Jiang Wuming sat down cross-legged and stopped circulating his cultivation technique. The true qi lightning that had surrounded his body vanished. His internal true qi became calm, like the sea after a storm. The mysterious doors closed once more, and the secret power ceased to surge.
At the same time, the skin on his face and body turned bright red, as if scorched by fire.
This was the side effect from using the forbidden technique, Thunder Judgment.
According to the records of the Dao Sect, all those who had comprehended the seventh move of the Thunder Treasure Art, Thunder Judgment, except for the Dao Sect overlord who created it, had died after using this forbidden technique.
This was all because the side effects of the Thunder Treasure Art were extremely terrifying.
First, this forbidden technique caused immense damage to the user's physical body.
Second, lightning was violent, and the difficulty for the caster to control it was immense. Any slight carelessness could result in self-injury.
It was akin to a knight fighting on a runaway wild horse; they could very well be thrown off before even harming the enemy.
The key to controlling lightning was the assistance of powerful spiritual energy.
Since Jiang Wuming began his cultivation, he had reached the legendary eleventh level in every realm. The strength of his physical body was not only unparalleled among warriors of the same generation and realm, but it was also unprecedented in the entire history of global martial arts!
When he used the Thunder Treasure Art, his flesh, bones, and internal organs withstood the damage.
In addition, his spiritual energy cultivation had reached two-star War God level six, allowing him to easily control the lightning evolved from true qi.
Under such circumstances, the side effects of the terrifying forbidden technique, 'Thunder Judgment,' on Jiang Wuming were limited to red skin and stinging meridians.
Huh?
Just as Jiang Wuming stopped circulating his cultivation technique, his pupils suddenly widened!
This was because the grand curtain standing before him had disappeared!
"The curtain is gone!"
"This means no more enemies will descend, the battle is truly over!"
"We won this battle!!"
At the same time, members of the East Sea branch and the teachers of the East Sea Martial Academy also saw the curtain disappear. They all realized something and shouted excitedly.
Swish, swish, swish...
After the excitement, everyone's gaze invariably turned to the young man on the martial arts field.
At this moment, the young man was the only figure on the martial arts field.
Under everyone's gaze, the young man slowly stood up, drew the blood-stained battle saber stuck in the ground, and then turned around.
The next moment.
Everyone clearly saw that the young man's face showed no joy after the victory; instead, it was solemn.
Without a word, he carried the blood-stained battle saber and walked towards Manager Zhang Guanzhong.
One step, two steps, three steps...
The sun hung high, and its rays were scorching. Under everyone's gaze, the young man walked step by step to Zhang Guanzhong's side.
As the Vice Dean of the East Sea Martial Academy, Zhang Guanzhong had fought to the very end in today's battle, dying of exhaustion.
He was the only one among all those who had fallen to retain his complete body.
In the sunlight, Zhang Guanzhong lay on the ground, covered in blood. His eyes bulged, wide open, with an expression of dying with unfinished business.
Because, at the moment of his death, the enemy had not been completely annihilated, and the battle had not yet concluded, and his side had not yet won—he was unwilling to die like that!
He wanted to continue fighting, he wanted to see the battle end in victory.
However, he could not hold on or wait for that moment!
Looking at Zhang Guanzhong's unfulfilled expression, Jiang Wuming felt a pang of pain. He then squatted down, extended his trembling hand, and said softly:
"Dean Zhang, the battle is over. We won. Rest in peace."
As his voice fell, Jiang Wuming helped Zhang Guanzhong close his eyes.
After doing this, Jiang Wuming put down his battle saber, stood up, clenched his blood-stained right hand, placed it over his heart, with his palm facing inward, and solemnly saluted Zhang Guanzhong, Wu Zhipeng, and the fallen teachers of the East Sea Martial Academy, expressing his respect and bidding them farewell in this way.
Swish, swish, swish...
Seeing this, at the edge of the martial arts field, Ren Xiaoyao, Xia Xueqin, Qin Linhai, and others unyieldingly raised their right hands, saluting like Jiang Wuming. Their gazes swept across Zhang Guanzhong, Wu Zhipeng, and the deceased East Sea Martial Academy teachers whose bodies were not complete, their expressions solemn and sorrowful!
Swish, swish, swish...
At the same time, whether it was the combat command center of the Martial Department headquarters or the combat command center of the Eastern Region Legion, Qi Wufu, Qin Yuanzheng, and others also raised their right hands in salute.
At this moment, no one gave an order, nor did anyone speak.
They spontaneously paid tribute to heroes and bid farewell to heroes with the most sacred gesture of the Martial Department!
A few seconds later, Jiang Wuming was the first to lower his arm.
However—
Whether it was Ren Xiaoyao and the others at the edge of the martial arts field, or Qi Wufu and the others in the command center, they did not lower their right arms.
They continued to maintain their saluting posture, merely shifting their gaze to Jiang Wuming.
Some heroes had died, while some heroes were still alive.
Zhang Guanzhong and the others belonged to the former, while Jiang Wuming belonged to the latter.
Seeing this, ripples appeared in Jiang Wuming's grief-stricken heart. His face even showed a hint of uncontrollable emotional fluctuation.
He said nothing, merely raised his hand again and returned the salute to Ren Xiaoyao and the others.
After doing so, he once again picked up the blood-stained battle saber and silently walked towards the entrance of the martial arts field.
The battle was over. He wanted to try if he could mobilize his mysterious energy to help Xia Xueqin recover her origin true qi and life essence.
"East Sea Branch, attention all members! Sweep the battlefield, collect the bodies of our heroes, and seize the enemy's spoils of war!"
Just then, Qin Linhai spoke, issuing instructions.
This was the first order he had given since arriving here today.
Before this, including himself, the entire East Sea branch was under Jiang Wuming's command.
And in the brief moment Jiang Wuming was injured and unconscious, the commander was Qin Xiaozhi!
"Yes!"
The members of the East Sea branch acknowledged the order and quickly entered the martial arts field.
Qin Linhai was about to enter the martial arts field as well, but seeing a figure rapidly approaching, he stopped.
Because the person arriving was his son—Qin Xiaozhi!
Today, after leading his team to the battlefield, he had not yet met his son, and had only exchanged glances and a brief conversation.
To be precise, that exchange was not a conversation, but his son, a Lieutenant Colonel, issuing orders to his father, a General!
"Dad."
Soon, Qin Xiaozhi arrived beside Qin Linhai and took the initiative to speak.
This time, he no longer addressed his father by name or title, but simply called him "Dad."
"Xiaozhi, Dad is proud of you."
Qin Linhai patted Qin Xiaozhi's shoulder and said proudly, then turned and walked into the martial arts field.
Qin Xiaozhi turned his head and saw his father's usually strong and robust body trembling slightly.
This was the first time he had seen his strong father show such a retreating posture.
Then, Qin Xiaozhi shifted his gaze to Jiang Wuming, who was about to reach the entrance of the martial arts field.
Ren Xiaoyao, Xia Xueqin, Xing Tian, Dongfang Xiaoyao, and Huangfu Weixia did the same. Even Li Xiaoman, the school doctor, looked at the blood-stained young man at this moment.
"Beep..."
Then, before Jiang Wuming could get closer, a light beep sounded.
Li Xiaoman looked down and found that her video call with Li Lianyi had been disconnected.
After Jiang Wuming was injured, Li Lianyi had connected a video call with Li Xiaoman to remotely direct Li Xiaoman in treating Jiang Wuming's injuries.
After Jiang Wuming woke up, neither of them had hung up the video call until now.
This discovery startled Li Xiaoman, who then immediately redialed, but her call was rejected.
This left her bewildered, so she sent a message: "Lianyi, Wuming is coming over. Do you want to talk to him?"
Li Lianyi replied: "No need."
Li Xiaoman asked doubtfully: "Why?"
"At this moment, it belongs to him and his comrades."
This was the girl's final reply.
Through the monitoring screen, she saw Jiang Wuming approaching the martial arts field and deliberately ended the video call with Li Xiaoman, fearing that if Jiang Wuming knew they were on video call, he would talk to her.
She didn't want to occupy Jiang Wuming's time at such a special moment, nor did she want Jiang Wuming to know that she had witnessed the entire battle process with her own eyes.
She put down her phone, sat in her office chair, and just like at the beginning of the battle, she rested her chin in her hands, staring intently at the young man on the screen.
Just watching him silently...
Under her and Qin Xiaozhi's watchful eyes, Jiang Wuming walked straight towards Xia Xueqin.
After the victory.
He walked towards the woman who treated him as her own child and gave him boundless care;
He walked towards the woman who, in the end, to protect him, did not hesitate to burn her origin true qi, exhaust her life, and forcefully evolve the Nine Dragon True Qi Array, instantly turning her hair white.
"Jiang Zhan, the child has grown up and no longer needs my protection."
The woman looked up at the statue standing at the entrance of the martial arts field and said softly.
The statue stood proudly, its bright eyes gazing at the approaching young man. Its resolute face shimmered in the sunlight, as if smiling.
It was the proud smile of a father seeing his son grow up.
...