High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

”Innate Level, and a relatively strong one at that,” Wu Dingbo said in a low voice from the side. ”Judging by the style of his techniques, it’s already a complete system.”

The video ended.

Feng Zhuohua turned off the projection and looked at Xu Wuyi. ”The team remained hidden, observing for six hours, and gathered basic information.”

”The largest nation in this Star Realm is called ’Great Liang.’ Its territory is equivalent in size to three of the Federation’s provinces, with a population of about five hundred million. Under the Great Liang Court, there are also dozens of vassal states and tribes.”

”In terms of Martial Arts, they refer to the Grandmaster Level as ’Martial Saint.’ There are thirteen known Martial Saint level experts. Seven of them serve the Great Liang Court, while the rest are scattered among the major sects and Noble Families.”

”As for technology, they have preliminary applications of Energy, mainly for city defense weapons and some special equipment. Their civilian technology is still at the level of an agrarian society, but their military technology is not to be underestimated.”

Xu Wuyi listened quietly, rapidly processing the information.

’A complete human civilization, a mature Martial Arts System, a national government, a social structure... and so close to the Federation.’

”And then what?” he asked. ”How was the team exposed?”

Feng Zhuohua’s expression darkened. ”As they were preparing to leave, they accidentally triggered an alarm formation on the Great Liang border. The formation was very well-hidden, with an extremely weak Energy Fluctuation. Our detection equipment didn’t pick it up beforehand.”

”After triggering the alarm, three patrol teams arrived within three minutes, led by Innate Level experts. The team fought as they retreated and used a Star Realm traversal device to escape, but the enemy pursued them relentlessly.”

The feed switched to the final segment of footage.

This was filmed in space. A dark red planet hung in the background, surrounded by several satellites.

A small, standard-issue Federation Starship was fleeing at high speed, with three streaks of light in hot pursuit.

”A Martial Saint from Great Liang made a move,” Feng Zhuohua said, pointing to the brightest streak of light. ”From such a great distance, he shattered the Starship’s tail-fin thruster with a single sword strike. The team was forced to make a crash landing on the nearest satellite.”

He enlarged the image of the satellite. ”This is a sub-realm controlled by Great Liang. They call them ’Secret Realms.’ We’ve given it the temporary designation ’Liang Wei Third.’”

”It’s not large, about twelve hundred kilometers in diameter. The environment is harsh and the atmosphere is thin, but it has a basic ecosystem. More importantly...”

Feng Zhuohua paused. ”This sub-realm has a restriction based on its Rules. Grandmaster Level individuals cannot enter. Forcing entry would trigger a spatial collapse. However, Quasi-Grandmasters and below can pass through normally.”

Xu Wuyi understood. The team had likely detected this and chosen to flee here. Otherwise, a Grandmaster would have caught them long ago.

”What’s the team’s current situation?” he asked.

”They’re alive, but in a perilous situation.” The speaker was Elder Meng. He stood up, leaning on his cane, and walked to the projection screen.

”The Starship was severely damaged during the crash landing. The power system is crippled, and it can’t take off. Of the seven team members, two were injured during the landing, one of them seriously.”

”Great Liang has set up a blockade around the sub-realm, but they haven’t launched a full-scale assault yet. It seems they’re observing, or perhaps waiting for something.”

Elder Meng looked at Xu Wuyi.

”Our analysis suggests they probably want to capture them alive to obtain our technology and intelligence.”

The conference room fell silent.

Xu Wuyi could feel everyone’s eyes fixed on him.

”So what’s the mission?” he asked directly.

”Two parts.” Feng Zhuohua took over. ”Ostensibly, we’ll send a six-person team composed entirely of Quasi-Grandmasters. They will pose as ’outsiders who accidentally entered the Star Realm’ to negotiate with Great Liang and draw their attention.”

”Covertly, we need one person to act alone: infiltrate Liang Wei Third, find the team, and get them out, either by repairing the Starship or using the backup traversal device.”

He looked at Xu Wuyi. ”This person must be strong enough to handle any potential combat. They must be sharp enough to evade Great Liang’s blockade and surveillance. Most importantly, they must be able to complete the mission independently, without any support.”

”We’ve evaluated all qualifying Quasi-Grandmasters. You are the best choice.”

Xu Wuyi didn’t answer right away.

He closed his eyes and thought quickly.

’The risk is high.’

’Infiltrating a completely unknown Star Realm alone, facing a civilization with a complete Martial Arts System.’

’If I’m exposed, I’ll be completely on my own.’

’But... if the risk wasn’t high, why would they ask me to do it?’

Xu Wuyi never overestimated himself, but he never sold himself short, either. Right now, among the Federation’s Quasi-Grandmasters, he was undoubtedly one of the most powerful.

Besides, he was young and didn’t hold a position in any major power, making him a ”free agent” who could be deployed at any time.

In an emergency like this, he was exactly who they needed.

”No problem. Where on Liang Wei Third is the team?” he asked.

”Here.” Feng Zhuohua brought up a satellite terrain map with a red dot on it. ”A canyon in a crater. The terrain is complex—easy to defend, but hard to attack.”

”The Starship was camouflaged when it crash-landed, so it hasn’t been discovered yet. But Great Liang’s search parties are gradually narrowing the area. We estimate they can stay hidden for another forty-eight hours, at most.”

Forty-eight hours.

’Traveling from the Federation, passing through a Star Realm channel to get near Liang Wei Third, and then infiltrating... The timeline is tight.’

”I need detailed files on Great Liang’s Martial Artists,” Xu Wuyi said. ”Their Cultivation Technique characteristics, combat styles, common weapons, and the environmental data for Liang Wei Third.”

”It’s already prepared.” Feng Zhuohua handed him an encrypted storage device. ”All known intelligence is on it, including the profiles of the team members and the Starship’s schematics.”

Xu Wuyi took the storage device and inserted it into his personal terminal.

A quick scan.

Great Liang’s Martial Arts System had similarities to the Federation’s, but also distinct differences.

They placed more emphasis on ”Mental Realm” and ”Momentum.” Their techniques were archaic but remarkably powerful. Their primary weapons were sabers and swords, but they also used spears, halberds, and bows.

The files on the thirteen Martial Saints were brief, containing only their titles and known battle records, with no detailed information on their Cultivation Techniques.

After all, the team had only observed for six hours. It was a feat to have gathered this much.

The environment on Liang Wei Third... harsh.

A thin atmosphere with oxygen levels at only 30% of the standard. Gravity was 0.8 times that of the Federation, and the temperature difference between day and night was extreme.

There was a basic biosphere, but it consisted only of low-level plants and insects adapted to extreme environments.

The Starship’s damage was mainly concentrated in the tail section and the power system; the main structure was intact. The backup traversal device had to be manually activated and required at least thirty minutes to charge.

”The probability of repairing the Starship?” Xu Wuyi asked.

”Almost zero.” Feng Zhuohua shook his head.

”The main components are destroyed, and we have no replacement parts. The only option is to leave using the backup traversal device, but that requires sufficient time to charge. Plus, the Energy Fluctuation during startup is massive. It will definitely give away their position.”