Following Huo Lixuan into the army camp's main tent, Chen Lin immediately became wary of a burly man.
"Chen Lin, this is Instructor Miao from our Martial Arts Academy, Miao Gaoyuan. He has something he would like to discuss with you," Huo Lixuan introduced respectfully.
"Miao Gaoyuan?" Chen Lin was startled.
He knew this man. He was a Martial King-level powerhouse who had risen from the martial academy of Nanqing City, and one of the nine instructors of the Martial Arts Academy's central headquarters in the Yan State. He had also been the former owner of this body's greatly admired idol.
In the Yan State, his power and status could be said to surpass even that of Lu Cheng, the Head Instructor of Nanqing City's War God Temple.
"You're Chen Lin, right? Sit!" Miao Gaoyuan greeted him with a smile.
Filled with doubts, Chen Lin sat across from Miao Gaoyuan and asked, "May I know why Senior Miao called for me?"
"This matter is actually extremely beneficial to you," Miao Gaoyuan said with a smile, laying the groundwork. Without waiting for Chen Lin to ask further, he continued, "I had someone look into your family circumstances. How should I put it? It truly hasn't been easy for you to come this far. I admire both your character and talent, so I wish to invite you to join our Martial Arts Academy."
"I'm truly sorry, Senior Miao, but I joined the War God Temple a few days ago." Chen Lin could not help sighing in relief upon hearing this, then shook his head in explanation.
"The War God Temple has never stopped its members from leaving. I can promise you that if you join our Martial Arts Academy, not only can I provide you with the right to reside in a two-courtyard residence in Nanqing City's Inner City, I can also arrange for you to enter the Genius Concentration Camp of the central Martial Arts Academy in the Central Region for cultivation." Miao Gaoyuan smiled as he laid out the conditions for his recruitment.
"The Genius Concentration Camp of the central Martial Arts Academy in the Central Region?" Chen Lin sucked in a sharp breath.
He knew of the Genius Concentration Camp at the central headquarters. It was also a place the former owner of this body had always dreamed of entering.
It was said that among the Eighty-One Cities of the Five Nations, only a handful of young martial artists received such a slot each year. Even in the most generous years, there were only fifteen.
The lowest achievement among those martial artists who had trained at the Genius Concentration Camp was becoming a Martial King-level powerhouse.
"Chen Lin, what are you still hesitating for? You should know that even Xu Tao and Chen Fan are not qualified to receive the conditions Instructor Miao has offered. Our Martial Arts Academy is being exceedingly sincere in inviting you." Seeing Chen Lin lost in thought, Huo Lixuan could not help speaking up in support.
Chen Lin was truly tempted by the conditions Miao Gaoyuan had offered, but he considered the restriction that once someone withdrew from the War God Temple, they could forget about ever entering again in this lifetime.
Chen Lin still suppressed the impulse in his heart. He had only just joined the War God Temple and had yet to learn many things. If he left now, it would be far too unprofitable.
Besides, the Genius Concentration Camp of the central Martial Arts Academy was not their exclusive creation. The War God Temple had similar places as well.
He believed that with his own strength, he would sooner or later obtain a slot in the War God Temple's Genius Concentration Camp. Even if he could not get one in the future, it did not really matter to him with his own cheat. As long as he learned enough cultivation techniques, his strength would naturally rise to heights others could only gaze at from afar.
Of course, he was still far too weak at present, so he had to lie low for a while first. After all, without cultivation techniques, even if he had Slaughter Points, he had no way to increase his strength.
After weighing the gains and losses, Chen Lin cupped his hands respectfully and said, "I'm afraid I must disappoint Senior Miao and Senior Huo's kind regard. Since I have already joined the War God Temple, I have no intention of leaving anytime soon. I'm truly very sorry!"
Miao Gaoyuan was stunned. He had not expected Chen Lin to refuse even in the face of such generous conditions.
"Chen Lin, I think you should reconsider. After all, a slot in the Genius Concentration Camp of the central Martial Arts Academy is extremely precious. It is not something just anyone can obtain." Seeing Chen Lin refuse, Huo Lixuan could not help frowning as he tried to persuade him.
"There's no need. I've already thought it through. Thank you both for your kind regard. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave first!" After saying that, Chen Lin rose and cupped his hands, then turned and strode away without the slightest hesitation.
Miao Gaoyuan narrowed his eyes slightly as he stared at Chen Lin's departing back, unable to stop himself from muttering, "That little fellow did not waver in the slightest before such temptation. His will is absolutely extraordinary. Old Huo, our central Martial Arts Academy has missed out on another fine martial arts seedling!"
Huo Lixuan's expression was equally grim upon hearing this, and he could not help complaining, "Instructor Miao, Chen Lin originally aspired to enter the Martial Arts Academy, but his failure in the martial examination completely cut off his path ahead, forcing him to join the War God Temple. I do not know what Chen Lin experienced in the martial examination, but Instructor Miao, I do know that the management of the martial academies below has become more and more outrageous! They could not even retain such an outstanding martial arts seedling. That is truly an enormous dereliction of duty on their part!"
Miao Gaoyuan more or less understood the hidden tricks behind Huo Lixuan's complaints.
The martial academies had originally been a martial training system jointly established by the Martial Arts Academy and the Yan State. Their purpose was to cultivate more martial artists for the Yan State and the Martial Arts Academy.
Yet as time passed, that purpose had gradually been diluted by those with ulterior motives. As a result, the martial academies were now nearly becoming private preserves for the children of powerful officials and wealthy clans.
Fewer and fewer children from humble families could enter martial academies to train, while talented martial artists being forced into other factions had become a common sight.
Miao Gaoyuan understood these matters in his heart, but he was powerless to do anything about them.
The internal factions of the central Martial Arts Academy were also tangled and intricate. Trying to change this situation through his strength alone was truly difficult.
"Forget it, Old Huo! Don't get worked up either. This isn't the first or second time something like this has happened. There are some things I cannot do anything about either. Rather than that, we should think of more ways to see what can be done to change the current predicament." Seeing Huo Lixuan so furious he was nearly beside himself, Miao Gaoyuan could only offer some helpless consolation.
Chen Lin walked out of the military tent and let out a heavy breath.
His rejection of Miao Gaoyuan's invitation had seemed simple just now, but in truth, he had struggled to refuse under the immense pressure of a Martial King-level powerhouse.
After less than three incense sticks' worth of time at the temporary military camp, the final list of those who had passed to become Demon Slayer Envoys was posted.
Seeing his name sitting firmly at the top of the list, Chen Lin immediately broke into a smile.
"A Lin, we both passed the Demon Slayer Envoy assessment! Hahaha, when we return to Nanqing City later, we have to celebrate properly." Chen Yu stared at Chen Lin's and his own names on the list, his face full of excitement.
"Mm, we should celebrate properly." Chen Lin responded with a smile.
"A Lin, look at the way Xu Tao is looking at you. Something feels very wrong! Did you have any conflicts with him during the assessment?" Chen Yu suddenly caught sight of Xu Tao's gaze from within the crowd and could not help frowning as he asked.
"No! I've only met him three times in total, and we barely exchanged a few words. What conflict could there possibly be?" Chen Lin was instantly speechless.
"Chen Lin, just you wait. I will definitely become a Martial Grandmaster-level powerhouse before you do." Xu Tao pushed through the crowd and spoke to Chen Lin with a serious expression.
"Hehehe!" Chen Lin was speechless.
Seeing that Chen Lin still had the same attitude as when they had first met, Xu Tao's face immediately darkened until it seemed ready to drip water.
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