Chapter 155: Not as Strong as You Think

Below the main hall.

Shen Changqing listened to Dongfang Zhao’s words, his hanging heart not easing much.

However, he remained calm on the surface, waiting for Dongfang Zhao to continue.

At this time, both Town Guardians focused their attention on him.

"Rumor has it that you have reached the realm of Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder. Seeing it now, it is indeed true. Your vigorous Qi and blood is unmatched by ordinary people."

Dongfang Zhao nodded in praise.

In his perception, Shen Changqing’s Qi and blood was indeed terrifyingly thick.

After speaking, Dongfang Zhao seemed to see through the changes in Shen Changqing’s heart, and continued, "In less than three short years, you have reached this point today, which can be described as horrifying. If I didn’t sense any evil aura on you, I would have almost thought you were colluding with demons.

"In the Demon Suppression Division, everyone has their own secrets and opportunities.

Without opportunity, unless you are truly blessed with outstanding talent, it is difficult to go too far.

You have your own opportunity, which you deserve. You don’t have to worry about the Demon Suppression Division pursuing it too much. Besides, some things are not as easy as you think."

That last sentence made Shen Changqing feel quite puzzled.

However, Dongfang Zhao’s words made him feel less anxious.

As long as they don’t ask about his opportunities, they can be good friends.

If they ask, then there’s nothing to say.

Fortunately, the Demon Suppression Division’s approach was surprisingly consistent on this point.

No questions.

No probing.

In some ways, it can be considered very humane.

"It’s rare for you and me to have the opportunity to meet. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them. As long as I can answer them, I won’t hide anything, and it can be considered one of your rewards for slaying Mierba."

Dongfang Zhao changed the subject and continued.

Hearing this, Shen Changqing didn’t stand on ceremony. Since everyone was being so candid, there was nothing to be cautious about.

Besides, he had many questions he wanted someone to answer.

Now that Dongfang Zhao was offering, he didn’t need to go to the Scripture Repository to search slowly.

"May I ask Guardian Dongfang, how exactly is the Grandmaster Realm divided, and what stage does Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder belong to?"

"Very well, let me tell you all about it."

Dongfang Zhao wasn’t surprised by Shen Changqing’s first question, as if he had expected it.

After a moment of contemplation, he slowly spoke.

"Just like the Innate Realm is divided into Inner Gang and Outer Gang, the Grandmaster Realm is also divided into several stages. The first stage is Nurturing True Intent. All newly promoted Grandmasters are in this stage.

"What Grandmasters in this stage need to do is hone the True Intent that has just been born and further strengthen it.

When the True Intent becomes strong to a certain extent, you will naturally step into the second stage of the Grandmaster Realm, True Intent Manifestation."

"The so-called True Intent Manifestation is the substantialization of True Intent. Originally, True Intent is just a kind of mental attack, invisible to the naked eye. But when it reaches the level of True Intent Manifestation, True Intent can also be seen with the naked eye, and its power is even stronger.

Mierba, whom you killed, was in such a realm.

The third stage is called Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder. This is an unusual manifestation of the physical body’s Qi and blood reaching a certain limit. Martial artists in this realm possess dragon elephant power, which ordinary people cannot contend with.

The fourth stage is called Great Sun Furnace, which is a transformation to a higher level than Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder. That realm is the real limit of a martial artist’s physical body."

Nurturing True Intent!

True Intent Manifestation!

Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder!

Great Sun Furnace!

Shen Changqing silently recited these four stages in his heart, and suddenly felt something strange.

"These four stages of the Grandmaster Realm, how come they don’t seem to be interconnected?"

"It seems you’ve noticed it too."

Dongfang Zhao revealed a smile, his expression of praise even more pronounced.

"That’s right. In fact, after martial artists reach the Grandmaster Realm, they are divided into two systems: a mental system and a physical system. And the True Essence in a martial artist’s Dantian, strictly speaking, also belongs to the physical system."

Two systems?

The confusion in Shen Changqing’s heart deepened.

However, before he could ask, Dongfang Zhao had already begun the next explanation.

"The path of the mental system is to nurture True Intent, and then reach True Intent Manifestation. After completing True Intent Manifestation, you will have truly reached the peak that a martial artist can achieve!"

"The path of the physical system is to reach Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder, and then reach Great Sun Furnace. After reaching the final step, you will also have reached the peak that a martial artist can achieve."

"Strictly speaking, the two systems do not interfere with each other, but the threshold for entering Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder is very high, much more difficult than entering the gate of True Intent Manifestation.

Almost all Grandmasters who have reached Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder have already crossed the threshold of True Intent Manifestation.

Therefore, many people mistakenly believe that the two stages of the mental system are equivalent to the early and middle stages of the Grandmaster Realm, while the two stages of the physical system are equivalent to the late and peak stages of the Grandmaster Realm.

In fact, this statement is somewhat inaccurate.

In fact, the two systems are not weaker or stronger."

After saying so much in one breath, Dongfang Zhao temporarily stopped speaking, giving Shen Changqing some time to slowly digest it.

What he said was both a secret and not a secret.

As long as they are strong at the Grandmaster level, eight or nine out of ten will understand, unless they are some Grandmasters who cultivate behind closed doors, then that’s another matter.

Mental system!

Physical system!

Combining Dongfang Zhao’s words, Shen Changqing had a great understanding.

It turned out that after breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm, there were two systems to follow: a mental system and a physical system.

However, Shen Changqing discovered another problem.

"If that’s the case, then my breakthrough to Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder is just barely entering the Grandmaster threshold of the physical system. Mierba has already manifested True Intent, which can be considered entering the peak of the mental system.

Logically speaking, his strength should be stronger than mine, but in fact, he was no match for me at all."

"That’s because the strength of the mental system will only show its advantages when it reaches a profound realm."

Dongfang Zhao patiently explained.

"When a martial artist steps into True Intent Manifestation, their strength doesn’t increase much for strong people of the same level, but they have a great suppression effect on martial artists who have not crossed the threshold of True Intent, or whose Qi and blood is not strong enough to form Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder.

On the contrary, once a martial artist steps into the Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder Realm, their strength will increase greatly, and in turn suppress the mental system."

"Whether it is Nurturing True Intent or just stepping into the gate of True Intent Manifestation, they are all in an entry-level stage. Only when True Intent Manifestation reaches a profound realm will it exert extraordinary power.

At that time, a strong person who has truly reached the peak of the mental system is completely no weaker than the peak of the physical system.

But the difficulty of reaching this step is very high. Many people just barely step into the gate of True Intent Manifestation and can no longer move forward, so they can only retreat and start to take the route of the physical system.

Therefore, there is the division of the Grandmaster Realm that is circulated in Jianghu."

Understood!

Completely understood!

It’s not that the mental system is not strong, but that no one can reach the strong step. Almost all Grandmasters barely step into the gate of True Intent Manifestation and give up the mental system, turning to the physical system instead.

In this way, all the Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder Grandmasters have crossed the gate of True Intent Manifestation, also creating the illusion that the physical system is above the mental system.

Mierba had already reached the last stage of the mental system, but he was just wandering around the gate and didn’t go deep into it at all, so he was beaten to death by himself.

To put it bluntly, that Barbarian General didn’t tap into the power that the mental system should have.

On the contrary, he himself used the status panel to take the lead in stepping into the level of Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder.

"In that case, is it easier to enter the mental system, but difficult to specialize in it, while the physical system is difficult to enter, but once you enter, it will be easier to follow up than the mental system?" Shen Changqing summarized.

"You’re right."

Dongfang Zhao looked like a promising child.

Getting confirmed, Shen Changqing temporarily didn’t think about this matter, but noticed another problem in Dongfang Zhao’s words.

"What Guardian Dongfang means is that after the limit of True Intent Manifestation, it is the martial artist’s mental limit, and the Great Sun Furnace is the martial artist’s physical limit?"

Limit!

What is a limit? Only something that cannot be advanced is called a limit!

If the Grandmaster Realm is the limit, then what about the Heaven Rank Demon Slaying Envoys and Town Guardians behind them? Are they all strong people who have broken the limit?

Shen Changqing couldn’t be sure, so he wanted to get the answer from the other party.

"That’s right, they are the limit of martial artists."

"Then may I ask Guardian Dongfang, what kind of realm is it after breaking the limit?"

"Break the limit?"

Dongfang Zhao shook his head and smiled.

"No one has ever been able to break the limit. Since the creation of martial arts, the Grandmaster Realm has been the limit of all martial artists. Maybe someone will be able to break the limit in the future, but now, there is not a single one."

Buzz!

Dongfang Zhao’s words made Shen Changqing’s body sway, his complexion becoming shocked.

What does that mean?

The Grandmaster Realm is the limit?

If the limit cannot be broken, then what is the strength of the Town Guardians, are they also just in the Grandmaster Realm?

Then what about the demons?

Demons are above monsters, and cannot be compared to Grandmasters.

If there are no strong people who have broken the limit in the human race, then what does the human race use to contend against demons?

For a time, Shen Changqing felt that Dongfang Zhao’s words were somewhat ridiculous.

But looking at the other party’s expression, he didn’t think that this Town Guardian was joking.

Faced with the question, the smile on Dongfang Zhao’s face disappeared, his eyes deep, and his expression also became melancholy.

"Heaven Rank Demon Slaying Envoys are not as strong as you think. The Grandmaster Realm is the limit of martial artists, but very few people can truly reach the limit."

"Actually—"

"With your realm of Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder, you are already able to join the ranks of Heaven Rank Demon Slaying Envoys."

End of Chapter