https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1108-Breaking-Through-the-Barrier/13274662/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1110-The-Ancient-Valley-and-the-Forgotten-Relic/13274670/
Chapter 1109: The Search for the Lost Jade
Chapter 1109: The Search for the Lost Jade
The audience below the stage was filled with astonishment as they witnessed Wei Dong's sudden breakthrough to the Third Limit. It was evident that the intense combat he had just experienced provided the necessary stimulus for this breakthrough.
Many of the Federation students in the audience couldn't help but feel envious. While they dared not aspire to become martial artists themselves, the dream of reaching the Third Limit was a shared ambition.
Only upon reaching this limit could one truly claim status and position, qualifying to teach at any martial arts academy and hold important positions in various companies and government departments. Even in remote jurisdictions, they could become part of the management tier. Third-Limit martial artists were considered upper-middle class anywhere in the world.
Chen Chuan had anticipated Wei Dong's breakthrough, as the divergent tissue within him had already accumulated to a critical point, needing only the right catalyst to break through. And this combat provided just that—a confrontation of significant magnitude.
The timing of this battle couldn't have been more perfect, and its intensity was just right.
Upon witnessing this, John Calvin Rains suddenly realized that Chen Chuan had intended for his students to attempt breakthroughs during this exchange, and even if they lost, it wouldn't be considered a loss.
A complex expression crossed his face, and he sighed, "Mr. Chen, you've won." He handed over the card.
Chen Chuan took the card and sincerely expressed his gratitude, "Thank you. I wonder if Mr. Rains intends to continue?"
To be honest, he hadn't expected such a rewarding outcome from merely observing these exchanges. The enthusiasm of Xingchen Academy's teachers and students truly impressed him.
Rains moved his lips but said nothing. He silently turned and left, not interested in watching further, his mood dampened.
At that moment, Wei Dong stretched his body and descended from the stage. Wu Han, Luo Kaiyuan, and Feng Xiaoqi, among others, excitedly approached him, patting his body.
Wei Dong's talent was exceptional among them, so his breakthrough came as no surprise. Wu Han gave a hearty laugh and slapped him on the back, saying, "You beat me to it, kid! Now I've got to catch up. I won't let you hold me back."
Feng Xiaoqi and Luo Kaiyuan nodded in agreement. The Third Limit had once seemed unattainable to them, but after receiving resources from Chen Chuan, they now felt a glimmer of hope.
Especially after witnessing Wei Dong's breakthrough, they felt inspired. The emotional stimulation caused the divergent tissue within their bodies to become more active.
Meanwhile, on the other side, a martial arts teacher from Xingchen Academy suggested to Gui Zihan, who was standing aside with his sword, "Mr. Gui, since our students have finished their matches, why don't we give it a try as well?"
Gui Zihan glanced at him and shook his head, indicating his lack of interest.
The teacher felt a bit disappointed, but since his offer wasn't accepted, there was nothing more to be done.
After winning these two matches, the accompanying Wuyi teachers and students engaged in some exchanges, resulting in a mix of wins and losses.
It turned out that John Calvin Rains' assessment was correct. Aside from Wei Dong's unexpected breakthrough, many Wuyi students performed just above average, likely representing the typical strength of Wuyi students.
When compared to the carefully selected opponents from within Xingchen Academy, there was indeed a noticeable gap. However, Daxun wasn't too concerned about this, as they were, after all, on the opponent's home ground, and minor disparities in strength could be overlooked.
After this exchange concluded, both sides ended up in a draw.
Upon leaving the academy area, Joseph led Chen Chuan to the prize display room to view the trophies and recordings of martial arts competitions. They also visited the competition and training halls.
The students of the Federation's martial arts academies could directly participate in martial arts competitions, and countless martial arts stars emerged from these academies. Vice-Principal Wu's approach was inspired by the experiences gained from the Federation.
Viaustralia, being the world's martial arts sanctuary and boasting a unique martial arts culture, attracted free-style fighters from all over the world. This inevitably led to many martial artists, both actively and passively, making their way to this destination.
Chen Chuan observed that Xingchen Academy indeed possessed a wealth of resources, and the martial arts data and recordings alone were a valuable asset.
But that wasn't all; the academy was just one link in a vast chain of interests. Behind it were deep collaborations involving multiple stakeholders, including the Federation and various international pharmaceutical companies, as well as combat implant development enterprises.
International corporations like Lynx Ark and Dayang Shengming specialized in providing high-performance drugs and logistical support. Domestic companies like Tiancong Baicao and Qingnang Yufang also had investments in this domain.
In martial arts competitions and internal tests, numerous combat implant test subjects were utilized, including injured martial artists, hybrid organisms, active consciousness entities, and even some martial artists.
The vast amount of information data generated daily was fed to high-end active consciousness entities like Alura, allowing various companies to extract valuable insights. Subsequently, more test subjects were introduced, fostering continuous technological advancements and iterations.
The West Coast Party's ability to rival the East Coast Party wasn't solely reliant on cults; they had their own strengths to lean on.
He pondered for a moment. Judging by what he had seen, the Federation's technological advancements were indeed impressive. Daxun would certainly not ignore such progress and must have some response in place, even if he wasn't aware of it yet.
After leaving this place, Joseph took them to a few natural scenic spots. Surprisingly, a high-altitude area still preserved an intact stone city from the era of the First People.
Accordingly to Joseph, this was once a separate palace for a dynasty emperor of the First People, and it had now become part of the academy. After some modern renovations, it served as an internal museum and a resting place.
Many Federation men and women were enjoying themselves here, not just the academy's youth but also visitors from other places. They arrived by hot air balloons or small airships.
Joseph enthusiastically shared some historical details. Apparently, the first group of pioneers had lost over fifty brave warriors in their conquest of this place. In the end, three hundred skulls of the First People were used to build a wall, which could still be seen today.
Chen Chuan showed no interest and politely declined the offer to visit, taking only a brief look before leaving. That evening, the academy hosted a welcoming banquet for them, which included several influential figures and political leaders from Viaustralia Central City, all of whom were martial artists.
After the banquet, Chen Chuan declined the invitation to watch a match and ended the day's visit.
Joseph escorted them out. At the entrance, he said, "Mr. Chen, we have a gift for you, but I'm not sure if you'll like it."
He turned to the side, and a cart was pushed over, with something covered in cloth. When it stopped in front of them, Joseph stepped forward and unveiled the cloth.
Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow. It was a life-size statue of Choi Hyeon Hui, the very one that had been standing on the Pioneers' Avenue.
"We witnessed your interaction with Mr. Choi today, which was truly impressive," Joseph said. "So, the school's board of directors decided to present this statue to you as a memento."
"Oh? For me?" Chen Chuan asked. "Isn't this a statue of your Federation's legendary hero?"
Joseph smiled and said, "Not anymore."
"So, this is now mine to do with as I please?" Chen Chuan inquired.
"Of course," Joseph replied with a smile. "If you're willing to accept it, then it's yours. You can do whatever you like with it."
Chen Chuan nodded. Under the watchful eyes of Joseph and the surrounding staff, he stepped forward, and with a single punch, the entire statue shattered, the stone debris falling almost evenly to the ground. Even the steel reinforcement inside had broken into pieces.
With a clatter, a perfectly intact statue head dropped to the ground, wobbled, and then floated up from the ground, coming to rest in front of Chen Chuan.
He glanced at it casually, then turned to Joseph and said, "This is too big. It's not convenient for me to carry. This head will do." He looked at the scattered debris on the ground and asked, "Do I need to clean it up?"
Joseph smiled and said, "No, we'll take care of it."
Chen Chuan nodded and grabbed the head, tossing it to the staff behind him. "Then, I bid you farewell."
He walked forward and entered the designated vehicle, followed by the others who also boarded their respective cars. The headlights came on, and the vehicles drove off along the road.
Inside the car, Chen Chuan sat and organized his thoughts about the visit, planning to have the inactive consciousness entity simulate a report for delivery back home.
He glanced at the statue head, which a staff member had placed nearby. Choi Hyeon Hui was indeed a shameless and dishonorable man, but his achievements in martial arts were no joke. The Fei Shen Style he had mastered still had many followers in the Federation. Choi's daughter played a significant role in promoting this inherited style.
Her husband was the ancient martial artist Chen Chuan had been asked to visit.
At that moment, Chen Chuan tapped his inter-realm pass, and a map of Viaustralia Central City appeared. The martial artist lived in the eastern valley region of Viaustralia Central City, where more than one ancient martial artist resided, some of whom were not even Federation citizens.
They lived there for two reasons: the environment was friendlier to them, and they hoped to use some Federation technology and rituals to slow down their divergence and hinder the process of self-divergence.
One of them possessed a nine-joint jade fragment from the Volos royal collection.
During the Eastern Continent's period of chaos, this fragment was brought to the Volos Peninsula and secretly hidden. Later, as the old era gave way to the new, the dynasty collapsed, and Choi Hyeon Hui killed the Volos King, the fragment came into his possession. He then brought it to the Federation and entrusted its safekeeping to this ancient martial artist.
Upon learning of this, Daxun had sent negotiators several times, offering generous terms to retrieve the item, but all their attempts were rejected.
Chen Chuan looked at the location on the map and planned to visit there tomorrow, taking this item with him as a gift.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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