96: Martial arts conference

Upon seeing Gu Chang accept the tribute, the barbarian immediately shouted excitedly.

It was clear that he took Gu Chang's acceptance of their offerings as an acknowledgment of their identity and status.

"Alright, take them down and allow them to observe!"

Gu Chang glanced at them and did not refuse their arrival, but instead directly commanded the Divine Martial Forbidden Army beside him.

His gaze then swept across everyone present, and he saw surprise, dissatisfaction, anger, and worry in the eyes of these Martial Artists.

However, Gu Chang couldn't help but smile at this, and his entire Aura began to rise continuously, whereupon a colossal black figure appeared behind him.

"As for what you are worried about, the Martial Dao should not be kept private. If you are afraid of the barbarians rising because of this, then you should do your best to make yourselves stronger, instead of hoping others become weaker. That is merely self-deception!"

When he spoke, the colossal figure behind him also spoke, its voice like muffled thunder, directly exploding in everyone's ears!

Instantly, all the Martial Artists present were shaken, and their gazes towards Gu Chang became even more filled with awe!

"Heavenly God!"

"Great Heavenly God!"

"Wuwuwu~"

And those barbarians were even more uncontrollably excited, immediately shouting and prostrating themselves in a chaotic manner.

"Remember! There is only one truth in this world: if your fist is big enough, that is the truth!"

Gu Chang didn't care about their reactions, but earnestly admonished the Martial Artists of the Shenwu Dynasty.

"Yes! Your Majesty!"

"We understand!"

"We Martial Artists, what do we fear from barbarians?"

"Your Majesty is right! As long as we are strong enough, we don't need to fear others!"

"..."

These straightforward and unadorned words undoubtedly appealed to these Martial Artists, and they immediately echoed them, their blood surging, wishing they could instantly become even stronger!

"The World Martial Dao Grand Assembly begins now!"

"I know what you all crave, so I will not hide anything."

"However, before discussing the Breakthrough to the True Martial Realm, you should first understand what the Martial Dao is."

"Heaven and Earth, the Universe, all things wild and untamed, all beings ignorant. Our Human Race, with our frail bodies, can occupy mountains and rivers, and forge civilization, relying on our wisdom and our creativity."

"We observe this Major Thousand Worlds, the flowers, birds, insects, fish, and all things in the world, and learn from them to compensate for our weaknesses."

"Without sharp claws, we forge iron into swords and wood into bows; without scales for shields, we wear armor and make shields."

"If the mountain is high, we climb it; if the water is deep, we float on it…"

"Today's Martial Dao is also like this, borrowing from all things in Heaven and Earth to strengthen oneself, with exquisite techniques to battle all things, with an unwearied heart and an indestructible form."

"..."

Under the augmentation of Martial Dao True Qi, the colossal Martial Dao Divine Paragon began to evolve all things, while Gu Chang slowly began to explain his understanding of the Martial Dao.

Besides powerful strength, the Martial Dao is even more crucially a kind of belief.

This belief can be to protect one's home and country, or to become stronger, or to shield one's loved ones.

The firmer the belief and the harder one strives to realize it, the further the Martial Artist will go on the path of the Martial Dao.

These principles are simple but not shallow; on the contrary, those who have just stepped into the Martial Dao feel little, but the further a Martial Artist progresses in the Martial Dao, the more they can comprehend its meaning.

"After the Peak of Spirit Refining, Zhengang Strength has nothing left to refine. Even supplementing with more great medicines and blood food is useless."

"So I thought of using external forces to Breakthrough. The external forces of Heaven and Earth are nothing more than changes in hot and cold, and the pivotal points of Yin and Yang."

"Yin and Yang are lightning, possessing the wondrous uses of creation and profundity."

"Lightning can temper and refine the body, purifying Zhengang Strength, allowing it to gradually transform into True Qi."

"However, this process is truly a near-death experience, for lightning is the might of Heaven and Earth!"

"To this end, I ordered people to study the Dao of lightning, create electricity, and simulate the Realm of lightning, only then can one successfully Breakthrough."

"The True Martial Realm is truly about discarding the false and retaining the true…"

Finally, Gu Chang, in one breath, recounted his Breakthrough experience and the relevant content of the True Martial Realm, listening to which all the Martial Artists present were mesmerized, and countless people directly lay on the ground recording all the content.

This Martial Dao lecture lasted for about two hours, and Gu Chang meticulously explained a lot of content.

However, even the most words eventually run out, not to mention that what Gu Chang said was all valuable information.

"Next, all Refining Spirit Martial Artists can also come to the stage to lecture on the Martial Dao. If any of you have any insights or understandings, you can also spread them throughout the world, jointly inspiring Martial Artists everywhere."

However, Gu Chang's elaborate organization of such a large-scale Martial Dao Grand Assembly was certainly not just to satisfy his desire for performance.

His final purpose was only revealed after he finished lecturing on the Martial Dao, as he addressed those Refining Spirit Experts.

"Before Your Majesty, we are like specks of rice, how dare we contend with the bright moon?"

Upon hearing Gu Chang's words, these Refining Spirit Martial Artists were stunned. It wasn't that they were unwilling to explain their understanding of the Martial Dao, but rather that they felt their own knowledge was too insignificant to present.

"Learning has its sequence, and each field has its specialty. The Martial Dao is vast and profound, so why should you be modest?"

But Gu Chang would not let them refuse, directly blocking them with a single sentence.

"Enough! Enough!"

"Today, having heard the Dao, we have already received great grace from Your Majesty, how dare we decline?"

"Since that is the case, then this old man shall make a fool of himself!"

"Just recently, I have had some insights in my heart."

"..."

So, after Gu Chang stepped off the stage, these Refining Spirit Martial Artists also successively ascended the stage to lecture on the Martial Dao.

The content they spoke of was not extensive, but undoubtedly some of it was knowledge or experience they had researched and explored their entire lives to summarize.

Moreover, because they had practiced martial arts for a longer time and delved deeper into the Martial Dao, some of what they said immediately served as a guiding enlightenment for Martial Artists of lower strength.

Previously perplexing hurdles now became clear, and many people even felt that they could Breakthrough as soon as they returned.

Just like that, all the Refining Spirit Experts present took to the stage to give a lecture, and an entire day passed.

Gu Chang also benefited greatly during this process, gaining a deeper and more thorough understanding of some fundamental aspects of the Martial Dao.

Dusk, the sun setting in the west, golden afterglow scattering across the land.

However, the tens of thousands of Martial Artists present were still unwilling to leave, and instead began to discuss among themselves, constantly exchanging and verifying their understandings and ideas.

"Today's World Martial Dao Grand Assembly concludes now!"

"If you are interested, this Martial Dao Grand Assembly can be held once every three years from now on!"

Finally, it was Gu Chang himself who announced the end of the Martial Dao Grand Assembly, which finally brought the many Martial Artists back to their senses.

"Is that true!?"

"How can Your Majesty's words be false!"

"This is absolutely a great fortune for us Martial Artists!"

"Of course we will participate! We have already benefited greatly from hearing the lectures of several Seniors this time!"

"Your Majesty is truly worthy of being the Divine Martial Great Emperor, with a broad mind that encompasses mountains and rivers!"

"It is truly the fortune of the Martial Dao that Your Majesty is present in the world's Martial Dao!"

"..."

As soon as Gu Chang spoke, almost all the Martial Artists present were already looking forward to the next Martial Dao Grand Assembly.

After saying this last thing, Gu Chang left, and the other Martial Artists also departed reluctantly.

However, the aftershocks of the Martial Dao Grand Assembly did not end there. As the content discussed today spread, more and more people across the world would undoubtedly be influenced.

"The seed has been successfully planted. Now, let's see what kind of fruit this soil will yield?"

As night fell, Gu Chang, who had returned to the imperial city, stood at the top of a pagoda, looking at the brightly lit scene inside and outside the capital, and murmured softly.

Whether it was establishing Martial Dao academies, vigorously developing industrial technology, or relinquishing power, or holding the Martial Dao Grand Assembly, all these various actions were merely preparations for one goal.

That was to spread martial arts throughout the world, to increase the number of Martial Artists, to make top Martial Artists stronger and stronger, and to continuously Breakthrough to higher Peaks of the Martial Dao!

Perhaps he was leading the way now, but the further they went, the more difficult it would be to make further progress!

At that time, only true Prodigies, generations of outstanding individuals following one after another, would be able to continuously open up higher Martial Dao Realms!

What Gu Chang was doing now was laying a solid foundation and creating a platform, so that these Geniuses could have opportunities and space to grow.

Just like that, days passed, and the content about the Martial Dao Grand Assembly spread further and wider.

Even ordinary people understood a lot about the Martial Dao, and many families took pride in studying the Martial Dao. As long as conditions permitted, they would find ways to send their children to Martial Dao academies to study.

At the same time, the Shenwu Dynasty also formulated a strength ranking list according to Gu Chang's orders.

It was divided into four lists: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. The Heaven List currently only had Gu Chang, as only he had Broken Through to the True Martial Realm, making him the number one expert in the world, and he was given the title of Martial God.

The Earth List consisted of a group of Refining Spirit Experts, totaling ninety-three people, who were known to the world as Martial Dao Grandmasters.

The Profound List had an even greater number of Marrow Refining Experts, totaling over five hundred people, all of whom were influential figures and powerhouses.

The Yellow List was slightly different; the people on this list were all Geniuses, each representing that they were young enough and had strong enough Martial Dao talent. All those who could make it onto the list were Prodigies, and naturally, they would receive more resources and preferential treatment.

When these four lists were proclaimed to the world, the atmosphere of studying the Martial Dao throughout the Shenwu Dynasty became even more fervent, and countless people yearned to make it onto the list and become famous.