Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 604 - 584: Grandmaster

Ancient River Sect Ruins, side gate of the Hall of a Thousand Weapons.

The Azure Sword squinted at the arched door.

He tried to jump and look inside; it was empty.

Climbing the wall? As if he’d lost his mind.

He quietly watched, while contemplating what to do next.

"This person is the key! I even suspect he might be more suited for this place than the Blood of Tyranny. Back then, the Blood of Tyranny’s body definitely wasn’t this strong."

"As for the True Qi issue, he came in without it; does that mean he has another kind of power?"

"This person is definitely not ordinary, cannot be let go!"

"Early investments, losses are acceptable; as long as he advances to a demigod, I’ll make a huge profit!"

As the Azure Sword pondered, the ground shook, and the air rolled out like waves.

He looked up to see a strange divine light surging into the sky from the courtyard, with thunder and fire intertwined amidst the light, and myriad spirits swirling.

The divine light soared to the sky’s end, with colored clouds connecting and covering the firmament.

Soon, a black hole was opened.

The black hole rapidly expanded, devouring the colored clouds, transforming into a starry sky.

That starry sky was incomparably brilliant; a closer look would reveal a huge space composed of countless large galaxies.

Galaxies like the Milky Way numbered in the trillions.

The Deep Field.

Suddenly, the stars above disappeared quickly, and before long, the vast sky turned into endless pure black.

In the pure black region, shadowy giants were faintly moving, difficult to make out.

The Black Zone.

The scales of the Azure Sword trembled, scraping against each other, producing a subtle sound.

Indescribable fear and joy simultaneously erupted in his heart.

"A celestial omen! A Martial Arts celestial omen, a Grandmaster’s celestial omen..."

The Azure Sword was nearly ecstatic, as a Grandmaster-level martial arts celestial omen would appear in the Ten Realms perhaps once in many tens of thousands of years.

Unexpectedly, he witnessed it.

"The revival of the Azure Royal Family is at hand!"

"What rubbish is the Blood of Tyranny? In front of my brother, it’s nothing!"

"Additional investment!"

Then, the Azure Sword recalled the black shadow in the omen.

He didn’t know what it was, unsure of the power it harbored, but he was certain it was an unimaginable force.

"I’m sticking with you... Ancestors of the Azure Royal Family, I finally understand your painstaking efforts..."

The Azure Sword’s eyes filled with tears.

He waited patiently, with a glowing face.

For the first time in his life, hope filled the life of a Sea Siren.

Long after, Zhou Leng walked out of the courtyard gate.

The Azure Sword took a glance and stepped back half a step.

Clearly the same person, only a few days later, yet upon meeting again, he seemed like a towering human mountain, each step grand and mighty.

"Indeed a Grandmaster..." the Azure Sword muttered.

"You can see that? I still have to contain my power."

Zhou Leng seemed somewhat troubled; the Grandmaster aura was too strong to conceal.

Though not True Qi, the Starlit True Energy was of a higher power level, making his presence exceptionally striking.

With peaks standing tall, the fierce sun ahead.

"Without True Qi... how did you advance to Grandmaster?" asked the Azure Sword.

"I used the methods of giants and dragons to advance," Zhou Leng casually fabricated a reason.

"Impressive! Did you complete the trial?"

"Completed it."

"Gained great benefits?"

Zhou Leng smiled faintly, glanced back at the courtyard gate, and then turned and said, "Sort of."

The Azure Sword saw that he didn’t want to elaborate, and didn’t mind, saying, "This is a transmission crystal ball. You take it; as long as the water element connects to the ocean, even in inland rivers, we can communicate."

He handed it over, and Zhou Leng accepted it.

"Come, let’s retrieve the treasure. After advancing to Grandmaster, you still shouldn’t break the agreement."

"Even a Grandmaster has to eat."

The two returned the same way.

Just as they swam out from the water island where the Ancient River Ruins were located, the island collapsed, shattering into countless fragments, drifting with the water current.

The two quietly watched.

The Azure Sword secretly observed Zhou Leng, noticing that his eyes seemed to carry a faint melancholy, as if reminiscing about something.

"Brother Hu Yi, I’m taking you to retrieve the treasure now. I think giving you half is too little; let’s start with one first," said the Azure Sword.

"What did you see?" Zhou Leng turned his head, slightly squinting.

Falling into an icy abyss, the Azure Sword loudly denied, "Nothing! I saw nothing! I swear by the Sea God, I saw nothing and will say nothing!"

The light of the water wavered, flickering with Zhou Leng’s eyes.

The Azure Sword’s scales stood on end; this was intent to kill the siren and eliminate the witness!

He fiercely tore a scale from his forehead, put it into his mouth with blood, and raised his hand to swear, "I, the Azure Sword, swear to the Sea God and the ancestors of the Azure Royal Family, a bloodline oath! From now on, I pledge eternal allegiance, living and dying together, inseparable! Should there be even a single falsehood, may a tidal wave split my body and undercurrents tear my being apart..."

In a panic, the Azure Sword uttered everything he could.

Afterwards, the blood on his forehead stopped, and a small scale grew out.

Pointing to the new scale, he said, "This is the blood oath of our Sea Siren Race! It absolutely cannot be violated."

Zhou Leng said slowly and leisurely: "I want to see farther, so I’m squinting my eyes, don’t be nervous."

"I’m not nervous, not nervous." Tiny bubbles emerged from under the scales of the Azure Sword.

"Use the turtle shell to point the direction and lead the way."

"Yes!"

The two set their course and moved rapidly underwater.

Many days later.

At the junction between West Sea Demon City and the human world.

Zhou Leng, wearing shorts and a mask, stepped out, lightly shook his head, dispersing the water mist, instantly drying his hood and shorts.

No True Qi, no star power, relying solely on the strength of his body.

Ordinary Grandmasters need to perform total Qi transformation four times, using True Qi to activate the smallest cells of the body, enhancing the upper limit of the flesh.

After four total transformations, the overall strength of the flesh will approximate the higher-medium levels of a species, leaving no weaknesses.

With Shen Yunxian’s guidance, Zhou Leng was to use the power of the Coiled Star Thunder Dragon as a foundation for four rounds of body strengthening.

However, it derives from the "Star Body Transformation" of Star God and Void Ancient Beast, complementing the Undying Star Body.

After four layers of Star Body Transformation, one could prepare to advance to Martial Saint.

When advancing to Grandmaster, Zhou Leng thought he might encounter obstacles and delays, but he concentrated all his efforts and completed it smoothly.

Later, Shen Yunxian said that the tempering and brutal battles needed for advancing to Grandmaster had already been experienced on the Great Battlefield and hospital bed.

The ten-thousand-scale battles are equivalent to the premature Grandmaster Battle Path, making him undoubtedly the foremost in Blue Star and perhaps the Ten Realms.

Bypassing the human defenses around West Sea Demon City, Zhou Leng returned to the Fierce Beast Realm.

Then, as a Grandmaster, he engaged in battles within the Fierce Beast Realm.

Yet, still not using the star power, relying alone on his physical body.

After all, given its rarity, avoid using it when possible.

Even without using star power, his physical body had already surpassed ordinary newly advanced Grandmaster Fierce Beasts.

Using Grandmaster Fierce Beasts as opponents, Zhou Leng continually honed his skills.

True Qi was absent, yet martial arts techniques and power exertion persisted, slowly refining all martial arts to the Divine Communication level.

Next, it was time to learn Grandmaster-level martial arts.

Standing in the Fierce Beast Realm, Zhou Leng gazed at the vast grasslands, recalling Shen Yunxian’s guidance.

"Ancient River Sect’s orthodox cultivator, excels in both apparatus and body external skills."

"Apparatus refers to the use of external objects, namely weapons. Ordinary weapons now, but once achieving star realm status, you’ll encounter extraordinarily wondrous apparatuses."

"Body refers to unarmed skills such as fists, palms, fingers, and claws. Both complement each other, indispensable."

"Given your acquisition of a strand of sword Qi at the Sword-washing Academy, and former practice of sword moves, select sword for apparatus, how about body?"

"I wish to cultivate Dragon Country’s Saint Zhao’s East Wind Fist." Zhou Leng responded.

"Do you have a manual for it?"

"I have videos."

"Play them for a look."

In front of Shen Yunxian, Zhou Leng played a video of Zhao Dongjun personally performing East Wind Fist.

Watched repeatedly several times, Shen Yunxian asked astonished: "Was this created by your Elementary Civilization martial artist?"

"Yes, but insights were from extraterritorial ruins, specifically this East Monarch’s Stone Wall." Zhou Leng mentioned, projecting a picture of the East Monarch’s Stone Wall.

Upon careful inspection, Shen Yunxian nodded: "At least traces left by a True God-level master. For Zhao Dongjun to comprehend to such extent solely from the stone wall, commendable. Initially considered having you select Ancient River Sect martial arts, yet, foundation is crucial at Grandmaster stage."

"Had Ancient River Sect still existed, it was correct to root deeply there. However, Ancient River Sect... Your roots embedded in Blue Star’s Dragon Country, proves a more fitting choice instead."

"This set of East Wind Fist prioritizes power over form, far more valuable than any technique. Observing this presence and fist power, profound as the heavens and majestic afar, yet regretfully born in Blue Star."

"So let’s study East Wind Fist, I’ll assist analyzing fist prowess."

Standing on the grassland, Zhou Leng began using the Demonized Watch to project a vast screen.

On the screen was Saint Zhao himself, precisely performing East Wind Fist.

Zhou Leng looped the video repeatedly, watching dozens of times first, then imitating and learning.

East Wind Fist, the first martial arts prioritizing power over form among humans.

The premise necessitates mastering "Mountain River Guardian Technique," merging spiritual willpower into techniques.

Zhou Leng initially cultivated the Mountain River Guardian Technique at the Great Battlefield, additionally weathering national-level online harassment tempered his skills, coupled with Shen Yunxian’s guidance, the Mountain River Guardian Technique advanced swiftly.

Until now, Heart and Mind Shadow, No Return Battle Technique, and Mountain River Guardian, were thoroughly mastered.

East Wind Fist initially appears light, the first move named "Fist Releases from the Green Mountain," an ordinary and even excessively polite punch, merely a common straight punch, and quite slow.

Yet its core lies in release, its core lies in inquiry, probing opponent’s power.

Then, each successive move surpasses its predecessor.

Until the final move, the fist power accumulates to the extreme.

Zhou Leng unleashed a punch, without True Qi, devoid of star power, reliant solely on strength, its final speed surpassed multiple times the speed of sound.

Fist shatters the void, air like knives.

The terrifying force cracked the grass below, a shallow trench extending three meters afar.

After cultivating "East Wind Fist," Zhou Leng then studied the Ancient River Sect’s sword technique, named "Star-slaying Nineteen Swords."

Ancient River Sect’s foremost sword technique, also strongest, albeit not a representative technique.

Due to few managing to cultivate to Divine Communication.

This sword art, in combat holds merely eighteen moves.

Because using the nineteenth guarantees the demise of both sword and wielder.

This sword technique was taught by Shen Yunxian, hands-on instructing.

Her teachings proved extremely rigorous, wielding a divine power whip, slightest errors received lashes, rendering Zhou Leng severely hurt.

Once Zhou Leng barely grasped the basics, she finally felt assured.

Vaguely, Zhou Leng noticed, that while practicing "Star-slaying Nineteen Swords," Shen Yunxian occasionally displayed nostalgia.

Upon completing cultivation of East Wind Fist and Star-Slaying Sword, Zhou Leng departed Mammoth Mountain, returning to Mammoth Lake.