novelraw Chapter 263 256: Cliffhanger
Chapter 263 256: Cliffhanger
The moment Chen Qingmu finished speaking, the eyes of the several hundred attendees immediately fell upon Zhou Yuanjue, who was seated on the dais.
Everyone in attendance was a prominent figure in the Donghua Martial Arts Realm. Naturally, they paid close attention to any news within their world, and so, it was safe to say they were all very familiar with Zhou Yuanjue.
At twenty-five, he was the youngest Saint Awakening in all of Donghua's history and was closely watched by major foreign powers. He had revealed his strength at the Hero Assembly, shocking Donghua with the power of a Saint Awakening and becoming known as a legend of the Martial World. Then, he fought a bloody battle against an unknown master at Songyang University, where their clash was so intense it even triggered a change in the Celestial Phenomenon. His power was like that of a god or a demon.
To a certain extent, Zhou Yuanjue was now the idol and goal for most young Martial Artists in Donghua, inspiring them to train diligently. Such accomplishments and power were difficult for even the older generation of Saint Awakenings to match.
With Zhou Yuanjue's realm and strength, no one would object to him serving as the honorary vice president of the Martial Arts Association. After all, it was just an honorary title—a high-status position in name only, with virtually no involvement in day-to-day affairs.
However, making Zhou Yuanjue president of the Martial Arts University was a different matter entirely. The university was an undertaking of immense importance, and the president would determine its future direction. Though Zhou Yuanjue's realm was profound and his strength was exceptional, he was, after all, too young. Being a good president wasn't something one could accomplish with strength alone—life experience, administrative skill, and even personal connections were all indispensable.
The concerns about establishing a Martial Arts University, coupled with the doubts about the choice for president, made everyone present instantly feel that this proposal was completely unreliable.
"Mr. Zhou, forgive my bluntness. We are all deeply in awe of your realm, strength, and accomplishments in the Martial Dao. However, establishing a Martial Arts University isn't something that can be judged by realm and strength alone. The implications are simply too vast. As such, I have some reservations about you serving as its president."
Just then, a refined, middle-aged man of about forty raised his hand and spoke. He was the master of the Steel Bone Strike Style and a renowned figure in the Northern Martial Arts Realm.
"Furthermore, I feel establishing a Martial Arts University is too hasty. What kind of curriculum would it have? Where would the students come from? Who would teach the courses? These are all matters that require extensive deliberation, not something for which a plan can be made in a single day."
Another man—a tall, bald, middle-aged man—spoke up, his voice booming like a great bell. His intimidating build took up the space of two people. This was the master of the Juxiang Sect from the Southern Martial Arts Realm.
"Indeed, it's too soon to establish a Martial Arts University. To put it bluntly, once this university is founded, what will become of the various Martial Arts Schools of Donghua represented here today? Will we be gradually assimilated, reduced to mere optional 'subjects' within the university? Or will those of us who refuse to be assimilated simply watch our legacies wither away?"
"We can understand the higher-ups' perspective. Bringing everything into the system would certainly facilitate management and the mass-training of Martial Artists. However, our schools uphold their legacies and wish to maintain their independence. Otherwise, how could we ever face our ancestors? We ask the higher-ups to please understand our difficult position."
"We can cooperate fully in other matters. After all, this is for the good of the Martial Arts Realm and the nation's stability and prosperity, and we are more than willing to do our part. We were born and raised on this land; who among us doesn't want to see it flourish? But when the very legacy of our schools is at stake, this is something we find truly hard to accept."
"·······"
As some began to voice their objections, a growing chorus of dissent rose, one voice after another, until it filled the entire hall.
The establishment of the Martial Arts University was nothing short of a crisis for the various Martial Arts Schools of Donghua. This was especially true for the smaller schools, which lacked a solid foundation and could very well vanish entirely under such pressure.
It was like the appearance of a large factory driving small workshops out of business.
Although the former represented innovation and progress, not all of the latter could calmly accept the fact of their own extinction.
Observing the chaos in the hall, Chen Qingmu and the other vice presidents on the dais exchanged glances. Without a word, they all turned their attention to Zhou Yuanjue.
Zhou Yuanjue, who had remained perfectly composed, opened his half-closed eyes. He knew that after three days, the conference had finally reached the point where he needed to make his move.
He raised his hand, beckoning to a staff member standing by. "Go ahead and distribute the materials we prepared," he said.
"Yes."
The staff member nodded, hurried off the dais, and disappeared backstage.
Soon, staff members entered the hall carrying stacks of documents and began distributing them to every attendee.
At first, everyone assumed the documents were about the planning and curriculum for the Martial Arts University. However, the moment they began to flip through the pages, they realized they were sorely mistaken.
The voices of opposition in the hall gradually subsided, eventually vanishing completely into a profound silence. Any Martial Artist would be unable to resist the contents of the documents before them, for they were the crystallized, unreserved insights of a powerful Saint Awakening. For the leaders of the famous schools present—most of whom were top-tier Martial Artists themselves—these insights were no less valuable than a supreme secret technique.
RUSTLE! RUSTLE!
The only sound in the hall was the rustling of pages as every Martial Artist became immersed in the "ocean of knowledge."
Martial Dao, Spirit, Honing, Restraint, Instinct...
The Martial Dao is the process of training the Spirit, suppressing instinct, and conquering the self...
They could all sense a fundamental truth hidden within these documents, one that made them feel an insatiable hunger and thirst for more.
However, just as the thin stack of documents was about to describe the mysteries of breaking through to the Saint Awakening realm and beyond, it suddenly came to an abrupt end. There was nothing more.
In an instant, the minds of all the Martial Artists present went blank. That dawning, profound insight was cut short, and their faces flushed red. They looked more wretched than if they'd swallowed a dead rat, the curiosity and longing in their hearts about to erupt like a volcano.
It felt like reading a favorite, unputdownable novel, only for the author—a master of the cliffhanger—to stop right at the most exciting part. It was enough to make one want to cough up blood.
'Where's the rest of it?! Where's the rest of it?!'
With bloodshot eyes, the Martial Artists raised their heads in unison, staring at the perfectly calm Zhou Yuanjue on the dais.
If they didn't know for a fact they couldn't defeat him, some of them would probably already be plotting how to mail razor blades to Zhou Yuanjue after the conference.
Under the weight of everyone's stares, Zhou Yuanjue finally began to speak, his voice slow and deliberate:
"Have you all considered... what is the true essence of the Martial Dao?"