Martial Ascent to Divinity

Dragon Boat Festival, morning.

Hu Yi bought a zongzi, then stood in a long queue to buy a burger and a cup of cola, and drove to the banks of the Longyou River.

After getting out of the car, he walked to the bridge, leaned on the railing, and looked at the river.

He ate the zongzi, ate the burger, raised the cola, lowered it, drank it all, and crumpled the packaging into a ball, which he stuffed into a nearby overflowing garbage can.

He walked back to the bridge, expressionless, looking ahead.

After a long time, he opened his phone; in the top pinned small group with Zhou Leng and Feng Wenhao, there was a new message.

Clicking on Feng Wenhao's voice message.

"Hu Yi, did you eat zongzi and a burger today?"

"I did."

"Has Zhou Leng contacted you?"

"He's like a ghost now, surely shutting down at night for cultivation, then gone for ten days to half a month, or even a month. This time, he said he's running the Innate Battle Path with friends and hasn't been heard from for almost a month."

"He's really impressive now, the second in Rucheng's Vitality Stage, only behind Mountain and River Origin. But I always feel he's hiding his strength," Feng Wenhao said.

Hu Yi said, "Not necessarily, he's about the same as Mountain and River Origin and Zhang Xinglie now, giving it his all."

"That may not be true. Before, when he got stronger, he would show off in class. Now he's even stronger but doesn't like to show off. He hasn't come to class since some Ancient River Trial occurred, there must be something going on."

"Among us old friends, he's probably the most promising."

"When he becomes Innate, fool him into setting up a Pioneer Company, the two of us will mess around eating and waiting, how fun."

"Innate seems very far off, though," Hu Yi said.

"You're behind in information. Now Ruda is speculating whether he will advance to Innate this month or next."

"After all, I'm not a Martial Arts Student, not too familiar. When he reaches Innate, I'll treat him to a big meal, an Emperor Crab meal!"

"Definitely, haha! By the way, have you heard about Rao Mingxian's situation?"

"Recently, classmates group, taxi drivers group, and forums have been discussing it, really tragic."

"Indeed, I secretly looked at the photos, too tragic. There are four people in his family, three were blood-sacrificed by the Demon Worship Sect, even torn into pieces. Plus some Fifty-Ninth Middle School leaders' entire families, piled together in a thick layer, sigh..."

"Where's Rao Mingxian now?"

"They say he ran away fearing being targeted by the Demon Worship Sect."

"Strange, shouldn't he report to the Martial Guard Bureau?"

"Yeah, that's why the rumors are varied, no one knows what happened. Upon hearing this, Zhou Leng didn't eat for a day and Xu Qingjin comforted him all day. Then, Zhou Leng cooperated with the Martial Guard Bureau and hunted the Demon Worship Sect madly, then went for cultivation on the Innate Battle Path."

"Hopefully when he returns, his mood will be better."

"Is your aunt and cousin not found yet?"

"No," Hu Yi sighed softly.

"Don't lose hope, they might just have been kidnapped. When Zhou Leng finishes the Innate Battle Path, let's contact him, he will surely help. He's currently a popular figure at the Martial Arts Hall, even has Hall Master Wang's Martial Faith, his status is special."

"Mm."

Hu Yi raised his head and looked at the shimmering Longyou River.

His mother resigned from Minghe Martial Arts Hall and changed to a new job, working at a mall together with his cousin.

Ten days ago, his mother and cousin entered the mall and never came out.

Finding the patrol and Martial Guard Bureau, checking the surveillance, the two mysteriously disappeared inside the mall, no trace could be found.

Later it was discovered they might have been transported out through the garbage passage, but their final destination remains unclear.

Recently, large numbers of women have gone missing; some were rescued, but most vanished.

All evidence points to the Demon Worship Sect.

Hu Yi's father's hair turned white from worry, he's been searching continuously.

Hu Yi searched for ten days straight.

Until today, completely heartbroken.

Everyone knows the Demon Worship Sect is capturing people to cultivate magic potions.

This time it's a large-scale abduction, happening worldwide. In some small countries, entire villages and towns are taken away, even secretly filmed and posted online.

Hu Yi never expected this to hit his own family.

He sent another message to Zhou Leng, then clicked "Second Uncle" in his contacts and made a call.

"Second Uncle, I want to learn to drive large vehicles like trucks, mining trucks, tank trucks, anything will do."

"Your license just arrived, you'll need to wait three years before you can test for a B license, it's not possible now."

"I just want to drive around for fun, not for licensing. Doesn't your company have this, so I'm asking you."

"You really are idle."

"Last time you boasted at a dinner table, saying this and that, I said I wanted to learn, you promised immediately, and now you're backing out? No wonder other people say you're unreliable, only I believed you."

"What are you saying? Is your Second Uncle an unreliable person? Set a time, come to our company, I'll arrange everything clearly!"

"Okay, thank you, Second Uncle."

"Haven't found your mom yet?"

"No."

"Sigh..."

After hanging up, Hu Yi raised his head and looked at the sky.

Airplanes streaked across the sky, landing at Rucheng Airport.

Zhou Leng and a group of Ancient River Sect disciples descended from the plane.

They were all travel-worn, faces weathered, but their gaze was focused, breathing steady, and physique stable.

Twenty days ago, they started the Innate Battle Path.

They weaved through the Shennongjia forest, ran along the winding roads of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, climbed the Himalayas, and raced across the Antarctic Icefield, finally swimming from the outskirts of West Sea Demon City to the Nuclear Island occupied by Demons.

After a fierce battle, they swam back.

With two Grandmasters accompanying us on the road, everyone returned safely.

In the past, these people would have rushed to advance to the Innate as soon as possible, but now with the Ancient River Technique, they are steady and gradual.

Even Elder Song, whose foundation is so solid, continues to slowly temper his body, practicing the Innate Battle Path with everyone.

These days, by connecting with nature, everyone has received a spiritual cleansing and has gained something different.

Zhou Leng glanced at the Demonized Watch, holding off on going through the various information until returning home to review it slowly.

First, reply to Xu Qingjin.

"I've returned to Rucheng. How are you spending the Dragon Boat Festival?"

"My mom has prepared lots of food. Come spend it at my place."

"Okay."

"By the way, did Hu Yi contact you?"

"He probably did, I haven't checked. There are too many messages."

"You should check soon. His mom and sister have been missing for several days."

"What?"

Zhou Leng was startled, and the image of Hu Yi's mother appeared in his mind, an ordinary middle-aged woman, slightly thin, with short hair.

Every time he went to her house, she warmly welcomed and bustled about.

She had visited the school several times to bring food for Hu Yi, always providing an extra portion for Zhou Leng.

This even led Feng Wenhao to complain to Hu Yi that his aunt was biased, never bringing extra for him.

Looking at Hu Yi's unread messages, Zhou Leng felt a heavy weight in his heart.

He sighed lightly and began to read the information Hu Yi had compiled over the past few days.

"Zhou Leng, let me know when you return."

"Contact me when you get back."

"When will you be back..."

Seeing this sentence, Zhou Leng felt a heavy weight in his heart.

He could almost see Hu Yi typing these words with trembling hands.

The last message was sent by Hu Yi in the morning.

"Contact me when you return, I need your help with something."

Zhou Leng glanced at Feng Wenhao's message, confirming his assumption. It detailed the disappearance of Hu Yi's mother and sister, suggesting it might have been done by the Demon Worship Sect.

Zhou Leng made a voice call to Hu Yi.

"Have you returned?" Hu Yi asked.

"I have. What exactly happened?"

Hu Yi slowly recounted the events, his tone low and calm.

After speaking, Hu Yi felt surprisingly calm, as he thought it would have been difficult without tears.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Leng said, "Send me the photos of your mom and sister, several if possible. I will try to look for them."

"There's no need. The Martial Guard Bureau has searched too, they were likely taken to the Demon Purgatory."

"I'll give it a try," Zhou Leng insisted.

"Okay, I'll send them to you shortly."

After receiving the photos, Zhou Leng contacted Coach Deng Zhijue, explained the situation, and asked for his help to search.

After hesitating for a long time, he found the Snow Mountain Wolf from the Ice Snow Divine Sect on Martial Faith and sent the photos, asking him to use the sect's name to look for these two in the Demon Worship Sect.

Feeling heavy-hearted, Zhou Leng boarded the Ancient River Research Bureau's bus with the group, heading toward Rucheng.

Everyone knew about Rao Mingxian's family being harmed and missing, and they also knew about the close relationship between Zhou Leng and Rao Mingxian. They were accustomed to Zhou Leng's demeanor these days and did not disturb him, continuing with their separate conversations.

As they talked, the conversation drifted to the day Tong Tianxia killed Zhao Tong.

"This incident caused quite a stir, alarming the leadership and several Martial Clans. Second Young Master Zhao He brought Grandmasters to Rucheng to retrieve his brother's corpse…"

"The Zhao family raised the blood flag, vowing to kill Tong Tianxia and avenge Zhao Tong."

"Back when Tong Tianxia was merely Innate, they couldn't do anything to him. Now that Tong Tianxia is a Grandmaster, they're even more helpless."

"Although Zhao He is a Great Innate, he can't do anything to Tong Tianxia. But First Young Master Zhao Cong has been a Grandmaster for a long time, and Tong Tianxia is no match for him."

"Zhao He has a violent temperament and loves killing, which many in the military dislike. But Zhao Cong is deeply scheming, hiding his true feelings, treating people with grace, widely praised, and is the undisputed choice for the next Patriarch of the Zhao family."

"Treats people with grace? Forget it, if he dares to go to Huang Meng Sect and comes out alive, then he truly treats people well."

"Even Xiongjing must be troubled, right?"

"Of course, since Saint Zhao's grandson was killed in public and the perpetrator walked away unscathed, along with several others... It's a total upheaval... Rucheng's entire hierarchy was held responsible. The main posts were completely replaced, and many deputy posts were stripped bare, some even taken away by the Inspectorate General. An utter disaster."

"But there are some places that should be fine, right?"

"Of course fine, because they all..."

"Reportedly, the Hell Knight Order from the Eagle Alliance also acted, with the Flame of Burning Evil and Shadow's Thorn killing the Fink Financial Group's third heir and exposing evidence of the Fink Family's collusion with the Demon Worship Sect..."

"… Loads of rumors…"

"… The gate, it was so tragic… you've all seen that video in the group, right?"

"Yes, we've seen it…"

Hearing them talk about that video, Zhou Leng couldn't help but remember the events after the Headless God tournament that day.

After Tong Tianxia left, the Huang Meng Sect launched a significant offensive, marking the largest attack in Rucheng, one of Huang Meng Sect's major operations.

The videos and photos from that day spread widely.

Zhou Leng still remembered the video, where in front of the dignified and solemn gate lay headless bodies.

Blood flowed down the long flight of stairs, spilling onto the sidewalk, stopped by a dense array of stone posts and anti-vehicle barriers.

Not a single drop reached the road.