High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

”The exoskeletons on these bugs are tough, capable of withstanding fire from standard energy rifles. Moreover, they lack any fear instinct. As long as their nest remains, they will attack relentlessly until they are all wiped out.”

He paused. ”More importantly, they burrow. The engineering corps on the front line discovered they’ve already dug a complex network of tunnels underground. Conventional bombing will have a hard time clearing them out completely.”

Xu Wuyi continued flipping through the file. The next few pages contained an analysis report from the Federation’s research institute.

The nest structure of this alien insect was unique. It could absorb geomantic energy and convert it into nutrients for reproduction. At the same time, it secreted a special biological mucus to reinforce the nest, making it difficult to destroy with conventional explosives.

After defeating the Celestial Wolf Civilization, the Federation’s territory in the Star Realm Battlefield had been constantly expanding. It was now over fifty percent larger than before, bringing them into contact with many new Alien Races and Star Beasts.

This Alien Insect Star Beast was one of them.

”So you need Martial Artists to handle it?” Xu Wuyi looked up.

”Yes, we need a Martial Artist like you.” Feng Zhuohua leaned forward, folding his hands on the desk. ”Massive Area Attacks to clear the field quickly, combined with enough Penetration Power to destroy the underground nest structures.”

Xu Wuyi was silent for a moment.

”What’s the specific mission?”

”The newly occupied territory, designated the X-24 Star Domain.” Feng Zhuohua brought up a Star Map.

”This was originally a resource planet for the Celestial Wolf Civilization, but it’s now been overrun by the alien insects. Our frontline troops have established three forward bases, but their advance has been difficult.”

”Your mission is to coordinate with the 17th Armored Division to eliminate all Alien Insect Nests in the area, clearing the way for subsequent development.”

He displayed the mission details. ”The estimated number of nests to be cleared is between fifteen and twenty, spread across an area of about eight thousand square kilometers. The 17th Division will provide fire support and intelligence, but you’ll be responsible for the main assault.”

Xu Wuyi carefully examined the topographical map.

The terrain of the X-24 Star Domain was complex, with many hills and subterranean caves—perfect for the alien insects to hide in.

”And the timeframe?”

”The sooner, the better.” Feng Zhuohua’s expression was grave. ”The alien insects are expanding too quickly. For every day we delay, their numbers increase by tens of thousands. And...”

He paused and brought up another intelligence report.

”The Feathered People Civilization has also appeared in that area.”

Xu Wuyi’s gaze sharpened.

The holographic image switched, showing several blurry figures. The details were unclear, but the iconic silhouette of their wings confirmed they were, without a doubt, Feathered People.

”Are they hunting the alien insects, too?” Xu Wuyi asked.

”On the surface, yes.” Feng Zhuohua sneered. ”But our intercepted intelligence shows that the Feathered People’s Priest Corps is very interested in the biological structure of the Alien Insect Nests and is collecting samples. Furthermore...”

He looked at Xu Wuyi, his tone becoming heavier. ”We suspect their real target is you.”

The office fell silent for a moment.

”My performance in the Tianshui Star Realm has put me on the Feathered People’s highest-priority kill list,” Xu Wuyi said calmly. ”They won’t pass up any opportunity to kill me.”

”That’s right.” Feng Zhuohua nodded. ”Which is why this mission is extremely high-risk. Besides the threat from the alien insects, you’ll also have to watch out for assassination attempts from the Feathered People. Our intelligence indicates that at least three sub-King Level powerhouses are lurking in that area, and among them may be a ’Heart-Eroder’ from the Blood Sacrifice Divine Hall.”

Heart-Eroders.

Xu Wuyi recalled the Heart-Eroding Curse he had encountered in the Tianshui Star Realm. That kind of technique, which directly attacked one’s Spirit, was indeed tricky to deal with.

”Grandmaster Level experts won’t make a move?” he confirmed.

”Not for now,” Feng Zhuohua explained. ”A Grandmaster Level expert making a move creates too much of a disturbance and would be detected by our monitoring network immediately. Besides, the Feathered People are currently fighting on multiple fronts, and their Grandmaster Level forces are stretched thin. But sub-King Level... they can deploy many of those.”

He stared at Xu Wuyi. ”Kid, your combat power is now on par with an ordinary sub-King, but if three of them team up to ambush you, with the added interference from the alien insects, the situation will be very dangerous. You need to think this through.”

Xu Wuyi didn’t answer right away.

He closed his eyes. In his sea of consciousness, the dark golden great marsh breathed slowly, the rhythm of its fluctuating weight as steady as a heartbeat.

After achieving Great Success in Heavy Water, his strength had indeed taken a qualitative leap.

The extreme penetration of ”Water Drop,” the area suppression of ”Returning Ruins Seal,” and the unpredictability of the shifting weight had made his tactical options far more varied than before.

More importantly, his Flame Power was no longer his only means of clearing the field.

”No problem.” Xu Wuyi opened his eyes. ”I’ll take the mission.”

Feng Zhuohua watched him, silent for a few seconds.

”Are you confident?”

”I am,” Xu Wuyi replied calmly. ”I’ve achieved Great Success in the Heavy Water arts, so I have new methods of attack. I won’t need to use my Flame Power as often, so even if the Feathered People try to target me, it will be difficult for them to prepare countermeasures in advance.”

”New methods?” Feng Zhuohua raised an eyebrow.

Xu Wuyi raised his right hand.

Above his palm, the air distorted slightly as a pinhead-sized drop of dark golden liquid silently condensed.

There was no heat, no flame, only the Mental Realm of pure, ultimate ”weight” spreading out.

The air in the office suddenly grew heavy.

Feng Zhuohua’s pupils contracted. He could feel that the tiny droplet contained a terrifying density of Energy.

What was even stranger was that the feeling of ”weight” wasn’t constant. It was fluctuating faintly, as if it were alive.

”This is...”

”’Water Drop,’” Xu Wuyi said, retracting the droplet. ”It’s the form Heavy Water takes after extreme Compression. Its Penetration Power is enough to pierce through the protective Energy of a sub-King Level expert.”

He then raised his left hand.

He brought his hands together without them touching, and a dark golden Seal Platform slowly took shape between them. The Seal Platform was ancient and heavy, naturally exuding an intention of suppression. The floor of the office let out a faint groan.

”’Returning Ruins Seal.’ Area suppression. Against large numbers of targets, it’s more effective than Flame.”

”For clearing the Alien Insect Nests this time, the Returning Ruins Seal will be more useful than Flame.”

Feng Zhuohua stared at the Seal Platform for a long time without speaking, then finally nodded.

He could tell the general function of this ”Returning Ruins Seal” at a glance. This type of purely physical attack could directly destroy the structure of the nests.

As a high-ranking military official, he had seen many genius Martial Artists and many powerful Martial Arts. But the two techniques Xu Wuyi had just demonstrated still surprised him.

It wasn’t about the sheer power—there were many Martial Arts more powerful than this—but about that unique ”quality.”

The vitality in the fluctuating weight, the breathing rhythm implicit in the suppression—it had all surpassed the level of simple power and was touching upon the Domain of the ”Dao.”

”Grandmaster Liang Sixian’s guidance is truly extraordinary,” Feng Zhuohua said slowly. ”It seems your trip to the Northern Lands was not in vain.”

Xu Wuyi withdrew his Power of Heart Image, and the Seal Platform dissipated.

”So, I have ways to deal with the Feathered People’s ambush,” he said. ”If I face three sub-Kings head-on, I might not win. But if I want to leave, they won’t be able to stop me.”