Seeing Meng Zhao adjust his mindset so quickly and humbly seek guidance, Shi Jie could not help but admire him even more.
"Meng boy, do you know how many parts make up a martial artist's foundational strength? We're speaking only of the Acquired Realm."
Meng Zhao thought for a moment. It was not difficult, and he answered,
"Internal arts, external arts, combat experience, and perhaps external aids as well, such as divine weapons and sharp tools."
Shi Jie nodded, then shook his head, saying with some emotion,
"You are right, but you are also wrong, because the standards differ.
Take internal strength, for instance. Though both may be at Acquired Perfection, your Meng Family's Red Flag Order is vastly superior to ordinary Innate divine arts and holds far too many advantages.
It can often allow one to fight across realms. How could they possibly be measured by the same standard?
Therefore, I personally divide it into four aspects: martial arts, cultivation, combat experience, and external aids.
Martial arts refer to the techniques you cultivate.
Are they common, lowly street-corner skills, or can they lead directly to Grandmasterhood and even the Celestial Realm? Different grades of martial arts have an incomparably important influence on a martial artist's strength and future path of martial dao.
Cultivation refers to both internal and external cultivation. As the saying goes, 'Practice martial arts without cultivating inner power, and all your efforts will come to nothing in old age.' Internal arts naturally occupy an incomparably important position, while external arts, as the direct means of wielding internal power, cannot be overlooked either.
In these two respects, you have actually done quite well. Your foundation is solid, your force fierce and powerful. Anyone weaker than you in martial dao will surely be suppressed by you beyond all