Extreme Martial Path

Extreme Martial Path

"Martial Mansions manage the entire country. They're better suited for clerical or semi-clerical work and especially require political resources and emotional intelligence. I know you don't want to choose that, so there's no need to go into detail. Honestly, my dad had been muddling through for so many years and still couldn't figure out politics, let alone me."

"Some people look down on Pioneer Companies, but those who run them work their tails off hunting Demonic Beasts. They're all real industrialists. Still, business is business—at their core, Pioneer Companies operate by commercial rules."

"Extreme Martial Path, as the name implies, focuses on the Martial Path and climbing to the summit. Everyone yearns for it, but no one can truly achieve it. This road is too bitter. Especially before the Grandmaster Realm, they're practically a pack of miserable bastards—training like mad, slaughtering Demonic Beasts like mad, and pouring resources into themselves like mad. To cultivate, you have to cut down contact with the outside world. That kind of loneliness and solitude is something I could never endure in my life."

Zhou Leng said, "That's true. Back then, a young martial cultivator asked Martial Saint Zhao whether the loneliness at the beginning of the Extreme Martial Path would get better later on. Martial Saint Zhao answered: it stays lonely."

Xue Chengsong said, "I don't know you well enough to give you perfect advice. My suggestion is that you set several directions for yourself, then, before you have enough ability and resources, use other paths to accumulate strength and resources. Or rather, many paths overlap at the beginning."

Zhou Leng fell silent for a moment, then said, "I choose the Extreme Martial Path."

"Did everything I just said go to waste? You really don't need to make a choice so early."

"I choose the Extreme Martial Path."

"Fine. You people who walk the Extreme Martial Path are all this stubborn. But then again, if you weren't stubborn, you couldn't keep walking this road. Then I'll continue with my thoughts."

Xue Chengsong slowly said, "The Extreme Martial Path doesn't rely as heavily on connections, and you don't need to learn all those worldly social niceties. But it devours Martial Arts Resources. This path is most suitable for the children of wealthy and powerful families, yet laughably, most of those children won't take the Extreme Martial Path even if they swallow mountains of pills."

"I've known my own measure since I was little. I knew exactly how much I weighed, so I would never walk this path. Forget comparing your Martial Arts Resources to those wealthy families—you can't even compare with a small household like mine. So, you can walk the Extreme Martial Path, but you absolutely cannot walk only this path."

Zhou Leng nodded.

Xue Chengsong continued, "Next, you need to consider adding two more paths to acquire resources and support the Extreme Martial Path. The Extreme Martial Path conflicts with the Martial Mansion, so there's no need to even think about it. The endless mountain of paperwork and meetings would be enough to grind away all your Martial Will."

"Then I suggest you choose one path between the Demon City Army and the Martial Guard Department. Both paths have abundant resources, extremely high rewards, and no shortage of promotion channels. The key is that although both have their own factions and all sorts of underwater rules, once you become strong enough, you become your own faction. You won't need to watch other people's expressions too closely."

"The difference is that the Demon City Army is stationed near Demon City all year round. Its rules are stricter, its restrictions greater, and it's more dangerous, but it offers more tempering and is more likely to forge a sharp blade."

"As for the Martial Guard Department, it isn't as strict as the Demon City Army and is relatively safer, but there's less tempering. Sometimes its internal structure is even closer to a Martial Mansion—more talking, less doing."

"In other words, if you want more freedom, join the Martial Guard Department. If you don't mind high-pressure restraints, go to the Demon City Army."

Zhou Leng thought for a while. "For now, the Martial Guard Department seems more suitable for me."

Xue Chengsong said, "Alright. Next comes Pioneer Companies—strictly speaking, Pioneer Branch Companies like my father's. If your goal is merely the Innate Realm, a Pioneer Branch Company won't be of much use. One person full means the whole family isn't hungry."

"But if your goal is Peak Innate, or even the Grandmaster Realm, or higher still, the Martial Saint Realm, then you must have a Pioneer Branch Company backing you. As you continue to grow, you'll need to conduct a large amount of resource exchange, trading away resources you don't need for what your cultivation requires. At the same time, you'll need additional income."

"Let me put it this way. Across all of Blue Star, if you investigate upward from ninety percent of Pioneer Branch Companies, you'll find either Martial Saint Clans or Grandmaster Realm wealthy families behind them."

"Without the support of a big shot, it's very difficult for a Pioneer Branch Company to grow large. The struggle over resource lands is blood and bones everywhere."

"Of course, there's also clerical work in the end, but don't even think about it. It's basically researching pills, Demonic Weapons, cultivation methods, and the like. It runs against your Extreme Martial Path, costs a lot, and yields little. There's no need."

Zhou Leng listened while thinking.

Afterward, Xue Chengsong spoke of many more related industries, giving Zhou Leng, who had been immersed in the Martial Path, another layer of understanding about this world.

After gaining a deeper understanding of the various routes, Zhou Leng asked, "Besides these, are there other paths?"

Xue Chengsong thought for a moment. "There's one more: foreign trade. Is there no one around you?"

"No. I'm home alone."

"Since I've said so much already, I'll say a few more words. Foreign trade is divided into the proper route and the demonic route."

"The proper foreign trade route means opening trade routes with allied worlds such as the Demon Spirit World, Dwarven World, and Treant World. Not only would the country not oppose it, it would instead grant all kinds of preferential treatment. It's Just That this path is extremely difficult, because you need not only martial strength for protection, but also deep connections in other worlds. At present, aside from Martial Clans, wealthy families, and the state, it is nearly impossible for individuals to open such a route."

"The demonic foreign trade route—you can understand it from the name alone. It means cooperating with hostile forces such as the Demon Worshipping Cult, Demons, the Undying Clan, and Sea Sirens to earn enormous profits. Of course, apart from the few who have gone too deeply down the demonic route and become entangled with Demons, most are merely gray-market transactions with shallow involvement. The higher-ups simply keep one eye open and one eye closed."

"You remember Chang Luan, right? That slick-backed-haired bastard who cursed me to die at the Demon City camp. His family has touched the demonic route a little. I heard they have an unclear relationship with the Demon Worshipping Cult of the Eagle Alliance. My dad once said that if I ever got even a little involved with the demonic route, he'd break my legs. Besides..."

"Actually, there are far more demonic cultivators or half-demonic cultivators on Blue Star than you imagine, so you must be careful. Humanity's surrender faction, cooperation faction, and hardline faction remain a tangled mess to this day. It's especially troublesome."

Zhou Leng said, "Uncle Li from across the hall told me something about that. The Demon Worshipping Cult is extremely powerful on Blue Star. There are even rumors that it controls several small countries. Back then, when the Eagle Country split into the loose Eagle Alliance and north and south remained opposed, that was their doing."

Xue Chengsong said, "No one can make sense of the Demon Worshipping Cult. Its internal sects are chaotic and slaughter one another. That day's child... ah, we'll talk about that offline. In short, foreign trade is incredibly profitable. But this path is very, very difficult. Just think about it."

"I basically understand. Thank You, Young Master Xue."

Xue Chengsong said, "No matter what route you take in the future, since you've entered the martial arts hall, I suggest you fleece the martial arts hall and the Martial Guard Department to death first."

Zhou Leng asked, "If I want to compete for resources in the martial arts hall, what should I do?"

Xue Chengsong said, "You've come to the right person. Some friends and I had been discussing this matter over the past few days."

"Whether it's a Martial University or a martial arts hall, there are basically two routes for competing for resources. One is the martial artist route: competing for rankings, competing for elite qualifications, hunting Demonic Beasts, challenging the Eighteen Bronze Men Formation, and so on. In short, you rely on Martial Path strength to compete and seize. Once you seize resources, you feed them back into cultivation, improve, and continue."

"The second route is competing for distribution rights, such as becoming the class Senior Disciple or a minor official in the Student Union. This also includes certain special honors. These things may seem useless, but with a little maneuvering later on, whether you enter the Martial Guard Department or the Martial Mansion, you can get a step ahead. When one step is fast, every step is fast. There will naturally be some gray processes involved, but I won't go into detail."

Zhou Leng said, "The second route requires too much social maneuvering. I don't have time to cultivate that, so I can only choose the martial artist route."

Xue Chengsong said, "Since you're taking the martial artist route, you need to show enough strength from the very beginning. Of course, you also need to keep something up your sleeve. First, to make potential opponents misjudge you; second, to avoid the gun shooting the bird that sticks its head out."

"I understand some of your personality too. You probably won't be too high-profile, but that can sometimes make you miss opportunities. So, in the upcoming Opening Term Test and the first monthly exam, you must seize a place in the martial arts hall's top ten. The rewards for both exams are generous and can help you lay your foundation."

"How generous?"

"Unless something unexpected happens, first place should receive an Essence Replenishing Pill. Tenth place will receive at least one Qi Nourishing Pill and one Blood Replenishing Pill."

Zhou Leng said, "That means first prize is worth one hundred thousand. Even you would want it, right?"

"Of course. You can keep taking Essence Replenishing Pills all the way to the Innate Realm. Those Martial Clans and wealthy families take one every ten days like candy. I can't afford them anyway."

Zhou Leng said, "For the sake of an Essence Replenishing Pill, I need to make full preparations and compete for it."

Xue Chengsong said, "But don't let your guard down. Unless something unexpected happens, quite a few students in your martial arts hall will take Essence Qi Pills and directly reach Qi Nourishing Perfection. Some may have even already advanced to the Blood Circulation Stage."

"So Quickly? The gap between the Qi Nourishing Stage and the Blood Circulation Stage is simply too great."

"Too many pills are banned during the College Entrance Examination. Once the ban is lifted after the examination, it's truly a dance of demons and monsters. Still, strong True Qi doesn't mean strong actual combat ability, nor does it mean high True Qi Control. You still have a chance of entering the top ten."

Zhou Leng said, "Then I'll have to work even harder before school starts."

"Also, once we officially enroll, the Local Newcomer Ranking in Martial City will open. The Freshman Ranking only includes all first-year students this year, whether they're Martial Arts University students, martial arts hall students, or non-Martial Path students."

"There are roughly five factors that determine Freshman Ranking positions."

"First are school test results at Martial Universities or martial arts halls. It's Just That the Opening Term Test results won't be entered on the first day. Rankings will be calculated using the physical exam and Martial Arts Examination results from the College Entrance Examination. Once the Opening Term Test is complete, those college examination scores will be replaced."

"Second is Battle Merit. Whether you fight the Demon Worshipping Cult under the Martial Guard Department's leadership or hunt Demonic Beasts in Demon City, you can gain Battle Merit. Note that once you enter the Blood Circulation Stage, hunting economic or practical magical beasts will no longer count toward Battle Merit. Only killing Demonic Beasts from hostile worlds counts as Battle Merit."

"Third are Martial Artist Trial projects. For example, the Eighteen Bronze Men, which you can challenge upon entering the Blood Circulation Stage, and the Slaughter Demon Ground shared by the Martial Guard Department and Demon City Army. The higher your achievements in these trials, the higher your ranking."

"Fourth are Basic Test projects. Anyone can go to an officially designated institution to test physical fitness and True Qi. The stronger your physical fitness and True Qi, the higher your ranking. Usually, it's enough to do this at your school or martial arts hall."

"Fifth is extra contributions. For example, obtaining additional research results or doing something that qualifies for bonus points and raises your ranking. This carries very little weight. Only a few people taking clerical routes care about it, so it has little to do with us."

"School results, Battle Merit, Martial Artist Trials, and Basic Tests are the directions you need to work toward next."

"Based on Freshman Ranking positions, Rucheng City grants different rewards."

"Once the rankings are finalized at the end of every month, pills and financial subsidies will be awarded. Generally speaking, first place on the Freshman Ranking receives one Essence Replenishing Pill, three Qi Nourishing Pills, three Blood Replenishing Pills, and a ten-thousand-yuan cash prize. That's equivalent to one hundred seventy thousand."

"If there are trials or competitions, selections will also prioritize those near the top of the Freshman Ranking."

"However, your goal should be to compete for the top thousand on the Freshman Ranking, or at most the top hundred. The top ten aren't something you can compete for. West Sea Martial University not only gathers experts from Rucheng, but also some experts from Dragon Country and even the world. Over the years, the top ten of the Rucheng Freshman Ranking—and sometimes even the top fifty—have been firmly occupied by West Sea Martial University."

"Unless something unexpected happens, that giant-blooded Shan Heyuan will occupy first place on the Local Newcomer Ranking for the coming year, unshakable by anyone."

"Also, when the Freshman Ranking opens, the Local Qi and Blood Ranking will open as well."

"It includes rankings for all Qi and Blood Realm experts in Rucheng City."

"Just look at that one for fun. It's filled with Vitality Stage immortals fighting each other, far too distant from us. For an ordinary Martial University student, reaching the Vitality Stage in four years would already make them a genius."

"By the Way, if you rank among the top hundred on the Local Newcomer Ranking, you'll enter the National Newcomer Ranking, commonly called the National Ranking. Once you enter the National Ranking, you'll receive additional national subsidies every month according to your position."

"Whether it's the National Ranking, the Qi and Blood Ranking, or the top ten of the Freshman Ranking, they're all too far away for you. You may never rank near the top in your lifetime."

"So, you should advance steadily and surely. First seize a ranking in the martial arts hall, then make your mark at Ru University. The third step is to compete for the Citywide Freshman Ranking."

"My own level is terrible, yet I keep lecturing you one set after another. Seriously, Xue Chengsong, your eyes are high but your hands are low..." Xue Chengsong could not help mocking himself.

"You're actually not bad."

"Not bad... You really know how to tell the truth. Actually, thinking about it now, it was the right choice for you to enter the martial arts hall."

Zhou Leng asked, "Why do you say that?"

"I've looked into West Sea Martial University these past few days. It's fucking immortals fighting each other. Martial Universities have two major reward systems: one is the scholarship system, and the other is the ranking system."

"The ranking system is straightforward Martial Path rankings. Whoever ranks higher receives more pill rewards. There's basically no room for favoritism there; it's already very fair."

"The scholarship system is completely different. As long as you meet the minimum standard, you can enter the candidate pool and participate."

"The people in the ranking system have real rankings, real data, and real battle records, all laid out plainly."

"The scholarship system's winners and candidates—put nicely, honors fly everywhere; put bluntly, it's a contest of who can brag better. For example, serving as captain of some Martial Path sports team, vice president of some exchange association, outstanding individual in military training, publishing an article in the school journal, accumulating however many hours of volunteer service. You don't need to look at it. Just hearing me say it, you can understand what that system compares."

"Obviously," Zhou Leng said.

"The martial arts hall is different. It's basically all ranking systems. There are occasional scholarships, but they aren't worth much money and can only pad a résumé or add honors, with little real benefit. The key is that martial arts halls are training units commissioned by the Martial Guard Department. Martial arts hall students are equivalent to Probationary Martial Guards and can receive the Martial Guard Department's ranking rewards, while Martial Arts University students cannot."

"As long as you're strong enough to charge into the Martial Guard Department and snatch food from its bowl, the resources you receive will definitely far exceed those of West Sea Martial University students. You could even compare with the middle-to-upper-tier students of Cloud Splendor and Golden Capital. It's Just That the difficulty is extremely high."

The two of them talked for a long time before ending the voice call.