Of course, having something is better than nothing. With this thing, it can be considered an extra trump card for self-protection.

The next morning, William Carter came by again to take some household registration documents proving Edward Grant's identity to send to Heyang Prefecture.

At the same time, William Carter also came to check on Edward Grant, to see how the yin energy on his body was dissipating.

However, upon seeing him, William Carter frowned: "Why does it seem like the yin energy on your body has gotten heavier again? Did you encounter something strange yesterday?"

Edward Grant guessed it might be because he came into contact with that heart ghost again yesterday, so he was tainted with some more yin energy.

"No, everything was normal yesterday."

Since the yin energy had only increased a little, William Carter didn't press further and simply asked:

"Young Master Grant, have you ever practiced the martial arts techniques passed down in your Zhongyong Marquis family line?"

"Martial arts techniques?"

Edward Grant shook his head in confusion and said, "In my memory, my father only taught me some physical training and basic martial arts moves, never mentioned any techniques."

William Carter sighed, "It seems your father was probably the last martial arts practitioner in your The Grant Family. What he practiced likely wasn't even your The Grant Family's own technique.

Your The Grant Family ancestors weren't originally cultivators, so there wasn't any strong martial arts legacy passed down. Later generations relied on military merit to obtain martial arts techniques.

But the court has regulations: for martial arts techniques obtained through military merit, you can only exchange for a higher level after reaching the previous one, and restrictions must be placed so they can't be passed on to outsiders."

As he spoke, William Carter handed two thin booklets to Edward Grant, namely "Outline of Martial Principles" and "Xuan Gang Dao Techniques."

"So these are the techniques?" Edward Grant asked in surprise.

William Carter shook his head: "No, these are just basic materials for newcomers to the Jingye Division.

Cultivators are generally divided into three types: the upper nine realms of Qi Refiners, the middle nine ranks of Martial Arts, and the lower nine streams of heterodox cultivators.

Of course, there are also those who practice both martial arts and qi refining, but they are rare.

The nine realms of Qi Refining: Qi Refining, Spirit Nurturing, Visualization, Gang Condensation, Yuan Qi, Returning to Origin, Spirit Wandering, Insight, Earth Immortal.

The nine ranks of Martial Arts: External Training, Internal Training, Bone Tempering, Blood Surging, Mountain Viewing, Sea Gazing, Spirit Gate, Transcendence, Martial Saint.

As for the lower nine streams, they are those who lack the talent for qi refining and can't endure the hardships of martial arts body training, so they turn to quick-result heterodox secret arts.

Such people generally can't reach the peak, unless they switch to martial arts or qi refining halfway.

The 'Outline of Martial Principles' contains the training methods for the ninth-rank External Training and eighth-rank Internal Training.

External Training is about muscles, bones, and skin—tempering the body and refining the physique.

Internal Training is about inhaling postnatal qi, stirring the chest and abdomen, refining the internal organs, making them resilient, greatly enhancing recovery, projecting internal energy, and when the organs breathe and stir, producing the roar of tigers and leopards.

These two realms are foundational, so they don't require special techniques.

Beyond that, you'll need to use your own merits to apply to the Jingye Division for higher-level techniques.

Before you report to the Jingye Division in Heyang Prefecture, you'd best complete the ninth-rank External Training.

Although you are the son of a marquis, it's best to join the Jingye Division as a formal cultivator; otherwise, you might attract criticism."

Edward Grant nodded, understanding that these were what people commonly called "standard stuff."

"So this 'Xuan Gang Dao Techniques' is the technique for Qi Refiners?"

William Carter shook his head: "No, Qi Refiner techniques are even rarer. 'Xuan Gang Dao Techniques' only records some basic knowledge about ghosts and monsters and methods to deal with them. It's a basic Daoist secret, but not a true technique.

For the first two ranks of martial arts, if you have good talent and work hard, you can temper your body solidly in a few months, then inhale postnatal qi to refine your organs, and complete both internal and external training within a year. Even with poor talent, you'll achieve something in a few years.

But for Qi Refiners, the first two realms require a year of qi refining, three years of spirit nurturing, and four years to achieve minor success—it's very time-consuming.

And that's for those with talent; without talent, you can forget about even getting started in your lifetime.

So only some major sects cultivate true Qi Refiners.

But after entering martial arts, with a strong spirit and soul, you can also use some quick-result heterodox Daoist secrets.

In the Jingye Division, most people mainly practice martial arts, supplemented by Daoist secrets, or mainly practice qi refining while also cultivating basic martial arts to strengthen the body for self-defense."

"So which is stronger, martial artists or Qi Refiners?"

William Carter said, "That mainly depends on yourself.

But generally speaking, martial artists are stronger in the early stages, while Qi Refiners have more varied and mysterious methods in the later stages.

In the Qi Refining realm, you refine postnatal qi within your body, making your senses sharp and your spirit vigorous.

In the Spirit Nurturing realm, you refine your essence, energy, and spirit through meditation and other methods, enhancing perception and opening the yin-yang eyes to see evil spirits and ghosts.

These two realms don't significantly enhance the body, and the techniques you can master are few. If a martial artist gets close, you're as good as dead!"

Edward Grant nodded in understanding. What William Carter said seemed to open a new door for him.

"Then wouldn't practicing both be even stronger?"

William Carter pointed at Edward Grant and then at himself: "A person's energy is limited. Being able to master one path to its peak is already not easy. Most people who try to practice both end up mastering neither. You must never have such thoughts."