The man gradually came to a stop, bending over and gasping for breath, drenched in sweat. He was none other than Brian Bolton, who had just been accepted as a disciple by Helen Shaw.

“How was it, Senior Sister?”

“Not bad, your physical foundation is pretty good. You didn’t lack for food or drink when you were young, did you?”

David Green smiled.

She had a broad, round face, looked a bit chubby and honest, and her accent was a little different from most people’s—she was probably from out of town.

“Yes, back when my parents were still around, life was pretty good.”

Brian Bolton nodded; these were memories from his predecessor.

“That’s the best. Now I’ll teach you the Guanxu Technique.”

David Green became serious.

“I asked around, and since you’re literate, that saves a lot of trouble—no need to teach you to read.

The Guanxu Technique is the fundamental Daoist method of our Dadao Sect. If practiced well, it can prolong life and is an authentic longevity method.

It emphasizes refining essence into qi, circulating the microcosmic and macrocosmic orbits, the twelve meridians, and condensing the inner elixir, among other things.”

“Senior Sister, I’m actually more interested in the Huichun Jingshi Talisman Manual than the Guanxu Technique.” Brian Bolton raised his hand.

“Could you tell me, what are the levels among martial arts experts?

How strong are they?”

It wasn’t that he was dissatisfied, but even after practicing the Guanxu Technique for decades, at best he’d end up like those old men, barely able to protect himself. In that case, of course he’d prefer martial arts.

David Green smiled understandingly.

“I asked Master the same question back then.

Let me put it this way.

Generally speaking, unless the gap is huge, the unarmed can’t beat the armed, and those in regular clothes can’t beat those in armor.”

She paused.

“Martial arts can be divided into hard and soft paths, but whichever you choose, it takes over a decade of practice to reach minor achievement.

After that, when you go out, you can take on three or four ordinary people at once, no problem.

If you meet someone strong but untrained, you’ll still be fine.

But if you face soldiers—three armed men—you won’t last more than two rounds head-on.”

This level of strength was completely different from what Brian Bolton had imagined.

“Besides, martial arts are for fighting and killing. Even if you practice, so what?

In today’s world, martial arts in the Great Ling dynasty are at their peak, sweeping all directions and making all nations tremble.

That’s why the strongest martial artists are mostly gathered in the military.

There, after countless battles, their real combat ability is the highest. Compared to wandering martial artists, there are far more monsters among them.”

David Green sighed, “So for us, the main purpose of practicing martial arts is self-defense. In this day and age, who still thinks about fighting and killing?” “.” Brian Bolton was left speechless.

“Haven’t you noticed there aren’t many martial arts disciples in our Qinghe Palace?

That’s the reason.

Why is our Dadao Sect so prosperous?

Longevity and health!”

David Green pointed out.

“Then, who is the most powerful in our Qinghe Palace?

Can you tell me, Senior Sister?”

Brian Bolton asked.

“The Palace Master is the strongest.

According to the imperial court’s ranking, he’s a sixth-rank expert who receives a sixth-rank salary.

But if it really came to a fight, he probably couldn’t withstand a squad of ten soldiers head-on—he’d have to run.

After all, a ten-man team has at least three archers or crossbowmen. Once they lock you down, there’s no way to fight.”

At this point, David Green seemed to realize her tone wasn’t very respectful, and quickly added, “Of course, our strength lies in longevity techniques. The Palace Master’s skills are profound, and he’s already a Nascent Soul expert. Living past a hundred is no problem for him—ordinary soldiers can’t compare at all.”

Brian Bolton now had a better understanding.

“Senior Sister, what does this ‘sixth rank’ of the imperial court mean?”

“It’s the rank and salary the Great Ling court gives to generals and experts. Generally, the stronger you are, the higher your rank and the better your pay.

The martial world also roughly uses this to distinguish levels.

But honestly, just take it as hearsay. If you’re not in officialdom, it’s too far removed from us.

In the martial world, what matters most are the Black List and the Red List.”

“Black List and Red List?”

“The Black List is for powerful individuals who have warrants out for them—they’re wanted by the Great Ling. Over time, it became a list.

Everyone memorizes the list before traveling, to avoid running into these dangerous people and losing their lives for nothing.”

“What about the Red List?”

“It’s a smaller list set up outside the Black List. Those who make it onto the Red List are extremely dangerous individuals.

If the Black List includes many who have simply broken the law but still have some bottom line, those on the Red List are mostly utterly inhuman, extremely vicious and cruel.

If you encounter them, it’s extremely dangerous.”

David Green explained carefully.

“All right, enough talk.

Let me demonstrate the Guanxu Technique for you.”

She cleared her throat and straightened up.

“This Guanxu Technique focuses on the mind observing the void, emptying everything, breathing naturally, with a rhythm of one inhale and nine exhales. At the same time, you must imagine your whole body melting and merging into all things around you…” Brian Bolton immediately calmed his mind and listened carefully to her instruction.

Now that he was no longer a menial disciple, he finally had much more free time each day.

As long as he did his morning and evening lessons on time, paid respects to his master, and occasionally underwent progress assessments, he basically had nothing else to do.