High-Level Martial Era

"Uncle Wan, how come you're here?" Li Yuan was quite surprised.

His itinerary had been communicated only to his family, and a few classmates like An Nong and Gǔ Qiánghàn.

Nobody else knew.

"Haha, wasn't I fishing by the lake yesterday? I happened to bump into your uncle and we talked about you," Wan Qinghe said with a smile. "Only then did I learn that you would be returning today."

"It just so happens that I needed to report to the City Martial Hall today. I finished my duties this morning, and thought why not come pick you up," Wan Qinghe said with a smile.

"That's quite a coincidence," Li Yuan joined in with a laugh. "Well, it's great. It means I can ride in Uncle Wan's flight vehicle and get home quickly."

Li Yuan did not call out the other person. A coincidence like this?

Even if it truly was, Uncle Wan had no need to pick him up from the airport himself.

It was over ten kilometers from the Martial Hall to the airport.

"Alright, you have a short holiday, so the sooner you get home, the better. I'll give you a lift," Wan Qinghe said with a chuckle. "Honestly, with your level, you could have reserved a flight vehicle from the Martial Hall yourself."

"It didn't occur to me," Li Yuan said with a chuckle.

"Let's go."

The two passed through the inspection channel and headed toward the small flight vehicle parked hundreds of meters away.

...

Aboard the flight vehicle.

"The situation has deteriorated this much?" Li Yuan listened as Wan Qinghe described the situation in Jiangbei.

This was a topic that Li Yuan had deliberately brought up.

And it was something he wanted to understand.

"Yes, the attacks this year are unusually frequent," Wan Qinghe said gravely, nodding his head. "Starting with that incident at the beginning of the year when you received the Young Hero award, the scale has been intensifying.

August is the flood season… According to past patterns, after entering the dry season, the Fish Spirit Star Realm should have calmed down a bit, but this year, they have intensified their attacks instead."

"Especially in the last month, it has been a virtual smoke-covered battlefield," Wan Qinghe continued with a sigh. "The attacks Jiang City faced were on a smaller scale. Shi Zhou and Yizhou were the ones that really suffered."

Li Yuan nodded slightly, he had been following the news recently and was aware of the general situation.

"This Fish Spirit Clan is humanoid, and presumably with high intelligence. Could they all be so fierce and fearless of death?" Li Yuan frowned.

"From what has been hypothesized by the higher-ups, a new 'Fish Spirit Tide' may be about to erupt," Wan Qinghe said with a light sigh.

"Fish Spirit Tide?" Li Yuan was puzzled.

He hadn't heard of it.

"This is a concept that the Martial Hall has only recently proposed."

"As far as I know, warriors of the Fish Spirit Clan, like those you initially encountered, are akin to 'worker ants' among ants, absolutely obeying the commands of their leaders. If the leader orders them to die, they will comply," Wan Qinghe explained.

"Worker ants?" Li Yuan's mind raced with numerous possibilities. This kind of civilization model had been encountered by human civilization among various 'Alien Civilizations' before.

"It seems they reproduce at a great pace... In the past decades, the Fish Spirit Star Realm has launched three massive attacks on Jiangbei Province."

"One was fifteen years ago."

"Another was thirty-three years ago."

"The earliest was forty-seven years ago," Wan Qinghe quickly said. "According to the records, before every large-scale attack, the number of small-scale attacks would consistently rise."

"Roughly every fifteen years?" Li Yuan said, though his mind was dwelling on much more.

Fifteen years… that was the very year his parents died…

"Yes."

"So, it's speculated that a new cycle of the Fish Spirit Tide is imminent," Wan Qinghe said. "But the Fish Spirit Clan's main target for their attacks is not yet clear. From current indications, it's guessed that it might be Shi Zhou, Yizhou."

"After all, those areas are nearest to the entrance of the Fish Spirit Star Realm, and there has also been significant movement of Fish Spirit Clan warriors."

"During the three historical large-scale attacks, they all occurred within a thousand kilometers around the entrance of the Fish Spirit Star Realm."

Li Yuan nodded slightly.

The speculation made sense.

"That's why the military and the two great Martial Halls have recently initiated extensive operations along Xiang River," Wan Qinghe said. "For example, some of Jiang City's mechanized armies and Martial Artist defense troops have already been surreptitiously transferred to Shi Zhou and Yizhou."

"What about the other directions in Jiangbei Province?" inquired Li Yuan hesitantly.

"No way around it," Wan Qinghe shook his head. "No one can be sure if the Fish Spirit Clan will launch the Fish Spirit Tide, and if they do, where the main attacks will take place."

"We can only covertly focus on the critical defense areas. If there's indeed a large-scale attack, we'll concentrate our forces to provide support… After all, the Fish Spirit Star Realm is not a primary concern."

Li Yuan inwardly sighed.

Indeed, within Xia Country's borders there were numerous star realms, and the whole human civilization had even more.

There were many star realms that posed a greater threat than the Fish Spirit Star Realm… Human civilization had limited resources and had to focus on key defensive measures.

Moreover, some star realms like 'Rob Sea' had armies stationed year-round, engaging in large-scale intense warfare with Alien Civilizations… The resources expended annually were astronomical.

In comparison, the Fish Spirit Star Realm indeed seemed less significant.

"Don't overthink it, Jiang City is still relatively safe," Wan Qinghe said with a smile. "You should go home today and spend time with your uncle and aunt. Come over to my place for lunch tomorrow."

"I've also made arrangements with Teacher Xu, and he'll join us tomorrow; he lives not far from here," Wan Qinghe offered a reason that Li Yuan couldn't refuse.

"OK," Li Yuan said with a smile.

Shortly thereafter.

The flight vehicle returned to Nanhu Starfire Community, arriving at the edge of Li Yuan's family villa.

Li Yuan and Wan Qinghe disembarked from the flight vehicle.

"Uncle Wan."

"Wait a moment, I've brought you a gift. Take it with you," Li Yuan said with a smile. "The gift was sent here in advance. I intended to give it to you when I came to visit."

At the villa's entrance, Li Changzhou and Chen Hui, having received the notice, came out with smiles.

"Uncle, Aunt." Li Yuan set his bag down.

He then took a gift box from Li Changzhou and handed it back to Wan Qinghe. "Uncle Wan, I wasn't sure what else to bring, so inside there's a commemorative set from Kunlun Martial University's 150th anniversary reunion."

"It's a set I had the school teachers make up again," Li Yuan said with a smile. "Although the anniversary has passed, it's still a good memento."

Wan Qinghe was also a graduate of Kunlun Martial University.

"Thank you very much," Wan Qinghe replied with a smile. He had missed the 150th anniversary of Kunlun Martial University last year and regretted it.

Wan Qinghe had only mentioned it to Li Yuan once, and he hadn't expected Li Yuan to take it to heart.

He brought him a souvenir.

"Alright, then I'll be off," Wan Qinghe said with a smile, "Remember to come to my house tomorrow."

"Okay."

...

Wan Qinghe returned to his villa in the South Lake Starfire neighborhood.

"Tie Ta." Wan Qinghe skillfully started a call, laughing, "Li Yuan has agreed to come for dinner, so stop declining. Just join us."

"Li Yuan was just on the aircraft, incessantly talking about visiting you. Why don't you, mentor and student, spend more time together?"

After hanging up on Xu Bo's call.

Wan Qinghe thought for a moment, then sent a message to Song Yi, "Li Yuan has returned to Jiang City today."

He turned off the smart wristband.

"This Mr. Song, owes me another small favor now," Wan Qinghe revealed a slight smile.

"Mr. Fei."

"Your status is too high, it's not easy to be close with Li Yuan's family," Wan Qinghe muttered to himself, "My status and strength... are just about right."

"Hey! In some respects, you should learn from me."

...

After returning home and giving the gifts to his uncle and aunt.

The family was in high spirits as they enjoyed the lunch Auntie Chen Hui had prepared early in the morning.

"Uncle Wan goes fishing by the lake often?" Li Yuan asked while eating, listening to his uncle talk about things at home.

"Hmm." Li Changzhou nodded, laughing, "It's hard to say whether Lord Wan likes fishing, but he certainly enjoys chatting."

Li Yuan couldn't help but smile.

His uncle had no other hobbies except for fishing.

"Uncle, it's fine, talk about whatever you need to," Li Yuan said with a smile, "In the future, I will naturally help Uncle Wan whenever I can."

"That's how it should be; he has been kind to our family," Li Changzhou said.

Gradually.

Li Yuan started talking about some things in school, some of which he couldn't disclose according to the rules, but most of the content was still discussable… however, Li Yuan didn't mention that he would head to the Star Realm after the holidays.

Good news should be shared with the elders early, to let them be happy for a longer period.

For example, when coming home, Li Yuan had told his uncle and aunt a week in advance.

But bad or dangerous news is best shared later, to spare them the worry.

"Qian Qian and Muhua are boarding at school?" Li Yuan was puzzled.

"Yes."

"Directly affiliated junior high of the Martial Hall does that, apart from the weekends, only Wednesday nights they can return home," Chen Hui said with a smile, "They'll be home tomorrow."

"Then, I'll pick them up tomorrow," Li Yuan said with a smile, "I'll give them a surprise."

It has been a long time since he saw his brother and sister.

...

The first day back home, Li Yuan was especially joyful, chatting with his uncle and aunt for a long while.

After dinner, a guest arrived at their home.

"Hall Master Song?" Li Yuan greeted with a smile, "Please have a seat."

"Li Yuan." Song Yi was brimming with a warm smile, rather elegant, bringing several gifts.

After a bit of conversation.

She had no other purpose for visiting, purely a courtesy call, and left after less than fifteen minutes.

"These who can be a Hall Master, they all have sharp noses," Li Yuan inwardly sighed.

Uncle Wan was like this, and so was Song Yi.

His insight into Song Yi's thoughts was clear, and he did not refuse the other's kindness.

"All I should do is make myself stronger," Li Yuan saw through the essence of it all.

...

At nine o'clock at night, his uncle and aunt went to their respective beds.

The underground Martial Arts Room was brightly lit.

"It's time to start a new day of cultivation," Li Yuan revealed a slight smile, "From now until seven in the morning, that's ten hours."

It's the holiday for the other students as well.

They socialize, catch up with family, and rest at night, greatly reducing their cultivation time, but for Li Yuan... Holiday?

It merely changed his cultivation time from all day to half a day.

Truly all day, half a day.

"At least I can't neglect the Visualization Method, the absorption of Origin Power," Li Yuan mused to himself.

In skills, Li Yuan had reached the limit of Fourth Level; it's difficult to break through even with repeated intense cultivation in the short term.

There is a rhythm to exertion and relaxation; a bit of easing up now might not be a bad thing.

However, whether it's the growth of spiritual power or Physical Quality, they both require steady, continuous effort.

Not a single day should be wasted.

"All Heavens' Stars." Li Yuan sat cross-legged, closed his eyes for meditation, and with a thought began running the Life Star Vein inside his body, making countless Origin Powers surge in.

As the Origin Power circulated, surging throughout his body, passing through every part of his physique, it continuously transformed his tendons, bones, and flesh.

...

December 16th, noon.

Li Yuan went to Wan Qinghe's home.

In addition to Xu Bo, there was also a Vice Hall Master Left Hall Master from the Starfire Guan Mountain subdivision.

Originally, it was she who represented Starfire Martial Hall at Li Yuan's "Youth Hero Commendation" and became acquainted with Li Yuan.

"Teacher, you joined the 'Patrol Squad'?" Li Yuan listened as Teacher Xu Bo recounted.