Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 551: Chapter 484 Innate Token, Hidden Skill Pavilion_2

”What about outside of Da Rong?” Yang Zhenshan said.

”There are even more, the Wuliang Hu Clan from the North, the Spiritual Grace Holy Sect, the Beiji Palace, the Li Sheng Dynasty, the Desheng Dynasty all have Innate Martial Artists!”

”The Jinlong Dynasty in the South, An Nan Dynasty, Martial God Temple, Insect Valley and so on also all have Innate Martial Artists.”

”The Lv Sheng Dynasty in the East South Sea Domain, Star Moon Island, Divine Wood Island, Earth Fire Island and others also all have Innate Martial Artists!”

”And in the West—”

An Yuxing continued while sipping his wine.

Yang Zhenshan and Lu Baishu listened somewhat spellbound; these were dimensions they had never come into contact with before.

Even though they might have had guesses—for example, Yang Zhenshan had speculated that the Wuliang Hu Clan had Innate Martial Artists—it was only speculation, and he had no way of guessing the exact number.

By limiting their perspective to one area, it was nearly impossible to detect the traces of Innate Martial Artists’ existence. However, if the scope is expanded to the entirety of Da Rong, one would find that Innate Martial Artists seem not so rare. If the neighboring forces around Da Rong are included, the number of Innate Martial Artists would have to be counted in the hundreds.

The three talked for over three hours until the tipsy An Yuxing and Lu Baishu proposed to take their leave in the afternoon.

Naturally, Yang Zhenshan didn’t let them leave empty-handed; he specifically prepared two carts of wine and beverages to send them home.

An Yuxing lived in Sanshan Valley. Although it is outside the city, it is not far from Capital City. Guang’an Gate is just over ten miles away, passing around Wanfu Mountain to enter Sanshan Valley.

However, around Wanfu Mountain, Longevity Mountain, and Wansui Mountain are all garrisons of the personal army of the Twelve Guards, with no access for outsiders.

Hence Ding Qiu could only leave the carriages and return.

After this chat with An Yuxing and Lu Baishu, Yang Zhenshan gained a lot, giving him a general understanding of the Innate Martial Artists within and outside of Da Rong.

Even though there were many things he still didn’t fully understand, it was at least better than knowing nothing and having to guess blindly.

As for more understanding, that was not something that could be explained in just a few words; Yang Zhenshan would need to gradually discover them over time.

Just like what An Yuxing had said, the very next day, someone came to invite Yang Zhenshan to register and record his name.

”Imperial Guard Department’s Lei Qiang pays respects to Marquis Jing’an!”

In the main hall of Marquis Mansion, a tall and thin man gave Yang Zhenshan a cupped-hand salute.

Yang Zhenshan sized him up, ”Imperial Guard Department, you should be Bloody Blade, right?”

Lei Qiang’s demeanor was cold and handsome, not frivolous or smiling, his face sharp and emotionless, and his clear eyes also without a ripple.

He gave Yang Zhenshan a unique feeling, no, it couldn’t be said as unique, because when Yang Zhenshan had met Emperor Yanping in the Imperial Study Room, he had also felt this special kind of temperament from two people.

How should it be described?

It’s like there is not a person standing in front of you, but an inanimate object. If you are not looking at him, you could even ignore his existence.

This unique temperament was clearly not an inherent trait of Lei Qiang but was possibly due to the cultivation technique, or some other reason.

Lei Qiang, White Sword, Hei Dao, all gave Yang Zhenshan this feeling.

Lei Qiang did not answer Yang Zhenshan’s question but instead said, ”By His Majesty’s command, I am here to escort Marquis Jing’an to Fengxian Hall for registration!”

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, not saying more.

”Please lead the way!”

Thereafter, he followed Lei Qiang out of Marquis Mansion and into the Imperial City.

Fengxian Hall was divided into the Front Hall and the Rear Hall, but the place where Lei Qiang took Yang Zhenshan was neither the Front Hall nor the Rear Hall, but a courtyard next to the Rear Hall.

Yang Zhenshan did not even know there was this courtyard here, ok, he also didn’t know much about the palaces within the Imperial City, he only knew there was a Fengxian Hall, but he had never been to Fengxian Hall.

Entering the courtyard, Yang Zhenshan was surprised to see an old man dozing under a lush green pine tree.

This old man should be Prince Yu!

Yang Zhenshan gave a slight bow to the old man, but did not speak.

The old man gave no reaction, letting Yang Zhenshan follow Lei Qiang deeper into the courtyard.

The courtyard was vast, lush with vegetation, and tranquil, but it did not have too many pavilions, just a lot of very ordinary-looking houses.

Soon, they arrived at one of these houses.

”Marquis Jing’an, this is your Innate Token!”

”Innate Token?” Yang Zhenshan took a shiny gold token from Lei Qiang and examined it curiously.

”The Innate Token is proof of identity for Innate Martial Artists. Carrying it, you can freely enter and exit Sanshan Valley and the Royal Hidden Skill Pavilion. Sanshan Valley is for the discussion and debate among Innate Martial Artists. If Marquis Jing’an has need, you can go there to seek guidance from some of the senior predecessors!”

”The Royal Treasure Pavilion houses countless Cultivation Techniques, and Innate Martial Artists possessing an Innate Token can freely enter the Pavilion and can view and copy any Cultivation Techniques on the third floor or below.”

Lei Qiang rarely took the time to explain.

Yang Zhenshan exclaimed in surprise, ”One can copy them at will? Including Innate Cultivation Techniques?”

”Yes, all Innate Cultivation Techniques below the third floor can be copied!”

”Can they be passed on to others as well?”

”Yes, as long as you are willing, you can pass them on to anyone!”

Yang Zhenshan was somewhat astonished.

Innate Cultivation Techniques are extremely precious, yet the royal family doesn’t restrict their dissemination?

But he quickly understood.

In the worldly society, Innate Cultivation Techniques are indeed precious, but in the eyes of the court, these techniques are not of much use.

Because what restricts Martial Artists from becoming Innate Martial Artists is not the techniques, but talent, resources, foundations, and the like.

Of course, techniques are also a type of resource, but they are just one type.

In fact, to most Martial Artists, an Innate Cultivation Technique is not as important as a single Spirit Fruit.

In reality, there are quite a few Innate Cultivation Techniques in the worldly society; many long-established Jianghu forces have their own Innate Cultivation Techniques.

However, what they possess is certainly not as numerous as what the court has; Da Rong has been established for over three hundred years and has accumulated countless techniques.

”I wonder if Marquis Jing’an is willing to enter Sanshan Valley?” Lei Qiang asked.

”Enter Sanshan Valley? What do you mean?” Yang Zhenshan inquired.

”Entering Sanshan Valley means agreeing to stay in the Capital City and being at the Emperor’s beck and call at all times, without the Emperor’s permission you are not free to leave the Capital!”

”Martial Artists in the Sanshan Valley can receive court’s stipend, three Three Yellow Plums per year, eighteen Treasure Medicines per month, and in addition, they can provide protection for their kin to join the personal army of the Twelve Guards.”

Lei Qiang explained.

Yang Zhenshan blinked, three Three Yellow Plums a year, eighteen Treasure Medicines a month, meow, that’s quite the generous stipend indeed.

”I am Marquis Jing’an of Da Rong, do I also have a stipend?”

Lei Qiang said, ”Innate Martial Artists of noble origin who do not enter Sanshan Valley only get one Three Yellow Plum per year, and only nine Treasure Medicines per month!”

”...”

The disparity is truly significant.

But that’s normal; joining the Sanshan Valley means being at the Emperor’s command at all times, and although nobles must also obey the Emperor’s orders, they have relatively more freedom, at least they can leave the Capital at will.

In simple terms, Innate Martial Artists in Sanshan Valley are like the Emperor’s laborers.

”What about the Innate Martial Artists in the wild?” Yang Zhenshan then asked.

”They don’t have a stipend!” Lei Qiang informed.

Yang Zhenshan nodded in understanding and said, ”I will not go to Sanshan Valley; I’m still young and can serve the court for a few more years!”

Going to Sanshan Valley would really mean retirement, and he felt he was not yet at the age for retirement.

I’m just over fifty years old, right in my prime!

Moreover, he had the Spiritual Spring Space; those stipends weren’t that attractive to him.

Lei Qiang was jotting down in a book, and after a short while, he said, ”All set, Marquis Jing’an, may you leave on your own?”

”That’s it? Just like that?”

Yang Zhenshan was taken aback. Wasn’t this a bit too perfunctory?

Not even checking one’s cultivation and strength?

Not even expressing loyalty to Your Majesty?

And just like that it’s over?

”Marquis Jing’an is already a high-ranking official of the court, all your details are thoroughly recorded with the Secret Martial Guards. If it were a Martial Artist from the Jianghu, there might be a need for an investigation,” Lei Qiang explained.

Yang Zhenshan suddenly realized; that was right, the Secret Martial Guards would definitely know his strength; there was no need to investigate his identity, background, and such.