Harmony

"If someone was lower by One Meridian Realm, but their Martial Skill level surpassed the other's?" Xiang Qichen asked.

"It's Little Xiang!" Tang Wentao had instinctively frowned upon hearing someone interrupt, but the moment he saw Xiang Qichen, his brow immediately smoothed out.

Before coming here, he had reviewed the records. Xiang Qichen had broken through to Formal Martial Artist in fourteen days, displaying exceptional talent. Naturally, his attitude toward such a good student was different. He praised, "That's an excellent question!"

At this moment, Zhuang Jin instinctively glanced at Qian Wende. Sure enough, Qian Wende's expression looked as though he had swallowed shit. No wonder—when he had tried to be clever and asked earlier, all he got was a fierce glare. Yet when Xiang Qichen asked, it became "That's an excellent question." Did they have to make the difference in treatment so damn obvious?

Tang Wentao naturally paid no attention to Qian Wende's complicated thoughts. "Let me tell you: if you differ by one One Meridian Realm, then even if your Martial Skill level surpasses theirs—useless! The Martial Artist one realm higher reacts faster. Those at the lower realm cannot hit them at all. Even if they do, the higher-realm Martial Artist can dissolve the attack with their more vigorous Inner Breath."

"Take this example: a Two-Meridian Martial Artist had not even begun the Black Fiend Palm, while a One Meridian Martial Artist had achieved entry-level mastery of it. If the two exchanged palms, then even if the latter had entered the Black Fiend Palm and could strike out Manifested Strength for one inch, so what? The instant the Black Fiend Palm's force touched the former's hand, it would be directly dissolved by the former's more vigorous strength. Once that inch flashed past and their palms met, that One Meridian Martial Artist would likely have their meridians shattered by the impact!"

With that example, Zhuang Jin and the others understood. They solemnly committed it to memory: among Martial Artists, Cultivation Realm came first.

Seeing their reactions, Tang Wentao nodded. "Now, as for 'Post Martial Skills'—as the name implies, Martial Skills come after realm. They are used to contend against opponents in the same realm. If both are at the Second Meridian, and one has entered the Black Fiend Palm while the other has not, the one who has entered it will absolutely hold a huge advantage. One inch is no laughing matter. As the saying goes, one inch longer, one inch stronger!"

"Teacher Tang, what if one is holding a weapon?" Xiang Qichen asked again.

"Weapons? Do you know why the Martial Skill I'm teaching you is the Black Fiend Palm, rather than some saber or sword?"

Before anyone could answer, Tang Wentao answered himself. "Because the Qi Condensation Realm, in a sense, is not suited for weapons!"

"We Martial Artists possess Inner Breath within our bodies, which becomes force when unleashed. Yet whether it is Inner Breath or force, neither can be transmitted into a weapon. Among opponents of the same realm, if one person slashed with a saber while the other struck with a palm, the palm force would send the weapon flying, twisting the wielder's movements along with it. The former would lose the initiative and fall into passivity."

"Of course, that said, although force cannot be transmitted through weapons, our bodies are strengthened by Inner Breath. With Inner Breath circulating, our strength and reactions far exceed those of ordinary people. If it is not a battle between those of the same realm, if the higher suppresses the lower and the strong bully the weak, then the problem I just mentioned will not arise."

Tang Wentao gave another example. "For instance, I am at the Three Meridian Realm. With Inner Breath augmenting it, if I swing a saber with all my strength, then if my enemy were also at the Three Meridian Realm, they could send my saber flying with a palm containing force if they neither dodged nor evaded. But you at the Second Meridian or One Meridian? Even if your palm contained force as well, if you dared strike it out, I could chop your palm straight off!"

With that explanation, Zhuang Jin and the others understood. Weapons were not entirely useless at their current realms, but their use was limited. Against opponents of the same realm, they were inferior to fighting with bare palms. They could only really be used to crush weaklings, but one could still slaughter weaklings without weapons when fighting from above. Weapons would at most add a little efficiency.

"Anyway, it is still the same saying: realm first, Martial Skill second! When you encounter an enemy whose realm exceeds yours, even if they are only one One Meridian Realm higher, their Inner Breath will be more condensed, their body more strengthened, and their strength and speed will surpass yours in every aspect. You simply cannot fight them. Do not hesitate—run immediately. That is the only possible way to survive!" Tang Wentao concluded.

"Teacher Tang, returning to this month-end assessment, between Cultivation Realm and Martial Skill, how should we choose?" Xiang Qichen was again the one asking.

Zhuang Jin and the others could all tell that Tang Wentao treated those with good aptitude differently, while toward those with poorer aptitude, his nose was not a nose and his eyes were not eyes.

This feeling is exactly like how most teachers in my previous life treated good students and poor students! Zhuang Jin inwardly sighed.

"If you think your talent is one in ten thousand, something not seen once in a hundred years, then you can pursue both at once. If you are less confident, focus on one according to your own circumstances."

Tang Wentao said, "In my experience, bone aptitude determines the speed of cultivation advancement. As for what determines the speed of Martial Skill cultivation, it is comprehension and bone aptitude."

"Also, whether it is Cultivation Realm or Martial Skill level, a breakthrough in either will drive and nourish the other."

"For example, if you break through to the Second Meridian, your Inner Breath will become condensed and robust, and cultivating the Black Fiend Palm will definitely become much easier than it was at One Meridian. Of course, if you achieve entry-level mastery of the Black Fiend Palm while still at One Meridian, becoming proficient in controlling Inner Breath, that will also be more beneficial in breaking through the bottleneck of the Second Meridian."

Hearing this, all eight, including Zhuang Jin, nodded to show that they understood.

"Alright. I will first explain the Black Fiend Palm from beginning to end. Afterward, you will have a quarter of an hour to ask about anything you do not understand. Then each of you may cultivate according to the path you have chosen!"

After Tang Wentao finished speaking, he systematically explained the Black Fiend Palm once. Then came the time for individual questions.

Zhuang Jin had been pondering the Black Fiend Palm in bed every night and had long accumulated quite a few questions. Soon, it was his turn to ask. To his surprise, Tang Wentao's attitude toward him was quite warm and amiable, no worse than his attitude toward Xiang Qichen.

—Naturally, this was because Tang Wentao had seen Zhuang Jin's record. One line had been specially marked: His body's blood qi was depleted, making it unfavorable for taking the first step toward Martial Artist by Grasping Blood Qi. Yet he still broke through to Formal Martial Artist in seventeen days. His true aptitude may be between ten and fourteen days.

Of course he liked such a good student!

Like Ping Yongfeng, who had taught them when they were Martial Students, Tang Wentao stayed for about the time it took to burn an incense stick before leaving. They spent the remaining time cultivating on their own, and before they knew it, the morning had quickly passed.

At noon, after lunch, the eight dormmates went together to the General Affairs Department to collect this month's basic Monthly Stipend. Once Jiao Kun received his, he immediately repaid the two qian of silver he had borrowed from Xiang Qichen.

At that moment, a servant suddenly came over and said that Jiao Kun's family had arrived and was waiting at the entrance.

Because the General Affairs Department was not far from the Outer Courtyard entrance, Zhuang Jin also saw Jiao Kun's father. He looked to be around forty, with skin as dark as Jiao Kun's. Judging by his clothes, he was simply from an ordinary, reasonably well-off household, not particularly wealthy.

Zhuang Jin saw Father Jiao hand Jiao Kun a palm-sized pouch, probably a money pouch, then say something to him. He was presumably telling him to cultivate diligently or something similar. Jiao Kun impatiently waved a hand, said, "Got it," and went back inside.

As the group headed back, Qian Wende called out to Jiao Kun and dropped behind the others with him.

Jiao Kun likely still remembered that Qian Wende had refused to lend him money, so his expression was somewhat cold and stiff at first. But after Qian Wende whispered something to him, Jiao Kun laughed and cursed, "Go fuck your mother!"

Qian Wende merely chuckled there.

Zhuang Jin glanced back but did not ask. Still, he knew it definitely was not anything proper.

That evening, when the Training Ground closed and they returned to the dormitory, perhaps because last night's shared meal had deepened their relationships, or perhaps because it was the first day of cultivating Martial Skills, the eight of them unusually did not go their separate ways or make idle chatter. Instead, they lay on their beds and discussed what they had gained from cultivation that day.

Xiang Qichen styled himself the dormitory boss, and his attitude was always somewhat condescending, but he did share quite a lot of valuable information. By comparison, Xiong Lei seemed to have somewhat poorer comprehension and only spoke of his own experiences.

The surprising one was Jiao Kun. He was actually quite clever and quick-witted, offering several unique insights. Lin Hong was not the sort to take advantage without giving back, so he too shared what he had learned. As for Zhuang Jin and Bi Kai, there was no need to mention them.

Even Qian Wende, who loved taking advantage of others, sincerely shared quite a bit at this time. Wu Hao was even more long-winded, recounting from start to finish what had happened during his cultivation, how he had thought, and what he had done.

Among the eight, no one merely listened to others' experiences while hiding their own away. For a time, the dormitory appeared quite united and harmonious.