I Become a Martial Arts God in the Chaotic Demon World-Chapter 41: That Year at 18, In the Drink Moon Building, Seemed Like a Henchman

"Apologies, apologies, my arrival is late, hic!"

Lin Wenzheng, while bowing and apologizing, let out a belch tinged with the smell of alcohol.

Song Kangyuan's expression became slightly unsightly, feeling as though he had lost face in front of Qian Songyuan.

Disdain appeared in Qian Songyuan's eyes, but he still said, "Magistrate Lin, you too have quite the personality, no matter, no matter, please take a seat."

Following behind Lin Wenzheng, Zhang Tianyang remained expressionless, but Han Zheng could sense that at this moment, Zhang probably wanted nothing more than to stab Lin Wenzheng to death.

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The Court's relationship with the Martial World Sects had never been very cordial.

A hero uses martial arts to commit offenses.

Those heroes were not welcomed by the Court, not to mention a major sect like Cang Mountain Sword Sect that dominated a region.

Lin Wenzheng himself did not feel that he had lost face, but Zhang Tianyang, as a member of the Demon Cleansing Bureau, felt an immense loss of dignity at this moment.

If it wasn't because he needed to conceal his identity from the Demon Cleansing Bureau, Zhang Tianyang would have certainly thrown Lin Wenzheng out.

Song Kangyuan clapped his hands and called for people to serve the dishes.

A succession of rare delicacies was brought out, some of which Han Zheng in his previous life had never even tasted.

Despite the rise in grain prices in Black Stone County, it did not delay these high-ranking officials in the county seat from their luxurious silk clothes and sumptuous meals.

Everyone was complimenting Qian Songyuan, lavishing praise on how remarkable the Cang Mountain Sword Sect was.

Especially Chief Clerk Lin, who was extremely excited.

He had always wanted to send his son out of Black Stone County, not wanting his son to waste his life away in a small county town.

He had not expected that not only would Lin Qing enter an external sect, it was none other than the Cang Mountain Sword Sect, a top major sect of the Southern Mountain!

Zhang Tianyang looked at the attitude of this group of people and only felt a sense of sadness.

Chief Clerk Lin was a Court official, yet all he thought about was sending his disciple to a sect rather than serving the Court.

When a Martial World Sect like Cang Mountain Sword Sect went out to recruit disciples and gather capable heroes, such matters were regarded as taboo in the early years of Great Zhou.

You, as a sect, so openly gather talents like this, are you planning a rebellion?

And what about now? No one bothers about such matters anymore.

Even individuals like Chief Clerk Lin would eagerly send their outstanding disciples to a sect, rather than to serve the Court.

Lin Zhengwen, as the County Magistrate, was completely insensitive to such matters; instead, he was busy constantly offering toasts, as if he had come merely to drink.

At this time, Shen Chengshan, the elder ancestor of the Shen Family, raised a toast to Qian Songyuan, saying, "Elder Qian, this time in Black Stone County you have accepted two disciples into the Inner Door. You wouldn't mind taking on another one, would you?"

Qian Songyuan smiled and said, "Of course I wouldn't mind. Our Cang Mountain Sword Sect is eager to recruit talented individuals, the more the merrier."

Shen Chengshan pulled the nearby Shen Conghai over, signaling for him to stand up.

"He is the direct descendent of my Shen Family, the younger brother of Shen Congyun, the top figure among the younger generation of Tiangang Sect, who recently stepped into the Innate Transcendence Realm.

I would trouble Elder Qian to check his inherent talent and constitution, to see if he too can join the Cang Mountain Sword Sect."

Shen Conghai was a few years older than both Han Zheng and Song Tianqing, appearing to be about twenty-four or twenty-five years old.

For someone of his age to step into the Innate Realm, he could certainly be considered an exceptional person, but considering he was a direct descendent of the Shen Family, his age, combined with his Cultivation, made it somewhat of a stretch.

Moreover, Han Zheng noticed that when Shen Chengshan was introducing him, Shen Conghai had a very pleased expression.

But as soon as Shen Chengshan mentioned Shen Congyun first, then referred to him as Shen Congyun's brother, Shen Conghai's expression immediately turned somewhat gloomy, trying to maintain a forced smile.

On the side, Pang Feiyan, the daughter of the Black Tiger Gang's Pang Heihu, quietly gave Shen Conghai a thumbs up, her eyes shining as if she held a deep admiration for him.

Only at this moment Shen Conghai was not paying any attention to her, his gaze filled with hopeful expectation as he looked at Qian Songyuan.

Han Zheng stroked his chin, appearing to understand Shen Conghai's mindset.

Having a genius brother looming over one's head, constantly being compared from childhood, it would be strange if his mindset wasn't affected.

"Is this the same Shen Congyun from Tiangang Sect who received the true teachings immediately upon entering the Inner Door and within a month cultivated one of the four great Gang Qis of Tiangang Sect, the Beichen Ice Soul Divine Gang?"

Tiangang Sect and Cang Mountain Sword Sect were both top sects of Southern Mountain and belonged to the Five Families and Seven Sects.

Thus, if there were any outstanding disciples among them, they all knew clear as day.

"Indeed," Shen Chengshan replied with a hint of pride.

The Song Family of East City was a branch of the Heavenly Blade Song Family, but the Shen Family of West City didn't have such an extensive lineage to trace, merely a Martial Arts family in a small county town.

It was only with the appearance of Shen Congyun that they truly made a name for themselves outside of the small town, gaining renown in the Martial World.

"Then I must take a closer look," Qian Songyuan stated.

He grabbed Shen Conghai's wrist, and a stream of True Qi entered his body.

In reality, examining one's talent and constitution is a simple process; it involves observing the speed at which True Qi circulates and amplifies within one's body.

The same stream of True Qi circulates within the body; in some, it only doubles in strength after completing one Circulation, while in others it increases a hundredfold, or even by a thousand times.

You labor for a year to break through, whereas someone else can achieve a breakthrough in a single day; the disparity in talent and constitution can be that immense.

Although a Martial Artist's strength cannot be entirely based on talent and constitution, factors such as temperament, comprehension, perseverance, fortune, and even practical combat abilities play a role.

However, all these are too vague and intangible; only talent and constitution are concrete and the standard criterion for Sects and notable families when selecting disciples.

A moment later, Qian Songyuan released his grip and considered his words carefully, "As the brother of Shen Congyun of Tiangang Sect, his talent and constitution are naturally commendable.

However, given that his brother is an Inner Door true disciple of Tiangang Sect, I feel he would be better off joining Tiangang Sect, where he will be looked after by his own kin."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chengshan immediately understood what was going on.

Shen Conghai's talent was quite average, even average to the point of not qualifying to join the outer door of the Cang Mountain Sword Sect.

This Innate Cultivation built up through medicine baths and spirit pills, they frankly looked down upon.

It was just to give the Shen Family face that they said he was more suited to go to Tiangang Sect.

But in reality, another way to put it was, being a disciple of the Shen Family, if Shen Conghai really had good talent, he probably would have gone to cultivate at Tiangang Sect long ago. Why would he continue to stay in Black Stone County?

Shen Conghai couldn't even muster a forced smile on his face and instantly became incredibly unsightly.

Fearing that he might say something inappropriate, Shen Chengshan hurriedly thanked them and then pulled him down to sit.

Pang Feiyan leaned in close to Shen Conghai and comforted him, "Brother Hai, don't lose heart, who cares about this Cang Mountain Sword Sect, we will definitely join a more powerful Sect in the future."

Shen Conghai waved his hands irritably, not paying any attention to her.

He couldn't even get into the Cang Mountain Sword Sect, let alone talk about some grander Sect?

At this moment, Guo Kai also dragged Guo Mingyuan over excitedly.

"May I trouble Elder Qian to see if my son has the fortune to join the Cang Mountain Sword Sect?"

Checking one was the same as examining another, and Qian Songyuan wasn't resistant to doing so.

However, after examining him, Qian Songyuan stated directly, "The path of Martial Arts is fraught with difficulties and dangers. I advise you not to let your son pursue Martial Arts. It's also quite good to be a wealthy man in this life."

Shen Conghai is Shen Congyun's brother, so Qian Songyuan would still give him some face and speak more tactfully.

But for Guo Kai, a significant dog breeder in the town, Qian Songyuan wouldn't give him any face. He directly said that Guo Mingyuan's caliber was simply not suited for cultivating Martial Arts.

In an instant, Guo Mingyuan's face became even uglier than Shen Conghai's.

At this point, Li Jingzhong also stood up, "This is Han Zheng, a disciple from our Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy. He had no prior foundation in Martial Arts, but he reached the Innate Realm in less than a year; his comprehension is definitely not poor."

Qian Songyuan glanced at Han Zheng's age and asked in surprise, "Did he really achieve the Innate Realm within a year? Without the aid of medicine baths or other resources?"

Next to him, Chen Baiqing said, "I can vouch for that. All the medicine baths in Black Stone County come through my Shenghe Hall.

Han Zheng only used one medicine bath before he broke through to the Innate Realm; there was no external help before that."

"Let me have a look."

Qian Songyuan suddenly became interested.

It was quite difficult for someone of low birth to break through to the Innate Realm at such an age.

He hadn't expected such hidden talents among the young disciples in a small place like Black Stone County.

Han Zheng extended his hand for the other party to check.

He wasn't worried that Qian Songyuan would notice that he had learned other Cultivation Techniques or that there was something amiss inside him.

Checking for talent merely involved running True Qi through the body in a cycle and was not in-depth. Should anyone probe into the acupoint meridians inside a Martial Artist's body, they would immediately be met with rejection.

After a short while, Qian Songyuan let go of his hand, frowning slightly.

"To be honest, your talent can only be described as ordinary, very ordinary.

Among general Martial Artists, you might be considered middle-grade, but in our Cang Mountain Sword Sect, you're at the lower end, not even qualified to enter the outer door.

Have you had any actual combat experience?"

Li Jingzhong interjected, "He has. Han Zheng's combat ability is strong. He protected a merchant caravan while in the Postnatal Realm and even killed a Late Stage Postnatal pig demon."

Qian Songyuan nodded, "That explains it. Martial Artists typically increase their Cultivation quickly in the early stages, and fighting can stimulate the acupoint meridians, aiding breakthroughs.

Especially breaking through during life and death battles is the fastest, but this is limited to the Postnatal and Innate Realms.

Talent and constitution aren't about the present, but the future."

Song Tianqing, who was beside them, was shocked to learn that Han Zheng had actually broken through to the Innate Realm.

Since becoming the heir of the Song Family, he never lacked resources like medicine baths, but he was still one step away from the Innate Realm. How could Han Zheng surpass him so quickly?

Now, hearing what Qian Songyuan said, he finally felt balanced.

"My thanks to Elder Qian."

Li Jingzhong pulled Han Zheng back to sit down, whispering, "Don't lose heart. Although the paths in Martial Arts differ, who can be certain about the future?"

"Don't worry, teacher. Something like this won't shake me."

Han Zheng didn't care at all.

Talent?

He wanted to laugh when anyone mentioned talent to him, a player with cheats.

After the assessment of aptitude, everyone started mingling and drinking again.

Qian Songyuan, however, knew how to socialize, praising each family's disciples one by one, including Han Zheng.

He said that although Han Zheng's innate talent and constitution were not great, his comprehension was commendable; he could even surpass his teacher in the future.

He also praised Li Jingzhong for his high teaching skills, saying that two of his disciples were qualified to join the Cang Mountain Sword Sect and that even left in the Martial World, one would be regarded highly.

The others also joined in with their praises and compliments, but all the attention was on Lin Qing and Song Tianqing.

Han Zheng sat there quietly eating, almost as invisible as air.

That year, at eighteen, in Drinking Moon Building, he seemed just a mere minion.