I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 59 Third-rate
That night, Chen Rui did not go home for dinner, but sent someone back to inform him that he had a social engagement.

It wasn't until midnight that everyone else in the Chen household went to sleep, except for Chen Ming, whose room was still lit. After reaching the seventh rank, his blood and energy were so vigorous that he only needed to sleep for two hours each day.

So, he's always the first to wake up and the last to go to sleep at home. And he has boundless energy all day long. If this were on Earth, he'd be practically a god among beasts.

Chen Ming was just about to go to sleep when he suddenly heard a noise outside.

"Erlang——"

It was the voice of his elder brother, Chen Rui. He sounded like he had been drinking. With a creak, he pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in.

Chen Ming opened the door and let him in. Seeing that he was covered in alcohol, he said, "Why did you drink so much?"

After he sat down, I poured him a cup of hot tea to help him sober up.

I'm happy today.

Chen Rui seemed to be in high spirits, his cheeks flushed, but his eyes were still relatively clear. He said happily, "Do you know who's treating me tonight?"

"Who?"

"Su family."

Chen Ming casually asked, "Which Su family?"

Chen Rui emphasized, "It's that Su family."

Which one is that...?

He was a little puzzled.

Chen Rui said, "Su Chaosheng from the Su family specifically asked Manager Hao to act as a mediator. He invited me to dinner tonight to apologize, saying that he didn't know the Zhang family was so ungrateful and that the Su family would never marry into such a family. They had already gone to their door to cancel the engagement during the day..."

Chen Ming finally realized which Su family it was—the Su family that was going to marry Zhang Xinyi.

He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

To be honest, he didn't take the broken engagement to heart, nor did he have any thoughts of revenge. After all, given the original owner's situation, being broken off with the engagement was normal.

Whether on Earth or in the Great Jin Dynasty, the reality is the same.

Chen Rui said with some resentment, "This is the Zhang family's own fault!"

It is clear that he has always held a grudge about being jilted at the altar.

"Second Brother, our father was born into poverty and was originally a farmer in the countryside. When he was thirteen, he was introduced by a fellow villager to work as an apprentice in a pharmacy in Qingfeng City for ten years. After completing his apprenticeship, he continued to work as a clerk in the pharmacy. He was highly trusted by the old shopkeeper. Once, he went to the mountains alone to collect medicinal herbs and unexpectedly obtained a hundred-year-old ginseng."

"On the way back, we encountered the old master of the Zhang family who suddenly fell seriously ill and was about to die. In order to save him, our father took out some old ginseng to keep him alive, and that's how we made it back to the city, found a doctor, and he survived."

"Our father meant well. He took a huge risk to save someone. If the old shopkeeper had pursued the matter, he wouldn't have been able to pay it back even if he worked for ten more years. Fortunately, the old man from the Zhang family was a reasonable man. He came to thank us afterwards. He originally wanted to marry his youngest daughter to our father. In the end, the old shopkeeper beat him to it and took him as his son-in-law."

"Later, your marriage to Zhang Xinyi came about. It was an arranged marriage since childhood. Unexpectedly, the Zhang family was heartless and ungrateful. As soon as they saw you in trouble, they took advantage of your misfortune and couldn't wait to break off the engagement..."

Chen Rui grew increasingly angry as he spoke, "Actually, after Old Master Zhang passed away, couldn't we tell what the Zhang family's attitude was? Knowing your personality, even if the Zhang family hadn't said anything, you certainly wouldn't have let Miss Zhang suffer with you after something like this. I was thinking that after you got out, I would discuss with you about canceling the engagement one day, but who knew..."

Chen Ming could understand his feelings. When the Chen family was going through the most difficult time, it was the Zhang family, who were his closest relatives, who stepped on his foot. In his heart, the Zhang family was probably even more hateful than Jin Yuansheng.

He had no intention of pleading for Zhang Xinyi.

It was only natural for the Zhang family to break off the engagement when the Chen family was at their lowest point. Now, as his cultivation level rises, it's also natural for others to fear offending him and try to take advantage of the Zhang family.

After calming down, Chen Rui suddenly grabbed his arm and said, "Erlang, if you really still have feelings for her, you can take her in, as long as she's not your principal wife..."

Chen Ming said seriously, "Brother, as I said, I am currently focused on practicing martial arts and have no plans to get married for the time being."

Chen Rui was even more worried. "Erlang, your father and mother's greatest wish is to see you and me have children and carry on the Chen family line. You're already twenty-two, how can I be at ease?"

Chen Ming laughed and said, "Don't worry about that. The seventh rank is the Qi and Blood Realm. Even when I'm seventy or eighty years old, my Qi and Blood will still be vigorous, and I'll still be able to get married and have children."

Chen Rui was not comforted and said with a wry smile, "Do I have to wait until you're seventy or eighty? I might not be able to live to see that day."

"How could you say such unlucky things, brother? Come on, spit it out and say it again." "You..."

That night, the two brothers talked for a long time, until late into the night.

……

The next morning, a distinguished guest arrived.

The one who arrived was Lei Zhenguang, the former headmaster of the Sihai Martial Arts School. Chen Ming personally went to greet him and said with a smile, "It is truly an honor to have the former headmaster grace my humble abode with his presence."

Lei Zhenguang's voice boomed as he laughed, "I heard you've broken through to the seventh rank, so I've come to congratulate you."

Previously, he had always addressed Chen Ming as "Young Master," and he looked down on Shangguan Hong, who, despite his age, was still acting like a brother to a young man. He felt that Shangguan lacked the integrity of a martial artist.

Now, however, he calls me "brother" all the time, in an unusually affectionate way.

Chen Ming said, "The old curator didn't even give me a heads-up before coming so I could go out and greet him."

"There's no need for such formality between us. It's my fault, really. I've been in seclusion for the past six months. I came out yesterday and heard that you came to see me several times. I felt really bad about it, and then I heard that you've broken through to the seventh rank, so I came here specifically to congratulate you."

"I see. Come, let's go inside and talk."

Chen Ming invited the people to the main hall.

He did visit the Fenglei Martial Arts School several times, not specifically to see Lei Zhenguang, but to spar with Lei Yucheng, but the other party kept making excuses to refuse.

So after a few times, he stopped going.

He knew, of course, that the old fox's excuse about going into seclusion was just that—an excuse—but he didn't expose him.
Upon arriving at the main hall, Chen Ming sat in the main seat, with a pair of dark-skinned maids standing behind him, entertaining the two generations of owners, Lei Zhenguang and Lei Yucheng.

After serving the tea, Lei Zhenguang took out two books from his pocket and said with a smile, "I heard that you are quite interested in the martial arts of my Fenglei Martial Arts School. These are Lei family's 'Fenglei Body Forging' and 'Fenglei Sword Technique'. Consider them as a congratulatory gift for you."

Chen Ming was drinking tea when he saw the two manuals on the table and was taken aback.

He realized that the other party had misunderstood, and couldn't help but laugh, "Master Lei, you misunderstand. I want to spar with your grandson, not to steal your techniques. It's just a personal hobby; I like to fight with different people to understand my own shortcomings."

"I see. I was just being petty and judging you by my own standards." Lei Zhenguang shook his head and smiled to himself. He looked at the two manuals on the table. "Brother, do you know that in the martial arts world, martial artists are divided into three levels?"

"Appreciate further details."

“Those of us at the seventh rank are considered third-rate. The sixth to fourth ranks are second-rate, and only those at the third rank and above are first-rate. There is an insurmountable gap between these three ranks. Without the corresponding cultivation methods, no matter how much you practice, you will not be able to cross it.”

Lei Zhenguang smiled bitterly, “My Lei family has been passed down to the third generation. I entered the seventh rank when I was thirty years old, and I thought my talent was quite good. It has been more than forty years now, but I have been stuck at the seventh rank and cannot take that step. It is because of the Lei family’s cultivation method that we can only cultivate to the seventh rank.”

As Chen Ming listened, his expression also became serious.

He too is about to face this predicament. The Three Yang Body Forging Technique is only at the ninth level, and even if he masters it to perfection, he will only reach the peak of the seventh rank.

I don't know where to find the subsequent training methods.

For this reason, the first thing for martial arts practitioners is to join a faction.

The first choice would naturally be a prestigious and upright sect, but that requires a great deal of luck.

The second choice is the Six Doors (a government agency), although it is not easy to make contributions, it offers hope.

As for joining other forces and serving aristocratic families and merchants, that's the worst possible option, a last resort.

Lei Zhenguang continued, "However, right now, there is an excellent opportunity for you, my brother."

Chen Ming perked up upon hearing this, "Please give me some pointers, brother."

He finally changed his form of address, becoming the closer "brother".

A smile finally appeared on Lei Zhenguang's old face. "That newly arrived Lord Zhao is known for his love of mentoring younger generations. Wherever he goes, he holds a martial arts tournament, inviting local martial artists under the age of thirty who are of the seventh rank. Those who perform exceptionally well will be rewarded accordingly by Lord Zhao. These rewards may include divine weapons or personal instruction. For those from humble backgrounds, he may even teach them a second-rate technique. This is your opportunity, brother."

P.S.: It's almost the end of the month, please vote with monthly tickets and let's try to climb the new book charts.

(End of this chapter)