"You... what do you mean?" Elder Zhui Hun chided.

Perhaps because of their status or for some other reason, everyone except Elder Zhui Hun fell into a brief contemplation.

Feng Yi merely responded with a smile, "The world has no precedent for enlightenment, everything must be measured with reason. As martial artists, even if we possess the strength to break ten thousand catties, what then? The essence of practicing martial arts focuses on strengthening the body, keeping a calm mind and spirit. As pursuers of martial arts, while we improve our strength, should we not also remember to uphold the original aspirations of a martial artist?"

Indeed, the martial heart is the Way of the Martial; the martial heart is also the Virtue of the Martial. Feng Yi's words instantly plunged the audience into deep thought... Soon, people around started whispering about the original intentions of their martial practice.

But Feng Yi paused only briefly, his voice ringing out strong and clear once more, "The martial arts of Huaxia are profound, based on benevolence, and known for their virtue. As we meet through martial arts, why not be more tolerant and treat each other with respect, enjoying the 'Way of the Martial' with the most unadorned and pure martial spirit—the so-called modest are virtuous, and those who yield are courteous. Everyone present is a bearer and promoter of the Huaxia martial spirit. While the paths we choose may diverge, our unified goal has never changed. Only by setting aside our prejudices can we truly promote our martial spirit, create greater value, maintain our martial artist's original heart. I believe a prosperous era is not too far away."

"Sir, your words have taught me a lot."

Even Elder Zhui Hun hesitated for a moment before suddenly clasping his hands together, making even Thunderbolt blush.

Indeed, Feng Yi's words were powerful and resonant, as if instilling a strong stimulant into the dead atmosphere. After a brief clamor, the silent scene suddenly exploded into an unstoppable applause.

There were voices from Jade Clear Sect, from various folk schools, and even from onlookers who had come for entertainment. An invisible force started to affect every person around, representing the broad-minded spirit unique to Huaxia martial artists, as well as the invisible magnetic field emanating from Feng Yi, as if filled with endless charm that made people eager to learn everything about him.

Listening to the countless thunderous applauses around him, Feng Yi shook his head in wry smile without a word, not wanting to linger here any longer, because he was unsure whether his words had been effective, and he didn't want to witness further conflict between the parties—humans, after all, are fickle, and one can only hope for the best.

With these thoughts, under everyone's watchful eyes, Feng Yi turned and strode away, leaving behind a lone, proud silhouette.

"General, please wait, forgive my lack of foresight in welcoming you." Just as Feng Yi was not too far off, Wu Tian's elderly voice suddenly resonated through the venue.

Feng Yi paused his steps, waiting for what was to come next but did not turn back.

Wu Tian continued, "The visitor is both a guest and brought by fate. Three months from now, the reclusive factions will host the once-every-four-years battle for the chief. As a military man and also a martial artist, could we have the honor of your presence as a witness then?"

"If I can still come," Feng Yi briefly responded, his body already entering an irreversible decay, and perhaps only a few could understand the implication of his words.

After speaking, Feng Yi slightly turned his head, nodded towards Mengdie, and whispered 'Take care' softly enough to only reach Mengdie's ears. It seemed like a farewell, yet also a simple greeting between friends. His silhouette slowly disappeared into the vast woods.

Watching Feng Yi's retreating silhouette, Mengdie's eyes fell without responding, her normally placid gaze now rippling slightly, watching intently in the direction of Feng Yi, her gently heaving chest proving that her heart was anything but calm.

When Wu Tian once questioned Mengdie's emotions, though not apparent then—now, her deep breaths and slightly closed eyes spoke volumes of her inner struggle. Watching the last mineral water bottle held by her delicate fingertips, Mengdie spilled all its contents into the void, solidifying into countless ice butterflies around her.

The departing person, how to return once gone, losing heart, how to match, he knows more of advance and retreat than she, yet she deeply knows what sets him apart, coming without knowing the way home, a life with both mistakes and enlightenment, that 'Take care,' how bitterly poignant those words...

Wu Tian's gaze was sharp, despite the distance, he could see right through Mengdie's emotions. As he stepped forth silently appearing at the end of the high platform, "Butterfly, you still care about him."

Mengdie's emotions fluctuated vibrantly, and the ice butterflies around her melted into droplets of mist, scattering into oblivion... She, with her bare face turned towards the sky, had no response to offer.

"Give you two options, kill him, or don't kill him. What's your answer."

Mengdie gently shook her head...

"You really can't do it, can you?"

This child had learnt to talk back, and Wu Tian sighed silently. "We cannot change fate but can twist destiny through cause and effect; if we cannot eradicate, then try to fall in love with him, bear his children, follow his footsteps. To break this situation, this might be the only turning point."

As he spoke, Wu Tian's cloudy eyes inevitably showed some reluctance and helplessness. Mengdie, after all, was only in her teens but possessed exceptional innate talent, skilled in various unique mysteries and a rare Mental Ability User.

But considering it carefully, Feng Yi was also unparalleled in both literary and martial skills, and betrothing Mengdie to him was not a disservice to her. The marriage could be claimed as a perfect match, and with Mengdie's fairy-like beauty, no man could resist falling for her.

Of course, Wu Tian had already seen through this point; he realized that Mengdie was practicing the Water from the Five Elements more diligently and seriously than usual. There was only one possibility: Mengdie wanted to undo the seal on Feng Yi.

And it was with this intention that Wu Tian invited Feng Yi, ostensibly to attend the chief competition showdown. Still, the real purpose stemmed from this, to facilitate the arranged marriage.

Who knew Mengdie was still shaking her head... This was a gesture she had never shown before.

"Audacious! Are you thinking of defying the sect?"

As the saying goes, 'A teacher for a day is like a father for life,' Wu Tian, who had raised her from a young age, saw this and Mengdie quickly knelt down.

Wu Tian sighed again, speaking with great importance: "Butterfly, the causality involved here is not just about personal interests, you... be cautious."

After saying this, and with a gust of wind, Wu Tian left with a sweep of his sleeve.

If it were possible, how could he willingly betroth Mengdie to an outsider? As time approached inexorably, Wu Tian had calculated that Feng Yi would not have much time left. He did not know if Feng Yi would come, but surely he would not crumble and die within three months. In this game of Five Elements and destiny, how many could truly escape from the cycles of causation and reincarnate?

Unfortunately, Feng Yi did not believe in the fate of the Five Elements; with a mind unbeatable, he believed that with the sheer willpower of his body, he could break all laws.

However, in the stage of continuous body deterioration, his current state could no longer be compared with the past—it was an irreversible process. Perhaps from the moment Wu Tian used the treasured artifact of the Jade Clear Sect to reveal his future state, Feng Yi had felt how terrible his condition was then.

Now, his physical state was constantly approaching that position under the fiery sealing technique. Feng Yi's body temperature, hotter than usual, required him to consume more water to maintain metabolic balance and prevent dehydration.

——

In a gloomy room, lying on a cold bed, when he opened his eyes, he first moved his middle finger, then his legs instantly felt a numbing sensation. Hugo abruptly sat up on the bed; he had had a nightmare, a very, very horrifying nightmare. As a high-level warrior, it was unusual for him to dream at this stage, wonder why he dreamt of human annihilation? Luckily, it was just a dream.

Blade Warrior's brow furrowed lightly; indeed, Hugo in his sleep had still captured a fragment of Roland's initial electromagnetic wave… In fact, Blade Warrior had been using technology to analyze everything that Roland felt, the space capturing a magnetic field, and she continually attempted to simulate that magnetic field, but never succeeded. Yet, she had never imagined that such subtle electromagnetic waves would emanate from Hugo's dreams.

"Awake, are you?"

"This place is...?" Hugo suddenly realized, he was still in the Blade Warrior's technical laboratory, not within that nightmare.

"Hehe, sir really tends to forget, you've been asleep for 5 days," Blade Warrior said with a light smile, "Come, feel the sensation of your body once again."

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