Celestial Human Diagram-Chapter 126 - 114: Sacred Object

February 1st, the first day of the new semester at Wuyi Academy. It was still morning when the dormitory supervisor called some of the students, including Chen Chuan, outside.

He shook the form in his hand and said to the students before him:

"I’ve looked it over. Last year, most of you only attended a handful of public and invitation classes. That’s your choice, and there’s not much I can say about it."

"However, a teacher from the Maka exchange student program is holding an invitation class today. You all are going to go and show your support. We’ll just count this as your attendance for this year’s invitation and public classes."

Hearing there was such a good deal, the students immediately agreed out loud.

The dormitory supervisor reminded them, "Don’t underestimate this Maka teacher. They might not be our equals in fighting, but in certain areas, they have their own unique methods. To earn our respect, they’ll bring out knowledge that they keep secret even in their own country. It’ll be good for you to learn a thing or two."

Hearing the dormitory supervisor say this, the students’ interest was piqued. They were no longer just planning to go through the motions.

Since the invitation class was about to start, Chen Chuan and the other students left the dormitory building and walked toward the training hall specifically designated for the exchange teachers and students.

It was very close to the dorms, only a five-minute walk away. When Chen Chuan and the others entered, they saw the Maka teacher was already seated there.

The man was around forty years old and a typical Maka. He had an aquiline nose, a high forehead, and was dressed in a simple training uniform. The lines of his muscles were very fluid under his bronze skin. He wore a string of beads around his neck, and several white feathers were tucked into the decorative band holding his hair in a bun at the back of his head.

After the students came in, they first greeted the teacher. Once they received permission, they each sat down on the cushions arranged on the floor. Chen Chuan found a spot near the front.

When it was about time, the Maka teacher stood up and spoke in fluent Dashun official language:

"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Duma. In the Maka language, ’Duma’ means ’teacher.’ However, since we Maka People all use the language of the Dashun Republic, it’s gradually become more of a title and an honorific. You can call me Teacher Duma. Hmm, it feels a little strange, but that’s what you can call me."

The teacher’s first few sentences showed the students he wasn’t rigid, and the atmosphere became more relaxed, lessening the distance between them.

"For this cultural exchange, I’m very happy to be able to teach the students of Wuyi Academy. The Maka population is only a little over a million, and our entire country has only one Fighting Academy. Our competitive fighting level is not on par with yours, but we do have some unique techniques."

"In the understanding of us Maka People, all things originate from nature. Nature is omnipresent and capable of all kinds of transformations. The highest spiritual ideal of the Maka People is to master the self and merge with nature."

"We believe that every person is a slave to their body, so one must liberate the self to become the body’s true master. Next, I will demonstrate how to properly coordinate your own body. I’ll start with a relatively simple movement."

He held out his hands and spread them to the sides, extending his thumbs and pinkies to make the sign for ’six’ with both hands. The pinkies, in particular, were raised high and were very prominent.

Some of the students copied him. Although anyone could do this movement, they felt it couldn’t be that simple. There was definitely more to come.

Sure enough, Teacher Duma smiled, held the pose, and slowly sat down. Then, with impossibly nimble toes, he deftly removed his socks. He then made the sign for ’six’ with the toes of both feet. While holding that position, his middle toe slowly rose up before falling back down with ease.

He said, "Any interested students can try to copy me." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

A few of the students began to try. Taking off their socks with their feet was manageable, but when they tried to make the signs with their toes, their faces began to twist one by one.

’What kind of crazy class is this?’

Chen Chuan was lost in thought. His Mutated Organization now permeated every minute part of his body. Even without trying, he knew he could perform this feat with ease.

’But for someone who doesn’t possess this kind of Mutated tissue, or whose muscles and tendons in this area aren’t well-developed, it would be extremely difficult. This Maka technique seems to be designed specifically to develop control over the minute parts of the body.’

Teacher Duma then said, "What I’m demonstrating now is only the foundational part of Maka Karma Vein Study. In this class, I will give the students a general introduction to its learning process and methods of mastery."

"Students, do not underestimate it. With long-term practice, you can improve your mastery over yourselves, as well as your perception of the outside world. In fighting, it can help you better perceive subtle movements and changes. Sitting here right now, I can sense each of your breaths, heartbeats, body temperatures, and even the flow of your blood."

"If any students are interested, you are welcome to attend my classes regularly. Over the next semester, I will teach you this unique technique of the Maka People."

And while this class was in session, in a ninth-floor dorm room in the A-class student dormitory, a young Maka man was peering out through a gap in the curtains.

His features were sharp, with a high brow ridge. A small earring hung from one ear, and his hair was bound by a headband-like ornament. His physique was very well-built; a single glance told you he was an expert fighter.

Just then, the partially closed door behind him was pushed open, and another Maka Student entered from outside. He said to him, "Nali, Meili has been notified."

The man, Nali, didn’t turn around. He just said, "Good."

The Maka Student sat down on the sofa and complained, "Over here in Dashun, the men’s and women’s dorms are separate. It makes it hard for us to get everyone together."

Seeing Nali remain silent, he glanced over. "What are you looking at?"

Nali said, "The people here."

"What’s there to see? Don’t they look more or less like us? They’re all over the streets."

Nali said, "And the land here."

The Maka Student froze for a moment, then lay back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. "Nothing to see there, either. This place doesn’t belong to us now. Not since our people gave up the ancestral lands."

Nali said, "Shani, have you seen our kinsmen at the academy?"

Shani said, "Don’t even mention it. They stopped identifying as Maka People long ago. What kinsmen? They’re no different from the Dashun People now."

Nali said, "Then we can only rely on ourselves this time. Go and get everyone."

"Now?"

Nali nodded. "Now."

"What a pain," Shani grumbled, getting up and walking out.

When he returned, seven other Maka Students followed him. Thankfully, the dorm room was quite large, so even with so many of them, it didn’t feel crowded. They each found a place to sit.

Nali, meanwhile, pulled the curtains on the floor-to-ceiling windows shut. Then he turned to face everyone who had come in. He said, "According to the communications between our country and Wuyi, if we’re unlucky, our identities will be exposed in five days at most. So we have to get the item as soon as possible."

"As scheduled, in two to three days, Teacher Duma will take us to the Yangzhi City Foreign Affairs Bureau for a friendly exchange with the liaison officials. That’s when the Great Oak Leaf, which is enshrined here in Yangzhi City, will be brought out for display. This will be our only chance to retrieve it."

"However, the danger of this operation is obvious. Although the resistance forces here have agreed to cooperate with us, we’ll be up against the security forces of the Foreign Affairs Bureau. We also won’t be allowed to carry any weapons. The difficulty is very high. Are you prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice?"

Shani said, "Nali, enough said. From the first moment we set foot on this ancestral land, we have felt the call of our Ancestral Gods. We will definitely take back the Sacred Object of our Maka People."

The faces of the others also showed resolute expressions.

Nali looked at each person present. Every one of them met his gaze with unwavering determination; not a single person looked away.

He said in a low voice, "Zu’a, Shani, and the rest of you—over the next two days, use friendly sparring as a pretext to test the skill level of the Wuyi Students on the floors below us."

"It’s possible these students will accompany us during the exchange ceremony. If they sense something is wrong, they will definitely try to stop us. We need to figure out their strength first so we can plan accordingly."

"Alright!"

Everyone present agreed.

Nali gave a solemn nod and had everyone return to their rooms. About two hours later, there was another knock on the door. He hurried over to open it and welcome Teacher Duma inside.

He said, "Teacher, is your class over?"

Duma walked to the window and pulled back the curtains. He said, "The students of the Dashun Republic are very high-level. Even though it was their first time encountering Maka Karma Vein Study, I could feel that a few of them mastered the basics on the spot."

Nali was very surprised. "That fast?"

Duma sighed. "After all, Dashun has a large population, so they can find many people born with nature’s gifts. Our Maka population is too small. The country has to scrimp and save just to support us Fighters."

He turned back and said seriously, "You can’t just throw your lives away here. You have a much greater future ahead of you. When you seize the Oak Leaf, I will do my best to hold back everyone there. As soon as you have it, leave as quickly as possible. As many of you as can escape, must."

Nali asked with a heavy expression, "Teacher, when the time comes, will the resistance forces here really help us?"

"They will. They want to entangle us Maka People with them. Although they are using us, we must do this to bring our Sacred Object home. Besides, it’s not like we don’t have ways to make amends."

Nali said, "I still don’t understand. Since the Oak Leaf was originally ours, why can’t we just ask Yangzhi City for it? We have such a good relationship with them..."

Duma shook his head. "It’s not the same. Right now, they only know it as a symbolic object, so they don’t care much about it. But if they knew it was our Sacred Object, they might not be willing to return it. After all, the world’s ’echoes’ are growing stronger year by year. We’d rather get our hands on it first and let our country do the explaining later."

’This class is interesting and has a lot of valuable points,’ Chen Chuan thought as he headed back to his dorm. ’Maybe I’ll go listen in again when I have free time.’

He had just gotten back to the seventh floor when the dormitory supervisor called out to him. "Student Chen Chuan, you have a phone call."

Chen Chuan hurried over. The dormitory supervisor said to him, "Student Chen Chuan, you get so many phone calls, you could apply for a private phone line."

Chen Chuan was a little surprised. "I can do that?"

The dormitory supervisor smiled. "You won the scholarship for the first half of the school year, so you have that right. But if you don’t get it this semester, it’ll be revoked."

"Understood. Thank you, sir."

Chen Chuan walked up and picked up the receiver. Ren Shu’s excited voice came through the line. "Mr. Chen, the Administrative Affairs Hall just issued a new assignment. The agents we sent out previously have found a likely main stronghold of the Flying Head Sect. It’s in an old village in the Man Mountains to the northwest. The Administrative Affairs Hall is preparing to gather forces to go into the mountains and annihilate these cultists."

"Right now, they’re short on experts who can deal with Flying Heads. Because we handled the last one so successfully, the Administrative Affairs Hall was very satisfied. They’ve assigned this matter to our company again. I was wondering if you’re available to take the job, Mr. Chen?"

A flicker of interest in his eyes, Chen Chuan asked, "When?"

Ren Shu replied, "The assault is scheduled for before noon tomorrow. Mr. Chen, we probably need to reach the Man Mountain area tonight. That gives us only this afternoon to prepare. We won’t have to deal with the perimeter; our only responsibility is to eliminate the Flying Head Monster at the end."

Chen Chuan considered it for a moment. To be cautious, he felt it was necessary to communicate with Cheng Zitong first. He said, "Wait for my call."

...

...