Chapter Forty-Four: Li Linliu’s Invitation

“How could this happen?”
Amidst the endless cheers, many were left utterly stunned.
Even the masters seated on the dais could not hide their astonishment.
The most unwilling and unable to accept this outcome was Teng Bo, the master of the Flying Tiger Hall.
“Lin Zhu actually lost, and lost to Chen Fan?”
He had gone to great lengths to organize this grand martial contest, all to pave the way for Yan Lin Zhu!
Even the champion’s prize far exceeded that of the runner-up, because he believed that with Yan Lin Zhu’s inexhaustible vitality, unless one’s strength was on a whole different level, victory was impossible!
The value of the deer placenta pills was not especially high—only ten, and all the major families and martial halls could afford them—but the issue was that these were rare cultivation resources, always in demand and never easily found!
“To think Chen Fan got them so easily!”
No one could have predicted that a humble Chen Fan would defeat Yan Lin Zhu, whose vitality seemed boundless, and knock him from the stage!
A curious instructor asked, “Why didn’t Chen Fan use his full strength earlier? Did he deliberately hold back to catch Yan Lin Zhu off guard?”
This was the common assumption among most of the spectators below.
Chen Fan concealed his true power, lulling Yan Lin Zhu into complacency before striking with sudden ferocity and claiming victory!
“No!”
You Sha Hu shook his head, narrowing his eyes and looking at Li Lin Liu:
“Chen Fan did not hide his strength; rather, his power surged unexpectedly at the end, his vitality swelling. If my guess is correct, Chen Fan was continuously pushing his body’s potential during the fight, ultimately digesting the residual medicinal power of the Blood Nourishing Pill. That’s why his strength increased so dramatically!”
Li Lin Liu nodded at these words, clearly delighted: “Chen Fan deliberately chose less powerful moves, likely to place himself in a more stringent situation—burning his bridges, forcing the medicine’s power out.”
“This isn’t fair!”
Teng Bo, master of the Flying Tiger Hall, had lost all composure, his face darkening. “Winning by relying on medicine—that’s against the rules!”
Li Lin Liu simply shook his head and replied calmly:
“If Chen Fan had taken a forbidden drug to forcibly boost his potential, that would indeed be unfair. But the pill he used was the Blood Nourishing Pill I provided… His increase in strength is permanent—how is that against the rules? The fact that Chen Fan could digest the pill’s power so quickly is proof of his extraordinary talent and unique constitution!”
No one could refute this.
Li Lin Liu chuckled coldly, glanced at Teng Bo, and smiled: “If you have a Blood Nourishing Pill, let Yan Lin Zhu take one—I have no objection.”
At these words, the master of the Flying Tiger Hall was left speechless.
He had no way to produce such a treasure!
In truth, the Blood Nourishing Pill was not something that could simply be ingested for immediate results; the time required to digest it depended on one’s constitution and the progress of their martial arts training!
Li Lin Liu had given Chen Fan the pill precisely because, after two moments of insight, he wanted to help Chen Fan quickly accumulate vitality!
He had thought Chen Fan would need two months to digest the pill’s power—
But to his surprise, on only the second day, Chen Fan brought him such a delightful shock.
“Could it be that Chen Fan also possesses some special constitution? His comprehension is so high, and his absorption of the medicine is so rapid…”

Li Lin Liu looked at Chen Fan standing on the stage, feeling more satisfied by the moment.
Both Yan Lin Zhu and Chen Fan were outstanding talents, but Chen Fan had trained in the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm and was a disciple of his own hall—naturally, Li Lin Liu found him more appealing.
Li Lin Liu’s thoughts raced:
“My tenure as the acting master in Fei Ling County was merely to experience the world and share my senior’s burdens. I never expected to discover such a precious disciple in my final days here. If I bring him back for my senior to mentor, he’ll surely be grateful!”
Chen Fan’s strength was secondary; it was his extraordinary comprehension that Li Lin Liu valued most!
As the saying goes, the victor takes all.
No matter how dazzling Yan Lin Zhu’s performance was before the finals,
With his defeat, all the glory and fame he carried now became Chen Fan’s!
Among nearly five hundred martial artists under eighteen in Fei Ling County, the number one had finally been decided!
And Chen Fan was even younger than Yan Lin Zhu!
As the referee announced the final winner,
Bao Tian You and a group of White Cloud Hall disciples surged forward, lifting Chen Fan high amidst jubilant cheers!
Many among them hadn’t known who Chen Fan was before this contest.
Elsewhere, Lin Mo and Su Qing Yang stood among the crowd, their expressions complex as they gazed at their classmate, eyes full of envy, jealousy, and… awe!
Yes!
Chen Fan had claimed the championship, defeating both Feng Yuan Cheng and Yan Lin Zhu. His display of strength was something the two could never hope to match!
Even if, in the future, they managed to master the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm before turning eighteen, they likely wouldn’t be able to defeat Chen Fan as he was now. The gap was so great, it nearly robbed them of the courage to pursue him!
Yet amidst the cheers and excitement, two areas stood apart in stark contrast.
One was the section reserved for Four Symbols Hall’s disciples.
The other was, naturally, the place of the Flying Tiger Hall.
Yan Lin Zhu, the surprise dark horse of the hall, had been expected to take the championship after defeating Feng Yuan Cheng and a third-rank martial artist from the Black Tiger Gang.
His constitution was too unusual.
Endurance without limit.
Even a prodigy like Chen Fan was thought incapable of beating Yan Lin Zhu’s ever-renewing vitality.
Yan Lin Zhu had bested Feng Yuan Cheng, then the Black Tiger Gang’s third-rank martial artist, climbing relentlessly and aggressively!
Yan Lin Zhu himself was unstoppable, his strength growing with each round. He had planned to seize the championship, but unexpectedly lost to Chen Fan, the ultimate dark horse!
Such a result was hard to accept.
Yet it had to be accepted.

According to the rules, the third and fourth places should have been decided.

But Feng Yuan Cheng had already withdrawn, conceding the third place.
So the subsequent award ceremony was held early!
Among martial artists, the ceremony was not overly elaborate.
The three top competitors received their awards, prizes given in public to encourage others!
Chen Fan received silver and the deer placenta pills.
He was naturally elated.
The three stood on the stage, observed by hundreds and thousands of fellow disciples, with countless people admiring and envying them.
Among them, Chen Fan was by far the most dazzling!
He smiled at the center of the stage, accepting the award from Li Lin Liu.
He basked in the gaze of countless spectators below.
There was no denying that being number one felt truly exhilarating.
After stepping down, Chen Fan saw Li Lin Liu approaching.
Li Lin Liu smiled at Chen Fan, patting him on the shoulder: “Excellent, Chen Fan. I never expected you could win first place!”
Chen Fan replied humbly, “It was all thanks to your gift of the pill. Without it, I would have struggled in the semifinals, let alone today…”
Li Lin Liu shook his head, “I gave you the Blood Nourishing Pill so you wouldn’t be hindered by vitality issues, allowing you to focus on training in the near future. I never thought you’d digest the medicine so quickly, and even use its power to defeat Yan Lin Zhu… It seems your potential is greater than I imagined; your constitution must be especially suited for absorbing the pill!”
So that pill was called the Blood Nourishing Pill.
Chen Fan smiled, “I suppose I was just lucky.”
“Luck is part of strength, too.”
Li Lin Liu shook his head and changed the subject: “Chen Fan, I have something to discuss with you…”
Chen Fan was slightly surprised, “Please go ahead, Master.”
Li Lin Liu grew serious: “Though your constitution isn’t as unique as Yan Lin Zhu’s, your comprehension is exceptional, your accumulation extraordinary. Staying in Fei Ling County would be a waste. Let me be direct—I am soon to step down as acting master and will return to Yan Capital City. Would you be willing to come with me, to the White Cloud Main Hall in Yan Capital, to receive advanced training?”
Chen Fan was caught off guard.
He had thought he’d only leave Fei Ling County once he mastered the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm, but didn’t expect the time would come so soon!
Seeing Chen Fan’s expression, Li Lin Liu thought he was hesitant, and said, “Yan Capital offers resources and training far superior to Fei Ling County. Your comprehension is outstanding; staying here would be a waste!”
“I can promise you, once you go to Yan Capital, all your food, martial arts, and technique choices will be provided free of charge, including common cultivation resources. However, some special pills—like the Blood Nourishing Pill I gave you—will be harder to obtain, requiring your own effort…”
Hearing this, Chen Fan was overjoyed. Since he began his martial arts training, he had always been limited by money; his expenses were enormous!
Though he now had some prize money and support from Bao Tian You, he still couldn’t say it would last long. Li Lin Liu’s promise naturally thrilled him.
“Indeed, a talent like me—how could the White Cloud Hall not nurture me with special care!”