The Urban Cultivation Grandmaster

Chapter 44: Global Monopoly!

Technology Embargo? Holding the phone in his hands, the old man quietly watched the entire video—nearly three hours long—from start to finish. During that time, he even forgot to eat dinner. The person below him had intended to remind him, but the old man’s focused and solemn expression made them hesitate. The courtyard and the room inside were unusually quiet, broken only by the chirping of birds in the garden. Beneath the old man’s calm exterior lay a heart that was anything but at peace; he even felt a hint of excitement—an emotional fluctuation rarely seen in him. When it did occur, it was invariably a sign of something truly momentous. After a long while, the old man exhaled a heavy breath and slowly uttered four words: “The pillars of the nation!” At an informal meeting in the Imperial Capital, every attendee held a prominent position; with their influence, they were capable of determining the rise and fall of over a billion people. “The Southwest Spirit Stone Development Project has stalled. With our current capabilities, we are not yet strong enough to conquer the Hundred Thousand Mountains. It is time to adjust our plans.” “The spirit beasts deep within the mountains are truly terrifying; we’re no match for them. Unless we resort to nuclear weapons—but the consequences are unpredictable. Who knows how much value the spirit lands would retain after being contaminated by radiation!” “In my opinion, we need to comprehensively advance the education of cultivators. No matter what, cultivator talent is crucial. If our military were composed entirely of cultivators, the Southwest Development Corps wouldn’t have suffered a total rout the moment they clashed.” “I assume everyone has seen the widely circulated online video of Master Xiao Mu teaching cultivation techniques. Since most of us here have relatively low cultivation levels and are laypeople in this field, Master Zhang, could you offer your insights?” Most of the attendees at the meeting were middle-aged or elderly leaders, and their cultivation levels were generally quite low. Therefore, the elderly man turned to ask the middle-aged man in a Taoist robe sitting next to him. The “Master Zhang” mentioned by the elderly man possessed an ethereal, otherworldly air, his demeanor graceful and serene, as if he were a being from the realm of the immortals. Hearing the elderly man’s question, Master Zhang nodded slightly, speaking with neither arrogance nor subservience, and said slowly, “I have also watched the video. Although I have never carefully practiced this Ancient Wild Ox Visualization Diagram myself, Master Mu’s explanation has been immensely beneficial to me and has given me profound insights. To have mastered this cultivation technique overnight is truly incredible—what a great blessing! Truly, a great blessing!” Immediately, an elderly man standing nearby chuckled, “Master Zhang, you’re joking. With your level of insight, it wouldn’t have been difficult even if you’d figured it out on your own!” Taoist Master Zhang shook his head: “If I had stood before the Heritage Stele, I might have received the transmission through its divine blessing. But if I had merely been given an engraved copy of the ‘Ancient Wild Ox Visualization Diagram’ manual, this humble monk would have been no better off than someone gazing at a heavenly text! Teacher Xiao Mu has grasped the true essence of the Daowen text. He explains the cultivation method as if recounting a cherished family heirloom, detailing every point one by one. He meticulously lists all the key points of cultivation, and even the wondrous visualization of the divine soul is described in vivid and vivid detail—it’s truly incredible!” “Are you saying, Master Zhang, that ordinary people can also learn this cultivation method from Teacher Xiao Mu?” the old man asked urgently, while the dozen or so other elders around him looked at Master Zhang with anticipation. Living up to everyone’s expectations, Master Zhang nodded solemnly: “This is precisely what has astounded me. Even ordinary people with even a modicum of cultivation talent have the potential to master it. This is a brand-new era—Master Mu has ushered in a new age, enlightening the masses. He is truly a sage!” As a Divine Perception Realm super-powerhouse, it was extremely rare for Master Zhang to praise a junior so openly—not to mention that whenever he referred to this junior, Master Zhang addressed him as “Master Mu,” a title that spoke volumes! Hearing such affirmation from a super-powerful expert who had transcended the Pulse-Condensation Realm, the elders present finally breathed a sigh of relief. Faced with the rapid rise of spirit beasts, how should humanity respond? Mu Tian is taking action! A faint smile flitted across the face of the elderly man seated at the head of the conference table. He was actually no stranger to this young man, Mu Tian. A couple of years ago, students from Tianhai Academy had come to the Imperial Capital to file a complaint against Mu Tian, alleging that Tianhai Cultivator Academy was shielding him. The matter had been taken seriously; after a thorough investigation and upon Professor Cha’s recommendation, a young man well-versed in Daowen texts had come to the attention of the assembled leaders. The old man had high hopes for Mu Tian, expecting him to contribute to the promotion of Daowen in Huaxia once he had completed his studies. Yet in just a year or two, this inexperienced young man had grown so rapidly—his previous achievements in promoting Daowen worldwide had already left them deeply satisfied. Now, just as he was feeling lost and troubled, it was this very young man who brought him another pleasant surprise. Comprehending Daowen texts and comprehensively promoting cultivation techniques—this marked the dawn of a new era. It was easy to imagine that, before long, the number of Huaxia cultivators would grow exponentially. What a truly heartening development this was. “Leaders, since Master Mu’s cultivation method instruction is truly so effective, shouldn’t we restrict access to the materials and strictly prohibit other countries from obtaining these valuable video recordings?” The words of a middle-aged man silenced the entire room. Technology embargoes—especially those targeting cutting-edge knowledge—were nothing new to the elders present. In the past, Western nations had withheld advanced technologies and equipment from them, leaving them with grievances they could not voice. Now the tables had turned: they possessed the world’s most advanced knowledge, and to maintain their global monopoly, they would naturally have to use the very tactics against them that had once been used against them! Block access? Or should we remain open? Everyone in the room was deep in thought; for a moment, no one spoke. “Our country has finally produced something truly valuable—we can’t just let them have it for free. Remember how they treated us back then? They once championed freedom and openness, yet they imposed restrictions and blockades specifically on us. Now it’s our turn to block them!” “I agree with Elder Cai. This is the fruit of Master Mu’s labor and a precious treasure of Huaxia. Giving it away for free is simply unacceptable. Xiao Lu, have you blocked and censored the video materials? Don’t let any secrets leak out!” The middle-aged man at the end of the meeting now wore a serious expression as he reported, “We immediately implemented a comprehensive block on overseas IP addresses. Internet users abroad cannot access or obtain Master Mu’s video materials. Anyone attempting to log in and view Master Mu’s videos must undergo identity verification before gaining access.” “Xiao Lu, good job!” “I believe we need to make the video materials available to the whole world!” Just as many were discussing how to block the materials, someone voiced an opposing view. “Our current conflict is no longer between nations or ethnic groups, but concerns the very survival of all humanity and the entire human race. The powerful rise of spirit beasts threatens billions of people worldwide. At this moment, we must set aside our prejudices and jointly face the turbulent future ahead...” Dozens of people at the conference table were engaged in a heated debate, while online, a storm was continuing to brew. Countless netizens from all corners of the globe were now engaged in heated discussions, their hearts filled with anxiety. Having been overjoyed just moments ago while watching Master Mu’s lecture, they were suddenly denied access—and their frustration was beyond words. Huaxia had blocked them!!! People all over the world were crying out in anguish!