High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

He paused. "This is good news, and it’s bad news. The good news is that the war is finally reaching its conclusion. The bad news is... the price of that conclusion may be far greater than anyone anticipates."

Xu Wuyi was silent.

He finally understood why he had been summoned back with such urgency.

On a battlefield of Grandmasters, a strategic-level Innate Martial Artist like him truly had no role to play.

Even if his Liaoyuan Fire could clear out thousands upon thousands of ordinary Feathered People, before a Feathered King Level existence, he was still just an ant.

That was not a gap that could be bridged by numbers.

It was a fundamental difference in their very tier of existence.

"Then what are our orders now?" a General asked.

"Stand by," said Lin Shuo. "All forces below Grandmaster Level will stand by in their designated garrisons. If a victor emerges on the Grandmaster battlefield, the war may end quickly. If it falls into a stalemate, we may need to prepare for... the worst-case scenario."

The worst-case scenario.

Those four words plunged the atmosphere in the briefing room to an icy low.

Xu Wuyi knew what that meant: a Grandmaster falling, the front lines collapsing, and the Feathered People advancing unopposed.

It wasn’t impossible. Although the Feathered People Civilization had less than half the number of Grandmasters as the Federation, the Federation wasn’t fighting on a single front.

Many Grandmasters were still on the Star Realm Battlefield, defending against Star Beast attacks, and others, like Grandmaster Ren Bai, had to remain stationed within the Federation year-round.

Not to mention that not long ago, the Grandmasters had already mobilized on a large scale to annihilate the Celestial Wolf Civilization.

While it was true no Grandmasters had fallen thanks to sound strategy, some degree of exhaustion was unavoidable.

"Dismissed," Lin Shuo said finally. "Xu Wuyi, you stay behind."

The others filed out. Tie Zhan and Lu Wenquan glanced at Xu Wuyi before also getting up and walking out of the briefing room.

After the door closed, Lin Shuo walked up to Xu Wuyi.

This Grandmaster, known for his steady composure, now had a complicated look in his eyes.

"I’ve seen your full record from the Tianshui Star Realm," Lin Shuo said slowly. "Twenty-one years old, Innate Realm, with combat power approaching that of a Quasi-Grandmaster. In the Federation’s century-long history, you are the first."

Xu Wuyi said nothing.

"Han Mo taught you well," Lin Shuo continued. "But did he ever tell you why the Federation values geniuses so highly?"

"Because humanity needs powerful people," Xu Wuyi said.

"Yes, but that’s not the whole story." Lin Shuo shook his head. "Humanity needs powerful people, but more than that, it needs powerful people who survive. A dead genius is worthless."

He looked at the Federation flag hanging on the briefing room wall. "This war has been fought for a hundred years, and countless geniuses have emerged in the Federation. Some shone brightly on the battlefield, while others perished before they could reach their full potential. Do you know how many actually make it to the Grandmaster Realm?"

Xu Wuyi shook his head.

"Less than one percent," Lin Shuo said. "The other ninety-nine percent all died along the way. Some were hunted down by the Feathered People, some suffered from cultivation deviation while trying to break through, and some... died at the hands of their own people."

Xu Wuyi’s heart went cold.

"You are now one of that one percent." Lin Shuo stared into his eyes. "But the opening of the Grandmaster battlefield means you no longer have time to continue growing. The next stage of the war belongs to the Grandmasters. It’s a war you cannot—and are not qualified to—join."

"Then what should I do?" Xu Wuyi asked.

"Wait." Lin Shuo bit out the word. "Wait for the battle between Grandmasters to be decided. If the Federation wins, you can continue your cultivation, continue to grow, and maybe become a new Grandmaster in the future. If the Federation loses..."

He didn’t finish.

But Xu Wuyi understood.

If the Federation lost, then when the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain intact? Forget cultivation; everyone’s first priority would be to simply survive.

"Go back and rest." Lin Shuo patted his shoulder. "Command has arranged a residence for you in Xingjing’s inner city. It has the highest security level. Don’t leave without orders, and don’t make contact with any unidentified individuals."

Xu Wuyi saluted and left.

As he walked out of the briefing room, he saw Tie Zhan and Lu Wenquan waiting in the corridor.

"How did it go?" Tie Zhan asked.

"He told us to wait," Xu Wuyi said simply.

Lu Wenquan pushed up his glasses. "As expected. Once the Grandmaster battlefield opens, the role of people like us becomes negligible. Now we can only pray that our defending Grandmasters can win."

The three of them walked silently toward the exit.

There were no stars in Xingjing’s night sky, only the soft moonlight of a simulated celestial canopy. The streets were nearly empty, most shops were closed, and an oppressive silence enveloped the entire city.

In wartime, even the Capital had lost its former vibrancy.

...

For the next two days, Xu Wuyi stayed in a detached courtyard house in Xingjing’s inner city.

This was the temporary residence for high-ranking military officials, and the security was so tight that a patrol of soldiers passed by every ten minutes. Xu Wuyi tried to cultivate, but he couldn’t quiet his mind.

He would find his thoughts drifting to the sea on the Tianshui Star Realm, to the battle outside Broken Star Castle, to the Feathered People who had died, and to his fallen comrades.

The war wasn’t over, but he could no longer fight.

This feeling of powerlessness was more unbearable than facing a powerful enemy.

「On the afternoon of the third day.」

There was a knock on the courtyard gate.

Xu Wuyi opened the gate and saw a travel-worn Han Mo.

The Quasi-Grandmaster, who was always immaculate, now had a combat suit stained with dust and fatigue etched on his face, but his eyes were still bright.

"Master," Xu Wuyi said, stepping aside.

Han Mo walked into the courtyard, sat down on a stone bench, and let out a long breath.

"I just got back from the Tianshui Star Realm," he said. "Four warp jumps. I’m dead tired."

Xu Wuyi poured him a glass of water. "How are things at the front?"

"Just as I guessed, a Grandmaster battlefield." Han Mo took a sip of water. "That old coot Connor took action personally, fighting Grandmaster Duan Yue for a full day. The effects spread across half the Star Realm. There’s nothing left for us to do in the Tianshui Star Realm now. All troops have been pulled back to the second line."

"Then you came back to..."

"Debrief, then stand by." Han Mo looked at Xu Wuyi.

"Grandmaster Lin Shuo must have told you, right? Now that the war has reached this stage, it’s entered the final phase. The victor among the Grandmasters will determine the course of the war. We don’t get a chance to make a move anymore."

Xu Wuyi nodded.

"So what are your plans?" Han Mo asked.

"Wait."

"And after?" Han Mo looked at him. "If the Federation wins and the war is over, what do you plan to do?"

Xu Wuyi fell silent.

’He’d never actually thought about it.’

Ever since awakening the Martial Arts Diligence Record, his life had been cultivation, battle, then more cultivation, and more battle.

’If the war really ended, what would he do? Where would he go?’

"Go back to Dongjiang Province." Han Mo made the decision for him. "You came from there, so you should go back for a visit. Spend time with your family. Life can’t be just about Martial Arts."

He paused. "Of course, that’s all assuming the Federation wins."

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