The day after the martial arts practical competition concluded, the Global Martial Arts Convention proceeded with its final agenda: the War God Hall Council and Elders' Meeting.
During the meeting, Qi Wufu stated Dragon Country's position: resolutely preventing the War God Hall from forming cliques or engaging in internal strife, thus forgetting its founding principles. The War God Hall must remain vigilant, preparing for a potential new round of warfare and ensuring humanity's safety.
Qi Wufu's speech garnered support from all attendees, re-establishing Dragon Country's authority within the War God Hall.
This authority was hard-won by Jiang Wuming and Zhuge Lingjun.
If the previous martial arts competition was akin to a war, then these two meetings were like post-war negotiations.
When war ends, the victor wins what they desire at the negotiating table; this is an unchanging truth.
Conversely, if war breaks out, what cannot be obtained on the battlefield will never be obtained at the negotiating table!
Jiang Wuming did not participate in either of these meetings – he had not joined the War God Hall.
During the War God Hall Council meeting, someone proposed that Jiang Wuming join the War God Hall, but Qi Wufu refused.
This was because he knew for a fact that Jiang Wuming would not join.
The War God Hall, led by Europa, proposed Jiang Wuming's inclusion with the intention of imposing a restriction – War God Hall regulations would become Jiang Wuming's shackles. If Jiang Wuming ever attempted to break free, it would provide hostile forces with an excuse to attack Dragon Country's martial arts community in the future!
Jiang Wuming used this day to teach Li Lianyi the "Nine-Nine Body Tempering."
Li Lianyi's memory and comprehension surpassed Jiang Wuming's imagination.
After viewing the 81 diagrams of the "Nine-Nine Body Tempering" technique just once, she had them all memorized.
Jiang Wuming explained the cultivation method only once, and Li Lianyi grasped it, immediately commencing her practice without any errors.
This left Jiang Wuming astonished: "With your talent, if you hadn't pursued medicine and instead became a cultivator, you would undoubtedly be a powerful spiritual energy cultivator!"
"Not necessarily. The reason my cultivation is going so smoothly is that some of the lost acupuncture techniques in traditional medicine also require strong spiritual energy support. There are some similarities between the two."
Li Lianyi shook her head, offering an explanation. Then, she expressed her gratitude, "Thank you. With this cultivation method, my spiritual energy can be further enhanced. In the future, I can perform more acupuncture techniques when practicing medicine and treat more people."
"Ding dong—"
As Li Lianyi finished speaking, the doorbell rang.
Jiang Wuming swallowed the words on his lips, turned, and went to open the door. Li Lianyi also stood up.
This was her room; if the guest was looking for her, she should not remain seated while receiving them.
Jiang Wuming walked to the door and opened it, only to see Zhu Jian. He was surprised, "Master Zhu Jian?"
"Wuming, the Marshal has invited you to his room. Master Zhuge is also there," Zhu Jian explained the purpose of his visit.
"Alright."
Jiang Wuming nodded, then turned to Li Lianyi. "I'm going to see the Marshal. If you have any questions during your subsequent cultivation, feel free to ask me anytime."
"Okay."
Li Lianyi smiled in response, then nodded at Zhu Jian as a greeting.
Seeing this, Jiang Wuming and Zhu Jian left without further ado.
"Wuming, you know where the Marshal's room is, so I won't accompany you. I still need to check the arrangements for tomorrow's return journey," Zhu Jian said in the corridor.
"Understood, Master Zhu Jian. Please proceed with your tasks."
Jiang Wuming nodded, knowing that Zhu Jian needed to ensure the safety of their return journey tomorrow.
A few minutes later, Jiang Wuming arrived at Qi Wufu's room alone.
The door was ajar. As Zhu Jian had said, both Qi Wufu and Zhuge Lingjun were in the room, specifically waiting for Jiang Wuming.
"Grandpa Zhuge, Marshal Qi!"
Upon entering, Jiang Wuming greeted both of them.
"Wuming, close the door and come sit," Qi Wufu stood up and motioned for Jiang Wuming to sit with a smile.
Jiang Wuming complied, then walked directly to the sofa, sat down, and asked with some confusion, "Grandpa Zhuge, Marshal Qi, what is it that you wished to see me about?"
"Wuming, Wu Fu and I have each a matter to discuss with you."
This time, Zhuge Lingjun spoke first. As he spoke, he picked up the God-Slaying Saber from the table and said, "The God-Slaying Saber is for you."
"For me?"
Jiang Wuming was taken aback.
"The God-Slaying Saber was your father's weapon, so it naturally belongs to you," Zhuge Lingjun stated.
"However, as far as I know, it is currently the symbol of Dragon Country's protection. Before it appeared here, it was always planted in the battlements of the ancient city of Loulan, serving as a symbol to inspire the soldiers of the Loulan legion to be brave and fearless," Jiang Wuming did not immediately accept the God-Slaying Saber.
"You know quite a bit."
Zhuge Lingjun was slightly startled by his words, then said seriously, "You are correct, it is indeed the symbol of Dragon Country's protection now. But you are a hero of Dragon Country's martial arts community.
If it weren't for your championship wins in the genius division and the two-star War God level competitions during this Global Martial Arts Convention's practical combat, even with my eventual appearance, Dragon Country would have struggled to hold any sway in the War God Hall Council and the Elders' Meeting!
In the future, with your martial arts talent, you are destined to reach the pinnacle of global martial arts and become Dragon Country's strongest guardian!
You are the pride of Dragon Country's martial arts community, and in the future, you are worthy of being the bearer of the nation's protection!"
"Zhuge is right. You are the most qualified person in this world to inherit the God-Slaying Saber. Handing it to you personally is also one of the reasons Zhuge brought it here," Qi Wufu nodded in agreement.
Jiang Wuming hesitated.
If the God-Slaying Saber were merely his father's battlefield saber, he would have certainly accepted it and cherished it as a treasure.
But the God-Slaying Saber was also the symbol of national protection!
Jiang Wuming was keenly aware of the implications behind accepting this saber!
"Wuming, don't overthink it. Since Zhuge brought the saber and wants to give it to you personally, take it first. If you no longer want it, you can plant it back in the wall when you go to the ancient city of Loulan," Qi Wufu, seeing his hesitation, said after a moment of thought, understanding Jiang Wuming's thoughts.
"Alright."
Hearing Qi Wufu's words again, Jiang Wuming no longer hesitated. He stood up and accepted the God-Slaying Saber with both hands.
As the saber settled into his grasp, images of his father, Jiang Zhan, carrying it on the battlefield flashed through Jiang Wuming's mind. Simultaneously, he noticed a problem: the God-Slaying Saber had no scabbard!
"Grandpa Zhuge, where is the scabbard for the God-Slaying Saber?"
Jiang Wuming voiced his unspoken question.
"In your father's grave."
Zhuge Lingjun sighed softly and said, "Years ago, when your father perished with that enemy leader, who was suspected to be at the Heavenly God Realm, his remains were not recovered. Therefore, during his funeral rites, we discussed burying the God-Slaying Saber's scabbard with him and planting the blade in the battlements of the ancient city of Loulan."
Hearing Zhuge Lingjun's reply, Jiang Wuming fell silent once more.
Qi Wufu, seeing this, asked, "Wuming, do you wish to go to the ancient city of Loulan now?"
"Now?" Jiang Wuming seemed surprised.
"Tomorrow, we will divide into three groups. Zhuge will remain in Europe, I will take some people back to Yanjing, and another group will take a flight to the Northern Region airport. If you intend to go to the ancient city of Loulan, you can take the flight to the Northern Region airport," Qi Wufu explained.
"I will go to the ancient city of Loulan!"
After a brief period of deliberation, Jiang Wuming made his decision.
"Good!"
Qi Wufu and Zhuge Lingjun exchanged glances, their hearts filled with joy.
Just moments before, they could sense Jiang Wuming's reluctance in accepting the God-Slaying Saber. However, they were confident that once Jiang Wuming visited the ancient city of Loulan, he would no longer resist.
The journey to the ancient city of Loulan was the final move in Qi Wufu's strategic game to bring Jiang Wuming into Dragon Country's military affairs.
Yet, he never would have dreamed that Jiang Wuming's entry into Dragon Country's military affairs was merely the second move in the awe-inspiring game orchestrated by Heavenly Dragon Daoist.
Ascending high, Heavenly Dragon Daoist surveyed all lesser peaks.