Imperial City Martial Academy.
Beneath the jade-carved plaque bearing four grand characters, Zhou Ming stood waiting.
Before long, a young man emerged from the Martial Academy.
"The token checks out. Before the Imperial City Martial Examination Grand Competition, you will also enjoy the academy's benefits and treatment. Pick your own residence—anywhere without a plaque hanging outside is available."
After saying that, the young man returned Zhou Ming's jade token.
Zhou Ming put away the jade token and hung it at his waist.
Watching the unending stream of people passing through the Martial Academy gates, he strode inside.
The moment he entered the Imperial City Martial Academy, a booming voice rang out.
"Geniuses from every province, come take a look! This is the Martial Dao Stele. Want to comprehend the martial True Intent left behind by your predecessors? Then come up and give it a try!"
"Don't miss it as you pass by! This is the Imperial City Martial Academy's welcome gift to all of you."
"Those with exceptional comprehension may even grasp the martial True Intent of the Supreme Realm and Transcendence."
"Even if your comprehension is ordinary, it does not matter. Even grasping a single thread of True Intent can strengthen your martial will."
Zhou Ming looked at the hundred-zhang martial stone stele before him.
Damn!
This thing was the size of a mountain.
And they were telling him this was called a stele?
Zhou Ming tilted his head back and looked upward.
Twelve large characters were clearly carved into the central section of the Martial Dao Stele.
[At the pinnacle of martial dao, reach supremacy and transcendence; shatter delusion and seek truth.]
Other than those twelve characters, his sharp eyesight also allowed him to make out many words carved upon the Martial Dao Stele.
"Peach Blossom Palm Meng Zhi!"
"I am War God Su Ziqi."
"Blade and Sword Supreme Kuang Yunfei."
"Willow Catkin Body Yan Wumiao."
"Demon Dao Leader Shangguan Xiu."
Zhou Ming was no longer a newcomer who had only just stepped onto the path of martial dao.
He had heard of nearly all the conspicuous names on the Martial Dao Stele.
Some had died, while others had vanished.
There were also some who still lived in the world.
Among all those names, the most eye-catching was undoubtedly: I am War God Su Ziqi.
This man had no shortage of legendary deeds. Unfortunately, he had ultimately vanished within the Vast Sea Divine Court. Even so, storytellers still recounted the events of his life in every corner of the land.
At present, people were climbing all over the Martial Dao Stele.
They were not merely people like Zhou Ming, who had been selected for the Grand Competition, but also martial artists from every major province who had come to watch the Martial Examination Grand Competition.
Listening to the booming voice explain without pause,
Zhou Ming came to understand.
The Martial Dao Stele was not ordinarily opened, because comprehension consumed the True Intent upon it.
True Intent that had been comprehended could slowly recover with time and nourishment, but True Intent that had been obtained would be directly depleted completely.
Therefore, unless one had rendered great merit, one could only wait for the once-in-ten-years Martial Examination before the Martial Dao Stele would be opened.
Martial artists whose identities had been verified would then be allowed to climb the Martial Dao Stele and comprehend the martial True Intent left upon it.
Beyond True Intent, the Martial Dao Stele also contained inheritances of techniques, cultivation methods, and more.
Above the twelve large characters on the Martial Dao Stele,
twelve figures drifted down from the writing.
At their head was a middle-aged man carrying a long spear on his back, bare-chested and barefoot.
Eleven people stood shoulder to shoulder behind him, seven men and four women.
Zhou Ming noticed that all twelve wielded different weapons.
Some carried sabers, some bore staffs on their backs. One man held a long flute, while one woman carried an ancient zither.
"Everyone, I am Zhao Xuchu, the headmaster of the Imperial City Martial Academy."
The spear-bearing man smiled faintly. His voice was not loud, yet it directly overwhelmed the entire crowd.
"The once-in-ten-years Martial Examination is being held, and the Martial Dao Stele is opening alongside it."
"The Martial Dao Stele contains martial techniques, martial True Intent, and martial inheritances. Please act within your limits while comprehending them, and do not lose yourselves."
"Now, please calm your hearts and focus your minds."
He swept out a hand.
A gentle force spread outward from him in an instant.
Whether they had been talking or climbing the Martial Dao Stele, everyone involuntarily stopped at that moment.
Then, the sounds of zither and flute slowly rose.
The zither sounded like babbling water, while the flute cried like a phoenix ringing through the nine heavens.
The melody brushed across the crowd like a clear breeze.
When the piece ended,
Zhou Ming opened his eyes and found his heart tranquil. Even the circulation of his blood and qi had become smoother by several degrees.
"There is still half a shichen before the Martial Dao Stele activates. Everyone, first adjust your state of mind. If you have any questions, you may ask us."
As the headmaster of the Imperial City Martial Academy, Zhao Xuchu seemed to carry no airs whatsoever.
He made people feel as though they were bathed in a spring breeze.
"Headmaster!"
"Is it true, as rumors say, that the Martial Dao Stele contains True Intent left behind by the War God?"
"Yes! If it does, then after hundreds of years, why has no one managed to comprehend it?"
"Setting the War God's True Intent aside, it seems that over the past century, no one has even comprehended First Rank Supreme Realm True Intent."
"Headmaster, rumors say the Martial Dao Stele's inheritances include War God Divine Abilities. Is that true? Has anyone received such an inheritance?"
Hearing the questions around him,
the martial artists who had long since joined the Imperial City Martial Academy burst into laughter.
"Isn't the War God's True Intent carved right up there? Otherwise, why do you think the Martial Dao Stele could retain the words 'War God'?"
"As for War God Divine Abilities, since the War God left behind True Intent, he naturally also left inheritances of his own martial divine abilities."
"Whether you can comprehend them depends entirely on your individual talent."
Listening to the explanations around him, Zhao Xuchu shook his head. "Everyone, although divine ability inheritances are good, martial techniques and True Intent are what you should strive for most."
"Obtaining a predecessor's technique inheritance is like having power transmitted directly to you. You can comprehend it at once, without arduous cultivation."
"True Intent needs no further explanation. Even if you can only comprehend a single thread of it, it will still benefit you for a lifetime."
Standing amid the crowd, Zhou Ming asked with puzzled eyes, "What is True Intent?"
True Intent—this was Zhou Ming's first time hearing of it.
From Zhao Xuchu's meaning, this True Intent seemed to carry tremendous weight in martial dao, with even divine abilities ranked behind it.
At that, Zhao Xuchu looked around, sweeping his gaze across the crowd before smiling. "True Intent is the union of every martial artist's original heart, understanding, and insights toward martial dao. Without True Intent, First Rank is beyond all hope."
At this point,
Zhao Xuchu sighed. "On the path of martial dao, one first cultivates the body, then cultivates the heart, and finally reaches the innate realm. The most precious thing these predecessors left upon the Martial Dao Stele was their realization from cultivating the heart. That is True Intent."
"Unfortunately, for five hundred years, martial artists have cultivated strength but not the heart. Not a single person has entered First Rank again, achieving supremacy and transcendence."
Changing the subject, Zhao Xuchu continued, "True Intent should be your foremost priority, but do not underestimate martial techniques either. If you obtain an inheritance, it can save you a period of bitter cultivation."
"Some martial arts have already been lost. Those who obtain their inheritances may receive martial resources for sharing them, depending on the martial skill involved."
"Furthermore, if anyone obtains a divine ability inheritance and is willing to share it, the Empress has decreed that the strength of the entire nation may be raised to fulfill three of their conditions. Even if you wish to ignite a national war, it is not impossible."
The moment those words fell,
everyone present had just undergone the cleansing harmony of zither and flute, their emotions and minds settling into calm stability.
Yet at this moment, their eyes all blazed as their hearts stirred restlessly.
At once, what True Intent and what martial techniques—all of it was cast beyond the clouds.
Zhou Ming looked at Zhao Xuchu with a strange expression.
For fuck's sake!
Even Brother Zhou had nearly fallen for it.
What True Intent was more important than divine abilities? What a load of bullshit.
This guy was quite the schemer.
First, he downplayed the existence of divine abilities and gave them a whole sermon of grand principles.
Then he turned around and dropped this bombshell. Who would not rush to comprehend divine abilities?
The strength of the entire nation to fulfill three conditions.
What kind of offer was that?
Before you continue