Martial arts ascend to the gods

Chapter 567 North and South
At the end of the news report, Zhang Zongting announced that Zhou Leng had been appointed as a junior general in martial arts.

General Zhang hung his medals one by one on his hospital gown.

National Hero Medal, Special Merit Medal, Special Combat Hero Medal, Hundred-Battle Hero Medal, Thousand-Battle Hero Medal...

National Highest Martial Arts Technology Medal, Martial Arts Progress Medal, Divine Script Technology Medal, Major Technological Progress Award...

Model worker, one of the top ten outstanding youths...

He bestowed upon Zhou Leng every honor that could be given to him.

Zhou Leng was covered in medical gowns, which hung heavily on the ground.

At the end of the news report, the scene shifted to a Tianjin TV reporter interviewing Zhou Leng.

The reporter first asked some general questions, to which Zhou Leng answered with old-fashioned diplomatic language.

Finally, the reporter asked, "General Zhou Leng, what would you most like to say to the audience watching on screen right now?"

Zhou Leng turned his head and stared at the camera, as if he were looking at the countless viewers outside the screen.

"I have severed my martial arts skills. Please allow me to recuperate in peace. Thank you."

The camera switched back to the live broadcast studio, where the familiar closing announcement from Tianjin TV News played.

The two hosts are slowly organizing their scripts.

One was as usual, the other was burdened with a heavy heart.

After staring blankly at the screen for a while, everyone went to their favorite online platforms to express their opinions.

Some are on video websites, some on text websites, and some on small forums...

Among them, the text-based discussion website "Wuhu" has become one of the most popular.

The top-ranked question on the trending list is "How do you view all the events related to Zhou Leng?"

Countless people offered lengthy and detailed answers to the question.

"Let's resolve the issue of getting the Replenishing Pill by liking posts first."

“My classmate was crying his eyes out. He was also framed back then. He said he knew from the beginning that Zhou Leng was innocent.”

"Even Zhou Leng suffered this kind of treatment. I can't imagine how desperate we ordinary people would feel facing such a system."

"I just want to know, who exactly is it that would mobilize over four hundred media outlets to target a child whose martial arts have been cut off? Just how powerful are these people?"

Someone replied: "Back then, you could mobilize more than 400 major media outlets to spread rumors and slander someone who wasn't even a martial artist. Is it so difficult to mobilize more than 400 major media outlets for someone like Zhou Leng now? You guys are too young."

Another person replied: "Luckily, Zhou Leng can withstand the tests of Chinese, mathematics, English, physics, chemistry, biology, and driver's license. If he had failed any one of them, he would have been ruined long ago."

"You don't really think that in their eyes, there's a difference between a martial artist who has severed their martial arts path and a game booster, do you?"

At first, the response was not strong.

But gradually, the responses below became increasingly heated.

"The one carrying the arrow returns home, but Tianjin TV News stabs him in the back; the demon-slaying warrior returns in triumph, but Changda Media shoots a cold arrow; the one who breaks through the fog succeeds, but the supervisory system throws a bucket of excrement at him; the battle-hardened hero opens his door, but the self-media slashes him with a kitchen knife from behind the door... It's really damn exciting."

"As expected, justice delayed is not justice; it's just that the truth can no longer be covered up..."

"I really want to know the final outcome: will it be to go along with the facts, to investigate thoroughly, or to not even bother with the pretense?"

"It's terrifying. Zhou Leng has so many honors and so many protections. He's got all the buffs stacked up, which is practically the limit of protection that an ordinary person can achieve. Yet, he was still pierced by a single finger from someone who is as ordinary as can be. This strike even obliterated the Great Dao."

Someone replied below: "After all, he is the number one Baturu in the Demon Prison."

"Alone? You're being too naive."

Gradually, various experts began to appear.

"If you're dissatisfied with Earth, put down your complaints and work hard to build it up. Once you've finished building it up, a false accusation will land you in jail."

"If humanity wants to fight against demons, it will inevitably protect warriors and appropriately elevate their status so that they will be willing to sacrifice themselves without hesitation. The fact that things are going against this trend shows that humanity's general direction of surrendering is irreversible."

"I'm a member of the Demon Worshipping Cult. After seeing what happened, I'm finally relieved. It turns out we're the ones who truly represent human justice. Hahahaha..."

"On the battlefield, ten thousand demons are slaughtered; at home, ten thousand are humiliated. This prosperous age is as you wished."

"Today I am inspired to write a poem, 'Farmhouse Joy,' as a gift to the false accuser and the mastermind behind it all. I invite all fellow Daoists to appreciate it. The full poem is as follows: The rising sun in the east, the evening glow of the blue sun, sheltered from the wind and sand, the springs all yearn for the light."

"This incident fully demonstrates that our country is a multi-faceted nation with a few cults as the main body and our own people as the majority."

The comments section was a chaotic mess; people said everything they could and couldn't say.

However, the most popular comments were not at the top, but hidden in the middle.

Even with its ranking suppressed, countless people are still replying, and the number of replies to a single answer quickly exceeds ten thousand, and it is increasing at an alarming rate.

The reply reads: "Hello, people of the Northern Elephant Kingdom, I am from the Southern Elephant Kingdom."

With just one sentence, countless netizens broke down and launched into a tirade of insults.

Someone accused: "I heard that you people from Elephant Country like lizard people?"

The person replied, "That's right, I heard you're the strongest nation, Ai."

"I've heard that you people from Elephant Kingdom like orcs?"

"That's right, I heard you're the strongest nation, Ai."

"I've heard that people in your Elephant Kingdom all worship demonic cults?"

"That's right, I heard you're the strongest nation, Ai."

……

No matter how much netizens criticized or retaliated, that person used just one sentence to break down the defenses of countless netizens. However, because this person's IP address was located in China, everyone knew it was sarcasm.

It wasn't until a user with an IP address from the Xiangguo region responded that netizens broke down their defenses a second time.

“I am from the Elephant Kingdom, living by the Ganges River. I have studied and cultivated diligently since I was a child. My greatest dream was to wait for you Dragon Kingdom people to come south and rescue us. Now, my dream has been shattered.”

Countless netizens remained silent for a long time after seeing this sentence.

"Let me translate Zhou Leng's last sentence: 'I'm already a cripple, so please let me go. I'm sorry, I kowtowed to you in front of the entire nation on Tianjin TV News! Bang! Bang! Bang!'"

One response after another broke down netizens' defenses, and one response after another was deleted.

After the news broadcast, a demonized aircraft streaked across the night sky and landed at the Furukawa Research Bureau.

Zhou Leng stood at the cabin door, looking down.

All the disciples who remained here, along with many of the city's high-ranking officials, stood at the front.

Thunderous applause erupted, the roar never ceasing.

"Big Brother is awesome!" everyone shouted, and some children jumped up excitedly.

Zhou Leng nodded slightly and stepped off the plane.

Behind him, Wang Boxiong, Chen Shouhu, and others who participated in the awarding of medals disembarked from the plane.

Zhou Leng held a meeting with Li Yuanhe and others to inquire about the plans for this area.

Ultimately, Zhou Leng chose a location and officially established the Water Island Trial Grounds here.

The first advanced trial ground at the innate level in human history was established at the Rucheng Ancient River Research Bureau.

A huge cyan vortex slowly rotated, gradually forming a completely independent space.

Everyone stared at the spinning light, puzzled.

Only Chen Shouhu and Wang Boxiong, who had access to highly classified information, vaguely guessed at a possibility.

Chen Shouhu put his arm around Zhou Leng's shoulder and asked in a low voice, "Did you get a Heavenly Rank in the last Heavenly Rank Joint Examination?"

"We'll know once it's formed," Zhou Leng said calmly.

Chen Shouhu wanted to ask more, but remembering Zhou Leng's experiences these past few days, he said, "Don't worry, I'm also waiting for the outcome. If it's handled the same way as before, I'll invite many experts to a Grandmaster-level life-or-death arena with the sixteen families. If they don't agree, I'll slaughter them!"

Wang Boxiong slowly said, "The world is vast, but the rules are paramount. In their eyes, they only look at the overall account, not the individual accounts, nor can they see that. Zhou Leng alone cannot change the inertia formed by the giant beast over thousands of years. You should prepare for the Grandmaster's Life and Death Arena."

"You've been saying a lot of strange things lately," Chen Shouhu said, frowning.

Wang Boxiong ignored Chen Shouhu and asked, "Where are you going next?"

"I want to go back to the mountains and be alone. I don't want to be disturbed."

Wang Boxiong nodded and said, "Okay, you should rest first. Anyway, this matter will take some time to deal with. By the time you come out, it will be almost finished."

Wang Boxiong drove Zhou Leng himself.

"Once their identities are revealed and their contributions are fully recognized, the next step is the distribution of profits," Wang Boxiong instructed Zhou Leng as he drove.

"The path of a martial arts professional is no longer suitable for you."

"But the civil service-military route is the best fit for you."

"As long as you can be patient, start from a high point, learn to be a good person and do things honestly, and take one step at a time, you will surely rise to the top. At the very least, you will be given a high-ranking but leisurely position."

Zhou Leng said, "I need to solve two problems now. Only after I solve them can I take the administrative job."

"The first problem is that the sixteen families are deeply rooted in the Martial Academy. They are not a single line, but a network. The forces behind them are complex and extend all the way to the Heavenly Palace. If I take a civil service position, can I outmaneuver them within the rules they have set?"

"The second question is, I've never been good at petty scheming. What do you mean by being a good person and doing things right? Does my uncle Ma Xingkong know how to be a good person and how to do things right? Only after I've resolved these two questions can I consider whether or not to take a clerical job."

Wang Boxiong sighed and said, "The path of clerical work is not suitable for you either. You can only go the commercial route."

"Then they check fire safety on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; sanitation on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and change the sign on weekends?"

Wang Boxiong remained silent. It was normal for Zhou Leng to harbor resentment; anyone in his position would be in a bad mood.

"What do you want?"

"I'll rest for a while first, and then find an opportunity to take a vacation in the Demon World," Zhou Leng said.

Wang Boxiong carefully chose his words, saying, "Your leaving Earth could have very serious consequences and a very negative impact."

"I just want to save my life."

"Let's wait for the results. However, there are many things to deal with, and the higher-ups need to handle them one by one. It's impossible to resolve everything at once. If you are not satisfied with the final result, I will personally escort you to the Demon Spirit World."

"it is good."

Upon arriving at Xiaoru Village, Zhou Leng got out of the car and stopped at the entrance.

"Master, how can we prevent this kind of thing from happening again?"

"It's impossible to completely eliminate it, but there are ways to mitigate it."

"any solution?"

"The end of every dynasty in history books is an answer."

With his back to the driver's seat, Zhou Leng said, "On the Great Battlefield, I heard the demons slander the Zhao family, saying that Zhao Tong set up a scheme against the children of the Eighteen Schools for the sake of the Original Demon Blood; Zhao He made the Demon Worship Cult capture women all over the world for the sake of the White Lake Mother Fruit; now, I don't know why, they've started capturing men all over the world. Is that true or not?"

“What is fake can never become real, and what is real can never become fake,” Wang Boxiong said.

"I understand."

(End of this chapter)