Martial arts ascend to the gods

Chapter 418 Poor Mine
Zhou Leng said, "I have no interest in competing with him, but if he takes the initiative, there is no need to be afraid."

Wang Boxiong looked Zhou Leng up and down again and said, "Your aura is very special. I can no longer discern your true strength. It's almost August. By this time next year, will you be able to advance to the Great Innate Realm like Aiden?"

Zhou Leng thought for a moment and said, "If I can get into the Great Battlefield, I have a chance; if I can't, then it's difficult."

Wang Boxiong said, "The Great Battlefield... I don't recommend you go. First, it's too dangerous. Second, your cultivation level isn't high enough. Third, the Battlefield Shield Tokens weren't distributed externally at all; they were swallowed up by various major forces. This was already decided a year or two ago."

"There are less than fifty of these in the entire Blue Star. Even the Martial Saint Clan can't manage to give each family one. You can imagine how precious they are. Apart from dragons and giants, other races have very few of them."

"The youth battle is a topic of conversation every year. But the great battlefield has no news online and is never leaked."

Zhou Leng said, "Never leaking information? That means you don't consider us as insiders. I'll figure something out myself."

"Less complaining, more action," Wang Boxiong said, glancing at Zhou Leng. "I'll keep an eye out for you; maybe someone doesn't need it anymore, or wants to trade it."

The two then discussed the Tree People World. Upon learning that Zhao He had extended multiple invitations, Wang Boxiong said, "In this matter, listening to Chen Fenghu is the right thing to do. The Zhao family is different from us."

“I know it in my heart,” Zhou Leng said.

“Good that you understand,” Wang Boxiong said slowly, staring into Zhou Leng’s eyes. “Things have been a bit tense lately. After you go to Xiantian Mountain, keep a low profile. When you take the martial arts test, hold back. When you’re ready to advance to Grandmaster, climb to the top of Xiantian Mountain, advance to Grandmaster, and awe the entire world.”

“Okay. Also... I’m voluntarily requesting to withdraw my eligibility for regular scholarships from the martial arts school and other similar programs, only retaining some innate-level qualifications.”

"Oh?" Wang Boxiong looked at Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng said, "I've already stopped taking the Qi and Blood Realm pills that were awarded as a reward, and many people need them more than I do. I'm already at the Innate Realm, and it would be too unseemly for me to compete with other students who need them for these pills."

"Okay." Wang Boxiong nodded.

The two chatted for a long time, and as noon approached, Zhou Leng took his leave.

As I was walking on campus, just as I was about to message Xu Qingjin to ask her to have lunch together, Xue Chengsong sent me a message.

“Zhou Leng, something’s happened. If you’re going back to Rucheng, contact me as soon as possible. After lying low for a while, the forces behind Tian Wenhu and Chang Luan suspected that our Xue family was behind it. They secretly tested us and killed several of our family’s experts. My father was also injured. They are clearly trying to force us to give up the mine.”

"Our mines have all stopped operating."

“My family also approached a master of innate cultivation who had a stake in Xueji, but the master returned Xueji’s shares, saying he couldn’t help the Xue family. It’s because the one who intervened was a Bone Forging Innate cultivator and several ordinary Innate cultivators, none of the Innate cultivators the Xue family knew could withstand him.”

"See if you can get in touch with them and find an opportunity to negotiate. At worst, we can give up the mines that Tian Wenhu and Chang Luan used to operate. They're putting pressure on us directly but refusing to negotiate. They're too ruthless."

"According to those few innate masters, the other party saw that my Xue family didn't have a strong backer and wanted to take away those poor mines and extort money from our Xue family."

Behind Tian Wenhu is Shuangjiao Company, which in turn is backed by the Baimo Cult and the Trupp family.

I had previously added Jax's Wu Xin and was about to contact him to resolve the issue, but then I thought, what's the point of talking to the Demon Worship Cult?

Zhou Leng replied to Xue Chengsong: "I'll handle this. You help me investigate their specific information, and I'll talk to them personally."

"Huh? The opponent is a Bone Forging Innate Realm cultivator. You must bring a Martial Guard or Martial Arts Brigade Innate Realm cultivator with you. Although you are the best in Qi and Blood in Rucheng, there is a big gap between you and a Bone Forging Innate Realm cultivator. We are friends, I can't let you down."

Zhou Leng, remembering that he hadn't yet entered the Innate Ranking, said, "I know, you just need to track their movements."

"Okay, that's definitely achievable."

Zhou Leng accessed Wuwei's intelligence system, sharing Wang Boxiong's permissions, and quickly identified the people who wanted to seize his mine.

They were all mid-level managers of the Twin Horn Company, affiliated with the Fishman Cult, and were very close to Gong Futing and Tian Wenhu. They were mainly responsible for the Twin Horn Company's foreign trade and occasionally participated in the Demon Worship Cult's activities.

The one who forged bones was named Liu Liang, a relative of the Lou family. According to seniority, he was Lou Feiqiong's cousin-in-law.

Zhou Leng flipped through the files of these people and shook his head slightly.

The Lou family is already so wealthy, yet they still covet other people's poor mines.

The Xue family's wealth is but a drop in the ocean compared to the Lou family's.

After carefully reviewing the information on these people, Zhou Leng noted it down, deciding to resolve this matter before heading to the Ice and Snow Cult.

Midway through, Shanheyuan replied to the message.

"The Giant race has many Battlefield Shields, but unfortunately, they were all distributed several years ago."

“Our entire Shanhe tribe only received three pieces, and my piece was obtained through my father’s hard work. Do you remember when a giant cursed me during the Giant Trial? My father offended too many people for the Battlefield Shield Token.”

"I'll contact my dad and Elder Wang Ting right away to see if I can get you one. But be prepared, it'll be very difficult."

"It's not just that the distribution is complete; more importantly, the Great Battlefield holds immense symbolic significance for the Giant race."

"Not only does it hide the legacy of giants, but it also hides the legacy of dragons, and both of them are high-level legacies. The reason why my father surpassed his peers and ranked among the top ten, second only to Golden Heavenly River of the Golden Family, was because he obtained a giant's legacy on the Great Battlefield."

"Think of some solutions, and I'll ask around for you. If all else fails, you can try going to the dragon's side."

Zhou Leng thanked Shanheyuan, his brows slightly furrowed.

Obtaining the Battlefield Shield Token is far more difficult than imagined.

I checked the time and sent a message to Xu Qingjin.

"I'm back. I'll be waiting for you in the little pavilion diagonally opposite the cafeteria."

"I'll be there soon!"

A short while later, Xu Qingjin jogged all the way to the pavilion before slowing down.

A simple white dress and a neat ponytail—this is the kind of outfit Zhou Leng has seen since she was a child.

“You seem to have changed again.” Xu Qingjin walked forward with a smile and carefully examined Zhou Leng. “My martial arts realm has improved, so there have been some changes, but not much,” Zhou Leng said.

Xu Qingjin sniffed and said, "Your skin seems to have a better glow, and you seem to have a fresh, natural scent of plants on you."

Zhou Leng raised his arm and smelled it, but felt nothing; he guessed it was the aura of life force.

"Do you have class this afternoon? I'm planning to go to the martial arts mall to buy some things."

"No classes." Xu Qingjin replied decisively.

"Will you come with me for a stroll? I'm going to the Demon World soon."

"You're leaving right after you got back?" Xu Qingjin asked.

"Let's go, let's have lunch first." Zhou Leng reached out and took Xu Qingjin's hand, walking towards the cafeteria.

"This is a school," Xu Qingjin said softly, secretly glancing at Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng seemed not to hear, and continued walking forward hand in hand, asking, "How's the Divinity studies going?"

Xu Qingjin said, "It's alright, but it's a bit difficult."

"Has there been any trouble in Rucheng lately?"

"No, I heard the Demon Worshiping Cult is causing trouble elsewhere and hasn't been paying much attention to Rucheng. How about you go to the Tree People World?"

"It's quite interesting..."

Zhou Leng picked out some less dangerous stories to tell, but didn't mention the Flourishing Roots or Xiao Yong.

The two went to the cafeteria, got their food, and found a corner to sit down.

Zhou Leng heated high-energy foods such as monster meat and dragon meat in the microwave oven, and only cooked one round of rice.

After they finished eating, the two left.

The cafeteria staff watched Zhou Leng's retreating figure with a sense of loss.

The cafeteria's martial arts master has fallen.

No, it ascended to heaven.

Eating dragon meat in the cafeteria.

The two of them walked and talked.

After not seeing each other for many days, Xu Qingjin had become quite talkative.

"The pills that Sister Nandi gave me are really amazing; my skin has improved a lot."

"I heard that some students from Xihai Martial Arts University who are at the Innate Realm are not convinced and came to Ruda to challenge you, but they couldn't find you, so they left."

"My high school teacher said that once you are born, he will invite you to the school to share your growth experience."

"Teachers are complaining that the number of new first-year high school students has dropped sharply this year, and there are fewer and fewer students."

"Hu Yi's mother and sister are still missing. Many women have gone missing before, and recently the number of men has also increased..."

“I saw Feng Wenhao a few days ago. He was still… talking nonsense. He greeted me… and then left.”

"Huh? What did he say? He's always acting all cheeky with people he knows." Zhou Leng asked curiously.

Xu Qingjin said, "He didn't say anything."

"If you won't tell me, I'll ask him."

Xu Qingjin said, "He didn't say anything. He told his classmates that I was Sister Leng."

“Oh, then that’s right,” Zhou Leng said.

“You’re just like him.” Xu Qingjin smiled and glared at Zhou Leng, then gently squeezed their clasped hands.

Xu Qingjin took out a magic training mat from her magic bag and said, "The senior brothers and sisters from the Divine Script Academy led us to make decorative divine scripts and earned some extra money. I also saved up money from participating in hunting activities this year. I bought this for you. Don't mind it."

Zhou Leng stopped, took the package, opened it, and smiled, "That's exactly what I needed. Thank you, Sister-in-law Leng."

Xu Qingjin's face flushed red, and she said, "You're not allowed to call me that."

Zhou looked at the demonized training mat with a sneer. This thing was not cheap, costing at least fifty or sixty thousand, which was probably all of Xu Qingjin's savings.

"Is decorating divine runes quite profitable now?"

“It didn’t work in the past, because Rucheng didn’t have a Divine Script Academy. Now it’s different. Those rich people specifically seek out Rucheng University’s Divine Script Academy, and related design and decoration companies are all cooperating with us. I’m also the vice president of our school’s Divine Script Association, and those people treat me like a Divine Script master, which makes me feel guilty. Every time I cooperate with them, I wear a black suit and black-rimmed glasses to pretend to be mature.” Xu Qingjin laughed as she spoke.

"Do many people like to decorate their religious symbols?"

Xu Qingjin said, "Professor Shenwen said that people used to be superstitious about other things, but now they are superstitious about Shenwen, just to appear cultured. There has been no difference from ancient times to the present. I heard that a few Shenwen experts can earn millions, or even tens of millions, by simply adding some Shenwen to a company or mansion. Some colleges in Xiongjing even have a major called Shenwen design."

“This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this. You could really make this your job and open a decorative script studio. I’ll ask my friends to bring you business,” Zhou Leng said.

"Okay."

"Oh, right, I bought some small gifts in the Treeman World."

(End of this chapter)