"Remember Chang Luan? The guy with the slicked-back hair who cursed me to death in the Demon City camp. His family is slightly tainted with the Demon Road, and it's rumored they're ambiguously tied with the Demon Worship Sect of the Eagle Alliance. My dad once said if I ever get involved with the Demon Road even a bit, he'd break my leg. Besides..."
"In fact, the demon cultivators or half-demon cultivators on Blue Star are far more than you imagine, so you must be careful. The factions of surrender, cooperation, and hardliners among humans are still a tangled mess and very troublesome."
Zhou Leng said, "This much I've heard from Uncle Li across the street; the Demon Worship Sect's influence on Blue Star is incredibly strong, there's even rumors of them controlling several small countries. Back when Eagle Country split into the loose Eagle Alliance, the north-south opposition until now was their doing."
Xue Chengsong said, "No one can explain the situation with the Demon Worship Sect, their internal factions are chaotic and they kill each other. That day's child... hmm, let's discuss offline. In short, the trade routes are extremely profitable. But, it's very, very difficult. Just think about it."
"I basically understand, thank you, Young Master Xue."
Xue Chengsong said, "No matter what path you take in the future, since you entered the Martial Arts Hall, I suggest you focus on skimming resources from the Martial Arts Hall and the Martial Guard Department."
Zhou Leng asked, "I want to compete for resources in the Martial Arts Hall, what should I do?"
Xue Chengsong said, "You've asked the right person; my friends and I have been discussing this matter for days."
"Whether it's the Martial Arts Academy or the Martial Arts Hall, there are two main routes to compete for resources. One is the martial artist route, which involves competing for rankings, elite qualifications, hunting demons, and breaking through the Eighteen Bronze Men Array. In short, it's about using martial arts strength to compete and seize, and then using what you gain to enhance your cultivation, improve, and continue."
"The second route is to compete for distribution rights, for instance, being the senior brother of your class, or holding a junior position in the student council, which includes some special honors. These may seem useless, but with a little manipulation, whether you join the Martial Guard Department or the Martial Mansion, you'll be one step ahead. Some things, one step ahead means every step ahead. There'll be some gray areas, of course, but let's not delve into that."
Zhou Leng said, "The second path requires too much social savvy, I don't have time to deal with that, so I can only choose the martial artist route."
Xue Chengsong said, "Since you're taking the martial artist route, you need to demonstrate enough strength from the start. But you also need to hold back a bit, first to make potential opponents misjudge, and second to avoid becoming a target."
"I know your personality a bit, you're likely not to show off too much, but sometimes that can mean missing opportunities. So, in the upcoming entrance exam and the first month's monthly test, you must aim to enter the top ten of the Martial Arts Hall. The rewards for these two exams are quite generous, and can lay a foundation for you."
"How generous can they be?"
"Unexpectedly, first place should be Replenishing Essence Pills, and tenth place at least one Qi Nourishing Pill plus one Blood Replenishing Pills."
Zhou Leng said, "That's essentially ten thousand for first place, even you would want that."
"Of course, the Replenishing Essence Pills can be consumed until the Innate stage. Those martial aristocratic families use one every ten days, like they're candy, but I can't afford it."
Zhou Leng said, "I'll prepare thoroughly and fight for the Replenishing Essence Pills."
Xue Chengsong said, "But don't be complacent. Unexpectedly, quite a few students from your Martial Arts Hall will consume Essence Qi Pills, reaching Qi Nourishing Perfection, and maybe some have already advanced to the Blood Transporting Period."
"So quickly? The gap between the Qi Nourishing Period and the Blood Transporting Period is indeed huge."
"Many pills are banned during the college entrance exam, but once the exams end, they're allowed, and it's truly a chaotic scene. However, having strong True Qi doesn't mean you're strong in actual combat, nor does it mean you have high control over True Qi, you should still have a chance to make it into the top ten."
Zhou Leng said, "Then I must work even harder before school starts."
"Additionally, once we formally enroll, the 'local freshman chart' in 'Martial Arts City' will be launched. This chart only includes all the new first-year students of this year, whether Martial Arts Students, Martial Arts School Students, or non-martial students."
"The factors that determine the freshman chart ranking are roughly five."
"First is the 'school examination results' in the Martial Arts Academy or Martial Arts Hall. However, the first day won't include the 'entrance exam' results, instead based on the college entrance exam's physical test and martial test scores. Once the entrance exam is over, replace the college entrance exam scores."
"Second is 'war merits.' Whether fighting the Demon Worship Sect under the guidance of the Martial Guard Department or hunting demons in Demon City, they'll increase war merits. Note, once you enter the Blood Transporting Period, hunting economic, practical magical beasts won't count towards war merits, only killing demons from opposing worlds will count."
"Third is 'martial artist trials,' such as the 'Eighteen Bronze Men' that can be challenged after entering the Blood Transporting Period, and the 'Slaughter Demon Land' shared by the Martial Guard Department and Demon City Army. The higher the achievements in these trials, the higher the ranking."
"Fourth is 'basic testing' projects, anyone can go to the official designated institutions to test physical fitness and True Qi. The stronger the physical fitness and True Qi, the higher the ranking. This is generally done in the school's Martial Arts Hall."
"Fifth is 'extra contribution,' such as obtaining additional research results or doing something that qualifies for extra points, increasing the ranking. These things have a very small weight, only a few who pursue non-combat roles care, it doesn't really concern us."
"School performance, war merits, martial artist trials, and basic testing are what you should concentrate your efforts on next."
"Based on the ranking of the freshman chart, Rucheng will give different rewards."
"At the end of each month, after the ranking is confirmed, it will reward pills and financial subsidies. Generally, the first place on the freshman chart will be rewarded with one Replenishing Essence Pill, three Qi Nourishing Pills, and three Blood Replenishing Pills, plus a bonus of ten thousand dollars. That's equivalent to seventeen thousand."
"If there are some trials or competitions, they will also prioritize selection from the top of the freshman chart."
"However, your target is to aim for the freshman chart's top thousand, at most the top hundred, top ten is beyond your reach. West Sea Martial Arts Academy not only gathers Rucheng's masters but also some of the world's masters from Dragon Country. Historically, the top ten, and even occasionally the top fifty of Rucheng's freshman chart have been firmly held by West Sea Martial Arts Academy."
"Unexpectedly, that giant hybrid 'Mountain and River Origin' will occupy the top spot of the local freshman chart for the next year, unshakeable."
"Additionally, alongside the launch of the 'freshman chart,' the 'local Qi Blood chart' will also begin. Including all Qi Blood Realm experts in Rucheng's rankings."
"This is just for viewing pleasure; it's full of Vitality Stage battles far beyond us. Ordinary Martial Arts Academy students reaching the Vitality Stage in four years are considered geniuses."
"And, if you rank in the top hundred of the local freshman chart, you'll enter the 'national freshman chart,' often referred to as the national chart. Once in the national chart, depending on your ranking, you'll receive additional monthly national stipends."
"Whether it's the national chart, Qi Blood chart, or the top ten of the freshman chart, it's too far for you to reach; you might never make it to the front rank in your lifetime."
"So you should advance steadily, first gaining a ranking in the Martial Arts Hall, then making a mark in Ruda, thirdly competing for the city freshman chart."
"I'm not really skilled myself, giving you advice after advice, truly, just big talk from Xue Chengsong..." Xue Chengsong couldn't help but mock himself.
"You're actually pretty decent."
"Pretty decent... you truly speak honestly. Actually, now that I think about it, joining the Martial Arts Hall was the right move for you."
Zhou Leng asked, "Why do you say that?"
"I've learned about West Sea Martial Arts Academy these past few days, and that's truly a level of Vitality Stage battles. The academy has two major reward systems: one is a scholarship system, and the other is a ranking system."
"The ranking system is straightforward martial arts ranking; whoever ranks high gets more pill rewards. This is almost entirely fair, very transparent."
"The scholarship system, on the other hand, is completely different, because as long as you meet the minimum standards, you can become a candidate and participate."
"In the ranking system, positions, data, and achievements are straightforward, laid out directly."
"The scholarship system winners and candidates, those just fly around in honor. Or simply put, it's who can boast better. For example, serving as a squad captain in some martial arts sports team, vice president in some exchange association, some military training outstanding individual, publishing articles in the school magazine, volunteering hours accumulated, you don't need to look, just listening to me speaks volumes about what this system is really about."
"Obviously," Zhou Leng said.
"The Martial Arts Hall is different; it's mostly a ranking system, occasionally scholarships, but not much money, used more for building resumes or honor, without much advantage. The key is, the Martial Arts Hall is the commissioned training unit of the Martial Guard Department, and Martial Arts Hall students are equivalent to Apprentice Martial Guards, able to earn ranking rewards from the Martial Guard Department, while the Martial Arts University cannot."
"As long as you're strong enough, fighting for resources in the Martial Guard Department, the resources you obtain will definitely surpass West Sea Martial Arts Academy, and you can even compare it to the middle-upper level students of Yunhua and Jinjing. It's just very difficult."
The two of them talked for a long time, finally ending the voice call.