73: Chapter 73 Refining the Heart in the Mortal World

The revival of heaven and earth sparked heated discussions, but the battle involving Bai Zhu ignited the flames in the hearts of the people.

Taking advantage of this, the Republic fully promoted the practice of Cultivation Technique, and the entire nation entered a feverish state.

As time passed, this fervor did not diminish.

Instead, it intensified.

Not only that.

Even various technologies began to be influenced by martial arts.

Heavier sniper rifles were born; their terrifying recoil could directly kill a cow, but Second-tier Fierce Beast Warriors and Martial Artists easily mastered this recoil.

Imaginary weapons became reality.

It was not just in the field of weapons.

In the field of scientific research, the impact was even greater.

The practice of Longevity Fist allowed some old experts and scholars to enjoy a second spring, with even more vigor.

When pulling all-nighters, they were completely on par with young men.

Not only that.

Cultivation Technique practice also greatly increased one's memory and accelerated intellectual development.

In just a few months, a large number of scientific research talents emerged.

One scientific problem after another was solved.

Ultimately, the Republic issued a regulation classifying the practice of Longevity Fist as an assessment indicator for nine-year compulsory education.

Future college entrance examinees would not only need cultural knowledge but also a sufficiently high Realm in Longevity Fist.

The entire Republic was thriving.

And abroad, especially in the major Western powers.

They also began research into Fierce Beast Warriors.

However, this research repeatedly hit walls.

Conversely, their research progress on some Cultivation Techniques was rapid.

Because of this, the importance of Cultivation Techniques began to be put on the agenda of various countries.

A new round of military competition began just like that.

Only this time, it was not because of technology, but Kung Fu.

Countries with a Kung Fu Legacy were naturally delighted, while countries without one scrambled to engage with the Republic; through flattery and sycophancy, they also obtained the Republic's help.

In this round of competition, the Republic completed its plan.

A trend gradually formed, with the Republic becoming the holy land of martial arts.

Large and small countries began to spread a certain mindset, viewing the Republic with a pilgrim's attitude.

The opposing Federation, although struggling.

They collected the martial arts Legacies brought over by local Chinese people back in the day, attempting to turn the tide.

Although they caused one trouble after another, dragging down the Republic's development.

But the general trend had become increasingly obvious.

Even the Federation felt a sense of powerlessness.

Under such circumstances, spring soon arrived.

And on this day, a piece of news spread rapidly across the internet, stirring up everyone's enthusiasm.

The First Global Martial Arts Tournament has begun!!!

The First Global Martial Arts Tournament.

It was promoted by the Republic and participated in by the whole world.

The entire competition was divided into the Global Finals and national sub-finals.

And the national finals were further divided into national finals and provincial sub-finals.

It adopted a method of passing through levels.

For example, the top ten in the province could advance to the national finals, and the top ten in the nation could advance to the Global Finals.

The settings for each level had large amounts of prize money to stimulate Martial Artists to participate.

The champion of the provincial finals alone had a reward of ten million, and the national champion was awarded one hundred million in cash.

And that was not all; it was said that the Global Finals champion would be awarded one billion.

This was just the cash prize, not counting other Heaven And Earth Treasures and the inclination of national resources.

Not to mention.

These various rewards directly stimulated people's hearts.

Making the entire society begin to heat up.

Especially on the internet, it was boiling.

"I heard the whole world is participating. If I could represent the country in battle, even if it's just showing my face, it would bring honor to my ancestors!"

"Exactly! This is the biggest event for the entire nation!"

"It is said that the ranking of this Global Martial Arts Tournament will determine the social status of each country. As long as they show enough strength, even a small country will receive resource inclination!"

"Hahaha, the Genius from our province, Liu Chenxi, has already signed up. He will definitely be able to win glory for the country!"

"Tch, what's so great about 'Giant Sword' Liu Chenxi? The Genius of our province's Li family, Li Mubai, is the truly impressive one. At only twenty-one, he has already entered the Second-rate Martial Artist Realm; he is a true Genius!"

"Enough talk, I'm going to sign up!"

"Ah, with your strength, you have the nerve to sign up!?"

"That's where you don't understand! The more Advanced the Martial Artists, the easier it is for them to suffer mutual destruction in a fight. If I happen to run into an injured Martial Artist, wouldn't that be like picking up a freebie!? As long as I can advance, my hometown will have to reward me heavily, hahahaha!"

The reward systems for each province had also been released.

As long as one could win, one would receive some rewards.

As the number of wins increased, the rewards would also increase.

"Holy crap, good idea!"

"This is just like filling out college applications for the entrance exam; whether you can get in or not, you have to put down Peking University—after all, what if...?"

"It is said that all the major Sects have risen, especially the major Daoist Sects; they say there are many Geniuses!"

"That's for sure, after all, the world's number one expert, Bai Zhu, is from the Daoist school!"

"Bai Zhu, my husband, is the most handsome, the strongest, and must be the number one in the world! You are all trash!"

"Uh, Bai Zhu doesn't seem to be participating in the competition!"

"Why would he participate? If he participated, everyone would have to kneel. For this competition, he is a judge! It has already been announced that those in the Xiantian Realm will not participate in the competition!"

"Hahaha, the Nangong Clan has signed up, Shaolin Temple has sent a team, and Wudang Mountain, Emei Sect... have all issued statements!"

...

Ji Yebai watched the discussions on the internet with interest.

This was a carnival for the whole nation, a carnival for Martial Artists.

It was also a transformation of the era.

In just one year, even though Ji Yebai spent most of his time in the deep mountains and old forests.

He still felt the thick tide of the era.

Truly, if you don't advance, you retreat.

Looking at technology and society alone, fresh things were bursting out basically every day.

Frontier technology was constantly advancing, and applied technology was changing with each passing day.

The entire society was like the Yellow River with turbulent waves, surging forward and constantly accelerating.

That feeling of surging forward gave Ji Yebai, who had come out of the deep mountains, a dazed feeling of being abandoned by the era.

The transformation of the era was intense, fiery, and made people burn unconsciously.

Even for Ji Yebai, his heart couldn't help but fluctuate from time to time.

This was not something that personal state of mind could influence, but rather the trend of the times.

The spirit of tens of millions, hundreds of millions, and billions of people was like a burning flame, and the gathered public will formed a monstrous trend.

"What a pity, those in the Xiantian Realm are not participating in the competition!"

Ji Yebai shook his head with regret.

His five organs had transformed into Xiantian organs, his Divine Will had transformed into Divine Sense, and even his body had begun to transform.

It could be said that he had already squeezed half his body into the Xiantian Realm.

Since the Xiantian Realm was not participating in the competition, if he were to compete, he would only be bullying others.

"However..."

Ji Yebai paused slightly, feeling a bit surprised: "This rolling public will is like a tide; it can actually temper my Divine Sense. Could this be the so-called Mortal World Tempering the Heart!?"

Public will was like a tide, filling heaven and earth, and influencing everyone.

Before, Ji Yebai could not observe this, but since the birth of his Divine Sense, he clearly felt a surge of public will like red flames, crazily burning everything.

Like sea waves, like a red tide, it was crazily infecting everyone.

Even Ji Yebai gradually discovered that during this period, especially after the Global Martial Arts Tournament incited nationwide discussion, waves of public will were constantly washing over his Divine Sense like a great trend.

"Mortal World Tempering the Heart, Divine Sense is the heart!"

A smile appeared on the corner of Ji Yebai's lips.

In a trance, he seemed to see an illusory long river, vast and boundless, coming from the horizon and overflowing into the human world.