Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 459 - 444: Marking

Powerful beings roam the universe, but the cosmos remains mysterious and eerie, always encountering various destructive star powers and cosmic forbidden zones.

The river lamp of the Ancient River Sect, is a defensive star treasure, capable of effectively protecting the soul and detecting abnormal powers.

In terms of sensitivity, the silver fingerprint is of a higher status, even beyond its comprehension, and is probably the most peculiar Martial Arts Trace in all the advanced exhibits.

However, the octagonal river lamp has a closer relationship with the Ancient River Sect.

Zhou Leng pondered for a long time and decided to first comprehend the octagonal river lamp, and only after gaining more strength would he attempt to understand the silver fingerprint.

Thus, Zhou Leng sat before the octagonal river lamp exhibit, eyes intently gazing, carefully feeling its essence.

An hour later, his eyes were sore, and the sensation remained unchanged.

Zhou Leng thought for a moment and activated the "Star Gazing Technique."

With the circulation of Star Gazing True Qi, the perception indeed became clearer.

But, that was all.

Then, in Zhou Leng’s mind, all the Divine Texts from the upper and lower parts of the "Star Gazing Technique" emerged.

In his eyes, the Divine Text seemed to flow.

The perception became even clearer.

He even sensed slight warmth from the octagonal river lamp, giving him comfort.

This warmth reached the Mountain of Will and merged with the red glow on its surface, forming a faint protective force.

Zhou Leng was puzzled, not expecting Saint Zhao’s Martial Arts Will and the Ancient River Sect’s octagonal river lamp to resonate with each other.

Though not from the same source, they had a sense of a different path leading to the same destination.

Both were transcendent, majestic, and pure forces.

Gradually accustomed to this feeling, Zhou Leng took out the Ancient River Tiger Talisman, holding it in his hand to activate.

On the light screen of the Tiger Talisman, the image of a complete octagonal river lamp and the appearance of Divine Text were vividly displayed.

"Discovered the remnants of a sect’s treasure, shall we activate it?"

"Note: This treasure is damaged and cannot be activated."

Zhou Leng glanced, "Is it stuck here?"

"Activate!"

"This treasure is damaged and cannot be activated."

Indeed...

However, as it resonates with the octagonal river lamp, it indicates that this treasure still holds some power.

Zhou Leng held the Tiger Talisman, contemplating.

Soon, a line of words appeared on the Tiger Talisman.

"Discovered sect’s remaining treasure, although it cannot be activated, it can be marked."

"Mark it."

Though he didn’t know what marking would do, it was better than nothing.

At the moment of marking, Zhou Leng suddenly trembled, his mind in a daze.

It felt as if his soul suddenly left his body, soared through the stars, took a tour, and returned.

Encouraged by this new sensation, Zhou Leng, holding the Tiger Talisman and circulating Star Gazing True Qi, with Divine Text appearing in his mind, continued to comprehend the octagonal river lamp.

At first, the feeling was intermittent.

Gradually, he sensed a continuous warm aura.

He didn’t know exactly what it was, but it was very comforting.

"Ding..."

When the closing time came, Zhou Leng opened his eyes, glanced at the octagonal river lamp, and walked out.

Entering the common exhibit, heading towards the exit, he heard footsteps behind him, probably other cultivators coming out from the regular exhibits.

As he stepped out, a girl with hair glowing bright white in the night was pacing, softly humming.

Not far away, several Eagle Alliance martial artists with straw-colored hair stood.

"Liang Baiyin?"

"Brother Zhou Leng."

"Why are you here so late?"

"To learn Martial Arts from you, of course." Liang Baiyin said with a beaming smile.

"It’s dangerous at night." Zhou Leng’s face darkened, glancing at the Eagle Alliance martial artists.

Liang Baiyin giggled and said, "It’s fine, I’m not afraid. One of the Eagle Alliance martial artists tried to flirt, and I showed him my Yunhua Martial Arts Academy student ID, telling him I’d report him if he continued. He backed off quietly."

Zhou Leng looked again at the Eagle Alliance martial artists, frowning.

The martial artists also looked back arrogantly.

Just then, someone behind said, "Mr. Zhou?"

Zhou Leng and Liang Baiyin turned around, following the voice.

Mad Prince Aiden, in a white tailcoat, with a politely fake smile on his face.

Zhou Leng said, "Are you here to comprehend Martial Arts Traces too?"

"Yes. Our Eagle Alliance’s national strength is declining, and with fewer good resources, we have to come here. Sigh, Saint Zhao secretly took plenty of good things from our Eagle Alliance back in the day."

Zhou Leng replied, "That’s called returning something intact to its rightful owner."

"Oh, so that’s what the idiom means, understood. Is she... your girlfriend?"

"Yes!" Liang Baiyin said loudly.

Zhou Leng laughed, "My junior."

Aiden took out a piece of Spirit Land Jade from his Magic Spirit Bag, saying, "Wishing you a hundred years of harmony."

He handed it toward Liang Baiyin.

Zhou Leng was a bit puzzled, unsure if "a hundred years of harmony" was used this way.

Liang Baiyin, blushing slightly with hesitation, took it and said, "Thank you, Mr. Aiden, for your blessing. I wasn’t planning to accept it, but I really like this blessing."

Zhou Leng sighed, thinking one dared to give, and the other dared to take.

After chatting for a while, they learned that Aiden had gone to an advanced exhibit last time; this time, he couldn’t get a high-level pass for a short period, so he had to comprehend in a common exhibit.

He’s now training all over to prepare for the upcoming Great Battlefield.

As the conversation ended, Zhou Leng glanced at the previously unruly but now flickering-eyed Eagle Alliance martial artists and asked, "Are they your subordinates?"

"Yes."

"Next time, don’t bring them; if I see them again, they’ll likely be beaten to death by me."

Aiden paused for a moment, glanced at Liang Baiyin, quickly understood.

He suddenly grinned, exposing a peculiar smile, and said, "It’s my subordinates who made a mistake; I apologize to you."

In the darkness, Aiden’s smile was like a demon’s.

Liang Baiyin was startled, instinctively sidestepping and gripping Zhou Leng’s arm.

At Aiden’s smile, one of his subordinates immediately bolted away.

Aiden stamped the ground, with a loud boom, and in the blink of an eye, he was behind that subordinate, delivering a palm strike.

Pop.

The large head was driven into the chest cavity.

The corpse fell to the ground, blood gushing out.

The security martial artists at the museum entrance were dumbfounded; this was Xiongjing, just a few dozen kilometers from where the Supreme Court officials reside.

The remaining martial artists were shivering. One quickly said, "Your Highness, it was him who approached that lady. We didn’t say a word!"

Aiden passed by the other three people.

The three heads exploded simultaneously, and they collapsed.

Even though Liang Baiyin was a martial artist, she had never seen such a brutal scene in the city, too frightened to even breathe.

Zhou Leng finally understood at this moment why Aiden was known as the Mad Prince.

And finally understood what kind of tyranny it must be to frighten the Mad Prince into the Calm Prince with the Blood of Tyranny.

"Brother Aiden, you’re too kind." Zhou Leng, seasoned in slaughter, wasn’t fazed by this bit of bloodshed.

Sensing Liang Baiyin’s trembling, he gently patted her head with his other hand.

Aiden said, "This matter has nothing to do with you, I’ll stay and handle it."

"Alright, thank you for the trouble."

"You’re welcome." Aiden, dressed in a white tailcoat, smiled with blood-red eyes, elegance and madness intertwined.

Zhou Leng wrapped an arm around Liang Baiyin’s shoulder, leaving the museum entrance.

After walking for a while, Liang Baiyin let out a long breath and said, "He must be the legendary Mad Prince Aiden, right?"

"It’s him."

"Truly a madman, how can he kill like that?"

"A bit abrupt, if it were Demon City, it wouldn’t be an issue."

"Ah?" Liang Baiyin looked at Zhou Leng.

"Don’t come tomorrow, it’s too dangerous," Zhou Leng said.

Liang Baiyin, however, smiled brightly and said, "I’m scared, but it also seems very fun."

"Aren’t you afraid of Aiden striking you dead, smashing your little head into your small chest?"

Liang Baiyin straightened her chest and said, "Middle chest."

"Can you focus on the important parts?"

The girl laughed, "Brother Zhou Leng, why is he so courteous to you when he’s so mad? It feels odd."

"Because I know someone a hundred times more brutal than him," Zhou Leng said.

"Who?"

"The Blood of Tyranny."

"Ah?" Liang Baiyin looked around, frightened the Blood of Tyranny might appear.

"Now you’re scared? Be a good girl and stay at the school at night."

"It’s fine, there are security guards at the entrance. If something happens, I’ll shout, and nearby martial artists will definitely intervene. The protection in Xiong City is far greater than anywhere else."

"You still need to be careful."

"Brother Zhou Leng, can you tell me about the Blood of Tyranny?"

"You really want to hear?"

"Yes!"

Zhou Leng thought for a moment, then started recounting the tale of the Blood of Tyranny, omitting some private parts.

"At that time, he seized the Ancient River Jade Stele, exuding dominance, single-handedly facing multiple grandmasters and still gaining the upper hand..."

"Later, he moved into the cultivation land of the Ancient River Sect, exchanged insights, and acknowledged me as his junior brother..."

"Then entered the Ancient River Trial, encountered each other again in the Tree-man World... and later, forced me to give a thumbs-up..."

Hearing this part, Liang Baiyin doubled over with laughter, her voice like a crisp wind chime resonating in the night.

When they returned to the hotel, Yunhua Martial Arts Academy’s dormitory had already closed.

Liang Baiyin also booked a room at the hotel and stayed the night.

In the morning, the two jogged and exercised at the Yunhua Martial Arts Academy’s dojo, then had breakfast together.

After breakfast, Liang Baiyin asked, "After finishing your insights yesterday, are you resting today or going back to Rucheng?"

"Continuing to gain insight."

"Hmm? Isn’t it only one day of insights allowed?"

"I used war merits to exchange for it," Zhou Leng casually made up an excuse.

"I see."

After seeing Liang Baiyin off, Zhou Leng received a call from Wang Boxiong about last night’s events.

Turns out the incident alerted the authorities, who wanted a thorough investigation, with Aiden taking sole responsibility, constantly saying it had nothing to do with others.

As Zhou Leng was also part of the Martial Guard Department, the matter was handled by them. When the authorities contacted Wang Boxiong and discussed it, they left it at that.

Zhou Leng continued into the advanced exhibition hall, sitting before the octagonal river lamp to comprehend.

At night, as the bell rang, he walked out the door, seeing twin ponytails swaying in the night.

"Brother Zhou Leng!" Liang Baiyin bounced over cheerfully.

"You..." Zhou Leng saw her disobedience but was too lazy to comment.

"You came to Xiongjing to see me, of course, I can’t be ungrateful, right?" Liang Baiyin blinked.

"Are you implying something?"

"I’m really not implying that you didn’t take me for snacks."

"Alright, I’ll take you to Demon Purgatory for demon snacks."

"Great, I’ve always wanted to go to Demon Purgatory!"

"Let’s head back."

"How was your insight today? What’s in the advanced exhibition hall? Are you tired? Did the Mad Prince bother you..." Liang Baiyin chattered non-stop.

At night, at the Zhao family villa in Xiong City.

"Second brother, Zhou Leng came to Xiong City and caused a little trouble."

"Oh? What happened?" Zhao He asked.

"The matter is like this, it involves Aiden..."

After listening to his subordinate, Zhao He frowned.

"When did Aiden and Zhou Leng become so close? Do we have any intelligence on this?"

"No."

"What about the Martial Guard Department?"

"The Martial Guard Department has sealed off the information, now very few people know."