https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-790-A-Clean-Slate-for-the-Future/12981386/
Chapter 789: The Aftermath of a Battle
Chapter 789: The Aftermath of a Battle
As the image on the field domain screen stabilized, the onlookers could clearly see the scene of the battle. Just by observing the conditions and appearances of the two combatants, it was evident who had emerged as the final victor.
Before the fight, many had considered the possibility of a one-sided outcome, but subconsciously, most had regarded Long Xiang as the stronger opponent. Who would have thought that the actual result would be the opposite?
In the Municipal Parliament, the field domain screen displayed the final scene of the battle, freezing on the location where Chen Chuan and Long Xiang had just clashed.
Even though the fight was brief, the wasteland was left in ruins as far as the eye could see, as if it had been bombarded by powerful artillery shells. The destructive power of the fighters was evident, leaving those who witnessed it in awe.
The hall fell silent for a moment, then filled with a mix of confusion, anger, and anxious restlessness.
The municipal parliament members had initially believed that if Long Xiang could defeat Chen Chuan in battle and intimidate him, everything would improve.
But now, it seemed that not only had he failed to stop Chen Chuan, but he had also made it clear to the latter that the previous obstacles were merely a facade.
If this person were to take action against them now, who could possibly stand in his way? Could they rely solely on the active consciousness entity?
The Municipal Parliament's active consciousness entity, "Spider Guard," was technically on par with the Red Veil of the Martial Arts Academy, making it theoretically very powerful. However, without actual combat experience, it was difficult to gauge its true capabilities, even for those within the parliament.
Moreover, this entity served more as a deterrent than a practical tool, and its value was highest before it was ever deployed. Once it appeared, it might lose its intimidating effect.
After witnessing Long Xiang's defeat, they became even more hesitant to deploy the entity, choosing to keep it as their last resort.
The uneasiness among those present reached its peak, with some blaming the parliamentarians who had sent Long Xiang to test the waters. If they had known the outcome, it might have been better not to engage in the first place.
After a round of finger-pointing and heated arguments, the group eventually reached a consensus: they must strengthen their cooperation with the United Body and expedite the development of a new active consciousness entity.
Under Chen Chuan's pressure, they felt that only by having two active consciousness entities could they possess a slight degree of self-preservation.
However, cultivating an active consciousness entity was not a quick process. Depending on the entity's role and type, it typically required several years, or even over a decade, to nurture.
This time, to rapidly build combat capabilities, the United Body provided a complete technical embryo, allowing them to skip the initial investment phase. Even so, it might still take one to two years.
Previously, they had offered Chen Chuan three years of cultivation resources not only to appease him but also for this very purpose. They hoped that even for the sake of these resources, he would consider their offer before taking action. Perhaps a different individual might even support the parliament, though they didn't expect Chen Chuan to do so. They just needed to endure this period.
After the meeting, the Chief Speaker stepped outside alone, leaning on his cane and furrowing his brows in deep thought. The immediate crisis had been averted, but the problems were far from over. It was foreseeable that once the situation in the Fusion Zone was resolved, Yao Zhiyi, as a fighter, would also be involved.
The imbalance in high-end combat power, coupled with this defeat, would undoubtedly weaken their negotiating power with the Government Hall. It was inevitable that their survival space would be squeezed in the upcoming period.
Fortunately, there was still hope. The Central City was home to not only the Refinement Sect but also the Fusion Sect.
He was aware that some parliamentarians revered the Fusion Sect and had established private connections with them, and some might no longer be considered human.
However, he had not proactively sought out the Fusion Sect because they might have been deeply involved in the previous incident. If the Pure Sect were to regain its footing in Jiabei Province, the Fusion Sect might not be able to tolerate their presence.
As he was pondering this, an important communication signal caught his attention. After seeing the caller, he immediately answered, "Mr. Long?"
"Hahaha... Chief Speaker."
Judging by the voice alone, one would never guess that this was the same person who had just suffered a devastating defeat.
"You must have witnessed the outcome of the battle. I hope you will fulfill your promise promptly and deliver the high-energy ingredients required to replenish the energy consumed in this battle. I don't mind waiting a little longer here, but as for the other side... well, that's for you to decide."
The Chief Speaker replied, "Mr. Long, thank you for the reminder. I have already arranged for this matter as a top priority. Your share should arrive in a few minutes, but... may I dare to ask a presumptuous question?"
"Haha... What's on your mind?"
The Chief Speaker asked, "Mr. Long, did you give your all in this battle?"
"There was a brief moment of silence, followed by a short burst of laughter, and then a deep voice spoke, 'You want to know if I went easy on you? Let me tell you, this battle was fortunate not to be a true life-and-death struggle. Otherwise, I might have been lying there defeated.'
I can understand your thoughts. You probably think that as a senior, my combat strength should be naturally stronger. In theory, that's true, but the reality is more complex, and it's difficult to explain clearly to you.
Well, let's leave it at that. I'll have the items delivered as soon as possible."
After saying this, Mr. Long immediately ended the conversation.
He took the win and loss in stride, especially since becoming a Tier Three Fighter. As long as his cultivation remained problem-free, he wasn't killed by an enemy along the way, his life energy wasn't exhausted, and he wasn't contaminated by external factors, his lifespan would almost never naturally come to an end. At least, he had never heard of a fighter dying of old age.
This gave him ample time to improve himself.
Losing once wasn't a problem, especially in this kind of friendly sparring. It would help him identify his weaknesses and gain experience for future battles. However, this didn't mean he enjoyed discussing it with others, especially right after losing in front of so many people.
He sighed inwardly, "The Pure Sect has gained a formidable fighter."
But then, as if remembering something, he smiled with profound meaning. He knew that the Refinement Sect wouldn't be the most worried about next; as expected, there would be an interesting show to watch.
Meanwhile, the United Federation liaison, acting on the instructions of the various representatives, tried to gather some information from Prabakar, the fighter.
"Master, do you think Mr. Long held back during the fight?"
Prabakar gave a clear affirmative answer, "He did not."
The liaison heaved a sigh of relief and said, "So, if it had been a real life-and-death battle..."
Prabakar smiled, "You misunderstood. It's not that he didn't want to use his full strength, but that he couldn't. Before he could unleash his power, he was suppressed by Director Chen. In my opinion, even if they fought again, the result would be the same."
The liaison was surprised by this assessment. After some thought, he asked, "If Master Prabakar had intervened, you could have made him back down..."
Prabakar didn't directly answer his question. He just shook his head and smiled, "Mr. Long's defeat might not be a bad thing. What goes around comes around. This matter is already complicated and chaotic; why add another player?"
The liaison pondered for a moment, seeming to understand. He patted his chest and said, "Thank you, Master, for sharing this information."
At that moment, Chen Chuan was driving a Gard vehicle back to the city, deep in thought about his next steps.
Wei Guozhen and Long Xiang both cultivated unusual forms, focusing on various external forms. In the Fourth Limit, one must 'guard the true form and gather the spiritual form'. If one fails to guard it, the external form might become the true self.
As Long Xiang had said, he might not be able to control his emotions, which is likely due to the influence of the external form. This might not be because of insufficient cultivation but a consequence of attaching oneself to external forms. In the end, it's hard to say if the true form will be contaminated.
As for the divine form, he hadn't specifically encountered it, but this path only recognizes the heart self, not the body self. In his understanding, the complete self is the true self, so his path is clear: the human form.
But how does one compete with the other two paths solely through the human body?
He had broken through with an unprecedented foundation, so his physical qualities allowed him to overpower some opponents. But what about others who followed this path? What did they rely on?
As he pondered, the World Gateway rang. He answered, and Gao Ming's voice came through, "Brother, someone from the Municipal Parliament contacted me regarding your compensation.
They've deposited the items with the Wansheng Corporation, and you can pick them up anytime.
Additionally, the Parliament will provide three years' worth of cultivation resources and asked when you'd like to sign the agreement. You can set a suitable time."
Chen Chuan calmly replied, "Tell them there's no need for an agreement. Just remind them to provide the resources."
This agreement was a one-sided offer from the Parliament. Even without signing, they would still give him what they promised. If they didn't, he could confront them anytime, and Long Xiang had vouched for it, so the Parliament wouldn't dare renege.
He understood their intentions—they wanted to bind him with these resources, preventing him from causing trouble and buying time to build their strength. However, he also had much to learn, and it would be a matter of who accumulated more power in the end.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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