Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 482 - 466: Pill Exchange

The video title and content, just four words.

Demon Slayer Warrior.

On the internet, a new wave of heated discussion surged. Some people suspected this person to be the Burdened Archer, but others disagreed, as the Demon Slayer Warrior was far more valiant and ruthless.

Zhou Leng no longer paid attention to these matters.

After fighting for an entire day, confronting numerous Innate demons, especially foes including the Demon Giant and other experts, even with a strong healing ability, his body had reached its limit.

Regulating his breath and meditating, introspection sensing.

Throughout his body, skin, muscles, blood vessels, bones, internal organs—all bore scars that couldn’t heal in a short time.

Each scar had ruptured hundreds of times during the battle.

Even his brain had slight injuries.

Zhou Leng recalled some medical data, the probability of long-term fighters developing dementia is twice that of ordinary people; similarly, the probability for old-time boxers far exceeded that of other athletes.

Faced with so many blows, even an iron man wouldn’t hold up.

Zhou Leng dared not be careless, just as he was about to take medicine, he received a message from Chen Shouhu.

"You can’t just fight without exchange. I’ve specially approved the ’Combat Hero’ exchange qualification for you. In this Shuizhou war, the war merits needed for pill exchange are halved, and the required merits can be made up later. Additionally, based on your multiple battles, the Seventh Division has specially approved fifty ’individual third-class merits’ and ’ten individual second-class merits’ for you."

Zhou Leng was stunned for a moment, it was the first time he heard of personal war merits given in dozens.

But recalling the achievements of those combat heroes, it made perfect sense, as many combat heroes in the past had even over a hundred first-class merits, the accolades were astonishingly high.

Moreover, by normal standards, he indeed could easily obtain a large number of third and second-class war merits.

Under normal circumstances, each Innate Demon was worth one third-class merit.

Zhou Leng did not immediately tend to his body, instead he found Zhi Liao to inquire about caution in war merit exchange, and with Zhi Liao’s company, he went to logistics to exchange resources.

These days, his war merit accumulation had reached a terrifying level.

With Zhi Liao’s guidance, he exchanged a large quantity of pills he needed.

A full three Dragon and Tiger Pills, a non-combat hero could exchange at most one in three years.

A large number of "Special Nourishing Essence Pills", unlike ordinary ones, these special pills are made entirely from high-level demon materials, and their effects are several times those of ordinary Nourishing Essence Pills, generally affordable only by a Grandmaster.

A "Hundred Spring Pill" with powerful healing abilities, Grandmaster-level medicine, costing twenty million each, extremely effective for healing body damage, critically with no side effects.

One portion of high-level Sacred Magic Potion, beneath a Grandmaster, no matter how severe the injuries, rapid recovery, the recovery speed surpasses any martial artist’s pill, the drawback being it costs life span, needing to be taken with the Water of Life or Ancient Tree Fossil.

Three Grandmaster-level pills, "Rejuvenation Pills."

The Rejuvenation Pill helps communicate between the body and True Qi, accelerating Qi transformation. When used during reaching Great Innate, it can make the body more perfect.

Ordinary martial artists strive for a Grandmaster, but true geniuses aim for a Divine Communication Grandmaster.

The extreme Innate among the Ten Realms seek a "Celestial Sign Grandmaster."

Unfortunately, humanity has yet to produce a Celestial Sign Grandmaster; in the history of the Ten Realms, one emerges only once in tens of thousands of years.

Legend says, a Celestial Sign Grandmaster is the basic standard for geniuses in high-level civilizations.

After exchanging for the important pills, Zhou Leng returned to the tent.

He took a Special Nourishing Essence Pill and a life-type Medicinal Fruit from the Tree-man World, alongside Mammoth Lake water, and performed the Star Phoenix Rejuvenation Technique to heal his bodily injuries.

Rucheng.

The old mansion of the Rao Family.

Zhao He sat on the grand chair, reading recent news while asking, "Has the ’Six Volumes’ been found?"

Rao Mingxian slightly bowed and saluted, "Reporting to the second young master, due to the war, many martial artists went to the battlefield, and the investigation of the ’Six Volumes of the Eastern Monarch’ has come to a halt."

Zhao He didn’t reply.

Rao Mingxian had been in contact with Zhao He frequently recently, and every time Zhao He remained silent for a long time, it was an expression of dissatisfaction. However, given his noble background, he often didn’t overly express his emotions.

The room’s atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.

After a while, Zhao He asked, "What are your views on this Shuizhou war?"

"The Celestial Calamity Envoy is merely testing the Humanoid Alliance, and besides, the Demon Purgatory is not monolithic. As long as humanity holds out for a few more months, the Celestial Calamity Army will inevitably retreat. Of course, the Celestial Calamity Envoy seems to have other plans, but that’s beyond my conjecture."

"Without the appearance of Grandmasters, it’s not much of a war. I’ve heard the Huang Meng Sect is secretly aiding humans again?" Zhao He asked.

"Yes, it’s become routine, the Demon Worship Sect needs the Huang Meng Sect, so they turn a blind eye," Rao Mingxian said.

"Hmph, the Huang Meng Sect played out its united value, even the human high-level thinks of wooing the Huang Meng Sect; it’s a narrow vision. For humanity, the Huang Meng Sect is far more dangerous than the Demon Worship Sect and Demon Purgatory."

"You are right."

Zhao He said, "Since I’m here in Rucheng, not participating in the draft would be unreasonable. In a few days, I’ll take people to the Shuizhou Base to console the Seventh Division, then delve into Shuizhou Demon City for some trading and hunting of some demons."

"You must be extremely careful, this time the number of Demon armies far exceeds the past. If a madman surrounds you, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Don’t worry, I won’t go too deep. Do you think that Arrow Bearer and Sea Siren Killer could possibly be Zhou Leng?"

Rao Mingxian paused for a moment and said, "Impossible, we’ve known each other since we were kids. Even if he was masked, I could tell at a glance if it was him. The outside world even says the recently emerged Demon Slayer Warrior is also the Arrow Bearer—it’s ridiculous. Both fighting style and weapon are completely different."

Rao Mingxian added, "There are many innate human prodigies. Not to mention Zhang Xinglie and the well-known Li Shenkong. Xu Ming from the First Division Martial Arts Academy, Yu Xuan’an from Yunhua, Wang Xiong from Jinjing, so many top innate talents could be the Arrow Bearer. Most guesses online are about these few, but I’ve never seen anyone guessing Zhou Leng."

Zhao He said, "The Demon Slayer Warrior is certainly impossible, but the possibility of Arrow Bearer exists. I’ve always suspected that Zhou Leng’s true strength is far beyond imagination. He is very likely to be a genius on the same level as Zhang Xinglie."

Rao Mingxian said, "I feel that he’s the kind of genius with strong potential, maybe able to rival Zhang Xinglie in a decade or so, but he’s still a bit lacking at present."

Zhao He nodded, agreeing with Rao Mingxian’s statement, and said, "Have the Demon Worship Sect or Demon Purgatory found out the identity of Arrow Bearer or the Demon Slayer Warrior?"

Rao Mingxian said, "Currently, no. Although there are occasional leaks from some areas of the Demon City Army, the wartime confidentiality system is strictly enforced, making it impossible to find out. Unexpectedly, within about six months, we might slowly find some clues."

Zhao He asked, "What about the matter of the White Lake Mother Fruit that I asked you to investigate?"

Rao Mingxian replied helplessly, "The descendants of major leaders in the Demon Purgatory are all eyeing the White Lake Mother Fruit, and I even heard that the Giant Dragons are interested too. If forced to fight for it, it can only belong to the Deep Dark Fury. At present, no innate in the Ten Realms can match him. It’s rumored in the Demon Purgatory that Deep Dark Fury might be the only ’Celestial Illustrious Noble’ in this Ten Realms War."

A Demon’s Celestial Illustrious Noble is equivalent to a human’s Celestial Grandmaster.

Zhao He continued, "I heard that the essence of the Ten Realms War has two hypotheses: one is that high-level civilizations are nurturing gu, the other is nurturing gu in a gentle manner, which is the selection of outstanding groups. Moreover, in every Ten Realms War, which race emerges a Celestial Grandmaster, that race definitely wins?"

"Yes. I’ve been studying the knowledge of the Ten Realms a lot lately, so I know a little. Legend has it, in a high-level civilization, those honored with the title ’Celestial One’ are considered geniuses." Rao Mingxian said.

Zhao He sighed, "Such a large number of lives emerge just from the Ten Realms, not to mention there are countless Ten Realms in the universe. Unfortunately, I am destined not to become a Celestial Grandmaster."

"You might have a chance." Rao Mingxian said.

Zhao He said, "Continue finding the ’Six Volumes,’ and once found, I’ll specially grant you a Headless God."

Rao Mingxian’s eyes lit up and said, "Rest assured, I will do my utmost."

"Go."

"I take my leave."

Walking out of the old Rao Family residence, Rao Mingxian glanced back.

Most of the Rao Family’s wealth, including the invaluable old residence, was quietly taken over by the Zhao Family.

No legal procedures whatsoever, and then inexplicably replaced its owner.

However, the Zhao Family eventually didn’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, leaving him some fortune.

Now he controls over five billion in assets, an unimaginable amount of wealth before.

Rao Mingxian pondered over Zhao He’s words as he walked.

Was Zhao He probing, or does he truly suspect that Zhou Leng is the Arrow Bearer?

In fact, Rao Mingxian initially didn’t link Zhou Leng with the Arrow Bearer, but upon noticing that Mrs. Xiyang was inexplicably fascinated with the Arrow Bearer and Sea Siren Killer, he began to suspect.

Mrs. Xiyang had a directed infatuation with Zhou Leng.

However, such matters must be kept secret. If leaked, it would undoubtedly lead to Zhou Leng’s demise, so he strived to deny it.

"Zhou Leng is growing too fast, and Zhang Xiaoxiao too, I must find a way to consume more magic potions to at least push my strength to Great Innate to have the means to protect myself."

"As for becoming a Grandmaster, it’s too difficult. Great Innate should be my limit. If I want to reach Grandmaster, there’s only one possibility."

"Complete Demonization. But by then, I wouldn’t be human at all..."

Torn inside, Rao Mingxian continued to move forward.

The next day’s street battle in Huqiu Fortress erupted again.

Early in the morning, as Zhou Leng stepped out, he was stopped by Zhi Liao.

"You sustained serious latent injuries yesterday; I suggest you rest for a day," Zhi Liao said.

"I’m recovered." Zhou Leng replied.

"Impossible, with such injuries, even a Grandmaster wouldn’t be able to continue fighting," Zhi Liao, with solid martial arts knowledge, said.

"Are you saying my regenerative ability is inferior to that of a Grandmaster?" Zhou Leng asked.

Zhi Liao opened his mouth, looking at Zhou Leng, unable to find words.

Zhou Leng patted Zhi Liao’s shoulder and charged into Huqiu Fortress.

Yesterday’s long street battle had given him a feeling.

All those javelins and assassinations were almost enough, suitable only for specific environments and timing.

Going head-to-head with the elite innate army is the real man’s path.

Before this street battle, Zhou Leng simply sent a message to the command center asking where there were more innate, and upon receiving the information, went straight to the innate Demon squad.

That day, the man wielding the spiked club once again became the nightmare of the Demons.

Returning at night, once again a hero of a thousand battles in a single day.