CHAPTER 1044: CHAPTER 48: DEVELOPMENT

"Grassland Heroes’ Arena..." Jeanne pondered this name carefully, then shook her head: "No impression... Why is this noteworthy?"

Xiang Shan also said: [The name is plain and unremarkable. It doesn’t match the naming style already revealed by the Six Dragons Sect.]

The Grassland Heroes’ Arena should be an event similar to the Paralympics. Organized by the government, the Paralympics is one of the few remaining celebrations in human society and a competition for civilian martial artists and non-active Protector forces. Its scale encompasses the entire Solar System, and even members from Neutral City-States are allowed to register—as long as you can smuggle yourself to the competition site.

Beneath the Paralympics, there are also regional rankings for various areas, with the official competitions centered around "cities" governed by high-level military officers. Many martial artists aim to achieve a regional ranking in their hometown city as a goal.

But beyond these competitions, there are others. Under the jurisdiction of the Protectors, there is no complex and rigorous organization; all competitions are spontaneously initiated, either established temporarily or arranged by service-oriented AI provided for free by the network.

Of course, in places beyond the Protectors’ oversight, there are also some "organized" and "less pure" contests.

Underground fight rings that allow gambling elements.

However, this is a Neutral City-State, free from the jurisdiction of the Protectors. Therefore, some spontaneously organized events by the public can be held long-term, even becoming a brand.

The Grassland Heroes’ Arena is probably one of those.

"This is speculation based on intelligence from the City of Ur," Jin said. What he referred to was already well-known intelligence. Most martial artists with some connections were already aware. He said: "The Guardian of the City of Ur, Mr. Sandelier, identified that guy’s martial arts as Gloomy Style, a rare variant from ’Nebula Chains.’ And the Gloomy Style practiced by that Six Dragons Sect martial artist belongs to a niche branch under this offshoot."

"Afterwards, Mr. Sandelier even mobilized the power of the City of Ur to search the network for resources of that distinctive branch. He downloaded several secret manuals of the Gloomy Style with slight differences, but upon personal use, felt they were not the same as what he saw that day."

"How typical," Asgard remarked, "Not all martial arts can have resources available, right? Although the Martial Ancestor advocated sharing, in reality, not everyone does so. There are many unshared databases on the Protector’s side, containing unique Martial Arts Algorithms."

Of course, these Martial Arts Algorithms need to be updated regularly because heroes always seize the government’s Martial Arts Algorithms. Once captured, these Martial Arts Algorithms are quickly shared out.

In this era, once information begins to spread on the network, it’s almost impossible to completely eradicate it.

The cost of monopolizing martial studies is considerable.

After all... to avoid being seized, one must ensure these Martial Arts Algorithms are not taken to the frontline. But what significance does a Martial Arts Algorithm have if it’s not brought to the frontline?

"No, it’s not that simple to say one has never seen it," Jin shook his head and said, "That guy’s Gloomy Style is probably a variant with a unique style, perhaps developed by himself and not shared, so it hasn’t appeared in any hero’s vision."

"Mr. Sandelier released a small portion of a simulated animation recreated from his memory. Then a Martial Arts Grandmaster was searching for records online. Currently, the closest record matches a martial artist Ti Xiqing, who gained fame eighty years ago at the Grassland Heroes’ Arena."

"Oh? Ti Xiqing..." Jeanne searched through her memory again and then shook her head, "A name not appearing in any official records."

"Yes, back then, Ti Xiqing was a top-notch expert, at most equivalent to a mid-level military officer among the Protectors," Jin said, "It’s normal for mobile cavalry not to pay attention. But some people believe that Ti Xiqing at that time, in terms of ’personal style’, was closest to the one-layer martial artist from Six Dragons Sect in the City of Ur. Among all the video records, he was the most similar, much more than the second closest."

Jeanne said: "If that’s all, it doesn’t amount to much, does it? I too have boxed in similar underground rings to earn a bit of funds."

There are also many unofficial arenas outside the Paralympics. Jeanne had participated in one or two during hard times. Back then, he was still on Earth, with a tattered prosthetic body garnered from Green Forest.

But Jeanne, even without Xiang Shan, was an elite ranger. Her level of boxing technique was like dynamite in a fish pond in such competitions.

Perhaps not even the exhibition match history’s first cybernetically enhanced martial artist had with natural martial artists three hundred years ago was as easy for her to win.

If there’s only this bit of evidence, it’s not enough to focus on this so-called Grassland Heroes’ Arena.

Jin said: "The City of Ur also recorded combat footage of seven or eight members of the Six Dragons Sect. External strength experts recognized that one of them’s personal style is similar to another martial artist who left records at the Grassland Heroes’ Arena fifty years ago."

"Moreover, these two people’s martial studies styles were already similar then, and their psychological profiles should also be close. Some experts online analyzed, saying this might be the basis on which Six Dragons Sect recruited them — they had a side in their personalities that matched the structure of Six Dragons Sect, hence they were recruited."

Tumor Xiang Shan sighed: [This has become an industry... ]

[What?]

[Nothing, I just remembered the old days.] The phantom of Tumor Xiang Shan appeared before Jeanne, shaking his head, [Didn’t you previously play that old game with Li Zheyuan? It reminded me of my past.]

[What happened?]

[Back then, I thought AI behavior was readable because AI didn’t have irrational modules. Its behavior could be understood through analysis. But humans were hard to comprehend.] Tumor Xiang Shan said calmly, [Therefore I never thought ’cyber martial arts’ could ever establish. Understanding AI logic prioritizes rational individuals, who may not have strong empathy for their kind and may find it hard to ’read’ their kind’s psychology.]

While sentimental people may undoubtedly understand others’ thoughts through the "empathy" brought by mirror neurons.

But such people may not use well the cheats Xiang Shan used when scoring 129,633 points back then.

That progress must have been achieved long after.

Inga participated in both the Standardization Modification Surgery and the early Restoring Enzyme projects. The initial aim of these projects was "cognitive revolution", to enhance human cognitive abilities.

Around 2050, that batch of humans took a half-step forward for greater development.

At that time, a higher world was just opening to humanity.

And then, the initial pioneers exhibited "trait" divergence.

Their brains seemed to embark on radically different paths amidst some change.

The enhancement Xiang Shan gained was the ability of ’understanding’. He could more easily comprehend AI logic and strategically devise rational plans.

Zhu Xinyu, on the other hand, acquired the talent for ’creation’. She could understand and alter everything encompassed within computer systems more freely and quickly.

And what Inga acquired was different from either of them.

Inga’s primary enhancement was her already strong linguistic talent. Some people’s minds can only accommodate their native language, with no room for a second language. Yet Ingrid could easily learn any human language.

After the brain enhancements, this ability expanded even further.

She could more easily interpret others’ intentions and detect what they wished to express beyond language through facial expressions and physical movements. This sensation was almost like the legendary "Telepathy" - she seemed to be reading minds.

Language was indeed the bridge of the mind.

Of course, back then Xiang Shan still didn’t think such abilities could be used in combat. He only thought about enhancing human cognitive abilities.

It was only much later that he realized these skills could be used to read others’ martial studies and anticipate moves.