Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 608 - 588: Sword’s Song

Zhou Leng stepped out of the building, and behind him, the inside of the mining site’s office building exploded, glass shattering and fiery tongues spewing from the windows.

He entered the monitoring room and took all the equipment.

Then kicked open the storeroom door and retrieved all the minerals, returning them to their rightful owner.

Seeing tens of thousands of Star Conchs, his mood slightly improved.

Along the way, he killed some who obstructed him.

In the night, Zhou Leng left the mining site alone.

He didn’t destroy the place.

After all, this was his family’s place, and he would return in a few days.

He circled around a few times, ensuring he wasn’t being followed, and headed straight for the Tree-man World.

The news of Gao Tianlong’s death spread rapidly to various major forces.

In two years, the third important member of the Zhao Family had died.

"Investigate!" Zhao Hao was furious.

The power of the Zhao Family was mobilized.

Without any result.

Even inviting a Legendary Demon Spirit Master yielded the same outcome.

Soon, everyone knew that the mining site had been forcibly taken from Zhou Leng by Gao Tianlong, the Zhao Family, and other great families through disgraceful means.

Zhou Leng’s fame and status were completely different from before.

Some young people and righteous individuals would occasionally mock the Zhao Family when they encountered them.

This world didn’t belong to the Zhao Family alone.

Soon, an extremely embarrassing news for the Zhao Family spread.

Earlier, the Zhao Clan and Li Clan had agreed on exchanges among the younger generation, and the Li Family invited Li Shenkong to preside.

It was said to be an exchange but was actually asking Li Shenkong for guidance.

After all, Li Shenkong was the number one of the younger generation, now promoted to Upper-Rank Grandmaster, progressing at an unimaginable pace.

However, upon learning that the Zhao Family had even forcibly taken Zhou Leng’s mining site, Li Shenkong refused to participate in the exchange between the two clans.

"I’m from a decent family, can’t afford that shame."

Hearing this, various families privately mocked the Zhao Family.

The Zhao Family had to explain helplessly that it was Gao Tianlong’s doing and had nothing to do with them.

This only invited more ridicule.

When it was convenient, Gao Tianlong and Gao Tianfeng were labeled as members of the Zhao Family, but after doing the dirty work and getting involved in scandals, they were disowned?

The elder Martial Clans didn’t express much, but the new Martial Clans hadn’t degenerated yet. Having risen by strength and war merits, they admired true heroes like Zhou Leng the most.

They didn’t let it pass, but instead, they mocked and ridiculed in various circles.

Within a few days, it circulated among major forces: years ago, Zhou Leng was framed by sixteen families while bedridden. Later, while Zhou Leng was in bed, the Zhao Family seized his mining site.

However, the Zhao Family had tightly locked down online news, and not a single word of this leaked online.

A few days later, Lady Zhao Sheng left Zhao Palace to visit several Martial Clans.

Several Martial Clans jointly invited Zhao Family members for martial arts exchange, and it made the news.

Various news were temporarily suppressed.

The Li Clan also participated, but Li Shenkong excused himself, claiming he was going to the Tree-man World for cultivation and didn’t attend.

Some forces praised the matriarch, saying she was truly a heroic woman.

Meanwhile, the official video account of Demon City Army released a short video. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The short video content consisted of some combat clips of Xu Ming, and a voiceover of Martial Faith’s message.

The title was Xu Ming’s Pledge.

"I am Xu Ming, and this person is Zhou Leng, a rare genius among humans. Given a few more years, he will definitely surpass me. As a favor to me, Xu Ming, if you encounter him on the Great Battlefield, please take good care of him. Humanity cannot afford to lose such a genius. As long as he survives the Great Battlefield, I, Xu Ming, owe you a great favor, and will do whatever it takes to repay it! Zhou Leng, don’t be shy. Show this to any martial artist you meet. My favor is still quite valuable. Let’s both strive to live well."

Next came a second message.

"I am Xu Ming, on the Great Battlefield."

"Zhou Leng is one of the most talented martial artists I know among the young people."

...

"I, Xu Ming, vouch for him with my integrity and martial arts to the Demon City Army and Martial Mansion, his future is boundless."

"I don’t know if I will be able to return to Blue Star, but I am confident that Zhou Leng can, and must."

"If I cannot return to Blue Star, I ask all my friends to treat Zhou Leng well."

"If I cannot return to Blue Star, I will donate all my assets to the Demon City Army."

"If you would grant me a wish, please award Zhou Leng the war merits he earns in the Great Battlefield, as if awarding all those who remain here."

"I am confident that humanity will eventually leave Blue Star and head for the stars."

"Provided that people like Zhou Leng continue to live."

"Zhou Leng, please forward this audio to the Demon City Army."

"May we meet in a human future."

Most people who saw this were especially moved, as Xu Ming was one of the most famous Innate martial artists in Dragon Country.

Xu Ming’s friends listened to the audio, eyes red, some even shedding tears.

One heavyweight martial artist after another left comments under the video.

"We’re sorry, Brother Xu Ming, we couldn’t protect you or Zhou Leng."

"I owe you two lives, I’ll find a way to repay Zhou Leng."

"I’ll honor your account, Xu Ming."

"We’re sorry, we have failed your pledge. I’ll go kill a few of those from the Sixteen Families to make amends."

This last comment for redemption was replied by a very famous Innate martial artist, receiving lots of likes and becoming a hot comment.

Soon, it disappeared without a trace.

But jokes like "kill a few of the Sixteen," "kill a pomegranate," "kill a pomegranate at the farm" spread in small circles.

The next day, some properties of the sixteen families in Demon City were destroyed, and some people were killed.

Fearing a wave of imitation, the sixteen families dared not speak out, erased all relevant information, and handled it quietly.

Some rumors circulated online.

Chang Da No. 2 was dismissed, followed by words of unknown truth being spread.

"If the student’s accusation is my responsibility, then whose responsibility is it that hundreds of major national media attack Zhou Leng alone, distort the truth, and tear society’s consensus apart?"

Shuizhou Demon City.

Zhou Leng moved forward alone, killing all demons he encountered without hesitation.

Recently, the demons in Shuizhou Demon City started to increase again, causing a slight delay in reaching the Demon Spirit World.

As a member of the Divine Tower and a Divine Text Master, Zhou Leng received high esteem in the Demon Spirit World.

Zhou Leng tried his best to keep a low profile, declined all public activities, but still attended a Divine Text seminar in the Demon Spirit World.

That day, many demigods and legends gathered, either true gods or projections, making it a rare event in the Demon Spirit World in recent years.

Following advice from Shen Yunxian, Zhou Leng’s Divine Text skills had reached a level unimaginable to the Ten Realms People.

By the end of the seminar, the Divine Text Masters were both excited and regretful.

The excitement came from Zhou Leng solving countless Divine Text problems of the Demon Spirit World, some even solved on the spot, leaving the masters utterly astonished.

Regretfully, much of the content was beyond their understanding, forcing them to repeatedly listen to recordings afterward for thorough learning.

After the seminar, Cyan Flame brought the previously made wooden jade amulet and the "Earth Chariot" Zhou Leng needed.

"Here is the wooden jade amulet you requested, which has been crafted. This is the Earth Chariot, capable of quickly diving underground and performing underground stealth maneuvers. It has just been modified and only requires magic energy crystals, without needing a Demon Spirit Master’s operation..."

Cyan Flame took out the Earth Chariot and personally demonstrated it for Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng took the wooden jade amulet and Earth Chariot, presenting a piece of Spirit Mist Jade.

"What should this be made into?" Zhou Leng asked.

"That large?" Cyan Flame opened his eyes wide and carefully took it.

"Obtained by chance."

"If this item were auctioned, it would start at 3 billion Dragon Country yuan, but who knows how high the price might go with particularly interested buyers."

"What do you think is the best way to utilize it?"

"It’s best not to cut it at all, shrink it with the Demon Spirit Technique, and wear it directly on the body. But... hasn’t your True Qi recovered yet? Yet you advanced to Grandmaster before me?" Cyan Flame curiously examined him.

"I’m planning to pursue another direction in Martial Arts," Zhou Leng replied.

"Although Spirit Land Jade primarily restores True Qi, at the level of Spirit Mist Jade, the true effect is to nourish the body. Ordinary ancient tree fossils will weaken the power of Spirit Mist Jade. Wait until you find the Heart of Life and embed them together. Give me a few hours."

Cyan Flame left with the Spirit Land Jade and returned two hours later.

The Spirit Mist Jade had been crafted into an ordinary-looking jade pendant, wrapped in silver demonized metal, shrunk to half a palm size.

Zhou Leng hung it around his neck.

Inside the Spirit Mist Jade, dense Heaven and Earth Spirit Qi seeped into his body through the skin.

The Heaven and Earth Spirit Qi gradually merged into his body.

After cultivating for several days in the Trial Ground of the Demon Spirit World, Zhou Leng sold numerous items from the Sea Demon World, exchanged them for his needs, bid farewell to Cyan Flame, and arrived in the Tree-man World.

It was early morning, the bell for the first session of cultivation under the Tree of Life rang.

The tree-men and a few elite members of various races sitting under the ancient tree stood up and walked out.

One person was particularly striking.

He was wearing camouflage clothes and brown military boots, with a short black haircut, slightly handsome, carrying a slanted box on his back.

Besides these, there was nothing special.

Not even his eyes seemed particularly bright.

Yet Zhou Leng and the people around were drawn to him.

Like a flaming giant walking across a snowy wasteland.

Zhou Leng immediately recognized the martial arts myth, Li Shenkong.

Li Shenkong approached, and suddenly, the box on his back trembled lightly, emitting a peculiar metallic sword sound, sonorous and powerful, roaring like a tiger and dragon.

Many martial artists familiar with Li Shenkong’s legend were instantly excited.

"It’s the legendary Star Sky Divine Sword."

Li Shenkong paused for a moment, scanning the crowd, finally resting his gaze on a person wearing a black hood and camouflage clothing.

Zhou Leng and Li Shenkong exchanged glances.

Each saw a similar aura in the other.

Grandmasters.

They nodded lightly to each other and walked away separately.

As Li Shenkong walked, his brow furrowed more and more tightly.

No matter how he wracked his brains, he couldn’t comprehend why the Divine Sword he grew up with, indifferent to him, emitted an excited sword sound upon meeting that person?

Others couldn’t hear it, but he heard it clearly.

Like seeing its father.

Li Shenkong felt jealous.

Born in the Martial Clan, he was showered with attention since childhood, possessing prowess beyond all his peers, his life blessed to achieve whatever he desired.

Except soaring to Martial Saint, he encountered no difficulties.

He didn’t understand what jealousy was, nor envy.

Today, he felt a sourness in his heart.

He walked for a while and looked back at the person who caused the sword sound, but the figure was gone.

"Who is he?"

Li Shenkong’s mind conjured images of countless Grandmasters, none resembled him.

A foreboding shiver ran through him, and then, as foretold, he experienced his first insomnia that night.

The feeling of his little sweetheart calling someone else daddy kept him awake.