Chapter 374: Unbelievable, Wang Qingtan!

Chapter 374: Unbelievable, Wang Qingtan!



January 8th, 2025

Outside the Martial Refining Tower.

As Liu Sansheng shouted the words "Jiang Tongling," the crowd outside the tower turned around once more.

"Brother Sansheng!" Yan Youhu, upon seeing Liu Sansheng's appearance, greeted him.

A hint of envy flashed across his face.

After all, Liu Sansheng now held an official position in the government.

Moreover, he was the current captain of the Inspection Office, a highly esteemed role.

A captain commanded a small squad, with nine Martial Dao Ninth Stage Grandmasters under his command.

Any of these factors alone was enough to make Yan Youhu envious.

It also made him regret his past decision.

Last year, his father had arranged an opportunity for him to join the Inspection Office and become a captain.

However, he had declined, preferring to focus on his martial arts training, believing that with his skills, a minor ninth-rank official position like a captain would be easily attainable.

Additionally, the newly established Inspection Office seemed unstable to him, and he couldn't discern whether joining it would be beneficial or detrimental.

It was only after the Inspection Office's formation and their bold actions against several prominent figures that he realized their authority to act first and report later was genuine.

The Inspection Office was indeed an institution above all officials and the common people.

He regretted his decision, but by then, it was too late.

Having missed the opportunity to join the Inspection Office at its inception, re-entering it was no simple task.

Even as the son of a Duke, he faced the same challenge.

Whether it was the Inspection Office in Dongling City or those in other counties, none would give his father any special treatment.

The rising status of the Inspection Office also elevated the positions of those who had joined early on, even if they only held minor roles.

Liu Sansheng was one such individual.

Although Martial Academy students might gossip behind his back, calling his success a stroke of luck, none dared to openly disparage those fortunate enough to hold positions in the Inspection Office.

Outside the Martial Refining Tower.

"Brother Youhu!" Liu Sansheng greeted Yan Youhu.

Then, he turned his attention to Jiang Ning.

"Jiang Tongling, you are indeed here!"

"Brother Liu, what brings you here?"

"Jiang Tongling, please don't call me 'brother.' I'm not worthy of it!" Liu Sansheng waved his hands repeatedly upon hearing Jiang Ning's address, "Although Wanwan is your sister-in-law, I'm her brother. Let's keep our relationships separate. Just call me Sansheng or Little Liu!"

Yan Youhu: "..."

He was speechless as he watched Liu Sansheng, who had rushed over to Jiang Ning, enthusiastically greeting him.

The name 'Little Liu' made him feel a bit surreal.

Liu Sansheng was undoubtedly a prominent figure in the Martial Academy.

Even the son of a Duke like himself addressed him as 'Brother Liu.'

Yet, here he was, using the term 'Little Liu' for this young man.

"Who is he?" Yan Youhu immediately turned his attention to Jiang Ning, filled with curiosity.

Although he had noticed Jiang Ning standing next to Wang Qingtan earlier, looking like a perfect match, he hadn't paid much attention.

He knew that he wasn't worthy of Wang Qingtan.

As the eldest daughter of the County Governor, Wang Qingtan's status alone was enough to surpass most in Dongling City.

Moreover, Wang Qingtan possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts.

In less than three years at the Martial Academy, she was just a step or even half a step away from conquering the ninth level of the Martial Refining Tower and reaching the summit.

In his eyes, among all the students at the Martial Academy, only Lin He could match Wang Qingtan's exceptional martial talent.

Although Lin He was of common birth and had risen from the bottom, his talent was unparalleled. After two years at the Martial Academy, he was about to conquer the ninth level of the Martial Refining Tower and achieve the summit.

Such talent made Lin He the top martial prodigy in Dongling Martial Academy over the past decade.

He was the epitome of a young Grandmaster.

This was why Yan Youhu willingly addressed Lin He, a commoner, as 'brother.'

Calling a future Grandmaster 'brother' was not a disgrace.

It was an emotional investment, a way to forge an early bond.

On the side.

Yan Youhu watched as Liu Sansheng repeatedly waved his hands, and Jiang Ning smiled, not forcing the issue.

"Brother Liu, what brings you here?"

Hearing Jiang Ning's address, Liu Sansheng immediately smiled.

"It's nothing much! I heard that Jiang Tongling was visiting the Martial Academy, and as fellow locals, I couldn't help but come and show him around, fulfilling half of a host's duty."

"With my sister here, there's no need for you to guide him!" Wang Qinghan interjected.

Liu Sansheng noticed the renowned beauty, Wang Qingtan, standing nearby and smiled awkwardly.

"So it's Senior Sister Wang here. With Senior Sister Wang present, I don't need to guide him!"

In truth, he had known that Wang Qingtan was showing Jiang Ning around the Martial Academy before coming.

However, he pretended to be unaware and sought out Jiang Ning to establish his presence and make a good impression.

He also had a task from his second uncle.

But having come from Luoshui County to Dongling City, no one knew Jiang Ning better than him.

He wasn't particularly keen on carrying out that task.

Liu Boming's life or death was of no concern to him.

The Liu family was large and influential, with numerous members all related by blood.

As for Liu Boming, his cousin, he didn't have much affection for him.

The next moment—

Liu Sansheng gazed at the bronze bell swaying on the ninth-story tower's eaves.

"Little Tiger, is Lin He challenging the ninth level of the Martial Refining Tower?"

"It's Lin Ge!" Yan Youhu's eyes filled with admiration as he looked up at the ninth level of the tower.

"Looks like Lin He has a chance to become the first student this year to receive special recruitment and enjoy special treatment." Liu Sansheng spoke up.

"Lin Ge must have a good chance of success since his last attempt!" Yan Youhu agreed wholeheartedly.

At this moment, Jiang Ning had no interest in their conversation.

He turned to Wang Qingtan, who stood beside him.

"Miss Wang, can I enter the tower now?"

"No!" Wang Qinghan quickly replied.

She continued, "My sister once told me that only one person can enter the Martial Refining Tower at a time. If you want to go in, you'll have to wait for the current occupant to come out."

Her voice trailed off.

Wang Qinghan, with her petite stature, slightly lifted her chin as if expecting praise.

Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile, "Thank you, Miss Wang, for your explanation."

Upon hearing this, Wang Qinghan immediately slumped her head.

She turned to Jiang Ning and said, "You call my sister 'Miss Wang,' and you call me 'Miss Wang' too. You're confusing us with all this 'Miss' business."

"Then thank you, Miss Qinghan, for your explanation."

"Alright!" Wang Qinghan's face showed reluctance but eventually accepted.

Wang Qingtan glanced at her sister and then at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning's gaze fell upon the Martial Refining Tower.

He was quite interested in the tower's rewards.

So, he decided to wait a little longer for the person inside to emerge.

Entering the tower and going through the motions would earn him a substantial amount of credit points; such an opportunity was hard to come by.

At that moment, he noticed Wang Qingtan's gaze and looked over.

"Miss Wang, what's the matter?"

"Nothing!" Wang Qingtan's eyes lingered on Jiang Ning's profile for a moment, her tone indifferent.

Just then—

"The bronze bell has stopped!" shouted a Martial Academy student.

Everyone's attention turned to the ninth-story tower's bronze bell.

The bell, which had been swaying continuously, had now come to a complete stop.

"It seems Lin He's battle is over!"

"Of course! The bell stopping means the battle is concluded!"

"Do you think Lin He succeeded or failed on the ninth level?"

"I think he succeeded. If he had failed, Lin He wouldn't have lasted this long!"

"I think he failed. We all know that the longer one stays in the tower, the more unfavorable it is for us, and the chances of victory become slimmer!"

...

Amidst the students' discussions—

Boom!

The tower's door shook with a loud boom and then slowly opened.

"Lin He is out!"

"We'll know if it's success or failure soon!"

...

The next moment—

Sunlight streamed through the door crack, illuminating the man inside.

Please... You... Collect... 6191 Book... Bar (Six\Nine\Book\Bar!)



He wore a white robe, stained with blood, like red plum blossoms scattered across it.

Gripping his longsword, its tip rested on the ground, indicating he had reached his limit, yet his body remained as straight as a pine, unyielding.

"Lin Ge!" Yan Youhu exclaimed, rushing forward with a few strides to reach the tower.

Lin He managed a forced smile at Yan Youhu.

His gaze quickly shifted to Wang Qingtan, standing in the center of the spacious area in front of the tower.

Seeing Wang Qingtan, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.

He suppressed the emotions stirring within and, sword in hand, staggered out of the now fully opened tower door.

"Lin Ge, are you alright?" Yan Youhu quickly reached out to support him.

"I'm fine!" Lin He waved him off, indicating he didn't need assistance.

Then, he sheathed his sword and slowly walked forward, approaching Wang Qingtan.

"Senior Sister Wang, this time, my attempt to reach the top has ended in failure again!"

"But next time, next time I will definitely succeed!"

Wang Qingtan took a slight step back, seemingly uncomfortable with the faint smell of blood, "Whether you succeed or not has nothing to do with me!"

Seeing this, Lin He's eyes darkened.

"Senior Sister Wang is right, it has nothing to do with me!"

His voice trailed off.

He turned and left.

Jiang Ning glanced at Wang Qingtan, "What's the process for challenging the Martial Refining Tower?"

"Just hold your Martial Academy pass and enter the tower, Jiang Gongzi. When you pass through the main gate, ten credit points will be deducted automatically." Wang Qingtan explained.

Hearing Wang Qingtan's response—

So magical?!

Jiang Ning's eyes flashed with surprise.

This technique and method seemed to possess an air of fantasy in his eyes.

Without further ado, he headed towards the Martial Refining Tower.

At this moment, Lin He abruptly halted in his tracks, having just noticed Jiang Ning beside Wang Qingtan.

"Who is this person? I've never seen him before! Is he also going to challenge the Martial Refining Tower?"

As he watched Jiang Ning's back, a look of curiosity flashed in his eyes.

Martial Refining Tower.

Jiang Ning held a vermillion token in his hand and stepped over the threshold Lin He had just crossed. Instantly, he felt a nearly imperceptible fluctuation enveloping his entire body.

His mind and spirit were instantly alerted.

"It's similar to the fluctuations of my spiritual power field, but there are differences!"

"In the Martial Refining Tower, although there's no one around, it's not truly a place without any detection. Some of my methods are best left unused here!"

Jiang Ning made an instant decision in his mind.

Outside the Tower.

"Liu Sansheng, do you know him well?" Wang Qingtan suddenly spoke up.

"Him?" Liu Sansheng was slightly taken aback, then he understood, "You mean Jiang Ning, Senior Sister Wang?"

"Mhm!" Wang Qingtan nodded, then spoke frankly, "I'm a bit curious about him!"

At this moment, Wang Qinghan leaned in to listen intently.

Upon hearing Liu Sansheng's words, a smile appeared on Wang Qingtan's face.

"I know him quite well! He's the younger brother of my brother-in-law, so technically, we're family," Liu Sansheng explained.

"Family, no wonder!" Wang Qingtan nodded, then asked, "If he's your sister-in-law's younger brother, he must be quite young, right?"

"Yes, he's quite young," Liu Sansheng glanced at Wang Qingtan and replied.

"Impossible!" Wang Qingtan shook her head, immediately rejecting the idea.

"Why is it impossible?" Liu Sansheng asked.

"Because..." Wang Qingtan opened her mouth, then closed it again.

She didn't want to mention that Jiang Ning's physical features clearly indicated that he had reached the Fourth Rank.

Saying this would be too shocking.

Especially now, after hearing Liu Sansheng's words, it was even more startling.

Although she instinctively refuted Liu Sansheng's statement, she knew that he had no reason to deceive her over such a minor matter.

For Jiang Ning to have reached this point, he couldn't possibly be an unknown figure. Undoubtedly, many legends and rumors had been circulating during his rise to prominence.

All she needed to do was investigate, and she would easily find the answers.

There was no reason for Liu Sansheng to lie about something that could be easily verified.

At the same time, Liu Sansheng noticed Wang Qingtan's expression and immediately said, "In Luoshui County, he's quite famous. If you look into it, Senior Sister Wang, you'll realize how unbelievable his rise is."

"Two months ago, on New Year's Eve, he single-handedly defended the city against the Black Mountain rebels with just his bow, protecting all the citizens from harm!"

By her side, Wang Qinghan's eyes lit up with excitement as she listened to Liu Sansheng's description.

"Is Brother Jiang Ning that powerful?" she asked.

Hearing this title, Liu Sansheng was surprised and glanced at Wang Qinghan.

Indeed, the Jiang family's exceptional genes seemed to easily attract women.

My sister had her heart stolen by his brother, even if it meant breaking ties with the Liu family.

His appearance surpassed that of his brother in his youth, and it seemed he was no exception.

Liu Sansheng shook his head inwardly and said, "He's truly incredible! To reach this point from an ordinary family in the county, he's the most formidable person I've ever seen!"

"Is he really around my age?" Wang Qingtan asked again.

"Based on what I know, they shouldn't be too far apart in age," Liu Sansheng nodded and added, "He might even be a few months older than you, Senior Sister."

"A few months?" Wang Qingtan was filled with astonishment.

Her experience and knowledge far surpassed anyone in this place.

Having observed Jiang Ning closely for a while, she had already noticed that he possessed the characteristics of Bone Marrow Refinement, firmly placing him in the Fourth Rank.

Initially, she thought that Jiang Ning only appeared similar in age to her due to the youthful appearance after Bone Marrow Refinement.

In reality, he might be a full cycle older than her.

Hearing Liu Sansheng's precise answer, she realized her mistake.

Jiang Ning's response on the road was truthful; he was indeed around her age.

At this age, reaching the Fourth Rank!

Wang Qingtan gasped in surprise.

At her age, before even reaching the Seventh Rank, she had already been hailed as the Heirloom Beauty and Martial Prodigy in the Martial Academy.

Lin He, the once-in-a-decade Heavenly Talent of the Dongling Martial Academy, possessed extraordinary Martial Bones, yet he only reached the Eighth Rank at seventeen.

With Lin He's talent, it would take another year to reach the Seventh Rank at most.

The difference between the Seventh and Fourth Ranks wasn't just three ranks or a simple doubling.

It was a difference of several dimensions, a gap of countless multiples.

The two were not on the same level at all.

The disparity was far greater than the difference between heaven and earth.

"Could it be that I misjudged his strength?"

"Is it merely his good skin, and not the changes brought about by reaching the Fourth Rank of Bone Marrow Refinement?"

Wang Qingtan still found it hard to believe and began to doubt her previous judgment.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end