Chapter 6: The True Worth of a 20-Point Family Background

Lin Heng understood upon hearing this. It turned out that the cultivation system of this world was based on the Martial Way.

If this were Lin Heng’s past life, a family background stat of 20 would imply being a tycoon or a powerful figure in one of the world's top superpowers. Yet in this world, such a background only granted him the status of a personal disciple to a sect leader. From this, one could deduce that this sect possessed military might capable of suppressing all other major powers and controlled vast resources and wealth, ranking it among the most elite organizations in the world. Such strength was clearly derived from the Martial Way. Seeing the small to understand the large, it was evident that the world’s cultivation system must be formidable; otherwise, it would not be enough to hold sway over various factions.

"Master, what kind of strength does each martial stage represent? What stage are you currently at?" Lin Heng asked, looking at Xiao Rang with curiosity.

"A Postnatal martial artist can face a hundred enemies alone; a Xiantian martial artist can ride through a thousand; a Grandmaster can take a leader's head amidst an army; and a Great Grandmaster is an army unto himself."

"I am a Great Grandmaster." Xiao Rang replied with a calm tone.

A Great Grandmaster, standing at the pinnacle of martial cultivation, was known to the world as an peerless expert—a rare existence, with each one capable of dominating a vast region. This statement confirmed Lin Heng's hypothesis: the martial system of this world was indeed incredibly powerful.

Meeting Lin Heng's look of admiration, Xiao Rang smiled and said, "With your talent, Heng'er, as long as you practice diligently, it will not be difficult to reach my stage within your lifetime. However, to surpass me, you will need to put in significant effort."

"It is said that beyond the Great Grandmaster stage, there lies the Heaven-Man realm, which is considered a legend of the martial world. Though such legendary figures have not appeared in the martial world for many years, if you work hard, it is not impossible for you to attain this realm."

Lin Heng replied firmly, "I will work hard." Even if only to improve his simulation evaluation, he would strive for excellence.

Xiao Rang nodded. "It is getting late. Rest early today, Heng'er. Starting tomorrow, I will teach you to read and write to lay the foundation for your cultivation."

While teaching a child to read and write was something anyone literate could do, Xiao Rang chose to do it himself. This not only increased their time together to foster a bond between master and disciple but also ensured that his young pupil's mindset would not be corrupted by others, while simultaneously allowing him to observe Lin Heng’s character. Although he was a disciple, deciding to what extent to teach him and whether to pass on the sect's ultimate secret techniques was a matter that required careful deliberation. Letting someone with ill intentions master overly powerful strength was never a good thing.

"Goodnight, Master." Lin Heng agreed, then obediently lay down, watching Xiao Rang leave before closing his eyes. His body was indeed very weak at the moment; after speaking only a few words and thinking briefly, he already felt drowsy. This state would likely persist for some time—the price he had to pay for his extreme stat allocation. However, he did not regret his choice.

The next morning, after being bathed and dressed by a maid in the black-and-white cloud-patterned uniform of the Cloud Sword Palace, Lin Heng saw Xiao Rang bring in a bowl of greenish rice porridge. This time, Lin Heng learned that the porridge was made from "Green Jade Rice," a spiritual grain.

This rice possessed the properties of strengthening the foundation and nourishing the blood. Furthermore, it left no impurities in the body, allowing its nutrients to be fully absorbed, which greatly aided cultivation over time. However, such rice was incredibly expensive, requiring animal blood, special ores, and rare medicinal herbs for fertilizer, not to mention the labor of weeding and pest control. The cost was one hundred taels of silver per jin, ten thousand times the price of ordinary rice. Yet, now that he was Xiao Rang’s disciple, this precious spiritual rice would be his daily meal.

"Your complexion is much better than yesterday. At this rate, you will be able to begin formal training in two and a half years—much faster than the four I initially anticipated." After Lin Heng finished eating, Xiao Rang checked his pulse and observed his physical changes with a smile. "Come, before we begin your lessons, I will take you to see the gates of the Cloud Sword Palace."

Xiao Rang crouched down, wiped Lin Heng’s mouth with a handkerchief, and carried him in his arms as they headed out. Only then did Lin Heng realize his residence was a palace named the Cloud Sword Palace, and Xiao Rang lived right next door.

Leaving the palace, they reached a massive martial arts arena. On it, many disciples in the same black-and-white cloud-patterned uniforms were practicing sword forms under the guidance of an elder. Their movements were uniform and synchronized, all having entered a state of selfless focus. Around the arena were various pavilions, towers, and gardens. These structures were integrated into the landscape, appearing harmonious and natural. Because the sect was built on the mountainside, wreathed in clouds, it possessed an ethereal, otherworldly quality.

"Our Cloud Sword Palace was founded by our Ancestor, Ling Yun, five hundred and seventy-two years ago. We have developed to this day with the tenet of eradicating evil and upholding justice," Xiao Rang explained while showing Lin Heng around. "Through the accumulation of many generations, the Cloud Sword Palace now has 1,073,427 disciples and is honored by the martial peers of Lan Prefecture as a sacred site of martial arts."

"Most of these disciples have completed their training and are scattered across the surrounding nations to keep peace and uphold our principles. Only about ten thousand remain here at the sect, most of whom are new recruits. However, there are also many true disciples who train here long-term; they all possess at least Xiantian-level strength, ensuring the security of our sect."

As his disciple, even if Lin Heng did not inherit the position of sect leader, he would at least be an elder, so understanding the sect's strength was essential.

"With so many people, it must cost a fortune to feed them every day," Lin Heng remarked.

Xiao Rang smiled. "Cultivation is indeed expensive. Beyond food, there are pills, weapons, armor, and more. To maintain the sect's operations, the Cloud Sword Palace holds vast assets in the surrounding nations. Additionally, these nations pay us annual taxes, which sustain our expenses. Heng'er, our goal is to eradicate evil, but to do so, we must possess strength even greater than the wicked so that they dare not act maliciously. You must remember this."

Lin Heng nodded to show he understood. The Cloud Sword Palace truly possessed terrifying strength—not just in individual martial prowess, but in sheer scale. A million disciples, even excluding the elderly, represented a force of over nine hundred thousand combatants. Such a force, composed entirely of martial artists, was enough to overturn many dynasties. It was no wonder the surrounding nations paid taxes to the Cloud Sword Palace. This gave Lin Heng a more intuitive understanding of the value of his "20" family background. As the personal disciple of the leader of a martial arts sacred site, his status was incredibly high, standing at the very peak of the entire Lan Prefecture. This confirmed that his stat allocation was correct; with such a background, he could cultivate much more efficiently. Otherwise, he might have wasted years simply searching for techniques and earning resources.