Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

Chapter 400: Chapter 205: Sect Wanderer

Shen Zhiming gazed up at the moon, as if considering how he should explain things to Chen Cheng.

After a long moment, he finally turned to Chen Cheng, his clear eyes shimmering with a brilliant light, profound and wise.

Chen Cheng had once read in a miscellany that those born with great Spiritual Wisdom often had a distinct radiance in their eyes—the legendary sign of one’s intelligence made manifest.

The external manifestation of Shen Zhiming’s wisdom wasn’t obvious, but it was remarkable nonetheless.

In Chen Cheng’s eyes, of all the people in the Shen Family, Shen Zhiming was the most profound and inscrutable, second only to the Shen Family’s Ancestor, Shen Zhaoyi.

Even Patriarch Shen, Shen Mingyuan, a Marrow Cleansing Realm Perfection Martial Artist who had mastered the Frost Snow Realm, didn’t give Chen Cheng this feeling.

Leaving aside all else, the man’s ability to peer into people’s hearts, as if he possessed a Mind Reading Skill, was unlike anything Chen Cheng had ever witnessed.

And, as if on cue, Shen Zhiming seemed to perceive Chen Cheng’s thoughts. He smiled faintly and said, "A clear grasp of worldly affairs is true knowledge; a refined understanding of human nature is true literature."

"The Literary Dao is as vast as an ocean of mist. I have only just begun to peer into its depths and have but a vague grasp of the subtleties of seeing the whole picture from a single detail!"

’Seeing the whole picture from a single detail, huh? If this guy were from a later era, he’d be a top-tier detective, no doubt about it.’

’Of course, the man also had the bad habits of a Scholar, such as his catchphrase: "Are you aware...!"’

’He was always talking in circles, acting all profound, and loved giving long-winded speeches.’

’It was even contagious—his star pupil, He Xingwen, had picked up all the same bad habits.’

As if sensing Chen Cheng’s silent complaints, Shen Zhiming’s expression turned rather solemn, and he continued speaking.

"The Literary Dao may be in decline, but it is only temporary."

"The masses tend to follow the current trends. The Great Yu Founding Saint Emperor suppressed the entire world with his strength as a Martial Saint, leading countless people to wholeheartedly pursue the martial path in hopes of becoming a Martial Saint themselves."

"But they fail to realize that the myriad great paths of this world are all intrinsically linked to the Heaven and Earth Origin!"

"A Martial Saint may prove their path through martial might, but who is to say the same cannot be done through the Path of Literary Law?"

Shen Zhiming was clearly still giving his lecture.

Chen Cheng had learned his lesson. He didn’t interject, instead assuming a posture of respectful, attentive listening.

’Otherwise, if I accidentally steered him onto another topic, Shen Zhiming would probably keep me here all night debating the Dao!’

’Who needs that kind of trouble?’

Shen Zhiming finally got to the main point.

"Experts of the Martial Dao seek to become Martial Saints—or, to be more precise, they seek to comprehend the Heaven and Earth Origin."

"Using martial might to prove one’s path and become a Martial Saint is also inextricably linked to the Heaven and Earth Origin."

"What you said earlier, Lord Chen, about the grand tide of history—’what is long united must divide, and what is long divided must unite’—that is the ultimate truth."

"For a Martial Saint to prove their path, they must gather the greater part of the Heaven and Earth Origin within themselves to achieve the status of a Saint."

"Yet ultimately, they cannot transcend the Innate Origin and are fated to return to dust."

"Thus, even when a Martial Saint is at their zenith, an expert of the Literary Dao can gauge their strength by observing the changes in the Heaven and Earth Origin."

"So that’s how it is!" Chen Cheng had a moment of sudden realization.

’Shen Zhiming really knows his stuff!’

From Shen Zhiming’s words, Chen Cheng had gleaned some faint insights into cultivating to the level of a Martial Saint.

It all came down to the Heaven and Earth Origin!

The more of the Heaven and Earth Origin one controlled, the greater one’s chances of becoming a Martial Saint.

Mental Realm Cultivation was a path leading directly to the Heaven and Earth Origin. At the First Layer Realm, one could see the Heaven and Earth Origin, and at the Second Layer Realm, one could touch it.

Upon reaching the Third Layer Realm, one could perceive the very core of the Heaven and Earth Origin—the True Intent of Heaven and Earth.

Seeing that Chen Cheng seemed to have come to an understanding, a flash of surprise appeared in Shen Zhiming’s eyes.

’He can grasp the whole from a single part. For Lord Chen to have such a high Cultivation at his young age... he truly must be a man of great innate wisdom!’

After this silent, emotional sigh, Shen Zhiming spoke.

"Whether one proves their path as a Martial Saint through martial might or as a Literary Saint through the Path of Literary Law, the ultimate goal is always to comprehend the Heaven and Earth Origin."

"The Martial Dao has a natural advantage over the Literary Dao due to its decisiveness in matters of life and death."

"But the Great Dao is governed by Karmic Force. ’Because this is, that is. Because this arises, that arises. Because this is not, that is not. Because this ceases, that ceases.’"

"Because of its domineering nature, the Martial Dao is disruptive to the natural order and thus difficult to sustain. Even a Martial Saint will one day reach their end."

"The Literary Dao is different. The Path of Literary Law advocates for a world where a hundred flowers may bloom, and every person may be as a dragon."

"If one could truly prove their path through Literary Law, they could undoubtedly usher in an eternal golden age, the likes of which the world has never seen!"

"This so-called eternal golden age... isn’t that just a scholar’s grand, wishful thinking?" Chen Cheng couldn’t help but cut in.

After all, Shen Zhiming was starting to tell tall tales. If he didn’t stop him now, he’d be at it until dawn!

"Alas... it is indeed a grand wish," Shen Zhiming sighed softly, his awareness of reality returning.

"We are all just ordinary mortals; to even attempt to comprehend the Heaven and Earth Origin is an incredibly difficult task."

"To be perfectly honest, I have long been perplexed by this myself."

"The world is on the brink of chaos. The common people struggle just to survive, facing death and utter annihilation at every turn. How can we possibly speak of eternity?"

"To create an eternal golden age, another Martial Saint must first appear to save the common people from their abyss of suffering. Only then will the Literary Dao have a chance to flourish."

"You might say this is a contradiction, but who in this world can claim to understand such matters with perfect clarity?"

"Perhaps the Great Yu Founding Saint Emperor himself once made a grand vow that every person might be as a dragon."

"Difficult," Chen Cheng said, his words few and precious.

To be more precise, he had refuted Shen Zhiming’s point with a single word.

Not only did Shen Zhiming not get angry, but he cupped his hands in a formal salute and said with great gravity, "This one conversation with Lord Chen has been more enlightening than reading ten thousand books. I, Shen Zhiming, have gained much insight. I am in your debt."

Chen Cheng was stunned.

’Hasn’t Shen Zhiming been the one rambling on this whole time?’

’So how could he be the one who learned a lesson?’

"You are too kind, Lord Shen," Chen Cheng replied, returning the salute.

Shen Zhiming naturally saw Chen Cheng’s confusion but didn’t explain. Instead, he suddenly asked, "Lord Chen, do you know of the Taiyi Sect?"

Chen Cheng nodded slightly. "I know a little. In the Land of the North, the Taiyi Sect’s influence is quite formidable, apparently even surpassing that of the Great Dao Sect."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!