High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Chapter 427: Chapter 427: The Reason

The acrid, burnt smell in the air faded, replaced by the faint scent of cleanser.

He had arrived in Yuntai City.

Xu Wuyi stepped out of the Teleportation Array, verified his identity at the exit, and left the base.

Outside, the sun shone brightly, and a warm spring breeze brushed against his face.

The streets were a constant stream of traffic, and pedestrians strolled leisurely. The roadside cherry trees were in full bloom, their pink and white petals drifting down in the wind.

Peace. Tranquility.

Xu Wuyi stood at the base entrance, momentarily dazed.

Five days ago, he had been fighting on the Star Realm Battlefield under a dark red sky. Now, he was back in a bustling city of the Federation.

The two worlds were so disconnected, it felt like a dream.

He took a deep breath, pushed down his emotions, and hailed an unmanned taxi.

"To Star Martial University."

The car drove into the city, the scenery outside the window rushing by. Xu Wuyi leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and began to gather his thoughts.

’Teacher Han suddenly summoned me back. It must be for something important.’

’The military also issued a top-priority directive. This means the matter is classified and might even relate to the situation on the front lines.’

’What could it be?’

Xu Wuyi couldn’t guess, but he had a hunch that the upcoming arrangements might change his original plans.

An hour later, the taxi stopped at the gates of Star Martial University.

Xu Wuyi returned to Villa #7 in the Hidden Dragon Garden. Pushing open the door, he found everything just as he had left it. The Earth Fire Marrow Lamp was still burning, the control console’s screen was on standby, and a faint aura of Energy hung in the air.

Without resting, he walked straight to the control console and connected to the military’s internal network.

This was the clearance Pan Yan had given him, allowing him to access non-core military communication channels. Xu Wuyi brought up the encrypted communication interface, entered Han Mo’s officer ID number, and composed a short message:

"Teacher, I have returned to Yuntai City. Xu Wuyi."

He hit send.

The message was marked as delivered, but there was no reply. ’Teacher Han is probably still on the front lines, or maybe he’s just busy.’

Xu Wuyi closed the interface and walked into the Cultivation Room.

He sat down cross-legged and began to assess his condition.

After five straight days of travel and combat, he wasn’t injured, but he had expended a considerable amount of his Power of Heart Image.

The Fire Source Stone’s energy had recovered, the Meteor Iron Long Spear needed maintenance, and his combat suit had a few tears.

He first spent two hours meditating to restore his Power of Heart Image to its peak. Then he took out the long spear and a maintenance kit and began to meticulously wipe down the shaft and inspect its energy circuits.

This tedious work helped calm his mind.

At dusk, his personal terminal finally vibrated.

Xu Wuyi opened it. It was Han Mo’s reply, just three words: "Wait for me."

He put his terminal away and continued maintaining his equipment.

He ended up waiting for two days.

During those two days, Xu Wuyi didn’t leave the villa.

He spent every day in the Cultivation Room, consolidating his Realm and refining his Heart Image. He occasionally studied the Fire Source Stone, but he still couldn’t break through that final barrier.

On the morning of the third day, his terminal vibrated again.

This time, it wasn’t a text message, but an encrypted communication request. The source was displayed as "Military Battle Network - Encrypted Channel."

Xu Wuyi accepted the call.

The screen lit up, and Han Mo’s figure appeared.

He looked even more exhausted than the last time they’d met. His eyes were bloodshot, but his posture remained ramrod straight.

The background was a spartan office, likely a room at the front-line command post.

"Teacher," Xu Wuyi said.

"Mm." Han Mo nodded, looking him over for a few seconds. "You’ve broken through to the Innate Realm. Your aura is much more stable. And you performed well on your mission in the Star Realm Battlefield."

"You heard?"

"Word has spread all over the West Seventh District command post." Han Mo smiled, but the expression quickly vanished. "I called you back because I have something important to tell you."

Xu Wuyi sat up straight. "I’m listening."

"For the next two months, you are to stay out of the Star Realm Battlefield," Han Mo said, his tone serious. "At least until mid-May."

Xu Wuyi frowned. "Teacher, but..."

"This is a military-wide order," Han Mo said. "It’s not directed at you personally. It applies to all Martial Artists below Level 47. You’re just receiving the notice a few days early."

’Below Level 47...’

A thought struck Xu Wuyi.

’Level 47 is the threshold for the High Tier of the Innate Realm. Martial Artists below that level have limited effectiveness on a main battlefield, but they excel at guerrilla warfare, infiltration, and sabotage.’

’For the military to suddenly recall this group on such a massive scale could only mean one thing...’

"Is the Federation planning a major move against the Celestial Wolf Civilization?" he asked.

Han Mo didn’t answer directly, but his eyes said it all.

"I can’t discuss the specific plan. The classification level is too high," he said slowly.

"But you’re right. The Federation hasn’t forgotten what happened to Master Yue and the other two Grandmasters. The small-scale retaliations before were just an appetizer. The real counterattack is only just beginning."

Xu Wuyi fell silent.

He recalled the briefs from the front-line battle reports: Divine Beings fallen, strongholds destroyed, supply lines severed... ’So all of that was just the prelude.’

"So when can I go back in?" he asked.

"After mid-May," Han Mo said. "But when you do go back, don’t go to the front lines against the Celestial Wolf Civilization. The military will be reassigning battle zones. You’ll most likely be transferred to the front against the Feathered People Civilization."

"The Feathered People?"

"Correct." Han Mo nodded. "The front against the Celestial Wolf Civilization is about to become the main battlefield for Grandmasters and Quasi-Grandmasters. The survival rate for any Martial Artist below Level 47 who goes there will plummet. The front against the Feathered People Civilization is relatively stable, making it more suitable for you to continue honing your skills."

Xu Wuyi understood.

’The Federation is concentrating its top-tier combat power to launch a devastating strike against the Celestial Wolf Civilization, while the mid and low-tier Martial Artists are being moved out of the danger zone to avoid pointless casualties.’

"The military has taken notice of your abilities," Han Mo continued. "Especially that long-range, precision, area-of-effect killing technique. After May, Command may specially requisition you to carry out certain targeted missions."

"What kind of missions?"

"It’s not certain yet. It will depend on the situation at the front," Han Mo said. "But remember, no matter what mission you’re given, don’t overextend yourself. You have to stay alive to kill more of the enemy."

Xu Wuyi nodded. "I understand."

"Besides, it’s not as if you won’t have missions just because you’re staying in the Federation..."

The other end of the line went quiet for a few seconds. Han Mo seemed to be lost in thought.

After a moment, he spoke again. "There’s something else I need to tell you."

"I’m listening."

"About Master Yue’s belongings... that Fire Source Stone you claimed..." Han Mo paused.

"Before his death, Master Yue said that the stone sealed a wisp of an ’Undying Fire Seed’ he had found in the ruins of an ancient civilization. But throughout his entire life, he was never able to decipher the method to activate it."

A jolt went through Xu Wuyi.

’An Undying Fire Seed?’

"Master Yue believed that the fire seed might require a special ’catalyst’ to be activated," Han Mo said, looking at Xu Wuyi.

"For example, a supreme form of battle intent, or an Enlightenment at the brink of life and death. He left it to you because he felt you, of all people, might have a chance."

Xu Wuyi lowered his head, his gaze falling on the dark-red, round stone in his hand.