High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Han Mo led Xu Wuyi into Mountain Stone Base.

The corridors were paved with alloy plates, and the walls were hung with real-time sea condition charts and tactical maps of the warzone.

"Your room is ready. It’s a private suite on the west side of the command tower," Han Mo said as they walked. "The base has prepared adjacent rooms for us three Quasi-Grandmasters. We’ll be on a rotating shift to ensure that at least one of us can get to you within three seconds, no matter the time."

Xu Wuyi nodded. The level of security was even tighter than he’d anticipated.

’This level of protection, even inside the base? Are they worried someone might infiltrate for a decapitation strike?’

It wasn’t impossible. The Federation only had a dozen or so Quasi-Grandmasters stationed in the Tianshui Star Realm, which averaged out to only one per base.

If the Feathered People were truly set on it, a joint attack by three to five of their Sub-King level warriors could easily overwhelm a base.

"Teacher, when did you come to the Tianshui Star Realm?" he asked.

"Ten days ago." Han Mo’s tone was calm, but a slight smile touched his lips. "I received a direct order from the military command to come here and protect you."

"That..." Xu Wuyi had never imagined his teacher was transferred here specifically for him.

"Feeling the pressure?" Han Mo glanced at him.

"A little," Xu Wuyi admitted. "Three Quasi-Grandmasters for a protection detail... this kind of treatment..."

"You’re worth it," Han Mo cut in. "In that battle in the Liusha Star Realm, you changed the entire strategic situation. The military ran an assessment: if the campaign had proceeded as planned, it would have required at least five full divisions and resulted in over three thousand casualties. You solved the problem all by yourself."

He stopped and turned to face Xu Wuyi. "A strategic-level asset is a walking catastrophe on the battlefield. Protecting you is the same as protecting the lives of thousands of soldiers."

"Below the rank of Grandmaster, you’re already the most valued weapon of war in the Entire Federation."

Xu Wuyi was silent.

"Of course, it’s not all good news," Han Mo said, resuming his stride. "The Feathered People have already designated you as their highest-priority target."

"From now on, every battle in the Tianshui Star Realm could involve targeted traps, assassination attempts, or even an ambush by three to five of their Sub-Kings trying to eliminate you. So, don’t you dare think ’I can handle this alone.’ Understand?"

"Understood," Xu Wuyi answered solemnly.

The group arrived at the residential area on the west side of the command tower.

The rooms here were noticeably more spacious than standard officer’s quarters. Each one had a private Cultivation Room and a tactical analysis terminal. Xu Wuyi’s room was at the end of the hall, his name already engraved on the doorplate.

"Drop your things off. We have a meeting in Conference Room Three in half an hour," Han Mo said. "Tie Zhan and Lu Wenquan are already waiting."

Xu Wuyi entered the room and quickly unpacked his bag.

His Liaoyuan Long Spear stood propped in the corner, its dark-gold shaft glinting coldly under the light.

He placed the Earth Core Flame Iron and his potions in the nightstand. His personal AI, Anna, connected to the base’s network and started downloading detailed files on the Tianshui Star Realm.

Once that was done, he changed into a clean set of combat fatigues and left the room.

Zhao Qingwei and Chu Shanhe were waiting in the hallway.

"Let’s go, the conference room is this way," Chu Shanhe said.

The three of them walked shoulder to shoulder, their footsteps echoing on the alloy floor.

"How long have you two been in Tianshui?" Xu Wuyi asked.

"Two months," Zhao Qingwei replied. "Teacher Lin sent me here to train, saying the Sword Dao must be honed on the edge of life and death."

"About the same for me," Chu Shanhe said with a small smile. "My Blood Nerve has reached the third layer, and I need a great deal of Blood Qi from actual combat to refine it. The Tianshui Star Realm has long front lines and constant fighting, so it’s a perfect fit."

Xu Wuyi glanced at the two of them.

The Sword Intention around Zhao Qingwei was condensed but unreleased; she had clearly absorbed a great deal of Grandmaster Lin Jianyi’s teachings. Chu Shanhe’s Qi and Blood was contained, but a faint, murderous aura flowed through his meridians, a clear sign that his Blood Nerve had reached the stage of Minor Achievement.

They were both top talents of their generation.

Conference Room Three was on the third floor of the command tower. It wasn’t large, just an oval alloy table in the center surrounded by ten chairs.

Han Mo was already seated at the head of the table. To his left sat a burly, bald man, and to his right, a middle-aged, bespectacled scholar in a white lab coat.

As Xu Wuyi and the others entered, the burly, bald man was using a soft cloth to polish a dark-red warhammer.

The warhammer’s handle was one-and-a-half meters long. Its head was a rectangular block with sharp, distinct edges, its surface covered in a dense array of inscribed runes.

The burly man looked up at the sound of their footsteps.

He looked to be in his fifties, with a rugged face, thick, blade-like brows, and three parallel scars running down his left cheek from the corner of his eye to his jawline.

But what was most striking were his eyes. His pupils were dark red, like coagulated blood.

"You’re here?" the burly man’s voice boomed, deep and resonant with a metallic timbre. "Sit."

Han Mo made the introduction. "This is Tie Zhan, former chief instructor of the Federation’s ’City Breaker’ unit. He specializes in heavy weaponry and frontal assaults."

Tie Zhan grinned, showing two rows of white teeth. "Kid, you did good work back in the Liusha Star Realm."

"Senior Tie," Xu Wuyi said with a respectful nod.

"Don’t be so formal," Tie Zhan said with a wave of his hand. "For the next few months, we’re in the same trench. You kill the enemy, I’ll watch your back. Simple as that."

Han Mo then turned to the scholar in the lab coat on his right. "This is Lu Wenquan, head of Energy Conformation Science at the Federation Research Institute. He specializes in energy analysis and defensive constructs. Of the three of us, his protective capabilities are the strongest."

Lu Wenquan adjusted his glasses and nodded at Xu Wuyi. His voice was mild. "Martial Artist Xu, it’s a pleasure. I’ve already analyzed the energy sample from your Heart Image’s flame. It has a very unique structure. I hope we can discuss it in depth when you have time."

"Senior Lu, you’re too kind," Xu Wuyi replied. Lu Wenquan’s tone hadn’t treated him like a junior, but he didn’t dare act like an equal.

Xu Wuyi always held deep respect for the Federation’s veterans who fought on the front lines, regardless of their individual power.

"Take a seat, everyone," Han Mo said.

Xu Wuyi and the other two sat down across from Han Mo.

Han Mo activated a holographic screen, projecting it over the center of the table.

It was a nautical chart of the Tianshui Star Realm, densely marked with the disposition of both sides’ forces.

"Xu Wuyi has A-level combat authorization, meaning he can choose his own targets and engagement times," Han Mo said, getting straight to the point. "However, every time he deploys, at least two of us must accompany him. This is a direct order. No exceptions."

Tie Zhan and Lu Wenquan both nodded in understanding.

"Over the next week, we’ll be replicating our tactics from the Liusha Star Realm," Han Mo said, pointing to several markers on the nautical chart.

"Intelligence has already selected three areas to serve as bait. The Feathered People have set up temporary resource-gathering outposts there, defended by garrisons of five to eight hundred troops, including Priests and a few Sub-King level experts."

Detailed troop dispositions appeared on the holographic screen.

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