Martial Ascent to Divinity

After Tu Rong walked away, Zhang Xinglie laughed and said, "You're a brother now too."

"I guess Tu Rong recognized you, and Mark and the others don't want to offend the Huahong Exploration Company. So many people died, yet they're still willing to make peace. They must be after something big," Zhou Leng said.

Zhang Xinglie nodded, "That's right, I thought of that just now. Do you remember the treasure map you confiscated?"

"Of course. Their target might be the treasure of the Mountain Melting Furnace."

"Do you want to go?"

Zhou Leng shook his head, "The Mountain Melting Furnace is too famous, its status and prestige among the Steel Dwarves are equivalent to the Three Saints of Mount Tai and the Martial Ancestor Yu Zhimin. So many people are eyeing his treasure, it's too dangerous. We've got no reason to compete with our modest abilities."

"True, take what you desire, leave what you don't. This has always been Saint Zhao's principle both in Martial Arts and in life," Zhang Xinglie said.

Zhou Leng saw another figure approaching from the corner of his eye and said in a low voice, "Speak of Cao Cao and here comes Cao Pi, someone from the Zhao Clan is here."

Zhang Xinglie looked over and saw Zhao Le walking towards them.

Zhao Le smiled, "Zhang Xinglie, I specifically came to tell you something. Can we talk in a place where there's no one around?"

Zhang Xinglie said, "This is my brother, there's no need to hide anything from him."

Zhao Le was taken aback, "He wouldn't happen to be that friend you mentioned last time?"

Zhang Xinglie said, "Yes, he is."

Zhao Le took a good look at Zhou Leng and said with admiration, "The other day I invited Zhang Xinglie to a banquet, but he said he couldn't come because he was helping you. Your friendship is enviable."

Zhou Leng knew Zhang Xinglie helped him but didn't know he missed the banquet because of it.

Zhao Le then smiled and said, "The past is in the past. This time I've come on behalf of the Lou Family and the Zhao Clan to invite you to join us in exploring the Ancient King's Treasure at the Mountain Melting Furnace. What do you think?"

Zhou Leng and Zhang Xinglie exchanged glances, surprised that this group was also targeting the Ancient King's Treasure.

Zhang Xinglie said, "I'm only at the Mid-Stage Body Refining, I wouldn't be much help at the Ancient King's Treasure."

Zhao Le laughed, "You really don't know?"

The two of them remained silent.

Zhao Le continued, "This isn't really a secret; once you're in the city, you'll know. The Dwarf Race's Ancient King's Treasure is ostensibly a treasure trove, but it's actually a place for the Ancient Kings to test the descendants of the dwarves."

"Different Ancient Kings set different conditions. For instance, this Mountain Melting Furnace Ancient King's Treasure has an upper limit of the Late Stage of Body Refining; it won't allow those at the Vitality Stage to enter."

"It's said that there were too many advanced Ancient King's Treasures before, and the weaker dwarves couldn't undergo trials. The Mountain Melting Furnace, being the leader of the Dwarf Race's revival, believed that young dwarves were more important, so they lowered the conditions, prohibiting too strong dwarves from entering."

Zhou Leng and Zhang Xinglie were stirred.

Zhao Le continued, "Although Lou Fei Qiong of the Lou Family is leading this time, many are from the Zhao Clan's branches. If you can join, you could become a core member and participate in the distribution. After it's done, you could be recommended to the Zhao Clan."

Upon hearing about the Lou Family, Zhou Leng's eyes turned cold.

Zhang Xinglie said, "Is there a difference between a core member and an ordinary member?"

"The difference is substantial."

"What about my friend?"

"As long as he reaches the Mid-Stage Body Refining, he can also join you as a core member," Zhao Le glanced at Zhou Leng, a gentle smile on his face.

"I'm only in the late stage of Blood Transport," Zhou Leng said.

Zhao Le helplessly said, "In that case, there's nothing else to be done. You can be an ordinary member."

"Can't you make an exception?" Zhang Xinglie asked.

Zhao Le said, "Core members are all from the Zhao Clan. Even if the hired ones reach the late stage of Body Refining, they aren't eligible to become core members."

Zhang Xinglie shook his head, "Then forget it, we came together, we can't be ranked differently."

Zhao Le sighed and said, "You, still so loyal. Obtaining the qualification for the Elite Training Camp by yourself, you do have the strength. But the invitation for the Ten Realms Youth Battle is probably beyond your grasp."

"Hmm?" Zhang Xinglie stared at Zhao Le.

Zhao Le smiled, "Lou Fei Qiong and you belong to different classes in Yunhua, but he has been paying attention to you. If you're willing to help him this time, no matter the outcome, he is willing to continue working with you and help you secure an invitation to the Ten Realms Youth Battle. What do you think?"

Zhou Leng asked, "How valuable is an invitation to the Ten Realms Youth Battle?"

"Unlike an ordinary training camp qualification, once a name is set, it cannot be traded because it requires recording the Martial Arts' Qi. If you insist on talking about value, it's ten times that of Yunhua's Elite Training Camp."

Zhang Xinglie asked, "What's the price?"

Zhao Le smiled, "There's no price; it's just cooperation. Lou Fei Qiong thinks you're a loyal friend and intends to befriend you."

"I don't want to hear clichés, I lack emotional intelligence," Zhang Xinglie bluntly said.

Zhao Le's face remained unchanged and said, "It all depends on how you see it. If you think helping Lou Fei Qiong is a cost, then it's a cost. If you see it as cooperative progress, even a Celestial Ladder, then it's a Celestial Ladder."

Zhang Xinglie frowned.

Zhou Leng, however, said, "What kind of good things are in this Ancient King's Treasure?"

"There are lots of treasures in the Mountain Melting Furnace's Ancient King's Treasure. Because the descendants of the Mountain Melting Furnace are the strongest Ancient King Family, they frequently offer sacrifices and send in treasures."

"Magic Potions, gems, gold, Demonized Metal, unknown Secret Treasures, inheritances... all sorts of things you can imagine."

"Of course, the most important is the legendary Eye of the Ancient God."

"It's said that the Mountain Melting Furnace was able to rise to the rank of an Ancient King because he acquired an Eye of the Ancient God. Using the Eye of the Ancient God, he enhanced the Ancestral Protection of the Dwarf Race, allowing all dwarves to evolve into Steel Dwarves."

"However, the Eye of the Ancient God was later lost, and no one knows where it ended up."

"If you could acquire the Eye of the Ancient God and hand it over to the Dwarf tribe, you would receive unimaginable benefits."

Zhou Leng asked, "What exactly is the Eye of the Ancient God?"

Zhao Le shook his head, "Not sure. All that's known is that it's the supreme treasure of the Dwarf world, and there are only two. One is with the Dwarves and the other with the Beastmen, but both were eventually lost. It's estimated to be a unique treasure of this world, useless to other races."

Zhou Leng said, "Let us think it over again, shall we? After all, there's still time before the opening of the Ancient King's Treasure, right?"

"Alright, you two think it over. You can contact me anytime within two hundred meters. See you later." Zhao Le waved the demonized watch in his hand and turned away.

Once Zhao Le was far away, Zhou Leng asked, "What do you think?"

"Tempted?"

"Of course I'm tempted. My goal is to obtain a dwarf identity, maybe even a title. If we really get the Eye of the Ancient God, a title is inevitable. Then, selecting the Giant Trial we want will be much simpler."

"Do you want to join the Lou Family's team?"

"I don't." Zhou Leng replied.

Zhang Xinglie spread his hands and said, "Neither do I."

"Then let's try to find a more reliable team, or go in alone. I have a Steel Dwarf friend. If the Ancient King's Treasure is truly this important, he will definitely participate, so let's find a way to contact him."

"The one in the Celestial Ladder... Molten Hammer?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

The group continued for another two days, and a massive volcano stood looming ahead.

Billowing black smoke rose into the sky, forming an umbrella-like dark cloud that hung over the heights.

In the night, a city surrounded the volcano, illuminated by a sea of lights.

The trading caravan slowly entered the city.

After entering the city, the two parted ways with the Huahong Trading Team, leisurely strolling through the prosperous commercial streets of the Furnace of Flame.

The buildings here were solid and rugged, constructed from square and massive stones, quite different from human ones.

Apart from a few spots with neon lights, most places on the commercial streets were lit by oil lamps.

Besides dwarves, there were shops run by some humans, demon spirit masters, and even a few run by giants, giant dragons, and tree-men.

As they continued walking, they saw a few clean-featured and scantily dressed dwarves standing at a door under a red lantern, gesturing for them to come over.

The two exchanged a glance and quickly turned away.

"Those dwarves, they have more chest hair than I do. At first glance, it looked like their chests were hiding two people's heads." Zhang Xinglie said.

"You people from Xiong City are used to the storms; you can get a taste of local customs. We folks from Rucheng won't go."

"No, no, no, I'll give you this chance, expand your horizons..."

The two jokingly slipped away.

They continued wandering, and Zhou Leng occasionally checked his watch, but there was still no word from Molten Hammer.

Along the way, they sampled some local delicacies and bought a few trinkets, until late at night when they found a hotel to sleep.

Early the next morning, the two walked to the tavern next door to their hotel and ordered ten sets of camel beef meals and two magical beast meat meals.

Soon, the meals were served one by one.

Comprising of camel beef, boiled beans, mixed vegetable soup, roasted potatoes, and roasted carrots.

By the time they finished eating, most of the patrons at the tavern had left.

Only four or five Steel Dwarves who had drunk too much morning booze were snoring away on their tables.

Grinding their teeth, talking in their sleep, and snoring, everything was present.

"Check, please." Zhou Leng said loudly in somewhat fluent dwarf language.

A Steel Dwarf server came over, smiling, "We accept Volcano Coins and..."

Zhou Leng tossed over a piece of Orange Gold.

The server hurriedly caught it with both hands, smiling broadly.

"A piece of Orange Gold is worth ten thousand Volcano Coins. You two consumed 6357 Volcano Coins, we'll take 6300 Volcano Coins. Please hold on, your change is 3700."

"Alright." Zhou Leng said.

The server walked away.

Zhang Xinglie asked, "You're so good at dwarf language? I can barely understand half of it."

"I've spent the past few months learning languages of various races." Zhou Leng said.

Thanks to the learning of Divine Text, he could quickly master all languages.

Before long, the server returned, presenting a row of flat and long Volcano Coins, about the size of a lighter, entirely black, embossed with a volcano shape, three large and seven small.

Zhou Leng tossed the server a Volcano Coin worth 100 and said, "We'd like to gather some information, where is the best place to do that?"

The server smiled and said, "Of course, that would be the tavern. We dwarves drink at least three times a day, and once we're drunk, everything spills out. Whatever you want to know, you can directly ask me."

"Really?"

"Of course."

Zhou Leng slightly pushed the remaining Volcano Coins forward, saying, "As long as you give good information, these are yours."

"Ask away."

"Do you know anyone named Molten Hammer?"

"In the Furnace of Flame, there are at least eight hundred if not a thousand named Molten Hammer."

"Molten Hammer from the Mountain of Lava." Zhou Leng said.