Qin Dewei chuckled. “Be more confident and drop the word ‘suspect’. That bastard is definitely just playing dead.”
Li Xiaofei nodded with a smile. The ‘he’ they were talking about was, of course, Chen Fei. Qin Dewei didn’t ask too many questions about Chen Fei. Just one word from Li Xiaofei was enough to put his mind at ease.
Nothing could be better than hearing news about an old comrade he’d always worried about after all these years. They soon shifted to the current development of Red Flag High School and the changes in Earth’s geopolitical structure.
Due to Li Xiaofei’s influence, and Liu Diqiu’s strong efforts, the world’s political regions had long since unified under the banner of Great Xia. The concept of individual nations had gradually faded, and Earth had truly become a global village.
Likewise, the Dragon Group of Great Xia maintained order across the globe. Of course, unlike Earth No. 1818, this world had retained the old administrative regions. The major races leaned more toward self-governance, and the greatest change had been the complete destruction of the Jiepeng Archipelago during a previous tide of star beasts. The Jiepeng people had become a thing of the past.
The entire world had embraced cultivation and martial arts. The techniques and legacies that Li Xiaofei had left behind had spread across the globe. People studied Xia language, spoke Xia language, and researched the traditional martial arts of Great Xia.
The atmosphere of Great Xia could be felt in every corner of the world. True cultural export had been realized. At the same time, the development of biological science civilization had made groundbreaking progress.
With the threat of star beasts gone, the advancement of technological civilization had accelerated under Liu Diqiu’s guidance. It had changed at a breathtaking pace. Nowadays, every part of the human body except the brain could be replaced by machinery, reaching the level of digital life once seen only in sci-fi films like The Wandering Earth[1].
Li Xiaofei had seen this path of evolution before in the Evolution Record of Chongque City. Techno-biological beings, alchemical organisms, and puppet-based lifeforms had all become ingenious channels of evolution.
Human warriors were dying every day on the distant battlefront of the Star Battlefield. Some were gravely injured, their limbs mutilated and their bodies eroded by the energy of the monstrous Reapers. These wounds could not be healed. Those affected were rendered disabled and lost their combat capabilities, becoming ‘useless people.’
Biological science had made it possible to replace the flesh-and-blood body with a mechanical one that could be controlled by the brain through neural interfaces. As long as the mechanical body was powerful enough, it could unleash an even more terrifying level of combat strength.
As Li Xiaofei and Qin Dewei delved deeper into their discussion, they became increasingly convinced that the fusion of martial arts and machinery was the optimal path forward for Earth No. 89876.
However, there was still a way to go to reach the level of Earth No. 1818, where cosmic lifeforms could be mass-produced. In particular, mechanical technology would need to undergo an explosive leap in development.
That, however, wouldn’t be too difficult. After all, Chongque City already had related research results. As long as those findings were put to use, along with the collection of mineral resources from outer space and other Earths, such explosive growth was entirely within reach. They would also have to give Liu Diqiu, the genius behind it all, free rein.
“How long can you stay this time?” Qin Dewei asked.
He knew in his heart that Li Xiaofei was no longer an ordinary man. He had become like a great fish that had leaped over the dragon gate, a divine dragon soaring through the heavens. His return to the sea was nothing more than a nostalgic gesture. Hoping he would stay forever was simply impossible.
Li Xiaofei replied, “It depends. I need to plan a path for everyone, one that can endure for ten thousand generations.”
Qin Dewei nodded and said, “Great undertakings begin with small steps.”
Li Xiaofei smiled and replied, “The old principal is right. That’s why my plan begins with Red Flag School.”
As he spoke, Li Xiaofei took out the martial arts techniques and resources he had prepared for this Earth.
When he had obtained the Moonlight Treasure Box, he had acquired countless martial arts techniques from various wuxia worlds. He had shared them all with the world through Red Flag School, the Grandmaster of Heaven livestream channel, and forces like Jingwu Sect. He had long since laid a solid foundation for the flourishing of martial arts on this Earth.
Now, the martial arts techniques Li Xiaofei brought out included some he had acquired later from the Moonlight Treasure Box, as well as others retrieved from the armory of Chongque City.
Each technique had been carefully selected and specifically tailored for the current stage of martial cultivation on this Earth. There were thousands upon thousands of techniques, each possessing its own unique mysteries. They filled a total of two hundred and forty-nine light core storage units.
A look of astonishment crossed Qin Dewei’s face as he skimmed through them. Then, unable to contain his excitement, he exclaimed, “With these techniques, Earth’s martial arts can ascend to an entirely new dimension of strength.”
Li Xiaofei smiled. There were still many things he hadn’t mentioned yet. For instance, the mechanical technology breakthroughs he had prepared for Liu Diqiu. And more importantly, the large quantity of Energy Spores he had brought along.
Unlike the superpower-based Energy Spores that had been scattered across Earth No. 1818, the spores he had prepared for this Earth were designed to enhance martial comprehension, strengthen bloodlines, and align with the tides of law beneficial to martial cultivation.
With these enhancements, Li Xiaofei was confident that Earth No. 89876’s rise was just around the corner.
Following Qin Dewei’s suggestion, Li Xiaofei decided to use Red Flag School, which had already become a sacred land for martial cultivation, as the foundation. Supplemented by the Grandmaster of Heaven livestream channel and Jingwu Sect, he would distribute all martial arts techniques across the globe, sparking a worldwide wave of martial cultivation.
The spread of Energy Spores would strengthen martial artists’ bloodlines, and the influence of traditional martial clans over the world would be completely dismantled. A new era would arrive. An era where everyone could train in martial arts, and everyone would strive to improve themselves. A true golden age of martial arts.
As for mechanical technology, that was entrusted entirely to Liu Diqiu. After a detailed discussion with Qin Dewei and finalizing all the necessary details, Li Xiaofei left the school. He was off to meet some old friends.
Liuhe City, Northern District.
There was a modestly sized but elegantly decorated restaurant called Qingya Pavilion nestled in the area. This restaurant had a long history.
It had already been in operation even during the era of the star beasts. Its proprietress, Miao Youwei, had a story that could only be described as legendary. In her early years, she had been the widowed daughter-in-law of the Du Family, one of the martial arts families of Liuhe Base City. Later, she had fallen in love with a student from Red Flag High School. After enduring countless trials and tribulations, the two had finally ended up together.
Today, this restaurant had gained international fame. Its reputation stemmed not only from Miao Youwei herself but also from her younger husband, Bai Longfei. Both had close ties with Earth’s War God, Li Xiaofei. In their younger days, Bai Longfei and Li Xiaofei had served together on the Red Flag High School battle team. Bai Longfei had been one of the legendary Four Dragons and Five Phoenixes of that miraculous squad.
Now, Miao Youwei, Bai Longfei, and their daughter Du Juan had chosen to live in seclusion in Liuhe City. They had hidden themselves in the bustling city. Their life was quiet and content as they ran the restaurant.
Every day, guests arrived in an endless stream, many traveling from distant places. Yet few ever saw the owners themselves. Most of the time, it was Du Juan who managed the restaurant’s daily affairs.
More than a decade had passed. The little girl of yesteryear had grown into a graceful and elegant young woman, now considered one of the great beauties of Liuhe City. She had countless admirers, but no one had yet to win her heart.
It was evening. The sunset blazed brilliantly across the sky.
There was a knock at the door. Liu Li, the assistant to the general manager, tapped on the office door. After receiving permission, she stepped inside and said, “Director Bai, there’s a guest outside requesting to see you by name.”
Du Juan had long since taken the surname Bai. Her colleagues and subordinates all referred to her as Director Bai.
She rubbed her brow lightly and said, “I’m a bit tired today. I don’t feel like seeing anyone. Please go out and politely turn them away.”
1. The Wandering Earth is a 2019 Chinese science fiction film directed by Frant Gwo, loosely based on the 2000 short story of the same name by Liu Cixin. ☜