Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 607 - 587: Spirit Jade

Shuizhou Demon City, at the entrance of a mine, a simple sign hung.

Tianyun Pioneer Company.

Gao Tianlong rushed into the mine manager’s office, leaving the Innate Guards outside the door.

"Mr. Gao!" Manager Rong, responsible for the mine operations, immediately stood up.

Gao Tianlong didn’t look at him, but stared at the big cardboard box on the desk.

"In here?" he asked while walking.

"Yes." Manager Rong was about to open it, but Gao Tianlong raised a hand to stop him and walked to the side of the cardboard box, slowly opening it.

The cardboard box was lined with thick white plastic foam and shock-absorbing bubble wrap, surrounded by four demon spirit talismans to block the Spiritual Qi.

In the center, lay a piece of jade, white with a hint of green, looking like an ordinary piece of jade at first glance.

Two palms clasped together would be about its size, a full inch thick.

Gao Tianlong reached out with both hands, carefully holding the jade stone on both sides, and gently lifted it out of the box.

At the moment it left the range of the demon spirit talismans, a dense amount of Heaven and Earth Spirit Qi surged out, condensing a faint white mist around the Spirit Land Jade.

Gao Tianlong took a deep breath, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

"Good! You’ve accomplished something great!" He carefully examined it again and gently placed it back, then put the entire box into a Magic Spirit Bag, giving it a light pat.

"Mr. Gao, are you satisfied?" Manager Rong asked.

Gao Tianlong laughed heartily, "Very satisfied! It’s indeed the legendary top-grade Spirit Land Jade, the Spirit Mist Jade. The value of this piece even exceeds that of ordinary Headless God components. Rest assured, for the Wanli main company’s position, as long as it’s reasonable, you can choose freely."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Gao." Manager Rong smiled from ear to ear.

"Since it’s on the way, I’ll inspect the mine. Come on, tell me about the new developments here."

Manager Rong led Gao Tianlong, walking and talking, "I’ve been reporting the mining situation for the past few months, and the output has far exceeded expectations. Although most are trivial items like High-Energy Shells, the total amount is truly astonishing. Recently, High-Energy Ores have become more common, with a Spirit Land Jade every two days, it’s simply terrifying."

Gao Tianlong smiled, "Very soon it will be my uncle’s birthday; I need to quickly take the Spirit Land Jade to the Demon Spirit World and find a master to carve a fine pendant. Even at my uncle’s place, there aren’t many pieces of jade like this."

"Of course, I’ve checked the records, and the value of this Spirit Land Jade should rank in the top three on Blue Star."

Gao Tianlong raised an eyebrow, speaking calmly, "The treasures you know are mere mundane items from the celestial palace. For a Spirit Mist Jade of this level, I’ve seen at least five pieces at my uncle’s house, but this one is indeed the largest."

"Sorry to make a fool of myself." Manager Rong chuckled awkwardly.

Gao Tianlong squinted slightly, "Next, you stay here and keep a close watch. If another piece of Spirit Mist Jade appears, I guarantee you a higher position!"

"Are you suggesting that a Jade King might appear here?" Manager Rong’s eyes shone.

"Such matters are unpredictable. If multiple Spirit Mist Jades emerge, there’s truly a possibility of a Jade King. And a Jade King could drive the Demigods of the Ten Realms to frenzy."

"Mr. Gao, what exactly is the use of a Jade King? Surely it contains more than just Spirit Qi?"

Gao Tianlong was in high spirits and walked while saying, "I’ve heard conversations at my uncle’s place about how certain planets, for various reasons, collapse inwardly, causing power to concentrate and potentially form a Spirit Land Jade King. Inside the Jade King, not only is there Heaven and Earth Spirit Qi, but also higher-level powers beyond that. Furthermore, it has a major function – to extend life."

"Understood." Manager Rong instantly realized why a Jade King is so sought after.

Life extension, the lifeblood of Demigods.

Accompanied by Manager Rong, Gao Tianlong personally inspected the mine without the slightest negligence. His experience in managing mines came in handy in many areas.

Some managers thought that the rumors were true, claiming Gao Tianlong was just an incompetent wastrel child, but in reality, he knew what he was doing.

However, while inspecting the warehouse, Gao Tianlong still revealed some of his true nature.

He picked some attractive items and put them in the Magic Spirit Bag, and everyone pretended not to see.

Returning to the manager’s office as night fell, Gao Tianlong was discussing the mine with Manager Rong and several managers.

Suddenly, a faint sound of something slicing through the air came from outside the door.

Being an Innate Master, although not very stable in his foundation, Gao Tianlong was experienced and knowledgeable.

He suddenly stood up, looking towards the door, while glancing at the window, ready to escape.

The door opened without a gust of wind.

A person dressed in camouflage, wearing a black hood, entered.

The man flicked his fingers, seemingly just a flick, yet multiple tungsten steel balls flew in.

The speed surpassed everyone’s reaction limits.

The tungsten steel balls pierced through the foreheads of Manager Rong and the other three, causing them to either fall back to the ground or slant against the sofa.

Another four steel balls penetrated Gao Tianlong’s upper arms and thighs, the immense power instantly shattering his meridians, rendering him immobile, slumped against the sofa.

The final steel ball drilled into Gao Tianlong’s Dantian, shattering it, and remained inside.

The excruciating pain engulfed Gao Tianlong, darkening his vision, ominous thoughts crossed his mind.

The opponent struck with decisiveness and precision, silently infiltrating and dispatching his two Innate Guards outside the door, undoubtedly a Grandmaster.

However, since he wasn’t killed, there was hope.

Enduring the pain, he opened his mouth and said, "I am Gao Tianlong, regardless of any conflict with you, I admit defeat. Whatever conditions you have, please speak! I assure you, it’ll end here, without any attempt at revenge. You can inquire in Xiong City, I may not be honorable, but once I make a promise, I won’t go back on it!"

Zhou Leng, while walking forward, dragged a chair, sat on it, placed his foot up on the glass coffee table in front of the sofa.

The two faced each other.

Gao Tianlong lowered his head slightly, his gaze filled with awe and submission.

"So you’re a smart man," Zhou Leng had thought Gao Tianlong would either beg madly for mercy or stay resolute to the end. Unexpectedly, despite being severely injured, he remained so calm.

"Your opponents, senior, are never subpar, and they’re all smart enough to avoid becoming your enemy after witnessing your strength. If I’m not mistaken, I must have underestimated you or the related forces in the past." Gao Tianlong forced a smile, his face pale.

Zhou Leng asked, "Have you ever seen Saint Zhao?"

The last trace of Gao Tianlong’s luck disappeared without a trace. Since the other party asked this, they either weren’t afraid of the Zhao Family or were ready for a life-and-death struggle with them, both of which were troublesome.

"I’ve seen him many times. Unfortunately, I’m worthless compared to his guidance; after a few pointers, he didn’t bother with me anymore. He found my sister, Celestial Phoenix, smarter. In our hearts as siblings, Saint Zhao is the greatest person of our era."

"And then you went on to murder, rob, frame others, occupy properties, treating the ’Criminal Law’ like a menu, paging through it?"

Gao Tianlong sighed and said, "We’re not the offspring of an orthodox Martial Clan. After bowing low and doing menial tasks for so many years, suddenly having an opportunity led to greed clouding my mind, and I indeed did wrong. Whatever punishment, it’s for you to decide. I only ask to spare my life. From now on, with a line drawn, I’ll never cross it. We who have no foundation wouldn’t dare trouble you."

Zhou Leng slowly pulled off his hood, calmly looking at Gao Tianlong.

At the moment Zhou Leng reached to pull the hood, Gao Tianlong quickly lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"Please be assured, senior, I haven’t seen anything. If you’re still uneasy, you can gouge out my eyes."

His voice began to tremble.

Zhou Leng looked at Gao Tianlong and said, "I must say, the Zhao Family is truly the Zhao Family; even the dog they raised has seen things quite clearly."

"Please spare my life, senior, I’m really just a dog of the Zhao Family."

"Then you’re worthy of the surname Zhao?"

Gao Tianlong hurriedly said, "Unworthy, unworthy." In his mind, he constantly guessed who among those he recently clashed with, immediately thinking of Zhao Lianshuo with the Broken Sword, then Zhou Leng, but quickly denied it.

But the next instant, his body suddenly stiffened.

He suddenly realized the steel balls on his body carried no True Qi, only pure Power.

Even though the Power contained a strong Exotic Power, there indeed was no True Qi.

And such destructive power could only be at the level of a Grandmaster.

A Grandmaster without True Qi...

Zhou Leng said, "I am Zhou Leng."

Gao Tianlong’s spine slowly collapsed.

He realized his hope for survival was incredibly slim.

At first, he didn’t take Zhou Leng seriously, but later, looking at Zhou Leng’s achievements and experiences, as he examined them more carefully, chills ran down his spine.

Far more ruthless than any Martial Artist he had seen.

As a sycophant for years, he was most cautious, knowing exactly who could be provoked and who couldn’t.

A dog’s eyes are best at judging superiority.

Fortunately, Zhou Leng’s martial path was severed.

If Zhou Leng had any chance of recovering his martial path at that time, he would apologize and admit his mistake without delay, discussing how to handle the mines.

But he held onto a fluke and didn’t do so.

Zhou Leng said, "There’s one way for you to live, the only way."

Gao Tianlong slowly raised his head, opened his eyes, and looked at that youthful face.

"Tell me, I’ll definitely do it!"

"Tell me everything you know about the Zhao Family."

Gao Tianlong sighed lightly, his mind spinning frantically, seeking a way to escape.

Knowing it was Zhou Leng, based on Zhou Leng’s data and habits, it must be possible to find a means of escape.

Finding weaknesses and needs was the basic ability cultivated in Gao Tianlong as a sycophant.

"I can help you resolve the hatred with the Sixteen Families!" Gao Tianlong’s gaze was determined, looking at Zhou Leng.

"So, you dare not betray the Zhao Family?"

"Not that I don’t dare, but it’s very difficult." As he hedged, Gao Tianlong racked his brain, seeking Zhou Leng’s weaknesses and needs.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zhou Leng raise his hand.

Gao Tianlong’s pupils rapidly dilated.

A tungsten steel ball flew from Zhou Leng’s hand, piercing his forehead.

Gao Tianlong’s back of the head hit the wall behind the sofa, blood trickling down his brow like a red snake slowly crawling.

Until his death, he never understood how it happened.

Zhou Leng stood, gazing coldly from the tea table.

"If you can’t speak, what nonsense are you babbling about?"

Bending down, he deftly took Gao Tianlong’s Magic Spirit Bag from his waist, destroying his Demonized Watch and his grandmaster aura simultaneously.

Putting on the hood, retrieving the tungsten steel balls without leaving any trace, he drew various corpse-dissolving Spirit Medicine powder from the Magic Spirit Bag, sprinkled it over the corpse.

As the body slowly dissolved, he walked out while tossing delay-triggered high-energy flame crystals on the ground and interference Demon Spirit Artifacts to prevent spell tracing.