Chương 7: War God — Chapter 7 - The Future Martial God!

BOOM! A violent explosion tore through the air from the other side of the street. The noise jolted the frozen crowd awake. Like startled birds, they scattered in all directions.

"Get down!" Wang Xian spun around and pulled the dazed Ye Miyue toward the inner wall of the subway entrance. The ground shook like an earthquake. A long while passed before the tremors stopped. Only then did they slowly climb up from the dust-covered ground. The moment they stood— Sharp gasps erupted from all around. When Ye Miyue looked across the street, she couldn't help covering her mouth, her eyes going wide. The ion defense shield above the city had been pierced with several gaping holes.

The busy commercial street just 10 meters away had become ruins in an instant. Even more terrifying was the dead silence. You could hear a pin drop. The railing in the center of the road formed a clear dividing line. Heaven on one side. Hell on the other. Blood-red feathers lay scattered in the rubble, each one like a soul-reaping blade. Just the aftershock from a few feathers had reduced an entire street to rubble. Almost no survivors.

"The reports from my past life only said casualties were over 1, 000..." Wang Xian fell silent. Over 1, 000. 1, 000 is over 1, 000. But 9, 000 is also over 1, 000. At that moment, the outdoor speakers and the giant billboard on the building behind them suddenly changed:"Attention! Attention! This is the Rong City Garrison Security Bureau issuing an emergency notice: Our city has suffered an S-class alien beast aerial attack and has entered combat readiness.

Citizens in Tianfu Block, Hongxing Block, Donglai Plaza, and nearby areas, please proceed to the nearest air-raid shelter..."

"Grandmaster Bai Hongtian has engaged the enemy. Citizens, please remain calm..."

"Martial artists below the third realm, do not enter the disaster zone for rescue operations to avoid secondary injuries..."

"Fire rescue teams, garrison special martial units, and ambulances will arrive at the affected area within 30 minutes..." The crowd on the street snapped awake and hurriedly formed orderly lines along the sidewalk, heading toward the nearby air-raid shelter. Wang Xian glanced at Ye Miyue, completely unharmed, and was just breathing a sigh of relief when— Suddenly. Someone in the queue shouted.

"Look, there's someone still alive in the ruins..." Everyone followed the voice. Sure enough, a small figure huddled on a third-floor balcony of a shopping mall. The balcony stood alone, its surroundings battered and crumbling, on the verge of collapse. Fierce flames raged around it, thick smoke billowing, making it hard to see clearly. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The speaker was clearly a martial artist with exceptional eyesight.

"It looks like a child..." The orderly line instantly stopped. Chatter erupted. But no one left the queue.

"Are there no martial artists above the third realm?" someone asked. The moment the words left their mouth, the chatter died. One by one, they fell silent. Until a woman from the crowd suddenly turned to the large man beside her:"Brother Xiong, aren't you going to try and save that child..."

"You just need to climb over that railing, rush over, jump onto the balcony, and carry the child down... it wouldn't take long, right?" As she spoke, she looked toward the railing in the center of the road dividing the two areas. Climbing over it. Very easy. Everyone's eyes turned to them. The large man's face stiffened. He frowned.

"Save what? We ordinary citizens should follow the broadcast instructions and not go rescuing people recklessly, causing trouble for the authorities."

"Do you even know what that place is?" He pointed at the ruins:"S-class alien beasts all have natural energy auras. The feathers they drop still emanate crushing pressure and release a special 'spirit sha.' Once spirit sha enters your body, it corrodes a martial artist's flesh, making you lose yourself..."

"Without professional combat protective gear and spirit equipment, and having to endure mental pressure, you have no idea how dangerous it is over there!"

"And what if more feathers fall? You could die on the spot!"

"The broadcast already said martial artists below the third realm shouldn't casually go rescue people..." Before he could finish, the woman said quietly:"But aren't you a third-realm martial artist?" The large man's breath caught. He said flatly:"My life force is 989 points. Hasn't reached 1, 000, so I don't count as a third-realm martial artist." Martial artist realms are based on acquired life force. The higher the life force, the stronger the overall physical quality.

The standard for a realm-entry martial artist is 10 points. Second realm 100, third realm 1, 000.

"But haven't you already passed the third-realm martial artist assessment?" The woman's eyes were full of hope. The large man's face flushed red. He roared:"If I die, what happens to you all? Let's go!" The woman froze, then fell silent.

"Your husband isn't wrong. We don't need to meddle..."

"Yeah, going now would just cause trouble..."

"This kind of rescue needs a professional rescue team..."

"Right, the broadcast said they'll arrive within 30 minutes. They might already be on their way..." The crowd spoke up one after another. As if comforting the large man and woman. As if comforting their own hearts. But looking at the railing in the center of the road, their voices grew quieter and quieter. In truth, everyone understood. A small child, let alone holding out for 30 minutes, life fading away was just a matter of minutes. But there was nothing wrong with this.

There were actually quite a few third-realm martial artists present. Crossing that railing. How simple would that be? It was just that the moment the S-class alien beast had appeared, it had drained all the courage from everyone. The railing, just over a meter high, was very low. But the fear built up in their hearts was far too high. Ye Miyue tightly clutched Wang Xian's sleeve. She gently bit her teeth, the corner of her eye on that ruin, but no one knew what she was thinking.

That was a street she often took on her way home. If she had come a little earlier... Suddenly, the sleeve she was holding slipped loose. Wang Xian had stopped walking, stepped out of the queue, and was facing forward. Ye Miyue's eyes twitched. She hurriedly grabbed his arm with one hand, urgently saying:"Wang... Student Wang, what are you doing?"

"What do you think?" Wang Xian looked ahead.

"Don't do anything reckless..." Ye Miyue's heart leaped. She quickly used her other hand to grab his arm as well.

"This isn't something we can help with. I won't let you do such a foolish thing!"

"This isn't like saving someone from drowning..." Even a third-realm martial artist didn't dare. Ye Miyue hadn't even considered something like this.

"Don't worry. I'm confident." Wang Xian showed a confident smile. Ye Miyue was stunned, but still didn't let go. Seeing this, Wang Xian didn't forcibly break free. Instead, he said slowly:"Student Ye, tell me. Who am I?" Ye Miyue was baffled by the question. She murmured:"You're Wang Xian... a student at Rong City Martial High School..." Wang Xian shook his head. He rummaged in his clothes for a moment and pulled out a folded piece of drawing paper.

He unfolded it, pointed at the heroic and extraordinary man in the drawing, and grinned:"I am the future Martial God!" As the words fell, Ye Miyue's eyes suddenly widened. Looking at that drawing paper, it seemed as if 10, 000 thoughts surged through her, yet she couldn't utter a single word. Her hands loosened slightly.

"As a Martial God who will protect humanity and defend the country in the future..." Wang Xian handed the drawing paper to Ye Miyue and slowly took off his jacket.

"If I see someone in danger and don't save them, if I face a beast and feel fear..." He paused, gazing into Ye Miyue's evasive eyes.

"Then I would be failing the heartfelt intentions of the owner of this drawing..."

"Could I still become a Martial God?" Ye Miyue lowered her head, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Take it." Wang Xian placed the drawing paper in Ye Miyue's hands.

"You... why are you giving this to me..." Ye Miyue subconsciously released her grip and caught it with both hands.

"Keep it safe for me. After I come back, give it to me again." With that, Wang Xian threw down his jacket and charged out. In a single stride, one hand vaulting over, he crossed that one-meter railing. From heaven, stepping into hell. And crossing the high wall of fear in everyone's hearts. Student Ye. Saving you is because I am Wang Xian. Saving people is because... I was once the first half-step Martial God of the eighth realm in Old Martial Arts in the history of Blue Star!

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