Promise!

Chapter 36, Harmony

"What if the realm is one level lower, but the martial arts level is higher?" Xiang Qichen asked.

"It's Xiao Xiang!" Tang Wentao frowned subconsciously when he heard someone interrupting, but when he saw it was Xiang Qichen, his brows relaxed instantly.

Before coming, he had read the information. Xiang Qichen had broken through to the official warrior level in just fourteen days and was extremely talented. Naturally, he had a different attitude towards such a good student and praised him, "That's a good question!"

At this moment, Zhuang Jin subconsciously glanced at Qian Wende, and sure enough, Qian Wende's expression at this moment was as if he had eaten shit. No wonder, when he asked cleverly before, he was directly stared at with a sharp gaze, and now when he asked Qi Chen, it became "That's a good question". Does he have to treat people so obviously differently?
Tang Wentao naturally ignored Qian Wende's complicated thoughts and said, "Let me tell you, if there's a one-level difference, even if the martial arts level is higher than the opponent, it's useless! The martial artist of the higher level will react faster, and the lower level martial artist will not be able to hit them. Even if they do hit, the higher level martial artist will be able to neutralize it with more powerful internal energy."

"For example: a second-level martial artist hasn't mastered the Black Evil Palm yet, while a first-level martial artist has mastered it. If the two face off, even if the second-level martial artist has mastered the Black Evil Palm and can only strike out an inch with his Ming Jin, what good will it do? The moment the Black Evil Palm's power contacts the first-level martial artist's palm, it will be directly neutralized by the first-level martial artist's more powerful power. Once the distance is even an inch, and their palms touch, the first-level martial artist will probably be shaken to pieces!"

With this example, Zhuang Jin and others understood and took note carefully that among warriors, he was the highest in cultivation level.

Seeing their reactions, Tang Wentao nodded. "As for 'post-martial arts', as the name suggests, they are ranked after realms and are used to compete with those within the same realm. If they are both second-level practitioners, one has mastered the Black Evil Palm, while the other has not. The one who has mastered it will definitely have a huge advantage over the one who hasn't. An inch of distance is no joke. As the saying goes, an inch longer, an inch stronger!"

"Master Tang, what if it's a handheld weapon?" Xiang Qichen asked again.

"Weapons? Do you know why the martial arts you were taught were the Black Evil Palm? And not some kind of knife or sword?"

Before they could speak, Tang Wentao answered himself: "Because the Qi Condensation Realm, to some extent, is not suitable for weapons!"

"Warriors like us have internal energy within us, which we transform into strength when we strike out. However, neither this energy nor this strength can be channeled into weapons. If one person strikes with a sword while another strikes with a palm, the force will directly shatter the weapon, deforming the movement, and the former will lose the initiative and become passive."

"Of course, having said that, strength can't be transmitted to weapons. However, warriors like us have our bodies strengthened by internal energy. Under the circulation of internal energy, our strength and reaction far exceed those of ordinary people. If we were not fighting at the same level, with the upper class bullying the lower class, the problem I just mentioned would not occur."

Tang Wentao used another analogy: "For example, if I'm at the Third Sutra Realm, and I'm empowered by my internal energy, and I swing with all my might, if the enemy is also at the Third Sutra Realm, and they can unleash a powerful palm strike without dodging, they can shatter my sword. But are you at the Second Sutra Realm, or the First Sutra Realm? Even if it's a palm strike with the same power, if you dare to strike, I can chop your palm off!"

With this, Zhuang Jin and the others understood that weapons are not useless in their current realm, but they are not very useful. They are not as good as bare hands against enemies in the same realm, so they can be used to bully weaklings. However, the strong can still kill without weapons, and using weapons can at most increase their efficiency.

"In short, it still means the same thing: realm first, martial arts second! When you encounter an enemy with a higher realm than you, even if it's just one level higher, the opponent's internal energy is condensed, the body is strengthened, and the strength and speed are far superior to yours in all aspects. You will have no way to fight him. Don't hesitate, run immediately. This is the only possible way to survive!" Tang Wentao concluded.

"Master Tang, let's talk about the assessment at the end of this month. How should we choose between the cultivation realm and martial arts?" It was Xiang Qichen who asked this question.

Zhuang Jin and the others could see that Tang Wentao treated those with good qualifications differently, but ignored those with less qualifications.

"This feeling is exactly like the feeling most teachers had towards good and bad students in my previous school!" Zhuang Jin sighed inwardly.

"You should feel that you have a unique talent, one in a million, a once-in-a-century opportunity. You can pursue both simultaneously. If you are less confident, you can focus on one or the other based on your own circumstances."

Tang Wentao said, "In my experience, one's innate strength determines the speed of cultivation; and what determines the speed of martial arts cultivation is comprehension and innate strength."

"Also, whether it's the realm of cultivation or the level of martial arts, any breakthrough in one will bring about a positive impact on the other."

"For example, if you break through the Second Sutra, your internal energy will be condensed and strong, and practicing the Black Evil Palm will definitely be much easier than when you were at the First Sutra. Of course, if you start with the Black Evil Palm at the First Sutra, and become proficient in controlling your internal energy, it will also be more conducive to breaking through the bottleneck of the Second Sutra."

Hearing this, Zhuang Jin and the other eight nodded to show that they understood.

"Okay, now I will explain the Black Evil Palm first. You will have a quarter of an hour to ask questions later, and then each of you can practice on your own according to the route you choose!" After Tang Wentao finished speaking, he explained the Black Evil Palm systematically, and then it was time for everyone to ask questions.

Zhuang Jin lay in bed every night pondering the Black Evil Palm and had accumulated a lot of questions. Soon it was his turn to ask for advice. Unexpectedly, Tang Wentao's attitude towards him was quite friendly and kind, even better than Xiang Qichen.

——This is naturally because Tang Wentao has read Zhuang Jin's records, in which there is a special note: The body's Qi and blood are deficient, which is not conducive to breaking through the first step of a warrior to control Qi and blood. He still broke through to become a formal warrior in seventeen days, and his actual qualifications may be in ten to fourteen days.

Of course he likes such a good student!

……

Like Professor Ping Yongfeng of Wu Shengshi, Tang Wentao stayed for about an incense stick of time and then left. They practiced on their own for the rest of the time. Time passed quickly and the morning passed quickly.

At noon, after lunch, the eight people in the dormitory went to the General Affairs Department to collect the basic monthly allowance for this month. After Jiao Kun received it, he immediately returned the two cents of silver he had borrowed from Xiang Qichen.

At this time, a servant suddenly came over and said that Jiao Kun's family had come and were waiting at the door.

Because the General Affairs Office was not far from the outer courtyard gate, Zhuang Jin also saw Jiao Kun's father. He looked to be in his forties, and like Jiao Kun, his skin was also a little dark. Judging from his clothes, he seemed to be from an ordinary well-off family, not very wealthy.

He saw Jiao's father give Jiao Kun a palm-sized bag, probably a purse, and then said something. He thought it was instructing him to practice hard. Jiao Kun waved his hand impatiently, said "I know" and went in.

The group walked back. On the way, Qian Wende called Jiao Kun to stop and fell behind.

Originally, Jiao Kun probably still remembered that Qian Wende didn't lend him money, so his face was a little cold and hard. But then Qian Wende whispered something, and Jiao Kun just laughed and cursed: "Fuck you!"

Qian Wende just stood there laughing.

Zhuang Jin looked back but didn't ask, but he knew it was definitely not a serious matter.

……

The training ground closed in the evening and they returned to the dormitory. Perhaps because of the dinner last night, their relationship had deepened, or perhaps because today was the first day of practicing martial arts, the eight of them rarely did not go their own way or chat, but instead lay on the bed and discussed their experience in today's practice.

Xiang Qichen claimed to be the boss of the dormitory, and his attitude was always a bit condescending, but he did say a lot of useful information; in comparison, Xiong Lei seemed to have a lower level of understanding and only shared some of his own experiences.

What was surprising was that Jiao Kun was actually quite smart and clever, and he offered some unique insights; Lin Hong was not the type to take advantage, and he also shared his own thoughts; needless to say, Zhuang Jin and Bi Kai.

Even Qian Wende, who loved to take advantage, said a lot sincerely at this time. Wu Hao was even more nagging, repeating everything he had experienced, thought, and done during his cultivation.

Among the eight people, no one only listened to other people's experiences while keeping their own. For a while, the dormitory seemed quite united and harmonious.

……

(End of this chapter)