CHAPTER 23: CHAPTER 22: TALENT SCREENING! RESOURCE SKEW!

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

In just over three months, how could Jiang Shu transition from an ordinary person directly to a Martial Artist, crossing two major thresholds, from Qi Blood Sensing to Qi Blood Transport? The academy. Could Jiang Shu really enter the academy? In the entire Xia Country, there are only four academies. In the entirety of Ji City, only a few dozen people could enter the academy each year. He, Jiang Shu... How could it be possible! It’s all fake, all of it!

Wang Han slumped in his seat, utterly dispirited, as if struck by lightning.

「Diligent Study Building. The Principal’s Office.」

Jiang Shu, clad in a single garment, stood in a firm horse stance, performing Qi Blood Transport with his Horse Stance at Great Success. In front of him, Zheng Yanbo and Zhang Taining stood side by side. However, unlike Zheng Yanbo’s composure, Zhang Taining’s gaze betrayed his unease; despite being old enough to "know his destiny," he appeared like a student about to enter an examination hall.

Jiang Shu’s surge to the academy through Qi Blood Transport was merely his own momentary judgment. Not being a professional, he still required Zheng Yanbo’s approval.

"Principal Zhang, congratulations. Your school has indeed found a rare talent; the academy is within reach."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Taining breathed a sigh of relief, joy evident on his face.

At this moment, Zheng Yanbo turned to Jiang Shu, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze, "Jiang Shu, is it? Please, have a seat and talk; no need to be formal."

Without any pretense, Zheng Yanbo sat down first and cut right to the chase. "I wonder if you, aside from cultivating Martial Arts, have kept up with current news. If one pays attention, it would not be hard to realize that the world seems to be entering a new era. There is an ongoing surge of unprecedented change every day."

"Many things you might not know, but some forums have already been spreading the word. Deep in the forests, medicinal herbs over a hundred years old are emerging more frequently. Some wild animals seem to be on a fast track of evolution, their Spiritual Wisdom and physique increasing daily. In the ocean, desert, and depths of the rainforest—places rarely entered by humans—minor natural disasters are occurring from time to time."

"All of this is not false. The world is changing significantly, just as the agricultural era met the industrial revolution. To not progress, to not develop, is to fall behind! Thus, we in the East pursue Martial Arts, and the West studies genetics, all in an effort to break human limits and meet more opportunities and challenges."

Turning on the air conditioning, Zhang Taining humbled himself and started brewing tea. He handed a cup of tea at just the right temperature to Zheng Yanbo, then handed the second cup to Jiang Shu.

"Thank you, Principal Zhang."

Taking the tea with both hands, Jiang Shu took a slight sip, then placed it aside and sat upright. His expression was calm, but his heart surged like a tide.

After unlocking the mysteries of gestation, aside from cultivating Martial Arts, he had always kept an eye on the changes in the world. Events that used to be somewhat puzzling suddenly became clear, as if the fog had lifted. For instance, the relocation of the zoo most likely happened because some animals had begun to evolve, significantly enhancing their Spiritual Wisdom and physique. Animals evolve, plants evolve, but what about humans? Eastern Martial Arts, Western genetics! Unlike the passive evolution of flora and fauna, human evolution is active—actively choosing the path of evolution to adapt to this rapidly changing world! Zheng Yanbo’s brief remarks contained both direct expressions and indirect revelations, such as welcoming more opportunities and challenges. What are the opportunities, and what are the challenges? He did not specify exactly, but it had already shown that the real world is absolutely not as various countries portray it.

Jiang Shu thought to himself but did not ask outright. He listened quietly, waiting for Zheng Yanbo to take a sip of tea and continue.

"Jiang Shu, you have cultivated the Horse Stance to Great Success, and you must have realized by now. The Horse Stance is merely the most fundamental of Martial Arts. Its sole purpose is to strengthen one’s own Qi Blood. It can progress from Qi Blood Sensing to a complete circulation of Qi Blood throughout the body."

"But this is its limit. Even the most talented Martial Arts genius cannot break this limit. Thus, after the Horse Stance reaches Perfection, we need to cultivate another Martial Art, the Guiding Skill."

"It is about condensing the Qi Blood throughout the body into vigor. This is the Guiding Skill. And what I talked about in the lecture today—manifesting vigor, Dark Force, and transforming vigor—represent three Realms, as well as three methods of exerting vigor."

"Do you know what this means? It means that the Martial Arts Realm cannot simply be achieved through resources alone! It must be the Martial Artist themself, genuinely cultivating, comprehending with their Talent!"

"Without sufficient Talent, even an enormous amount of resources can only enhance the Qi Blood of an ordinary person. Without understanding the methods of exerting vigor and being unable to manifest it, no amount of precious medicinal herbs or rare beast meat will break the thousand-pound limit! For a lifetime, they’re just a slightly stronger ordinary person!"

"Thus, including the Horse Stance in the college entrance exam system is actually a massive selection of Martial Arts Talent among young students in society!"

"Without any supplements of Qi Blood herbs or beast meat, cultivating to a certain realm indicates that this Martial Arts Student has the potential to become a Martial Artist, capable of comprehending the techniques of exerting vigor on their own and breaking the human body’s limits!"

Sitting upright in the chair, Zheng Yanbo said forcefully, "The Martial Arts college entrance exam isn’t really about how strong you are or whether your Qi Blood is powerful. It’s about analyzing your Martial Arts Talent!"

"Qi Blood Sensing, Qi Blood Transport, complete circulation of body’s Qi Blood—these are not Realms, but three levels of Talent! The higher the Talent, the more resources one will get in the future!"

Zheng Yanbo became more and more passionate as he spoke. Zhang Taining, however, grew increasingly alarmed as he listened.

Even as a principal, his knowledge was limited. All things evolve, the cultivation of Martial Arts... a brand new world seemed to unfold before him like a scroll in an instant.

He couldn’t help but interject, "Mr. Zheng, then in that case, isn’t that unfair for some students who didn’t choose Martial Arts? Because they also don’t know that this is a selection based on Talent; maybe they also have Martial Arts Talent?"

"Fair? Where is there absolute fairness in this world!" Zheng Yanbo scoffed. "In any profession, choice is greater than effort! The world is developing, and people’s understanding is also developing. Concealing some information is just to maintain the stability of society. Yet the promotion of Martial Arts in Xia Country has not stopped for even a day!"

"Incorporating Martial Arts into the college exam system, initiating Martial Arts film projects, not to mention the important speeches at Shengjing Academy... Today’s students need to see more new facets. You, Principal Zhang, must understand what these new facets are."

"Talent is not cabbage, available to everyone. Since the Horse Stance was introduced nearly four months ago, with nearly four months of promoting Martial Arts, if one still does not cultivate Martial Arts, does not love Martial Arts, is not devoted to Martial Arts, and cannot form a true heart for Martial Arts, what talk is there of Talent!"