Martial Ascent to Divinity

An Huangui caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye, twitching slightly. Engaging in a duel with such a master was a foolish decision, he thought, as if his brain had been soaked in at least two bottles of water.

Zhou Leng extended his right hand and said, "The third round requires charging alone into the Demon horde. Though it's a test of victory or defeat, it's overly dangerous. Why don't we call it quits here?"

An Huangui was momentarily stunned, but quickly understood Zhou Leng's intention, extending his right hand to gently clasp Zhou's.

"I truly am no match for you. In this duel, I, An Huangui, have lost," An Huangui shouted in the end, lightly nodding toward Zhou Leng. His expression was quite calm as he turned around and walked back to where the East China Martial Arts Academy members were gathered.

Mountain River Oak glanced around, grabbed the nearest bottle of water, unscrewed it, pouring with his right hand and catching the water with his left.

The splashing water spilled everywhere.

Mountain River Oak frowned deeply, utterly puzzled.

The onlookers nearby didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

The Otherworld races not far away widened their eyes in wonder, clicking their tongues in surprise.

The foreigners from various small countries sighed upon seeing this scene, realizing this was the true terror of Dragon Country.

The first-rate Yunhua Jinjing, the second-rate Top Ten Martial Arts.

The eighteen-school joint exam, just considered a third-rate test in Dragon Country, yet featuring such spectacular True Qi duels. If placed in a small country, each contestant would be top-tier talents at elite martial arts academies.

Tian Chengchang was absorbed, suddenly interrupted by new messages from the Demonized Watch.

He glanced at the screen; it was a message from Chang Luan.

"This Zhou Leng, within a few months, will be unstoppable."

Tian Chengchang glanced at Chang Luan and nodded lightly.

Chang Luan smiled in response.

Tian Chengchang sighed.

Among these people, only Chang Luan knew he was Tian Wenbao's son, even Rao Mingxian was unaware.

Tian Chengchang couldn't help his thoughts, recalling that glistening, spinning water ball under the sunlight.

During his first year of high school, his martial arts teacher had done the same thing.

Collecting Qi into a water ball, balancing it with a flat palm without spilling.

The teacher said this was Extreme Martial Arts, a heart as clear as water.

Tian Chengchang always hoped that one day he could return to the classroom and support a spinning water ball.

Allowing the glistening water ball to reflect light, illuminating the classroom.

After so many years, he still couldn't achieve it.

The highest score in his True Qi Manipulation was only 69, and he might never make it.

Suddenly, he felt very envious of Zhou Leng.

Seeing Zhou Leng's departing back, Tian Chengchang sighed.

"Senior Brother Tian, may I have a word?" An Huangui approached and whispered.

The two walked to a secluded spot.

An Huangui said, "I heard that Senior Brother Tian came here with Zhou Leng?"

Tian Chengchang nodded.

"What do you think of Zhou Leng as a person?"

Tian Chengchang recalled Rao Mingxian's earlier praise, sighed, and slowly said, "On the battlefield, he's a hero among heroes."

An Huangui was momentarily puzzled, recalling the previous battle. Indeed, Zhou Leng was valiant.

There's even a rumor that the Giant was persuaded by Zhou Leng and willingly joined the team.

"And how about his conduct usually?"

Tian Chengchang hesitated for a moment before saying, "When we were surrounded by Demons, he didn't know us, yet he came alone to our aid, marking only one Demon afterward, and then gracefully departed."

"I see..." An Huangui murmured to himself.

"Why do you ask about him?"

An Huangui gave a self-deprecating smile, "Initially, influenced by others, I thought he was disreputable. After two consecutive duels, I discovered his martial arts spirit was solid and pure, quite different from what I presumed. It was me who seemed unreliable."

"Rumors aren't always accurate," Tian Chengchang said.

An Huangui nodded, "Thank you, Senior Brother, and also for not vying for the position of temporary chief senior brother due to your seniority."

Tian Chengchang laughed, "I know my own limits. Leading a few dozen people is manageable, but to be the chief among so many, it still relies on people like you with genuine talent."

An Huangui took his leave, but after taking a step, he turned back and said, "Your perspective is different from Chang Luan's, but I think I understand now."

Tian Chengchang immediately understood; it was Chang Luan's jealousy of Zhou Leng that led him to speak ill of Zhou in front of An Huangui, prompting An to obstruct Zhou.

Zhou Leng returned to the Ruda camp, chatted about some matters with Xu Kang'an and the others, and expressed his focus on martial arts, leaving the rest to them to manage.

Then, Zhou Leng and those with Blue Spiritual Light proceeded to the Moonlight Shadow Wall.

Zhou Leng found an open space, sat down, and gazed at the luminous wall resembling a full moon ahead.

This was the third Celestial Ladder inheritance.

The Inheritance Spiritual Light activated, and the world before him transformed abruptly.

He was no longer amidst green grass but in a wide, endless stone-paved martial arts dojo.

Enormous stone slabs were closely aligned, with the sole feature being the Moonlight Shadow Wall at the center.

"Welcome, child. The first test of the Moonlight Shadow Wall is 'Skill Learning.'

That voice resounded again as the Moonlight Shadow Wall ahead suddenly projected a beam of light.

Then, two three-dimensional projected figures appeared between the Moonlight Shadow Wall and Zhou Leng.

The two were about thirty years old, the left in white short attire, the right in black, standing face to face.

They clasped their fists in salute and then commenced to fight.

Zhou Leng was bewildered.

Both were using unfamiliar techniques, with no apparent relationship between moves.

It was purely using whatever came to mind.

Even after watching for a while, Zhou Leng sensed that the duo had used dozens of different martial arts, and it continued to increase.

What is there to learn?

No wonder those who had previously faced the Moonlight Shadow Wall shook their heads, deeming this trial the hardest.

Zhou Leng was undeterred, observing closely.

From the beginning, their moves were extremely chaotic, seemingly demonstrating all sorts of bizarre external skills.

Yet, it felt like neither made mistakes.

Their techniques seemed valid just as they were.

Zhou Leng observed and pondered simultaneously, quickly realizing that the "technique learning" in this "skill" wasn't about specific "moves".

It was more about the method of combat, or in other words, a kind of combat awareness.

Thus, Zhou Leng abandoned watching altogether and concentrated his gaze on the person in white, memorizing this person's combat style.

At first, Zhou Leng gained nothing, having to memorize by force.

But as his memory deepened, he slowly discovered some repetitive details in that person's combat.

As more and more repetitive details appeared, Zhou Leng increasingly understood the combat style of the person in white.

Zhou Leng watched quietly, over and over, continuously observing and summarizing.

Slowly, he started to grasp some knack.

"So the aggressive attack should be used in this kind of timing..."

"It turns out there's a prerequisite for false moves to become real..."

"This person's techniques are complicated, but many of the combat methods and ideas have traces to follow..."

"This person's combat style is good at seizing opportunities and finding flaws..."

"His combat style has many moves, but truly effective ones are not many..."

There were still many aspects Zhou Leng couldn't articulate because this person's methods were too sophisticated.

Zhou Leng even suspected that these two people were like grandmasters suppressed to the Blood Transporting Period level.

Having figured out the combat style of the person in white, Zhou Leng looked toward the person in black on the right.

After watching carefully for a while, he perceived a completely different insight.

"If the person in white is like a flexible and ever-changing serpent, then the person in black is like a fierce tiger..."

"Focusing on momentum and force, not swaying with the opponent, persevering with his own style, using power to break through skill..."

"His style seemingly causes mutual destruction on the surface but actually completely alters the opponent's combat style, making them follow his way."

"The combat styles of both are suitable for different situations, each is important, with no right or wrong, both are useful..."

Having preliminarily learned, Zhou Leng stood up and began directly imitating the combat styles of the two.

The techniques were not standard, but he paid extra attention to combat methods, timing, and momentum.

After a long time, Zhou Leng slowly mastered some techniques and then changed.

He used his proficient external skills while integrating the combat techniques of the two people.

Sometimes left, sometimes right, Zhou Leng constantly compared the combat styles with the two.

Slowly, Zhou Leng noticed the mistakes in his past combat approaches and also refined the correct techniques he had learned.

After an unknown period, Zhou Leng stood on the spot.

In his eyes, the two were still fighting.

But in Zhou Leng's mind, he grasped a peculiar feeling.

No matter what moves those two used, they were no longer unfamiliar.

Oblivious to the details, focusing only on combat technique.

Gradually, Zhou Leng smiled.

Like a child reaching out to catch snow, like a child gazing at falling leaves.

The heart of martial arts is sincere, forgetting form, gaining essence.

"Congratulations, child, now, begin the second test, 'Decomposition Skill'."

In a flash before Zhou Leng's eyes, he found his position changed.

The person in white appeared in front of Zhou Leng, launching a Dragon-Seeking Pearl attack towards him.

However, time seemed to suddenly slow down, the person's movement speed only a tenth of before.

Countless images flashed in Zhou Leng's mind; he tilted his head, turned sideways, and swept at the opponent's arm.

His movements also slowed considerably, but were slightly faster than the person in white's.

In the next instant, the person in white switched his attack stance, skillfully avoiding Zhou Leng's offensive, moving his body forward, changing fist to elbow.

Crack...

Zhou Leng's arm, with little residual power, was smashed by an elbow.

Zhou Leng staggered backward, but his eyes sparkled bright.

"Unexpectedly hiding this change of move, indeed cannot see without actual combat..."

In a moment, Zhou Leng's body recovered, and the person in white attacked again.

Zhou Leng calmed his mind, gathering Qi, carefully engaging the person in white.

The result was often only a few moves before being breached by the opponent.

Far from being angry, Zhou Leng felt thrilled, eagerly engaging in combat with the person in white.

Defeated repeatedly, retreating repeatedly.

Yet, as if tireless, Zhou Leng continued to engage.

Failing and fighting again.

After an unknown number of exchanges involving thousands of moves, Zhou Leng finally sensed the exhaustion of some of the person in white's techniques.

The person in white was still very strong, but Zhou Leng had begun to faintly discern some of the opponent's intentions.

Thus, Zhou Leng started to counterattack.

Counterattacking wasn't a good move, as the scene turned extremely fierce.

The elbow slightly deformed, the opponent's Inch Fist punched his chest.

If the stepping method was too slow, and power used up, a frontal Eye-Poking Fist would meet him.

If the stepping method was too fast, his shoulder inexplicably collided straight with the opponent's fist...

Zhou Leng felt even more exhilarated, unexpectedly learning so many nuanced details from both offense and defense.

Gradually, the fighting styles of the two began to resemble each other more and more.

Apart from the differences in external skills and techniques, they responded in many details almost like mirrors.

By the end, the two were like performing acrobatics, attacking and defending in turn, yet neither could do anything to the other.

After over ten minutes, the person in white suddenly turned into a mist.

Bang...

Disappeared without a trace.

Zhou Leng gained much, his expression invigorated.