Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 625 - 605: Refusal

The people from the sixteen families stood dumbfounded, staring at the human skin rolling in the wind.

When the grandmaster died before, they felt as if it was someone else who died.

But witnessing the death of Huang Wancheng, they found it unbelievable.

A middle-rank grandmaster, Lord of the Great Clan, who normally had patrols pave the way, was admired like the stars surrounding the moon, a frequent name in the news, with endless assets, someone whose stomp would cause tremors across a province.

Yet now, he just died right in front of them.

Saddened by the death, they subtly sensed a growing panic.

They looked at Zhou Leng, almost like most martial artists, with clean, sharp short hair, wearing camouflage clothing, standing straight; just that he was more robust, and his aura was stronger.

They recalled Ma Xingkong from years ago, who was also like this.

A man who single-handedly drew the attention of heavens, becoming the tool of the upper echelons to weaken local powerful forces.

A person who stayed silent for decades, yet got his name famed in the Ten Realms with a single move, but was then estranged from martial arts, losing future prospects.

It was thought that with the Zhao Family personally intervening, the matter was settled.

Unexpectedly, he emerged suddenly.

Slaughtering grandmasters in succession.

"Next one."

Zhou Leng stood in the arena, looking at the sixteen families.

The fifteen patriarchs exchanged glances and fell silent.

Previously, they did not know Zhou Leng’s achievements in the Tree-man World, so they did not care, but having witnessed the battle with Huang Wancheng, they completely understood.

This Zhou Leng, whether in strength or aura, had surpassed the middle-rank grandmaster.

Whoever goes, dies.

Some people looked at Dong Yingxi.

Only the people from the sixteen families knew that Dong Yingxi had gone to Demon Purgatory, greatly enhancing his strength.

He was ready to break through to upper-rank at any moment, but had suppressed his realm for the middle-rank battle.

After some discussion among the patriarchs, they ultimately chose him.

Dong Yingxi nodded and strode onto the stage.

Zhou Leng looked at him; his forehead was shiny with oil, a garlic-shaped nose, drooping eyebrows, puffy eyes, with ordinary appearance, but having long been in high position, he naturally possessed a certain aura, especially those eyes, cold and indistinct.

Looking at Dong Yingxi, Zhou Leng felt an uncomfortable feeling rising in his heart.

He didn’t know why, but it was as if the opponent had sticky black blood flowing through his veins, inherently evoking aversion.

Approaching the stage, Dong Yingxi suddenly exploded with white Qi Force around him, forming circles and expanding in all directions.

His power and aura were escalating step by step.

With three steps, his aura broke through the peak of middle-rank, directly entering the upper-rank.

Everyone suddenly understood, he had already completed the three Qi Transformation of the Whole Body, intending to suppress power for a middle-rank grandmaster battle.

With the fourth step, the surrounding air emitted a subtle pop.

The ground within several meters of him exploded continuously, grass leaves snapped, and sand and stones scattered.

Upper-rank grandmaster, Qi Blood shook the air.

Thus, all his external power would be transmitted to further distances without loss.

The grandmaster behind Zhou Leng furrowed his brows.

In the four realms of grandmaster, a lofty watershed stood between upper-rank and middle-rank.

Upper-rank grandmasters could casually send their power more than ten meters away without loss, further when combined with fist force.

Even middle-rank grandmasters found it hard to reach ten meters just with fist force.

The ten-meter distance of martial artists was like the difference between a handgun and empty hands to ordinary people.

No matter that Zhou Leng was just lower-rank without True Qi, even if middle-rank, he would likely be helpless against an upper-rank grandmaster.

Upper-rank grandmaster Dong Yingxi stood firm in the arena, slightly raised his chin, cupped his hand towards Zhou Leng, and said: "The grievances between the sixteen families, Ma Xingkong, and you, are hard to explain. But Ma Xingkong is dead, and we have lost multiple grandmasters, suffering major defeat and loss. You were slandered, and we, the sixteen families, equally lost reputation."

He scanned the crowd, paused, and said: "As fellow Human Race grandmasters, we ought to unite externally. Even if internal conflicts arise, they should be resolved through proper means. Yet, now you’ve become a grandmaster and joined the great clans, from now on, we will treat you as a large clan."

He turned his head to glance at people from the sixteen families, then turned back to say: "Your strength and status have won recognition from the sixteen families and even more. We can guaranteedly wipe out all grievances. Moreover, we are willing to forsake certain interests to collaborate with you, as a gesture of sincerity. From the territories and people of the sixteen families, take your pick."

Some in the sixteen families felt frustrated, but they were helpless, first, because Zhou Leng was indeed too strong; second, Dong Yingxi had advanced to upper-rank, firmly sitting as the leader of the sixteen and had the strength and status to say such words.

Many mature people, regardless of which camp they stood in, nodded lightly.

Upper-rank grandmaster is indeed upper-rank grandmaster, even with some chances of winning, they abandon mutual destruction, and even when suffering loss, they choose to merge and avoid worsening the situation.

Simultaneously, his words bear another implication.

Our sixteen families have already shown such humility, if you press too hard, even if I, as an upper-rank grandmaster, strike you down, no one could say anything, not even your revered Martial Saint master could retaliate in such fair combat.

Zhou Leng remarked: "Truly a great clan, who speaks and acts, always seemingly far-sighted and standing at the moral high ground."

"True words from the heart," Dong Yingxi said.

"Previously, someone conveyed a message through Wang Boxiong, asking me what I sought all along. And all I ever wanted from beginning to end was one thing, fairness."

"You advanced to grandmaster, entered the great clan, and have already obtained fairness," Dong Yingxi looked deeply at Zhou Leng.

Everyone listening to this remarked in deep agreement, while some felt discomfort.

Zhou Leng was silent for a moment, then said: "Maybe you are right; maybe in years, I will be like you, wearing the banner of righteousness while engaging in petty deeds. But now, I am constantly tormented by one thing and hope those senior masters, great clan nobles present can enlighten me. If I agree, how do I persuade the younger me who was not a grandmaster? How to persuade the me who was framed, slandered, cursed by many? How do I convince the youthful me? How to persuade the me who believed in ’East Monarch’s Collection’? How to persuade the me who swore under the red flag? How to persuade the countless past, present and future versions of me?"

The entire place fell silent.

The sixteen families kept opening their mouths, racking their brains, but no one could provide an answer.

"I can’t convince you, so from beginning to end, I only need justice." Zhou Leng said slowly.

"Do you know what you’re talking about?" Dong Yingxi asked.

"I don’t know." Zhou Leng replied.

"You are rebelling! You are trampling on thousands of years of unchanging order of the Dragon Country and humanity."

"Is it right just because it hasn’t changed for thousands of years? Before the Qing Dynasty was oppressed by all nations, which of their acts weren’t unchanging for millennia? To fight against the great enemies of the Ten Realms, is there any method from a thousand years ago that can be used?" Zhou Leng replied.

"You are cutting yourself off from the Dragon Country! Cutting yourself off from the world!"

"But I haven’t cut myself off from the people." Zhou Leng responded.

The expressions of everyone present shifted slightly, especially those of the sixteen families; some were inexplicably panicked, while others were filled with murderous intent.

Dong Yingxi squinted his eyes and slowly said, "Our sixteen families have already given you justice."

Zhou Leng smiled slightly and said, "Don’t be naive. Justice is never given; it’s fought with one’s life."

Half of the sixteen families were flustered while the other half showed fierce looks.

Martial artists from other places looked at Zhou Leng thoughtfully.

They found Zhou Leng’s previous call for justice puzzling.

Dong Yingxi’s answer later was also somewhat strange.

Only after Zhou Leng finished his last sentence did the crowd come to a sudden realization.

The sixteen families didn’t want to give justice to Zhou Leng, nor could they.

If they did, then the foundation of the sixteen families would collapse.

Because the perpetuation of the sixteen families is based on injustice.

A few Grandmasters sighed and nodded.

The essence that so many people couldn’t see through was seen clearly by such a young child.

Dong Yingxi asked, "Do you know what you’re saying?"

"I don’t know, do you?" Zhou Leng retorted.

Dong Yingxi squinted his eyes, his gaze like a venomous snake, and after some time, flipped his arms, spread his hands, and surveyed the whole scene, "Everyone can see, it’s not that our sixteen families refuse to negotiate with him, but that he is determined to destroy us."

Zhou Leng mimicked his gesture, spreading his hands and scanning the crowd.

"Everyone can see, I only asked for the justice necessary for survival, but they can’t handle it. It seems they are determined not to treat us as humans and do not want us to survive."

A breeze blew by, though it was a spring wind, it felt colder than the autumn wind.

"Then don’t blame me, Dong Yingxi, for bullying the weak with the strong." Dong Yingxi spoke, his Qi Blood surged, and his clothing ripped from the middle, bursting to the sides, revealing a body of strong muscle.

Patches of Qi Blood scales protruded from his skin, forming Qi Blood Armor.

Step by step, he accelerated.

Soon, his speed exceeded 610 meters per second, surpassing Zhou Leng’s maximum speed.

The power overflowing from his Qi Blood broke the air, shaking the sky.

Within a ten-meter radius around him, the air continuously exploded, making loud banging noises.

Zhou Leng also struck out, letting go with his right hand; the Wind and Fire Fist momentum he had previously condensed spread like specks of starlight, covering a radius of several meters around him.

Then, the fist momentum before him formed into a large art, and with one punch, the body pierced through the large fist art.

The sense of autumn filled, red swept across, the splendor of mountains and rivers converged into one punch.

Autumn Waves and Rivers.

In an instant, both sides exchanged blows.

Dong Yingxi, relying on the strength of an Upper-Rank Grandmaster, maintained a distance of ten meters from Zhou Leng.

He delivered a Haoran Heavenly Seal from a distance, a gigantic seal condensed on his fist.

In an instant, the force of the punch extended to ten meters away, creating a gigantic jade seal fist momentum with twists and turns in the air, crashing toward Zhou Leng.

The Haoran Battle Fist collided with the East Wind Fist in mid-air.

Boom!

The air boiled and surged like a lake, with white waves rolling, and the explosive waves spread out.

The punch of an Upper-Rank Grandmaster was true to its name.

If it had been the punch momentum of an ordinary Middle-Rank Grandmaster, Zhou Leng would have already broken it effortlessly. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

But faced with Dong Yingxi’s Haoran Battle Fist, Zhou Leng’s body shook, and even though the Autumn Waves and Rivers broke through the opponent’s fist momentum, his body was affected by the explosive force, preventing him from chasing.

In an instant, Zhou Leng attacked again, still using Autumn Waves and Rivers.

One move after another.

No matter which move Dong Yingxi delivered with his Haoran Battle Fist from a distance, whether light or heavy, orthodox or peculiar, Zhou Leng ignored them all.

All were met with the single move of Autumn Waves and Rivers.

The Grandmasters present were astonished; they had seen people practicing moves in combat, but never in such a life-and-death battle.

But those Grandmasters experienced in and well-versed in East Wind Fist were thoughtful.