Martial Ascent to Divinity

Cui Mingcong said, "Congratulations, you're in the late stage of Blood Transport in your first year of college. By your senior year, you may reach the Vitality Stage, and eventually have a chance at the Innate level."

"Thanks for the kind words." Cao Jiajia looked at Rao Mingxian with a smile, "He should be the fiercest among us, even more fierce than Zhou Leng."

Xue Chengsong took a close look at Rao Mingxian and said in surprise, "You wouldn't be in the late stage of Body Refinement, would you? Your aura feels off."

Rao Mingxian nodded and said, "It's the late stage of Body Refinement. In a few days, I'm preparing to break through to the Vitality Stage."

At this moment, the room door opened, and the four of them turned their heads to look.

A tall, massive figure walked in through the door.

The four of them smiled as they glanced over, then turned to be flabbergasted.

They all stood up.

In the previous Demon City squad, Cui Mingcong was the most muscular, had the fullest physique, and was the tallest.

Now, he was actually two sizes smaller than Zhou Leng.

Cui Mingcong blurted out, "Damn! Zhou Leng, what have you been eating? You wouldn't be taking steroids, would you? Damn!"

Cui Mingcong is a crude man with little culture; 'Damn' is his catch-all word. He rushed to Zhou Leng and carefully looked him up and down, then compared their physiques.

Rao Mingxian originally thought he had advanced quickly enough, but Zhou Leng's aura was simply giant-like.

Rao Mingxian asked, "Have you been to the Giant World and gotten a Giant Body?"

Xue Chengsong looked at Zhou Leng, his gaze shifted lightly, showing indescribable loss and regret on his face before transforming into delight.

Xue Chengsong chuckled, "Let's fill up our glasses, a toast to Zhou Leng and to everyone's progress."

Without even ordering food, they first raised their glasses and downed a beer.

Setting down his glass, Rao Mingxian placed his hand on Zhou Leng's shoulder and marveled with a click of his tongue, "I thought I was the only one with a rare encounter; turns out you met the giants there too."

"What kind of rare encounter?" Zhou Leng asked.

Rao Mingxian said, "During the New Year, I was bored and went to Shuizhou Demon City. I ended up slaying a squad of Beastmen and got a Magic Spirit Bag along with many Treasure Medicines. I used some myself and sold the rest. What about you?"

Zhou Leng casually recounted his experience in the Giant Trial, leaving out some details.

Xue Chengsong sighed, "The legend indeed was true. Alas, not to mention eligibility, even if we had it, passing such a terrifying Giant Trial is impossible. If I participated, I'd be the first to get crushed by rocks."

"I'd be the second," said Cui Mingcong.

Rao Mingxian said remorsefully, "I was too timid. When going to the Dwarf World, Zhou Leng invited me and Zhang Xinglie. Zhang Xinglie went, but I didn't dare. Later, when Martial Arts Traces called me for escort, I didn't go either, missing another opportunity. One missed step leads to many."

Xue Chengsong said, "Zhou Leng personally fed you, and you missed it?"

"My bad," Rao Mingxian said with a face of regret.

Cui Mingcong and Cao Jiajia looked at Rao Mingxian with both envy and regret. If they were as close to Zhou Leng, they would give it their all regardless.

Unfortunately, the relationship isn't there, nor is the capability.

Rao Mingxian raised his glass, "You offered me such a great benefit, too bad I didn't catch it. In terms of martial arts courage and insight, you're truly ten floors above me—here's to you."

The two clinked glasses.

"Let's order some dishes, eat while we chat," Xue Chengsong said.

After that, each of them ordered two dishes.

Xue Chengsong saw that they were all ordinary dishes and said, "I promised I'd treat you. Is this enough? Are you trying to save me money?"

"Alright, we'll order for real then," Rao Mingxian said.

"Order!"

They ordered a few more large dishes and chatted while waiting for the food.

During this, Feng Wenhao hurriedly came in, apologized to everyone for being late, and then downed three glasses as a penalty.

He was Zhou Leng's high school friend and also joined the Demon City squad.

After chatting for a while, Xue Chengsong started a new topic about various interests.

Everyone gradually started sharing. After a while, Zhou Leng said, "I initially didn't have any interests, but I've recently developed a liking for collecting High-Energy Shells. They're so beautiful, especially those from the Giant World, which you haven't seen—much more beautiful."

Xue Chengsong laughed, "Alright, when there's time, let us see the High-Energy Shells from the Giant World."

"Okay."

Xue Chengsong suddenly remembered something and said, "Recently, my family dug up some High-Energy Shells—if you like them, I'll give them to you. They aren't worth much anyway."

Others quietly sighed at Xue Chengsong and Zhou Leng's relationship; the value of High-Energy Shells depends on their appearance. Even the worst starts at 100,000, while damaged ones can sell for several thousand.

Only when dealing with people unfamiliar with them can they be acquired at a low price.

"I'll take a look. If they're really nice, I'll buy them; can't take them for free," Zhou Leng said.

Xue Chengsong replied, "You're being too polite. Things like these, while they do have value, everyone knows they're being speculated on. Back in the day, postage stamps, Qi Baishi's paintings, later those walnut crafts—all these things have misled many. And don't even get me started on diamonds; since the Ten Realms merged, almost all regular gemstones dropped in value, then came the speculated High-Energy Gemstones—no one cares about their harmful radiation."

Rao Mingxian nodded, "Zhou Leng, let me give you some advice. My grandpa personally told me he had a friend who participated in the High-Energy Shell speculation. These shells are just a game of musical chairs, no one knows when it will collapse."

Zhou Leng didn't want to reveal the Star Conch affair, and smiled, "I'm just personally interested, willing to spend tens of thousands, but not millions."

"Even ten thousand is too much!" Xue Chengsong said, "I've decided this: since you're uncomfortable not paying, ten thousand each. If you don't want them, we'll just throw them into storage, considering we got quite a lot from the Five Tigers of Shuizhou this time."

Zhou Leng casually asked, "Your family feuded with the Five Tigers of Shuizhou?"

Xue Chengsong originally wanted to talk about finding someone to help them out in a fight, so he said, "Tian Wenhua lost his mind and couldn't control his subordinates, who decided to cooperate with us. When he found out, he clashed with us fiercely."

"It was something that could have been easily resolved, but he lost it for a while, biting like a mad dog, and even went heavy-handed."

"His Five Tigers of Shuizhou are not weak, and we're not pushovers either, so both sides suffered casualties when we fought."

Zhou Leng asked, "What are you planning to do?"

Xue Chengsong said, "My dad is okay with anything, but Tian Wenhua seems to want a large-scale death match to thoroughly resolve the dispute and redivide resource areas and spheres of influence."

Zhou Leng pondered for a moment and said, "We've known each other for so long, and you've always been righteous. If you need anything, just come to me. But you'll have to wait until I advance to the Vitality Stage."

"You're close to advancing too?" Rao Mingxian said happily.

Zhou Leng nodded.

Rao Mingxian said to Xue Chengsong, "Just wait a bit longer, and you'll have two more fierce ones in the Vitality Stage. Zhou Leng, be honest, once you advance to the early period of the Vitality Stage, can you take on someone at the late stage?"

All five turned to look at Zhou Leng.

"We're all friends here, I won't hide it. If it's just a regular Vitality Stage, I can do it now."

The four of them were stunned.

Feng Wenhao, who had seen Zhou Leng blow up a weightlifting platform, smiled without saying anything, remaining calm.

"Amazing! Let me toast to you," Cui Mingcong praised loudly, raising his glass.

The two of them downed a glass.

Cao Jiajia touched her pink short hair and said with emotion, "At the time in the Demon City squad, we all thought highly of you, but we didn't expect you to become this strong. I said Xu Qingjin was a lucky person."

Xue Chengsong laughed, "Alright! Then we'll wait for you. Once you advance to the Vitality Stage, we'll decide. Oh, and if you participate in the death match, win or lose, twenty high-energy shells! That's a promise from Xue Chengsong."

The other four looked at Xue Chengsong in surprise because that stuff is like a hot potato, especially expensive right now.

Twenty of them wouldn't be less than five million at normal market price.

Hiring a Vitality Stage fighter wouldn't cost this much.

Zhou Leng glanced at Xue Chengsong, feeling he had something to say, and said, "Let's not talk about rewards; just because of what you said, I'll do my best. Come, here's to helping Uncle Xue eliminate the threat of the Five Tigers of Shuizhou."

Xue Chengsong was overjoyed, and the two of them drank up.

This room didn't have an indoor bathroom, and midway through the drinking, while Zhou Leng went to the bathroom, Xue Chengsong also went out.

When he came back, Xue Chengsong used the excuse of sobering up to invite Zhou Leng downstairs for a chat in the little garden.

As they chatted, Xue Chengsong brought up martial arts resources and asked, "You should have the Martial Guard Department's Eagle Plan by now, right?"

"I've already progressed to Flying Eagle," Zhou Leng said.

"What about New Qing?"

"It's coming soon, currently applying for Lan Qing."

Xue Chengsong was taken aback and said, "Rao Mingxian mentioned that the school said they saw your salary claim process from the Dwarf World, is it true?"

"In the Dwarf and Giant Worlds, I can indeed get some martial arts resources," Zhou Leng said without going into detail.

Xue Chengsong couldn't help but ask, "I'm not trying to be nosy, just curious, what's your average monthly cultivation resource?"

Zhou Leng briefly thought back: Dwarf Duke, Frost Giant Duke, Flying Eagle, New Qing, Lan Qing, Competition Camp, Divine Text contributions, extra trials, plus the Fierce Beast World...

All combined, at the highest point, it's over ten million a month, even approaching twenty million.

"That's hard to calculate," Zhou Leng didn't want to say.

"Around five million?" Xue Chengsong asked.

Zhou Leng remained silent.

"Around ten million?"

"About there," Zhou Leng wanted to stop him from asking further, cutting it off in time.

Xue Chengsong sighed and said, "Last year, my dad wanted to hire you as a Martial Arts Director for the company, but he was too caught up in the fight with Tian Wenhua and others. Now, trying to find you again is difficult. Have others approached you?"

Zhou Leng said, "Instructor Deng from our Martial Arts Hall said someone contacted him, but he turned them down on my behalf."

"What's your stance?"

Zhou Leng thought for a moment and said, "I definitely won't cooperate with a big Pioneer Company. Zhang Xinglie also said that partnering with a big power will eventually turn us into their dogs. As for small companies, do you think anyone can offer upwards of a hundred million or more a year?"

Xue Chengsong asked, "What if a few small companies unite to appoint you as a joint independent director?"

Zhou Leng thought for a moment and said, "If it was a few months ago, I would have definitely agreed, considering tens of millions annually. But now, that figure is close to being useless to me. To be honest, I just want to join the Martial Saint's sect now."

"As for what small companies can offer me... once I advance to the Innate, I will gain more."

Xue Chengsong looked at Zhou Leng; based on his reflection, one wouldn't recognize him if only seeing his back on the street.

"Indeed, after parting for three days, you should look at someone with a fresh perspective," Xue Chengsong said with emotion.

"So, Uncle Xue has some thoughts about me?" Zhou Leng asked with a smile.

Xue Chengsong replied, "Of course, but after counting the few coins in my pocket, it's not enough. Haha..."

The two chatted and laughed as they headed back to the room.