Chapter 156: Martial Artist Limits

Earth-Rank Demon Slayers are Grandmasters.

Heaven-Rank Demon Slayers are also Grandmasters.

So, what about the Guardians?

Shen Changqing’s complexion subtly changed. The information he received from Dongfang Zhao completely overturned his previous understanding of martial arts.

Before this, he had always believed that there were other realms beyond the Grandmaster level.

If Earth-Rank Demon Slayers were Grandmasters, then Heaven-Rank Demon Slayers should be powerful individuals above the Grandmaster level. As for the Guardians, they were completely above even the Heaven-Rank.

But Dongfang Zhao’s words shattered that assumption.

It turned out that the Grandmaster realm was the limit for martial artists.

However…

Shen Changqing looked at the Guardian before him. In his perception, the other’s aura was like an unfathomable abyss, something he couldn’t even begin to comprehend.

If what Guardian Dongfang says is true, and the Grandmaster realm is the limit, then what about the Guardians?

If I’m not mistaken, Guardian Dongfang’s strength is beyond what a mere Grandmaster can achieve!

Facing the question, Dongfang Zhao remained calm.

"Guardians, strictly speaking, are also Grandmasters, but not entirely so. Someday, when you have the opportunity to become a Guardian, you will naturally understand the difference.

Moreover, the method of becoming a Guardian is a secret, an unspeakable secret.

If you ever have the chance to become a Guardian, you must also guard this secret closely. If anyone reveals it without authorization, even a Guardian will not escape blame."

His tone didn’t fluctuate much, but Shen Changqing could detect a strong killing intent within it.

Clearly, Guardians were indeed different from ordinary martial artists.

After Dongfang Zhao finished speaking, he asked his next question.

"How can one become a Guardian?"

"When your mental system manifests True Intent, and your physical body resonates with the Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder, you may have the opportunity to become a Guardian," Dongfang Zhao replied.

True Intent Manifestation!

Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder!

Shen Changqing examined his own condition. He had already achieved the latter, but he was still far from manifesting True Intent.

He didn’t ask any more questions, instead slowly digesting Dongfang Zhao’s words.

Martial artist limits!

Two major systems!

These were all things Shen Changqing hadn’t known before.

Only after Dongfang Zhao spoke did he understand that Grandmaster was indeed the limit for martial artists. The further one went in these two systems, the stronger they became. The so-called divisions of Early, Middle, and Late Grandmaster were not entirely accurate.

If a Middle-stage Grandmaster had gone far in True Intent manifestation, they could slay a Late-stage Grandmaster who had only achieved Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder.

"Alright, if you don’t have any more questions for now, you don’t need to rush to think about them. With your talent, meeting a Guardian in the future won’t be difficult. If you have any questions, you can come to me or search the Scripture Repository."

Dongfang Zhao’s gentle voice sounded.

"The Scripture Repository collects writings and exquisite martial arts from all over the world. Eighty or ninety percent of everything in the world is recorded there."

Eighty or ninety percent were recorded there, meaning there were still things that couldn’t be recorded.

How to become a Guardian was one of them.

After a pause, Dongfang Zhao said, "You slew a Barbarian General. The Imperial Court is currently dealing with an urgent situation, so they cannot give out rewards at the moment, but the Demon Suppression Division can give you appropriate rewards.

After all, you have rendered meritorious service to the Great Qin Dynasty and to the human race. The Demon Suppression Division will definitely not be stingy."

"Answering your questions is one of the rewards. The remaining two rewards are, first, arranging for you to be qualified to enter the Seclusion Pavilion for bitter cultivation, without needing to complete fixed tasks every year like ordinary Demon Slayers.

The second reward is giving you three hundred merit points."

Shen Changqing didn’t know what kind of place the Seclusion Pavilion was, but three hundred merit points were a tangible benefit.

A Fiend Rank monster only gave ten to thirty merit points.

In other words, slaying ten Fiend Rank monsters comparable to Peak Grandmasters would only give three hundred merit points.

By that calculation, three hundred merit points was an extremely generous reward.

The Cold Moon Saber at his waist could already be considered a divine weapon, but it only cost eight merit points to exchange for it.

With this batch of merit points from the Demon Suppression Division, Shen Changqing felt that he could fully arm himself, raising his overall strength to another level.

"May I ask, Guardian Dongfang, what kind of place is the Seclusion Pavilion? And if one enters the Seclusion Pavilion, can they no longer take on missions?"

He asked a question he was more concerned about.

Three hundred merit points was good, but Shen Changqing had to understand what kind of place the Seclusion Pavilion was.

For ordinary people, not having to go on missions was undoubtedly a good thing.

Because not going on missions meant the danger would be reduced significantly.

But for Shen Changqing, not going on missions meant no slaughter points arriving.

If there were no slaughter points arriving, relying on his own bitter cultivation would leave him with almost no room for improvement. The martial arts he possessed had long broken through their limits to an unrecognizable degree.

According to what Dongfang Zhao said, if the Grandmaster realm was the limit, Shen Changqing suspected that the martial arts ranks in the Scripture Repository wouldn’t be very high either.

In that case, further improvement would truly have to rely on slaughter points.

"Martial artist limits!"

I possess a status panel and slaughter points, so I might be able to try breaking through the limits—

Shen Changqing thought to himself, remaining calm on the surface.

On the other side, Zhou Yuanzheng didn’t say a word from beginning to end, simply watching the two’s conversation like an observer.

But when Dongfang Zhao mentioned the rewards, there was a slight change in his expression.

Seemingly angry.

Also seemingly helpless.

Dongfang Zhao smiled and replied, "Entering the Seclusion Pavilion only means you don’t have to forcibly carry out missions. If you want to carry out missions, the Demon Suppression Division has no restrictions. Moreover, the Seclusion Pavilion is a good place that no other branch can compare to.

Regarding the martial artist limit, the Seclusion Pavilion has been researching how to break through it.

You reached the Tiger Roar Leopard Thunder stage at a young age, so arranging for you to enter the Seclusion Pavilion is also so that you have the opportunity to break through the limit someday, completing an achievement that no one has ever been able to accomplish."

After speaking, Dongfang Zhao silently added in his heart: Although this possibility is extremely small, it is still a hope.

"In that case, the Seclusion Pavilion is a good place after all."

"That’s natural. Countless Demon Slayers would break their heads trying to enter the Seclusion Pavilion, but unfortunately, none of them have succeeded. After all, not everyone can enter the Seclusion Pavilion.

One must have a certain amount of merit, and also have sufficient talent.

This talent can be wisdom that ordinary people cannot compare to, or it can be outstanding martial arts talent. One must have one of the two in order to enter the Seclusion Pavilion."

The words from Dongfang Zhao’s mouth gave Shen Changqing a better understanding of the Seclusion Pavilion.

Before this, he had never heard of the Seclusion Pavilion’s name.

"I am willing to enter the Seclusion Pavilion!"

After thinking for a moment, Shen Changqing nodded in agreement.

At least from the current understanding, entering the Seclusion Pavilion wasn’t a bad thing.

There were no mandatory missions, but it didn’t restrict Demon Slayers from taking on missions. In that case, it was obviously a good thing.

In addition.

The Seclusion Pavilion researching how to break through the martial artist limit was also what he needed.

Even though he possessed a status panel, Shen Changqing felt that as long as he had sufficient slaughter points, he would definitely be able to break through the limit.

However.

Guesses were still guesses, without any substantial evidence.

What if the status panel couldn’t allow him to break through the limit? Then entering the Seclusion Pavilion would allow him to find corresponding methods.

Taking a step back.

Even if he really couldn’t break through the limit, he could find a way to become a Guardian when True Intent manifested in the future. In that case, his strength would still increase.

Looking at it from several aspects, Shen Changqing couldn’t find a reason to refuse joining.

"Good!"

Dongfang Zhao nodded in satisfaction.

"Someone will come to find you in three days, leading you to the Seclusion Pavilion. There are no restrictions for these three days. You can go to the Demon Suppression Division or the capital, but I hope you stay in the Demon Suppression Division after three days.

Otherwise, if the people from the Seclusion Pavilion come and can’t find you, there will be some unnecessary trouble."

"This subordinate understands."

"This is three hundred merit points, take it!"

Dongfang Zhao waved his hand, and a golden light flew over.

Shen Changqing reached out to receive it, and saw that when the golden light touched his palm, it stopped precisely, without leaking any excess power.

What powerful control!

Slightly startled in his heart, he then opened his palm, where there were three faint golden Demon Suppression Coins.

"A faint golden Demon Suppression Coin is equivalent to one hundred merit points," Dongfang Zhao explained plainly.

One coin was equal to one hundred merit points, three coins were three hundred merit points.

On the three Demon Suppression Coins, Shen Changqing also felt a surging true Qi rising up. Clearly, that was the true Qi left behind by a previous powerful individual.

Judging from the fluctuations alone, the powerful individual who left the true Qi was very likely at the Grandmaster level.

Solemnly putting away the Demon Suppression Coins, he clasped his fist in thanks.

"Thank you, Guardian Dongfang."

"If there’s nothing else, you can go back first."

"Yes!"

Watching Shen Changqing leave the main hall, Zhou Yuanzheng’s indifferent expression became a mocking smile.

"Three hundred merit points, you’re willing to dig into your pockets!"

Such a quantity of merit points was an astronomical figure for Demon Slayers, and it was also no small consumption for Guardians.

These merit points were clearly not from the Imperial Court; the reward was given by Dongfang Zhao himself out of his own pocket.

Hearing this, Dongfang Zhao wore a bitter smile. "Don’t rub salt on my wounds. The rewards that should be given must be given, otherwise, it will lead to disloyalty and alienation. Now that the Imperial Court is unwilling to give them, we can only bear it ourselves."

"Merit points are a small matter, the Imperial Court is a big matter. At the court meeting, His Majesty targeted our Demon Suppression Division. I’m afraid there will be other actions later on. If it’s not handled well, the Demon Suppression Division might be in turmoil," Zhou Yuanzheng said meaningfully.

Merit points were a small matter; he could take out three hundred merit points, and Dongfang Zhao could also take them out.

But what about the future?

If the Imperial Court took further action, what was paid wouldn’t just be as simple as three hundred merit points.

Dongfang Zhao’s smile disappeared, and his face darkened.

"We’ll talk about future matters later. For now, we’ll take it one step at a time. His Majesty is wise and won’t go too far. Now that evil is rampant, even if the Demon Suppression Division is ostracized, it won’t be too difficult."

End of Chapter