"Starting today, you are an official disciple of 'Hong Sheng'."
Old Liang's face lit up with a relieved smile, as if he had accomplished a great wish and shed a heavy burden.
"According to the old rules, we should be offering tea, kowtowing, sending hero posts, and holding an inauguration banquet.
But since Dongxia has established a new calendar, we won't bother with those formalities. Let's keep it simple.
Tonight, I'll take you to the memorial tablets to light some incense, kneel down, and that will be it."
Hong Sheng?
It seems like a prestigious name!
Qin Shi's eyelid twitched. Is this some old martial arts sect?
He often read many extracurricular books and recalled a book called "Miscellaneous Chronicles of the Jianghu," which mentioned numerous strange events and stories in the martial arts world.
For example, different sects standing firm, opposing each other from north to south, their branches spreading out, creating endless entanglements of grievances and vendettas...
In short, during the heyday of Old Martial, everyone held "status" and "legitimacy" in high regard, to the point of resorting to violence and bloodshed, forming grudges that lasted generations.
Therefore, for each major sect, each plaque, each title, carried significant weight.
Not just anyone could claim a title or take in disciples at will.
Without real skills, you wouldn't last long before someone came to challenge you and force you out, ashamed and defeated.
"You're quite the thinker for such a young age, always imagining things. If Hong Sheng were a major sect, it would have long been absorbed and appeased by the Martial Arts Association, with some official positions distributed. How could it have ended up in the hands of a cripple like me?"
Seeing Qin Shi's wandering thoughts, Old Liang felt quite helpless:
"Back in the day, the martial arts world was a mix of good and bad. To gain a foothold, sects would recruit broadly and adopt prestigious names.
Most often, they used names inherited from long-standing traditions, almost mythical Holy Land Dojos like 'Shaoshi' and 'True Martial'.
But just like ordinary folks who prefer worshipping in small temples over grand statues, thinking their wishes might be granted more easily, many small temples such as 'Hong Sect', 'Cyan Sect', and 'Thief Sect' thrived similarly.
The so-called Hong Sheng refers to a title under the Hong Sect. Not particularly prominent, with no outstanding geniuses."
Qin Shi scratched his head, somewhat unwilling to give up:
"Master Liang, when the Martial Arts Association absorbed all the major sects, didn't our Hong Sheng's ancestral elders gain any advancements?
At least they could have managed to become division chairmen, presidents, or honorary members, right? So their disciples could also bask in their glory!"
Since he had formally apprenticed, he naturally hoped to find a strong backing and save twenty years of struggle!
"Hmm, now that you mention it, I do recall something."
Old Liang suddenly slapped his forehead, his tone rising excitedly.
This display made Qin Shi overjoyed.
"Master Liang, what do you recall?"
He eagerly rubbed his hands, ready to cling to the lifeline.
"Our Hong Sheng indeed has someone in the Martial Arts Association!"
"Who? Please explain in detail, Master Liang!"
Old Liang deliberately slowed down, dawdling for a while before he spoke:
"That would be me, your master—I'm a member of the Heng Province Martial Arts Association, with an honorary certificate."
When I get ranked, I'll be able to get one too!
Qin Shi's mouth twitched. Old Liang was clearly having fun at his expense!
"So, it turns out that Hong Sheng only had you as the main pillar, Master Liang, plus me, the sole seedling?"
"Young man, be practical and don't dream of reaching the sky in one bound. The Hong Sect was indeed a powerful entity, like the sun at noon.
But no matter how strong a martial artist is, can they really match up to guns?
How do you think the Martial Arts Association was established? How did they subdue those unruly, defiant, and extraordinarily resilient warriors with life forces surpassing hundreds of points?
These unruly types, who, in the Old Era, dared to assassinate kings and rebel, wouldn't have submitted without facing the iron fist!"
Taking disciples is truly delightful!
Old Liang laughed heartily, finally able to unleash his long-suppressed urge to recount past events.
"Like the ancient Holy Lands such as 'Shaoshi' and 'True Martial' which have stood for millennia, recognizing that their lands, temples, and monasteries belonged to society and handing over some of their cultivation techniques helped avoid major chaos.
As for Hong Sect, Cyan Sect, Thief Sect, why did they disappear? Because their leaders refused to comply at first, then the next day, they were labeled as criminal organizations and had warrants issued against them.
That very night, warships entered the spaceport, launching the third largest and most intense anti-terrorism exercise ever."
Qin Shi's heart trembled slightly.
This was not just from cracking down on crime to combating terrorism; it was extermination, annihilating entire families!
Did those leaders' minds get clouded by fat gains?
Or had they been in power so long that they couldn't tell the difference between king and pawn?
Daring to challenge the national will?
It's crucial to note that Dongxia's New Calendar spans nine millennia, six of which involved great expeditions and expansions, swelling its territories and influence.
This formidable regime, bursting with martial vigor, almost unified half a galaxy.
How could a group of social misfits hope to contend?
"In about fourteen hours, with less than one-fifth of the forces deployed, they subdued all strongholds. During this time, a few old warriors near Martial God level resisted, only to be trampled to death by two hundred Divine Machine Armour units live.
Mercifully, Marshal Yang especially pardoned and retained some core members who switched sides, granting them honorary positions in the Martial Arts Association and allowing them to keep their banners and run training institutions."
Old Liang's offhand remarks revealed the bloody turmoil in the martial arts world.
From another perspective, it could be termed an "apocalyptic calamity"!
"Managing to survive for several hours indicates they had some strength, no wonder they were so arrogant.
But it still feels like they were bewitched, thinking they could really win?"
Qin Shi silently grumbled, the nine grand marshals whose names and deeds were recorded in history books for their illustrious military achievements were all at the Martial God level.
Not to mention the ferocious battle group soldiers stationed on various ancient stars, each one more ruthless than the last.
Especially since New Martial's human modification technologies lead the field, it's rumored that senior officers could voluntarily undergo one or several rounds of "glorious evolution," such as adding more heart and lung organs.
These terrifying war machines, whether in life force or combat power, completely crushed so-called martial artists.
They were fundamentally not in the same league!
"Master Liang, does our Hong Sheng lineage harbor any deep-seated grudges, vowed to overthrow Dongxia and restore Hong Sect?
If so, before we offer tea, let's just cancel the apprenticeship."
Qin Shi cautiously inquired, taking the opportunity to feel things out:
"By the way, is there a reward for reporting?"
He was a model law-abiding Dongxia citizen after all.
He couldn't afford to be labeled as "Old Martial remnants" or "Hong Sect traitor."
"If I were a rogue from Hong Sect, could I be a teacher at a formal school? This is a full-time position, with both Education Commission and Martial Arts Association screenings."
Old Liang laughed, this kid's face-change was quicker than flipping a book, even thinking of turning him in for a banner.
Then, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out.
Fine, at least he has a stronger temperament, is adaptable, and ambitious.
"I told the students at the tutoring class that there would be no lessons today. Since our master-disciple relationship is confirmed, as your master, I should show you some real stuff to let you see the power of Old Martial."
Old Liang stood up and limped down the steps.
Seeing this, Qin Shi quickly helped him, playing the role of a considerate and filial disciple.
"Master Liang, what ultimate skills does our Hong Sheng Sect have? Don't keep them hidden.
Show them to me quickly, so I can practice diligently and make a name for myself soon!"
Old Liang corrected his disciple's misunderstanding once again, providing some insights:
"You need to understand something—so-called divine skills are ineffective for most people, this is one of the reasons why Old Martial was replaced by New Martial.
The scenarios often described in old martial arts novels, like falling off a cliff and discovering treasures are mostly for tricking outsiders.
Any path to advancement and transformation must start and center on life force.
Ning Yuanhai's 'True Scripture of All Times and Eras' is kept on the fifth underground level of the Imperial Capital National Museum. If you make a reservation two months in advance, you can get a chance to see the original, although no direct contact is allowed.
But why hasn't anyone emerged as a succeeding prodigy despite Ning Martial God's lifetime efforts being given freely?"
Qin Shi was stunned for a moment, feeling that Old Liang made sense.
This isn't the ancient era where major sects, noble families, and influential households guarded their legacies jealously.
Top academies like the Four National Universities could even use the manuscripts and secret scrolls of the first ten great masters as teaching materials.
"The reason is simple—life force is the biggest threshold."
Old Liang walked out of the school, without a cigarette, he asked Qin Shi to buy a pack of Limin:
"For example, the entry-level for amateur level is Ninth Rank, with a qualifying score around nine to twelve points.
But the more advanced martial arts materials, or the most exceptional top-tier cultivation techniques, have requirements far beyond this number for practitioners.
In other words, the threshold is extremely high."
Qin Shi, being tactful, bought another pack of Huazi as usual, and while lighting a cigarette, he asked:
"How high?"
Old Liang took a puff, his eyes filled with melancholy:
"Ning Yuanhai's 'True Scripture of All Times and Eras' requires a bone age of twenty years, First Rank in amateur level, and a life force exceeding a hundred points to start."
Qin Shi's eye twitched. The qualifying score for the First Rank in amateur level was clearly pegged at around fifty-nine to sixty-four points.
But Ning Martial God had doubled this requirement. What kind of prodigy would it take to achieve that?