Chapter 107: The Lecture That Shook The Sky
The question lingered in the air like a tolling bell, and no one dared to break the silence.
Tens of thousands held their breath, waiting—waiting for Jun Wu to speak, to explain, to unveil the mysteries only he seemed capable of speaking.
Inside the VIP chamber, the atmosphere was equally solemn. Powerful clan leaders, academies, and associations all sat upright, their expressions grave.
They had seen countless prodigies in their time, yet here they were, eager to listen to the words of an eighteen-year-old youth.
Jun Wu stood at the center of the colosseum, utterly calm beneath the weight of thousands of gazes.
His white robe fluttered gently in the breeze, and his bearing radiated an authority that seemed to come not from his age but from something older, grander.
"From my little knowledge," he began, his voice steady, each word carrying across the arena.
"Array Formation is the bridge between human will and the laws of heaven and earth. The world is governed by law. By connecting to and interpreting these laws, we gain the chance to control them."
The crowd listened in rapt silence.
"This," Jun Wu continued, "is why array patterns are crucial. These patterns are a language—patterns with meaning. And, like language, a single pattern can carry multiple meanings depending on its context."
He paused deliberately, allowing his words to settle into the minds of his listeners.
The stillness that followed was so complete it was suffocating.
The colosseum had become a graveyard of silence, and even those who had no knowledge of arrays leaned forward eagerly.
This was not a moment to miss.
To blink too long felt like a crime.
"Before I go further," Jun Wu said at last, "let me correct a common mistake—one that most array masters fail to understand."
The audience froze.
"Why are there so many apprentices who spend years, sometimes their entire lives, and yet never become array masters?" His sharp gaze swept across the rows of students and masters alike.
"The answer is simple. Either they lack talent for the path of arrays, or they took the wrong steps. And let me tell you this—the wrong steps are far more prevalent than the lack of talent."
Murmurs rippled briefly before being smothered by the oppressive quiet once again.
"Becoming an array master is not as simple as memorizing dozens of theories, patterns, and interpretations. Wasting years learning placements and arrangements of nodes is meaningless without the right foundation."
His eyes were firm.
"The will of heaven is firm and absolute. If you do not fulfill certain conditions, no matter how many patterns you memorize, no matter how much you exhaust yourself over node placement, you will never become an array master."
Gasps echoed through the crowd.
Many apprentices instinctively clenched their fists, realizing that Jun Wu was addressing their very struggles.
"So then," Jun Wu asked, his tone sharp, "how does one truly become an array master without wasting precious time and talent?"
He raised a single finger. "First, you must have a firm foundation in martial arts."
He raised another finger. "Second, you must possess a high comprehension."
"Comprehension is straightforward. But what do I mean by a foundation in martial arts?"
He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Martial arts are the foundation of everything. How can you learn the secrets of heaven if your body is too weak to withstand them? That is impossible."
"Why is it impossible?" His voice rose, firm and unshakable.
"Because cultivation draws heaven’s energy into the body. The stronger the vessel, the more heaven’s energy it can contain. The more it can contain, the easier it becomes to perceive the secrets hidden in the laws of heaven and earth."
Hiss!
Gasps resounded like a wave breaking over the colosseum.
Countless eyes widened.
For many present, this was the first time they had ever heard such reasoning, and it shook them to their core.
In the VIP chamber, expressions shifted dramatically.
These leaders knew more than the ordinary people, yet even they found themselves unsettled by Jun Wu’s revelation.
The two elders from the Jun clan exchanged subtle glances, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Jun Wu’s worth had just soared beyond anything they had ever imagined.
He was no longer just a slightly talented youth with a knack for arrays.
He had become something more, something they could no longer define.
Across the room, the Gong clan elders exchanged their own glances, their expressions grim.
They, too, understood what was happening.
With only a few words, Jun Wu’s influence had grown exponentially.
His voice was no longer that of a youth.
To those fanatics who had spent decades studying array formations, Jun Wu no longer seemed human—he was something akin to a deity.
Hidden in the shadows, spies from countless factions stirred nervously.
They scribbled furiously or sent coded messages, rushing to deliver this information to their respective forces.
A storm was forming, and Jun Wu was its center.
But Jun Wu himself remained untouched by all of it.
He continued his lecture without pause.
"I know some of you already understand what I’m saying," he said, his tone patient. "But for those who do not, allow me to explain further."
"What is the difference between a mortal and a rated martial artist?" he asked, his voice echoing across the massive arena.
He paused, letting the question hang. Then, with measured calm, he answered.
"Blood Qi."
"A mortal has blood. But a rated martial artist has Blood Qi. That Qi is the difference. And what is Qi? Qi is the energy of heaven and earth. It is what allows us to communicate with the will of heaven."
Roar!
A deafening crack of thunder erupted overhead.
The sudden sound made hearts leap, and heads snapped upward.
The once-pristine white sky had darkened, clouds boiling into existence out of nothingness.
"What’s happening?"
"Why is the sky turning black?"
Confusion spread like wildfire.
Whispers became cries, and unease spread among the crowd.
Jun Wu himself looked upward, startled.
He could not understand why the heavens themselves seemed to respond to his words.
Yet in the depths of his heart, he felt it—this was no mere coincidence.
Somehow, his teaching had drawn heaven’s attention.
The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.
His pulse quickened, his blood roared in his ears, but instead of retreating, his resolve only deepened.
He lifted his chin, eyes blazing with determination.
Previously, this lecture was only as a tool to raise his influence in the Soaring Cloud Region, to gain an advantage against his clan.
But now, things have changed.
Now, it felt as though heaven itself was acknowledging him.