"The Spirit Rhinoceros meat is indeed very expensive, costing five taels of silver per jin. To use it as a food supplement and achieve the best martial arts results, one would need to consume two jin per meal, and it must be eaten consistently."
Chief Escort Liang's words left everyone in shock.
By this calculation, three meals a day would cost thirty taels of silver, nearly a thousand taels a month.
Even if they worked as escorts their entire lives, it would be difficult to earn that much silver.
Many people immediately wore worried expressions. Coming from poor backgrounds, they could almost see the end of their journey. Joining the escort agency was a gamble, hoping that if they succeeded in martial arts, their fortunes might change.
But now they were told that practicing martial arts also required money—money they might never see in their lifetimes.
"Practicing martial arts is not that easy. Such requirements are difficult even for me to meet. However, eating a little bit at each meal, in the long run, is indeed much better than your current food supplements," Escort Master Huang sighed.
The path of martial arts is, in fact, a process of accumulating resources.
Not to mention these youngsters, even as a 9th-Rank Martial Artist, I have never eaten like this.
Hearing this, others sighed, but Liu Wensheng seemed to grasp the key point and quickly asked, "So, as long as we can eat a small half-bowl of Spirit Rhinoceros meat at each meal, it's much better than several portions of ordinary food supplements?"
"Of course. The Chief Escort explained it from the perspective of optimal effect, but how many martial artists in the world can afford it? If you manage to eat half a bowl per meal after completing an escort mission, your martial arts practice will also be much more effective," Escort Master Huang nodded.
Liu Wensheng understood and further inquired, "Do all the escort masters in our agency use Spirit Rhinoceros meat as a food supplement?"
"Naturally," Chief Escort Liang said, "As your Nourishing Life Art level increases, the effect of ordinary food supplements gradually weakens. Often, after breaking through the 4th Layer, you will feel the strain of the Nourishing Life Art more acutely. At this time, using Spirit Rhinoceros meat as a food supplement is more suitable."
"That's why the dining hall is mostly for newcomers like you. The escort masters have long lost interest in it."
Everyone suddenly understood. No wonder they had hardly seen any escort masters in the dining hall during their month at the agency.
At this moment, Sun Qi suddenly asked, "Isn't there a way to quickly break through and become a martial artist without relying on food supplements, like some heaven-defying secret manual?"
"I've never heard of a heaven-defying secret manual, but there is a way to achieve it," Chief Escort Liang glanced at him and said calmly.
"Oh?" Sun Qi and many others' eyes lit up, but the Chief Escort sneered, "Isn't Fang Yong an example? He hasn't eaten Spirit Rhinoceros meat or practiced any heaven-defying secret manual, yet he broke through to the 5th Layer early and is about to complete two assessments. You can do it too."
"Reincarnate."
"......" Sun Qi.
Hearing this, Liu Wensheng seemed to understand something and said, "So, in martial arts, it's either piling up resources or having extraordinary talent?"
"This is reality. You all come from poor families, with no power or influence. Without exceptional aptitude, the martial path is hard to pursue," Escort Master Huang timely interjected, adding, "It can be said that Fang Yong's future achievements will certainly surpass yours, at the very least reaching Chief Escort Liang's level."
"That high?" Liu Wensheng felt disheartened. Chief Escort Liang was a notable figure in Yangcheng City, and even that arrogant Fang Yong could achieve such success?
He couldn't accept it.
"So, where does Brother Fang's talent rank in Yangcheng City?" Luo Tiegen, who had been listening, became interested and couldn't help but ask.
"First-class!" Chief Escort Liang asserted confidently.
"So impressive!" Luo Tiegen's face was full of joy, feeling a sense of pride.
"Indeed first-class. Fang Yong increased his strength by three hundred jin in just one month of practicing the Nourishing Life Art. If he had started with Stance Art, his progress would have been even faster, possibly becoming a martial artist in two or three months," Escort Master Huang praised, looking at Fang Yong with admiration.
"What about in the entire Dali?" Fang Yong, who had been listening on the side, couldn't help but ask with anticipation after hearing the praise.
"Average."
"Average?" Fang Yong's expectant expression froze, incredulously confirming.
"Although Escort Master Huang's words are harsh, they are true. Do not underestimate the heroes of the world," Chief Escort Liang spoke solemnly, "The Dali Dynasty has many families with long-standing legacies and strong bloodlines. They can produce one or two exceptionally gifted individuals every so often. These people not only have great talent but also consume resources in vast quantities. The Spirit Rhinoceros meat, which is beyond your reach, is ordinary in their eyes. At your age, their martial prowess likely surpasses that of the Chief."
"Surpass the Chief?" Everyone gasped.
You must know, Fang Yong is only twenty years old and nearly a martial artist after a month of practicing the Nourishing Life Art. In their eyes, he is a true genius.
But there are people in the world who, at twenty, have power exceeding the Chief's, ranking at the 5th Rank?
What a terrifying thought!
"The measure of a genius's strength is not just talent but also mentorship and background. They have seen and experienced much more than you." This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
"Actually, Fang Yong's aptitude is quite good, but his family background is far inferior. Even if the entire Four Seas Escort Agency focused on nurturing him, surpassing those from thousand-year-old families with similar aptitude would be extremely difficult, not to mention those with even better talent, like the Kylin Scion."
"Is that so." Fang Yong pursed his lips, feeling pressure for the first time. The achievements he thought he had seemed to vanish.
"Is it so difficult for someone from a humble background to rise through martial arts?" he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"It can actually be quite simple."
"Ah?" Fang Yong was stunned, and Sun Qi seemed to sense something.
"Reincarnate."
"......" Everyone.
"When both sides have similar aptitude, even with a slight advantage, family background ultimately determines the upper limit of one's achievements."
"For example, you," Chief Escort Liang looked at Fang Yong, "Your aptitude is indeed commendable. You might not encounter a bottleneck until the 8th Rank."
"But after that, you'll need resources. To continue, you'll be competing with the resources of those family scions. At that point, the family's heritage will show you what a gap truly is."
"So, what I'm lacking is resources, is family background," Fang Yong said softly.
"However," Chief Escort Liang's tone shifted, "there are some prodigies in the world who, even if born into poverty, can still match or surpass family geniuses. With just a little resource support, they can forge ahead, achieving heights that even those families must look up to."
"What kind of prodigies?" Many were curious, learning this martial secret for the first time.
Even Jiang Ping, who had been quietly listening, perked up.
"Martial Bone!" Chief Escort Liang heavily uttered the words, then continued, "Some martial prodigies have an extra peculiar bone, innate, called the Martial Bone."
"Such individuals are extraordinary from birth. Once they engage in martial arts, they will surpass all their peers in an incredible way."
"You think Fang Yong achieving the 5th Layer of the Nourishing Life Art in a month is genius. But if someone with a Martial Bone practiced it, they might become a martial artist in less than a month. The Flying Snow Saber Art, which I haven't stepped into the Saber Qi Domain in thirty years, a Martial Bone prodigy might surpass in just a few months."