Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

Chapter 504: Chapter 249: Border-Guarding Merit

Having stronger Martial Arts Talent or a higher Realm doesn’t necessarily mean you have greater combat prowess.

Many with superior Martial Arts Talent and higher Realms lack combat skill, so their rankings often fall below others.

Take the disciple competitions on the Five Elements Peak of the Great Dao Sect, for example. One cultivating the Five Elements Li Fire Realm is naturally at a disadvantage in terms of their Realm when facing someone cultivating the Five Elements Gui Water Realm.

Logically, someone cultivating the Li Fire Realm should never be able to defeat someone cultivating the Gui Water Realm.

But the outcome of a real battle is often not the case."

At this, Xia Lingfeng straightened up, a proud look on his face. "When I was promoted to Steward back in the day, I defeated many cultivators of the Gui Water Realm who were at my same level. That’s how I ultimately distinguished myself."

A look of understanding dawned on Chen Cheng’s face. "No wonder so many Martial Artists on the Earth List fail to make it onto the Celestial List.

While on the other hand, many from the Rouge List eventually make it onto the Celestial List."

The Earth List is determined by concrete combat strength, with Martial Arts Talent being a secondary consideration.

Many on that list don’t have exceptional Martial Arts Talent. Even if their combat strength is formidable, they often find it difficult to advance their Martial Arts Realm.

But the Rouge List, which places more emphasis on Martial Arts Talent, features individuals with superior talent, so they naturally find it easier to advance their Martial Arts Realm.

But it’s hard to say which of the two lists is superior. Those on the Rouge List certainly find it easier to advance their Martial Arts Realm and make it onto the Celestial List.

However, once on the Celestial List, they often fall behind in the rankings due to a lack of real combat strength.

Of course, there are many Celestial Prides who rank highly on both the Earth List and the Rouge List.

When people like that get on the Celestial List, their rankings naturally won’t be low.

"That’s right," Xia Lingfeng said. "But regardless of the Earth List and the Rouge List, the strength or weakness of a Realm ultimately depends on how the Martial Artist who has mastered it puts it to use.

To put it bluntly, you can’t generalize about the strength of a Realm. It all depends on the person!

By the same token, the Realm one should cultivate also depends on the person. Different people are compatible with different Realms.

When I was young, I tried out all of the Five Elements Realms, but in the end, I was most compatible with the Li Fire Realm, so that’s what I chose to cultivate.

You, kid, have Innate Divine Power, which is why you cultivated the Great Power Realm so early. It must be because you’re more compatible with it."

"Perhaps," Chen Cheng said with a slight nod.

’I cultivate the Iron Armor Skill, so my physique is far stronger than other Martial Artists. I guess that counts as Innate Divine Power.’

Xia Lingfeng asked, "Did you come to the Scripture Pavilion to cultivate some more Cultivation Techniques?"

Chen Cheng shook his head and answered truthfully, "I just came to read some books and broaden my horizons.

As for my Martial Arts Cultivation, I am still practicing the Dragon’s Roar Iron Cloth Shirt and the Tendon-Separating Bone-Crushing Hand that my master passed down to me.

I’ve also practiced some Saber Techniques and Swordsmanship, but for now, I don’t plan on cultivating any other techniques."

"Mm," Xia Lingfeng nodded slightly in approval. "As the saying goes, it’s better to master one move than to know a thousand.

Martial Arts Cultivation must proceed step by step. Cultivating too many varied techniques is not a good thing.

Focusing on the Cultivation Techniques passed down by Steward Zheng Hun is for the best.

With your Martial Arts Talent, you should be able to become a True Disciple within a few years, so it’s a good idea to learn more about the Great Dao Sect and the other Sects ahead of time."

Although Xia Lingfeng didn’t say it outright, his words implied that he was already certain Chen Cheng would become a True Disciple of the Great Dao Sect.

From promoting him to Vice Director of the Demon Suppression Department to now guiding him through his doubts about the Martial Dao, Xia Lingfeng had shown Chen Cheng the grace of true mentorship.

Chen Cheng bowed respectfully and said solemnly, "Thank you for your favor, Lord Xia. I will never forget your kindness in supporting me."

Xia Lingfeng laughed heartily and waved his hand. "No need for such formality! You earned the Merit, and it is my duty to promote you.

As for showing you favor, well, I am indeed very optimistic about your future.

With your talent, in a few years, you might become a True Disciple of the Great Dao Sect. Both your Martial Arts Power and your status will far surpass mine.

I might even have to bow to you when I see you then!"

This rough man’s magnanimity made Chen Cheng admire him all the more.

"You speak too highly of me, Lord Xia. As a junior, how could I dare to overstep the proper etiquette?" Chen Cheng said, feeling rather overwhelmed by the praise.

Xia Lingfeng laughed again. "Don’t worry about it!

I’ve looked into your past. I know you’re a kind and honest person who values loyalty, and you don’t have that arrogant stink that kids from the great clans have.

If not for that, I wouldn’t have promoted you. In the end, it’s because we get along."

"Yes," Chen Cheng nodded slightly, though he felt a little confused.

He had heard a thing or two about Xia Lingfeng’s origins.

The Xia Family was also a very powerful great clan in Su State City.

"Are all the kids from the great clans in the State City so arrogant?" Chen Cheng asked tentatively.

Xia Lingfeng’s eyes bulged with indignation. "You bet they are! Those young masters and ladies, relying on the backing of their clan elders, every last one of them has their nose in the air."

Who ever heard of a great clan kid bad-mouthing other great clan kids? With Xia Lingfeng saying this, Chen Cheng was once again at a loss for words.

Xia Lingfeng, reading his expression, guessed what he was thinking. "You’re probably thinking that since I’m also from a great clan, I shouldn’t be talking like this.

But I’m speaking from the heart.

The Xia Family might have some influence in Su State City, but compared to those few truly great clans, we’re leagues behind.

When I was young, I was bullied by them more than a few times.

When you get to Su State City in the future, you should also try your best to avoid provoking those great clan kids."

Chen Cheng had always kept a low profile and naturally had no desire to go around provoking the scions of great clans.

But as they say, you can’t walk through the world without getting cut. Oftentimes, even if you don’t look for trouble, trouble comes looking for you.

Take Linji City, for example. He truly never intended to provoke the Wang Family, but through a series of unfortunate events, he had become their enemy.

Now, the Wang Family was likely still trying every method they could think of to kill him.

Chen Cheng thought for a moment, then said, "With the great clans controlling so much power, I’m afraid it could lead to chaos. Doesn’t the Great Dao Sect do anything about it?"

Xia Lingfeng shook his head and sighed. "These great clans are the very families of the Great Dao Sect’s Elders. How could the Sect possibly control them?"

As the saying goes, when one man attains the Dao, his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Whenever a powerful Martial Artist rises, they naturally bring prosperity and glory to their entire clan.

When a clan becomes prosperous and has many descendants, it’s inevitable that some will be of poor character, causing trouble and bullying others with their borrowed power.

"But surely the Sect Elders can restrain their own descendants, right?" Chen Cheng asked.

Xia Lingfeng said, "Of course they restrain them. Even the kids from the great clans can’t openly break the law.

Otherwise, Su State wouldn’t be as stable as it is today.

However, the great clan scions still have many privileges. This is tacitly allowed, and it’s considered part of the merit earned from guarding the border."

"Merit from guarding the border?" Chen Cheng looked puzzled.

Xia Lingfeng explained, "The Great Dao Sect is in the Land of the North. We don’t like to get involved in disputes between sects, but that doesn’t mean things are peaceful.

The Land of the North is vast. Besides the Five Northern States, it also includes two states in the Western Extreme Land, two states in the Northern Plains, and two states by the East Sea.

North of the Northern Plains lies the Far North Icefield.

The two states of the Northern Plains have a much larger territory than the Five Northern States and are occupied by the Barbarian Race and Demon Beasts.

Even when the Great Yu Saint Emperor was alive and suppressed the world with his martial might, he launched multiple campaigns to sweep through the Northern Plains but still failed to make the Barbarian Race submit.

The Barbarian Race does not respect the authority of Great Yu and frequently harasses its borders.

Therefore, the Great Yu Court built a hundred-thousand-li Great Wall along the border and stationed a large army in the Five Northern States, which was how the Northern Territory finally achieved a measure of peace.

The Five Northern States are also known as the Five States that Guard the North. The soldiers who garrisoned the border were originally appointed by the Great Yu Court and would be rotated out every few decades.

But now, the Great Yu Court is in decline. Its decrees no longer reach the provinces, so the Five Northern States have long since stopped receiving reinforcements or rotations. Each state can only dispatch its own troops to garrison the border.

In the territory of Su State, which is administered by the Great Dao Sect, two prefectures border the Northern Plains, so there is a constant need for manpower to guard the border.

Guarding the border means facing harassment from the Northern Barbarian Race and numerous powerful Demon Beasts, resulting in many casualties every year.

The soldiers who guard the border trade their lives for the peace and safety of the people of Su State. Their toil is immense and their contributions are great, and the merit they earn is the merit of guarding the border.

Even the merit gained by the lowest-tier border soldier is enough to ensure their family can live in Su State City without worrying about food or clothing.

The greater the merit from guarding the border, the greater the privileges. The Sect Elders possess formidable Martial Arts Power, so they can naturally earn immense merit, allowing their clans to flourish."

This was the first time Chen Cheng had heard of this, and he was astonished.

"Lord Xia, why have I never heard about this border-guarding duty?

Doesn’t Linji Prefecture have to conscript soldiers to guard the border?"

Xia Lingfeng replied, "Guarding the border requires those from Military Households, and the descendants of these households are mostly concentrated in Su State City and the surrounding Prefecture Cities.

Linji Prefecture is remote and far from the border, so in normal times, there is no need to conscript soldiers from there for border duty.

However, if you become a True Disciple of the Great Dao Sect or a Sect Steward in the future, you won’t be able to avoid the duty of being rotated in to guard the border."

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