"I was never told how my father and mother met, General," Shen replied after getting over his initial stupefaction. "As for your second question, from what I recall, legally, Imperia is relatively liberal in that two consenting adults cannot be stopped from marrying. But the customs differ slightly for cultivators.

"A cultivator's partner has to be approved by their clan. Supposedly, it's done for the protection of the interested parties. The clans scrutinize each other for schemes and guide each prospective partner through a maze of more complicated matters. For instance, who is leaving whose clan to join the other? Do they plan to have children? If their Paths aren't compatible, are they aware of how that'll impact their cultivation? Unless two clans have a bad history or one party is plotting something, even if a clan doesn't want the union to consummate, there are usually no great obstacles beyond incessantly telling their member how bad of an idea the marriage is."

Shen paused, then added, "You mentioned Xia Liling. I'm honor-bound not to allow someone I might be legitimately interested in to marry someone as socially and financially destitute as me. However, should we develop genuine feelings for each other and I decide to dishonor her, the social gap wouldn't make the Xia Clan stop me. They would, at most, demand guarantees from me. I can't pay a dowry, so I would have to pay in installments. I have no clan, so I would likely be asked to join the Xia Clan as an Outer Guest—not because they care for me but because it would be humiliating for their supposed Princess, whatever that is, to marry a nobody. Even if I refused, they would insist and cause a fuss unless I accepted to have our children grow up in and be a part of the Xia Clan instead of clanless. It's mostly about protecting one's interest, honor, and stability."

The dragon said nothing for a moment, and Shen wondered if he had said something too outlandish.

Then, Long Hei sighed again—quite a sigher, the General—and said, "If that's all, it reveals an expected gap in your knowledge. Before we address most of that, let's start with your status. As far as I'm aware, Sun Weisheng isn't a bad person per se, but he has his own beliefs, and stopping an upstart from upending the established forces is part of it. He's a vocal supporter of the Republic, but only if it remains just the way it is. He dislikes change. For instance, despite the Feng Clan's treason and ultimate destruction, he was known to have felt ambivalent about it. He feels glad the traitors were disposed of and upset that it caused waves of change throughout Imperia. He equally resents the war against the Cultivator Association and this conscription matter, both because of the lives lost and how it changed everything.

"All that is to say that he picked the most convenient truth to tell you. In the old Republic, from where you were born, your status would be low indeed. However, there were some moral changes over the millennia—for the better, if you ask me. In the current age, the reason why anyone is expelled from a clan matters more than the event itself. You, Lieutenant, were condemned for your father's crimes, which is frowned upon. Your father's crimes are real, and you benefitted from it, but you weren't even a cultivator when that happened—and little more than a sheltered boy to boot. On that alone, most would sympathize with you. At worst, they would see you with a degree of suspicion. Expelled clan members are still viewed poorly, but as I said, not fitting a clan isn't the huge sin it used to be."

"You became a cultivator after being expelled, even if you were unaware of it then. In other words, your base start was as a wandering cultivator. Such people are still not highly regarded, but they are judged by their achievements, not matters beyond their control when they were a teen commoner. So, tell me, Shen. How are your achievements to date?"

Shen frowned as he thought about it. He could honestly think of none. Sure, he was strong and advanced faster than anyone he knew, but he hadn't done anything noteworthy for the Republic itself.

"Lacking, I would say, General."

The dragon chuckled, and Shen spaced out for a moment. He barely felt Spacetime break right before his mind blanked out. Everything was the same when he returned to himself, and Long Hei kept talking as if nothing had happened.

"I suppose you'd be mostly correct, but you forget details matter in Imperial. Being strong is a statement in itself, and you are one of the strongest C-ranks I have ever met, Lieutenant. That alone isn't enough to elevate you beyond even the most useless C-rank member of a Senatorial Clan, much less a High Senatorial one like the Xia Clan, but enough that they would only be able to frown at your possible union with Xia Liling. Yet, that isn't where your actual value lies.

"So, let's discuss the overarching culture of the Republic of Imperia.

"Imagine a world with an absolute leader who rewards good, punishes evil, and cares about the weak. He would want every individual to be well treated. However, that leader is also practical and understands that some leeway must be given to select individuals. He's only one person, after all; he can't run a nation alone." He paused. "Well, theoretically, he can, but it would take all his focus and time. He would live for others while no one would live for him. He would inevitably be surpassed and disposed of or become a paranoid tyrant who nipped individuals with great potential at the root.

"The least harming leeway he was willing to give was through a clear hierarchy with internal rules. The rules were stretched for those who met the responsibility required for their power and station. He also incentivized internal competition so everyone kept themselves in check for him. Abuses inevitably happened but were often quickly discovered and corrected. Regardless of how correct or wrong that leader was, it worked. Thus, Imperia's clan culture was cemented in stone.

"That leader didn't much like the clan culture, but it was a leftover from the past that he couldn't get rid of. So, he used it for his own purposes. The clan's internal competition also became a way to help people flourish. There can be no growth without strife; such is a rule of Reality. You'll find it to be true anywhere. But more importantly to the matter at hand, he steered the clans into having as few Laws as possible. He had many reasons for that and claims it was for the greater good. We won't get into its details.

"The Leader steered people towards having fewer Laws by making it clear how clans with fewer Laws rose, and the ones with mixed heritage fell. Imperia has a lot of duel tournaments partly because, in those, your Path's internal harmony matters the most, and that's better accomplished with a cultivation technique and technique heritage honed throughout the ages. In actual war? Look closely at the Guardians from Earth. They had to learn to fight with some versatility, and their Paths weren't firm enough when the Calamity started. You'll see how most of them have a Path similar to yours, more or less picking what they like instead of what they believe will provide them with the best advantages due to the techniques their clan has.

"Even you were affected by that leader's plans. You grew up in the Feng Clan. You saw people fighting with the spear, and its best techniques were related to the spear, wind, and water. Therefore, you pulled those Axioms into your Path. The targeted grooming you accused the Xia Clan of is only possible because the Path we all walk has a lot to do with our environment.

"That reminds me: clans coddle their most esteemed members not because they are blind to the trouble it might bring but because they want to ensure the ones with the most potential will want to continue the clan's Path lineage. Imagine the issues if someone with the Sword at their Path's core became the Feng Clan's leader and then birthed descendants also focusing on the Sword. The Clan would break apart sooner or later. That's not targeted grooming because it doesn't focus on pleasing any individual other than maybe one's clan members' expectations, but it's still a form of grooming. Not an ill-intended one, but still.

"The most significant issue with that is that too much focus leads to stagnation. If everyone follows a similar Path, lives in the same society, and does the same things, everyone will eventually think equally. How can you have different insights from the ones recorded by your ancestors in their techniques if your life isn't that different from theirs? Sure, there will inevitably be some differences, but progress will be slow at best.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"That's why cultivation is about both adventuring and meditation. You experience new things and transform your insights into gains for your Path.

"Eventually, you'll reach your limits and seek other things to do other than cultivating. Or you'll already be someone who wants to partake in the pleasures of the flesh before you reach that point. And so, we arrive at mating rituals in Imperia.

"A mere strong C-rank can remove any mutation caused by inbreeding in a fetus. Even you might be able to do it with some study, despite your Path having nothing to do with the Axioms of Life. However, inbreeding, as in marriage only inside one's clan, brings that issue of narrow focus. Clans want their members to marry outsiders for their own good. The addition of controlled variety is excellent for everyone. At the very least, having an outsider come to your clan can cause enough of a change in the social dynamics to give new insights. Likewise, if your clan member leaves instead, the gap will make some people realize some things.

"It's ironic if you think about it. Sun Weisheng wants to keep Imperia just the way it is—but Imperia is all about controlled progress.

"The key here is controlled progress. You mentioned the issue that might arise if people with Paths too different from each other mate. Explain it to me."

Shen nodded. "Intercourse makes souls connect somehow, and both parties' Paths intermingle to a point. It kind of infects your Path. You can get parts of a Concept or Law not in your Path.."

Long Hei nodded only slightly this time. Reality shook, and Shen's True Self trembled, but he kept his senses. The dragon healed Space with his Realization and continued talking.

"It's more complicated than that, but you're not too far off. That said, removing alien Concepts or Laws would help hone one's willpower if you think about it. You could even use it to cement your beliefs and Path. You wouldn't want to waste time with that if you were a weak mortal with a minimal lifespan or a poor cultivator, but if you have a strong clan backing you? You could literally live forever unless killed and slowly push yourself forward. Not if you had to prove yourself in tournaments, of course, but that's not the matter now.

"More importantly, B-ranks can easily purge such subtle, non-targeted external influence from their Paths. Even you could do that if you wanted; your True Self would allow you to. Yet, carnal debauchery among cultivators is so frowned upon in Imperia that it's almost illegal. Why?"

Shen shook his head. "I can only think of the usual complications about bloodline and clan stability, General. That, in turn, means national stability because clans are so influential. But I suppose that's not what you're getting at."

"There's that too," Long Hei replied. "And another weak reason that piles up with what you said is vulnerability. When your soul touches someone else's during mating, both parties become more vulnerable to each other. But it could be solved by taking only weak partners for your harem.

"Nevertheless, the actual real reason is related to why you have no idea of your true worth. You're too young, but Imperia is filled with very old cultivators." The dragon sighed. "As one ages, passionate love becomes unnecessary. We can give ourselves much more physical pleasure than anyone can. At a single thought, you could make yourself have multiple orgasms every second of your existence until you die.

"Yet, we seek partners and marry.

"In part, we do so because of our social obligations. We need to continue our line for our clan's greater good. For our ancestors. For ourselves; who wants their bloodline to die off? There's also curiosity, I suppose. What does it feel like to care for progeny? To feel proud of your blood's achievements? To see them grow?

"But mostly, it's about loneliness. At a certain point, at least half of us recognize we almost need companionship. Friends are nice and all, but we want to share ourselves with someone who truly understands us. The Grand Senator, for instance, used to be my sworn brother, yet that ended. What we seek in marriage is something beyond that. Two people sharing some goals and the promise of facing eternity together. Even if both disagree with many things the other does, as long as the bottom lines aren't crossed, they stand together. Sometimes, they forgive each other even when such lines are crossed multiple times.

"Explaining such things and expecting a marriage unto death is the main goal behind clans culturally meddling in their young members' unions. No one wants a divorce if both parties aren't bad for each other. The separation is terrible for everyone. So, when scrutinizing potential partners, booth parties' personalities matter much less than ensuring both are fully aware of everything that union means. There are interminable sections of question and answer to account for countless possibilities they might face together. They come to know their partners better in a few weeks or months than they might've come to know in the years they have been courting each other before that.

"Nowadays, the young favored members of peak clans even live together for a year—under close watch to prevent some boundaries from being crossed. That ensures they do understand what it means to live with each other and be as one struggling together against the world. Society itself wants them to be ready to support them no matter what—for eternity.

"The expression "soulmate" that resisted until modern Earth means a lot to an old cultivator.

"You wouldn't understand, of course. You're too young. By how your feelings flared slightly when I mentioned your father, you also don't understand why he did what he did against the Feng Clan. It was for you, yes, but it was mostly revenge for your mother. For the woman he would live together with for tens of thousands of years yet was taken from him so soon.

"I repeat, you wouldn't understand.

"But there's more. There's also the matter of dual cultivation. Souls touch during mating, but you can open yourself more if you want. You can allow your soul and Path to intertwine with your partner's. Before A-rank, there's no protection against a sneak attack at such a moment unless the power gap is enormous. Even a D-rank could kill a C-rank while dual cultivating with them."

The dragon paused. "I suppose not you, with your True Self. But any weak C-rank could kill you. No cultivator benefits from dual cultivating with someone weaker, anyway.

"You also wouldn't understand the exhilarating experience of shared trust and the bond it creates. You lower your defenses and have faith nothing will happen to you. Your lover's life is in your hands, and it brings unimaginable joy to know they trust you so much. That... I can't put it into words. It's much more important than physical pleasure.

"I..." He sighed. "I repeat. You wouldn't understand. But you see why you wouldn't dual cultivate with more than very few people.

"As you can imagine, the more similar the mates' Paths are, the more they gain. They progress together. But only if both people have different enough insights from different perspectives on the same Axioms. Therefore, inbreeding is unhelpful for Path progression. You'll notice low-level clan members might marry internally, but the truly talented almost always marry outside unless critical internal political considerations must be taken into account.

"And in that setting, Brigade Commander Shen, you and Xia Liling are more than perfect for each other—and you are priceless to the Xia Clan.

"You reached C-rank in less than two years, and your insights about your Path must be absolutely alien to her despite you sharing every Axiom of hers—even a Law! She is the Princess of the Xia Clan, a recent cultural title, only a thousand years old or so. The closest approximation you would know is the First Among Peers, but a Prince or Princess is much more than that. She has so much potential that the clan believes she'll push them to greater heights. The Xia Clan would be ecstatic If you both could develop a relationship, even without dual cultivation. As long as she accepts you, you could reap untold benefits from them just for keeping a marriage of appearances and bedding her occasionally. Then, if both started trusting each other and dual cultivating? I can't imagine anything better for them.

"Or for you.

"Love is a nice word we like to use, but it matters little when looking at cultivators aiming at eternity. You can make yourself physically and mentally love anyone you want; you have that control over yourself. What you should seek is a personality match and trustworthiness.

"I'm not suggesting you marry Xia Liling, Lieutenant. But I strongly recommend you get to know her and see if there's a possibility. Don't think of the short term; you're both C-ranks, and the manner in which you met each other will sow some distrust. Even if something happened between you, it would take decades to reach the point of marriage, and that's a quick estimation.

"But think of the future. Meet her. Talk to her. See if something more might flourish with time.

"Which brings me to the last topic: I was told you were once enamored with the former Drow Maiden. That union wouldn't help your Path much, but I have nothing to say to it if you can trust her that much. If there's any doubt in your mind, however, I suggest you meet other people with a more fitting Path until you're surer.

"Unless you and Liya have established official courtship in secret, of course. I won't pry."

Shen had learned a lot about the Eternal Empire and Imperia in a short time. He was waiting for Long Hei to say more, but the dragon was finished. That's the reason he had called Shen over.

So, Shen had just gotten a lecture on matters of the heart by an A-rank dragon during a Void Tide.

That was not how he had expected his day to go.