Chapter 281: Martial Arts Conference Begins

Looking down from the resting area, all I saw was a black mass, shoulder to shoulder.

Colorful flags fluttered in the air above the training hall, and the competitors in the preparation area were all spirited, full of anticipation.

Almost everyone who came here was a martial artist of considerable strength, each with abundant blood qi, so the hall staff had to turn on the air conditioning in the deep winter to cool down.

Under the air conditioning, the temperature in the hall finally dropped, but it was still as hot as summer.

"Damn, there are too many people! Whether spectators or participants, when will we finish queuing?"

Zhugeqing moved his body and said in surprise.

NieZhenghao pushed up his glasses and replied, "It just looks crowded; the actual competitors are only a few hundred, three days is enough to decide the winner."

"Only three days? That's too intense!" Zhugeqing sighed; his original intention was just to slack off.

Thinking it over, he actually entertained the idea of deliberately holding back to get eliminated early.

After all, with Lu Jing present, whether Zhugeqing could advance was irrelevant.

He wasn't the only one with that thought; all the people from Martial University looked toward the figure gazing into the distance on the front stands.

After hearing Lu Jing personally admit to having provoked the phenomenon, their respect for him turned into reverence.

That was a height they could never reach no matter what.

Lu Jing stood on the stands, his gaze sweeping over, seeing many familiar faces, mostly old acquaintances from Martial University.

For example, Feng Zichang, Murong Feng, Wang Yuan and a few others; they were all on his Martial University team.

When Lu Jing's gaze swept over them, several people instantly felt a burning pain on their faces, as if cut by a knife.

Upon realizing the pain came from Lu Jing, they all stepped back a few paces and hid within the crowd.

Lu Jing's gaze shifted again, observing the talents from all over the country in the training hall.

Suddenly, his gaze locked.

Their eyes met, and faintly, it seemed as if electric light crackled and flickered in the air...

She was a girl; even Lu Jing was stunned by her beauty for a moment.

No matter her expression or movement, she was beautiful enough to seem to freeze time.

The girl's gaze likewise turned to him, a hint of smile appearing in her beautiful eyes, then she nodded at Lu Jing.

Lu Jing nodded in return, withdrew his gaze, and looked toward the center of the training hall.

"What is this?"

Lu Jing frowned, looking at the dense crowd that completely encircled the center of the hall.

Yet their positions were orderly, all facing the direction of the sea.

Following their direction, Lu Jing saw at the seaside a colossal, terrifying statue standing in the seawater.

Over a hundred meters tall, it bore a ferocious five-clawed golden dragon on its shoulders and wore an ornate robe.

Beneath the robe, distinct muscle lines were revealed, exuding immense strength.

In its right hand, the statue dragged a massive seal as vast as a mountain range, lending the whole figure an imposing aura.

Lu Jing had noticed this statue yesterday, but had merely taken it as an ordinary landmark; now it seemed to have a significant background.

At this moment, countless spectators who had come to watch the event knelt before the hundred-meter-tall statue, offering incense and prayers.

The statue seemed to have been activated, beginning to glow with a faint light, and a mighty, godlike aura radiated outward.

Such a strange sight left Lu Jing quite shaken.

Just then, NieZhenghao walked over, saw Lu Jing's puzzled expression, and voluntarily explained:

"Lu Jing, haven't you seen such a scene before?"

NieZhenghao smiled, "This is the Wu Zu sacrifice; that statue was cast and carved based on Wu Zu as the prototype."

"Wu Zu?" A flicker of something unusual crossed Lu Jing's eyes; not long ago in his Martial University course, he had studied knowledge about Wu Zu.

At the moment when Huaguo was about to be completely devoured by demon beasts after the spiritual aura's resurgence, Wu Zu appeared.

He was like the light that illuminated the world in its darkest hour.

He was the absolute leader of Huaguo's martial way, leading the first batch of martial artists to fiercely repel the demon beasts, preserving Huaguo's spark.

Afterwards, he established new cities, erected high walls, and isolated the dangers of the Huangshen Forest from the outside.

And he united all martial artists into a single rope, which is how we have today.

With such magnificent achievements, later generations honored him as "Wu Zu"!

Although Wu Zu has long passed, he still has many followers.

"But why does the Wu Zu statue have no face?"

Lu Jing voiced his doubt; the statue has a head but no face— isn't it supposed to be modeled after Wu Zu?

"Because he once said we need not miss him; after he left, each of us is him..."

NieZhenghao explained; even though he had attended many Wu Zu sacrifices, each time seeing this scene he still felt his heart surge, unable to calm for a long while.

At that moment, Lu Jing's eyes burned like fire, and his breathing grew rapid.

He drew a deep breath, suppressed his surging blood and rare excitement, and bowed deeply toward the Wu Zu statue.

At the same time, not far away, Ranqingmo looked at that earnestly bowing figure and burst out laughing with a "puchi."

"Qingmo, what are you laughing at?"

Cheng Miaomiao beside him hurriedly asked.

"Nothing, I just saw someone interesting."

Ranqingmo withdrew his gaze, pursed his lips, and said nothing more.

Half an hour later, the worshipping crowd gradually returned to their spots.

A sonorous voice rang out just in time.

"Everyone, be quiet!"

This moderately loud voice spread, instantly suppressing the noisy atmosphere of the training hall.

Being able to control one's voice to this extent shows the speaker's strength.

Everyone quieted down and looked toward the old man.

"I am Bi Xingfa, honored to serve as the overall responsible person for this year's National Youth Martial Way Competition..."

His booming voice continued, introducing his identity to everyone.

In the center of the training hall, an old man with white hair and a youthful face stood with his hands behind his back, and said:

"Next, please prepare, contestants, return to your positions; the National Youth Martial Way Competition officially begins!"

As his words fell, thunderous applause erupted instantly.

Some of those with weaker strength even felt a sharp pain in their ears.

The old man stepped down from the platform, and a middle-aged woman in splendid ceremonial attire came up.

The woman held a microphone, wearing a gentle smile, and said, "Everyone should know the rules of this Martial Way Competition; each participant's order will be sent to your phones, please check."

"This Martial Way Competition has a total of ten arenas; please go up in order, and if there are any special circumstances, report them in advance."

Beep—

Lu Jing's phone vibrated in his pocket.

【Shogunate Martial University Lu Jing, Serial No. 150, please proceed to Arena 7 and wait!】