Chapter 492: Chapter 44: Twelve Tolling Bells: Sudden Upheaval!

At the uppermost part of the pool, four entrances from the corridors converge here.

Below, emerald mist surged.

Zhao Qianqiu stood here at this moment, with four green leaves in front of her, the leaf veins like jade-carved channels, flowing with solidified green essence.

Every fifteen breaths, liquid flows down from above, and as it passes over the green leaves, Zhao Qianqiu holds the Profound Crystal Pestle, striking above the green leaves, and with each strike, the originally pure liquid turns green.

"Four green leaves of the Cloud Cauldron Mother Tree, the whole mother tree has lived for three thousand years, and only has thirty leaves. Looking at the entire Nine Kingdoms, no genius can have such an opportunity."

Zhao Qianqiu murmured, and she hadn’t told Lin Chen one thing yet: these four leaves were also given by the Garden Master.

A single green leaf of the Mother Tree is enough for a lower-grade martial artist to break through to the first grade.

And now, four green leaves of the Mother Tree are being used for Lin Chen’s transformation, such extravagance even the royal families of various kingdoms cannot afford.

Those who hold Lin Chen in high regard are not just Liang, but also the Garden Master.

Could there be a secret on Lin Chen’s body?

Zhao Qianqiu understood very well, for a character like the Garden Master, no matter how high Lin Chen’s potential was, it shouldn’t have attracted so much attention, even personally going to Zhao Kingdom to obtain four green leaves of the Mother Tree.

There is only one possibility, that Lin Chen hides a secret that interests the Garden Master.

Or it is related to the Nine Revolutions True Blood Viscera Cultivation Method.

...

...

A day later, Lin Chen comfortably stretched his lazy waist.

This was the most relaxed and comfortable breakthrough since his journey, a true natural progress.

No accidents at all!

Lin Chen could clearly feel that although the Qi Blood in his body hadn’t increased, the speed of his cultivation technique operation was at least 30% faster.

The Nine Revolutions True Blood Viscera Cultivation Method does not constantly increase Qi Blood, but after the fifth transformation, it focuses more on the purity of Qi Blood.

During the Opening Acupoints Realm, the panel had values for True Blood and Qi Blood, which Lin Chen could well understand.

Qi Blood has impurities, True Blood does not.

But having no impurities does not mean it cannot be further refined.

His body is like an engine, and True Blood is like gasoline. The purer the gasoline, the faster the engine responds.

"Panel!"

[Host: Lin Chen]

[Realm: Great Success in the Refining Viscera Realm]

[Nine Revolutions Refining the Viscera: 6/9]

[Spirit Tier: First Tier]

[Wind and Cloud Palm: Perfect]

[Gale Leg: Perfect]

[Mountain Suppressing Chart: Body Tempering: 3.9]

...

...

The cultivation technique increased by one revolution, and the body tempering strength also increased by 0.1.

Although the body tempering strength only increased by 0.1, Lin Chen was already very satisfied.

But what surprised Lin Chen more was that after his fifth transformation, the golden little figure condensed, the Spirit Platform’s door closed, and now it had completely opened a gap, with golden light pouring down continuously, nourishing the golden little figure.

Although he didn’t know what changes this little figure would bring, Lin Chen could be certain of one thing: this was definitely a good thing.

...

...

A quarter of an hour later, the green mist of the pool completely disappeared, and Lin Chen put on his outerwear again. This time’s breakthrough was his only one where his clothes didn’t shatter, and even his shorts were still intact.

After coming out of the basement, Zhao Qianqiu was already standing in the front yard.

"From today onwards, you can freely enter and exit this courtyard; those cultivation techniques have been placed on the bookshelf. After reading them, you must burn them."

Zhao Qianqiu didn’t bother to ask whether Lin Chen had successfully broken through. With four green leaves of the Mother Tree, if he couldn’t increase by one revolution, then Lin Chen would never succeed in nine revolutions in his life.

"Burn them?"

Lin Chen didn’t expect Elder Zhao would have him handle them this way.

"This Elder will not stay in Poyang County indefinitely. If anything occurs, you can find Yan He’an, and he will take care of it for you."

"Understood, thank you, Elder Zhao."

Lin Chen nodded in agreement. Zhao Qianqiu was indeed very busy, as she was now a Golden Garden Elder of the Martial Garden and was responsible for several Martial Gardens.

After instructing Lin Chen a few more things, Zhao Qianqiu left.

Lin Chen didn’t rush to start viewing those secret manuals in the courtyard and instead left the Martial Garden to return once to Linhu Village to inform his teacher about his successful sixth transformation.

At the same time, he also mentioned the situation of the golden sun in the Spirit Platform.

Jia Nanzhu pondered: "Cloud Cauldron Mother Tree Essence?"

"Yes, Elder Zhao said so."

"The teacher has never heard of the essence of the Cloud Cauldron Mother Tree, but the Cloud Cauldron Mother Tree mentioned by that Elder Zhao should be referring to the Cloud Cauldron Mother Tea Tree in Zhao Kingdom. Legend has it that it is three thousand years old, a new leaf only grows every hundred years, at most thirty, and after that one falls every hundred years, besides the Han Kingdom, no other country has ever obtained one."

"Perhaps, the Mother Tree Essence that Elder Zhao mentioned was actually a fallen leaf of the Mother Tree."

Lin Chen’s pupils shrank sharply, one leaf every hundred years.

"For Zhao Kingdom, the Mother Tree is a priceless treasure, and as for Han Kingdom managing to obtain the Mother Tree’s falling leaves, it’s due to Zhao Kingdom’s tribute."

"Tribute?"

"The Zhao Kingdom, like the Yan Kingdom, isn’t large, and it borders the Han Kingdom. If it doesn’t pay tribute, the Han Kingdom has the strength to easily annex Zhao."

Upon hearing the elder’s explanation, Lin Chen was somewhat puzzled, "Teacher, why doesn’t the Han Kingdom annex Zhao? No matter how much Zhao offers as tribute, it wouldn’t be as beneficial as acquiring the Mother Tree."

"This matter has puzzled me for a long time as well, but it now seems likely to be related to the Martial Garden."

Jia Nanzhu’s old eyes slightly squinted; that Martial Garden can acquire the leaves of the Cloud Cauldron Mother Tree from Zhao, indicating an unusual relationship with the Zhao Kingdom.

Although the Martial Garden is a neutral force among the Nine Kingdoms, not a single nation dares to underestimate it.

In terms of the number of martial artists, the Martial Garden doesn’t surpass the Nine Kingdoms. Those martial artists who join the Martial Garden still belong to their respective countries, but just one person from the Martial Garden can make all nations wary.

The legendary, mysterious Martial Garden Master.

"For you, just remember the favor of the Martial Garden. Since the Martial Garden has provided you with thousands of cultivation technique manuals, stay there for the time being. I’ll write a letter to the Canglan Martial Arts Academy explaining."

"Alright, for the next three months, I will stay at the Martial Garden."

...

...

Back courtyard of the Martial Garden.

A hundred flowers bloom.

From early spring to late spring, a month flew by in the blink of an eye.

"Senior Brother Lin, Senior Brother Lu is starting closed-door training today to break through to the Opening Acupoints Realm."

Zhao Jingchuan informed Lin Chen of the good news, and Lin Chen smiled, "With Junior Brother Lu’s nature, he wouldn’t go into seclusion without confidence. It seems our Kaohe Town will soon have its second Viscera-Refining Martial Artist."

Kaohe Town has had Viscera-Refining Martial Artists before.

But once these martial artists reached that level, they left Kaohe Town, with some settling in county towns and others moving to prefecture cities or other county towns.

Like Lu Yongfeng’s four families, while they now have the fish market business, they’ve still maintained their trades in Kaohe Town and continue to operate them.

"Both of you must also put in effort to break through to the refining the viscera stage, especially you, Junior Brother Zhao. I hear from Junior Brother Cheng that you’ve recently been getting along well with a junior sister from Jingshui Martial Arts Hall?"

Hearing this, Zhao Jingchuan was somewhat embarrassed and helplessly replied, "Junior Brother Cheng, you’re telling everything to Senior Brother Lin."

"When I last came to the Martial Garden, you weren’t here, and Senior Brother Lin asked. I just told the truth."

Cheng Ying grinned. The three of them had about every ten days to visit the Martial Garden to see Senior Brother Lin.

"A graceful lady deserves a gentleman’s pursuit. There’s nothing wrong with seeking a partner, but refining the viscera is a hurdle. The sooner one refines the viscera, the farther one can go on the martial path."

Lin Chen wasn’t trying to impose restrictions.

However, Zhao Jingchuan’s situation was different. If nothing unexpected happens, the three of them could probably enter the grade in their thirties. But if they work diligently in the Opening Acupoints and Refining Viscera realms, there is a chance to reach the Eighth Grade.

Even though the difference between Ninth and Eighth Grade is just one, it is substantial.

Ninth-Grade martial artists may have the opportunity to serve as Directors of the Martial Affairs Office or County Magistrates, needing to wait for an opening, but Eighth-Grade martial artists are almost guaranteed the position, and if they excel, they might even get an opportunity to reach Seventh Grade with recognition from the imperial court.

Entering the grade is a chance to change one’s destiny, for the family to ascend a level.

Reaching the Seventh Grade is yet another leap in status.

Coming from the Martial Hall, and with the three junior brothers having supported him before, Lin Chen wishes for Zhao Jingchuan and the others to walk farther on the martial path.

"Senior Brother Lin’s guidance, I’ve taken to heart."

Seeing Lin Chen’s serious expression, Zhao Jingchuan quickly acknowledged.

After chatting for a while with the two, and upon Zhao Jingchuan and Cheng Ying’s departure, Lin Chen returned to his courtyard to continue reading the cultivation technique manuals.

In a month’s time, he had read over a thousand cultivation technique manuals.

Categorizing by technique type, reading manuals on the same weapon daily, though his realm had not advanced, he could feel his growth in both the Wind and Cloud Palm and the Fear of Death Arrow.

Reading the cultivation techniques wasn’t for improving strength but to solidify his martial foundation.

...

...

Two more months passed.

Looking at the shelves of cultivation technique manuals, Lin Chen felt somewhat helpless—he had only read and comprehended three thousand, memorized a thousand more, while six thousand remained unread.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to memorize them all, it was simply impossible.

He remembered techniques commonly used by martial artists, like blade, spear, sword, and hammer techniques, but some of the more obscure ones he couldn’t commit to memory.

Memorizing martial techniques verbatim is extremely challenging; understanding and insight are crucial.

The title of "Unparalleled in the Same Sect" gave him an edge in certain weapons over Junior Brother Meng and others, but he lacked advantages with unconventional weapons.

"If all the martial geniuses in the world sincerely called me Senior Brother..."

Wouldn’t that be wishful thinking?

Lin Chen shook his head; given the enmities among the Nine Kingdoms, such a scenario couldn’t possibly occur.

Just as Lin Chen was preparing to follow Elder Zhao’s instructions, to burn these cultivation technique manuals, a bell tolled.

Dong!

The bell tolled twelve times continuously.

Outside the courtyard, Yan He’an’s voice came, "Young Master Lin, something major has happened!"

Lin Chen walked out of the courtyard gate, observing apparent panic on Yan He’an’s face for the first time.

"Elder, what do you mean by this?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"The county government office tolls the bell; three times indicates a major event in the county, six times for Raozhou Prefecture, nine for the entire Jiangnan Dao, and twelve... means something significant has happened in the Liang, likely a serious affair. Anyone who hears the bell, regardless of whether they’re in seclusion, must emerge immediately."

Upon hearing Yan He’an’s explanation, Lin Chen’s pupils shrank; he didn’t know about this protocol.

"Young Master Lin, you’re unaware because our Liang has been peaceful for numerous years, and I happened to recall such a record," Yan He’an explained.