Martial Ascent to Divinity

Ruda's main school class group chat.

Many classmates are discussing the latest news about Zhou Leng.

Upon learning that Zhou Leng is injured to the point of only being able to train with one arm, many classmates express regret and sighs.

Ji Changnian sees this information and smiles slightly.

"This, I believe it. Honestly, it's a bit of a pity..."

His face then darkens.

In the monthly exam earlier this month in November, even though Zhou Leng didn't participate, Ji Changnian was still not the first.

First place is Rao Mingxian.

After the Celestial Ladder battle, Rao Mingxian's strength has advanced rapidly, and he has quickly advanced to the late stage of Blood Transport.

Ji Changnian is still stuck in the middle period of Blood Transport.

He isn't second place either.

Second place belongs to Xu Kang'an from the Martial Arts Hall class.

Xu Qingjin is startled by the message in the group and immediately takes out his phone to make a voice call to contact Zhou Leng.

"You were fine before, how did you suddenly get injured again?"

Zhou Leng had no choice but to say, "Don't spread it around, this is something our instructor taught me; it allows us to deceive the alien race and the Demon Worship Sect to avoid being hunted."

"I thought so..."

"Want to have lunch together?" Xu Qingjin holds his phone, his heart pounding, a light blush like clouds on his face.

"Sure."

"Then I'll come find you. You need to act a bit weak, and I'll continue pretending to take care of you. Yes, we'll bewilder the enemy together!" Xu Qingjin suddenly feels very clever, happily puffing out his chest.

"Alright..." Zhou Leng gives an affirmative response.

"It's settled!" Xu Qingjin ends the call, his steps becoming much lighter.

Zhou Leng methodically finishes his morning classes.

Before lunch, Deng Zhijue asks Zhou Leng to go to the Hall Master's office.

Zhou Leng sends a message to Xu Qingjin to wait for a bit, then heads to the Hall Master's office.

The door is open, and a faint smell of smoke lingers.

Zhou Leng walks to the doorway, where many people are sitting or standing inside.

Several familiar deans and chief instructors can only stand.

On the sofa, a few elders are sitting.

The principal and vice-principal of Ruda.

"Student Zhou Leng!"

Ruda Principal Xia Yanbo stands up, extending both hands, warmly shaking hands with Zhou Leng.

He wears black-rimmed glasses, his hair streaked with gray, and has an elegant appearance.

Zhou Leng is momentarily dazed, hurriedly shaking hands and saying, "Hello, Principal."

The principal of the Martial Arts Academy is at least an Innate Master.

In the Martial Arts Era, due to a reduced population and in order to prevent surprise attacks from alien races, provinces were dissolved into cities, with residents highly concentrated in larger cities.

The large cities now are equivalent to the small provinces of the past, and Rucheng is among them.

The principal of Ruda has a status equivalent to a deputy mayor of Rucheng.

In the sequence of the Martial Mansion, his position is of great importance.

It is also the first time Zhou Leng has interacted with such a high-level figure, higher in status than Wang Boxiong.

Xia Yanbo says, "Student Zhou Leng, we have wronged you. You've made significant contributions, and yet we cannot openly commend you. But rest assured, once this matter is resolved, we will let the entire school know of your achievements."

Zhou Leng immediately understands the reason; this situation is quite common.

Zhou Leng says, "Actually, this is quite good. I merely did what needed to be done; it's not worth such a grand commendation."

"Noble and mature beyond your years. See? I told you, a child like Zhou Leng wouldn't care about such superficial things. Now, the Martial Arts Brigade will present the awards."

A captain from the Martial Arts Brigade, dressed in a military uniform, steps forward to award Zhou Leng two third-class merits and one second-class merit.

Three medals and three certificates.

Besides this, there are no pills or money, but they far outweigh pills and money.

Afterward, Ruda Principal personally awards Zhou Leng the title of "Rucheng Martial Arts Model" and "Ruda Outstanding Martial Arts Student."

Finally, Wang Boxiong awards Zhou Leng the title of "Martial Arts Model Student."

Both the Martial Arts Model Student and Rucheng Martial Arts Model do not offer material rewards.

However, the added invisible rewards are far more valuable than material ones.

From today on, Zhou Leng gains tangible political standing.

Useless in ordinary times, but when needed, anyone would have to reconsider its implications.

Even Ruda Main School will often mention these two honors.

The Ruda Outstanding Martial Arts Student is a high-level award.

In principle, Ruda only awards it to three students annually.

The reward includes 10 Replenishing Essence Pills and a three-year "High-level Demonized Equipment Cultivation Qualification."

This means that in the future, whether in Ruda or at the Martial Arts Bureau, Zhou Leng can directly use high-level demonized equipment like an Innate Master.

Unlike now, where he has to either wait for the school to schedule or spend a high price at a private Martial Arts Dojo.

For arrays like the Eighteen Copper Men Array or strikers, Zhou Leng can now go anytime without needing to apply in advance or have limits on usage frequency.

This qualification has a practical value exceeding ten million.

Countless people have their eyes on this lucrative opportunity.

Zhou Leng holds the weighty certificates and medals in his hands, knowing very well how many resources Wang Boxiong and Ruda have mobilized.

Even with high achievements, an ordinary person couldn't receive such high honors without their intervention.

They are snatching food from the tiger's mouth.

Zhou Leng bows to express gratitude to everyone present.

Everyone feels gratified, seeing that Zhou Leng understands their efforts.

Xia Yanbo pats Zhou Leng's shoulder and says, "Don't dwell on the poison problem. We, the people of Dragon Country, have an old saying: man can conquer nature. There's also another one: the heavens will always leave a path. One day, we'll develop a cure for the poison."

"I believe it." Zhou Leng says.

Everyone chatted for a while before gradually leaving.

Xia Yanbo walked towards the main campus with the group, conversing as they went.

The dean of the School of Communication and International Culture, Tang Shiping, sighed and said, "I've been keeping tabs on his situation. It's said that not only has he lost all willpower, but his body has also suffered significant damage, leaving him only able to train with one arm. Those cultivation resources... Alas, there's nothing to say."

Xia Yanbo glanced at Tang Shiping and smiled, "We can't say that. The rewards we give aren't just for one Zhou Leng, but for countless martial artists and students like him. Let's have Zhou Leng speak on behalf of the students at next year's freshman entrance ceremony."

The others silently glanced at Tang Shiping.

"You're right, my understanding is indeed lacking, I didn't see it this way. Zhou Leng truly deserves what he got," Tang Shiping maintained his composure, but cold sweat formed on his back. He initially thought Principal Xia was here just for show, not expecting that he'd also defend Zhou Leng this much.

The phrase "we can't say that" could be taken as a light or heavy reproach, and broadly speaking, it was already a criticism.

Along the way, students occasionally passed by and greeted them.

Among them was the former Ruda's number one Ji Changnian of the first season.

The dean of the Inner Power Academy stayed behind to chat briefly with Ji Changnian, patting his shoulder in encouragement.

This attracted nearby students to glance a few more times at Ji Changnian.

Ji Changnian walked onward with a straight back.

Returning to the principal's office, Xia Yanbo took out a demonized watch and dialed a number.

"Elder Liang..."

After leaving the hall master's office, Zhou Leng first put all various certificates and medals back in the classroom's magic spirit bag, then quickly walked through the Martial Arts Hall towards the Moon Gate leading to Ruda's cafeteria.

Xu Qingjin was up ahead under the shady lane, looking down at her phone.

"Xu Qingjin," Zhou Leng hurried forward.

Xu Qingjin lifted her head, her bangs swaying gently, and smiled, "Let's go."

Walking shoulder to shoulder with her, Zhou Leng said, "Something came up earlier and delayed me."

"What happened? No trouble, I hope?" Xu Qingjin asked.

"Nothing much, just the principal and the hall master presenting me with honor certificates and awards."

"Oh? What sorts of honors and awards?" Xu Qingjin's interest was piqued.

Walking as he talked, Zhou Leng said, "There's the Martial Arts Model Student, Rucheng's Martial Arts Role Model, Ruda's Outstanding Martial Arts Student, two third-class merits, and one second-class merit..."

Xu Qingjin was both surprised and delighted, being a martial arts student herself, although not fully aware of these honors, she knew they were certainly exceptional.

"That's incredible..."

The two continued walking, and behind a large tree across the green belt, Ji Changnian was walking and stopped in his tracks.

He appeared dazed because he had just seen, indeed, Principal Xia and the others returning from the Martial Arts Hall.

Those honors, Xu Qingjin knew only partly, but he knew very well.

The honor of "Rucheng's Martial Arts Role Model" was beyond his wildest dreams, and even being able to compete for Ruda's Outstanding Martial Arts Student was out of his league.

"I don't believe it..."

Ji Changnian stood there stunned for a long time.

In the days that followed, Zhou Leng kept a low profile, hiding his brilliance.

Every noon, he had lunch with Xu Qingjin, sometimes training single-handedly in the afternoon, often going directly under the Frost Giant Tree to train.

A few days later, Deng Zhijue forwarded Zhou Leng an application; the Intermediate Divine Text Researcher exam was about to begin.

Unlike the beginner level, the intermediate exam had to be taken at the Martial Arts Bureau's exam hall.

Zhou Leng, already interested in the divine texts, casually signed up.

Early Saturday morning, Zhou Leng jogged to the Martial Arts Bureau and entered the exam hall.

Completely different from the beginner exam, the intermediate exam was copious and challenging, with a difficulty increase of at least two orders of magnitude.

The exam lasted four hours.

All examinees were scratching their heads.

Zhou Leng also encountered some questions he couldn't answer because he had never seen them before.

Strangely, for any content he had seen, he remembered it very clearly, even the parts he hadn't paid much attention to.

Now, Zhou Leng could already memorize three complete divine texts in his mind, along with some shadowy divine texts, all of which contained words spoken by Celestial Ladder.

Every time he answered a question, these divine texts would gently rotate.

After finishing the earlier questions, Zhou Leng slowly tackled the last five major questions.

Each question was more difficult than the last.

Some knowledge was indeed beyond Zhou Leng's learning, and in the end, he only completed three questions, with partial solutions written for the other two.

When the time was up, Zhou Leng handed in his paper.

The exam hall was bustling with noise as acquaintances discussed how difficult the test was.

Zhou Leng leisurely walked out.

The last time he visited the Copper Man Array, he was beaten so badly that he didn't take a closer look. Now he could.

As he walked, a group of students came towards him.

Someone was wearing a school badge, and Zhou Leng glanced at it.

West Sea Martial Arts Academy.

Zhou Leng recalled various past incidents and smiled wryly.

Just as he was about to leave, someone waved and quickly walked out of the group.

"Zhou Leng!"

Looking up, Zhou Leng saw it was Xue Chengsong. This was their first meeting since the martial arts platform battle over a month ago.

Many in the West Sea Martial Arts Academy group looked at Zhou Leng with surprise.

"So he's Zhou Leng?"

"Doesn't seem that special."

"What a pity..."

"I heard he damaged the reputation of our school..."

"He's also someone who has been on the battlefield and has earned merit. Let's speak less of him."

Zhou Leng and Xue Chengsong exchanged a glance; both had grown more robust and taller than before, with less juvenile features on their faces.

"You, you're quite famous among the freshmen, ranking ahead of most martial arts students from the West Sea Martial Arts Academy," Xue Chengsong said.

Zhou Leng replied, "That was last month. This month, I've dropped to over a hundredth place."