Legend of the Cyber Heroes
Chapter 194 - 194 114 Everyone Can Be a Martial God

194: Chapter 114: Everyone Can Be a Martial God 194: Chapter 114: Everyone Can Be a Martial God ——I sometimes think that we are actually living in a world full of undead.

In the 2030s, Xiang Shan often thought this way.

In this world, there exist “undead spirits” that were born before modern society, either parasitizing between genomes in the form of “instinct” or existing within the culture as “myth.”

The neuronal pathways of modern humans still surge with the soul sparks of their ancestors.

It is deity, it is morality, it is ignorance, it is oppression.

All the traditions of the dead predecessors cling to the minds of the living like a nightmare.

So, the “extermination of the undead” is necessary.

This was Xiang Shan’s…

no, this was the goal that Xiang Shan’s group sought to pursue.

The original goal of the cyberization research was to cut off the foundation of existence of these undead at the root.

With the means of technology, to completely transform humanity.

Let the ghosts that exist within instincts lose their basis for existence.

Let the ghosts that exist within cultures face a completely changed society.

This was the initial goal.

Xiang Shan was convinced that only by shaking off the ghosts clinging to the human spirit could mankind take a further step toward the “Kingdom of Freedom.”

That’s what he believed.

But now…

“Xiang Shan” is now also an undead.

“‘They needed a flag, so they created Martial God the Second’?

What a joke,” Xiang Shan cursed in a low voice: “Why did we bind ‘Martial Arts’ to blockchain technology?

It’s because right from the start, we had the realization that it didn’t matter who died, as long as the flame was passed on, it can be seen as a victory of a stage.”

“So what if ‘Xiang Shan’ has died?

As long as ‘chivalry’ remains, Xiang Shan will be ‘immortal.’

“When Martial God was born, ‘Xiang Shan’ already reeked of decay.”

“And such things have happened at least ten times!

Ten times!”

Only those “recognized by the friends of Xiang Shan” could possibly be entitled to the status of “Martial God.”

Then, there must also be some True Personality Masks who “believe themselves to be Xiang Shan, but have deviated too much in their actions to be recognized by the friends of Xiang Shan.”

This sort of thing must have happened more than just ten times throughout history.

Yuki scratched his head, saying, “But, no matter how many times it happened, you were always the one protecting everyone, Master.

I witnessed your battles with the Green Forest.

No matter who you are, you must be the best Hero.”

“What does that matter?” Xiang Shan stood up, half-kneeling on the ground, gazing at Yuki: “If I am the Martial Ancestor Xiang Shan, then I should be furious, for having been treated as a shrine.

And if I am the Martial Ancestor Xiang Shan’s Personality Mask, I should be equally enraged—my mere standing here is an insult to chivalry!”

“More than two hundred years!

More than two hundred years, and these people still can’t understand the issue?

‘Xiang Shan’ has died, so can’t everyone uphold justice anymore?

Do they really need to create another ‘Xiang Shan’ to worship before they can be at ease?”

Originally when designing Martial Arts, everyone insisted on using blockchain to package all Martial Arts and upload them to the network.

This ensures that even if the first group of Heroes all die, the spark will be hidden on the network.

Over a long period, someone will find it, and then use it to ignite a decaying, degenerate world.

It can be said that “the first group of Heroes” truly fought with the realization of “it doesn’t matter even if I die today.”

In that era, there were even few Heroes who actually believed they would achieve the ultimate victory—because among the billions of humans, only these less than one hundred insignificant figures could raise the banner of rebellion and fight.

So, “Jianghu” should indeed be a team that “can continue to exist no matter who dies.”

And now, those people are repeatedly creating “Xiang Shans.”

——Hahaha…

hahahaha…

What a colossal joke.

Why Xiang Shan?

Does someone like Xiang Shan even have anything worth such worship?

A moment of silence.

He still didn’t quite understand the reason for his master’s rage.

Perhaps he’d never be able to comprehend it.

Actually, Yuki’s recognition of Xiang Shan was also limited to “a very formidable Hero.”

But after hearing the stories retold by others, the young man had a direct understanding of the extent of his master’s capabilities.

The master was a personage of legend.

Yuki said, “Master, I don’t think you necessarily have to see it that way.”

“Huh…

that’s true.

Without investigation, there’s no right to speak—so let me ask you, what do you think the ‘Martial God’ really is?”

Yuki organized his thoughts and said, “There are many ‘Martial Gods’; they probably chose to become Xiang Shan voluntarily.”

Xiang Shan snorted with a sneer, “Yes, Xiang Shan is just a naive idiot, and those who turn themselves into Xiang Shan are the biggest idiots among idiots.”

“No, Master, hear me out,” Yuki argued.

“I believe that some Martial Gods, they all chose to become Xiang Shan willingly.”

“Yes,” Xiang Shan scoffed coldly.

“The mob also willingly hands over power to leaders with the fervor of Saints.”

“I think it’s very different, very different indeed,” Yuki shook his head.

“I believe that if I really could choose, I would also opt to become a ‘Martial God’.”

Xiang Shan suddenly stood up.

Yuki sensed that his master was probably really angry.

“If you don’t provide a convincing reason…

Kid, I will expel you from my tutelage today!”

People should not have the freedom to give up their freedom—a person should not voluntarily become the slave of another.

Because such an act is a trampling upon the concept of “human.”

Similarly, one should not have the freedom to “give up on oneself.”

For centuries, numerous kind-hearted and aspiring individuals have opened up public wisdom, calling for mass awakening, not so you can throw away your awakened will like garbage, or even stomp on it on the ground.

This is an indisputable “desecration of heroes.”

Xiang Shan was truly surprised.

It was hard for him to imagine that his disciple could also harbor such thoughts.

If he really couldn’t give a reason and just said “I think it’s good”…

Ah, “expelling from tutelage” and such were merely to scare children.

But if Yuki really replied in such a way, then Xiang Shan would have to change his teaching approach.

Yuki bowed his head and said, “Because Martial Gods are very powerful.”

“Oh,” Xiang Shan nodded.

“So powerful that they got knocked to their knees eleven times.”

“Oh, but Master, even with partial memory loss and a shabby prosthetic body, you can still fight against those Lords in the city,” Yuki scratched his head.

“If I become a Martial God, maybe my little hometown can live better.

My mom could have it easier.

And with knowledge as rich as yours, Master, we could produce more goods, do more things.”

Yuki looked at Xiang Shan earnestly and said, “I used to live in great pain.

But miraculously, I wasn’t even aware that it was painful, so there was no way to change it.

I think, everyone in the town is probably the same.

Whether they’re the people who bullied me as a child, or the adults who took care of me…”

“If I were a Martial God, everything would be different.”

Xiang Shan wanted to say something, but in the end didn’t curse out loud.

Perhaps this is a perspective unique to the people of this era.

“What’s so good about becoming Xiang Shan, anyway,” Xiang Shan sat back down on the ground.

“Without Xiang Shan, can people no longer act heroically and uphold justice?

It’s ridiculous.”

“But Master, let’s be serious …” Yuki said.

“If everyone had the chance to become ‘Xiang Shan’, then here, ‘Xiang Shan’ would not be just you alone.

I could be Xiang Shan tomorrow, Big Brother Cui could be Xiang Shan tomorrow, and that old man [referring to Solo Kill King] could also become Xiang Shan tomorrow.”

“I think that ‘Xiang Shan’ as people discuss now, has gone beyond the original ‘Martial Ancestor Xiang Shan’.

To me, ‘becoming Martial God’ is just like ‘becoming a hero’.”

Xiang Shan was taken aback, then began to laugh.

At first, it was a light laugh, but soon, the laughter grew louder and amplified.

Quickly, the guffaw filled the entire carriage.

Yuki was a bit uneasy: “Ah?

Master, did I say something wrong?

Is it…

such a laughable mistake?”

“No, no, you didn’t say anything wrong.

I just didn’t expect you could say such a thing,” Xiang Shan patted his disciple’s head.

“Very good, you have made great progress.”

Yuki’s face lit up with joy: “So, Master, you’ve already figured it out…”

Xiang Shan raised a hand and gestured: “I still hold my opinion.

I think everyone who volunteers to become ‘Martial God’ is an idiot, a fool, a rotten wood that completely refuses to learn from past lessons!

According to Xiang Shan’s own thinking, this behavior must be a wrong path, it is a desecration of chivalry…”

Saying this, he sighed, “But, you do have a point.

If Xiang Shan’s memories can help people of this era to survive better, then perhaps becoming ‘Martial God’ under no other choice, isn’t necessarily unacceptable.”

“Martial God” does not only include “man-made Pseudo-personality Masks.” It also encompasses “True Personality Masks that deceive the biological brain into believing it is Xiang Shan.”

And becoming this kind of True Personality Mask is actually not easy.

The main reason lies in the “channel.”

Yawgmoth, the father of all machines, first uploaded a small portion of Xiang Shan’s data, whether to humiliate or express something else is unknown.

And to prevent the image of the Martial Ancestor from being unilaterally distorted by the government, other Heroes also uploaded their memories to that blockchain, striving to restore an objective Martial Ancestor.

Consequently, that blockchain grew longer and had more branches.

At first, it was open access.

This process continued until “the birth of a Martial God.”