Chapter 100: The Decision

Chapter 100: The Decision

Heart Zen Training Ground.

"Why didn't you make a move?!"

Mu Yun couldn't suppress the anger in his heart, and with a furious roar, his aura surged, flipping over the surrounding corridors.

This generation of warriors had been destined for the "Age of Great Contention" countless years ago!

It was also the third Age of Great Contention since the ancient times, the Golden Age of Prosperity!

Looking back at the previous two ages, each time many old powers fell, and numerous new forces emerged one after another. This was not only a golden age but also a chaotic era that could reshape the Galactic Federation's landscape.

Even with a grandmaster presiding over the dojo, there was no guarantee of safety.

The dojo had been working and planning for decades to establish itself in this era. Just now, they had at least a two or three percent chance, worth taking a gamble!

But his disciple, Yun Jinghe, remained a spectator, missing the perfect and final opportunity.

Yun Jinghe didn't respond but looked in multiple directions, as if his old rivals were there.

Finally, he burst into laughter, appearing insane in Mu Yun's eyes at that moment.

"Master, I didn't lose, and neither did you!" Yun Jinghe's expression was excited, his eyes burning like the sun in the sky.

"You rebellious disciple, what are you talking about..."

Mu Yun was still furious, but suddenly realized something.

The direction Jinghe had been looking at just now...

Was it the Heavenly Deity Dojo, the Sunmoon Dojo... and the other dojos?

What did this mean? Could it be that none of them took this opportunity to compete?

"Master,"

Yun Jinghe suddenly turned around, looking straight into Mu Yun's eyes. His face was calm, his posture as straight as a pine tree. His words were light, but they were deafening, expressing his true thoughts,

"This is not our martial path!"

"You..."

Mu Yun's heart trembled, as if seeing his disciple for the first time.

Yun Jinghe smiled, showing his teeth, "Master, I'm glad to live in the same era as these guys."

Mu Yun's face twitched, displaying a complex emotion. He opened his mouth as if to say something but felt that all words were pale and powerless at this moment.

A large hand patted Mu Yun's shoulder.

"Yun'er, calm down."

A gentle voice sounded, and a young man who looked almost identical to Mu Yun appeared silently in the room.

He looked at Yun Jinghe and smiled, "Jinghe, have you found your martial path?"

Yun Jinghe respectfully said, "Grandmaster, I have."

The young man praised, "Today, if you had seized the opportunity and gained the reputation of the pioneer, the entire dojo would have been delighted. But you didn't, and I'm glad! If anyone is unhappy later, tell them that I'll make them roll."

Yun Jinghe chuckled, "I obey the grandmaster's command."

After saying this, he winked at his master.

Mu Yun remained silent and started to roll up his sleeves.

The young man held his disciple's hand and looked at his great-grand-disciple with a smile, "Why aren't you running yet?"

Yun Jinghe chuckled and took long strides away, his figure carefree and unfettered.

Looking at the young man's back, the young man's eyes wandered, as if he was reminiscing about his past. Finally, he smiled and scolded,

"What a carefree and unfettered young man, indeed my great-grand-disciple!"

Mu Yun sighed, "Master, Jinghe's actions today may invite criticism and dissent within the dojo."

The young man said calmly, "Let them come. Besides, it's not just Jinghe."

Mu Yun nodded and suddenly asked, "Master, how will the Federation treat Zhuang Budong?"

These words made the young man pause for a moment, and after a long time, he slowly said,

"Although Zhuang Budong has made a great contribution, he has also taken a step closer to the evil demon. I'm afraid..."

I'm afraid no one can suppress him!

Unless the four divine lords are willing to personally suppress his dream demon's will, but the price is too high.

The young man suddenly shook his head and changed the subject, "You don't know, just now I contacted those old men, and they were all cursing their disciples for being ungrateful and not listening. They would rather seek their own happiness, disregarding the legacy of their ancestors. Only two of them remained silent, their faces as dark as coal."

Mu Yun was slightly stunned but quickly understood.

In other words... there were still two dojos that chose to take advantage of the situation and open the Heavenly Gate?

He couldn't help but ask, "Which two?"

He suddenly felt relieved about Jinghe's choice.

"The Heavenly Fang Dojo and the Wood Virtue Dojo," the young man sighed, "The proverb says, 'As the master, so the disciple.' The disciples reflect the nature of their masters."

Mu Yun didn't dare to speak.

"By the way, what's the name of that child?" the young man suddenly asked.

"The one who covered for Zhuang Budong and had the Starlight Corporation come forward?"

Mu Yun thought for a while and could only think of this child.

"Hmm," the young man nodded, "Show me his information. He's a good child. Can we bring him into the dojo?

In the high tower, the wind howls fiercely. A tall young man squats on the edge of the tower, having evaded his master's capture. He stretches lazily, stands up against the powerful wind, and his body stands firm like a long spear, unyielding and unwavering.

Gazing into the distant night, he suddenly bursts into laughter, "To share a lifetime with the various gods is indeed a great honor for me, Bian Rong!"

His eyes burn with intensity, and his laughter is wild as a chilling spear intent rises from within him, effortlessly breaking through the Sixth Realm's Gate!

Just then, a voice of scolding comes from below, "You stinky brat, stop showing off up there! Get down here, your grandmaster wants to see you!"

...

Inside a sword pavilion, the Tian Jian Dojo, ranked third among the federal dojos.

A young man with a dignified presence, wearing an ancient-style green robe, sits cross-legged with a sword across his knees.

Using his heart's intent to manifest a sword, he slashes open the sixth Heavenly Gate, entering the Sixth Celestial Limit.

As his aura subsides, he opens his eyes and smiles, "With the Sixth Limit achieved, I now stand on equal footing with the one from the seventh layer in terms of physical prowess. I have earned the right to face him head-on."

The girl beside him, her eyes sparkling, hugs his arm and exclaims, "Senior Brother, are you going to break through the eighth layer next?"

"The eighth layer?" The young man narrows his eyes slightly, pondering, "There's no rush for the eighth layer. Let's leave it as a gift for that person and look forward to meeting him in the future."

"Huh?" The girl's face is filled with confusion, unsure whom her senior brother is referring to.

The young man smiles, caressing his sword without speaking.

Like him, she can sense the subtle differences in the seven swords.

He turns his gaze to the night sky, where the stars seem brighter than ever, as if foretelling a future event.

He stands up with a carefree smile and declares, "Starting today, I will forge my body essence and seek the proof of the sword god! In three months, I will conquer the Martial Sun!"

...

At the Dragon Tiger Dojo, Shi Xuanzhen is free from the concerns of the other disciples. Looking at the lifeless small group, he feels a bit worried.

His master has given him a strict order to build a good relationship with his fellow disciples.

Remembering the suggestion from his junior brother, Ji Jingqiu, he makes a determined decision, knowing that he has to rely on his own collection.

...

Seeing that the situation today is beyond repair, the young master from the Li Family coldly says, "Today's matter is not over yet. Your disciple has completely fallen under the Dream Demon's selection. Now that the Sixth Limit has been broken, it's best to eliminate him as soon as possible!"

The old man's eyes burn with anger, and his rage is difficult to suppress. Just as he is about to take action, he forcibly restrains himself.

The Li Family master leaves with a cold smile.

The old man stands in place, then disappears and silently enters the training studio.

Looking at his disciple, he feels both pride and pain.

Zhuang Budong smiles and says, "Master, let me introduce you to Ji Jingqiu. With his help, I have successfully opened another mountain for the Federation!"

The old man glances at the young man on the ground, who has just attained enlightenment, and his face also shows joy.

Having such a young man in the Federation is indeed a blessing for the Federation!

However, he doesn't know how to tell his disciple that those people still refuse to let him go...

Zhuang Budong seems to sense something and smiles, "Master, I'd like to ask you to accept Ji Jingqiu as your disciple."

The old man is stunned.

Zhuang Budong sighs, "My only regret on this journey is not being able to share your burdens as your disciple."

The old man speaks in a deep voice, "You foolish boy, don't talk nonsense! How could the Federation neglect you after you've achieved such merit for it?"

Zhuang Budong shakes his head, "I borrowed His power to find the Heavenly Gate, and our connection has been strengthened in the process. Unless the Four Guardians are willing to help me suppress Him, I'll soon become His puppet."

The old man grits his teeth in anger, "I'll go to the Four Guardians' temple tomorrow! How will the Federation treat its heroes?"

Zhuang Budong smiles bitterly and shakes his head, about to say something, but stops.

Both their gazes focus on Ji Jingqiu.

A layer of invisible and formless energy slowly extends from Ji Jingqiu's body, eventually covering his entire body, and then, with great difficulty, it extends outward, barely reaching a hair's distance.

The old man's pupils suddenly shrink, exclaiming, "The Body and Earth Dao Field?!"

...

...

On the Four Guardians Star, the stars shine brightly.

One by one, the warriors enlighten their hearts and embark on their martial paths.

There were still those brewing new offensives in the shadows.

The remnants of the mountain-splitting wave traveled to the boundless depths, crossing countless light-years, reaching the other shore, and awakening a certain long-slumbering will.

The East Third Radiant Star.

The lower levels.

The Nameless God Temple on Seventh Street.

A boy named Cheng Cheng was conscientiously cleaning, wiping down the temple that was neither too big nor too small, yet held his and his grandmother's future aspirations, until it was spotless.

Suddenly, a stranger stretched and walked out from the inner room.

Cheng Cheng immediately became alert. "Can you see me?" The man seemed surprised by Cheng Cheng's reaction.

Cheng Cheng responded with caution, "You're not a ghost, so why can't I see you?"

The man became interested and stroked his chin as he squatted down. "Kid, do you know who He Dong Huang is?"

Cheng Cheng's eyes lit up. "Of course! He's one of the Seven Federations' Seven Great Generals, General He!"

The man pondered, "Doesn't he have a bad reputation?"

Cheng Cheng replied indignantly, "Those are just rumors! There's no solid evidence, just a bunch of people repeating hearsay!"

The man smiled, narrowing his eyes slightly, and following a strand of connection, he saw the boy's heart form before him.

Suddenly, he asked, "Let me ask you a question. If it wasn't for Ji Jingqiu showing you the way to this god temple, but instead, the gangsters asked you to run errands for them, would you still go? Think about it carefully before answering."

Cheng Cheng lowered his head in thought and nodded silently, his voice sounding a little dejected as he replied, "I would."

The man was not surprised at all; instead, he smiled.

"Why?" the man asked.

Cheng Cheng pouted slightly, "Because there's no other way; this is the only path I can take."

The man patted his head, as if comforting him, "Now you have a new path. Are you happy?"

"Yes!" Cheng Cheng nodded vigorously, his eyes wide with determination. "Grandma said that I must repay Brother Ji in the future!"

The man opened his mouth and smiled silently.

He was not surprised by the boy's answer.

This was the case for the vast majority of ordinary people. They never had grand ambitions; they only wanted to live their own lives.

Ten thousand years ago, when faced with the issue of the Mind Ocean, seven people had differing opinions.

Some believed that human hearts were inclined downward, and the existence of the Mind Ocean would infinitely amplify this, leading to the Federation's self-destruction without external forces.

Others believed that with proper guidance, human hearts could be directed upward, and the Mind Ocean would not only not be a threat but also become the Federation's greatest asset, propelling it onto a new path of evolution!

The man was an exception.

In his eyes, the so-called ordinary people only cared about one thing—

Can I survive today? Can I survive tomorrow? Can I survive the day after tomorrow? Is there anyone in this world who can show us a way to live?

So his principle had always been—

I will ascend, and all sentient beings can follow in my footsteps.

At that time, he believed that one day, he would stand at the highest point, becoming the greatest 'Dao' and 'Reason' in this world, guiding all beings.

Those who follow me will live, and those who don't will die. That's all.

But he had forgotten one thing back then.

The higher you fly, the smaller you appear in the eyes of those who cannot fly.

Unfortunately, he had flown too high.

He patted Cheng Cheng's head and gave the lucky boy he met after leaving the world a gift, saying, "Good job, kid. Work hard."

After saying this, he walked out of the temple and slowly moved away along the street.

As he walked, countless people passed by him, but not a single person noticed him.

For those who had glimpsed the realm above the Supreme Grandmasters, life had long become immortal as long as their past remained clear in the cognition of intelligent beings.

As the last remnant of Divine Will, only those who clearly remembered his historical deeds could sense his presence.

Upon awakening this time, he felt he should meet many people, but as he walked, he gave up.

It seemed unnecessary to meet them.

He decided to wander around and finally visit a certain little guy.

Along the way, he walked slowly, from dawn to dusk, and then from dusk to dawn, as if measuring the world with his own feet.

At daybreak, he suddenly heard a commotion.

He turned back, and countless vibrant and energetic lives were bustling at the streets and intersections. The morning sun flowed through the city's veins, and with this vitality, it extended towards the infinite distance.

They were the departing crowds.

They had once adored him but eventually forgot him.

However, the man didn't mind.

Because he loved them, even though those he loved had already left the world they once shared.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end