CHAPTER 271: CHAPTER 252: SPECIAL BATTLE MERIT AND THE CRANE MARK

On the podium, Meng Chuan held the trophy high, with a tag of twenty million in prize money hanging around his neck.

Zhao Yingchun walked over slowly, smoothing out his clothes, leaving Meng Chuan feeling flattered.

What Zhao said next surprised Meng Chuan even more.

After patting Meng Chuan on the shoulder, Zhao Yingchun laughed and said:

"Xiaomeng, I have informed the Great Saint of your achievements. He praised you, saying, ’This child has the makings of a Great Saint!’

"I’m not worthy..."

Meng Chuan hurriedly replied with humility.

"Why not? Martial arts is a path of defying the heavens. If you don’t even dare to acknowledge the potential of a Great Saint, how will you break through the seventh shackle in the future?"

Meng Chuan nodded in agreement.

"I will remember Celestial King Zhao’s teachings; I must possess the makings of a Great Saint!"

After the award ceremony, Zhao Yingchun gave some more advice similar to what Elder Shen Gong had mentioned before, which Meng Chuan listened to attentively.

Once he left, the host stepped forward, handing over the microphone and asked him:

"Champion Meng, at this moment, is there anything you would like to share with the tens of millions of viewers online and offline?"

In the audience, Shen Shuo sat up slightly, the key moment had arrived.

The Han Hai Corporation had spent tens of millions, waiting for this very moment.

Meng Chuan took the microphone, first expressing heartfelt gratitude for his mentor’s guidance, specifically mentioning the Infinite Martial Arts Dojo to promote his master. Then he reflected and thanked his journey of growth from Ping’an Middle School to Northern United University.

Finally, he recited the advertisement slogan that Han Hai had carefully prepared, bringing a perfect end to the ceremony.

"Good, full of spirit!"

Shen Shuo felt extremely pleased, it seemed this investment had once again proven right.

...

After stepping down from the stage, the twenty million contest prize money was credited instantly.

Meng Chuan, feeling the pain for his master spending over three hundred million, directly transferred the twenty million prize money to him.

Han Hai would later fulfill the contract, paying him the remaining fifteen million reward for winning the bet, it wasn’t like Meng Chuan lacked money.

Just as he was wondering where the medicine that could improve his physique was,

The competition staff found him.

They handed him an exquisite silver card, with the words ’Great Chu Special War Merit Card’ inscribed on it.

Meng Chuan was puzzled, but Luo Guanyun explained beside him:

"You should accept it first; this holds the highest reward of this competition."

After listening to his master’s words, Meng Chuan understood.

This war merit card contained a hundred points of special war merit, its value could not be measured by money.

It must be known that in Great Chu’s martial arts system, war merit is revered as the highest reward to encourage martial artists to enter nests and slay demons.

It is mainly divided into two categories: ordinary war merit and special war merit.

Ordinary war merit requires martial artists to personally go to the demon nests to slay Celestial Demons to obtain.

Every middle-rank Celestial Demon slain accumulates 1 point of war merit.

And the acquisition of special war merit is even more stringent, only those who achieve ranks in national martial arts competitions have the chance to obtain it.

Its rarity is far beyond that of ordinary war merit, and even a hundred points is extremely precious, enough for him to exchange for items to enhance his physique.

The staff nodded with a smile and then warmly said:

"Champion Meng, this Supernova Martial Arts Tournament, being the inaugural event, has brought together the right time, place, and people, allowing for such generous special war merit rewards.

In subsequent editions, I’m afraid there won’t be another opportunity like this."

After all, it is a contest among martial artists, far inferior to top martial arts competitions like the Tianshan Martial Arts Meetup or the River Gathering.

"Understood, thanks to the country and the organizers."

With the guidance of the staff, Meng Chuan now understood the specific use of special war merit.

It’s like the merit points he earned by doing police tasks before.

Latterly, they could be exchanged for resources at the Police Armory, and this whole framework was modeled on the largest war merit exchange platform established by the country—the Merit Armory.

"Open your citizen’s identity card; I’ll give you temporary access to the Merit Armory. Later, after you become a Martial Arts Family member, register with the Martial Arts Association, when your citizen’s martial artist status is certified, access will open automatically."

"Understood."

Meng Chuan opened his phone and pulled up the citizen identity card interface.

The faint silver lion emblem on the avatar seemed to flicker with his breathing.

Upon seeing this, the staff’s expression became extremely respectful, bowing with utmost reverence, saying:

"Champion Meng, I didn’t expect you’d also be a recipient of the ’Silver Lion’ medal, my apologies!"

With genuine admiration in his eyes, he continued:

"To earn this honor at the martial artist stage, you must have made outstanding contributions to Great Chu.

It’s embarrassing to say, even though I’m a Martial Arts Family member, I have yet to earn even the ’Bronze Eagle,’ it’s truly shameful."

Meng Chuan waved his hand, indicating that he was being overly praised, attributing it merely to the glory of the National Righteous Fist.

A moment later, the other party completed the activation, and Meng Chuan placed the war merit card at the back of his phone for sensing.

He saw a newly appeared war merit display beside his avatar.

"Ordinary War Merit: 0"

"Special War Merit: 100"

Luo Guanyun took out his phone and waved it in front of Meng Chuan.

"Ordinary War Merit: 8923"

"These were all earned by slaying demons in the demon nest, keep working hard, kid."

With admiration, Meng Chuan looked at Master Luo, determined to take his master as an example and make a formidable reputation in the Demon Nest!

Luo Guanyun laughed:

"Without the protection of True Qi, the body of a martial artist is still too fragile. Once you break through to become a Martial Arts Family, I will personally take you to the Demon Nest for training."

Meng Chuan snapped back to reality, seeing the staff had completed the operation and handed back his phone.

The other person smiled and said:

"It has been credited to your account. According to the Martial Arts Association regulations, since you have not advanced to the realm of the Martial Arts Family, the maximum exchange authority can only be open for 24 hours.

Our official event is unable to extend or modify it, so please complete the special merit exchange within the time limit."

The staff slightly bowed and continued:

"If there are no other matters, I will take my leave. I wish you and Grandmaster Luo a pleasant remaining trip in Shanghai."

The opponent, being a Martial Arts Family member, had such a good service attitude that Meng Chuan clasped his fists and said:

"Thank you for your help. The junior is deeply grateful."

...

Just as Shanghai was immersed in the joyous atmosphere of the Supernova Martial Arts tournament, now completed.

In an unknown deep part of the Demon Nest, dark currents surged.

The area was eerily dead silent; the cracked earth appeared as if it had been scorched by the blazing sun for centuries, barren with no life.

If someone could set foot here, they would be shocked to find that not even a Celestial Demon, let alone a living insect, could be found.

It seemed the whole world had been drained of life.

In the distance, a human figure crossed the barren grounds.

The parched earth suddenly intensified its cracking, numerous deep green roots burst forth like giant serpents.

Li Xiao furrowed his brows slightly, then presented a rare smile, rising into the air adeptly, evading the surging tendrils.

The heavens seemed to be reshaping, the roaring sounds echoing throughout the wilderness.

From above, everywhere Li Xiao looked was a terrifying world constructed by these unknown roots.

In an instant, thousands of writhing roots simultaneously pointed skyward, then violently fell, striking hard upon the earth.

Along with an earth-shaking sound, a towering ancient tree broke out from the ground.

Its majestic stature pierced the clouds, its gnarly canopy swallowing up the already dim light, plunging the entire world into darkness.

Li Xiao realized that all light around him had vanished, yet he did not panic, slightly bowing and saying:

"[Charming Wood Deity], the task you entrusted to me has been completed successfully."

What he could not see was that a twisted woman’s face was slowly emerging on the trunk of that towering ancient tree.

Amidst the sound of cracking bark, a giant mouth filled with sharp teeth appeared grotesquely.

"Crunch crunch..."

The giant mouth slowly opened and closed, stuffed with digesting Celestial Demon limbs, viscous demonic blood continually dripping from between the teeth.

The reason for this Demon Nest’s eerie silence finally had an answer.

This magical tree known as [Charming Wood] had devoured all its kind within the Demon Nest...

"I can sense that the child I lent you has returned to the cycle of souls; your experiment is indeed cruel..."

The ancient tree’s twisted face suddenly spoke, the voice coming out as a melodious female sound.

Yet it did not affect its continued chewing, with the gritting sound still echoing.

Li Xiao remained composed, hearing the other speak; truly a cruel and cold-blooded grand demon.

"Deity, I am also heartbroken, but your offspring were under attack by three Martial Arts Venerables far stronger than me at the time; this lowly one could not offer assistance..."

Seeing that twisted woman’s face show impatience, Li Xiao quickly said:

"But the result of the experiment was extremely gratifying; you certainly will be able to descend through the node successfully!"

Thus was the collaboration between Li Xiao and the people of [Outer Heaven], utilizing their unique means to aid this magical tree in escaping from this place.

The details told by the other party were shrouded in mist, but generally, when the number of Demon Nests breaks through a certain critical point as a prerequisite.

Demonic Qi will resonate within the node’s passage. The resonance connects the node like veins, using its own bloodline as a guide, traversing the human world to establish a reverse channel.

Upon hearing this, Charming Wood laughed sharply.

"Li Xiao, you really did not let me down!"

Its voice remained melodious, yet carried a piercing chill.

"If it’s truly as you say, and I can go to a new nursery, then what you desire shall naturally be granted."

Li Xiao showed a faint smile, bowing and saying:

"Rest assured, deity, just the last step remains, which requires a bit of your vital blood to complete. This lowly one and the Demon Summoning Hall all anticipate your arrival..."

...

Shanghai.

The hotel beside the Martial Arts Competition Center.

Meng Chuan did not immediately research the [Merit Armory] with his master, because he hurried back to the Martial Arts Chamber, ready to investigate something.

Standing still, Meng Chuan looked at the panel, confirming once more.

"The second effect of grasping the Dao from morning to evening can replay the martial imprint left in muscle memory, reverse analyze the essence of the opponent’s moves. It indeed does not specify the differentiation between Xingyi and Elephant Form Sect."

At this moment, his mind retained the memory of Luo Qin’s overwhelming blue fist stance!

[Teaching Crane Soaring Cloud]...

"Let me try if I can incorporate the moves of this Elephant Form Fist as my own..."

Meng Chuan took a deep breath, recalling the other’s stance of initiating the fist stance, combined with the essential moves in his memory.

Utilizing the energy of kidney water, cold air seeped through his pores, his kidneys as if submerged in an ancient cold pool, with the Qi and blood rushing through his meridians like tides.

Meng Chuan’s fists traced a mysterious trajectory akin to a crane spreading its wings, while kidney water surged through his meridians yet constantly stuck at crucial points.