Gao Wu insists on cultivating immortality.

Chapter 144 The True Meaning of Martial Arts
At six o'clock in the afternoon, all the people present had arrived, and several rows of chairs were set up on the platform. Gao Wu only recognized An Ziru, Bai Yan, and Zhang Yunyi, so these people could only sit at the very back.

It was late September, and the setting sun cast its last rays across the sky.

The crimson glow of the sunset illuminated the densely packed crowd in the square, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Each college's contingent marched past the rostrum in neat formation. After all the contingents had passed through, they regrouped to form a massive formation for the rostrum to inspect.

The whole process lasted for half an hour before it ended.

Song Chunlin, the Left Chief Minister of the Governor's Office, spoke on behalf of everyone, encouraging all the students and saying that the Governor's Office would allocate special funds to each academy to support all martial arts students.

The freshmen didn't understand much else, but they did understand that the Governor's Office was providing financial assistance, and they immediately cheered, and the atmosphere suddenly became lively.

Then, the important figures from all sides spoke one by one. What caught Gao Wu's attention the most was the second bald man to speak. This man was none other than Li Xuanyang, the martial arts master of the military.

Li Xuanyang exuded an imposing aura, looking like a man in his forties or fifties in his prime, completely unlike a man in his seventies... Everyone present was completely overwhelmed by his powerful presence.

After all the leaders had finished speaking, the second part of the performance, the cultural show, began.

The first-year students all sat down where they were, without even a small stool. At this point, the atmosphere became more relaxed, and many students could whisper and chat among themselves.

Bai Yushuang, who was sitting at the front of the Anhui University contingent, couldn't help but say to Yang Ru next to her, "I heard that Gao Wu is the freshman representative this time. He's going to give a speech on our behalf and also perform swordsmanship. He's so shameless!"

Although Yang Ru and Gao Wu were teammates and had a good relationship, she couldn't help but complain after posting about it for twenty days: "This guy has such a thick skin..."

A girl with an ordinary appearance and a strong build sitting next to him suddenly said, "What right does Gao Wu have to represent us freshmen! He's just a butcher who only knows how to kill!"

Bai Yushuang and Yang Ru were both stunned. Was this girl alright?
The strong girl said seriously, "If Gao Wu really wants to speak on stage, I must ask him directly!"

Although Bai Yushuang disliked Gao Wu, she couldn't bring herself to do something like publicly undermining him.

This move not only slaps Gao Wu in the face, but also the organizers. This girl is stupid, Gao Wu is wicked; it's good for them to fight!

Yang Ru earnestly advised, "Don't do this."

Bai Yushuang couldn't bear it in the end, and she advised, "You can question Gao Wu, but not in this kind of setting. It's disrespectful to others."

The strong girl calmly said, "It's precisely because my classmates and teachers are all here that I need to get to the bottom of this. Right and wrong will be judged by history. If he's innocent, why should he be afraid of being questioned?"

Yang Ru was speechless, and Bai Yushuang shook her head slightly, thinking that it was impossible to persuade this damned person with kind words.

A burst of cheerful music began, and a beautifully dressed female host walked to the center of the stage and said, "Please welcome Gao Wu, the representative of this year's freshmen, to the stage to give a speech..."

Gao Wu was so famous that the news of his absence from the training had already spread. Hearing that Gao Wu was speaking on behalf of the new students caused an uproar among them.

Fortunately, they still maintained basic discipline and applauded under the guidance of the instructors.

Gao Wu took to the stage amidst sparse applause...

"Respected leaders and teachers, dear fellow students, it is my honor to stand here as a representative of the freshmen..."

Gao Wu didn't really like this kind of formulaic speech, but he was standing here representing Anhui University Martial Arts Academy. These clichés were boring, but they wouldn't make any mistakes, and that was enough.

Of course, he also prepared a few more passionate lines later on; there had to be some clichés and some exciting moments.

"High-level martial arts, the king of youth! Hehe..."

Li Chunyi from Beizhou University sat at the very front. With his sharp eyes, he could easily see Gao Wu's face, his subtle expressions and movements, and even the changes in his eyes.

Li Chunyi thought Gao Wu was alright, but his self-proclaimed title of "King of the Youth" was too arrogant. Leaving aside other states, Gao Wu hadn't truly proven himself even in the Northern State!

Killing a few followers of the demon god is not a particularly impressive skill.

Several boys around them sensed Li Chunyi's dissatisfaction and chimed in, "Gao Wu is too arrogant! What kind of 'King of Youth' is he? Who calls himself that!"

"It's all Longteng Company's crazy marketing, garbage!"

"I heard that even Grandmaster Lu Yuan didn't think much of Gao Wu, but Brother Li is a direct disciple of Grandmaster Li. What does Gao Wu have to compare with Brother Li!"

Li Chun smiled. He had grown up in the military since childhood, and was tough and direct, and had only ever been around soldiers.

These teenagers are too naive; their flattery lacks any real flavor...

He gave Gao Wu a deep look. He had heard that Gao Wu was going to demonstrate his swordsmanship. He thought that Gao Wu would not refuse when he went on stage to challenge him.

Bai Dishan, Yuan Qiansheng, and the others were all keeping an eye on Gao Wu, and they were all feeling quite uneasy.

Gao Wu's absence from training is a minor matter; the key issue is that he killed the demon god's followers and received an official recommendation, instantly becoming the representative of the Northern Continent's youth. Calling him the King of Youth is no exaggeration!

With such prestige and honor, which young man wouldn't be envious?

Numerous cameras were set up on site, and a live stream was launched.

This is also a major event for An Kyung, with profound political significance.

Ordinary people naturally don't understand the intricacies of it, and those who watch the live stream are just there for the excitement, with many of them coming for the high-level martial arts.

Gao Wu is the most famous and has enough traffic and popularity!

Yan Shanyue, Wang Ye, and Ye Chang'an were all watching the live stream. Yan Shanyue got a little angry when she saw Gao Wu go on stage. It was impossible for Gao Wu to go to Tianji Jiuxian today, but the gatekeeper didn't tell her. He's really not a good person.

Ye Chang'an was still complaining in the group: "This kid is just spouting platitudes. He doesn't have the kingly aura of a young king at all. He's just a piece of trash tamed by the system!"

Just as Wang Ye was about to agree, he heard a woman's loud voice from the scene: "Gao Wu, I have a question I'd like to ask you!"

The director of the live broadcast was clearly unprofessional; when an unexpected situation suddenly occurred, he did not cut off the live broadcast or point the camera at the person speaking.

On the screen, all that could be seen was Gao Wu, dressed in a blood-red martial arts uniform. Gao Wu's expression was calm; he was even smiling: "Oh, classmate, what's your question?"

The middle-aged director in charge of the scene was also a bit scratching his head. It wasn't really a big deal, but this sudden turn of events left him wondering how the important figures in the front row would react.

When the middle-aged director saw the left magistrate Song Chunlin in the front row nod slightly, he breathed a sigh of relief. Since this person felt there was no problem, then everything would proceed as scheduled with the live broadcast.

He asked the director to switch the camera focus to the girl who was asking him the question.

The girl was slightly chubby but appeared quite strong. Her looks were average, but she possessed a remarkable confidence. When she asked questions in public, her voice was strong and clear, without a trace of timidity or guilt.

“You are clearly skilled in martial arts. You could have easily subdued the numerous followers of the demon god instead of killing them directly.”

The strong young woman said seriously, "Your name is Gao Wu. Do you know that martial arts are used to stop fighting? Martial arts are used to stop conflict, not to kill violently!"

The more than 10,000 new students were completely silent, with only the slight whistling of the cool night breeze.

Most people felt that the girl's question was unreasonable. When faced with an attack by a follower of a demon god, who has the time to ponder, research, and think of the best course of action?

Another very important point is that the official supporters have come out to express their praise, proving that Gao Wu handled the situation well.

Li Chunyi, who came from the military, sneered. It was astonishing that the freshmen would ask such a stupid question, which showed that they had lived in a peaceful environment for too long and did not even have the basic qualities of a martial artist.

Bai Dishan, Yuan Qiansheng, and Bai Yushuang all shook their heads. They simply disliked Gao Wu, but they wouldn't question him on this matter.

Anyone with basic martial arts knowledge knows that one must be decisive when dealing with emergencies in a crowd.

Of course, some people think the girl is right. In fact, there have always been voices questioning Gao Wu online, and they've been quite vocal.

Extreme opinions can be amplified many times over through the internet. But this girl publicly confronting Gao Wu—was she just trying to attract attention or genuinely bursting with a sense of justice?

Regardless of whether they agreed or disagreed, no one would publicly express their opinion. The many important figures in the front row watched with great interest, eager to see how Gao Wu would respond…

In fact, once the debate begins, it becomes very difficult to determine who is right and who is wrong.

Truly intelligent people never follow the other person's lead.

Gao Wu patiently waited for the girl to finish speaking before saying, "First, I must correct one point: I am not capable of subduing the followers of the Demon God. Second, followers of the Demon God are not citizens and do not enjoy any rights; this is written in the law."

The girl wanted to continue the debate, but Gao Wu reached out and gestured for her to stop talking. He also channeled his sniper-style fist intent directly into the girl's mind from a distance.

Having reached the pinnacle of combat fist, Gao Wu has already condensed his own fist intent.

A mental strength of twenty points already surpasses that of an ordinary martial artist. At this moment, he only needed to slightly release his fist intent through his eyes to force back the words that the girl was about to say.

The difference in their levels is too great.

All the martial arts experts present noticed this. Even Grandmaster Li Xuanyang showed a hint of surprise; to have condensed one's own fist intent at such a young age was quite extraordinary.

He glanced at An Ziru in the back row, thinking that An Ziru had really gotten a great deal this time! He was also a little puzzled, as this was quite different from Gao Wu's performance in the video...

Could it be that Gao Wu has made such great progress in just a few dozen days? How could Lu Yuan have misjudged him?

An Ziru and Bai Yan were both quite familiar with Gao Wu, and they were even more astonished upon seeing this. When did Gao Wu condense such pure fist intent?!
Gao Wu didn't care what others thought. He released his fist intent slightly to take control, and then slowly continued, "Classmate, you've made a very serious mistake. 'Martial arts can stop war,' but some people have misinterpreted the original meaning of the words because they think they're clever enough."

"The 'stop' in 'wu' means toes. 'Wu' means advancing while holding a long spear."

"Our ancestors understood this principle very early on: when faced with a harsh natural environment and various ferocious wild animals, they had to fight."

"Only when our ancestors used wooden sticks to bind stone knives to make weapons could they kill wild beasts and powerful enemies, expand outwards to search for more resources, establish a foothold, and survive and reproduce."

"Our ancestors created writing and recorded this extremely important event using the character '武' (wu, meaning martial/military)."

The idea that "military force can stop war" is widely circulated and aligns well with the peaceful lifestyle of the past few decades, and is accepted by most people.

Hearing Gao Wu's explanation of "martial arts," everyone found it very novel and also very reasonable.

Even the important figures sitting in the front row were mostly unaware of these things and found the statement interesting.

Gao Wu gave everyone time to process what he had said. He then addressed the girl, "In terms of knowledge, you lack basic understanding. In terms of martial arts, you can't even withstand a trace of my fist's intent. What makes you think you can reason with me?"

He said calmly, "I've never heard a sheep try to reason with a tiger, nor have I ever heard an insect try to reason with a dragon."

"If you want to reason, you must first have the right to do so."

The girl's face was as red as blood, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Bai Yushuang and Yang Ru, standing to the side, felt a pang of sympathy for her. She'd really messed with someone else; now she knew the consequences!

Li Chunyi hesitated for a moment. Damn, this kid is really domineering! With such fighting spirit and momentum, he might not be able to win if he went up.

If we go up there and lose, and that kid publicly humiliates us, we'll lose all face...

Ye Chang'an, who was watching the live stream, exclaimed in the group chat: "This kid is not only good at fighting, but he also has a sharp tongue. He's terrifying!"

Wang Ye sent a tearful, pitiful emoji to indicate his agreement...

Gao Wu ignored the girl and looked at the many new students present, saying, "Life is finite, but great spirit and achievements will be passed down with the race."

"We martial artists should take up our weapons and move forward to wipe out all demons and monsters, to create a bright and peaceful world and a lasting peace!"
"I share these words with you all, hoping that we can all shine with our own light, that we can all become the light of Chinese civilization, and that we can pass it down together with Chinese civilization, so that it may never be forgotten!"

This speech was quite impressive, with a grand vision, and coupled with the powerful and intense martial arts intent, it stunned the more than 10,000 freshmen present and made the young people's blood boil.

Which young man doesn't yearn to become a hero admired by all, and who doesn't aspire to establish an everlasting legacy?
Even Li Chunyi, who was eager to challenge high-level martial arts, was filled with excitement at this moment, wishing he could immediately kill a few strange beasts and show off his skills...

Many of the prominent figures in the front row also showed expressions of admiration. Regardless of whether Gao Wu was exaggerating or not, it was quite an achievement to make such grand pronouncements sound so impressive.

Gao Wu drew his Heavenly Fate Sword from his waist and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the crowd below: "Finally, I present to you all a set of Wandering Dragon Swords."

He originally wanted to practice his swordsmanship properly and let these new students know that his title of "King of Youth" was not just empty boasting!
Provoked by the sudden appearance of the girl, Gao Wu's sword intent intensified.

With the Heavenly Mandate Sword in hand, Gao Wu channeled his inner energy into his acupoints and unleashed the Dragon Soaring Sword technique. The Heavenly Mandate Sword shone with a chilling sword light under the surge of inner energy, its undulating light resembling a bright silver dragon in flight...

Music had been prepared backstage, but at this moment, Gao Wu's sword energy surged like a dragon's roar, its sound deep and soaring, reaching the heavens and shaking people's hearts. There was no need for any background music.

Zhou Hongying watched the crimson figure appear and disappear amidst the sword light from one side of the high platform, her bright eyes filled with intoxication.

The freshmen were mostly the same; they had never seen such a powerful sword light, nor had they ever experienced such a fierce sword intent that could overwhelm thousands of people.

Bai Dishan, Bai Yushuang, and Yuan Qiansheng all looked ashen-faced.

They had worked hard all summer and were preparing to have a good match with Gao Wu after school started, only to find that the gap between them and Gao Wu was so large that it was insurmountable. Everyone was deeply disappointed.

Even the arrogant Li Chunyi had a solemn expression. This sword technique was sharp and powerful, yet possessed its own unique charm. It had clearly condensed a sword intent unique to high-level martial arts, ten times stronger than the sword technique shown in the video. It seemed he couldn't defeat it...

The three people watching the live stream also fell silent.

Gao Wu finished his final move, returning to his original position and standing solemnly. His sword, however, transformed into a cold light, spinning rapidly and soaring into the sky.

The Destiny Sword, powered by the Source Force, spun at an alarming speed. The sound of the blade cutting through the air at high speed was layered and echoed, emitting a low, resonant hum that penetrated everyone's eardrums and made their hearts tremble.

The radiant sword wheel soared dozens of meters into the sky, like a rising moon, its brilliance illuminating the deep twilight and the eyes of everyone present…

Countless people were awestruck by that moon-like sword light, leaving an indelible mark on their memories.

The Radiant Sword Wheel spun to its maximum height and then suddenly veered back towards the high-level martial arts realm below. The speed of the veiled return increased even further, and the sword light became even more dazzling and menacing.

In the blink of an eye, the Radiant Sword Wheel had already slashed in front of Gao Wu, and the sword light illuminated Gao Wu completely.

Upon seeing this, a chorus of gasps erupted from the crowd.

Gao Wu remained motionless as the spinning, gleaming sword wheel pierced precisely into the scabbard in his hand.

The sword light vanished instantly, leaving only the clanging sound of the blade being sheathed echoing endlessly in the square and in the hearts of everyone present...

The transition from extreme motion to extreme stillness happens in an instant.

Gao Wu raised his sword, clasped his hands in a salute to the crowd, and said, "I've made a fool of myself."

The many new students below the stage were still in shock and unable to react for a moment. The young warriors from Baidi Mountain were also stunned by the dazzling changes.

Sitting in the front row, Left Chief Minister Song Chunlin took the lead in applauding, and the applause slowly spread out...

Li Chunyi, sitting in the audience, didn't applaud. He just stared blankly at Gao Wu on stage, with only one thought in his mind: "Damn it, how can someone be so pretentious!"

After a moment of silence in the chat group, Wang Ye broke the silence first: "I'm fucking impressed. This guy isn't just a young king, he's a young king of showing off!"

"Damn, he's so handsome! I'm so envious!" Ye Chang'an sent a screen full of envious emojis with eyes full of red hearts...

Yan Shanyue remained silent, her heart turning to ice. Gao Wu's swordsmanship was far too powerful, so powerful that it filled her with despair.

(A 10,000-word update, full of sincerity, please vote for me! Please vote for me! Let's go, everyone!)

　There was a small bug in the previous article about the Qilin Divine Hero Curse, which has now been fixed.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)