Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 741 - 715: Remnants

Rucheng, Great Martial Arts Hall.

Feng Wenhao and Wei Hong sat by the flower bed, puffing on cigarettes.

The ground beneath their feet was littered with cigarette butts.

Feng Wenhao looked at the distant sky and said, "Actually, even after the Ten Thousand Yang Celestial Fall and the Thousand Chariots Charge Palace, I still don’t understand Hu Yi, don’t understand Chen Shouhu and Wang Boxiong. What’s all this fuss about? I’m doing just fine, the country is alright, and the people are living well. Why all this fuss? My parents have been mumbling about these things too. Some people around me think everything is great."

The cigarette butts in front of Wei Hong gradually brightened.

Feng Wenhao continued, "Until it hit me. The chance to join the Martial Guard was gone. I used every possible means, and only found out in the end that someone else took it. His dad has a high rank in the district, backed by a big family. What about your spot?"

"It got taken too, but not by some young master. The new director just cut it after the old one left," Wei Hong said.

People still habitually called Wang Boxiong the director.

"What about the others in the class?" Feng Wenhao asked.

"I asked around. Half the spots were cut outright. For the other half, most were gone unless they had connections and pulled strings early. Only a few really strong ones kept their spots."

Feng Wenhao sighed and said, "I often chatted with Hu Yi, and I always thought he was too extreme. Looking back now, he was truly miserable. I lost just one Martial Guard spot, and I couldn’t eat or sleep well, felt like the world was ending. He... lost everything."

Wei Hong blew a smoke ring and said, "The people around you think everything is fine, just like reporters inquiring passengers if they managed to buy a ticket. Hu Yi’s whole family is dead, who the hell cared about him? How many unlucky people like Hu Yi are there across Dragon Country? No one ever cared. Not only did they not care, but they also occasionally stomped on him."

Feng Wenhao’s face flushed instantly, and he said nothing for a long while.

Wei Hong realized and said, "I wasn’t talking about you. I was referring to those netizens who curse the Ten Thousand Yang heroes. About the spot, did you reach out to Zhou Leng? He seems to still be a Special Martial Guard."

Feng Wenhao hesitated for a moment and said, "In the past, I would have asked. But since my own issues and thinking of Hu Yi, I suddenly understand Zhou Leng’s difficulties. Even someone like me who lived peacefully in school encountered such a huge problem; he must face unimaginable pressure."

Wei Hong said, "Hey, for things like this, don’t overthink. Just send a message and ask if he can relay it. If it works, it works; if not, let it be. Besides, he won’t see it anytime soon. By the time he finishes seclusion, he might have become a Martial Saint..."

The sky was radiant with divine light.

Both looked up simultaneously.

Xiong City Suburb, South Mountain Villa.

"The Zhao Family’s matter can’t end like this!"

"But we have no way out."

"I do."

The crowd looked at Rao Xuan, gentle, fair-skinned, wearing glasses, with dark eye sockets and deep bags under his eyes, as if he hadn’t slept well in days.

His wife was a distant relative of the Zhao Family. He once cooperated with the Demon Worship Sect to turn all members of the Rao Family into Demon Cultivators.

He was Rao Mingxian’s uncle.

After the fall of Zhao Palace, both of them got implicated.

They were scrutinized at specified times and places. As he wasn’t a core Zhao member, after being skinned once, he was released.

But his wife was different.

A few days ago, he heard she confessed everything but protected the family.

The crowd looked at Rao Xuan with some sympathy.

Years ago, Rao Xuan held a high position in the Zhao Family because the Rao Family was deeply rooted in Rucheng, which benefited him too.

Later, when the Rao Family was massacred by the Huang Meng Sect, he was marginalized.

But misfortune turned into blessing as he escaped the top-level scrutiny of the Zhao Clan.

However, all their savings, wealth, and Martial Arts Resources were confiscated.

His daughter studying abroad lived extravagantly, yet cried poverty asking for money. When he couldn’t provide, she threw tantrums and made threats.

He was forced to fight demons in Demon City to earn money.

Luckily, he was also Innate, so he could earn substantial wealth through combat even after losing his old riches.

However, because the Zhao Palace was liquidated, he lost all prospects in both official and business circles.

Rao Xuan plummeted from high status into despair, unable to bear it, he joined an organization of Zhao remnants.

"What method?"

The crowd looked at Rao Xuan with delight, including some elder Grandmasters.

Many present were implicated by the Zhao Family; some were reassigned, others with ruined companies, all looking for a way out.

Rao Xuan said, "In the short term, solving Zhou Leng is impossible. But if we wish to rise, eventually, we must confront him. This consensus has already been reached."

The others nodded slightly.

"It’s no longer possible within Dragon Country. Escaping abroad would mean losing any hope of resurgence. Therefore, we must ensure two things: First, avoid getting caught with evidence. Cut all ties with the Demon Worship Sect. I believe many Martial Guards monitor our every move."

The crowd sighed and nodded.

"Second, our strength alone is insufficient for resurgence. We need strong external aid. Fortunately, in Old Capital Demon City, I discovered new hope..."

Rao Xuan said, raising a roughly foot-long white object, resembling ivory or a claw.

"This Demigod Claw was acquired by me years ago. Not long ago, in Old Capital Demon City, I encountered a group of Fierce Beasts—’Flying Mountain Fierce Bears.’ They were once a Demigod clan, but after losing their Demigod, they left their ancestral land and became regular Demigod-blooded Fierce Beasts..."

"This claw belongs to a Demigod Flying Mountain Fierce Bear, their ancestor. Through careful maneuvering, they accepted me and were willing to trade. Look..."

Rao Xuan placed a large quantity of Medicinal Fruit from the Fierce Beast world on the table.

The crowd gasped in amazement.

"Through the Flying Mountain Fierce Bears, I learned a message. The Flying Mountain Fierce Bears now rely on another Demigod clan, but due to language barriers, I don’t know the specifics..."

"In short, they can’t do it now, but after some great battle in the future, they will invite a Demigod to help them open the ’King Mountain’ treasure."

"The King Mountain treasure contains unimaginable wealth. As long as we continue helping the Flying Mountain Fierce Bears, we qualify to enter the King Mountain treasure, possibly even form an alliance with the Demigod clan. You know well the power of a Demigod Fierce Beast clan is nearly equivalent to several Martial Clans combined."

Rao Xuan spoke, and everyone’s eyes flickered—they all understood Rao Xuan’s meaning.

Once they collaborate with the Fierce Beasts, they will gain massive resources and benefits, whether in terms of power or personal strength, they’ll be able to quickly improve.

"As long as we have the Demigod Fierce Beast Tribe as our backing, returning to the core is not a problem."

"Exactly, especially since Zhou Leng has not yet ascended to sainthood. The sooner we seize power, the better..."

"The Celestial Ladder has changed..."

Everyone stood up, walked out the door, and looked up at the sky.

In the sky above, the five layers of the Celestial Ladder radiated brilliance.

Previously, each level of the Celestial Ladder was empty.

Now, on the bottom-most first layer of the Celestial Ladder, semi-transparent phantoms emerged one after another.

There were representatives from each of the Ten Realms.

The ladder and phantoms were on high, infinitely distant, yet all life in the Ten Realms could clearly see each figure on it.

Thousands of demigod phantoms stood on the first layer of the Celestial Ladder.

The people of Blue Star first looked for their country’s Martial Saints.

Every time they saw a Martial Saint from their country, they smiled.

Soon, some discovered that Zhou Leng was actually standing there.

But Zhou Leng had not ascended to sainthood.

Outside the villa, Rao Xuan looked serious, gazing at the crowd.

"We need to speed up."

"I agree!"

"I agree..."

The remnants of the Zhao Clan nodded in unison, ready to stake everything.

"Alright, then let’s gather all our forces, make a deal with the Flying Mountain Fierce Bear Tribe, and unite. Ultimately, we will obtain Wang Mountain’s treasure."

"After obtaining the treasure, relying on our relationship with the Fierce Beasts, we’ll have the bargaining power to rescue our family."

"Afterwards, we lie low, pretend everything is over, and if Zhou Leng runs into trouble, we seize the chance to finish him off!"

"The Zhao Clan shall rise again!"

In the Great Martial Arts Hall, Feng Wenhao looked at Zhou Leng’s phantom on the Celestial Ladder, somewhat dazed.

Everyone thought Zhou Leng had a chance to ascend to sainthood, but at the earliest, it was still a decade or two away.

Yet here he was, still in his senior year of college, and Zhou Leng had ascended.

Wei Hong suddenly stood up and ran towards the class’s Martial Arts Hall.

"What are you doing?"

"I’m going to find things Zhou Leng used and sell them for money."

"Beast, take me with you."

Shu City in Southeast Dragon Country.

Lou Fei Qiong raised his head to look at Zhou Leng’s phantom on the Celestial Ladder, smiling faintly.

He held his girlfriend’s hand and walked quietly.

After the Zhao Clan’s downfall, the Lou Family had tried every means to bring him back to oversee the Lou Family’s affairs, but he ignored them.

In the high sky, the first layer of the Celestial Ladder radiated divine light, sending meteors across the Ten Realms.

Zhou Leng was at the Ancient River Research Bureau when a meteor entered his brow. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

In the Will World, a spherical star appeared, emitting a silver glow.

Celestial Ladder Star.

It contained "Radiance of the Stars."

It can be used directly to absorb power and enhance oneself, or left unused to gather more Celestial Ladder Stars for greater impact.

The more stars used simultaneously, the more additional power obtained.

Using one grants double power.

Using two grants four times the power.

Using five grants a full twenty-five times the power.

Zhou Leng thought for a while and decided to keep it temporarily.

Soon after, he received new information from the Ascension Divinity Ladder.

The Ascension Divinity Ladder was accumulating strength, and soon, the trial of the second layer would begin.

The first layer was just an appetizer.

Once the second layer completes its power accumulation, the "Blood of Ancient Beasts" will be released into the Ten Realms.

Following this, numerous congratulatory messages poured in.

Zhou Leng thought about it—if he admitted to becoming a Martial Saint, how would he sneak into the Demon Purgatory and show kindness?

So he posted a message in his social circle.

"Everyone is mistaken. I have not become a Martial Saint. It was merely a coincidence that I obtained part of a Martial Saint’s power, coupled with acquiring several Celestial Ladder stars, which led the Ascension Divinity Ladder to mistakenly consider me a demigod. Please don’t spread misinformation or exalt me excessively—I’m at least ten years away from a Martial Saint. Thank you. Media friends, please help spread the word more broadly. In the Martial Arts World, I’m merely a child."