Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 513 - 496: Exploration

"What’s the news?"

Everyone looked at Zhou Leng, and only then did Zhou Leng project the demonized watch’s light screen.

After everyone read it, Wang Yunbo laughed loudly and said, "You owe me a big favor."

Xu Ming laughed and said, "I’m happy to owe this favor! Come, there are many friends in the camp, both new and old, let me introduce you to them."

Xu Ming patted Zhou Leng on the shoulder and said, "Well done! I was always worried you might get separated. With us seasoned Great Innates here, you young ones are absolutely safe."

Zhou Leng looked at Xu Ming. Despite his rugged appearance, Xu Ming was actually only about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, considered a peer, even two years younger than Zhao He.

Everyone chatted and laughed, continuing on their way.

Ruan Xiangnan and Hain looked at Xu Ming, then at Zhou Leng, feeling a surge of warmth in their hearts.

So this is what Dragon Country people are like.

Back then, at a United Nations meeting, many countries proposed abandoning resistance against the demons and surrendering to Demon Purgatory.

One country after another submitted proposals, one round of votes after another.

There were times when even Xiong Country, known for its rash belligerence, cast abstention votes.

Only Dragon Country consistently voted against.

"We people of Dragon Country, neither in the past nor now, and not in the future, will surrender."

The voice of the Dragon Country ambassador resounded firmly, echoing on the internet to this day.

The martial artists of Southeast Asia will never have someone like Xu Ming.

He takes protecting the young people of his country as a matter of course.

Most people can’t even understand Xu Ming’s actions.

The group returned to the human martial artist camp, and Xu Ming cheerfully introduced Zhou Leng to everyone.

Except for a few, most martial artists were exceptionally enthusiastic.

Once familiar, everyone gathered to communicate.

Zhou Leng couldn’t help but ask, "I’m not famous at all, at most slightly renowned in Rucheng, but you all seem to have heard of me?"

Someone laughed and said, "What else could it be? This kid Xu Ming mentioned you repeatedly, saying if we encounter you on the Great Battlefield, we must protect you, like a mother hen protecting its chicks."

"We’ve been in the camp less than a day, and we’ve heard your name eight hundred times, all because of Xu Ming alone."

Everyone laughed and looked at Xu Ming, who smiled and didn’t refute.

Quickly, the conversation turned to serious matters, analyzing the Remnant Sky Bone and Celestial Tier Trial.

Then, it was as if they forgot about Zhou Leng, discussing with the strongest Great Innates leading the conversation.

Ordinary Great Innates couldn’t get a word in, and Zhou Leng didn’t receive any special treatment.

Zhou Leng didn’t mind, clearly understanding that these Great Innates were doing it more out of respect for Xu Ming. They thought Xu Ming was exaggerating, believing that even if one were a genius, at this stage, they’d still be at the Bone Forging stage, more like a child, needing protection, with strength determined by realm at other times.

Every Great Innate didn’t reach their level through sheer hard work but were extremely intelligent.

They had already deduced various pieces of information, and now, combining everyone’s discoveries, quickly figured out the general situation of the Celestial Tier Trial and Remnant Sky Bone.

While listening, Zhou Leng observed the people in the camp.

In the human martial artist camp, there were two most renowned experts, indistinguishable from each other, whom everyone respected.

One was Xu Ming, from the Martial Arts Academy, the other was Wang Xiong, from Jinjing, both serving in the Demon City Army, and trustworthy in character, strength, reputation, and all aspects.

Even though it wasn’t spoken, everyone tacitly acknowledged them as the leaders.

Besides the Dragon Country people, there were also people from other countries, but no Eagle Alliance or Elephant Country people; others from Southeast Asia, Seagull Alliance, Africa, and Xiong Country were present, but few in number.

At least on the surface, these countries’ people respected Xu Ming and Wang Xiong.

Wang Xiong had a reserved personality, so Xu Ming presided over the meeting.

Finally, Xu Ming concluded.

"Based on everyone’s information, let me summarize."

"The Remnant Sky Bone is located at the center of this area."

"Around the Remnant Sky Bone is a trial ground."

"In the trial ground, there are Celestial Bone Warriors, some see us as enemies, while others see us as competitors."

"Outside the trial ground is a purple mist. It’s unknown what it is, but it’s said to require a strong Martial Arts Will to pass through."

"A few of us tried, I was the strongest, lasted half an hour before retreating, unable to get through."

"Beyond the purple mist is the Black Iron Forest, and further out, our camp."

"The camps of the different races are scattered, though giants and dragons are opposed, and the Humanoid Alliance and Demon Alliance are opposed; for now, no battles have occurred on the surface."

"But, secretly, we’ve already clashed, killed some, and lost some..."

"No matter how you look at it, everyone’s main focus currently is to complete the Remnant Sky Bone and Celestial Tier Trial; no one wants to be trapped here."

...

"However, based on known information, the pass rate of the Remnant Sky Bone trial is almost zero, and the escape rate is only about 20%."

"That means, out of the two hundred or so people here from various tribes, only thirty or forty will leave the Remnant Sky Bone in the end."

"As for the others, they should seek a backup plan."

"If, and I mean if, anyone knows they can’t leave or doesn’t want to, come find me or Wang Xiong, to leave a spark of hope for humanity in the Remnant Sky Bone."

Zhou Leng, like the others, just listened at first, but after hearing everything, they all showed expressions of astonishment.

Xu Ming didn’t explain, but Zhou Leng quickly understood.

Now that they have entered the Celestial Bone, and if they really can’t get out, what will the people left here do?

Go mad directly, or retain hope?

Or wait for the people behind?

Xu Ming came with a mission!

Or rather, many people came in with a mission. They may have entered the Celestial Bone, or they may have entered elsewhere, or not at all.

But since they entered, they must fulfill their duties.

Zhou Leng and the others quickly understood, but some foreign martial artists like Ruan Xiangnan were puzzled for a while before slowly understanding, feeling a mix of emotions.

People from major countries are indeed different.

Even in such a dead-end with certain death, they leave a mark.

Finally, Xu Ming said, "Alright, this is the ninth summary of the Celestial Bone Trial. I’ll post it in our Great Battlefield group later, everyone can speak freely in the group. Meeting adjourned. Rest for a while, then organize the team again to explore the purple mist."

Everyone stood up and busied themselves, while Zhou Leng looked at the hand-drawn map in the shared document, and combined it with the previous Celestial Tier Trial text, he immediately understood.

The purple mist surrounding the Celestial Bone is the first layer trial mentioned in the Celestial Tier Trial, the Divine Power Land.

"Let’s talk at the side."

Xu Ming found Zhou Leng, and the two walked to a place with no people.

He took out a cigarette and handed it over.

"Thanks." Zhou Leng refused, he couldn’t afford it before, and later he quit all addictive things for cultivation, except for some videos.

Xu Ming lit the cigarette, took a puff, slowly exhaled, and looked ahead.

This martial leader, who was usually heroic and extraordinary, suddenly seemed several years older and much more ordinary.

"You must get out." Xu Ming said.

Zhou Leng asked, "Do you have a mission?"

Xu Ming didn’t answer, instead said, "You’re too young, your talent far surpasses mine. None of us matter if we can’t go back, but you must go back."

"With your abilities, you can definitely return." Zhou Leng said.

Xu Ming smiled and said, "Of course, I can definitely get out! I still need to punch Chen Shouhu and kick Wang Boxiong!"

Thinking of his sparring process with Chen Shouhu, Zhou Leng silently gave Xu Ming a thumbs up.

Xu Ming said, "If I’m not mistaken, do you have an identity with the Demon City Army?"

"Honorary Colonel of the Martial Arts Brigade." Zhou Leng said.

"As expected, Zhao He said you know both Hu and Xiong, so I guessed your background."

Zhou Leng said, "Background? They don’t have any small organizations."

Xu Ming smiled slightly and said, "If you insist, they’re both in that small organization, and so am I, and many others. You might be in it too, or you might not be, but I believe you are."

Zhou Leng stayed silent, wanting to say something but not knowing how.

Xu Ming continued, "Wang Yunbo told me about your journey. I reviewed the intel in advance. That Ruan Xiangnan is half a Demon Worshiper, and that Hain is a Demon Worshiper."

Zhou Leng thought, as expected.

Xu Ming continued talking to himself.

"If you pay attention to history, pay attention to the news, you’ll find that people from different countries have different styles of doing things."

"The brashness of Xiong Country, the flamboyance of the Eagle Alliance, the conservatism of Dragon Country, the strong presence of major countries, the cautiousness of small countries, and so on, different histories, cultures, regions, and experiences give birth to different people with different styles of doing things."

"Those few South Sea countries, you can’t say they’re incompetent, but they’ve lived under the dignity of an empire for thousands of years, and even after modernization, they still survive between major countries. Now, they’re balancing between major countries, Demon Worship Sect, and demons."

"In such an environment, not to mention ordinary people, even elites find it hard to plan anything."

"Because of the lack of power."

"And those with power, will invest a large amount of resources into two directions, something small powers can’t do, and they don’t even have the concept in their minds."

"One direction is exploration. All those seemingly useless researches from the past eventually materialize in our food, clothing, housing, and transportation. The technology of the old era, the pills of the new era, are all fruits of exploration."

"The second direction is survival. Or rather, backup for survival. You should know, in ancient times, Dragon Country had the Great Wall, and in modern times, there’s an underground Hexian Great Wall. Back then, the reason why Dragon Country could withstand the demon army was thanks to those war resources."

"In the Martial Arts Era, there are also new exploration and survival plans."

"For example, some peculiar places, as long as people can survive in them, Dragon Country will develop a plan."

"Some are for exploration, some are for survival, and some are for both."

"I won’t go into specifics, it may be classified, but you should understand."

Zhou Leng nodded slightly.

The Great Battlefield is one, and this Celestial Bone might also be among them.

Xu Ming said, "However, some intel I don’t say, but you should know."

"For example, there have always been human martial artists left in the Celestial Bone, temporarily named Celestial Bone Warriors."

"As for the others, I don’t know either."

"Probably, we need to break through the purple mist to meet them."

"We are about to break into the Divine Power Land, but you can’t go. You just advanced to the Muscle Stage, don’t worry about anything, just eat meat, eat a lot of meat, eat and drink to your fill, build a good foundation, and wait for us to accumulate enough experience for you to break through the purple mist."