure also disappeared from the spot.

"Who is this person?"

Many people at the scene looked at each other in bewilderment; the information they had gathered did not include this person.

(End of this chapter)