Chapter 328

328. Chapter 323 The First Year of High Martial Arts

The opening of the High Martial Era ushered in the golden age of post-modern Great Xia, with the first year later referred to by posterity as the "Year One of High Martial Arts," also a significant milestone in history, serving as a bridge between past and future.

The splendid culture of Great Xia spanning thousands of years took a new direction; the ancient Eastern great power, while possessing deep historical foundations, also had the courage to reform and innovate.

From then on, cultivation talents emerged in abundance, and the nation's position became unshakable, though these are matters for later.

As soon as this announcement was made, it instantly sparked heated discussion nationwide; various measures and policies gained high recognition from all the people, with almost no opposing voices, clearly showing where the people's hearts lay.

"I knew this day would come sooner or later! Finally, our Great Xia is bidding farewell to the old model, and from now on, it will be a bright road where technology and cultivation combine!"

"Just thinking about it makes me a little excited—I never thought the novels I read as a child would one day become reality."

"Who says it isn't so? From 2024 to 2025, in just one short year, so many things have happened, feeling as long as a century."

Ye Qin also gained many insights during this disaster, which is why he chose to retreat into seclusion; he slowly opened his eyes, his verdant pupils flickering with a hint of confusion as he gazed at the sky above.

Brilliant streaks of light tore across the horizon, revealing a small flying sword appearing in the courtyard, its blade thin as a cicada's wing, covered in intricate patterns and formations—clearly a rare mundane treasure at first glance.

"I also have a premonition that our country will become even more prosperous and flourishing in the future!"

There are no demon races existing in the universe, likely due to their species' nature, so they are not bound by human rules and restrictions; some things that apply to humans do not exist for demons, such as the matter of cosmic forbidden zones.

In other words, the Nine Provinces Cauldron has become a spiritual-type signal tower receiver, capable of helping Earth connect to the cosmic signal network.

If one were to spend a lifetime on Earth, combined with the protective forbidden zone formed by star beasts, Ye Qin would be the Heavenly Flower ceiling of combat power; if he wished, the entire planet would be under his rule.

Eagle State Dun City.

The Northeast Tiger nodded, saying, "Rest assured, Master, we will surely train diligently."

These words are profound, and with his current realm, they are still difficult to understand, but if he were fortunate enough to reach Ye Qin's height, perhaps he would gradually come to comprehend them.

During this period, many Dharma Implements and Elixirs were produced, poured into urban construction and cultivators' hands, and even more so, it was like adding wings to a tiger.

Hua Tiancheng then raised his head, saying, "Little Song, it's like this—we plan to send several batches of personnel abroad for humanitarian aid, and you will be in charge of the European team."

The people's livelihoods were secured, the problem of food and clothing was solved, and the government began issuing various beneficial economic policies and measures to promote economic recovery and prosperity.

After one year of cultivation, the general populace of Great Xia had already entered around the C-level, and they also discovered that cultivation becomes increasingly difficult the further one progresses.

"Comparing people really makes one furious—perhaps we truly lack talent; I heard the Cultivation Bureau has started recruiting again, with the minimum requirement being B-level Ten, so I likely don't qualify."

These matters have no trace in the universe, and when parting from Qinghuan, Ye Qin entrusted her to pay close attention to this situation, and if any news arises, to contact him promptly.

Precisely for this reason, construction progress is very slow; compared to Great Xia's recovering prosperity, their location resembles a slum.

……

After all, domestic work is nearly complete; perhaps going abroad to take a look might yield some new insights.

For this overseas deployment, the Cultivation Bureau dispatched several thousand personnel in total, and besides the Cultivation Academy, Longyuan Immortal Sect also contributed many participants, all hoping to gain experience abroad.

The Great Demons are aware of events in the universe and long for them, hoping one day to be like Ye Qin, capable of venturing into cosmic exploration.

"If back in early 2024, someone had told me Earth would face all kinds of disasters and we would embark on the cultivation path, I would absolutely not believe it."

Compared to the previous scene of utter ruin, much of the debris and fragments left by collapsed buildings have already been cleared away, making things look much cleaner.

Several figures were working, apparently tired, putting down their tools to rest nearby.

The middle-aged man with a hooked nose and deep contours couldn't help but complain, "Just looking at you, I can tell you don't often climb walls to surf the internet—other countries you can ignore, but Great Xia must be watched!"

Upon seeing his arrival, many people greeted him, saying, "Hello, Chief Song."

"It would be great if our country also had cultivators—too bad—Great Xia's luck is just too good."

In the face of absolute strength, Ye Qin does not wish to expose himself too much; facing these cultivators who have lived for thousands of years, he must be cautious and careful, lest he bring about a catastrophe.

For example, Mount Hua, Mount Tai, Mount Emei, and Penglai Island, etc., to reduce disturbance to these Great Demons, the surroundings can be said to have no human presence at all, everything preserved in its original state.

During this time, Ye Qin finally figured out the source of the mysterious power of the Nine Provinces Immortal Cauldron; earlier, he had sensed something odd, as this mysterious fluctuation belonged neither to him nor to the Nine Provinces Immortal Cauldron itself.

"Chief Song, you've finally arrived—the Bureau Chief has been waiting for you."

If other cultivators in the universe knew of the existence of demons, would they have other thoughts, such as using demons or hunting them to obtain their hides and fangs to forge magical treasure weapons?

Such things are not uncommon in Earth's xianxia novels, which is also why Ye Qin has been careful to conceal his true identity before Qinghuan.

The companions beside him listened, shook their heads, and sighed, "I've just entered C-level One; I've heard it gets harder later, reaching the Guard level seems like a distant dream."

If Ye Qin were alone, it would be fine, but behind him are many Great Demons, and the demon race is flourishing; he does not wish to take risks.

【The Dao is empty, yet its use is never full; profound, like the ancestor of all things, blending its light, mingling with its dust, dulling its sharpness, unraveling its tangles, deep and still as if existing, continuous as if it were there, used without exhaustion.】

According to what Qinghuan said, that world is extremely mysterious, and to this day, no one has gone there, which is why the Frontier Wasteland Signal Tower was built.

After the heavenly and earthly calamity, the main task was to solve the problem of food and clothing, so most countries first focused on the primary industry, then the secondary, while the tertiary industry remains particularly weak.

In other words, Earth and the universe have connected!

Now Great Xia has already entered the right track, but other countries do not have such good fortune and are still struggling on the subsistence line.

Longyuan Mountain remains as it was before the heavenly and earthly calamity—lush green grass, dense and verdant, as if nothing has changed, as though that earth-shattering disaster never occurred.

Song Shu knocked on the door of Hua Tiancheng's office, seeing him seated in the office chair, documents piled high on the desk like a small mountain, almost obscuring Hua Tiancheng's figure.

Now Great Xia has become the leading figure on the international stage, although not yet explicitly stated, all countries implicitly regard Great Xia as the leader.

Perhaps because it swallowed most of the signal tower's radiation, by a twist of fate, the Nine Provinces Immortal Cauldron unexpectedly became connected to the signal tower, enabling connection to the signal tower through the cauldron.

One year has passed since the heavenly and earthly calamity; during this period, Great Xia's economy and people's livelihood have shown significant results, which can be described as flourishing and thriving.

The people, carrying hope and enthusiasm, built their new homeland with fiery passion, and for a time, unprecedented vitality burst forth across the nation.

"But being able to work as a menial laborer to accumulate experience, I could also be contentedly satisfied."

Many new factories have also been established, differing from traditional factories, they combined formations, talismans, and technology to produce and develop many beneficial goods for the people.

His tone was full of excitement and longing, "That is the mysterious ancient Eastern country!"

Indeed, staying in this comfortable zone of Earth, even if he no longer cultivates in the future, no one can shake Ye Qin's position, but these are not what he desires.

Now, as people chat, the most discussed topics are cultivation levels and cultivation insights, and it can be said that cultivation has already integrated into residents' daily lives.

The youth leapt down, wearing the distinctive uniform of the Cultivation Bureau, though young in age, he exudes an unspoken majesty; to possess such cultivation at a young age clearly indicates extraordinary talent.

"The Cultivation Bureau produces talents in abundance; even if one enters, according to our cultivation level, one can only be a menial laborer running errands."

However, since it involves cultivation, it cannot be mass-produced, so some products cannot be fully popularized and are prioritized for supply to the government, the Cultivation Bureau, and the Cultivation Academy, etc.

Moreover, several streaks of light flash across the sky, resembling meteors; upon closer inspection, there are actually human figures on them, truly miraculous to the extreme.

"Director Hua, what do you need from me?"

For a time, industry, commerce, and other sectors sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain, and Hua Tiancheng was extremely busy during this period.

Former industrial powers have now become agricultural nations; if the people cannot even eat their fill, what talk is there of work?

"However, it is still too early to speak of these matters now."

The Great Xia government sincerely thanks the existence of Longyuan Mountain; without these Great Demons, their population would likely be as bleak as other countries', and there would be no current Great Xia new life, nor would they have inaugurated a new era and entered a glorious age.

After summoning back the Nine Provinces Immortal Cauldron, Ye Qin has been in seclusion; the cauldron absorbed most of the radiation power in the end, underwent the Heavenly Tribulation, thus becoming an immortal artifact, and then returned to its original position to absorb and digest these energies.

The light above his head instantly drew the attention of many passersby, who couldn't help but exclaim: "Being able to fly while controlling objects—probably already at the Wu level, right? I don't know when I'll be able to cultivate to this realm."

But Ye Qin knows that in the distant and profound universe, there are many unknown secrets and powerful beings—Heaven Sect, Signal Tower, and another world.

These things are attracting him to go explore.

In this year, many countries are building homes; Great Xia's achievements are the most outstanding and prominent; in the main urban area, various buildings have already taken initial shape.

The Signal Tower has been completed, and Earth is within its signal coverage; henceforth, Qinghuan's messages sent across the universe can also be received by Ye Qin, making communication between the two convenient.

"My aptitude is nothing special; compared to top-tier personnel, it's simply not worth mentioning."

Lone wood cannot bear the weight; Great Xia, a single nation, cannot possibly uphold the entire Earth; supporting within its capacity entails no loss for the Great Xia government, but rather helps establish prestige and reputation internationally.

At this moment, many people are working hard; many production tools have not been fully restored, domestic resources are insufficient, and can even be said to be scarce.

After Song Shu left, he began handling overseas aid matters.

Cold comes, heat goes, spring departs, autumn arrives; time flows like water, fleeting; in the blink of an eye, a year has passed.

Life endures, the Dao does not cease.

"You cultivators must not slack off; know that there are people beyond people, heavens beyond heavens; perhaps you are the ceiling of existence on Earth, but in the universe, strong ones are everywhere."

The lives of foreign nationals compared to Great Xia can be said to be as different as heaven and earth; thus, many countries have approached Great Xia with goodwill, requesting they extend a helping hand.

All Great Demons are cultivating, including those stationed elsewhere; when the government plans, it deliberately avoids these areas.

The allocation of supplies and equipment to various regions is limited; they mostly rely on primitive tools.

On the towering Yunfeng peak, sunlight pours down; instantly the cliff face gleams, and in the blink of an eye, the clouds part and mist clears, revealing mountains lush with green, like a verdant jade inlaid within.

Fortunately, his own cultivation level is also not bad; if it were an ordinary person, they would likely have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.

There may be other things, but Ye Qin currently does not know; he does not know whether this is good or bad.

"Yes, this year has truly been too fantastical; we have also experienced much, and I believe future days will only get better."

The discussion among several people attracted much attention; surrounding companions also joined the topic, unable to help but ask: "Are Great Xia cultivators really that miraculous?"

"Really?! That would be wonderful; I've long heard that those Eastern cultivators possess very miraculous methods, and now I can finally see them."

After all, whether from production, economy, or population, Great Xia is a major power; adding those mysterious and unfathomable methods is enough to make many countries feel apprehensive.

However, Wu-level experts have already appeared; once one enters this realm, they can fly while controlling objects, as seen with Longyuan Immortal Sect, the Cultivation Academy, and the Cultivation Bureau, which already have some such individuals.

Since the heavenly and earthly cataclysm disappeared, the presence of Longyuan Mountain has diminished greatly, as if vanished from people's sight; the populace are busy with construction and have not thought much about it.

This is the Great Dao that Ye Qin seeks; unless his life withers, he will likely never stop.

Although not explicitly stated, these places are effectively allocated to the Longyuan Mountain range; Great Xia is vast and rich in resources; to its leaders, these lands are essentially nothing.

Faces are filled with hopeful, happy smiles; although most areas are still in ruins, as long as they work together, everyone's life will surely improve.

……

Through the blue sky and white clouds, his deep gaze seems able to see into the distant universe.

The streets are exceptionally clean; occasionally vehicles pass through, these vehicles having been modified, their exhaust no longer polluting the air, and their tires engraved with runes, allowing speed to instantly reach 1500 km/h.

Seeing Ye Qin gazing into the distance, the Northeast Tiger is puzzled: "Master, with the heavenly and earthly cataclysm already resolved, there's no need to worry about Earth being relocated; why do you still look worried?"

Song Shu nodded: "Alright, Director."

I don't know if he will someday be able to use the power of the Nine Provinces Immortal Cauldron to go and investigate.

Great Xia Cultivation Bureau.

After hearing Ye Qin's account, the Northeast Tiger showed a look of half-understanding, unable to help but scratch his chin.

The Cultivation Bureau has now established departments for alchemy and artifact forging, widely recruiting talents nationwide; as long as one has aptitude in this area, even insufficient cultivation level allows exceptional entry.

I just don't understand what world the Signal Tower is actually connected to.

"Your aptitude is not bad; reaching the Bing level at this age already shows talent, unlike me, who after so long of cultivation am still Yi level five, and have long been stuck at the bottleneck."

"Great Xia's construction is truly excellent, practically miraculous; however, with nationwide cultivation and high productivity, at our pace, I don't know how many years it will take to reach their level."

The youth before him is precisely the young man Ye Qin met when he became mortal in Modu, who sold roasted sweet potatoes; Song Shu contributed greatly during the heavenly and earthly cataclysm, and due to his exceptional aptitude, Hua Tiancheng promoted him exceptionally, promoting him several ranks, and now he holds a high position.

A blond, blue-eyed man wiped sweat beads from his forehead and spoke mysteriously: "Have you heard? The government has already communicated and negotiated with Great Xia, requesting aid; Great Xia cultivators will soon arrive in our country."

……

The world order has been reshuffled; all nations show signs of decline; only Great Xia, this disaster not only did not knock them down, but instead sparked unprecedented vitality, truly making them enviable.

Compared to the bustling outside, the Longyuan Mountain range remains as tranquil as ever.

……

"That power actually comes from the Signal Tower!"

Since new buildings have not yet been erected, it looks bald and bare, appearing very empty; compared to the former bustling metropolis, it is like a raw structure, appearing particularly rough.

These new buildings differ from before, incorporating formations and runes, giving the exterior a mysterious sheen; inside, it can be said to be warm in winter and cool in summer, and even an eighth-level earthquake cannot topple it.

Amidst the discussion, only a cry is heard; someone looks up at the sky and says: "You guys, look quickly—what is this!"

Everyone hurriedly turned toward the sound; only to see in the southeast direction, several streaks of light flying toward their position at great speed, like meteors, tracing dazzling marks across the sky.

"I, I didn't missee, did I? It looks like there's someone up there!" (End of chapter)