Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 460 - 445: Stone Wall

Zhao He said: "Strange. Back in the Tree-man World, Aiden was clamoring to kill Zhou Leng. Something must have happened that I don’t know about. Do any of you have any guesses?"

"Guessing back and forth, the biggest possibility is that he just wanted to go crazy, wanted to kill someone. Zhou Leng was just unlucky enough to get caught up in it."

Zhao He said helplessly, "That’s the most likely scenario. How long has Zhou Leng been here?"

"Several days now, going to the museum every day. And he even got into the advanced exhibition hall, but where did he get the clearance? Nowadays, even for you, it takes a long time for approval to get into the advanced exhibition hall."

Zhao He pondered for a moment, then said, "Did he use connections with Wang Boxiong and Chen Shouhu?"

"No. If either of them were involved, it wouldn’t be kept from our Zhao Family."

"Recently, there was a rumor that Wang Boxiong wanted Zhou Leng to apprentice under Zhu Shiji?"

"Probably just a rumor, Saint Zhu has long stopped accepting disciples, focusing solely on healing. Even if Saint Zhu intervened, we would have heard about it. It’s likely Zhou Leng exchanged military merits or other achievements for it."

Zhao He suddenly smiled and said, "I think I know."

"Who?"

"Song Juesi or Zhang Xinglie, if the senior brother from the Ancient River Sect spoke up, we wouldn’t get word of it."

"Possible."

Lou Family.

"Young Master Lou, here’s Zhou Leng’s recent activity. It’s peculiar; he managed to get into the advanced exhibition hall. Should we report this to the family?"

Lou Fei Qiong carefully reviewed the information and said with a smile, "It’s not really a big deal; no need to report. As far as I see, it was purely Aiden going crazy, and Zhou Leng happened to get caught up in it."

"As for the girl from the Liang Family who already knew Zhou Leng, it’s not important, and we don’t need to provoke the Liang Family."

"As for the advanced exhibition hall, it’s indeed important; I’ll investigate further, and once I have definite information, I’ll report to the family."

"We can’t always chase shadows and claim merit without conclusions; the uncles will criticize me for not being steady."

"You’re right."

Zhou Leng spent three consecutive days perceiving the Eight-Angle River Lamp in the advanced martial arts hall, feeling warm all over each time.

But he hasn’t perceived anything especially useful, or perhaps it is useful but he doesn’t know it.

Three days in a row is already the limit; anymore in a place like Xiongjing would attract too much attention.

Walking out of the exhibition hall, Zhou Leng first contacted Li Yuanhe.

"Third Brother, try to negotiate with the higher-ups. The Eight-Angle River Lamp and the Silver Fingerprint in the relic museum’s advanced exhibition hall resonate with my Ancient River Sect’s cultivation technique. Find a time to exhibit at the Ancient River Research Bureau, let the Ancient River Sect disciples perceive them, there might be surprises."

"Alright, I’ll apply to the higher-ups immediately."

Walking out of the museum, a familiar figure was kicking stones dejectedly, not as lively as before.

"Baiyin." Zhou Leng said.

"Ah? Brother Zhou Leng." Liang Baiyin kicked away a pebble and joyfully walked over, her twin braids bouncing excitedly.

"If I remember correctly, you’ve joined the Ancient River Sect as well, right?"

"Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have entered the Vitality Stage so quickly."

"Freshmen just starting college in the Vitality Stage, your talent is quite extraordinary." Zhou Leng commented.

Liang Baiyin smiled, "It’s good, but far worse than you."

The two walked and chatted.

"How’s the perception going?" Liang Baiyin asked.

"Worse than expected, haven’t perceived anything." Zhou Leng replied.

"It’s quite normal. Even those Martial Saints take a long time to gain something. Like the East Monarch’s Stone Wall, Saint Zhao sat there for a whole year before having a revelation."

"East Monarch’s Stone Wall... I’ve always felt like I’ve forgotten something, and it’s the most important East Monarch’s Stone Wall I forgot."

"Huh? You haven’t been there?"

"No."

"That’s great, tomorrow we can go to the National Museum. I used to go there often as a kid, and I’ve pondered it for a long time too."

"Aren’t you going to school?"

"Taking a break." Liang Baiyin glanced sheepishly at Zhou Leng.

"Don’t neglect your studies."

"I’m already at the Vitality Stage, among Yunhua freshmen, I’m in the top ten." Liang Baiyin answered.

Zhou Leng glanced at her and laughed, "True, I often forget you’re actually quite strong."

"Not that strong, still need Brother Zhou Leng’s protection." Liang Baiyin quickly shrank her neck, putting on a soft and weak appearance.

"You’re not easy to deal with."

"Haha..." The girl’s laughter dispersed with the evening breeze.

This time with experience, Zhou Leng booked the National Museum’s visitation slots in advance.

Unlike ordinary Martial Arts Traces, the East Monarch’s Stone Wall holds great significance, and Saint Zhao personally demanded it be placed on the west side of the National Museum, building a small square for everyone to study it.

This has led to the East Monarch’s Stone Wall becoming Xiong City’s most popular tourist attraction.

Every year, large crowds come to observe and perceive it.

On the second day, the two woke up early, watched the flag-raising at New Heavenly Gate Square, had a simple breakfast they brought along, and headed straight to the National Museum.

Upon entering the National Museum, reaching the East Monarch’s Stone Wall, over a hundred people were already seated there.

Everyone, regardless of gender or age, kept their mouths shut, not speaking a word.

Zhou Leng and Liang Baiyin walked to the spot closest to the East Monarch’s Stone Wall, looking at the legendary East Monarch’s Stone Wall in the morning light.

Legend has it that the East Monarch’s Stone Wall descended from the heavens, landing before Zhao Dongjun.

Zhao Dongjun received this heavenly gift and gained powerful Martial Arts insights from it.

No one knows the specific details as this experience is too fantastical.

The East Monarch’s Stone Wall is roughly two meters square, placed on a granite platform, visible even from afar.

The stone is gray-white, ancient and desolate, with severely weathered edges, battered and broken.

At the center of the stone wall, there’s an irregular shallow pit about half a meter in diameter.

Radiating from the pit are evenly dense, precisely 108 fissures.

This shallow pit and its 108 cracks may appear damaged, but they show no signs of weathering, remarkably clear, unchanged for millions of years.

Legend has it that the Grand Day Divine Skill and East Wind Fist created by Zhao Dongjun were all influenced by this stone wall.

Zhou Leng did not try to comprehend it immediately; instead, he carefully observed, imprinting every detail of the stone wall in his mind.

Then, he stared at it, clearing his mind, sensing the stone wall in the most direct way possible.

On the first day, he sat silently all day, just looking, gaining nothing.

On the second day, he arrived even earlier, sitting in the front row.

This time, he recalled the pressure of the East Monarch, triggering a faint trace of the East Monarch’s spirit legacy.

As he looked at the East Monarch’s Stone Wall again, his perception changed instantly.

Though it seemed empty, he sensed a fierce imprint of fist intent on it.

It was like the punch of a god, shattering stars.

Zhou Leng knew that this was not his own comprehension, but Zhao Dongjun’s insight.

While not entirely suited to himself, the wisdom of others could refine one’s own imperfections—more precisely, the jade of the East Monarch could carve his stubborn stone.

Zhou Leng carefully sensed it, sitting all day without eating or drinking.

Like the day before, Liang Baiyin accompanied him, earnestly comprehending as well.

Yunhua’s scholarly reputation was well-deserved.

On the third day, as usual, he continued to delve into it.

On the fourth day, and the fifth...

On the sixth day, Zhou Leng did not trigger the East Monarch’s legacy, but relied on his own understanding of martial arts to grasp the East Monarch’s stone wall.

Initially, he felt nothing.

But whether it was the influence of the East Monarch’s Stone Wall or the effect of an emptied mind, gradually Zhou Leng detected some flaws in his martial arts.

Past battles, cultivation, and other memories occasionally flashed in his mind, amplifying those flaws.

Zhou Leng noted these flaws to correct them later through reflection.

On that day, Zhou Leng identified twenty-four flaws in his martial arts.

On the seventh day, similar to the previous day, he directly sensed without relying on Saint Zhao’s strength.

He discovered thirty-five flaws in his martial arts.

On the eighth day, eleven flaws were identified.

On the ninth day, nineteen flaws were identified...

Half a month later, he spent the whole day without discovering any martial arts flaws.

Many Martial Saint’s Notes mention that the so-called flaws are essentially errors in understanding martial arts.

As long as they can be corrected, martial arts become flawless, and with some accumulation, one will grow rapidly.

If the flaws persist, the martial arts will be forever flawed, never enabling one to tread the path of the Martial Saint.

Hence, people often joke that martial arts are like mathematics: you either understand them or you don’t—there’s no faking it.

Flawlessness in martial arts is the foundation for reaching sainthood.

After completing the final day of contemplation, Zhou Leng rose, pondering as he walked out.

The martial arts traces, different people comprehend them in completely different ways.

What Zhao Dongjun sensed was a grand fist intent.

Rumor has it that some people felt a destructive killing intent.

Zhou Leng never expected that what he comprehended were his own flaws.

These flaws seemed to correspond with the 108 cracks on the stone wall.

Moving forward, his main cultivation focus will be on mending these flaws.

At that time, he could consult Elder Song, ask Wang Boxiong, delve into Martial Saint’s Notes, and look for Martial Saint videos.

About to leave, Zhou Leng looked at Liang Baiyin, recalling the experiences of these days.

Liang Baiyin was also walking, deep in thought.

Except for a few days when he couldn’t get leave, Liang Baiyin spent most of the time accompanying him daily.

Coming early in the morning, having dinner together, chatting, sharing martial arts insights, and training in the evenings.

Zhang Xinglie entered the Old Capital Demon City for cultivation, and the two hadn’t met again.

The two grew up together, no need for deliberate meetings.

Zhao He offered a Martial Faith invitation to a banquet, which Zhou Leng politely declined.

Wang Boxiong had specially approved 1800 white Bone Forging Pills from the Martial Guard Department.

Zhou Leng collected them at the capital’s Martial Guard Department, using dozens daily, still healing directly without red pills.

Soon, he needed to return to the Fierce Beast World to gather resources worth five billion.

Meanwhile, Ruda specially approved a personal training hall for Zhou Leng.

After Bone Forging comes the Muscle Stage.

Unlike Bone Forging, which requires Bone Forging Pills, the Muscle Stage can consume pills or not, but most importantly, it requires meat.

A large quantity of high-quality meat is most suited for martial artists in the Muscle Stage.

Previously purchased some Grandmaster-grade Magical Beast meat in the Demon Spirit World, specifically for the Muscle Stage.

Coupled with Innate Magical Beast meat, Innate Giant Dragon meat, and Innate Fierce Beast meat, the meat reserves are almost complete.

Just need a few days of battle in the Fierce Beast World to gather enough Innate meat.

This visit to Xiong City yielded substantial gains.

He discovered a silver fingerprint, an octagonal river lamp, and an Evil God statue.

The most crucial discovery was of his own flaws; he would undoubtedly enter a rapid growth phase next.

When there’s time, he’ll come back to Xiongjing to comprehend the Martial Arts Traces.

The more he comprehends, the more likely he is to find his path to becoming a Martial Saint, just like Saint Zhao.