High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

"Yes." Xu Wuyi stood up.

"Sit." The officer waved his hand and sat down in the seat opposite him. "I’m Chen Zhen, commander of the Dongjiang Corps’ Third Assault Team. I was the one who approved your transfer orders."

"Commander Chen." Xu Wuyi nodded.

Chen Zhen looked to be in his forties, with a resolute face and a thin scar running from his left brow bone to his cheekbone.

His aura was deep and restrained. Xu Wuyi couldn’t perceive his specific Level, but he was at least Level 45 or higher—perhaps even close to a Quasi-Grandmaster.

"You’ve read the briefing materials?" Chen Zhen asked.

"I have," Xu Wuyi said. "Tianshui Star Realm. Oceans cover ninety-five percent of its surface. The Feathered People Civilization has seventeen floating fortresses, while the Federation has twelve deep-sea bases. Both sides are fighting for naval supremacy and resource points. We’re currently at a stalemate."

"A good summary," Chen Zhen nodded. "But the actual situation is more complex than what the files suggest. The fortresses of the Feathered People aren’t stationary. They have propulsion systems and can move slowly across the surface. Our deep-sea bases are stable, but they lack mobility and are limited to passive defense."

He paused for a moment. "And that’s why we need an assault team. The Third Assault Team’s mission is to proactively seek out and strike the weak points of the Feathered People, disrupting their resource collection and troop movements."

Xu Wuyi understood.

’So I’ve been brought in to be their "blade."’

’A sharp blade capable of clearing large swathes of the sea.’

"Your abilities were proven in the Flowing Sand Star Realm," Chen Zhen said, looking at Xu Wuyi. "Liaoyuan’s range, power, and precision all meet strategic-level criteria. We’ve brought you here hoping you can replicate that effect at sea."

"I’ll do my best," Xu Wuyi said.

"Good." Chen Zhen’s tone turned serious. "The fighting in the Tianshui Star Realm is even more of a stalemate than in Flowing Sand. The Feathered People have air superiority, and our deep-sea forces have a hard time breaking their lines. If you can open a breach on the surface, the entire war effort will shift."

After a moment of silence, Xu Wuyi asked, "What are my operational authorizations?"

"A-level," Chen Zhen said. "You have autonomy to choose your targets and the timing of your attacks. However, every time you make a move, you must be accompanied by a protective detail of three Quasi-Grandmasters."

"Three Quasi-Grandmasters?" Xu Wuyi was taken aback.

’That’s a more extensive detail than I anticipated.’

"This is a direct order from Command," Chen Zhen said. "Your performance in the Flowing Sand Star Realm has caught the attention of the Feathered People’s high command. They’ve likely marked you as a priority kill target. In an open-sea environment like Tianshui, the risk is extremely high if you’re singled out."

He paused. "The three Quasi-Grandmasters will be with you whenever you make a move to ensure your safety. This is the bottom line. It’s non-negotiable."

Xu Wuyi nodded.

He understood the military’s reasoning. ’Strategic-level individuals are too rare to lose.’

The Tianshui Star Realm was a secondary Star Realm, but it was among the largest of its kind. Anyone below Grandmaster Level could enter.

This essentially made it a battlefield for Quasi-Grandmasters—the equivalent of the "Feathered People Second King" rank among the Feathered People.

If he were alone and targeted by two or more Feathered People Second Kings, his chances of escape would be slim.

"Also," Chen Zhen added, "one of those three Quasi-Grandmasters is an acquaintance of yours."

"An acquaintance?"

"You’ll find out when you get to the base."

Chen Zhen said no more, stood up, and left.

Xu Wuyi turned his gaze back to the sea outside the viewport.

’An acquaintance? Who could it be?’

After a moment’s thought, Xu Wuyi shook his head.

’I’ll find out soon enough.’

The transport ship flew on for another hour until the silhouettes of artificial structures began to appear on the sea below.

It was a massive, silver-gray offshore platform, hexagonal in shape, with each side stretching over five kilometers long.

The platform’s surface was covered with dense gun emplacements, landing pads, and defensive fortifications. In the center stood a command tower a hundred meters tall.

This was "Mountainstone" Base, one of the Federation’s twelve deep-sea bases in the Tianshui Star Realm.

The transport ship slowly descended, landing on a pad on the eastern side of the platform.

The hatch opened, and a gust of salty, damp sea air blew in.

Xu Wuyi picked up his duffel bag and walked down the ramp.

People were already waiting on the landing pad. A dozen or so Martial Artists in combat fatigues stood in formation, their auras sharp and potent. Even the weakest of them was at the Martial Artist level.

But it was the three people standing at the front of the formation who made Xu Wuyi pause.

On the left was a woman in a white swordsman’s uniform with a longsword at her waist. With her cool eyes and otherworldly air, it was none other than Zhao Qingwei.

Compared to their last meeting, however, her aura was far more condensed. A faint Sword Intention now swirled around her. She had clearly broken through to the Innate realm, and her understanding of the Sword Dao had deepened.

To the right was a handsome young man with sharp eyes, dressed in a dark red combat suit. It was Chu Shanhe.

The change in him was even more dramatic. The Qi and Blood that had once radiated from him was now completely contained, but Xu Wuyi could sense the explosive power hidden within his body. He had clearly reached a higher level in his Cultivation of the Blood Nerve.

And standing between them...

Xu Wuyi’s pupils contracted.

It was Professor Han Mo.

His mentor and professor from Star Martial University was now dressed in the deep blue uniform of a brigadier general, the General Star on his epaulets glinting in the sun.

"Professor." Xu Wuyi hurried forward and gave a formal salute, a look of pleasant surprise on his face.

He hadn’t seen Professor Han Mo since Grandmaster Yue’s funeral and never expected to meet him here.

’And from the looks of it, Professor Han Mo is likely one of my personal guards.’

Han Mo looked at his student, a flicker of pride in his eyes that he quickly concealed. He simply nodded. "You’re here."

"Yes, sir." Xu Wuyi straightened up and turned to the other two. "Zhao Qingwei, Chu Shanhe. Long time no see."

"Long time no see." Zhao Qingwei gave a slight nod, a rare smile gracing her cool features.

Chu Shanhe also nodded slightly, his face holding its usual gentle smile.

Both had only recently broken through to the Innate realm. They were all fourth-year students now, but in previous years, it was rare for even a single student to reach the Innate realm before graduation.

Yet in Xu Wuyi’s class, there were now three, including himself. It was truly a generation brimming with talent.

’Besides, Chu Shanhe practices one of the Miraculous Techniques, the Blood Nerve, so his advancement isn’t surprising. But Zhao Qingwei...’

He studied her for a moment and came to a realization. ’It must have something to do with Grandmaster Lin Jianyi’s guidance.’

"You’ve both progressed quickly," Xu Wuyi said.

"We’re still leagues behind you," Zhao Qingwei said, shaking her head.

Chu Shanhe added, "We’ve been training out here ever since we reached the Innate realm. We didn’t expect you to be assigned here too."

Han Mo cut their reunion short. "You can catch up later. Business first."

"Follow me."

Xu Wuyi picked up his bag and followed, with Zhao Qingwei and Chu Shanhe flanking him. The other Martial Artists on the landing pad watched them go, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

"So that’s Xu Wuyi?"

"Killed nearly two thousand Feathered People in a single battle in the Flowing Sand Star Realm..."

"Yeah, they’re calling him the ’Flame of Liaoyuan’ now..."

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