Martial Ascent to Divinity

"Zhou Leng, you're finally here. I thought you were stopped by the demon and couldn't make it." Xue Chengsong waved at Zhou Leng.

"Zhou Leng?"

Many people turned to look at Zhou Leng.

Most people didn't know the name, but the new students from the Martial Arts Academy in both teams showed admiration.

Only Tu Rong looked awkward and adjusted his leather jacket.

After all, he lost a bet duel to Zhou Leng that day.

Chang Luan saw Zhou Leng, then looked at Song Juesi, still smiling.

Zhou Leng walked into Xue Chengsong's team.

Xue Chengsong said, "For the last match, Zhou Leng will fight."

Rao Mingxian glanced at Xue Chengsong, frowned slightly, walked to Zhou Leng, and whispered, "How is your injury? Are you okay?"

Zhou Leng said, "I've recovered. This time I'm fighting not for victory, but to learn from Elder Song."

"Then be very careful. His total Inner Power may not be that strong, but his manipulation of True Qi is extraordinary."

"I can see that, which is why I want to learn." Zhou Leng said.

Rao Mingxian nodded and said no more.

The others also knew they couldn't beat Elder Song, so they decided to give it a try despite the odds, and no one objected.

Zhou Leng stepped forward, cupped his fists towards Song Juesi, and said, "Junior Zhou Leng, greets Elder Song."

"I've heard of your name, very good." Song Juesi smiled kindly.

"I'm even more humbled by that. In this Qi duel, it's not about winning or losing, but learning. I hope the elder will give me guidance."

"I don't dare offer guidance; meeting a young hero pleases this old man very much. Please."

"You first."

The students behind Song Juesi curiously looked at Zhou Leng, as it was the first time someone was called a young hero by Elder Song.

Both stood in horse stance, facing each other, slowly stretched their arms, and four palms connected.

Neither filled their True Qi completely, but slowly applied it.

Song Juesi's palm appeared purple, densely connected, while Zhou Leng's palm seemed like a purple net, full of holes.

Both were stunned for a moment, even Xue Chengsong was surprised.

Everyone thought that Zhou Leng dared to step up because he was in the Late Stage of Blood Transport, but he turned out to be in the Middle Period.

Some behind Xue Chengsong were frustrated; though they were bound to lose, they shouldn't have done it like this.

People shook their heads.

No need to guess, after ten seconds, as soon as the elder exerted force, if Zhou Leng wasn't sent flying five or six meters, he'd at least save face.

Chang Luan's smile widened.

As soon as Zhou Leng touched the elder's True Qi, he was slightly startled.

The elder's True Qi was indeed, as Rao Mingxian said, a bit weak.

But soon after, the elder's True Qi flowed endlessly, accumulating more and growing stronger.

Zhou Leng vaguely understood that the elder probably had health issues affecting his True Qi, preventing a breakthrough to Body Refining Stage.

However, he took a different path, transforming Qi like silk, continuous and unending.

Zhou Leng was very familiar with this method.

Both "Great River Entering the Sea" and "Thousand Tides Pouring into the Sea" shared a similar artistic conception.

Brewing for thousands of years, gathering power for thousands of miles, once entering the sea, it's unstoppable.

Zhou Leng was currently using the accumulation method of "Thousand Tides Pouring into the Sea."

Then, Zhou Leng added the Qi manipulation method "All Rivers Flow into the Sea," activating more meridians.

Everyone suddenly widened their eyes.

Suddenly, around the two, a strong wind rose, their clothes flapping furiously.

The wild grass beneath their feet bent into a circular pattern, incomparable to previous Qi duels.

"This Zhou Leng..."

Even the slowest to react realized that Zhou Leng's True Qi far surpassed everyone before.

Everyone fixated on the sleeves of the two.

Amidst the howling wind, it seemed as if invisible hands slowly rolled up their sleeves.

Their sleeves rolled back slowly, reaching behind their elbows and nearing their shoulders.

Smoother than if done by hand.

"Qi causing sleeve roll..."

People glanced at each other, knowing this marked the realm of True Qi Extreme Realm.

With sleeves rolled up, their arms' purple hue was revealed to all.

The elder's arms were fully purple, like a cloak.

Zhou Leng's arms were covered like a web.

After ten seconds, the elder's eyes widened, and the veins in his arms bulged.

Bam...

A clear sound exploded between their four palms.

True Qi clashed audibly.

Their bodies swayed simultaneously, but neither moved back.

Their palms remained together.

Zhou Leng took a deep breath, once again fully channeling his Qi.

The buildup continued.

The elder looked at Zhou Leng in surprise, subtly applying skill, letting his True Qi spin between his hands, trying to deflect Zhou Leng.

Yet Zhou Leng's True Qi was as steady as a mountain, unmovable, even making Song Juesi's body sway, his True Qi unstable.

Song Juesi's eyes lit up, showing joy, and continued to skillfully manipulate his True Qi.

Spinning, turning, drawing, rushing, upward, downward...

With more than ten flow techniques, if not in a duel, Zhou Leng would certainly learn.

But now, Zhou Leng remained unshaken like a pillar or a reef before the waves.

No matter the Qi techniques faced, Zhou Leng continued accumulating power.

With thousands of tides rising, and all rivers pushing together.

Rumble...

Everyone stared at Zhou Leng's arms.

Inside Zhou Leng's arms, a soft yet soul-stirring sound of great tides resounded.

The momentum of a thousand tides forms, crashing into the sea.

Song Juesi's forehead was slightly sweaty, using all his means, yet unable to dissolve it. His arms trembled more intensely instead.

Slowly, steam arose faintly from the top of Song Juesi's head.

The steam was like a cage.

In contrast, Zhou Leng was only slightly sweating.

So far, Zhou Leng still remained unchanged in response to myriad changes.

Everyone in their hearts felt that it wasn't Elder Song's True Qi that was lacking, but his age, for his body was evidently unable to withstand such a vast amount of True Qi.

A few more seconds passed, Song Juesi finally withdrew all techniques, fully unleashing the True Qi he had compounded to the extreme.

Bang...

The four palms separated, and both retreated simultaneously.

The Body Refining Stage bodyguard quickly stepped forward and supported Song Juesi's back.

Zhou Leng, on the other hand, barely managed to stand without falling.

Zhou Leng was about to declare it a draw, when unexpectedly, Song Juesi squinted his eyes and smiled, saying, "Good! I lost this round. To witness a young hero emerging in Rucheng with my own eyes, makes my journey worthwhile."

Xue Chengsong immediately said, "Thank you, Elder Song, for allowing this. Young Master Chang, please."

Zhou Leng cupped his hands towards Song Juesi and said, "The elder is too kind. It was not a fair victory on my part."

Song Juesi continued to laugh jovially, "What do you mean not a fair victory? The waves cresting over the old ones is a good thing, as it should be. You did well!"

"I have learned from your guidance," Zhou Leng said.

Song Juesi stepped back a few paces and said, "Chang Luan, you choose the next person."

Chang Luan felt regret in his heart but said, "Elder Song, your presence alone brings me great honor. Please rest and watch the juniors spar."

Song Juesi retreated to the back of the team and said to the seven students, "Learn well from Zhou Leng, he is your role model."

"Is he from Yunhua or Jinjing?" A student asked curiously.

"His skill level is on par with either Yunhua or Jinjing," Song Juesi stated unequivocally.

The seven high school students stared at Zhou Leng.

Five people remained on Chang Luan's side, and three went up one after another.

Zhou Leng admired Song Juesi's spirit and emulated him by not going all out at the start, opting to exert force only after ten seconds.

All three were pushed away by Zhou Leng after eleven seconds.

The three were astonished in their hearts, realizing the horror of the True Qi Extreme Realm only after experiencing it firsthand.

Accepting their defeat, the three retreated willingly.

Chang Luan, however, gave a signal to the fourth person and whispered a few instructions.

The person nodded lightly, walked up to Zhou Leng, and smiled, "Zhou Leng, what's going on with you? Don't you have any respect for the old and love for the young? Elder Song is such a good person, yet you use him as a stepping stone. Isn't that going too far?"

The expressions of those behind Zhou Leng changed slightly; the opponent realized Zhou Leng's restraint and tried to morally coerce him. If they could force Zhou Leng to admit defeat, great; if not, they could at least unsettle him.

Yet Zhou Leng remained indifferent, saying, "Let's keep it civil, please."

With that, he extended his arms.

The person sneered a few more times, but Zhou Leng remained unfazed. Xue Chengsong and others scolded in unison, leaving the person no choice but to extend his arms.

Their four palms met, and the person immediately unleashed his True Qi with full force.

Zhou Leng, however, slowly accumulated inner strength as before.

Ten seconds passed.

Zhou Leng suddenly took a deep breath, and his True Qi surged back.

The person across felt an indescribable suction from Zhou Leng's hands, his expression horrified.

At this moment, Zhou Leng's hands seemed to transform into massive whirlpools in the sea.

"Rise!"

Zhou Leng shouted, raising his arms diagonally. The person's arms were directly sucked in, and his body suddenly lifted into the air.

The person's legs kicked helplessly in the air, unable to break free, his expression terrified.

Everyone was stunned.

Zhou Leng suddenly swung his arms downward, causing the person to lose balance and fall to the ground with a scream.

"You think you're worthy to criticize Elder Song or me?" Zhou Leng looked down disdainfully at the person.

"Good! Hahaha..." Song Juesi laughed heartily.

"Well done!" The people behind Zhou Leng praised in unison.

The people behind Chang Luan showed embarrassed expressions, having lost both the person and the fight.

"Next," Zhou Leng said.

With a grim face, Chang Luan selected the next person.

After ten seconds, Zhou Leng pushed his arms, and that person staggered backward, crashing into Chang Luan.

The opposition finally understood Zhou Leng's strength.

Though Elder Song was old, the remaining five were in their prime, yet none could withstand Zhou Leng's full effort.

Perhaps he didn't even exert full force.

Chang Luan cupped his fist and said, "This abandoned mine is yours now, the green hills don't change, and the clear waters flow forever, farewell."

With that, Chang Luan turned and left, his face ashen.

Song Juesi also cupped his hands to Zhou Leng, smiling blissfully as he led the seven students away.

Before leaving, the seven students frequently glanced back at Zhou Leng.

In their hearts, Elder Song was like a god, and they hadn't expected such a young Zhou Leng to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

"Elder Song, where on earth does he study?"

"At the Great Martial Arts Hall as a student."

"Such a distinctive senior brother..." a beautiful girl remarked as she glanced back at Zhou Leng.

Xue Chengsong clapped both of Zhou Leng's shoulders, exclaiming excitedly, "Zhou Leng, thank you so much! This was my first time leading a company's competition, and if we lost, I'd have no face to show my father. You were the key!"

Rao Mingxian sighed and said, "I thought reaching the Late Stage of Blood Transport, I could compare with you, but I still couldn't. Your ability to lift people with True Qi is too strong."

Xu Kang'an couldn't help laughing, "When Zhou Leng lifted that person, and the person's legs retracted as if squatting on an invisible toilet mid-air, I almost burst out laughing."

"Hahaha..."

"Zhou Leng, how are your injuries, really?" Xue Chengsong couldn't help asking.

Zhou Leng remained silent, not knowing what to say.

Everyone's eyes dimmed.

Xue Chengsong quickly said, "According to the custom, friends who joined the battle receive bonuses, and all who came to lend a hand can pick a piece of today's high-energy ore to take with them or sell for evaluation. Zhou Leng picks first, no objections, right?"

"None!" Everyone shouted loudly in unison.