Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 609 - 589: Governor

Zhou Leng walked forward, feeling strange in his heart.

The sound of the sword seemed to be directed at him.

Previously, he had heard that Li Shenkong had acquired a Divine Sword, which was the only intact starry sky divine artifact owned by humanity.

However, with the Star Refining Furnace, it became one of the few.

"Could it be that the Divine Sword is...?"

In the end, the Divine Sword belonged to Li Shenkong, so Zhou Leng didn’t think much of it and went to the Tree-man institution, where he opened a room in an underground tree cavern for cultivation.

In the underground space, the roots of the Tree of Life were densely packed, radiating a rich life force.

Zhou Leng absorbed the power of life while practicing the Star Phoenix Rejuvenation Technique.

The increase of Star Phoenix Feathers was extremely slow.

Far less effective than consuming ancient tree fossils.

After cultivating, he took out the Star Refining Furnace and stared at the single Divine Text on it, silently memorizing it.

Sister Shen Yunxian had said that the Divine Text representing "Star Refining Furnace" was modeled after the text in the "Starry Wall" pages.

"Starry Wall" is the most mysterious force in the universe, and it is even suspected to be the origin of the universe, containing endless secrets.

The so-called Starry Wall is a term used by high-level civilizations.

According to the understanding of a normal civilization, it can be translated as "Starry Painting," a carrier similar to a book.

When information and its inherent power reach a certain magnitude, where normal text or ordinary illustrations, or even various forms of high-level power cannot accommodate:

Some unknown existence thus created the "Starry Wall."

It is a grand structure composed of many magnificent and colorful star systems, resembling a cosmic wall of stars, magnificent and spectacular.

It is also a true divine manual within the endless universe.

Only, the Starry Wall is too powerful, magnificent, and profound. Only the extremely powerful upper-rank divine spirits have the capacity to read and learn from it.

Those strongest divine spirits, through comprehending the Starry Wall, dismantle its most intricate structures.

Divine Text.

Since then, high-level civilizations began their journey with Divine Text.

After the upper-rank divine spirits thoroughly researched Divine Text, they used it in conjunction with star power to create numerous "Divine Text planets."

Using countless Divine Text planets, they created Divine Text star systems, scientifically named "Star Pages."

Many Divine Text star systems connected together form a "Starry Wall," which is the true carrier of information and path of transcendence for the upper-rank divine spirits.

For the true path not only contains intangible messages but also tangible power.

No ordinary book or common carrier can endure it.

Only the endless star systems in the universe have the capacity to bear it.

Even for divine spirits, establishing divine text planets, star pages, or the Starry Wall is no easy feat.

Many divine spirits spend their entire lives unable to establish their own Starry Wall.

Knowing that Divine Text is merely the smallest component of the Starry Wall, Zhou Leng gained a new understanding of Divine Text, and his proficiency in it soared.

However, the Star Refining Furnace is ultimately a starry sky divine artifact, and using it at this stage would inevitably require a great cost.

But slowly, results will surely come.

After a full day and night of cultivation, Zhou Leng felt somewhat fatigued, so he went out for a stroll.

On the way back, he once again saw Li Shenkong.

The two exchanged glances and gave a slight nod.

Zhou Leng noticed that Li Shenkong’s eyes seemed peculiar, his gaze a bit vacant, as if he hadn’t slept well. Normally, an upper-rank Grandmaster can go three days and nights without sleep and still be full of energy.

Perhaps he over-cultivated. Although he is the number one of the younger generation and clearly more talented and resourceful than everyone else, he is even more diligent than everyone.

This first place is well-deserved.

Li Shenkong withdrew his gaze, proceeding sullenly.

Not long later, he arrived at a hotel suite.

A woman in the suite saw Li Shenkong and immediately rose, smiling softly and said, "Little Shenkong, it’s really hard to see you these days."

Li Shenkong replied helplessly, "Sister Tianfeng, I really need to cultivate for a long time."

When Gao Tianfeng was young, she was particularly clever, liked by Lady Zhao Sheng, Old Madam Zhao, and Lady Zhao Hao. During non-formal activities, she would often be taken along.

Gao Tianfeng did not waste this opportunity. With her eloquent and somewhat bold temperament, she became acquainted with many offspring of martial clans.

Although Gao Tianfeng herself was average in martial arts and not directly related to the martial clans, earlier years didn’t have so many regulations, and many old Martial Saints didn’t consider themselves higher than others. Younger generations didn’t act pompously; they treated themselves as ordinary people.

But in recent years, starting with the third generation onwards, the great families of martial clans have become more pretentious, increasingly emulating foreign financial cliques and the likes of ancient emperors and ministers, positioning themselves as nobles and superiors, and less and less treating ordinary people as human beings.

Sure, here is the translation:

Li Shenkong grew up by Saint Li’s side, never received any special treatment, and was even used as an errand boy by Saint Li, doing this and that. He was famously known in the Li Family as the runner, and no one thought of him as inferior.

Gao Tianfeng was particularly skilled at building relationships, deliberately befriending the young members of the Martial Clan. Those who were proud and temperamental were out of her reach, but she was never looked down upon by good-natured family sons like Li Shenkong; they got along quite well back in the day.

However, Li Shenkong was no fool either. After growing up and hearing about the events concerning the Zhao Family and the Gao siblings, he stayed away whenever possible.

This time, Gao Tianfeng unexpectedly came to the Tree-man World, claiming it had something to do with Zhao Cong, leaving him no choice but to come.

Zhao Cong is Zhao Hao’s eldest son, holding a very high status within the Martial Mansion, and is the next-generation Patriarch that the Zhao Family is cultivating with all their might.

Regardless of character, martial arts, or conduct, he differs from others in the Zhao Family. Although somewhat rigid, no bad rumors about him have ever circulated.

The two had previously discussed martial arts, and Li Shenkong learned quite a bit from him.

Gao Tianfeng smiled and said, "To talk to you face-to-face, it’s no big deal actually. Just that my cousin is about to take office as governor of the two rivers. Heard you’re in the Rucheng, Shuizhou area, so he wanted to arrange a meeting. Couldn’t reach you here, so he sent me to find you."

Li Shenkong was momentarily stunned. There were many rumors about the Zhao Family’s decline in Xiong City, yet Zhao Cong has reached this point so quickly.

By next year’s election, Zhao Cong will certainly enter the Supreme Court, becoming one of the top four or fifty in the Martial Mansion.

By then, the Zhao Family’s position on Blue Star will be even more secure. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Not to mention, the Li Family and the Zhao Family already have a good relationship. The two got along well in the past, and now Zhao Cong is being promoted to governor, leaving Li Shenkong unable to refuse.

Li Shenkong sighed inwardly, lightly nodded, and smiled saying, "It’s been days since I’ve seen Brother Cong. Since he has been entrusted with overseeing the two rivers as the governor, naturally, I’ll bring fine wine to congratulate him."

Gao Tianfeng chuckled, "Then it’s all settled. I also heard you’ve been promoted to Grandmaster, came to check you out, see how the once rigidly handsome young lad became someone revered by all. Maybe in a few years you become a Martial Saint and you might not recognize me as sister Tianfeng."

Li Shenkong hurriedly said, "Even if I become a Martial God, I will recognize you as sister Tianfeng."

"Haha... I came in a rush this time, didn’t bring anything, just some local specialties from the old home. Hope you don’t mind," Gao Tianfeng said as she took out some hometown specialties, not valuable but flavorful.

Li Shenkong had seen them many times, took them with a smile, and asked, "Sister Tianfeng, have you been in Rucheng these days?"

The governor’s office of the two rivers was originally in West Sea City. After its fall, it was first moved to Shuizhou, and later to Rucheng.

Although Jinling City is the largest city downstream of the Yangtze River following West Sea, after all, it is an old dragon capital, easily inciting apprehension, often self-defamed, so it’s impossible for the governor’s office of the two rivers to be in Jinling.

Rucheng was a small city in the past, but due to demon invasions and changing battle lines, it absorbed many resources from the old lands of West Sea, becoming one of the top cities nearby.

"Sigh...You know, my brother is too excessive in his actions. Just now... forget it, no point mentioning him. I came first to handle the aftermath, secondly to take a look ahead of time, lend a hand to the future governor Zhao. You’re family, there’s nothing to hide. There are countless vexing matters involved here, and this governorship is not easy, one must tread carefully, step on the wrong spot..."

Gao Tianfeng casually lamented, sitting next to Li Shenkong, speaking together about childhood days.

People find comfort in nostalgia, and Gao Tianfeng grasped the situation well, making the host and guests thoroughly delighted.

After sending off Gao Tianfeng outside the Tree-man Base, Li Shenkong quietly gazed into the distant sky.

Are those rumors about the Zhao Family true over these years?

Was the conspiracy involving sixteen families against Zhou Leng something Zhao Cong and Gao Tianfeng were completely innocent of?

Whenever Li Shenkong thought about Zhou Leng, Xu Ming came to mind; he had encountered Xu Ming when very young in the military.

Xu Ming was the most outstanding among the young generation at the time, and the two cooperated many times.

Li Shenkong had disguised himself as an ordinary Martial Artist to join the Demon City Army battles, always under Xu Ming’s protection.

He always remembered Xu Ming placing an arm around his shoulder and saying to a bunch of old soldiers, "This is my little brother, train him as you would, but don’t blame me if I speak out against any misconduct first..."

He and Xu Ming went through over ten life-and-death battles together, forming ironclad camaraderie.

Therefore, upon hearing Xu Ming leaving a message for Zhou Leng and the Demon City Army, Li Shenkong concluded Xu Ming had perished, crying as he listened.

Xu Ming’s dying wish was to protect Zhou Leng.

So, Li Shenkong silently vowed in his heart, if given the opportunity, to protect Zhou Leng as much as possible.

Once he finishes honing his skills in the Tree-man World, he’ll find Chen Shouhu to get acquainted with Zhou Leng.

Returning to his room, his emotions were restless once more.

Who exactly triggered the sword’s cry?

Forget it for now, find time to meet Zhao Cong.

Xiong City.

Zhao Cong and Madam Zhao sat on either side of Old Madam Zhao.

Madam Zhao carefully attended to her, while Zhao Cong was full of smiles, chatting with his grandmother like a child.

Old Madam Zhao, usually stern with her son Zhao Hao, rarely showing a good face, but almost always granting her grandchildren’s every request.

Especially after losing two more, she treasured her sole grandson even more.

"Our Zhao Family... there’s only you and Nan Di left... now you’re heading south..."

Old Madam Zhao started off cheerful but soon became melancholic. To avoid upsetting his grandmother, Zhao Cong pretended to inquire how he should proceed once in office.

Old Madam Zhao once worked in the Martial Mansion, possessing a perspective not commonly matched.

"Remember not to emulate your second uncle’s mistake, thinking of first establishing authority in the military, which resulted in a costly lesson before he learned his lesson..."

"Remember to blend with the dust and light, remember that goodwill is valuable among colleagues..."