9.

"Old Xie, I want to ask some questions."

Two hours after leaving town, while the carriage was traveling through the dirt road, Yang Ze suddenly spoke.

"There is no need to be so formal second young master. You can ask this old slave anything you want."

"Hmm."

With a nod, Yang Ze jumped to the front seat of the carriage, sitting beside old Xie. There was silence for a long time before Yang Ze asked the question.

"When we passed the outer circle, I didn't see many strong people there. Almost all of them looks weaker than the member of our family."

"Haha."

Old Xie laughed for a moment before replying in a gentle tone.

"Young master, how much do you know about the realms of the cultivation?"

Thinking for a moment, Yang Ze replied with an obvious tone. "Well, the first realm is called qi condensing, the second is called qi guiding."

"As for what comes after it, I am not sure."

Listening to Yang Ze speak, old Xie was silent for a moment before nodding his head.

"Since you were never able to step into qi condensing, you won't realize the hardship it takes."

'No shit sherlock.' Even though Yang Ze was rolling his eyes, his face remained that of a pious learner.

"Let's talk about the qi condensing first. To condense qi into the body, one not only needs an internal art, but also tons of food and resources."

"For the people living in the outer circle of the city, they dont even have enough food to fill their bellis, much less other medicines and resources. As for the matter of internal arts, it is almost impossible."

"So, there is no way for a common person to get the internal art?"

Frowning Yang Ze asked in a questioning tone. Even though he had some idea, he didn't think it was this rare.

"Well, for the people living in small cities like ours, there is just one way to get the internal art, and that is to join one of the four families. But it comes with its share of problems. Not everyone who joins is eligible to get the art. Only those who have served more than five years in a family are eligible to get the first volume of the secret art, thus opening their path to qi condensing. As for the matter of resources, one needed to earn them by doing tasks."

By the time he reached the last sentence, his voice trembled for a moment. Even Yang Ze who was listening to him, felt the absolute sense of hopelessness and despair from it. It was as if he had given up on life.

"Anyway."

Even though old Xie lost his composure for a moment, he turned back to normal in the next moment.

"Stepping into the qi condensing is already hard enough. But, if you are talented or lucky enough to condense qi, there is no guarantee that you will be able to get the next volumes of the internal arts. at that time, even if you got another internal arts, you will not be able to practice it."

"Why? Can't we just abolish our internal qi before practicing other methods?"

"Heh."

With a smile, old Xie shook his head.

"Internal qi is not some kind of toy building that you can construct and break anytime you want. Once you step into the qi condensing, you can never change your art. This is the reason why even after many restrictions from the big families, many people wants to join them. Unlike many broken or half-missing internal arts, they have the set of complete internal arts."

"Interesting."

This was the first time Yang Ze came into contact with this type of knowledge.

"Wait, why don't people join the martial academy then? I heard they are coming to the city after six months. If you ask me, that is a pretty good chance for the people who can't get their hands on internal arts or join any family."

"Hmmmm."

Exhaling a long breath, old XIe loosened the reins on the horses, slowing the speed of the carriage before speaking out.

"The martial academies are not the places of charities. Do you know, this time, the four families gifted countless resources and even a part of their internal arts just to get the quota for a single person?"

"So, unless your family spent tons and tons of resources or you are some kind of genius seen once in a decade, no martial academy will accept you."

There was a long silence on the carriage. Both of them were lost in their thoughts. It was only after a long time, Yang Ze broke this silence.

"What about the Qi guiding realm?"

This time, old Xie didn't answer him, but asked a question.

"Second Young master, how strong do you think the current head of the Yang family your father is?"

"Hmm. No idea."

Yang Ze met him before he even stepped into the realm of Qi condensing. There was no way for him to know his strength.

"Yes. If the other party doesn't make a move, it is almost impossible to know its strength."

After a short silence, he continued.

"Unlike the Qi condensing, Qi guiding is divided into four realms. Early stage, where one is able to move qi inside his body, nourishing the internal organs. Middle stage, where one is able to layer his body with qi, giving him strength and speed that far surpassed others. Late stage, where one is able to imbude other objects with qi, giving him the ability to turn anything into weapon. And the peak stage, where one is able to release qi outside his body, thus giving him the ability to destroy things without even touching them."

"Wait you are telling me there are four realms in the Qi Guiding?"

Suddenly there was a bad premonition in Yang Ze's heart. Taking a deep breath, he looked at the screen in front of him.

------------------------------------------------------

{Name : Yang Ze}

{Realm : Early Stage Qi Guiding}

{XP : 100/500}

{Technique : Seaheart Art Second Layer}

{Martial Arts : Black Tiger Blade Technique 'great Accomplishment'} [0/500]

{Efficiency : 100 XP/day}

{Level : 1} (0/10 spirit stones needed to upgrade)

--------------------------------------------------------

"Sure enough."

Looking at the rows of newly added text, Yang Ze was starting to get some idea about this plug-in of his.

Taking a deep breath, he focused his gaze on old Xie again.

"What about the patriarch of the Yang family?"

Looking at Yang Ze addressing his father this way, old Xie was stunned for a moment before replying.

"The patriarch of the Yang family is at the Peak stage of Qi Guiding. Not only he, but the patriarchs of all the other three major families are at the peak of Qi Guiding."

"This Martial Academy quota is not only needed for the growth of the family, but it is also their hope to step into a realm beyond Qi Guiding."

"I see."

Nodding his head, Yang Ze was still processing the information he had just received. He had to admit, this one conversation with old Xie was more beneficial to him than reading in the library.

"Wait."

Suddenly, there was a frown on his face.

"How do you know so much about these things old Xie? What is your strength?"

Even though he knew the old Xie was no ordinary servant, it was at this moment he paid attention to him. Till yesterday he thought the old Xie was only proficient in martial arts, but after listening to him, he wasn't so sure anymore.

"Heh."

With a soft chuckle, he looked at the road in front of him with a smile on his face before replying in a soft voice.

"You will know it soon second young master."

The moment he finished speaking, a tree fell in front of the carriage. If not for the slow speed of the carriage, they would have crashed into it.

It was at this moment, Yang Ze noticed the presence of more than twenty people.