Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 170: Chapter 44: Drawing the Bow and Drinking Blood—Only Great Strength Can Tame It

”Although our dynasty provides some preferential treatment to talents like you, there is a limit. This is also a rule set by the Grand Ancestor Emperor. Liang has never thrived relying on just one or two top martial artists but on thousands and thousands of martial artists.”

”This is also why Martial Arts Academy students can only stay for a maximum of three years. The Imperial Court’s cultivation of you lasts only three years. How far you can go on the Martial Path after that depends on your own fortune.”

”Given your background, this three-month special training is extremely important. It will be your only chance to enjoy the treatment of a talent. After this special training, even if you are a genius again, the Military Affairs Hall, including this official, will not give you cultivation resources for no reason.”

Qiu Rufeng looked at Lin Chen and spoke solemnly.

When he first became the Director of the Martial Affairs Office, he did not understand this rule set by the Grand Ancestor Emperor. But after serving as a director in Raozhou Prefecture for many years, he understood the Grand Ancestor Emperor’s boldness.

Liang has sixteen Daos, in addition to the Capital Region and three major frontier towns. If you want to select another layer of talents, Liang’s resources are not unbearable. After all, only one or two people emerge from each Dao, with no more than fifty people in total across Liang.

But the Grand Ancestor Emperor set the limit at the Dao level. These talents, if they want to continue on the Martial Path, can only strive to obtain cultivation resources on their own and eventually participate in the imperial exams.

The imperial exams are the most influential and fairest channel for advancement not only for martial artists but also for all people in Liang.

Talents can only enjoy resources up to the Dao level, which is sufficient for them to enter the Refining Viscera Realm. Those able to participate in the imperial exams include not only those in Refining the Viscera but also Grade-Entering Powerhouses.

Even those lacking in talent might still have a chance to compete with those Martial Path geniuses due to their longer cultivation time.

It is precisely because of these rules set by the Grand Ancestor Emperor that those with not-so-high martial arts talent will not give up on their Martial Path.

If talent is insufficient, then diligent practice will make up for the shortcomings, striving through effort to obtain more cultivation resources to surpass those talented students.

The balance between cultivating talented martial artists and ordinary martial artists’ advancement channels has been adjusted multiple times by the Imperial Court after the tone was set by the Grand Ancestor Emperor to reach the current situation.

”Thank you, Director, for your guidance. This disciple understands.”

Lin Chen did not expect the Director to explain so thoroughly. He thought a few simple pointers would suffice.

”Since you are on the path of Extreme Martial Arts, you will need additional cultivation resources to make up for the gap in realm advancement. I intend to report your achievements to Jiangnan Dao and set you as the model student of Jiangnan Dao. Would you be willing?”

”This disciple is willing.”

Lin Chen realized that the Director had been waiting for him after telling him so much.

He lacked resources, and after being set as a model by Jiangnan Dao, there would inevitably be rewards, just as Lord Su set him as a model student of Poyang County.

”I won’t hide it from you, if the Military Affairs Hall ultimately recognizes it, it will benefit not only this officer but you and the entire Raozhou martial arts community as well.”

Qiu Rufeng’s old eyes shone with brilliance: ”The annual Martial Arts Cultivation resources granted by the Imperial Court to various places remain unchanged, but their distribution to specific Daos is divided based on the situation of each Dao. Each Martial Champion Scholar’s Dao in the imperial exams sees a thirty percent increase in Martial Arts Cultivation resources the following year. In Jiangnan Dao, the martial arts resources of each prefecture will also change.”

Qiu Rufeng did not inform Lin Chen of the specific distribution ratio, but having lived two lives, Lin Chen had a general guess. The better the ranking of a place, the more cultivation resources it receives, whereas the lower-ranked ones will have their cultivation resources reduced.

As for whether the strong will get stronger and the weak weaker, leading to an imbalance in martial power across regions.

Lin Chen saw this clearly. There is no absolute fairness in the world. Liang has done well enough, and he estimates the Imperial Court will also have support strategies for those regions consistently lagging in martial strength.

The strategies of the Imperial Court are still far from him.

Right now, he is just a small Opening Acupoints Realm martial artist, and his goal is to Enter the Grade within three years.

”What should be disclosed, I have told you. Go now, Lord Xu is waiting for you at the door. According to the county competition reward, you can go to the Grade C Treasure Vault of the Military Affairs Department to select one treasure. Lord Xu will take you there.”

”This disciple takes leave.”

Lin Chen saluted and exited the courtyard, just as the Director said, a certain Lord Xu was waiting for him several yards away.

”The Grade C Treasure Vault is inside the Military Affairs Department; follow me.”

Xu Luncai, as usual, was not a man of many words, and Lin Chen did not dare to get too close. He followed Xu into the rear area of the Military Affairs Department, and as he went deeper inside, he could clearly feel that the place was far more heavily guarded than the front.

It was not exaggerated like a post every three steps or a sentry every five steps, but there were martial artists patrolling all along the way. The aura they emitted showed they were all in the Opening Acupoints Realm, and the leader was a powerhouse in the Refining Viscera Realm. Lin Chen guessed there might be Grade-Entering Powerhouses secretly guarding this area.

Finally, Lin Chen followed this Lord Xu and stopped in front of a massive iron gate.

”On the orders of the Director, I bring Lin Chen, the first-place winner of Poyang County’s competition, to the Treasure Vault to select a reward item.”