Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 584 - 565: North and South

At the end of the news, Chief Zhang announced the appointment of Zhou Leng as a Junior Martial Arts General.

Chief Zhang pinned a series of medals onto the hospital gown.

National Hero Medal, Special Merit Medal, Special Combat Hero Medal, Hundred Battles Hero Medal, Thousand Battles Hero Medal...

National Highest Martial Arts Technology Medal, Martial Arts Progress Medal, Divine Text Technology Medal, Major Technology Progress Award...

Model Worker, Top Ten Outstanding Youth...

Every honor that could possibly be awarded to Zhou Leng was given in full.

The medals weighed down Zhou Leng’s body, causing the hospital gown to droop heavily.

At the end of the news, the scene cuts to an interview with Zhou Leng by a Tian Vision journalist.

The journalist started with some general questions, all of which Zhou Leng answered with clichéd diplomatic language.

Finally, the journalist asked, "General Zhou Leng, what would you like to say to the audience watching on screen now?"

Zhou Leng turned, gazing into the camera as if looking at countless viewers outside the screen.

"I’ve been severed from martial arts, please let me recuperate peacefully, thank you."

The scene returns to the newsroom, accompanied by the familiar closing sound of Tian Vision News.

The two hosts were slowly sorting through their scripts.

One was as usual, while the other’s mind was heavy.

After staring at the screen for a while, everyone went to their commonly used online platforms to express their opinions.

Some went to video websites, others to text platforms, and some to small forums...

Among these, the text discussion website "Martial Arts" became one of the hottest sites.

The top trending question was "What do you think about all the events regarding Zhou Leng?"

Beneath the question, countless people eloquently posted their answers.

"First, resolve the issue of liking in exchange for Replenishing Essence Pills."

"My classmate cried a lot; he was wrongfully accused back then. He said he knew from the start that Zhou Leng was innocent."

"Even Zhou Leng faced such treatment; I can’t imagine how desperate we ordinary people feel against such a system."

"I just want to know, who on earth deployed over four hundred media outlets to target a child severed from martial arts? How powerful are these people’s influence?"

Someone replied: "Back then, a non-martial artist game booster led to over four hundred major media outlets fabricating lies. Now deploying over four hundred media outlets for Zhou Leng, is that hard? You guys are too naive."

Another replied: "Thankfully, Zhou Leng passed the tests of language, math, English, physics, chemistry, biology, and driving license. If he had failed just one, he would have been destroyed."

"Do you honestly think martial artists severed from martial arts and game boosters have any distinction in their eyes?"

At first, the responses weren’t intense.

But gradually, the answers below became more and more heated.

"The arrowed one returns home, Tian Vision News stabbed from the back; Demon Slayer Warrior triumphs, grand media shoots a cold arrow; Fog Breaker succeeds, inspectors splash a basin of muck; Hundred Battles Hero opens the door, citizen media hacks with a kitchen knife...what a spectacle."

"Indeed, delayed justice isn’t justice, it’s just the truth that can’t be hidden anymore..."

"I really want to know, in the end, will this matter be settled peacefully, thoroughly investigated, or not even bother pretending."

"It’s horrifying; Zhou Leng with so many honors, so much protection, fully stacked with buffs, reaching the maximum defense a common person can achieve, still was pierced through by an ordinary person. This strike, the path was obliterated."

Someone replied below: "After all, he’s the number one Batulu in Demon Purgatory."

"One person? You guys are still too immature."

Gradually, all sorts of masters began to appear.

"If you’re dissatisfied with Blue Star, stop complaining, strive to build it. Once built, an accusation will incarcerate you."

"For humanity to oppose the Demon, they must protect martial artists, appropriately elevate martial artists’ status so they can devote themselves with determination. Reversing this shows the irreversible trend of humanity’s surrender."

"I’m from the Demon Worship Sect; after understanding the whole story, I’m finally relieved, realizing we represent human justice. Hahahahaha..."

"The battlefield slays thousands of demons, at home thousands dishonor him. This prosperous era, as you wish."

"Today, my poetic inspiration surged, I compose a poem ’Country Joy’ dedicating to the accusers and those behind them, inviting fellow Daoists to appreciate the work: The sun rises in the east, the evening glow of emerald, sheltered sand and windless joy, all seek the light."

"This event fully proves our country is a multi-form nation, predominantly composed of certain Demon Worship Sect members, with most natives."

The comment section erupted in chaos, everything that could and couldn’t be said was laid bare.

Yet, the most lively hot comment wasn’t up front but hidden in the middle.

Even suppressed in rank, countless people replied, single answers received tens of thousands of replies quickly, increasing at a terrifying pace.

The comment read: "Hello North Elephant Country people, I’m a South Elephant Country person."

These few words broke countless netizens, who began furiously cursing.

Someone accused: "Heard you Elephant Country people like reptilians?"

The person replied: "Yeah, heard you’re the number one strong Aye Country."

"Heard you Elephant Country people prefer beastmen?"

"Yeah, heard you’re the number one strong Aye Country."

"Heard you Elephant Country is full of Demon Worship Sect?"

"Yeah, heard you’re the number one strong Aye Country."

...

No matter how netizens criticized and insulted, that person only used one sentence to break countless netizens’ defenses.

However, because this person’s IP was shown to be domestic, everyone knew it was satire.

Until a reply appeared from a netizen with an IP from Elephant Country, and netizens’ defenses were broken a second time.

"I am an Elephant Country citizen, living by the Ganges River, I have been studying hard and cultivating diligently since childhood. My biggest dream was to wait for you people from Dragon Country to come south and rescue us. Now, my dream has shattered."

Countless netizens were silent for a long time after seeing this sentence.

"Let me translate Zhou Leng’s last sentence: I am already a cripple, just let me go, I’m sorry, on the heavens news in front of the national audience, I kowtow to you! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

One reply after another broke netizens’ defenses, and one reply after another was deleted.

After the news broadcast, a demonized aircraft broke through the night sky and landed at the Ancient River Research Bureau.

Zhou Leng stood at the hatch, looking down.

All the disciples remaining here, the numerous high-ranking officials of Rucheng, stood in front.

Thunderous applause echoed endlessly.

"Master Zhou, you’re amazing!" Everyone shouted, and some children jumped with excitement.

Zhou Leng nodded slightly as a sign of acknowledgment and walked off the plane.

Behind him, Wang Boxiong, Chen Shouhu, and others involved in the honors ceremony followed off the plane.

Zhou Leng held a meeting with Li Yuanhe and others to inquire about the planning here.

Eventually, Zhou Leng chose a location to formally establish the Shuizhou Trial Ground here.

The first Innate level advanced trial ground in human history was settled at the Ancient River Research Bureau in Rucheng.

A huge blue vortex slowly rotated, gradually forming a completely independent space.

Everyone looked at the rotating radiance, puzzled.

Only Chen Shouhu and Wang Boxiong, who had touched high-level secrets, vaguely guessed a possibility.

Chen Shouhu took Zhou Leng by the shoulder and asked in a low voice, "Did you achieve Celestial Ladder last time during the celestial entrance exam?"

"Once it’s formed, you’ll know." Zhou Leng’s expression was calm.

Chen Shouhu wanted to ask more but remembered Zhou Leng’s experiences in recent days and said, "Don’t worry, I’m also waiting for the result. If it’s handled the same way as before, I’ll gather skilled hands and set a Grandmaster Life and Death Platform with the sixteen families. If they don’t agree, I’ll slaughter them!"

Wang Boxiong slowly said, "The heavens are vast, the earth is vast, but rules are the greatest. In their eyes, they only see the total score, not the individual scores, nor can they see them. Zhou Leng alone cannot change the inertia formed by the giant beast over hundreds of years. You should prepare the Grandmaster Life and Death Platform."

"You’ve been saying strange things lately." Chen Shouhu frowned and said.

Wang Boxiong ignored Chen Shouhu and said, "Where are you going next?"

"I want to go back to the mountains alone, I don’t want to be disturbed."

Wang Boxiong nodded and said, "Okay, you rest first. Anyway, this matter needs some time to process. When you emerge, it should be almost done."

Wang Boxiong personally drove, carrying Zhou Leng forward.

"Identity revealed, credit fully given, next is the distribution of benefits." Wang Boxiong instructed Zhou Leng while driving.

"You’re not suitable to follow the martial career path."

"But the civilian route in the Martial Mansion, that’s best suited for you."

"As long as you can bear with patience, with your high starting point, seriously learn to be a person, honestly do things, step by step, you will surely rise smoothly. At worst, you’ll be given a high-ranking idle job."

Zhou Leng said, "Right now I need to solve two problems, only after solving them can I follow the civilian route."

"The first problem, the sixteen families are deeply rooted in the Martial Mansion. They are not just a line, but a network, their forces are intricate and complex, reaching the Celestial Palace. Can I beat them within the rules they set if I go civilian?"

"The second problem is, I’ve never been good at petty maneuvers and intrigues. What do you mean by learning to be a person and doing things? Does my uncle Ma Xingkong know how to be a person and do things? Only after solving these two problems can I consider whether to go civilian."

Wang Boxiong sighed deeply and said, "The civilian route is not suitable for you either. You can only follow the business route."

"Then checking fire safety on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, checking hygiene on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, changing the signboard on weekends?"

Wang Boxiong remained silent, Zhou Leng’s resentment was understandable, anyone would struggle to keep a good temper.

"What do you want to do?"

"I’ll rest for a while first, then find an opportunity to go on vacation in the Demon Spirit World." Zhou Leng said.

Wang Boxiong carefully worded his reply, "Leaving Blue Star could have very serious consequences and negative impacts."

"I just want to stay alive."

"Wait for the result to be processed. But the matter has many facets, the upper levels need to handle it one by one, it can’t be solved all at once. Once the final result is out, if you’re not satisfied, I’ll personally escort you to the Demon Spirit World."

"Okay."

Upon reaching Xiaoru Village, Zhou Leng opened the door and got off, pausing at the entrance.

"Hall Master, how can similar things be prevented from happening again?"

"Prevention is impossible, but there are ways to mitigate."

"What method?"

"Every dynasty’s end in the historical books is answering."

Zhou Leng, with his back to the driver’s seat, said, "I heard in the Great Battlefield the Demon slandered Zhao Family, saying Zhao Tong set a trap targeting children from eighteen schools for Original Demon blood; Zhao He apprehended women worldwide for White Lake Mother Fruit by the Demon Worship Sect; now, not sure for what reason, starting to arrest men worldwide, true or not?"

"What’s fake can’t become real, what’s true can’t become fake." Wang Boxiong said.

"I understand."