Martial Ascent to Divinity

Two men were each being held tightly by a drunken dwarf, with two other dwarves punching and kicking.

The four dwarves weren't putting in their full effort, not using their Anger Blood, just hitting randomly, but the force was not light.

Body Refining Stage dwarves.

Zhang Xinglie said, "They're pretending to be drunk. Don't hit too hard. They're prepared, but don't hurt yourself either."

Both men couldn't dodge, with the dwarves holding their legs, but they blocked and counterattacked with their strong abilities.

They didn't get hurt, but instead beat the four dwarves black and blue.

"What's going on?"

A team of five dwarven guards in shiny chain armor charged over.

"They discriminate against us!"

"They called us damned drunks!"

Zhou Leng said, "They're pretending to be drunk and causing trouble."

Zhang Xinglie said, "Tell them I'm from Yunhua Martial Arts Academy."

Zhou Leng took out the Apprentice Martial Guard badge and said, "My friend is a student at Yunhua Martial Arts Academy from the human world. I am an Apprentice Martial Guard of Dragon Country. I'm warning you, if this causes tensions between the two realms, you can't handle it!"

The dwarf captain hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting, then he snorted coldly and said, "Street brawl, detain first, interrogate later."

Then he whispered to the other four dwarf guards, "Don't harm them."

The four dwarf guards rushed forward, taking out demonized handcuffs, and cuffing the two men and four dwarves.

Zhang Xinglie glanced not far away, whispered, "Don't act impulsively, I see there are possibly some dwarf masters watching here, likely hoping we make a move. Once we act, even if someone from the Foreign Affairs Department comes, it'll delay us more than three days."

Two days later, it's the day when the Ancient King's Treasure opens.

Zhou Leng squinted his eyes, scanning his surroundings, said, "Then let's watch the situation first."

"Move!"

Five dwarf guards escorted six of them into the dwarven prison in the west of the city.

No body search, no taking things from the two men, no unlocking handcuffs, just locked them in a pitch-black, foul-smelling cell.

Zhou Leng and Zhang Xinglie could see that the other side was cautious too, not daring to push too hard.

After the prison guards left, many dwarves shouted and asked how they got in.

The four drunken dwarves seemed to sober up, saying nothing.

Zhou Leng whispered, "Seems like they care about us a lot, who do you think it is?"

"Everyone has motives, hard to say," Zhang Xinglie said.

"Unfortunately, the only connection I have in the dwarf world can't be found," Zhou Leng said.

Zhang Xinglie said, "No worries, I sent a message to the captain of Huahong Exploration Team, as long as he's nearby, he'll receive the message."

"Hopefully he passes by us."

As the two were chatting quietly, a deep voice suddenly rang out.

"Zhou Leng? Zhou Leng, are you here?"

Zhou Leng and Zhang Xinglie were taken aback, and then Zhou Leng looked delighted.

"Molten Hammer, it's me, I'm here, you're here too?"

"Yeah! I just received your message."

"How did you end up here?"

"What do you humans call it... oh right, I got dragged in by a bunch of idiots. A few of my friends had a drunken brawl, and I ended up here too."

"Let's connect in Martial Arts City." As Zhou Leng said this, he used the demonized watch to initiate a voice call.

Molten Hammer immediately connected.

"When are you getting out?" Zhou Leng whispered.

"Tomorrow we'll be out. How did you end up locked in?"

Zhou Leng said, "Got framed, probably be detained for a few days."

"Is anyone going to stop you from going to the Old Grandfather's treasure?"

"I planned to invite you along, didn't expect we'd meet here..."

"Hahaha... Good thing you got in, or we might not meet."

"Do you have a way to get us out?"

"Don't worry, once we're out, we'll find an Innate Elder from the tribe to get you out. If that fails, hehe... prison break."

"Can that work?"

"No problem, the dwarf world isn't as strict as the human world, just a little prison break, half a year's war merits can offset it. Done it twice anyway."

"Alright. Wait, I don't suggest rescuing us tomorrow, better before the Ancient King's Treasure opens. This way those who framed us won't have time to react."

"You humans indeed... smart. If the prison doesn't release you, we'll break in and head straight for the Ancient King's Treasure."

"Alright. Also, when rescuing us, mention both our identities. Besides being an Apprentice Martial Guard, I'm also an Honorary Lieutenant of the Seventh Division Martial Arts Brigade."

Zhang Xinglie looked at Zhou Leng with surprise, not just him, even top students at Yunhua Jinjing couldn't get this title.

"Martial Arts Brigade member? Haha, then the Prison Director has to either release you or turn a blind eye to let us break in. After all, Chen Shouhu's temper is well-known, many Innate Dwarves have been beaten by him, haha."

Zhang Xinglie said, "Once you get out, first go to the Demon City Army's contact point at the Furnace of Flame, explain our situation, they should be willing to help. Don't go to the Foreign Affairs Department."

"And you are...?"

Zhou Leng then said, "Zhang Xinglie, grew up together, mid-stage Body Refinement at Yunhua Martial Arts Academy."

"Alright, once I'm out, I'll contact the Demon City Army. However, the Demon City Army will definitely have the Demon Spirit Masters cross-border contact the Martial Arts Brigade, mention your name, can Chen Shouhu know?"

Zhang Xinglie also looked at Zhou Leng, after all, Chen Shouhu's fame was grand in Xiong City.

Zhou Leng hesitated for a few seconds. He had only met Chen Shouhu once during the test that day and hadn't exchanged a word with him. He could only say, "Let's give it a try. It's better than not trying at all."

Molten Hammer said, "Good! I'll first find the Demon City Army tomorrow and get them to cooperate with our actions the day after. If not, we'll break out of prison on the spot. After all, there's only one Innate, the Prison Director, here. As long as we find two Innates, we can handle it."

"By the way, you should have a team for the Ancient King's Treasure. Do we need any qualifications to join?"

"We are from the Ancient King Tribe. How could we lack such qualifications? No problem! We would love for both of you to join. I remember you know the Divine Text, right?"

"Yes."

"Haha, we were worried about that. Steel Dwarves who understand the Divine Text are even fewer than Dwarven Wizards who know spells. With the two of you, things will definitely go more smoothly. Come, let's have a video call. I'll introduce you to four silly... er, straightforward friends."

Subsequently, the two had a video call, turning on bright lights and introduced each other.

Beside Molten Hammer were four dwarves named Gray Light, Black Barrel, Ban Chui, and Malt Beer.

Molten Hammer and Ban Chui had just advanced to the Early Stage of Body Refining, while the other three Steel Dwarves were in the Late Stage of Body Refining.

The five of them crowded the video, looking like a small pile of black iron, both dark and shiny.

They discussed through the night.

The next day, the five of Molten Hammer left.

At noon, Zhou Leng received a message from Molten Hammer.

"I'm by the prison wall, message me back when you get this."

"Received."

"We've already contacted people from the Demon City Army, and they've verified your identity and that of your friend. We've agreed that tomorrow morning, Chen Shouhu will directly contact General Julu of the Furnace of Flame's City Defense Army, and then we'll join the Demon City Army people to pick you up."

"Chen Shouhu is willing to help me?"

"Tsk, tsk, your influence must be significant. A contact from the Martial Arts Brigade said that the prison only has two options: either release you or do so in front of Brigadier General Chen."

Zhang Xinglie sighed, "I've also heard of Brigadier General Chen Shouhu's name and know he's a decent person. I didn't expect him to be so righteous."

Zhou Leng nodded.

Molten Hammer laughed and said, "Since Chen Shouhu personally intervened, you two can just wait for tomorrow. Friends from the Demon City Army said the City Defense General of the Furnace of Flame, also known as 'Julu·Mountain Melting Furnace,' has taken a beating from Chen Shouhu before and surely doesn't want a second round."

Zhou Leng and Zhang Xinglie had a good sleep.

At the break of dawn, a team of Dwarven City Defense Army and Human Demon City Army burst into the prison with formidable presence, intimidating the prisoners into silence.

They took Zhou Leng away.

The Prison Director was absent, but all wardens wore smiles.

Upon exiting the prison, a red-headed Molten Hammer gave Zhou Leng an enthusiastic hug, burying his head in Zhou Leng's waist and abdomen.

Molten Hammer cleared his throat and let go.

The Captain of the Dwarven City Defense Army took out a Beast Bone Badge and handed it to Zhou Leng without saying a word.

Taking it in hand, Zhou Leng saw it was a square piece of white bone, with a mountain carved on it.

Molten Hammer winked and whispered, "General Julu gave you this 'Mountain Melting Furnace' family badge to prevent further incidents. It contains the bloodline aura of their family. No one will dare trouble you in the Dwarf World with it."

Zhou Leng examined it closely, thinking to himself how heavily Chen Shouhu must have beaten General Julu for him to part with such a precious item.

With this, Zhou Leng would enjoy immense convenience whether in the Dwarf World or the Giant World.

Zhou Leng and Zhang Xinglie thanked everyone and, escorted by the Dwarven City Defense Army, headed straight for the teleportation magic array of the Furnace of Flame.

Then, together with the twenty Dwarven City Defense warriors, Zhou Leng and others teleported to the entrance of the Ancient King's Treasure, a hundred kilometers away.

Zhou Leng looked ahead.

A dense crowd of thousands gathered at the mountain's base.

"This is the Old Grandfather Mountain," Molten Hammer said.

The mountain, reaching three to four hundred meters, stretched for dozens of kilometers and was not particularly enormous.

In the front, there were predominantly Dwarves, with a few Humans interspersed.

Many people turned their heads to look this way, at the twenty Dwarf warriors escorting Zhou Leng.

Some Dwarves showed puzzled expressions.

Their helmets sported three-colored rooster feathers, and their war hammers were gold-plated, marking them as the most formidable Golden Hammer warriors of the Furnace of Flame City Defense Army.

Only direct descendants of the Mountain Melting Furnace line, Ancient Royal descendants, could command them.

Most participants in the treasure hunt were merely Body Refining Dwarves.

Dwarves of such realms couldn't command Golden Hammer warriors.

Unless they were the Great Chief's direct grandchildren from the Mountain Melting Furnace.

Not far away, Mark, Tu Rong, and others, along with Zhao Le and Lou Fei Qiong, saw this scene and their expressions changed slightly.

Both sides discussed in low voices.

Getting close to the crowd, a Dwarf shouted, "Molten Hammer, what's happened?"

Molten Hammer loudly replied, "My human friend was framed by other humans. General Julu took action to save us and asked the Golden Hammer warrior brothers to escort us to avoid any more framing."

"What humans dared to frame General Julu's friend? Are they here?"

"Point them out, keep away from them; they must have had Demon Leopard Gall!"

"Who did it, step forward!"

Many Dwarves became furious one by one.

Julu·Mountain Melting Furnace was a direct descendant of the Ancient King Mountain Furnace, an Innate Master, renowned for his war merits and respected status, with an excellent reputation in the Dwarf World.

Molten Hammer whispered, "Who do you think it is?"

Zhou Leng said, "Both teams hold suspicion; I'm not sure who exactly, so we can only investigate after we emerge."

Molten Hammer said, "Which two teams exactly? We need to prepare in advance."

Zhang Xinglie casually pointed to Zhao Le and Tu Rong's location.