「The next day.」
Shen Changqing rose early and went out. Now that he had returned to the Demon-Subduing Division, he had so matters to report to Jiang Zuo. After all, Jiang Zuo was the Steward of the Huang Departnt’s Demon Hunting Court, and any Demon Hunter residing within the Demon Hunting Court fell under his jurisdiction.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
The courtyard gate was knocked. In two breaths’ ti, the door opened.
Seeing Shen Changqing standing before him, Jiang Zuo showed no surprise.
"You’re here. Co in, and we’ll talk," he said without closing the door, turning to walk inside. Obviously, the mont Shen Changqing returned to the Demon-Subduing Division, this Steward of the Huang Departnt’s Demon Hunting Court had already received the news. Seeing this, Shen Changqing followed him inside.
There was a small pavilion in the courtyard with a set of table and chairs, where Jiang Zuo sat down directly.
"There’s no need to be too formal with . Sit down, and we’ll talk."
"Thank you," Shen Changqing replied, taking a seat directly across from him.
After they both sat down, Jiang Zuo’s gaze on Shen Changqing suddenly intensified.
"I’ve heard about your deeds in Lin’an City. To be able to deal the Eternal Alliance such a setback, your potential and strength are much greater than I had imagined."
"Steward Jiang jests," Shen Changqing said modestly.
Hearing this, Jiang Zuo shook his head. "The rits due to you should be acknowledged plainly. The Demon-Subduing Division isn’t as dark as you imagine. While the rules here are strict, it is also the most inclusive institution. Whether you display amazing talent or possess incredible opportunities, as long as you have achieved them, they are your own. Rember, in the Demon-Subduing Division, there’s no need to hide your abilities. The Division is always pleased to see any genius grow. To be honest, all the rules of the Demon-Subduing Division can be sumd up in one: Never betray the Human Clan!"
Having said this, Jiang Zuo looked directly at him. "So if you have the capability, even becoming a Defender Envoy isn’t a problem, as long as you do not betray the Human Clan or Great Qin. Then, the Demon-Subduing Division will be your strongest support. So things need not be worried about too much."
These words made Shen Changqing’s expression change slightly.
"What do you an by that, Steward Jiang?"
"You know what I an better than I do. Your talent is strong. Being able to trip up the Eternal Alliance ans your strength is definitely not as simple as just entering the Innate Inner Gang Realm. To be honest, such talent is almost unprecedented in the Demon-Subduing Division. I dare not say there will be no one like you in the future, but you could at least be considered unmatched by anyone before you."
Jiang Zuo was sincere, with no hint of pretense.
"When the Martial Dao first began to flourish, so reached the Innate Realm in ten years and were called geniuses of a lifeti by the world. Later, others achieved it in five years, breaking the previous record and being terd monsters of their age. Then, soone reached the Innate Realm in two years, causing a trendous stir and being labeled the foremost talent of the Human Clan. Now, you have reached the Innate Realm in one year; news of this is bound to cause a sensation if it spreads."
"But—"
"Such shocks are only temporary. Over ti, they fade. Perhaps in a few years, a prodigy who reaches Innate in half a year might erge; who can tell? Now that the Martial Dao is thriving, talents are erging in droves, and no one dares to claim they are the best. Besides, while a martial artist at the Innate Realm counts as a leading figure in Jianghu, in the Demon-Subduing Division, that’s all it is." As he finished, a light smile appeared on Jiang Zuo’s face.
Shen Changqing sat silently. Jiang Zuo’s words were like the moon erging from behind the clouds, allowing him to see things differently.
All this while, I hadn’t dared to reveal too much about myself. Only in a remote place like Lin’an City, far from central authority, would I behave a bit more unrestrained. The primary reason was to keep a low profile. After all, in this world where Demon Evils road, being mistaken for colluding with them would an imnse trouble.
But now, having heard Jiang Zuo’s words, he suddenly realized he had been trapped in a misunderstanding all along. Indeed, reaching the Innate Outer Gang in one year was certainly a marvel in the current Jianghu. But in fact, every record set by martial artists seems unbelievable when first broken.
If I have broken the records set by predecessors, then one day, I will beco one of those predecessors.
So it was my shortsightedness! Shen Changqing sighed inwardly. What of the Innate Outer Gang? To the Demon-Subduing Division, it wasn’t anything special. Grandmasters are Earth Rank Demon Hunters, and those above Grandmasters are Heaven Rank Demon Hunters. Above the Demon Hunters, there are even Defender Envoys who guard entire regions. In the end, the Innate Realm is just the beginning, at most just a few steps ahead of others.
"Steward Jiang, your words have truly opened my eyes."
"As long as you understand, that’s good. The Demon-Subduing Division is much larger than you imagine; don’t view it through the lens of the Jianghu." Jiang Zuo nodded, then continued, "Recently, Demon Evils have been causing disasters, and many parts of Great Qin were attacked. Only after the powerful mbers of every local Demon-Subduing Division mobilized were we barely able to stabilize the chaos. Thus, assigning you to defend Lin’an City alone was a asure of last resort. After all, once you join the Demon-Subduing Division, your first duty is to slay Demon Evils and protect the people of Great Qin. Whether it’s you, , or the Defender Envoys, during a full-scale invasion by Demon Evils, no one can retreat a single step. Over the years, a number of Defender Envoys have been killed in battle due to Demon Evils. Often, a powerful Defender Envoy could retreat if they wished, as the Demon Evils would find it difficult to stop them, but not a single Defender Envoy has retreated. Because they are Defender Envoys, they carry the mission of defending Great Qin on their shoulders. The mission of a Defender Envoy is to defend Great Qin, and our mission as Demon Hunters is the sa."
While speaking, Jiang Zuo observed the changes in Shen Changqing’s expression. Assigning him to defend Lin’an City alone was an incredibly difficult task. Jiang Zuo understood. The person before him was a rare genius. If this caused him to harbor any resentnt towards the Demon-Subduing Division, it would be a loss for the Division. So things had to be explained clearly.
"Steward Jiang, I naturally understand your words," Shen Changqing replied with a slight smile, his expression unchanged.
He also knew the significance behind Jiang Zuo’s words. Everyone has their own standards for judging things. Even without Jiang Zuo ntioning it, I understood the Demon-Subduing Division’s intention in assigning to defend Lin’an City. After all, if the defense failed, not only would I die, but the hundreds of thousands of civilians in Lin’an City could also be buried along with . Even if the Demon-Subduing Division could sacrifice alone, they wouldn’t likely gamble with the lives of hundreds of thousands of Lin’an City’s civilians unless it truly was a last resort.
Jiang Zuo said, "As ntioned earlier, once you complete the task of defending Lin’an City, you will not be required to take on any further missions for the next year. You can choose to cultivate in seclusion within the Demon-Subduing Division or go to other places. For an official Demon Hunter, the Demon-Subduing Division imposes no restrictions. As long as you complete your yearly assigned tasks, you can arrange the rest of your ti however you wish."
"Steward Jiang, do you think it’s better for to advance to Profound Rank Demon Hunter now, or wait until the term is nearly complete?" Shen Changqing asked, voicing his inner doubts.
Since everything was on the table now, there was nothing to hold back. What he initially thought was a low-profile approach had, in the eyes of the Demon-Subduing Division, already revealed quite a bit.
"Whether or not to advance is indeed a matter to consider." Jiang Zuo’s expression was grave as he lowered his head, deep in thought.
After a mont, he lifted his head and looked at Shen Changqing.
"Promoting to a Profound Rank Demon Hunter has many benefits. As long as you complete the annual task standard, you will receive a bottle of Pulse Condensation Pill and, additionally, a Spirit-Nurturing Pill. You must be familiar with the Pulse Condensation Pill. As for the Spirit-Nurturing Pill, it is key to advancing to Grandmaster. Only by promoting to Profound Rank Demon Hunter can you receive an additional Spirit-Nurturing Pill each year and also trade rit Values for more Spirit-Nurturing Pills. However, if you remain at the Yellow Rank, you won’t have this privilege."
Shen Changqing also understood about rit Values. It was a reward system established by the Demon-Subduing Division where any official Demon Hunter who completed corresponding missions would obtain so rit Values. However, he had yet to find ti to understand the specifics.
"Normally, a bottle of Pulse Condensation Pills would require quite a lot of rit Values," Jiang Zuo continued. "The Pure Spirit Jade Pendant you submitted last ti contained the aura of two Demon Evils; by the rit exchange ratio, that wouldn’t be enough to get a full bottle of Pulse Condensation Pills. But the Defender Envoys above thought you needed so foundation to hold your ground in Lin’an City, so they granted you an extra bottle of Pulse Condensation Pills. After deducting your existing rit Values, the remaining deficit was covered by the Defender Envoy himself. As for other matters, you can learn more when you visit the Demon Slaying Hall later," Jiang Zuo added.
Shen Changqing nodded slightly.
rit Values were not his highest priority right now. What truly attracted his attention was what Jiang Zuo had ntioned earlier: Spirit-Nurturing Pill! Grandmaster! Ever since breaking through to the Innate Outer Gang, I’ve been eager to learn what exactly sets the Grandmaster Realm apart from the Innate Realm. I had originally planned to search through the Scripture Pavilion for information. But now that Jiang Zuo has brought it up, I might as well inquire directly. After all, Jiang Zuo is an experienced Demon Hunter and surely has so unique insights.
"May I ask Steward Jiang, what exactly defines a Grandmaster, and what must one do to break through from the Innate to the Grandmaster Realm?"
"I knew you would ask that. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t bother explaining, but with your talent, you might not need too much ti to break through to Grandmaster in the future. So, I’ll just tell you then." Jiang Zuo mused for a mont, then slowly began to speak. "In the world of Jianghu, a Grandmaster has a complete title: Martial Arts Grandmaster. Anyone who can be called a Grandmaster has the qualifications to establish their own sect and make their mark.
And what most fundantally elevates a Grandmaster above the Innate is one crucial elent—"
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