95: Conference starts

The last time he left, there was only one month left until the World Martial Arts Tournament began. This time, Gu Chang continued to Cultivate as usual, while also having his subordinates complete various preparatory tasks.

The most crucial of these was the construction of a more precise discharge chamber, to allow for more precise and stable control of the electric current.

At the same time, it also required combining medical knowledge, martial arts, engineering, and Gu Chang's understanding of the True Martial Realm to create a sufficiently complete and safe Breakthrough process.

Without these preparations, if other martial artists were simply allowed to come into contact with heavenly lightning for Body Refining and forcibly Breakthrough, the success rate would likely be despairingly low.

After all, even though the number of martial artists has increased many times compared to before, there are still fewer than a hundred Refining Spirit Experts, and each of them is an important figure, with many holding pivotal positions.

Gu Chang did not want these high-end combat forces to be depleted due to Breakthroughs; that simply did not align with his plans.

As the opening of the Martial Arts Tournament drew closer, more and more martial arts experts gathered in and around the capital.

The increase in martial artists naturally led to a greater probability of conflicts between them. To avoid trouble, Gu Chang specially set up ten arenas outside the city, where any martial artists involved in disputes could compete.

However, the prerequisites were no intentional killing, no deliberate provocation of trouble, and no challenging the authority of the court.

Otherwise, Gu Chang would hardly need to act himself; the elite soldiers and fierce generals belonging to the elite army, as well as the Refining Spirit Experts from the Martial Arts Academy, would teach them how to behave.

Therefore, overall, the order in the capital was quite stable, and the commercial prosperity was even much greater than before.

Just like that, a month passed quickly, and the day the Martial Arts Tournament was to be held finally arrived.

Outside the capital, the venue specially built for this Martial Arts Tournament was already packed with martial artists from all corners of the world.

However, the closer it got to the start of the Martial Arts Tournament, the quieter everyone became, all eyes fixed on a stone platform in the center.

“Woo~ woo woo~”

Suddenly, a desolate horn call sounded, followed by the well-trained, orderly, and imposing Divine Martial Forbidden Army leading the way.

Each of these Divine Martial Forbidden Army soldiers, clad in steel armor, wielding long spears, carrying military sabers at their waists, and equipped with bows and arrows, possessed the strength of the Refining Bone level, and their captains and commanders were even Refining Marrow or even Refining Spirit level experts!

“Boom! Rumble!”

“Bang bang bang!”

So when their heavy, synchronized footsteps trampled the ground and they appeared, the surrounding ground immediately trembled incessantly.

Valiant warriors, Xuanbing armor, an Aura like a rainbow!

The appearance of such an elite army, the elite of the elite, immediately made countless martial artists feel immense pressure!

Especially since the Divine Martial Forbidden Army all Cultivated the Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill, their Qi was subtly connected, forming a complete whole, and the special Aura they could generate was like an unshakeable mountain.

Next came a group of elite captains and military generals, who came from various elite armies of the Shenwu Dynasty, but at this moment, these people were merely accompanying figures.

Upon arriving, they stood alone in an open space, silently waiting for the main figures of this Martial Arts Tournament to arrive.

Their strength was basically similar to that of the Divine Martial Forbidden Army, and each of them exuded an Aura like a wolf or a tiger.

However, because the Cultivation Techniques they practiced were not all the same, and they came from various legions, they were far less orderly and connected in Qi than the Divine Martial Forbidden Army.

Nevertheless, their presence still opened the eyes of a large number of martial artists, allowing them to directly witness the current might of the Shenwu Dynasty, which was absolutely unprecedented in history!

After the legionary generals came the Refining Spirit Experts, one after another. These individuals were either affiliated with the Martial Arts Academy, experts cultivated by the military, or reclusive old Seniors.

This was absolutely the first time martial artists in the world had seen so many Refining Spirit Experts gathered together. Each of them was a prominent figure, representing various forces.

It could be said that each of them was a person of renown, an important figure regarded as a martial arts master and Senior by countless martial artists.

But even these Refining Spirit Experts were still merely accompanying figures in this Martial Arts Tournament.

“Pat, pat, pat”

Finally, it was the Divine Martial Great Emperor Gu Chang’s turn to appear. He was dressed in a dark-colored martial arts uniform, his black hair like a waterfall, his physique robust, and his bearing magnificent.

Although he was already over forty, his appearance showed no difference from a young man in his twenties; in fact, he looked even healthier, stronger, and more composed.

As Gu Chang appeared, all the martial artists present unconsciously began to breathe a little heavier.

Although there were tens of thousands of people present, not a single person spoke. Everyone simply watched the foremost martial artist in silence!

It wasn’t until Gu Chang ascended the high platform and faced the crowd that everyone, led by an official, shouted loudly!

“We respectfully greet the Divine Martial Great Emperor!”

“…Respectfully greet the Divine Martial Great Emperor!”

“…Divine Martial Great Emperor!”

The shouts echoing through the wilderness were like rumbling thunder, far more earth-shattering than the roar of any army.

“Reporting to Your Majesty! There are still others who wish to pay their respects to Your Majesty today!”

However, after all the sounds returned to peace, General Zhao Changkong suddenly spoke loudly to Gu Chang.

“Who is it?”

“Barbarians!”

The other party immediately answered, but as soon as these words were spoken, a large number of martial artists began to discuss animatedly.

“What barbarians?”

“What are they doing here?”

“After being subdued by the Divine Martial Great Emperor, these jackals dared not venture south by half a step!”

“I heard they have long intended to submit to the Divine Martial Great Emperor!”

“Could it be that these barbarians also want to obtain the mysteries beyond Refining Spirit?”

“This is unacceptable! Absolutely unacceptable! How can the secrets of our Shenwu Dynasty fall into the hands of barbarians?”

“But it can’t be hidden! With so many people here today, if the Divine Martial Great Emperor speaks of the Dao, it will surely spread.”

“What should we do? What should we do?”

“…”

Some were dissatisfied, some were helpless, and some were pacing anxiously. It was clear that all the martial artists were unhappy about the arrival of the barbarians, fearing that those ambitious barbarians would take the opportunity to steal the secrets of the Shenwu Dynasty.

However, the final decision rested not with them, so they could only turn their gaze to the Divine Martial Great Emperor on the high platform.

“Barbarians? Let them in!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Soon, a group of people dressed in rough, distinctly northern barbarian style were led to the foot of the high platform.

“Greetings, great Heavenly God!”

“Greetings, Heavenly God!”

“The barbarians are willing to dedicate everything to the Heavenly God!”

“Please, Heavenly God, forgive our sins!”

“…”

However, these seemingly burly barbarians instantly knelt to the ground after clearly seeing Gu Chang on the high platform.

Then these barbarians immediately prostrated themselves before Gu Chang, speaking all at once.

The people of the Central Plains would never know how much impact Gu Chang’s slaughter of the barbarians, like a Heavenly God descending, had on them.

In fact, even Gu Chang himself was not clear, but judging from their current behavior, there was no doubt that they had completely deified him!

“All of you, stand up! I don’t like talking to people who are kneeling!”

However, Gu Chang did not show these people a good face, mainly because he needed to show his attitude, and also because he did not think much of those who groveled.

“Yes, yes, yes!”

“Thank you, Heavenly God, for your mercy!”

“Please, Heavenly God, forgive our sins!”

“…”

Upon hearing Gu Chang’s request, these barbarians immediately stood up. Then, a person dressed like a shaman suddenly took something out of a leather pouch.

“Please, Heavenly God, accept my offering!”

“This is the cub of the White Wolf King of the grasslands!”

“It is the strongest cub!”

“It can become a mount when it grows up! It is a loyal companion! It is a powerful helper!”

Upon closer inspection, it was actually a small white puppy—no, it should be a white wolf cub!

This barbarian held up the white wolf cub in his hand and told Gu Chang its origin and purpose.

“The White Wolf King?”

Gu Chang immediately thought of the giant white wolf that the Great Barbarian King had ridden. It was clearly a special exotic beast, but at that time, the giant white wolf had actively attacked him, and then he had killed it.

“Alright!”

So, after thinking for a moment, Gu Chang waved his hand, and instantly the white wolf cub was grabbed by him through the air.

“Woof woof woof”

Once in Gu Chang’s hands, the white wolf cub immediately began to whimper, but it wasn’t particularly afraid; rather, it wanted to beg for food.

Gu Chang directly threw it a piece of barbarian beef jerky, and the creature immediately lay down on the ground and began to gnaw on it, showing no signs of being shy with strangers.

“Great Heavenly God! The White Wolf King will only submit to a true strong one!”