High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

After all, the sabotage on Celestial Wolf Four was a highly sensitive operation. If the news leaked, the Celestial Wolf Civilization would likely retaliate. The five of them needed to maintain a low profile until they had recovered their combat strength.

”Understood,” Hong Nianyi replied on behalf of the five of them.

You Sicheng sat in his wheelchair. His complexion was a little better than it was three days ago, but he was still weak. He nodded at Pan Yan without speaking.

Chen Yuan’s left leg was in a stabilizing brace, and he needed crutches to walk.

Lin Jue carried the briefcase she never went anywhere without. Although its surface had gained a few more scratches, the equipment inside was likely unharmed.

Xu Wuyi was the only one of the five who could walk normally. He carried his Meteor Iron Long Spear on his back, the shaft wrapped in cloth, hiding any signs of damage.

The five of them boarded the private jet one by one.

The cabin door closed, and the engines started.

Through the window, Xu Wuyi saw Pan Yan standing on the tarmac, giving them a military salute.

The jet taxied, accelerated, and took off.

The ground below rapidly shrank. The military base turned into a gray square, then disappeared beneath the clouds.

It was quiet inside the cabin.

You Sicheng leaned back in his seat, resting with his eyes closed. Chen Yuan and Lin Jue were discussing something in low voices, while Hong Nianyi gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Xu Wuyi also looked out the window.

A sea of clouds churned below, and sunlight streamed through the window, warm and bright.

This was the sky of the Federation—peaceful and serene.

But Xu Wuyi knew that beyond this sky, on the Star Realm Battlefields, the fighting never stopped. Grandmaster Yue had fallen, Teacher Han was still at the front lines, and countless Martial Artists were bleeding and sacrificing themselves.

And he needed to get stronger.

The jet cut through the clouds, flying steadily toward Xingjing.

Outside the window, the sky was a brilliant blue.

Xingjing Military General Hospital, seventh basement level, special treatment area.

The security level here was comparable to a military command center. Entry and exit required triple-layered identity verification, and all medical staff had signed the highest-level non-disclosure agreements.

Xu Wuyi and the other four were placed in adjacent hospital rooms, ensuring their privacy while also making it convenient for them to look after one another.

The treatment process was long and meticulous.

Every day, they underwent comprehensive examinations and engaged in targeted recovery training, supplemented by medication and Nutrient Liquid.

The military’s medical technology was highly advanced. Many injuries considered difficult to cure among the civilian population could be treated effectively here.

A week later, the brace on Chen Yuan’s left leg was removed, and he could walk normally. Lin Jue’s Spirit exhaustion had completely subsided, and she went back to tinkering with her equipment.

The cracks in Hong Nianyi’s foundation were healing slowly, but at least her condition had stabilized and was no longer worsening.

The doctor said she needed absolute rest and could not use her power or become emotionally agitated.

You Sicheng’s situation was the most complex.

His injuries involved his Heart Image and his foundation, requiring long-term conditioning.

The doctor told him in no uncertain terms that even with the best possible recovery, his Realm would fall below Level 35, and he would never be able to return to his peak.

But the old man was quite philosophical about it.

”I was living on borrowed time anyway,” he told Xu Wuyi, who had come to visit. ”I’m sixty-two, and I killed a Priest. I’ve broken even. From now on, I can just teach students and guide newcomers from the rear. That’s not so bad.”

He had a smile on his face as he said it, but Xu Wuyi could see the desolation behind it.

An Innate Martial Artist who had once dominated battlefields now had to face the reality that his strength would never fully recover. Not everyone could accept such a fall from grace so calmly.

But You Sicheng had.

Perhaps it was because he had experienced too many life-and-death situations, or perhaps because he had long since learned to look past personal gains and losses. Or perhaps... it was because his daughter had been avenged.

During his treatment, Zhao Qingwei came to see Xu Wuyi once.

She had found out he was here through the Zhao Family’s connections, but she didn’t know the specifics of what had happened.

The military had done an excellent job of keeping the operation confidential. Aside from a handful of high-ranking officials, no one knew the truth about Celestial Wolf Four.

”You’re injured?” Zhao Qingwei asked, her brow furrowing slightly as she looked at the monitoring equipment attached to Xu Wuyi.

”Just a minor injury. It’s almost healed,” Xu Wuyi said.

Zhao Qingwei didn’t press for details; she wasn’t the type to pry. She had simply come to deliver a piece of news.

”There’s news about Teacher Han,” she said. ”My father contacted the front lines yesterday. Teacher Han is alive, but he’s injured and recuperating behind the lines in the war zone. The specifics of his injuries are unclear, but his life isn’t in danger.”

Xu Wuyi let out a sigh of relief.

’It’s enough that he’s alive.’

’As long as there’s life, there’s hope.’

”Also...” Zhao Qingwei paused. ”Grandmaster Yue’s body... they’ve recovered it.”

Xu Wuyi looked up.

”Three days ago, the Federation launched a large-scale counterattack. They took advantage of a gap while the combined forces of the Celestial Wolf and the Feathered People were redeploying, pushed deep into the Broken Star Belt, and recovered seventeen bodies, including Grandmaster Yue’s.”

Zhao Qingwei’s voice was low.

”His body has been brought back to the Federation now. Grandmaster Yue’s memorial service... is scheduled for next month.”

Xu Wuyi closed his eyes.

After a long moment, he finally spoke. ”I understand.”

Zhao Qingwei looked at his profile, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, she only sighed.

”Focus on your recovery.”

After she left, the hospital room fell quiet again.

Xu Wuyi leaned against the headboard, staring at the ceiling.

’Grandmaster Yue’s body has been recovered. That’s good news, I suppose. It’s common for Martial Artists to fall on the battlefield, but being able to return to their homeland to be laid to rest is a comfort, at least.’

’But the dead can’t be brought back to life.’

’The Grandmaster who gifted me the Volcanic Wood Carving, who stood like a monument to Martial Arts in my heart... he’s truly gone.’

Xu Wuyi clenched his fists.

The desire to grow stronger had never been so intense.

「Half a month later.」

Xu Wuyi’s injuries had mostly healed. His Qi and Blood had returned to their peak state, and in fact, tempered by the life-and-death battle, had become even purer and more condensed than before.

His Heart Image had also fully recovered. The light of the Dark Gold Mountain Body was restrained, but it felt more substantial. The feathers of the Golden Crow Illusion had been reborn, and its Flame runes were clearer than before.

He could feel that he was only one final step away from the Innate Realm.

’But this step can’t be rushed.’

’It requires more accumulation, more insight, and the right moment for things to fall into place.’

That morning, Xu Wuyi completed his discharge procedures, ready to return to Star Martial University.

Hong Nianyi still needed to recuperate for another two months. Chen Yuan and Lin Jue had already been discharged and had returned to their respective posts.

As for You Sicheng, the military had arranged for him to be moved to a rehabilitation center for long-term care.

Before leaving the hospital, Xu Wuyi went to say goodbye to Hong Nianyi.

Her room was on a different floor. When Xu Wuyi entered, she was sitting by the window, reading a book. The sunlight fell upon her, softening the pallor of her face.

”Leaving already?” Hong Nianyi asked, putting down her book.

”Yeah, back to the university,” Xu Wuyi said. ”What about you?”

”I’ll be here a while longer.” Hong Nianyi gazed out the window. ”The doctor said I can start some light cultivation next month, but I can’t use my Sword Intent. I want to use this time to rethink my approach to the Martial Arts.”

She paused, then looked at Xu Wuyi. ”When you break through to the Innate Realm, be sure to let me know.”

”I will,” Xu Wuyi nodded.

Neither of them said much more.

Some things didn’t need to be said.