Martial Arts: I Have Diligence Reward System

Chapter 64: Chapter 58: The Eight Clans of the Wetlands

”The weapons capable of obliterating a Grandmaster, the ancestors truly shouldn’t have forsaken them. If we armed current Martial Artists with these hot weapons, we would undoubtedly defend the Wetland gate unscathed.

”The opponent simply couldn’t break in. The ancestors stopped eating for fear of choking.”

Liao Ji gritted his teeth.

He was a second-generation Martial Artist and had more understanding of the Wetland than others.

”You’re speaking without having experienced it, underestimating the alien races of the Wetland. You didn’t live through the dark era of the 23rd century and cannot fathom the ancestors’ dilemmas.

”The human race faced extinction, akin to a starving person with two choices before them: a stale bun or a bowl of poisoned red braised pork.

”Eating the stale bun might make you ill, and it tastes bad, but you survive.

”The red braised pork is delicious, but it would kill you with poison. Which would you choose?

”Moreover, at the time, the United Council was under Martial Artists’ control. Do you think those who saved the world with their abilities would support hot weapons that could be seized at any moment?

”You must be aware that more humans died under their own weapons than at the hands of alien races. Hot weapons were limited in effectiveness against aliens but disastrous for human civilians.”

Dai Yuegui glanced at Liao Ji.

”I always felt the ancestors were too arbitrary.”

Liao Ji lowered his head, murmuring.

Su Yue also sighed deeply.

The era of the ancestors must have been incredibly arduous.

Hot weapons were like red braised pork: although delicious and filling, they were indeed poisonous.

Even now, hot weapons remain massacre tools for most civilians—capable of harming enemies yet injuring ourselves more—and it’s reasonable that the ancestors abandoned them.

Choosing the stale bun allowed you to survive first, then slowly seek a chance for life.

Back then, the ancestors had no other choice.

Judging with hindsight without experiencing it firsthand is purely the act of an internet warrior.

”That unprecedented war of the 23rd century, where the alien races of the Wetland suffered greatly, also granted Earth Martial Artists the opportunity to rise.

”In the 24th century, Earth Martial Artists gradually increased in number.

”The predecessors secured the entrances of the Wetland across various countries, established the Wet Ghost Tower, and began effective proactive defenses against alien invasions.

”By the early 25th century, Earth Martial Artists even started penetrating the Wetland, establishing defensive camps.

”After the 25th century, Earth barely started to gradually recover from the catastrophe, and over the next 200 years, the government used 21st-century technology to ensure everyone’s basic needs were met, leading to another population explosion.

”It is now the 2770s, and the Hall of Heroes in the Governor’s Mansion has been established since the 25th century.”

”For 270 years, 300 million Earth Martial Artists used their lives to keep all calamities at bay outside the Wet Ghost Tower and within the Wetland itself.”

”The prosperity of Earth today might be said to be the result of 500 million Martial Artists over 270 years pouring their lives into its foundation.”

The shocking statistics left the students speechless.

No wonder Martial Artists enjoy so many privileges in this era; it turns out they bear such a heavy burden.

Moreover, this era was entirely created by Martial Artists.

”Don’t look down upon the ancestors before the 25th century. Know that they created impossible miracles.

”A baby wielding a double-edged sword surviving in an environment filled with wolves and tigers proves the ancestors’ greatness and extraordinariness.

”As for hot weapons, it’s not just you who want them restored; the military has proposed it several times, but unfortunately... the precise weapons extinct for centuries cannot be resurrected, as all blueprints and research staff are long gone.

”Moreover, humans do not have a way to prevent infiltrators from the Yangxiang Race. Even if hot weapons were available, they would be an unstable factor that the government could never support restoring.

”Regardless, the majestic past deserves our memory and reverence.

”All you need to remember is that the era of hot weapons is history. The current era requires more Martial Artists, nothing more.

”If there are students who still fantasize about hot weapons, feel free to fantasize; this era lacks the capability to restore them.”

Watching the countless photos on the slideshow, Dai Yuegui said coldly.

The debate over hot weapons has been a hot topic for hundreds of years but remains just an outlet for internet warriors.

Ineffectiveness against alien races is one factor.

In fact, the threat to the United Council is also a key concern for the government.

The government has stabilized for 270 years; how could it permit hot weapons to pose a challenge?

The so-called hot weapons for common people are restricted when dealing with aliens, but in internal human conflicts, they become terrifying.

A common person could easily have the capacity to kill a Martial Artist. In such a scenario, who would still strive to train arduously?

The smart of the human race would want effortless gains, and over time, there would be a reliance on weapons, gradually neglecting self-cultivation.

Ultimately, it remains a cycle of slaughter, inevitably leading to a dead end.

The reasons for destroying hot weapons are too numerous, too complicated for any individual to change.

These students have yet to truly set foot in the Wetland, making it challenging for them to comprehend the grandeur of such wars, let alone grasp the cruelty of war’s elegy.

”Salute!”

Su Yue stood straight, saluting toward the slideshow.

The rest of the classmates all saluted as well.

This was a mark of respect for the souls of martyrs, and also an awe for the hard-earned peace.

Watching this group of students, Dai Yuegui’s heart was also touched.

They might not know that one day in the future, they themselves could end up on this wall of photos.

Any martial artist, even a Grandmaster, will sacrifice themselves in the wetland.

”In the Divine Land, there are currently 101 Wet Ghost Towers, which are 101 wetland entrances.

”Most of these entrances are sealed internally by the strong. As long as the human stronghold in the wetland isn’t breached, these seals remain intact. However, unfortunately, human strongholds are frequently breached.

”In fact, there are records of the alien races breaking through Wet Ghost Towers in various parts of Earth.

”Some natural disasters you knew of before, or even large-scale plague deaths, are actually caused by alien races from the wetland. The government restricted media reports to prevent panic among the general populace.

”Moreover, the government has developed a kind of smoke for mass unconsciousness. If ordinary people encounter wetland races, martial artists will release the smoke, allowing the ordinary people to die more peacefully.

”Of course, if the military successfully expels the alien races back to the wetland, the ordinary people will wake up soon. This smoke is harmless to the human body.”

Dai Yuegui continued speaking.

”I see.”

Su Yue and the others nodded.

On Earth, various natural disasters are not uncommon—today a plague is reported here, tomorrow an earthquake there. The death toll can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands. It turns out these were just a guise by the government.

In fact, having unconsciousness smoke is beneficial—alien races are essentially just another natural disaster for ordinary people.

”Now, let me introduce you to the races in the wetland.

”Inside the wetland is an area hundreds of times larger than Earth. The government speculates that the races from the wetland that Earth has encountered are only a part of it.

”Among these races, there are various factions as well, but that is not the focus of today’s lesson.

”The races that pose the greatest threat to humanity currently number eight, but some are far from the Divine Land and we don’t need to worry about them.

”The Divine Land upon which we stand is at war with three out of the wetland’s eight races.”

”The Steel Bone Race, the Four-armed Race, the Yangxiang Race.”

Dai Yuegui opened a slideshow.

Three images appeared inside.

The first image shows a face that is ashen, like it has been smeared with lime, and it is covered in damp white fur.

The second image depicts a man with four arms, emaciated, with sallow skin. The hair on his body is brown.

The last is a bald, fat man, whose most noticeable feature is the sun motif on the top of his head.

Su Yue immediately recognized it as the Yangxiang Race.

Dr. Jiu Mao, who captured him, came from this group.

The Yangxiang Race’s hair is dark green, like underwater grasses.

Looking at these terrifying images, the students were speechless. Are these horrific creatures going to be their future enemies?

This is practically like a horror movie.

”Humans not only survive and fight in the wetland but also do more than merely defend.

”There are many bizarre things in the wetland. With its high humidity, many plants possess spirituality, which is highly useful to martial artists. Of course, Earth’s greenhouse technology can already replicate some wetland plants, but progress is not great.

”Take the Steel Bone Race for instance. The bones in their corpses can be refined into a special steel material. Liao Ji’s dagger is forged with this steel. Besides being extremely hard, this material is not easily corroded in the wetland.

”Of the three races, the Yangxiang Race is the most dangerous. They can consume a kind of divine water, then change their appearance to infiltrate Earth.

”You probably guessed it; the Yangxiang Sect is the handiwork of the Yangxiang Race. Your classmate was also killed by the Yangxiang Race.

”Fortunately, the Governor has avenged them.”

Dai Yuegui continued introducing some details about the wetland.

For instance, Ding Beitu, who has frequently appeared on various TV channels lately, is a professor of wetland linguistics and is already employed at Qingwu.

In the wetland, besides the Yangxiang Race, no other race can communicate with the Earth Martial Artist through language.

The two sides meet like beasts on a narrow path, unable to communicate, and engage in combat upon meeting without any words.

In ancient times, the Yangxiang Race was powerful. They understood Earth’s language and were the leading race at the time.

The mutually destructive war in the 23rd century was mainly directed at the Yangxiang Race, causing them to suffer heavy losses. Now, among the eight wetland races, they are at the bottom.

Currently, the Yangxiang Race has no intention of communication, choosing to kill directly instead.

Wetland linguistics can allow humans to understand some simple alien languages, at least knowing what they are communicating on the battlefield.

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PS: That’s all for the plot involving thermal weapons.

The author admits there are likely logical gaps, but that’s the best that can be done.

If you insist on making sure every detail in a fantasy novel is reasonable, the author admits being unable to accomplish that; it’s merely the background of a book.

The plot, which was originally 2000 words, has been stretched over two Chapters, and further explanation would be repetitive.

Please remember, this is a fantasy novel.

The author did their best to move towards a logical direction, but some illogical parts are inevitable, please understand.

Thank you!