It was worth noting that the so-called hard evidence presented by America, Britain, other Western European countries, and Japan had made many foreign netizens curious about National Martial Arts. At the recommendation of Central Continent's internet jokers, they went off to read Dragon Snake, the novel that had pioneered the National Martial Arts genre.
Once they started, they were hooked. The thrilling world of martial artists in its pages set their blood racing. Before long, quite a few foreign readers wanted to learn National Martial Arts and were preparing to cross the ocean to find a master.
Gu Chen gained a wave of Origin Points from those foreign readers, too. In a sense, he had taken his harvest overseas and done his country proud.
Gu Chen was naturally delighted to see the influence spread. He could never have too many Origin Points. The more people believed in the National Martial Arts he had brought into reality through Refine Falsehood Into Truth, the Wu Ming Ruins, the Blood Qi Puppets, the Human Immortal Martial Dao, and Basiba's demonized remains, the more Origin Points he received in return. It was cause and effect, and he could stay behind the scenes, using his growing supply of Origin Points to pursue ever more powerful Supernatural Systems.
After making an international spectacle of themselves, America, Britain, the other Western European countries, and Japan turned around and gave their respective intelligence departments a furious dressing-down.
Their intelligence departments felt terribly wronged. Who could have guessed that after training in National Martial Arts, people from Central Continent could become like superhuman warriors in the movies? What reasonable scientific explanation was there besides "human biological weapons"? Who knew that the online account from Central Continent of events that sounded like a movie was actually true?!
Of course, America, Britain, the other Western European countries, and Japan were also green with envy over the mysterious ancient Wu Ming Ruins on Central Continent Land. Watching the Central Province Official happily study the mysterious Blood Qi Puppets, rare medicines and precious herbs, and the Human Immortal Martial Dao, which involved Supernatural Power, made them even more jealous.
Why did only Central Continent Land have mysterious ancient ruins like those? It wasn't fair! Why hadn't their own ancestors left behind similar mysterious ruins containing Supernatural Power? This was power that could shape the future!!
At last, America, Britain, the other Western European countries, and Japan could no longer contain their envy. Abandoning their earlier threats of economic and trade sanctions, they declared that mysterious ancient ruins like these belonged to all humanity. Central Continent ought to share them generously. They all had top-tier research teams and laboratories, and working together would unravel the ruins' secrets faster.
The Central Province Official merely sneered at their sudden change of heart. What a joke. Who was shouting about sanctioning us just a moment ago? And now you want to pretend nothing happened? Do you take us for fools?!
The Central Province Foreign Affairs Office gave an emphatic "NO!" to the eager overtures from America, Britain, the other Western European countries, and Japan. It flatly rejected their proposal for joint research! This was a precious legacy left by Central Continent's ancestors. What did it have to do with those foreigners? They didn't deserve it!!
Gu Chen felt an unexpected rush of satisfaction at the Central Province Foreign Affairs Office's forceful response. Netizens across Central Continent rejoiced, flooding the office's Weibo and Douyin posts with likes and comments.
"Beautifully done! That was so satisfying to watch!!"
"Hahaha... America, Britain, the other Western European countries, and Japan have finally had a taste of it! Enjoy being shut out!!"
"Don't give those foreigners a thing! Our ancestors left this to us!!"
"Foreign powers respect strength, not kindness! History has taught us they'll never be grateful, no matter how much we give them!!"
"..."
In the past, America, Britain, the other Western European countries, and Japan had always kept scientific and technological advances from Central Continent. Now the tables had finally turned. Central Continent was the one shutting them out, and it had been a long time coming.
Burning with envy and resentment, America, Britain, the other Western European countries, and Japan all gave their intelligence departments a new mission: steal Central Continent's research findings from the mysterious ancient ruins!!
Meanwhile, Fang Xiu came online in the small Group Chat and quickly shared some news.
He Wu: I heard from Elder Fang that official researchers refined and concentrated the rare medicines and precious herbs recovered from the Wu Ming Ruins to produce Peiyuan Pills. They bring out the herbs' effects much more fully. Apparently, one martial arts master involved in the trials used the pills' medicinal power to reach the Hidden Strength level! Now the authorities plan to offer Peiyuan Pills in exchange for the rare medicines and precious herbs that civilian explorers found in the ruins!!
The news immediately caught the attention of the other jokers in the Group Chat. Liu Qing'er, Li Xingming, Ye Zhen, and Wang Xiaoai all came online.
Invincible Little Wave Rider: I heard about it too. One rare medicinal herb from the ruins can be exchanged for five Peiyuan Pills! No limit!!
Cute Pink Rabbit: Now that's a deal! I still have two rare medicinal herbs!!
Ye Liangchen: I, Ye Liangchen, have four! That's twenty Peiyuan Pills! Reaching Hidden Strength will be child's play for a prodigy like me! You mediocre Group Chat members had better come pay your respects to a Hidden Strength master! Hahaha...
Ji Taibao: How about we mute this guy?!
Gu Chen was surprised when he saw the news. The Central Province Official was impressive indeed. With top experts, researchers, and laboratories at its disposal, it had already produced results. The power of a nation was not to be underestimated. He wondered whether Central Continent had also made any progress studying the Human Immortal Martial Dao, the Blood Qi Puppets, Basiba's demonized remains, and the other discoveries.
Before you continue