National Division

Chapter 53 Shen Xian: The Martial Arts Unicorn Ranking? (Please continue reading!)

Inside the room, the lamplight was orange-yellow, but the light was dim.

Xue Zhihua thought for a moment and said softly, "There are alchemists, but they require a lot of talent, and the imperial court can't easily cultivate them."

Shen Xian said, "It's not just pills, but also talismans and divine weapons. These can win over the hearts of martial artists all over the world."

Xue Zhihua said softly, "This matter needs to be handled by the Empress. Now it seems that Yuqing wants to force the Empress to return power to the Li Jing clan."

Shen Xian said, "Yuqing, she probably won't agree, will she?"

Just as the two were talking, Zhiyun, with a charming and innocent smile on her round apple face, said softly, "Young master, the wine and dishes have arrived."

Xue Zhihua said, "As we're talking, I'm getting a little hungry. Let's have some food first. You promised to take me to experience the local delicacies of Guhe County, but you haven't done that yet."

Zhiyun and Xiuyue picked up plates of food and wine and placed them on the table next to them.

As she spoke, she washed her hands in the water that Zhiyun and Xiuyue had prepared for washing her face.

The water flowing through her palms and slender fingers sent a slight tremor through Xue Zhihua's heart.

Shen Xian raised an eyebrow, her clear, bright eyes flashing, and said, "Then I'll go with you tomorrow."

"I'm afraid tomorrow won't be an option, as we still need to welcome Princess Qing and her daughter," Xue Zhihua said gently.

As they talked, the two began to eat.

When Shen Xian returned to his residence, he went to the study, walked to a square table, spread out a piece of yellow paper, and wrote three words: "Policy on Governance".

If Jia Yi's "On Governing the State" in history expressed concern about the growing power of princes and members of the imperial family in local areas, then...

His "Policy on Public Security" is a plan for governing the world in chaos caused by demons and monsters.

Shen Xian thought for a moment, then picked up his brush and began to write.

"The chaos caused by demons and monsters in this world is due to the loss of moral order and the inaction of Taoist priests. Evil spirits run rampant, and the people weep in the wilderness. Shen Xian, the son of the county magistrate of Guhe, is deeply concerned about the increasingly severe state of security in the prefectures and counties of the world. He offers his humble opinions and strategies to Your Majesty, hoping to contribute to the central government's decision-making..."

Shen Xian picked up a sheep hair brush and began to write on the yellow paper.

After some time, the yellow paper was found to be covered with writing.

After writing for a while, Shen Xian suddenly had an idea and decided to check his data panel.

Hmm, it seems there's new content again?

The martial arts cultivation level section clearly states: Fifth level of the Acquired Realm.

The martial arts section has been updated with new content: Yellow-rank Iron Chain Blade [Mastery], Yellow-rank Golden Blade Technique can be deduced.

Shen Xian: "???"

Can martial arts skills be used to deduce proficiency?

Then, a message from the Yin-Yang Millstone reached Shen Xian's spiritual platform.

In other words, martial arts techniques can all be derived from human virtues and merits, and the insights gained can be instilled into one's own understanding. With a little practice, one can incorporate them into one's own mastery.

Martial arts skills are divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow. The mastery level is divided into nine stages: [First Steps], [Entering the Inner Chamber], [Comprehensive Understanding], [Mastery], [Outstanding], [Divine], [Returning to Simplicity], [Peak], and [Unity of Heaven and Man].

However, the mastery stage of martial arts is limited by the grade of the Yellow Rank martial arts itself, and there is an upper limit to mastery.

For example, the Iron Chain Blade is a martial art created only by martial artists at the Grandmaster level. No matter how much Shen Xian cultivates it, he can only reach the level of "comprehension and mastery". This is the limitation of low-level martial arts from the womb.

Unless, the rank of martial arts skills is pushed upwards again.

Thinking of this, Shen Xian immersed himself in the matter and discovered that he could deduce the "Golden Knife Technique" to the point of "Comprehension and Mastery", which only required consuming twenty human merit points.

The fact that so little was consumed made Shen Xian realize that the purchasing power of human merit was still quite strong.

"Deduction!"

Before long, a surge of enlightenment about the Golden Saber Technique flooded into his mind like a tidal wave. It seemed as if countless little figures were practicing the Golden Saber Technique in his mind, and those little figures were none other than Shen Xian.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Xian exhaled a deep breath, focusing his mind on the remaining 270 merit points, his gaze blank and unfocused.

The millstone is excellent and powerful.

In other words, he will be able to spend much less energy and time on martial arts and immortal cultivation techniques from now on.

It's important to understand that people's time and energy are limited.

He remembered that it had taken him three years to practice the Iron Chain Saber to his current level. This was not surprising. Even in his previous life, mastering a skill, such as learning the piano, might have taken five or six years to reach a high level of proficiency, and might even have required training from childhood.

How many five- or six-year periods does a person have in their lifetime?
The humanistic merits of the Yin-Yang Millstone saved him a lot of time.

However, I still need to practice my swordsmanship tomorrow; I can't be all talk and no action.

Just then, light footsteps came from outside. Zhiyun held a blue and white porcelain teacup containing ginseng soup and said, "Young master, it's late. You should rest early."

Shen Xian picked up a blue and white porcelain teacup and took a small sip.

Then, he turned around, went back to the inner room, took off his clothes, and lay down on the bed to fall into a deep sleep.

Nothing more to say all night.

……

……

The next day, as dawn broke, golden sunlight streamed through the window and into the room, while birdsong filled the courtyard, adding to the lively atmosphere of spring on the peach blossoms.

Shen Xian got up early, changed into a loose robe, and went to the training room, ready to practice his understanding of the "Golden Saber Technique" from yesterday.

He picked up a single-edged sword from the weapon rack and began to practice the Iron Chain Sword and Golden Sword Techniques that he had fused and deduced with the millstone the day before.

The blade flashed with a "whoosh," its sharpness unparalleled, almost as dazzling as moonlight, blazing brightly in the eyes.

Shen Xian was covered in sweat in no time.

"Young master, the hot water is ready."

Shen Xian said, "I'll go take a shower first, then we'll go eat."

After taking a bath and having breakfast, Shen Xian went to the courtyard where Xue Zhihua lived.

Xue Zhihua had changed into a white chiffon lotus dress, and her cold and aloof temperament from the previous day had been replaced with a cool and lively charm.

"Hmm, has your cultivation level broken through?" Xue Zhihua asked with a smile.

As a powerful cultivator at the third level of the Immortal Path, the Danxia Realm, with keen divine sense, he naturally detected the changes in Shen Xian's aura.

Shen Xian said, "Yesterday I broke through to the fifth level of the Acquired Realm. My talent is dull, so my martial arts cultivation will eventually be slower."

He's only fifteen years old and at the fifth level of the Acquired Realm, so it's hard to call him a martial arts prodigy. He needs to break through to the Innate Realm as soon as possible.

Xue Zhihua's gaze softened slightly as she encouraged him, "Your talent is already quite good. Without the aid of elixirs, some of the scions of military families in the capital might not be as fast as you in your cultivation. Martial arts cultivation is like building a house; if the foundation is solid, you can go further in the future."

Shen Xian nodded, not feeling particularly discouraged.

All he needs now is time.

"Young martial arts talents, although not listed among the three immortal lists of Heaven, Earth and Man, will be evaluated by the judges of the Qilin Pavilion in the capital to determine the younger generation of the Jianghu Qilin List and be recorded. If they want to become military officers, the Empress will also directly grant them a position."

"The Heaven, Earth, and Man Rankings? The Jianghu Qilin Ranking?" Shen Xian blinked and murmured.

The three lists of Heaven, Earth, and Man are actually the lists of immortals; this is self-explanatory, and he can understand it.

The Jianghu Qilin Ranking should be a list for evaluating figures in the Jianghu (martial arts world).

I'm afraid these lists all have certain requirements regarding age and cultivation level.

The Empress Dowager's decision to directly appoint officials to those listed on the Jianghu Qilin Ranking based on their abilities truly demonstrates her great courage.

However, recalling the empress of her previous life, who pioneered the military examinations and allowed those from humble backgrounds to submit their suggestions directly, her courage and skill were extraordinary.

However, he had already written about the cultivation of martial arts talent in his "Policy on Governance" yesterday, and even proposed to establish martial arts academies at all levels to cultivate martial arts talent for the court.

"This matter cannot be explained in a few words." Xue Zhihua smiled and said in a clear voice, "We will go to pick up Princess Qing and her daughter now, and we can talk about it on the way."

Shen Xian nodded and did not ask any further questions. Instead, he followed Xue Zhihua into the outer room.

Shen Xian suddenly remembered the toad monster that helped Xu Lin murder his father and asked curiously: Miss Xue, where is that golden toad?

"I've put it into my spirit beast pouch. I'll take it to the Vermilion Bird Division in a while and let the senior brothers of the Beast Taming lineage study it," Xue Zhihua said.

As they spoke, they left the county town and flew downstream along the Gu River.

(End of this chapter)