Chapter 63: Are You a “God Realm” Player?

After leaving the meditation room, Yang Ling went to see Xu Qing.

At this point, Xu Qing was fully aware that Yang Ling actually possessed a cultivation technique, and his strength was likely above his own.

Xu Qing's expression was slightly grave:

"Supervisor Yang, has your current strength reached the ranked level?"

Yang Ling was silent for a moment, then nodded:

"It should be."

Xu Qing was filled with envy: "Among the third-generation disciples of our Mountain and River Sect, only Yang Zhiwen has achieved ranked strength.

My master said that with my talent, it would take at least three to five more years of arduous tempering to possibly reach the ranked level.

Judging by age, you're not much older than me. I never expected you to be ahead of me in martial arts."

"Senior Brother Xu, I just got lucky, that's all."

Yang Ling smiled.

Xu Qing waved his hand dismissively: "What luck is there in this line of work? It's nothing but hard training, coupled with comprehension.

Don't worry, I'm thrilled that you possess such strength. With you keeping watch, it will be difficult for Yang Zhiwen to meddle with the Vermilion Gold Mine.

By the way, you don't need to call me senior brother anymore, just call me Xu Qing.

You are a ranked Martial Artist; it makes me blush to be called senior brother by you."

Xu Qing laughed.

Yang Ling thought for a moment, then still gently shook his head:

"Senior Brother Xu, you showed me great kindness by recommending me. Whether I am a ranked Martial Artist or not, I must address you as senior brother."

"..."

Xu Qing was momentarily stunned. After a long while, he slowly nodded and said solemnly:

"Junior Brother Yang, then I will shamelessly accept being called senior brother."

"Senior Brother Xu, I actually have some matters I'd like to ask you about."

Yang Ling also said seriously.

"Go ahead, ask. Aside from the Mountain and River Heart Method, I can tell you anything else I know."

Xu Qing said in a joking tone.

"I wanted to ask, is our Sect Master Liang a seventh-rank expert?"

A trace of curiosity appeared on Yang Ling's face.

"You want to ask about that? It's not exactly a secret."

Xu Qing found it amusing: "Who in the martial world doesn't know our sect master is a seventh-rank expert."

Yang Ling nodded slightly in his heart.

Just as he had guessed, Liang Yue was indeed a seventh-rank expert.

Shi Xin should be eighth-rank.

As for himself, he could currently be considered eighth-rank as well, but his strength came more from the amplification of his martial arts and techniques.

If he encountered an eighth-rank opponent with a deeper cultivation foundation than his, who also cultivated a top-tier heart method and martial arts techniques,

he would definitely be no match for them.

"Senior Brother Xu, the Mountain and River Sect is already a third-rate sect, and Sect Master Liang is only... seventh-rank.

What is the situation like for second-rate and top-tier sects?"

Yang Ling continued asking.

Xu Qing: "Actually, after you've been in the Ironclad Department for a while, you'll learn all this through case files.

But I can tell you what I know.

Second-rate sects, like the Bitter Awareness Temple, have a fourth-rank grandmaster overseeing them."

Fourth-rank? Grandmaster?

The gap between second-rate and third-rate is that big?

"Big gap, right?"

Xu Qing smiled: "So, you see, the grade and foundation of a sect is an insurmountable chasm.

Our Mountain and River Sect has been around for over a hundred and eighty years, yet we have never produced a single expert above seventh-rank.

Precisely because we only possess a third-rate cultivation technique, the Mountain and River Heart Method.

In contrast, the Bitter Awareness Temple has a second-rate heart method, the Bitter Awareness Heart Sutra, so over all these years, they've been able to cultivate sixth-rank, fifth-rank, and even fourth-rank grandmasters.

As for top-tier sects, you can imagine, those are sects with a first-rank land deity overseeing them."

"First-rank land deity?"

Yang Ling was slightly taken aback.

"Yes, land deity."

Xu Qing said solemnly: "Ordinary people couldn't even hope to catch a glimpse of them. Even the emperor of our Zhao State would find it difficult to meet the land deities of the Four Top-Tier Sects.

Their methods are simply beyond your comprehension. I only know that a fourth-rank grandmaster can use their vital energy and blood to withstand the strongest divine crossbow of Zhao State!

That's a great killing weapon that can casually shoot down a fifth-rank expert with a single arrow, yet in the eyes of a fourth-rank, it's mere child's play."

At this point, a trace of emotion flashed in Xu Qing's eyes, followed by a bitter shake of his head:

"I've heard that even if you cultivate our Mountain and River Heart Method to its most profound fifth layer, you still can't advance to sixth-rank, let alone fourth-rank.

You can imagine, the higher you go, even a difference of a single rank represents an immense gap."

Yang Ling fell into thought.

So, the upper limit of a third-rate technique is allowing a Martial Artist to possess seventh-rank strength.

The upper limit of a second-rate technique is fourth-rank.

And the upper limit of a top-tier technique is first-rank?

"This doesn't add up. The Vajra Bright King Technique only has four layers, while even the Mountain and River Heart Method has five layers...

Even if I cultivate the Vajra Bright King Technique to the fourth layer, it's highly unlikely I'll become a first-rank land deity. The amplification it provides is completely different from the gap Xu Qing described.

Could my technique be incomplete? Or is there some other reason?"

Yang Ling's expression changed slightly.

"Shocked, right? I was the same when I first joined the sect."

Xu Qing sighed: "Back then, I thought that achieving eighth-rank in this lifetime would be good enough for me.

Now it seems, even ninth-rank is a threshold. By the time I reach eighth-rank, I'll probably be over forty."

Yang Ling knew he wasn't being modest; this was the true reality of his situation.

The other party didn't have very high Spirit, so the benefits gained from daily cultivation of the technique had an upper limit.

Estimating this way, Xu Qing truly might not have a chance to advance to eighth-rank until he was in his early forties.

"Senior Brother Xu, fourth-rank is grandmaster. What are the honorifics for third-rank and second-rank?"

Yang Ling suppressed his inner thoughts and asked again.

"Third-rank is grandmaster supreme. Second-rank is already revered as a human immortal, extremely rare in the world. Even among the Four Top-Tier Sects, there aren't many.

First-rank, as I just said, is land deity. You know, deity, the kind that can soar through the skies and burrow into the earth."

Xu Qing laughed.

"They can really soar through the skies and burrow into the earth?"

Yang Ling asked subconsciously.

Xu Qing looked at him strangely, "How would I know? I've never seen one."

"..."

"However, there are rumors in the martial world that the Department Head of your Ironclad Department is very likely a grandmaster supreme."

Xu Qing said thoughtfully.

At this point, he smiled:

"Alright, enough of these fanciful thoughts. Whether it's deities or human immortals, we won't get to see them anyway.

If you ever have the chance to go to the capital and meet your Department Head, tell me what a grandmaster supreme is really like."

"Alright."

Yang Ling nodded with a grave expression.

After a pause, he said, "Senior Brother Xu, I plan to return to the Vermilion Gold Mine."

"Fine, keep an eye on things over there for me."

Xu Qing smiled: "I'll see you off."

The two walked together, with Xu Qing accompanying Yang Ling all the way to the foot of the mountain before leaving.

After he left, a tall and sturdy young man walked over.

"Are you Yang Ling?"

The young man stopped at a distance, his tone carrying a hint of probing as his eyes continuously sized up Yang Ling.

Yang Ling glanced at the other person:

Character: Wu Xiaochen

Level: 17

Profession: Blade Guard

Strength: 15

Agility: 13

Spirit: 10

Martial Arts: Mountain and River Drawing Sword Technique (Comprehensive Mastery)

Mountain and River Heart Method (Beginner's Insight)

HP: 150

"His initial attribute points are quite high, and his Spirit is also 10 points?"

Yang Ling felt a bit strange inside.

Suddenly, he realized something.

"No, the Divine Realm Level Ranking can easily create an illusion.

Wu Xiaochen's level seems only slightly lower than mine, but in reality, his attributes are far below mine.

This has a lot to do with the grade of the cultivation technique. The first two layers of the Vajra Bright King Technique gave me 15 Free Attribute Points.

If Lin Caiyi and the others cultivate top-tier techniques, their attribute points would be roughly similar to mine, while Wu Xiaochen's would be far lower.

So... level is level, strength is strength..."

"I am Yang Ling. And you are?"

Yang Ling cupped his fist and smiled.

"Are you a 'Divine Realm' player?"

Wu Xiaochen probed.

Yang Ling looked bewildered: "What?"