12dz Chapter 61 If you insist on courting death, then so be it.
Chapter 61 If you insist on courting death, then so be it.
General Zhou's efficiency is astonishing.
Or rather, when the brief but crystal-clear video of "breaking a sword with a single finger," along with the handwritten reports from martial arts grandmasters Chen Beixuan and Qin Zhenshan, and General Zhou's application, which risked his political future, were encrypted and sent to the highest levels of government in Beijing, the priority of this matter was raised to the highest level.
Late at night, several elderly people who usually only appeared in the news were urgently summoned to a meeting room that was not open to the public.
The atmosphere was extremely heavy.
"Have you all seen it?" The old man at the head of the group spoke in a steady voice, though he couldn't hide a trace of fatigue. He pointed to the scene playing on a loop on the large screen in front of him: Ma Cong shattering the Purple Cloud Sword with a single finger.
"Unbelievable." A technology manager murmured, adjusting his reading glasses. "Our supercomputer analyzed the video frame by frame, ruling out any special effects or editing. From an energy perspective, the energy released by that finger the moment it touched the sword... is incalculable."
"You've seen the military report too," another elderly general, sporting three gold stars on his shoulder, said in a booming voice. "Qin Zhenshan and Chen Beixuan concluded that this is an ability that transcends current understanding of martial arts. That brat Zhou Zhengguo even used the term 'Land Immortal' in his report; I think he's lost his mind!"
That being said, his serious expression revealed that he was far from as relaxed as he appeared.
"The key issue isn't what this thing actually is," the old man at the head of the group said, tapping his fingers lightly on the table with a dull thud. "The key issue is that this young man named Ma Cong possesses this power. And he's willing to... teach it to others."
He displayed General Zhou's second report on the big screen.
The three conditions proposed by Ma Cong are clearly listed above.
A place with absolute autonomy and top-level resource support.
"His ambitions are enormous," a refined-looking leader in charge of culture remarked softly. "He's not building a school, he's building a 'sacred site.' He doesn't want to be an instructor, he wants to be a 'Taoist patriarch.' He's ushering in a new era."
A long silence fell over the meeting room.
Each and every one of you here is a giant who holds the reins of this nation's direction. Their perspective on issues has long transcended the personal and local levels.
They knew very well what it would mean to agree to Ma Cong's demands.
That means the country will have to devote all its resources to supporting an unprecedented, even somewhat "idealistic," project.
If successful, China will be far ahead of the world in the new track of "individual evolution," and the impact will be thousands of times greater than that of nuclear weapons.
But what if it fails?
That would be a huge waste of resources and could even give rise to an uncontrolled individual or organization with terrifying power.
"I agree." The old general, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, his voice resolute. "We have no other choice."
He stood up and his gaze swept over everyone present.
"Gentlemen, what have we always been worried about? It's the West's technological blockade, their genetic technology, and their super-soldier program. We've always been in a state of catching up in these areas."
"Now, we have an opportunity to overtake on a curve—no, to overtake by changing lanes! A brand new path for 'human potential development' that belongs to China! This young man named Ma Cong is the one holding the torch, illuminating this path for us!"
"We can't afford to gamble with the consequences of failure, but we can't afford to gamble with missing this opportunity!"
The old general's words resonated deeply, striking a chord in everyone's hearts.
"I second that." The leader from the science and technology department nodded. "His demands are demanding, but on the other hand, it also shows that he has something to ask for. He wants the 'revival of Chinese martial arts' and the 'preservation of culture.' This is consistent with our fundamental interests. A person with something to ask for is much easier to control than a 'god' who has no desires."
"Then... let's do it!" The old man at the head slammed his hand on the table and made the final decision.
"Establish the 'Special Project Team for the Inheritance and Development of Chinese Martial Arts,' codenamed 'Kunlun'! The project level is set at the highest level! Resource allocation will be unrestricted!"
"Zhou Zhengguo is appointed as the military liaison for the project team, and Chen Beixuan and Qin Zhenshan are appointed as project advisors. As for the overall person in charge... as that young man requested, he, Ma Cong, will be fully responsible!"
"Tell him that the nation has entrusted him with its trust. If he wants a mountain, we'll give him a mountain! If he wants an era, we'll help him usher in that era!"
……
When General Zhou brought this news to Ma Cong again, it was already the morning of the next day.
His eyes were bloodshot, but he was extremely excited.
"The highest levels... have agreed!" He said to Ma Cong, suppressing his excitement. "All your requests have been fulfilled! Code name: 'Kunlun'! From now on, you are the sole person in charge of the 'Kunlun' project!"
Ma Cong showed no surprise.
All of this was within his expectations.
When he demonstrated that extraordinary power, he already possessed the qualifications to engage in equal dialogue with the nation.
What he wanted was not power, but a platform where he could practice his skills with peace of mind and realize his grand ambition of "rectifying the name of Chinese martial arts".
Now, the platform has arrived.
"Where is it?" Ma Cong asked the question he was most concerned about.
"Three options." General Zhou pulled up a tablet computer, which displayed information on three locations.
"First, Mount Taibai, the main peak of the Qinling Mountains. It is the location of the dragon vein, rich in spiritual energy, but the environment is harsh and transportation is inconvenient."
"Secondly, Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi Province. It is the ancestral home of Taoism and has a rich cultural heritage, but it has been overdeveloped and is somewhat noisy."
"Thirdly, in Sichuan, there is Mount Qingcheng. It is a secluded and beautiful place with stunning forests. It has been a sacred place for cultivation since ancient times, and its facilities are relatively complete."
Ma Cong's gaze swept over the three locations.
He pointed to the third one almost without hesitation.
"This is fine."
"Mount Qingcheng?" General Zhou was somewhat surprised. "I thought you would choose the Qinling Mountains."
"Cultivation doesn't necessarily require going to remote, secluded places," Ma Cong said calmly. "The truly great hermits live in the city, the lesser hermits live in the wilderness. Qingcheng Mountain is just right."
More importantly, he integrated the martial arts of the four schools, and especially after elevating Tai Chi to the level of "martial arts reaching the divine", his perception of "qi" became extremely acute.
He could "see" that on that map, the location of Qingcheng Mountain was surrounded by a warm and long-lasting "earth energy," like a dormant dragon.
Establishing a school of thought there would be twice as effective with half the effort.
Just as the top leadership of China was secretly launching the "Kunlun" plan for Ma Cong.
That video of "breaking a sword with one finger" also crossed the Great Firewall, causing a huge uproar on the internet worldwide.
Initially, overseas netizens reacted in the same way as domestic netizens.
"Oh my God, is this some new Chinese kung fu movie? The special effects are pretty good."
"He looks like a con artist; that sword is definitely a prop."
"It's just another publicity stunt, how boring."
But soon, some professional organizations and individuals stepped in.