Human Clan Defender

Upon reaching the fourth floor, numerous Jade Walls appeared before Shen Changqing.

On each Jade Wall, different imprints existed.

In front of some Jade Walls, people sat cross-legged, but many Jade Walls were unoccupied.

Zhong Ning said, "These Jade Walls are made by us through special means, able to contain the imprints of martial arts from martial artists. Some profound martial arts cannot be recorded on mere paper but require special methods.

On each Jade Wall, different martial arts imprints are recorded. However, the number of martial arts imprints any single Jade Wall can contain is limited.

Initially, there might not have been many experts capable of leaving their imprints on the Jade Walls. But as more and more powerful experts emerged, the imprints left behind became increasingly formidable. Any imprints not strong enough were devoured and expelled."

As he spoke, Zhong Ning led Shen Changqing closer to one of the Jade Walls. A profound and heavy aura emanated from it, yet it didn't change their expressions.

"Normally, you can contemplate the imprints here. You can also leave your own unique martial arts imprints on the Jade Walls for others to study," Zhong Ning said.

Suddenly, he turned and pointed toward the centermost Jade Wall, which was even larger than the others. Inscriptions covered its surface.

Shen Changqing looked over and read the words: Blood Sea Slaughter Technique! Imperial Pole Cycle Fist! Heaven Slaying Sword Scripture!

"What is this?" Shen Changqing asked, his expression puzzled. The words clearly represented various martial arts.

Zhong Ning smiled. "That is the ranking of martial arts. That particular Jade Wall is known as the Heavenly List and is connected to all other Jade Walls. The top ten strongest martial arts imprints from any Jade Wall are eligible to be inscribed there.

The creator of an inscribed martial art will receive a certain amount of Merit Points each month. However, there's one requirement: martial arts ranked on the list must be unconditionally available for others to study and cultivate.

This is one of the conditions set by the Demon-Subduing Division for the Martial Hall, and also one of the Martial Hall's contributions to the Demon-Subduing Division."

Hearing this, Shen Changqing nodded slightly. To have one's martial art inscribed on the Heavenly List meant the Demon-Subduing Division would provide Merit Points as a reward. At the same time, the listed martial arts would also be available for Demon-Subduing Division members to study and cultivate.

Unlike sects that operated in isolation, the Demon-Subduing Division valued inclusiveness. After all, its main responsibility was to eliminate Demon Evil, and the prerequisite for that was a sufficient number of powerful individuals.

"Each year, a group of people enters the Martial Hall to study the martial arts contained within. However, not everyone is allowed entry; only Demon Hunters of Profound Rank or higher are permitted. Even then, they must pay a certain amount of Merit Points to study the martial arts."

"If new people enter the Martial Hall each year, doesn't that mean the martial arts on the other Jade Walls are also free to study?" Shen Changqing thought of the martial arts on the other Jade Walls. According to Zhong Ning, those not listed on the Heavenly List didn't receive Merit Points as a subsidy.

"Exactly," Zhong Ning nodded.

"It's as I said: the Demon-Subduing Division isn't running a charity. They won't just offer you benefits without expecting anything in return. The martial arts you leave behind are a form of contribution to the Demon-Subduing Division.

Any martial art capable of being listed on the Heavenly List is a pinnacle existence. Any talented individual who cultivates one has a significant chance of ascending to the Grandmaster Realm. That's why the Demon-Subduing Division provides Merit Point rewards.

But that doesn't mean the same applies to other martial arts. You must understand, the resources the Hidden Heart Pavilion provides to you each year also constitute a significant expense."

As he spoke, Zhong Ning's expression became somewhat wistful, as if dwelling on unpleasant thoughts.

"In fact— if the Martial Hall could truly produce martial artists who break human limits, then no other contributions would matter. But breaking human limits isn't so easy. Even with the Demon-Subduing Division's profound resources, it's impossible to support the Martial Hall unconditionally forever.

Later, to ensure resources weren't exhausted, the Martial Hall also had to make certain contributions to the Demon-Subduing Division."

"Besides allowing individuals to enter the Martial Hall for cultivation each year, the Martial Hall is also required to research and develop three Grandmaster Level martial arts every three years to be added to the Demon-Subduing Division's Scripture Pavilion. If we fail to meet this standard, once might be overlooked, but failing twice in a row means the Martial Hall's resource supply will be cut back—" Zhong Ning spoke in a low tone.

The Demon-Subduing Division initially supported the Martial Hall without conditions. However, as time passed and the Martial Hall failed to produce individuals who broke human limits, various conditions were gradually added. He didn't blame the Demon-Subduing Division for this. No power would unconditionally support a useless organization.

Fortunately, those who entered the Martial Hall all possessed high talent in the Martial Dao. Combined with the Martial Hall's abundant collection of scriptures, researching and creating martial arts wouldn't be overly difficult.

Shen Changqing remained silent. He could understand the Martial Hall's current awkward situation. The organization's very purpose hinged on breaking human limits. If they failed, its significance would be greatly diminished.

"Luckily, the Martial Hall is just a branch of the Hidden Heart Pavilion; otherwise—" Zhong Ning sighed and didn't continue.

There was a moment of silence. Then, a smile reappeared on his face, as if he had forgotten the earlier unpleasantness. "Let's go, I'll take you to the fifth floor!"

「The fifth floor.」

It was also the highest level in the Martial Hall. Similar to the fourth floor, Jade Walls were placed there. However, the Jade Wall on the fifth floor was immense, and there was only one. It stood like a massive wall, dominating the top of the fifth floor.

Zhong Ning said, "The fifth floor houses the True Intents of Martial Arts Grandmasters. This Jade Wall is different from the others; it was excavated by the Hidden Heart Pavilion from a certain ore vein and can contain the True Intents of martial artists.

The Jade Walls on the fourth floor were made in reference to this one. To this day, we still haven't discovered the limits of this Jade Wall. It holds the Martial Dao True Intent of past Grandmasters from both the Hidden Heart Pavilion and the Demon-Subduing Division. Whether it's Cultivating True Intent or the higher level of True Intent Manifestation, both are part of the growth process of Martial Dao True Intent.

For Martial Dao True Intent to grow, aside from a martial artist's self-enlightenment, one can also break through by leveraging the True Intents of other Grandmasters."

Other Grandmasters' True Intent? Shen Changqing was startled.

Zhong Ning glanced at him. "The transformation of True Intent emphasizes spiritual sublimation. If one spars with another Grandmaster and manages to defeat their True Intent, one can absorb a portion of the power contained within their True Intent. This naturally allows one's Martial Dao True Intent to advance."

He then pointed at the Jade Wall. "The number of Martial Dao True Intents contained here is innumerable. Whenever a martial artist breaks through to the Grandmaster Realm, they leave their unique True Intent here. This is because once you contemplate a True Intent here, the Jade Wall captures your residual True Intent. Then, using nature's spiritual energy, it manifests your True Intent."

Shen Changqing had never even heard of such a method. The marvels of the Hidden Heart Pavilion overturned his previous understanding of the Demon-Subduing Division. It turned out that the Martial Dao here was far more profound than he had previously witnessed.

"As a member of the Martial Hall, everything inside is available for your contemplation at will, except for the first-floor secret chambers, which require Merit Points. There are no other restrictions.

However, the Martial Hall doesn't support idlers. Once you've joined, you must make contributions worthy of the Martial Hall. Every three years, you must leave your insights on martial arts or corresponding cultivation scriptures in the Martial Hall for others to learn from. Alternatively, you must create a new Grandmaster Level martial art or achieve a breakthrough in your existing realm.

If you fail to meet any of these requirements the first time, the resources provided by the Martial Hall will be halved. The second time, all Martial Hall resources will be withdrawn. The third time, you'll be fined five hundred Merit Points. Afterward, with each subsequent three-year cycle of failure, the fine increases by another five hundred Merit Points, until you meet one of the conditions. At that point, everything resets."

Shen Changqing's expression turned grim. Five hundred Merit Points for the first fine. That meant a thousand for the second, and one thousand five hundred for the third. It seemed the Martial Hall offered a six-year grace period before fines began, after which, without contributions, he'd have to start paying them Merit Points.

The other party had never mentioned this before. "Elder Zhong, you didn't mention this before, did you?"

"I'm getting old, my memory isn't what it used to be. I forget things easily sometimes," Zhong Ning said, patting his head with a somewhat embarrassed look.

Seeing Shen Changqing's displeased expression, he patiently reassured him, "Actually, you don't need to worry. Those conditions are quite easy to meet. Besides, the Martial Hall won't keep docking you indefinitely. If you fail to contribute for five consecutive cycles, you'll be expelled from the Martial Hall and sent back to your original post. You can just continue being a Demon Hunter. We won't force you to stay here."

"Elder Zhong makes it sound so easy—" Shen Changqing was speechless. Being expelled from the Martial Hall meant he would have to pay out at least three thousand Merit Points. And in fact, calculating based on the annual resource subsidy of two hundred Merit Points, the resource subsidy he himself would receive in the Martial Hall was only around nine hundred Merit Points. This place wasn't a Martial Hall; it was a vampire!

However, Shen Changqing wasn't worried. Not to mention breaking through his existing realm, just considering the martial arts he could upgrade using Slaughter Value, any one of them would count as a new martial art. He wouldn't have to worry about failing to meet this condition at all. When the time came, he could simply submit a martial art every three years. Exchanging one Grandmaster Level martial art for three years of resource security and unrestricted access to study various martial arts was a very good deal.

"Actually, in the past, the Martial Hall didn't have this requirement. If someone was truly incapable, they'd simply be expelled without any fees. Unfortunately, the Martial Hall has been running at a deficit in recent years, so we had no choice but to implement this," Zhong Ning said, his expression troubled as he spoke of this.