May I seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, and live a long and prosperous life.

Early the next morning, the Third Prince's edict was officially announced to the entire city.

"Regardless of north or south, young or old, all citizens of Chu have the responsibility to defend our land and fight against the invaders! We urge all elders of the city to generously donate Grandmaster-level cultivation techniques, various Grandmaster secret methods, breakthrough insights, and other Grandmaster-related items to help Emperor Ye and other top-tier martial artists break through to the Grandmaster realm. All donors will be rewarded, and their names will be engraved on the merit monument for eternal remembrance!"

The moment this edict was issued, Yuncheng was in an uproar once again.

"His Highness the Third Prince's edict is excellent; I fully support it!"

"I support His Highness's decree and support the Night Emperor's breakthrough to the Grandmaster realm. Those who possess Grandmaster-level cultivation techniques should not hesitate to donate them generously and contribute to the nation!"

It can be said that this edict received the support of almost the entire city's population. For a time, many martial artists and people whose ancestors practiced martial arts went home and searched through their belongings, hoping to find something useful.

Unfortunately, master-level martial arts techniques are not commonplace; they are extremely rare. When such techniques exist, they are treasured as family heirlooms and are rarely shown to others.

Moreover, only grandmasters can create grandmaster-level techniques.

Masters are extremely rare, appearing only once every few decades.

This resulted in a situation where, although there were many respondents, very few were actually submitted, and those that were submitted were mostly fragments of low value, or simply everyday writings by grandmaster-level martial artists, with very little content related to cultivation.

Li Heng naturally saw this imperial edict as well.

Although he was pleased with the Third Prince's support for his breakthrough to the Grandmaster realm, he did not hold out much hope for it.

After trying to break through to the Grandmaster level so many times, Li Heng realized that it was not so easy to break through to the Grandmaster level; otherwise, there wouldn't be so few Grandmaster-level martial artists.

Having a complete master-level cultivation technique doesn't guarantee you a breakthrough.

The success of any martial artist who breaks through to the Grandmaster realm is the result of multiple factors working together, and it is not replicable. Even if those Grandmaster-level martial artists were to start training again now, they might not be able to break through to the Grandmaster realm again.

"Ultimately, it's because I lack talent in martial arts," Li Heng sighed.

Back then, Master Zhao from the Zhao Family Martial Arts School tested his martial arts aptitude and said that his aptitude was extremely poor. Therefore, even when his enemies came to seek revenge, they refused to pass on the core techniques to him.

Thinking of Master Zhao, Li Heng was instantly lost in memories, and he sighed:

"Now that Kangcheng has fallen, I wonder if Master Zhao is still alive? Are his enemies still targeting him?"

"Maple City has fallen. In Maple City Prison, is the warden still alive?"

"Are the mother and child who were on their way to Yuncheng safe and sound now?"

"Alas, things have changed, people are no longer the same, and everything is over."

"There's no use in thinking about it; I should just continue cultivating."

"My aptitude is poor, so I must start early. I cannot slack off in my cultivation for even a day."

……

Cloud City, Grandmaster Council Hall.

All the grandmasters of Yuncheng were sitting here, discussing the Third Prince's edict.

There are eight grandmasters present, currently divided into two factions. One faction agrees with the Third Prince's decree to publicly reveal their grandmaster-level techniques.

The other faction disagrees with revealing their master-level martial arts techniques.

Only three grandmasters agreed, and they were the closest to the third prince.

Five grandmasters disagree, but currently they only have a cooperative relationship with the Third Prince.

At this moment, an old man in a green robe and white beard spoke up:

"Gentlemen, the nation is currently facing a difficult situation. We must prioritize the greater good and not just think about our own small corner of the world! The nation is the foundation of our families! The opening of the Grandmaster-level martial arts techniques holds the promise of creating new Grandmaster-level martial artists."

Take that Emperor that night, for example. He was already invincible at the first-grade level. If we help him advance to the grandmaster level, wouldn't our camp gain a powerful expert? The situation might change because of that.

If everyone keeps their martial arts techniques secret, how can innovation and development be achieved? A hundred years from now, martial arts will have declined!

This old man in green robes is Yan Mufeng, the grandmaster who recognized the Blood Lotus Sect leader on the city wall earlier.

"Brother Yan is right. Only by opening up and sharing cultivation techniques can we achieve a flourishing of martial arts and usher in a great era of martial arts prosperity. As you have all seen, how many outstanding first-rank martial artists have emerged since the first-class cultivation techniques were made available for free more than a year ago? More than a hundred, which was unimaginable before."

As for martial artists below the first rank, they are as numerous as hairs on a cow. In my opinion, as long as they persevere, martial arts will flourish sooner or later! Grandmaster-level techniques are not as important as you think. It would be better to open them up and make a real contribution to the country and the rising stars of the martial arts world!

"Hmph, you make it sound so nice. None of your techniques were created by you. You're like children selling their grandfather's land without a care. You have a big family business, but we don't have your good fortune. This Grandmaster technique was created by me bit by bit. How can I just show it to others?"

Besides, the cultivation technique concerns my personal safety, and I won't let my enemies know everything about me. Moreover, even if Ye Tianzi could advance to Grandmaster, he would only be at the early stage of Grandmaster. How could he compare to martial artists like us who are at the mid or late stage of Grandmaster?"

"I absolutely disagree with this!" said an elderly man in black robes with a sneer.

This man is named Zheng Yuheng. He is at the peak of the late Grandmaster stage and has failed to break through to the Great Grandmaster stage multiple times. His path in martial arts is now severed. All the Grandmasters present who disagree with sharing their cultivation techniques follow his lead.

"Brother Zheng is right, I disagree too. This concerns my personal safety, there's no room for discussion!"

The other three masters also seconded the motion.

With three against five, the team was outnumbered, so the matter had to be put on hold for the time being.

Even the Third Prince couldn't force them to hand over the Grandmaster's martial arts techniques.

……

Yuncheng, the Zhou family ancestral home.

The Zhou family can be said to be the most prominent family in Yuncheng, with a very prosperous lineage. The current head of the family is Zhou Zhengqing.

This afternoon, Zhou Zhengqing invited the heads of each branch of the clan to the ancestral home to discuss important clan matters.

"Master, why have you summoned us all here in such a hurry today? Is there something urgent?"

"Everyone, please sit down."

In the main hall, Zhou Zhengqing sat in the main seat, while the other heads of various departments sat on either side.

Once everyone had arrived, Zhou Zhengqing spoke: "Everyone, as you probably know, early this morning, the Third Prince issued an edict encouraging everyone to donate Grandmaster-level martial arts techniques."

"Our Zhou family does indeed possess a complete Grandmaster-level cultivation technique. My idea is to respond to the Third Prince's call and hand over this Grandmaster-level cultivation technique, passed down from the tenth generation ancestor of the Zhou family, to the Third Prince."

"What are your thoughts?" Zhou Zhengqing asked, looking at the heads of each department.

"Patriarch, I think it's unnecessary. The Third Prince didn't say anything about forcing us to hand over the cultivation techniques. If we hand them over, we'll only get an empty title, but our Zhou family will lose the grandmaster-level cultivation techniques passed down from our ancestors. This is disrespectful to our ancestors! Patriarch, please reconsider!" The head of the second branch said with great distress.

"Yes, Patriarch, please reconsider. You surely understand the importance of a Grandmaster-level cultivation technique better than I do. Handing it over rashly will only harm our Zhou family!"

"Oh, so that's what you all think?" Zhou Zhengqing stared at the crowd with a stern gaze and sneered.