Martial Ascent to Divinity

Lou Fei Qiong shook his head and said, "No, Zhou Leng is very strong. I hope he chose to withdraw from the trial rather than died. In this level of Body Refinement Giant Trial, even if passed, the Ancestral Protection gained is minimal. Generally, it requires the Innate level trials to awaken the Giant Body of Wonders. Failing once is not significant."

"I've heard that many Innate Masters of the Human Race have accepted the Giant Ancestors' protection five or six times consecutively without awakening the Giant Body of Wonders, only undergoing ordinary physical enhancement."

Lou Fei Qiong sighed lightly, never expecting Zhou Leng, who slaughtered many in the Dwarf World, to face mishaps in the Giant World.

Not far from Lou Fei Qiong, Jax also looked towards Zhang Xinglie and the others.

"Young Master Jax, that Zhou Leng is dead."

"He shouldn't be. At most, he withdrew from the competition. Zhou Leng is very powerful."

At this time, a team of giants walked in from outside, proceeding weakly.

Their bodies were covered in bruises and scars left by shattered stones.

"Finally made it out, almost died in there..."

"We're lucky to have only encountered the big snowballs, that was horrible..."

"Hmm? Isn't that Mountain and River Origin?"

"Their team had more people before, why are there only five left now?"

"Still the Human Race and Dwarfs, but even more mixed in blood than him."

"Their Mountain and River Tribe, adept at internal strife, but not so much at external combat."

A giant shouted, "Mountain and River Origin, how many of your teammates died? Human or Giant?"

The surrounding giants burst into laughter.

Mountain and River Origin stood up abruptly, staring intently at that giant, and said slowly, "You said something you shouldn't have. I hope you apologize."

"Oh, are you the Emperor of Giants? Can you dictate what I say? Apologize? Impossible!"

Mountain and River Origin turned to the Examiner and said, "Honorable Examiner, in the name of Mountain and River Origin of the Mountain and River Tribe, I challenge him to a 'Death Duel of Eternal Grudge.'"

"Are you insane?" That giant was taken aback.

The Death Duel of Eternal Grudge is a type of duel among giants when facing mortal enemies.

The Examiner said, "The premise of a Death Duel of Eternal Grudge is that you have a deep vendetta."

Mountain and River Origin said, "My comrades fought alongside me across the Avalanche Plateau, battled Demons, and killed Giant Dragons shoulder to shoulder. To save us, they were captured by the enemy and left us forever. They can insult me, but if they insult my fallen comrades, that's a life-or-death vendetta for me!"

"You need to make a great vow."

Mountain and River Origin raised his fist high towards the heavens and swore.

"I, Mountain and River Origin, under the witness of the Starry Giant Ancestors dwelling in the myriad seas among the stars, swear that all I say is true. For our fallen comrades who sacrificed themselves to save us, I challenge that disgrace who insulted the heroes to a Death Duel of Eternal Grudge!"

"Mountain and River Origin, you don't need to be so excessive! You think this will make me bow down?" The giant roared.

"Then let your fists do the talking." Mountain and River Origin said, looking at the Examiner.

Lou Fei Qiong, Jax, and others approached, sighed when they saw this scene.

Zhou Leng, really is dead.

Otherwise, Mountain and River Origin would never act like this.

The Examiner was silent for a moment, remembering the Mountain River Celestial Peak, nodding, "Under the witness of the Starry Giant Ancestors in the myriad seas and stars, I agree to the Death Duel of Eternal Grudge between you."

Mountain and River Origin strode towards the giant.

The nearby giants were both angry and fearful.

But still, some giants stood up, slapping their upper arms, chests, and bellies while loudly yelling.

The war song of giants.

That giant, who was still hesitating at first, heard the war song and knew there was no retreat, roared angrily, "Mountain and River Origin, you mutt! You think I'll fear you, this wild breed?"

He said, stomping the ground, rushing towards Mountain and River Origin.

Both were at the Late Stage of Body Refining.

As they got closer, that giant threw a punch at Mountain and River Origin.

Fast and fierce, without any tricks, strong and powerful.

Mountain and River Origin seemingly rushed straight ahead, but at the moment the fist approached, his footwork rapidly shifted, dodging sideways and swinging his right arm.

A vicious hook punch bypassed the giant's arm, tracing an arc, striking the giant's jaw.

The giant's vision went black and he staggered back.

Mountain and River Origin seized the opportunity, grabbing the giant's forearm with his left hand and the upper arm with his right, tearing fiercely.

Ripping off the huge right arm, bright blood spurted from the shoulder.

As the giant screamed, Mountain and River Origin moved to the other side, grabbing the giant's left arm again, and ripping fiercely.

Amidst screams, Mountain and River Origin tossed aside the second arm and kicked the giant to the ground.

The giant still tried to kick randomly, but Mountain and River Origin stepped on his right leg, breaking it at the root, grabbed the right ankle, and snapped it upwards.

Crack...

Mountain and River Origin twisted, lifted one leg, threw it aside, then bent down, breaking the other leg.

"Ah..."

The giant, with all limbs broken, blood spraying, screamed and trembled.

The nearby giants watched the horrific scene in silence.

Some giants finally realized that Mountain and River Origin was far stronger than they imagined.

Just then, a person hurried over and said coldly, "Mountain and River Origin, what happened?"

"Hmm?"

Everyone looked over in unison.

Mountain and River Origin and others looked at Zhou Leng, overjoyed.

Mountain River Oak grinned, ran over with big steps, intent to hug, but finding it hard to embrace, placed his hands under Zhou Leng's armpits and lifted him high.

"You're not dead? Fantastic! Fantastic!"

Mountain River Oak spun jubilantly on the spot.

"Put me down first..." Zhou Leng lost his composure.

Mountain River Oak paid no heed, excited for a while before finally putting Zhou Leng down.

"How did you escape?" Zhang Xinglie asked loudly.

Zhou Leng thought for a moment, half truthfully replied, "I encountered the Great Souls of the Giant Ancestors, they saved me."

From a distance, the giants all rolled their eyes, cursing this damned human a thousand times in their hearts.

Great Souls of Ancestors, do they appear just like that? Saving a mere human like you?

Mountain and River Origin and Zhang Xinglie realized he didn't want to elaborate and didn't pursue it, happily chatting away.

The Innate Giant examiner looked at the giant fainted on the ground, pondered for a moment, and had the giant soldier carry him away.

Lou Fei Qiong and Jax both said to the people nearby, "See, what did I just say?"

After more than an hour, the giant examiner loudly announced, "This Giant Trial has ended, with a total of 1,724 people passing."

"But this time, Ancestral Protection will select only 200 people. The first 100 arrivals pass directly, while the remaining 1,624 will fight in elimination rounds to compete for the final 100 spots."

"Everyone, come over here to receive a number, then fight according to the number to compete for the top 80 positions."

"The last 20 spots will be won by those from the loser's bracket fighting it out."

Upon hearing the word "fighting," everyone reacted, secretly observing the other trial takers.

The competition ahead is likely to become increasingly brutal.

Zhang Xinglie said, "We are all outside the top hundred; hopefully we won't meet each other."

"I've always had good luck; yours won't be too bad either," Molten Hammer said nonchalantly.

"Even if we meet, we should fight with everything we've got. Winning or losing isn't important; it's just Ancestral Protection this time, and there will be more opportunities later," Mountain and River Oak Dao stated.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Over a thousand people took turns drawing numbers.

Zhou Leng looked at the number on his stone plate.

247.

Subsequently, the Innate examiners took positions at twenty clearings.

The clearings were marked with simple arenas, each approximately twenty meters square.

The Innate examiners loudly called out numbers.

Forty trial takers headed to their respective areas, listened to the brief instructions from the examiners, and then started battling in the clearings.

Such battles were too slow; soon, more Innate Giants took roles as examiners, opening additional arena spaces.

In no time, a total of a hundred temporary arenas were established.

Molten Hammer was soon called; indeed, luck was on his side, and his opponent was a Beastman.

Old enemies meeting, their eyes burned with rage as they clashed.

In the end, Molten Hammer's superior skills secured him a victory.

"247, 1076, to arena 46! 247, 1076..."

Zhou Leng strode over to arena 46.

A black-and-white Humpbacked Bull Demon stood in the arena, charging towards Zhou Leng.

The Humpbacked Bull Demon's belly bulged with a massive hive-like tumor.

It stamped the ground with its four hooves, headless, with the neck's severed area having inward dented muscles with a chrysanthemum pattern.

The indentations churned, with twelve bone spikes, as thick as arms, slowly extending, pointing at Zhou Leng.

The Humpbacked Horse Demons and Humpbacked Bull Demons form the core of the Demon ranks.

One male, one female, breed on the Chaotic Grassland.

Horse Demons were sent to the Silent Mountain Legion.

Bull Demons were sent to the Howling Mirror Legion.

The independently operating Humpbacked Horse Demon or Humpbacked Bull Demon, like those coming to the Giant Trial, were among their elite.

These elite Demons are far more fervent than ordinary Demons, as they must fight desperately to earn the Great Demon's acknowledgment.

Sparing no expense to win, sparing no expense to rise.

Until they are "empowered" by high-rank Demons, producing high-rank Demon offspring.

Or gain the opportunity of "ascend Demon," evolving into a higher demon form.

The giant examiner loudly stated the rules, then said, "Life and death are not considered; surrender to stop, begin!"

"I'll kill you..."

The hive-like tumor on the Humpbacked Bull Demon's belly squirmed, emitting a sharp shout, charging at Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng launched a frontal assault, as the bone spikes on the Bull Demon's neck let out a piercing whistle, closing down like a net.

Zhou Leng side-stepped, like a phantom, circling under the Bull Demon's belly.

The hive-like tumor on the Bull Demon's belly trembled intensely, releasing high-pitched sharp sounds, forming a terrifying dual magic of mental and sonic waves.

Zhou Leng's True Qi had long protected his ears, with the Mountain of Will shaking to dispel the spiritual shock.

Arm like a sword, he suddenly thrust it out, piercing the hive-like tumor.

Splurt...

He withdrew his right arm fiercely, gripping a twenty-centimeter long, fleshy little calf, hairless, squealing wildly.

Without hesitation, Zhou Leng's right hand burst with True Qi.

Splat...

Blood splattered all around.

The Humpbacked Bull Demon lost control, lashed out wildly for a moment, and finally collapsed on the ground.

Zhou Leng turned and walked away.

Even a Late Stage elite in body refining is merely that.

"Number 247 victorious..."

Zhou Leng continued fighting three matches.

In the first round, over 1,600 contestants reduced to over 800.

In the second round, from 800 to 400.

In the third, he successfully broke through to 200.

Most here were Giants, but his three opponents were respectively a Demon, a Beastman, and a Dwarf.

Fortunately, none of the six members in his team encountered each other.

Unfortunately, for the fourth round's number calling, Zhou Leng heard a familiar number.

Zhou Leng headed to the arena as a tall Giant stepped forward.

Mountain and River Origin.

Zhou Leng said, "I've just advanced to the Late Stage of Body Refining; it's just right to test your strength."

Zhou Leng knew he was far from a match for Mountain and River Origin, but he also wanted to test the gap between them.