Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Sense Of Crisis

On the note, graceful words came into view.

“Lin Han, don’t forget to pick a top-grade martial art from the martial arts hall.”

The ink also carried a hint of some kind of fragrance.

Lin Han was startled, then he smacked his forehead.

‘Oh right!

‘I’m one of the top three in the Inner Residence, but I haven’t claimed my last reward, which is a top-grade martial art.’

For a few days, he had been so focused on breaking through that he forgot about it.

Subsequently, he stored the note in his spirit ring, and headed toward the martial arts hall.

Upon watching Lin Han leave, Xiao Nu bit her lip gently. “Young Master’s getting busier…”

…

It was Lin Han’s third visit to the martial arts hall, but each time he stepped into this place he had a different state of mind.

He sighed a little when he looked at the familiar surroundings.

After just half a month, it felt like the people had changed although everything else stayed the same.

At the martial arts hall’s entrance.

“Brother Lin Han!”

“Brother Lin Han!”

Two people greeted him respectfully.

[1]

They were the Lin Clan disciples who guarded the hall that day, and were actually older than Lin Han, yet they greeted him as their brother.

They had come to revere him.

This time, they would not stop Lin Han no matter what.

Lin Han had become the top three disciples in the Inner Residence, and was a new rising star, such that he was even comparable to the powerful Lin Gutian.

Therefore, it was natural that the Hall Guard Disciples treated him with reverence and awe.

Lin Han only nodded at them lightly to greet them, then he entered the hall.

The Hall Guard Disciples discussed softly, “I stopped Brother Lin Han the last time, I wonder if he has a grudge against me.”

“Look at where he is now, why’d he waste the effort to hold a grudge against you?”

“That’s true, I’m relieved…”

Soon, their voices could not be heard anymore.

Lin Han was inside the hall.

“You’re finally here,” Someone mentioned.

Lin Han looked to find that it was the Hall Guard Elder.

“Elder, I’m here to retrieve a top-grade martial art.” He gave a fist salute.

“I’ve been waiting for you, come with me.”

Lin Han had become so honorable that the Hall Guard Elder spoke to him with a sense of politeness.

Since Lin Han possessed fearsome talent and qualities, the elder who knew the way of the world knew very well that he would be at the top of the Lin Clan Sect Residence in a few years.

However, Lin Han would probably laugh away if he knew what the Hall Guard Elder was thinking.

This was because his goals and ambitions were far beyond that.

On the third floor of the martial arts hall.

Boom, boom…

The Hall Guard Elder pushed open a heavy jade door slowly.

Lin Han then followed him inside.

At one glance, there was only one shelf on the empty third floor, which was completely different from the first and the second floor that had hundreds of shelves stocked with books.

“As expected, top-grade martial arts are too precious and rare.”

When Lin Han walked over he realized that the shelves were lined with dozens of cards made of jade.

The Hall Guard Elder walked over to inform him, “Each jade card represents a top-grade martial art showing a detailed description of the respective martial art. Once you decide on one, I’ll retrieve the martial art depiction for you from deep inside the hall.”

“Alright.”

Lin Han nodded.

He did not expect the jade cards to be labels, and that the real top-grade martial arts were stored deep inside the martial arts hall.

He felt slightly disappointed.

This was because it was impossible for him to “steal” a few more top-grade martial arts through the Golden Spirit Fire.

Nevertheless, he had already previously acquired the Killing Sword Art and the Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand.

“The Killing Sword Art and the Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand are methods of attack and I haven’t comprehended them completely. I need a body technique or a defensive martial art now.”

Lin Han thought to himself, then began choosing carefully.

Half an hour later, he finally decided on Soaring Flight, a body martial art.

According to the Hall Guard Elder, one who achieved its Pinnacle state would obtain one of the abilities of a Grandmaster before they entered the Grandmaster boundary — flying with the help of the wind.

Flying.

It was an ability dreamed of by countless Warriors, including Lin Han.

Besides, Soaring Flight would compensate for his lack of speed.

He did not need a defensive martial art as much due to his strong body.

Furthermore, the activation of the Dragon Emperor Combat Body turned his bones, flesh, and skin into steel, resulting in a threefold increase in physical strength. It was as good as normal top-grade defensive martial arts.

Hence, Soaring Flight was Lin Han’s best option at that moment.

Before he left, he asked the Hall Guard Elder at the hall entrance, “If I may ask, are there legendary natural martial arts on the fourth floor?”

“Yes.” The Hall Guard Elder suddenly looked very solemn, but he quickly smiled bitterly. “But they’re all damaged. Complete natural martial arts probably don’t exist in Broken Sky City or the Yan Kingdom, let alone the Lin Clan Sect Residence.”

“How can I be qualified to enter the fourth floor?” Lin Han continued asking.

“Only by being the Inner Residence’s Greatest Disciple for five straight years can one be qualified to enter the fourth floor. One can then comprehend the natural martial arts, which are many times more precious than top-grade martial arts even though they’re damaged.”

The Hall Guard Elder then said with a tone of envy in his voice, “Lin Gutian’s the only disciple who’s entered the fourth floor.”

“He entered the fourth floor and acquired a natural martial art?” Lin Han was surprised.

For some reason, he felt a vague sense of panic.

“That’s right. Lin Gutian’s something extraordinary, to the point that he defeated many senior powerhouses in the sect. One mustn’t underestimate him no matter what,” The Hall Guard Elder reminded Lin Han.

“Thank you for your advice.”

Lin Han became more alert. He cupped his fists at the elder.

‘Lin Gutian?

‘He possesses damaged natural martial arts?’

On that day, Lin Han returned to his pavilion without stepping out again.

After knowing how powerful and mysterious Lin Gutian was, the little pride that he had disappeared.

He knew that he was far from Lin Gutian, one of the “Five Prides” of Broken Sky City.

As mentioned by the Hall Guard Elder, many senior powerhouses were not Lin Gutian’s match.

This meant that he was near to the Grandmaster Boundary even if he was not one just yet.

Lin Han continued to develop his martial arts in his pavilion.

Through his extraordinary perception, he was advancing by leaps and bounds in Killing Sword Art, Azure Dragon Probing Claw Hand, and Soaring Flight, the top-grade martial art that he just picked.

Lin Han was like a sponge as he absorbed the martial arts’ essence and profound meaning endlessly.

For three whole days, he spent his time comprehending those martial arts.

Sure enough, top-grade martial arts were extremely complex. Even after three days, he only made slight progress in his three main martial arts.

Following that, Lin Han focused on his cultivation base.

He retrieved the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus to consume it.

“Boom!”

The force of the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor exploded inside his body right away.

An quaint illusory smelting furnace appeared in his Dantian, which absorbed the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus’ medicinal efficacy rapidly.

Lin Han’s body became more abundant in True Element.

The sixth tier of martial arts was a watershed between it and seventh tier martial art, also known as the Grandmaster Boundary.

It was exceptionally difficult to leap through this obstacle.

Lin Han could sense its difficulty even though he possessed an unparalleled technique like the Art of the Ancient Dragon Emperor.

“The Thousand-Year Snow Lotus only advanced my cultivation base from the Beginner state to the Intermediate state of sixth tier martial arts?”

Lin Han murmured when he opened his eyes.

‘This is too slow.

‘Looks like it won’t do if I just cultivate here, I need real battles to break through.

‘Additionally, my opponent must be more powerful than me to stimulate my potential, so that I can keep breaking through.’

Lin Han instantly found his direction.

“I can probably seek help from Uncle Ghost and ask him to release the force of a powerhouse to incite my potential.”

He was quickly struck with an idea.

…

At the same time, at Lin Ruyan’s residence.

Outside the entrance, a tall young man dressed in a black robe approached the residence elegantly.

“Younger Sister Ruyan, may I come in? I have something to discuss with you.” Lin Gutian’s deep voice was heard.

The young man was Lin Gutian.

“Brother Gutian?”

Lin Ruyan walked out gracefully.

She was rather confused when he saw Lin Gutian.

‘Why is the Inner Residence’s Greatest Disciple here to find me?’

[1] It means older brother in this context, whereas Younger Brother is supposedly used to address someone younger