Dante nodded in agreement. If there was one nonsensical thing he remembered about these wuxia and xianxia worlds, it was that everyone did not value human life and had short fuses. Looking at someone the wrong way was enough for them to actually want to take your life, so it was best to deter them.
As far as Dante knew, the basic theme was to fear the strong and bully the weak in these worlds. If wearing this gi could make them hesitate - apart from his own reputation and power - that would lead to an easy life, so why would he say no?
Dante took the gi and changed into it right in front of Hao Donglei, patting the creases from the immaculate folding and marveling at how snug it fit. Not only did it allow him to move freely without a problem, but it was also extremely cool despite the day being warm.
Hao Donglei allowed Dante to enjoy his time with his new stylish uniform and token before tapping the table to gather his attention.
"Now that we have completed the basics, it's time to explain some things. I will split them into four categories: Tuition, Obligations, Benefits, and Cultivation," Hao Donglei stated as he leaned forward.
"Firstly, Tuition." Hao Donglei began as he pointed to Dante's gi.
"For core disciples like you, we do not charge any fees. All your training expenses and requirements are borne by the hall, but I will outline them in detail during the benefits section. Naturally, there is also no free lunch in this world, so such treatment comes with certain obligations, which again, I will outline in detail later."
"What you do need to know is that core disciples are eligible for intensive one-on-one training from our elders and even me, the vice hall master. You can take any of us as your master as well as consult any of us at any time for questions you have about either your External or Internal Cultivation."
"Also, when selecting an External Martial Art, you must choose one in the category of your choice. You can rely on us to personally test your aptitude with different weapons and methods if you want, allowing us to select the best technique for you."
"The same goes for your Internal Art. We have ways to test your affinity and compatibility with the various elements to ascertain which one is best for you."
"However, in the end, the choice is yours. We will support and accept anything you choose, but we reserve the right to advise you on better options if the one you chose does not work out for you," Hao Donglei stated with a pointed look.
Dante was amused, but he nodded. Hao Donglei continued, "Classes begin every day from 6 am and end at 11 am. After that is the collective buffet lunch that everyone can attend for free, then free-range training till 5 pm."
"This will go on until you break through the Martial Blood Realm."
"Secondly, Obligations." Hao Donglei's demeanor became slightly serious.
"We expect different things from different people depending on how we invest in them. Your first obligation to the Supreme Martial hall is loyalty. Once you start training with us and reap the benefits we give you, you can't 'quit'."
"You can certainly retire, but retirement means giving up your martial path, and even then, we have obligations for you after retirement, for example: becoming a teacher, recruiter, or an elder depending on your preference."
"Also, you are expected to obey the rules of the Martial Hall as well as the laws of the Great Song Kingdom. Both can be found in our library for you to read up on and educate yourself."
"We do not expect active core members to do much in their first 5 years except maintaining your training and doing your best. Once again, after you break through to the Martial Blood Realm, your obligations will be updated."
Hao Donglei smiled and opened his desk drawer, taking out a small porcelain bowl that was filled with some bubbling red liquid that smelled sweet. He placed it between them and folded his arms while gazing at Dante.
"This is a bowl of Blood Energy Soup. It is one of the basic requirements to practice martial arts at higher levels and can only be produced using special ingredients. One bowl is enough to refresh anyone below the Martial Blood Realm of their blood energy for a month."
Hao Donglei pushed the bowl away and continued. "As we stated during the recruitment, disciples of different levels are given different treatment. Outer Disciples make up the majority of our flock, numbering around 1200 of them in this cycle."
"Outer Disciples are only allowed to stay in the hall if they can pay the tuition fee of 5 taels of silver per month after the first 3 months. They also receive one bowl of Blood Energy Soup per month for free, as well as the right to practice our basic External Martial Arts for the weapon or category of their choice."
"Inner Disciples are a smaller number, being around 10% of Outer Disciples, just barely over a hundred of them in this cycle. They do not pay any fees and are taken care of by us, but they are often forced to compete against each other to decide distribution rights."
"Even if we are going to give them free things, it has to go to the best of them and not the bottom feeders."
"As for Core Disciples like you, you can drink as much Blood Energy Soup as you want in the first five years. Other resources like Blood Qi pills, Essence Energy pills, and the like can be redeemed for free, but up to a limit of 50 each month."
Hao Donglei glanced at Dante pointedly. "These might sound like just numbers to you, but once you settle down and understand the objective and subjective value of these things, you will realize how absurdly well core disciples are treated. Even some parents don't dote on their children as much as we do you fellows."
Dante smiled but didn't comment. Hao Donglei concluded with a bored look. "Well, there are currently only 7 Core Disciples, and most of them are out on expeditions to gather resources for the hall. You are currently the only one at the base!"
"Oh, and finally, Cultivation."
Hao Donglei pulled out a diagram and placed it on the table before Dante. Dante looked down at it and saw that it illustrated various realms and their special characteristics.
"In the world of Martial Arts, there are two streams of cultivation. The first is External Cultivation, which focuses on refining the body and the blood, granting great physical power. The second is Internal Cultivation, which focuses on refining the spirit and energy, granting near-magical powers and abilities."
"As you can imagine, what most people assume is Martial Arts - and actually do practice - are External Arts. More than 99% of mainstream Martial Artists across the Onodera Continent only practice External Arts."
"This is for two reasons. One, Internal Arts are rare and very deeply protected. When a faction has one, they will never share it with outsiders, only allowing the core to learn it. Two, Internal Arts are extremely profound and have high requirements for comprehension. Just having a powerful body and good External Martial Arts talent does not guarantee that you can learn it, though it helps."
Hao Donglei rubbed his hands. "So for External Martial Arts, they are broken down into 6 major levels. The
first is Body Tempering, which focuses on setting a foundation for later training. The second is Martial Warrior, which is the realm where you begin to excavate the power of your Blood Energy and refine it into blood Qi. The best Outer Disciples stop at this realm. Many don't even cross Body Tempering."
"Third is the Martial Blood Realm, which is where you begin to wantonly refine your Blood Qi and increase its potency. At this level, you can graduate and become a deacon of the hall if you are an outer disciple or follow a set of rigorous tests to upgrade from an inner disciple to a core disciple. Most of the core disciples upgraded like this; you and only one other core disciple were directly recruited as you were."
"The fourth realm is the Martial Master, where one begins to manifest their blood Qi more thoroughly. Here, if you are a disciple of any class and you actually get here, you can become an elder of the hall and enjoy endless glory as well as prestige. You also become one of our mainstays to deter other forces."
"The fifth realm is the Martial Grandmaster, which is where I am, and you technically are. Here, we can fully release our blood Qi to the world, forming armament, weapons, defenses, and more. In every top faction, Martial Grandmasters are Patriarchs, Matriarchs, Clan Masters, Hall Masters, Kings, Emperors, etc. They represent the top political power in the world, second only to one."
"And that is the sixth and final realm, the Martial God. This is the supreme of the world, a being of limitless power. Their Blood Qi is like an ocean, and just releasing it without any offensive effect is enough to drown a country to death. They are the deterrents of the world, and every top faction is headed by at least one as their ancestor."
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