369: Everything for a community with a shared future for mankind

Yang Dian glanced at Uncle Lei: "Uncle Lei, why don't you mention that as soon as you Awaken, you gain power that ordinary Martial Artists would struggle for decades to achieve?"

"It's not like everyone can gain such powerful combat strength," Uncle Lei retorted, his neck stiffening in an attempt to argue.

"Since the third Spiritual Qi tide, the Awakening probability has risen to 2.57‱, meaning there are roughly 360,000 Awakened in the country."

"But among those 360,000 Awakened, how many possess extraordinary high-level combat power?"

"Only 33 people, less than one in ten thousand."

"Moreover, Awakening is almost a one-time event; subsequent improvements, besides consuming heaven and earth treasures, can only come from Spiritual Qi surges and the world's feedback."

At this, Uncle Lei even shot Yang Dian a sidelong glance: "All the heaven and earth treasures on Earth have been eaten by you."

Yang Dian smiled a little sheepishly: "I didn't eat the earth core milk, did I?"

"Besides, the past is the past, and the future is the future."

"I've developed a Cultivation Technique that should be able to enhance the strength of Awakened."

Uncle Lei's eyes lit up: "What Cultivation Technique?"

He had Cultivated for a long time.

It wasn't that he hadn't considered Cultivating the Martial Dao, but the sense of disparity was too great.

Extraordinary Awakening grants city-destroying combat power in minutes.

Cultivating martial arts, day and night, only brings slight improvements.

It's like an ordinary person winning the lottery and becoming a billionaire overnight.

After having money, they don't enjoy life but insist on working like a beast in a factory, relying on a fixed salary to accumulate another billion.

Without great perseverance, one truly cannot achieve this.

On the other side, facing Uncle Lei's somewhat eager gaze, Yang Dian awkwardly rubbed the bridge of his nose: "Well, the Cultivation Technique I created seems to only work for Awakened who have Awakened abilities related to the Five Elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth for now."

Uncle Lei was stunned: "Why no lightning?"

Yang Dian spread his hands: "Because I haven't comprehended the lightning rule runes."

As he spoke, he held out his hand, condensing a fire-element rule rune at his fingertip.

"Uncle Lei, I mentioned before that Awakening is when the human body, at a certain moment, aligns with the rules of heaven and earth, and coincidentally, Spiritual Qi of the corresponding attribute enters the body, ultimately leading to an evolution of the body under the influence of Spiritual Qi and the rules of heaven and earth."

"And rules, we can describe them using 'runes'."

"Runes are also three-dimensional."

"If you magnify them, runes actually resemble blood vessels and neural networks."

"So I had a sudden thought, wondering if I could use Qi and blood to outline the rudimentary form of runes within the body, causing Qi and blood and the body to undergo different changes."

"Facts prove it's feasible."

As his voice fell, the fire-element rune on Yang Dian's fingertip sank and merged into his body.

Then, a slightly illusory fiery aura appeared on the outside of his body.

Hot air waves rose from Yang Dian, making the already scorching Gobi Desert even hotter.

Watching him clench his hand, drawing out Qi and blood that seemed to burn like flames, a trace of daze appeared in Uncle Lei's eyes:

"Martial Artists can really control supernatural abilities now?"

"You call it Cultivating martial arts, but how are you any different from Cultivating Immortals now?"

"There's still a difference," Yang Dian stopped the circulation of Qi and blood. "Cultivating Immortals can achieve eating wind and drinking dew, but Martial Artists cannot."

At this point, Yang Dian looked up at the sky again.

'Perhaps I can try to create a Cultivation Technique that absorbs stellar radiation...'

Just as Yang Dian was pondering, Uncle Lei also frowned and spoke: "So, the essence of extraordinary Awakening can be seen as the influence of rule runes combined with Spiritual Qi on the body."

"If our world were a world from a novel, then Awakened would be Divine Ability users who are Innately compatible with a certain rule Dao and have Awakened Innate Divine Abilities."

"And if Divine Ability users want to improve, they either have to Cultivate step by step from scratch, or they have to find every possible way to develop their Divine Abilities."

"For example, comprehending rule imprints to enhance the intensity of Divine Abilities?"

Yang Dian nodded: "That understanding is also good."

"However, I believe that whether it's Cultivating Immortals, practicing martial arts, or Divine Abilities, it's all centered on humanity."

"Uncle Lei, you should still practice martial arts."

Uncle Lei looked thoughtful: "I want to Cultivate the Spark first to strengthen my Mental Energy."

"Once my Mental Energy is strong enough, I'll introspect and see if I can find the lightning-attribute rule runes hidden within my body..."

The two chatted for a few more sentences, then flew together into the Expeditionary Force Base.

As soon as they landed, Ya Zi, the Expeditionary Force's artificial intelligence, projected beside Yang Dian:

"Hello, Commander. I am Ya Zi, the Expeditionary Force's artificial intelligence."

"I will serve as your assistant, helping the Expeditionary Force venture into the sea of stars."

Yang Dian nodded at Ya Zi: "I'm glad you can help us, Ya Zi."

"Let us together ignite the Spark of Huaxia Civilization across the star sea."

After exchanging pleasantries with Ya Zi, Yang Dian continued to instruct: "Now, please notify all legion commanders to attend a meeting in the conference room, and then take me to my office."

Ya Zi's projection bounced twice beside Yang Dian: "Notification complete. I will now take you to your office..."

Under the guidance of the smart AI Ya Zi, Yang Dian first toured his office, then changed into an Expeditionary Force uniform in a small room within the office.

"Men truly look best in military uniforms."

Uncle Lei watched Yang Dian emerge from the office, clicking his tongue: "Wearing this uniform, his spirit and demeanor are completely different."

Yang Dian patted his uniform: "I just hope I don't fail, and dishonor this uniform..."

Chatting as they entered the conference room, Yang Dian found that everyone was already present.

The Expeditionary Force commanded 10 combat legions, including one Awakened legion and nine Martial Artist legions.

The commanders of the nine Martial Artist legions were all at the extraordinary intermediate level, meaning Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke Realm Martial Artists.

As for the Awakened legion commander...

Upon seeing the Awakened legion commander, her information instantly flashed in Yang Dian's mind.

'Chen Ci, female, 23 years old, Awakened magnetic field ability, can control magnetic field power, former Marine Corps member.'

'When I watched the Extraordinary Armament introduction video, it seemed like she was the one who carried a giant cannon and directly obliterated a 300-meter island with one shot.'

As his thoughts churned, Yang Dian, who had walked to the main seat, surveyed the others in the room.

Besides Chen Ci and Uncle Lei, there were three other old acquaintances present.

Li Gui, Wu Quan, and Chu Anyun.

All were old acquaintances with whom he had fought side-by-side outside the spatial node.

As for the remaining six, Yang Dian had only seen their profiles and knew their names.

He understood their personalities mostly through the information in their files.

As his thoughts turned, Yang Dian took off his cap, placed it neatly on the table, and spoke: "I've called you all here for this meeting, firstly, to get acquainted."

"Secondly, I want to hear your thoughts on the future plans for the Expeditionary Force."

"And thirdly, to inform you all of our Expeditionary Force's first mission."

At this point, Yang Dian looked around at the dozen or so people in the conference room and continued: "Currently, Earth is not performing dimensional folding erosion on other planets, and the planetary debris falling from the dimensional rifts doesn't require our intervention."

"To ensure the combat strength of the Expeditionary Force and to test the combat and collaborative combat capabilities of each legion, I've decided to go out and fight a battle first."

"Coincidentally, various Eurasia countries are being invaded by Machina, and their people are suffering immensely."

"For the sake of the common destiny of humanity, after the heaven-worshipping ceremony concludes, we will send troops voluntarily to assist the various Eurasia countries in resisting the Machina invasion."