Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 436 - 421: Born of Snow
At the beginning, the Frosty Hand recited the history of the Ice Snow Divine Sect.
At the front, Zhou Leng listened and found it particularly familiar, as many myths have the same plot.
The Ice and Snow Goddess was born from the fruit of the divine tree, along with her siblings.
She engaged in open and secret struggles with her siblings, then joined forces to resist external threats.
In the end, under the leadership of the Ice and Snow Goddess, they defeated the external threats, and the Ice and Snow Goddess ascended to a higher level, becoming a more powerful divine spirit.
After that, the history of the Ice Snow Divine Sect was recited.
In the beginning, the Ice Snow Divine Sect faced numerous hardships, constantly wandering, but later it flourished and became one of the top forces in the Demon Spirit World.
Eventually, a grand pope of the Ice Snow Divine Sect angered the goddess and suffered divine punishment, after which the Ice Snow Divine Sect no longer received the goddess’s favor.
The Ice Snow Divine Sect subsequently declined.
To atone for their sins, the priests of the Ice Snow Divine Sect reorganized the religious rules, striving with determination, and once again seeking the goddess’s traces.
The development of the Ice Snow Divine Sect was so cliché that Zhou Leng almost zoned out while listening.
After reciting the history, the Frosty Hand began to recite the religious rules.
He recited one line, and Zhou Leng and others followed with another.
After reciting, the pure children carried baskets, walking while spreading snowflakes on the ground.
These snowflakes were crafted by the Demon Spirit Technique and, instead of melting upon contact, they blossomed into large lotus-like flowers, adorning the ground with a fragrant aroma.
When the snowflakes fell at the others’ feet, they opened normally.
When they fell at Jade Wings’ feet, the nearby snowflakes suddenly moved, swirling around Jade Wings.
Jade Wings smiled proudly, lifting his head high.
The priests of the Ice Snow Divine Sect nodded gently, smiling.
Snowflakes swirling was a sign of the goddess’s favor in ancient times, and now it signifies strong spirituality or talent.
Typically, only one or two such initiates appear every ten years.
Such initiates are granted the title of "Snowborn," meaning born in the pure snow, most favored by the goddess, different from others.
Frosty Hand was the happiest of all because it was he who introduced Jade Wings to the faith, despite opposition from many legendary priests at the time.
Now, it seemed his previous choice was right.
Suddenly, everyone’s gaze shifted to a spot near Jade Wings.
Beside Zhou Leng, snowflakes also started to swirl.
All the followers of the Ice Snow Divine Sect smiled with joy, for this was the legendary Twin Snow Swirl, a small miracle even during the sect’s peak.
It hadn’t appeared for thousands of years.
Frosty Hand’s face wrinkled up from smiling.
He appointed Zhou Leng as a High Priest, facing much opposition and making great sacrifices for it.
Now that the Twin Snow Swirl had appeared, all doubts vanished.
Jade Wings stared at Zhou Leng, thinking no wonder I find this kid pleasing, he’s as handsome as I am, but there are more snowflakes around me.
Four legendary priests stepped forward, chanting a spell hymn, their voices melodious like a song.
Amidst the spell verses, the snowflakes on the ground flew into the sky.
They surged up and down, drifting with the wind.
Only the snowflakes around Zhou Leng and Jade Wings swirled layer upon layer, enveloping the two of them.
The voices of the four legendary priests stopped, and the sky exploded with thunderous roars.
A beam of white light descended from high above, enveloping Zhou Leng and the other initiates.
Most of the people were surrounded by faint, fluffy light, like wearing a thin layer of dandelion.
Zhou Leng and Jade Wings were different.
Dense white light fell upon them, like a thick layer of polar bear fur.
Jade Wings, tall and majestic, was radiant with brilliance.
The light on Zhou Leng seemed to be less than that on Jade Wings, but it was thicker, twice as thick as the white light surrounding Jade Wings.
The people of the Ice Snow Divine Sect looked at Zhou Leng, filled with happiness.
The holy light like armor was also a rare miracle in the Ice Snow Divine Sect and would be granted the title of "Dancer of Light," ranking above Snowborn.
The divine holy light entered the body, and the Star Gazing Technique ran autonomously.
A portion of the holy light merged with the Martial Arts Will, not increasing its realm, but enhancing the strength of the Martial Arts Will.
Another portion of the holy light was absorbed by True Qi, circulating continuously within the body, entering the Dantian, merging with the Frost True Qi in the Dantian, and gradually growing stronger.
A small amount of the power of the icy holy light remained on the blood vessels, integrating with them.
Jade Wings beamed, and as he continuously absorbed the holy light, one ice series spell after another emerged in his mind.
His own power was also rapidly increasing.
A full quarter of an hour later, the holy light dissipated.
The light on everyone else immediately vanished, while the holy light on Zhou Leng and Jade Wings was slowly absorbed, taking another quarter of an hour to complete.
Everyone waited quietly for the one man and the dragon.
The eyes of the other new initiates were full of envy.
Jax looked at Zhou Leng, thinking it is indeed the one who raised the Eye of the Ancient God, the one who evoked the blessing of a stronger giant.
Finally, the people of the Ice Snow Divine Sect sang together "The Praise of the Ice and Snow Goddess," ending the initiation ceremony.
After the ceremony ended, there was a grand banquet.
Zhou Leng and Jade Wings were like stars surrounded by the moon, receiving many congratulations and drinking to drunkenness.
Waking up groggy, Zhou Leng opened his eyes and thought for a while before remembering the events of last night’s banquet.
Not only did the Ice Snow Divine Sect present an extremely valuable gift, but many powerful organizations also gave gifts worth millions, all rare treasures or medicinal fruits from various realms.
The priests of the Ice Snow Divine Sect were very enthusiastic yesterday, casting spells without pause, with spell fireworks lighting up the night.
Zhou Leng vaguely remembered there were many things, so he opened the Magic Spirit Bag and the space wooden box inside.
Many miscellaneous things: medicinal fruits, dragon meat, demon spirit accessories, demon spirit artifacts, and some unknown items. He was too drunk at the time to remember who gave them or their purpose.
"Huh?"
Why are there so many handkerchiefs?
Upon careful recollection, he realized it was a tradition of the Demon Spirit World.
Giving a handkerchief when unmarried signifies courtship.
Why so many?
Upon second thought, of course, they couldn’t give them to Jade Wings.
No, Jade Wings also received handkerchiefs, and quite a few.
Zhou Leng instantly sobered up.
"Too dangerous..."
He got out of bed, drank some water, shook his True Qi, and finished washing up.
He opened his Demonized Watch and contacted the nearby Snow Mountain Wolf.
"I want to go to ’High Tower City’ to find Cyan Flame."
"You’re going for the ’Ancient Spirit Road,’ right?"
"Yes, that’s it. I’m going right away; arrange my departure," Zhou Leng said.
"No need to rush, but since you want to go, I’ll arrange it immediately."
Soon after, Frosty Hand knocked on the door, followed by maids holding breakfast, several of whom glanced at Zhou Leng furtively.
"There are still a few days until the Ancient Spirit Trials; it only takes a day by airship. Why are you in such a hurry?" Frosty Hand said.
Zhou Leng replied, "I promised Cyan Flame I’d go early."
"Did you store all the gifts you received yesterday?"
"They’re all in here," Zhou Leng patted the Magic Spirit Bag.
Frosty Hand coughed lightly and said, "The airship is being prepared. My granddaughters will accompany you on your journey."
"Granddaughters?"
Frosty Hand said, "If you were just an ordinary recruit, no one would care, but you are both a Snowborn and a Light Dancer. Do you know what that represents? Unseen for a thousand years. Do you think the Divine Sect would overlook such a high bloodline?"
Zhou Leng recalled Zhang Xinglie’s exotic encounters with beastmen and suddenly felt quite fortunate himself.
"I thought Demon Spirit Masters were all old-fashioned."
"Do you know how many children the previous Light Dancer bore for the Divine Sect? 967. That Light Dancer’s surname was Frosty." Frosty Hand smiled as he looked at Zhou Leng.
Upon hearing the first sentence, Zhou Leng was intrigued.
Hearing the latter, he got goosebumps all over.
Zhou Leng quickly said, "I suggest you find Jade Wings. Maybe he could give birth to dragon-blooded descendants."
"He ran away," Frosty Hand said.
Zhou Leng said, "If you can scare off a giant dragon, I definitely shouldn’t stay. Let’s meet again later."
Frosty Hand laughed heartily, and the maids behind him blushed and lowered their heads, giggling softly.
The maids served the food; the two had breakfast while chatting.
Frosty Hand said, "When you participate in the Ancient Spirit Trials, remember to wear the High Priest Badge. Yesterday, your badge was blessed. Otherwise, the High Tower Demon Spirit Masters might target you."
"Huh?"
"The Demon Spirit World has stood for so many years not through peaceful negotiations, but through battles fought by generations."
"The three most powerful organizations in the Demon Spirit World, commonly known as the Three High Towers, are ’Heart of Elements,’ ’Staff of Destruction,’ and ’Book of God.’"
"If they go to the Otherworld, their strength is uncertain, but in the Demon Spirit World, with their thousands of Mage Towers, each organization can withstand an entire realm."
"They have ruled for thousands of years, and the Book of God has ruled for tens of thousands. Many descendants and disciples of theirs participate in the Ancient Spirit Trials, naturally wanting the top rankings."
"In many trials, the Three High Towers occupy the top three, taking turns in position. Occasionally, they sweep all ten positions in major trials."
"Such things are common in the Ten Realms, and you should understand."
Zhou Leng said, "If others take the top three spots, will the Three High Towers take action?"
Frosty Hand smiled and said, "Yes, and no. They will act if someone threatens the top three positions; during the trials, members of the Three High Towers will jointly deal with it using legitimate methods, everything fair and reasonable. They won’t act because... for instance, if Cyan Flame enters the top three, the Three High Tower’s legends or even demigods will voluntarily accept him as a disciple. You see, the Three High Towers still control the top three."
"What if someone refuses to join the Three High Towers?"
"No one would refuse because the Three High Towers are everything in the Demon Spirit World, and all Demon Spirit Masters want to join. Even I have a position within the Three High Towers," Frosty Hand said.
Zhou Leng seemed to recall something and sighed, "Although this practice is somewhat domineering, it’s better than killing off geniuses, leaving no successors."
"Do you think it hasn’t happened before? The creator of the Book of God, the Celestial Torch, joined forces with the geniuses of the time, raised the banner of justice, and exterminated the previous four high towers. Afterward, the new Three High Towers changed the rules."
Zhou Leng said, "It seems death and fear are universal languages in every world." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
"You are a Martial Artist, there’s no way you can make it to the top three, so you don’t pose a threat to the Three High Towers. Wearing the badge, they will give you face. You’re pretty strong with a very unique life aura; you should be quite capable. If you encounter someone who doesn’t know better, don’t hold back. Besides, no one will die, and the injured will be teleported away before death. Of course, don’t kill too fast, to allow time for rescue."
