If Heaven hadn't given birth to me, I would be arrogant.

"That's right!"

Zongze seemed determined to shock his family to death as he spoke.

"I have been studying with my teacher for four years now, and I am a dual practitioner of magic and martial arts. In these four years, my martial arts skills have reached the level of a first-level martial arts master, and my magic skills have also reached the level of a first-level magician."

"Dual cultivation of magic and martial arts?"

As a seasoned veteran, Zong Xiaozhang was now fully awake. He rushed to Zong Ze, placing his hands heavily on Zong Ze's seemingly frail shoulders, and said:

"Xiao Ze, what did you just say? You said you cultivate both magic and martial arts?"

"Yes, Grandpa!"

Zong Ze knew perfectly well why Zong Xiaozhang had asked such a question. Although he couldn't cultivate magic and martial arts before, that didn't stop him from reading. He already knew from the books that there was no such thing as dual cultivation of magic and martial arts on the Holy Word Continent.

Long, long ago, the people of the Holy Word Continent conceived of this problem. If someone could cultivate both martial arts and magic, their combat power would be unparalleled. Therefore, many have attempted to cultivate both martial arts and magic simultaneously, but no one has ever succeeded.

Later, it was said that a message spread from the high and mighty temple on the Holy Word Continent, a place that seemed to surpass even the three great empires. It was said that the God of Light had issued a divine decree: "Mortals cannot cultivate both magic and martial arts. The most basic requirement for cultivating both is to first become a Martial Venerable or a God of Magic!"

With this divine decree from the God of Light, the people of the continent gradually extinguished their impulse to cultivate warriors who were skilled in both magic and martial arts.

"Are you kidding me? Martial Venerable and Archmage? For tens of thousands of years, not a single Martial Venerable or Archmage has been heard of. Those who ultimately reached the pinnacle of Martial God or Archmage either died of old age or went on a journey seeking breakthroughs and never appeared before the world again. Only a small minority on the continent believe that these missing powerhouses truly became Martial Venerables or Archmages. However, the vast majority speculate that they too died of old age, since they never appeared again, and their families never saw them again."

But now, Zong Ze was demonstrating to the Zong family with concrete facts that dual cultivation of magic and martial arts did exist. And these were high-level dual-cultivation warriors of the same rank—a level one martial arts madman and a level one mage. How could this not drive Zong Xiaozhang and the others mad? Zong Ze, of course, understood their frustration.

However, Zong Ze still didn't truly understand Zong Xiaozhang's excitement. Ordinary people didn't know, but Zong Xiaozhang, the God of War, knew something else: the temple had indeed received a divine decree, but not one, but two!

The one everyone knows is only for mortals, but there is another one addressed to all martial gods and archmages. That divine decree states: "Once someone can cultivate both martial and magical arts and break through to the realms of martial god and archmage in both, then that person is destined to become a god!"

Therefore, Zong Xiaozhang couldn't help but feel nervous and excited. You see, although his grandson was incredibly wise and was hailed as the number one sage on the Holy Word Continent, the Zong family was, after all, a martial arts family. He himself was a Martial God, and his son would inevitably follow the path of a Martial God in the future. But this only grandson was an obstacle to martial arts!

It's impossible for Zong Xiaozhang not to have any regrets, but in order not to upset his grandson, and since his grandson is quite successful, Zong Xiaozhang has always kept these feelings to himself and never revealed them. But now, he suddenly heard that his grandson is a dual cultivator of magic and martial arts, how could he not be excited?

"Hahaha!" Zong Xiaozhang suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter:

"Who the hell said my grandson is a magic and martial arts cripple? I'll tear him apart! My grandson isn't just not a cripple, he's a legend, a legend who cultivates both magic and martial arts! Hahaha!"

"grandfather!"

Seeing Zong's arrogant and excited gestures, Zong shook his head speechlessly and interrupted him:

"I know everyone will be excited when they find out I can cultivate both magic and martial arts, but the reason I called everyone to the dark room to discuss this is because I don't want others to know about my situation!"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Zong Kuang wasn't Zong Xiaozhang after all, and didn't understand the concept of dual cultivation of magic and martial arts. Although he was also excited, he couldn't help but ask after hearing Zong Ze's words:

"You cultivate both magic and martial arts, isn't that a good thing? Naturally, the more people who know, the better. Why are you keeping it a secret?"

Zong Ze rolled his eyes at Zong Kuang: "Father, do you know what it means to be the tallest tree in the forest that will be felled by the wind?"

"Uh... I don't understand!" When it comes to fighting, Zong Kuang is an expert, but when it comes to word games, he can't help but turn his attention to his wife!

At this moment, Yu Rou gradually regained her composure and asked:

"Ze'er, although I haven't heard what you said before, I understand what you mean. Do you mean that if you stand out too much, it will bring jealousy from others and unnecessary trouble?"

"Who dares?"

Upon hearing his wife's words, Zong Kuang's eyes widened:

"My son is naturally outstanding. Who would dare to be jealous of him? Are they looking for death? Besides, even if someone is jealous, that's to be expected. Doesn't that just prove how outstanding my son is?"

"you shut up!"

Yu Rou and the old lady spoke up at the same time to stop Zong Kuang from continuing his daydreaming, and this rebuke also woke up the arrogant Zong Kuang who had been daydreaming all along.

"Ze'er is right!" the old lady said.

“Although our clan may seem powerful, it is actually just a facade. Compared to those families that have been passed down for countless years, our foundation is really weak. Right now, it’s not a big deal because you and your father are supporting us, but we must think about the future!”

"That's right! Kuang'er, your mother is right!"

Even the usually arrogant Zong Xiaozhang, who had calmed down, was unusually composed for once.

"Although you and the current emperor are like brothers, he is, after all, an emperor, and the empire has no wars to fight. So I was planning to have you resign from your position as Grand General after I leave!"

When Zong Xiaozhang uttered these arrogant words, everyone, including Zong Ze, was shocked.

"Are you leaving?" they all asked in unison.

"Where are you going?"

“I didn’t want to say this originally!” Zong said slowly and arrogantly.

"But seeing Ze'er's future today, I'm no longer worried. Let me tell you about it!"

After a pause, Zong Xiaozhang continued:

"Everyone knows that above the God of War and the Archmage are the God of War and the God of Magic, but no one has ever seen the God of War or the God of Magic. Therefore, many people believe that the God of War and the God of Magic only exist in legends and do not exist in reality!"

"But what I want to tell you today is... in fact, both Martial Venerables and Gods of Magic are real!"