Rise from a Poor Family: My Martial Arts Counterattack

Chapter 286 The Origins of the Great Ancestor

The main hall of the Martial Arts Academy.

Lin Chen met the dean again.

"You've come at the perfect time; I was just about to tell you something."

Upon seeing Lin Chen's arrival, Hua Qianwu said in a deep voice, "The top ten competitions of the Ze Kingdom's Earth Ranking have been cancelled."

"Cancel?"

"Because Zeguo does not allow Liang warriors to enter, and you were placed eighth on the Earth Ranking by Wuyuan, Wuyuan believes that this competition does not comply with the rules set by Wuyuan for the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

Lin Chen never expected that Wu Yuan would cancel this arrangement.

"There were no geniuses from Zeguo in the top ten of this year's Earth Ranking. Zeguo would be happy to abolish it. The reason given by Wuyuan is something that even Hanguo cannot refute, so the matter was left unresolved."

Hua Qianwu explained the inside story to Lin Chen. For Zeguo, the royal family was not very willing to give up their secret realm to martial artists from other countries. It was because the Martial Garden offered conditions to compensate Zeguo.

But now that the martial arts academy has been canceled and no longer provides compensation to Zeguo, Zeguo naturally won't be so generous as to cultivate geniuses from other countries.

Unless the other countries are willing to make up for the conditions offered by Wuyuan, and it is clear that the other countries have no intention of doing so.

"Because of this matter, several countries have some grievances against Han."

Hua Qianwu stroked his beard with a smile. Apart from Zheng, these countries had imposed border blockades on Daliang due to pressure from Han, which had already caused considerable losses. Now, they could no longer even go to Yunze, the land of Ze, and would only direct their dissatisfaction towards Han.

"Has Hanguo never considered compensating Zeguo?"

Lin Chen was somewhat puzzled. Since Han Kingdom wanted to isolate Daliang from the other countries, it would naturally have to offer them some benefits. Relying on pressure to force the other countries to blockade Daliang was not the best strategy.

For example, in the case of Yunze Land this time, after Wuyuan withdrew, Han Kingdom came to communicate with Ze Kingdom to provide compensation, allowing martial artists from various countries to continue to enter Yunze Land. This not only satisfied these countries, but also made the other countries that had not yet expressed their opinions also start to think about it.

"You don't understand South Korea."

Hua Qianwu chuckled and said, "It is true that Han is the oldest of the nine kingdoms, but precisely because of this, there are several forces within Han, including the royal family, the academy, and several major families. They are not all of one mind."

Lin Chen suddenly realized that there were also open and covert struggles among the various forces within the Korean Kingdom. However, due to the Korean Kingdom's status as the hegemon of the nine kingdoms, it was able to maintain a balance among these forces by plundering the martial arts resources of the other countries.

"You only need to know a little about the affairs of Han Kingdom. Did you come to see me for something?"

"Dean, your disciple has found the method for the eighth and even ninth stages of the cultivation process."

"What?"

Hua Qianwu's eyes gleamed: "Lin Chen, the Nine Revolutions Internal Organ Refining Method is no small matter. Lord Kong has been trying to find a solution for you during this time."

"I forgot to tell the Dean something last time. In the ruins of Linhai County..."

Lin Chen briefly recounted his experience at the Qingtian Sect ruins.

"You actually have such a wonderful fate?"

Hua Qianwu's eyes were filled with shock. The Martial Dao Seal could be refined again and even connected to the Yan Dynasty.

Have you mentioned this to anyone else?

"No."

Lin Chen shook his head: "I only discovered the changes in the Martial Dao Seal recently when I used it."

"This matter is of utmost importance. I will write to Lord Kong, and until he replies, we must not tell anyone about it."

Seeing the dean's serious expression, Lin Chen nodded. He also knew that this matter was of great importance and might even involve the secrets of the founding emperor.

After all, Martial Arts Mountain was created by the founding emperor, and the Yan Dynasty also has a Martial Arts Mountain, so there must be some kind of connection between the two.

……

……

The capital of the Great Liang Kingdom.

"Lord Kong, the letter from Canglan Martial Academy is top secret."

"Send it up."

Kong Qifeng raised an eyebrow, put down the memorial in his hand, and only used top-secret communication when it came to matters concerning Lin Chen's Nine Revolutions Internal Organ Refinement.

After a while, Kong Qifeng closed the letter in his hand and said to the middle-aged man at the door, "I need to go to the palace. Prepare a carriage for me."

"Yes."

……

……

Two hours later, a carriage drove out of the palace, left the capital, boarded a ship, and sailed south downstream.

……

Five days later.

Lin Chen met Lord Kong in the main hall.

To Lin Chen's surprise, the person seated at the head of the main hall was not Lord Kong, but a slightly overweight young man.

The boy was looking at him with curious eyes.

"Lin Chen, Lord Kong, there's no need for me to introduce you. Let me introduce this gentleman to you. This is the Third Prince of my Great Liang."

Your Highness?
The Liang royal family?

This was the first time Lin Chen had met someone from the Liang royal family, and he immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Third Prince." "Haha, Young Master Lin, there's no need for such formalities. You are the pride of Liang, and Liang will rely on you in the future."

Hearing the Third Prince's reply, Lin Chen was completely confused. This didn't sound like the way a royal prince would speak.

No matter how talented one is, in the eyes of the royal family one is merely a subject.

"Lin Chen, the founding emperor left an oral edict stating that Daliang is the people's Daliang, not the imperial family's Daliang."

Seeing the confusion in Lin Chen's eyes, Kong Qifeng smiled and explained it to him.

The Liang royal family held unparalleled prestige in Liang, not only because of Emperor Taizu, but also because the Liang royal family adhered to Emperor Taizu's ancestral precepts and did not consider Liang as their own property.

All national policies of the Great Liang Dynasty are handled by the imperial court and their respective departments, with the royal family rarely interfering.

The Imperial Court governs local government offices, the Ministry of Military Affairs oversees local martial arts schools, and the Military Department oversees the military camps of Daliang. Each of the three departments has its own responsibilities.

The Liang royal family holds a transcendent position in Liang. Only when the three ministries encounter problems that are difficult to resolve will the royal family make a decision.

"The reason why the Third Prince has come with me this time is to tell you some things about the founding emperor."

Kong Qifeng looked at Lin Chen. Back when he received the secret letter from Hua Qianwu, which mentioned that Wudao Mountain could be connected with the Yan Dynasty, he went to the palace to see His Majesty. However, His Majesty did not answer his questions, but only sent the Third Prince to accompany him to Canglan Martial Academy.

"Lin Chen, His Highness the Third Prince has something to say to you."

Seeing Lord Kong and the Dean leave the main hall, Lin Chen's eyes were filled with even more doubt. What could be so unknown that even these two officials couldn't know?

"Lin Chen, this is the Emperor's will. This matter is of great importance. Although Lord Kong and Lord Hua are both pillars of our Great Liang, we cannot disobey the ancestral precepts, which were established by the founding emperor."

The Third Prince scratched his head and explained to Lin Chen, then his expression turned serious: "Lin Chen, what I'm about to say concerns the biggest secret of my royal family, and it is not to be revealed to any third person except you."

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will never reveal this to anyone."

Lin Chen nodded emphatically. The fact that the Third Prince was taking this matter so seriously, and that even Lord Kong had to avoid suspicion, meant that there must be a shocking secret.

"Emperor Taizu was not a person of the Nine Kingdoms."

Liang Xun's first words were like a bombshell, causing Lin Chen's pupils to shrink sharply. The first thought that popped into his mind was that the founding emperor might also be a time traveler like himself.

But Liang Xun's second sentence quickly dispelled his guess.

"You should have guessed it by now. The founding emperor came from the Yan Dynasty, otherwise it would have been impossible for him to have created Martial Arts Mountain."

"Yes, I had some doubts at first."

Knowing that the founding emperor came from the Yan Dynasty, Lin Chen was not so surprised. Ever since he learned that the Yan Dynasty also had a Martial Arts Mountain, he had made a bold guess in his mind.

There aren't that many coincidences in the world.

"Emperor Taizu came to the land of nine kingdoms by chance, overthrew the previous dynasty and established the Great Liang, and later imitated the Wudao Mountain."

"So the royal family knew about the existence of the Yan Dynasty a long time ago?"

"Ah."

Liang Xun nodded, then smiled and said, "You want to ask why our royal family knew about the existence of the Yan Dynasty a long time ago, but didn't inform the court, and why we didn't let Lord Kong and the others know?"

Since the Third Prince spoke so frankly, Lin Chen also said directly, "Indeed, I have these doubts. Logically speaking, if Lord Kong and the others knew about the Yan Dynasty, our Great Liang could take precautions in advance."

"The reason we didn't let Lord Kong and the others know is to protect Daliang."

Liang Xun smiled wryly, and seeing Lin Chen's puzzled look, he spread his hands: "These are the exact words my father told me. Before Lord Kong entered the palace, I knew nothing about these secrets."

"After Lord Kong entered the palace, he told the Emperor about your situation. The Emperor then summoned me and informed me of the identity and origin of the Great Ancestor. The Emperor asked me to tell you that you only need to know that the Great Ancestor came from the Yan Dynasty."

"Not informing the court officials is to protect the Great Liang, and not telling you is for the same reason."

Looking at the Third Prince's expression, Lin Chen knew that he wouldn't get anything out of him no matter how much he asked; the Third Prince had already told him everything he knew.

There is much more to know about the relationship between the founding emperor and the Yan Dynasty than His Majesty the present knows.

"My father sent me to Canglan Martial Academy this time, not only to tell you all this, but mainly because of another matter. You are cultivating the Nine Revolutions True Blood Refinement, right? And you have already reached the seventh revolution?"

"Ah."

Hearing Lin Chen nod in agreement, Liang Xun's expression was somewhat strange. Although he had already learned about it from Lord Kong on the way here, he was still somewhat shocked to hear Lin Chen admit it again.

Only the royal family knows how difficult it is to refine the internal organs with Nine Revolutions True Blood.

When the founding emperor was able to cultivate, he said it was "by chance." Later, his uncles and several grandfathers also tried to cultivate, but they all gave up in the end.

Even he was the same; after three job advancements, he had to give up.

It wasn't that he couldn't bear the pain of the third transformation, but that the third transformation was already this painful. The pain of the sixth transformation would increase several times over, and if he couldn't reach the ninth transformation, all his previous efforts would be wasted.

He couldn't handle the later turns, so he chose to give up.

Able to withstand seven revolutions...

Liang Xun believed that if he told his clansmen that someone had cultivated to the seventh level, they probably wouldn't believe him.

"Father said that choosing Heavenly Thunderfire for the remaining two transformations is fine. Heavenly Thunderfire contains two energies, but it is a fusion of heavenly thunder and earthly fire. Once it enters the body, it will cause great damage. Therefore, something is needed to assist it."

After saying that, Liang Xun took a box out of his pocket.

"This Snow Lotus Pill can relieve the pain caused by the Heavenly Thunder and Fire. My father asked me to bring it to you."

There was something Liang Xun didn't say: the entire royal family only had this one Snow Lotus Pill. The founding emperor originally had two, one of which he took himself, and this was the only one left.

(End of this chapter)