Chương 207: War God’s — Chapter 208 - Participation Is What Matters

"You're not feeling any discomfort?" Luo Cihan frowned.

"Ice Flame is no ordinary fire. Unless you have a special constitution, touching it guarantees injury. How could you absorb it into your body?" That was what worried her most. The others couldn't see the clues because none of them had ever encountered it before. Wang Xian had used it discreetly, too. But she'd recognized at a glance that it was the Ice Flame she'd extracted herself. She'd even stored it in a treasure box specifically to make it easier for him to use.

Who would've thought he'd absorb it directly into his body...

"I'm fine." Wang Xian shook his head.

"My cultivation is special. I can contain this flame."

"If you feel any discomfort, tell me immediately."

"Even I can suffer ice burns from this Ice Flame if I'm careless. The injuries aren't severe, but its power isn't something third-realm martial artists like you can withstand." Grandmaster Luo nodded slightly.

"Also, that exotic flower you fused."

"It's called the Dual-Pole Lotus." Wang Xian picked up the thread immediately.

"When I was little, I saw it described in a lost ancient text. I know a thing or two about it. Never expected to actually see one here..." Hearing this, Grandmaster Luo thought to herself: This kid is still hiding things. Some lost ancient text from his childhood. She didn't believe a word of it. As a master of fusion studies, what material-related ancient text hadn't she read? She'd never heard of any Dual-Pole Lotus. This new material must have only recently appeared in the Southern Alliance.

She knew he was concealing something. But Grandmaster Luo didn't press. She couldn't think of a better explanation herself, anyway. It was normal for people to have secrets. If he truly bared his heart and told her everything, she'd find that abnormal instead. Understanding it logically didn't stop her from feeling a tiny bit displeased, of course.

"Mm."

"So, are you going to keep practicing sword arts?" Grandmaster Luo asked softly. Wang Xian paused, then shook his head.

"Phantom Shadow Sword Art is enough to keep me busy for a long time. I won't learn more for now. I still plan to focus on the blade first."

"That makes sense." Grandmaster Luo smiled faintly.

"Even if you wanted to learn more, I wouldn't have time to teach you later. In about 6 months, I'll probably have to leave Tiandu University."

"As for Xiao Yue, I already have arrangements."

"If you really wanted to continue learning, I'd have to make additional arrangements for you. But if you don't want to continue and only plan to practice Phantom Shadow Sword Art for now, then I don't need to arrange anything extra." Wang Xian fell silent. He knew she was referring to Grandmaster Military Service. Now that the grand banquet was over and her name had been entered into the Blue Star Martial Arts Alliance's grandmaster roster, deployment to the battlefield was certain.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Only... thinking that in his later life he'd never heard this older sister's name mentioned... There was a high probability she'd fallen on the Alien Star Battlefield. He found it a pity. Because this was currently the grandmaster closest to him, someone he had a connection with, and someone he knew would fall.

In his previous life, many other grandmasters who'd fallen, the ones Wang Xian knew about, hadn't even become grandmasters yet at this point in time. In fact, they were still far from it. Xia Qing, for example. That was many years later. Yan Tingxiao, for example. Once Chen Yuting's side finished researching the medicine, he could be saved directly and wouldn't fall at all. But this older sister was heading to the Alien Star Battlefield in 6 months... It put him in quite a bind.

Right now, the Alien Star Battlefield wasn't open to the public yet. And the grandmasters had probably all signed confidentiality agreements. They wouldn't speak about it to outsiders.

'I need to think of a way...'

'Grandmaster Military Service is at least 10 years minimum...'

'Even if I wanted to go, I'd have to wait until after university graduation, when the Blue Star Martial Arts Alliance officially opens Alien Star Battlefield recruitment to all of Blue Star...'

'Maybe... it's not entirely without options...' Wang Xian looked at Grandmaster Luo. In that moment, a few calculations formed in his mind. Suddenly being watched so intently, Luo Cihan felt heat rise to her cheeks. Suppressing the flutter in her heart, she said flatly: "Seeing that reluctant look on your face, don't worry. I won't take your little girlfriend away."

"When I leave, she won't leave Tiandu with me. I'll arrange for her to train elsewhere. You'll have plenty of chances to meet." Wang Xian suddenly asked: "Why 6 months later?"

"Because..." Luo Cihan thought for a moment.

"Six months from now, this year's Dragon Country Youth Martial Arts Tournament is being held here in Tiandu. I'm one of the judges on the Tiandu Jingwu side."

"I have to preside over this tournament before I leave. It counts as completing a task the school assigned me." She smiled.

"When the time comes, you and Xiao Yue can participate too. Don't worry about results, just take part, have fun, broaden your horizons. You'll get to see the brilliance of those senior-year prodigies from our Dragon Country's Five Greats."

"Even some social youth martial artists cultivated by the military or various clubs."

"The martial artists from those backgrounds may not compare to the elites cultivated by our Dragon Country's Five Greats, but occasionally a few have their own exceptional strengths." Indeed. Not every martial artist chose to join the Dragon Country's Five Greats. There were always some who, after graduating from the Martial Exam, didn't enter the Five Greats but chose self-development instead.

Those cultivated by the Dragon Country's Five Greats were academy-style martial artists with basically no major weaknesses. As for those social youth martial artists who chose self-development, because they entered society early and spent years fighting in various relic secret realms, struggling in resource conflicts between factions, their real-combat intensity was extremely high. The martial arts they cultivated were all over the place. Their levels were uneven.

The national Youth Martial Arts Tournament was open to anyone who met the age requirement. It wasn't only for the Dragon Country's Five Greats. And after the national tournament, there was actually a Blue Star Youth Martial Arts Tournament as well. Only that tournament had even higher requirements. It was a national-level clash of youth martial prodigies. That tournament was also one of the most significant martial arts events on all of Blue Star.

"When the time comes, you'll get to see taboo talents besides Xiao Yue," Luo Cihan said with emotion. Wang Xian nodded.

"Sister Luo, I have one more question."

"What?"

"Why did you give up fusion studies back then?"

"......" The moment the words left his mouth, the entire training room grew several degrees quieter.

"Regarding the matter of the Thousand-Calamity Dragon Spine Broken Blade..." Grandmaster Luo didn't answer. She only said flatly, "I'll discuss with Chancellor Song about giving you a commendation. Also, your outstanding performance this time has set a very good student example for Tiandu Jingwu."

"The school will also grant you a large amount of credits for this."

"This batch of credits is enough for you to exchange at the Myriad Martial Pavilion for already-fused materials of at least S-grade, as well as superior martial arts, core secret skills, or some level-4 or level-5 combat protective gear."

"Manage it well yourself. Just exchange for what's useful to you."

"Don't waste them on materials you can't use or superior martial arts you can't learn." Seeing this, Wang Xian didn't press further. She clearly didn't want to talk about it. Wang Xian nodded. He glanced at the sky outside.

"It's getting late. I'll head back first."

"Mm..." Wang Xian stood and walked to the door. At the threshold, he looked back at this older sister. She was simply gazing at the moonlight outside, seeming somewhat dazed. Sensing Wang Xian's gaze, she turned her head.

"Is there anything else?" Wang Xian shook his head and walked out. But in his heart, he was thinking: He couldn't just let this older sister truly fall on the Alien Star Battlefield. After Wang Xian left the training room, Luo Cihan turned back around. She slowly rose. Her robes, which had been creased from sitting, instantly smoothed out along her skin. She walked outside. She summoned the Frost Soul Sword and held it in her hand. The complete divine sword, under the moonlight, was filled with divine resonance.

No longer bearing any imperfection. The tassel hanging from it drifted leisurely, emitting a faint sword hum. She gave a light wave. The divine sword sang softly, forming a duet with the sound of the tassel. Like a phoenix pair singing in harmony. Becoming a single whole. She studied it for a long time, and the corner of her mouth curved into an arc she herself didn't notice. ➤ Next: Probably Won't Be Able to Sleep