Martial arts ascend to the gods

Chapter 603 New War
Not far away, Zhou Leng glanced around at the three sides with a puzzled expression.

This is near the Heavenly Battlefield; you'll pass by this place on many journeys.

Whenever he passed by, as long as he wasn't in a hurry, Zhou Leng would kill some monsters to prevent them from disturbing the classmates who had died there, and also to prevent people who came to pay their respects to their families from being disturbed.

But why are there so many innate masters and grandmasters here?

The ground is painted with a ring, it looks like a big battle?

what happened?
And Zhang Feng and the disciples of Guhe Sect?
Zhou Leng walked towards Zhang Feng and then used the magic brain to ask Zhang Feng what was going on.

Zhang Feng was overjoyed to receive Zhou Leng's message. He looked around but couldn't find Zhou Leng. He glanced suspiciously at the newcomer, thinking that his demeanor was different, before replying.

"Senior Brother, it's like this..."

Zhang Feng explained in detail that Chen Shouhu and Wang Boxiong chose to join the sixteen families in launching the Grandmaster Life and Death Arena because Zhou Leng was not punished despite the sixteen families collectively framing him.

However, Zhao's forces used various means to force some of the participants to leave, and then used the war to prevent Chen Shouhu and Wang Boxiong from arriving.

“My dad said that, given the nature of those people, someone would definitely risk their life to fight against the sixteen families.”

"They're not even afraid of demons, so why would they be afraid of the Sixteen Families?"

"But they were bound to fail, because the sixteen families were well prepared and had invited several very famous masters."

"It's just a pity."

Zhou Leng asked, "So, those people opposite the sixteen families are fighting for me?"

"Half for you, half for your uncle."

"Ah."

After Zhang Feng finished speaking, he suddenly saw out of the corner of his eye that the newcomer pulled off his hood.

"Zhou Leng?" Zhang Feng was dumbfounded.

Everyone looked over and saw Zhou Leng put away his hood and walk forward step by step.

The grass beneath my feet, as if blown by the wind, bends down in all directions.

Fine sand and gravel flowed like water, rolling to both sides.

Grass and stones made way.

The aura of a master is as imposing as a mountain.

"I accept this life-or-death battle for the Grandmasters."

Zhou Leng's voice wasn't loud, but it spread outwards with his will, and everyone could hear it clearly.

Most people didn't notice, but the higher-level grandmasters or great grandmasters stared at Zhou Leng suspiciously.

From the very beginning, they sensed that this new grandmaster possessed a different kind of aura.

Looking at it now, it seems even stranger.

There was no trace of true energy, yet the grass and stones parted to make way, and the sound carried for miles.

Generally speaking, only grandmasters or martial saints who have refined their martial will to the extreme can reach this level.

The members of the sixteen families looked at Zhou Leng, and apart from a few who were surprised and suspicious, most of them remained calm.

Neither Chen Shouhu nor Wang Boxiong could change the course of the battle, nor could Zhou Leng.

Even if Zhou Leng were to inexplicably advance to the Grandmaster level, it would be the same.

The Tiger and Bear faction members were delighted to see Zhou Leng approaching.

Those experts who had a past relationship with Ma Xingkong, in particular, had tears in their eyes when they saw Zhou Leng actually advance to the Grandmaster level.

"Big Brother!"

Many disciples of the Ancient River Sect left the neutral camp and rushed towards the Tiger and Bear camp.

Li Shenkong stared in disbelief as Zhou Leng removed his hood.

The person who cheated on him was actually Zhou Leng?

"Zhou Leng, you've advanced to Grandmaster?" a martial arts brigade member asked loudly.

This man is named Zheng Yunqing. He works in the Martial Arts Brigade and is a confidant of Chen Shouhu. The two had met several times before, and he was in charge of handling Tian Wenhu's death.

Zhou Leng nodded.

“You’re not…” Zheng Yunqing asked.

"I used the methods of other races, but I lost my true energy."

Zhou Leng was not lying; both the Star God and the Void Ancient Beast were alien races.

Some people on the sixteenth family were initially worried, but now that they heard that he had truly lost his true energy, they all smiled.

Humans and other races are ultimately different. Without true energy, a martial artist's strength is less than one-tenth of what it used to be, relying solely on their physical body.

An ordinary lower-level Grandmaster, without using true qi, simply cannot defeat an ordinary Great Innate.

"That was too reckless," Zheng Yunqing sighed.

Then, he stepped forward and introduced Zhou Leng to the top-level innate masters or grandmasters present.

"This is Elder Sun Chan..."

"This is Deputy Division Commander Zhang Bokai..."

"This is Major General Liu Shouming..."

"Who is this……"

Of the grandmasters present, apart from Grandmaster Sun Chan who had long since retired, most of the others were serving in the Demon City Army.

As grandmasters, these people were all somewhat famous, and Zhou Leng had heard of almost all of them.

When Zhou Leng first met them, some saluted and some shook hands.

Zhou Leng was unfamiliar with them, but they were very familiar with him; the news about him had been all over the place a few days ago.

In addition, given the relationship between Hu Xiong, Xu Ming, and Ma Xingkong, they had no reservations about Zhou Leng and had long regarded him as a promising junior.

The youngest master here is at least thirty years old.

What are your plans?

Before anyone could ask any questions, the sixteen families all came over.

The number of Grandmasters and Innate Realm experts far exceeds that of this side, resembling a massive army pressing in, with an overwhelming momentum.

"Zhou Leng, are you sure you want to join the Grandmaster Life-or-Death Battle? This is your own choice, not something we sixteen families forced you to do."

The speaker had slicked-back hair, wore a white shirt and black trousers, and had an H-shaped belt that pulled up to his slightly overweight belly. He had a dignified expression.

He was Xu Xinke, the head of the Xu family, one of the sixteen grandmasters and a once-famous clan in Shuizhou.

Large tracts of land in places like Shuizhou Base and Huqiu Fortress once belonged to the Xu family.

Although the Xu family couldn't enter the Supreme Court, they originally had a chance to enter the Grand Council. However, the invasion of monsters caused the Xu family heavy losses, and their involvement in the attack against Ma Xingkong led to a serious accident.

Compared to most countries, the Dragon Kingdom still possesses a strong self-purification ability. On the surface, no news has been released, but the Censorate has sent people to investigate, high-ranking officials have spoken with people, and many members of the Xu family have been forced to retire or go to retirement homes.

This completely severed the Xu family's path to the Grand Council.

Although the Xu family is still a powerful clan, its influence within the Martial Academy is not what it used to be.

Most of these sixteen families received similar punishments at the time, ranging from mild to severe.

"We haven't decided yet," Grandmaster Sun Chan said unhurriedly. His hair was gray and there were faint age spots on his face, but his eyes were bright and piercing.

When Xu Xinke saw Sun Chan speak, he did not immediately reply, but instead stared at Zhou Leng.

Several grandmasters secretly transmitted their true energy to Zhou Leng, telling him not to act rashly.

Zhou Leng first turned around to thank the masters, then his gaze swept over the sixteen families one by one.

Prior to this, I had reviewed some information about the sixteen families.

The Lou family had a grandmaster named Lou Shanding, but he was killed by Zhu Shiji.

Of the fifteen combat-capable grandmasters here, the highest is only mid-level. Those high-level grandmasters or great grandmasters are all their retainers or collaborators.

In some families, there are indeed still living Grandmasters, but they are on their deathbeds, with tubes inserted all over their bodies, and they have to spend a lot of money every day to keep them alive. They are not even capable of fighting, and have even lost consciousness.

In recent decades, sixteen families have been blinded by greed and have lost interest in martial arts, resulting in the deterioration of their traditions and the lack of fertile ground to cultivate masters or grandmasters.

Lou Feiqiong was not among the Lou family.

Zhou Leng felt slightly relieved. Lou Feiqiong had indeed not gone along with the corrupt practices, and his judgment at the time was correct.

Zhou Leng said, "Seniors Chen Shouhu and Wang Boxiong initiated this Grandmaster battle for my sake, for which I am deeply grateful. However, now that my injuries have healed, I must bear the consequences of my actions. But..."

He glanced again at the other masters who were not from the Sixteen Families.

"Let's change the game. All of you who are not relatives of the sixteen families, please step aside. In this Grandmaster Battle, all sixteen families will send their Grandmasters. I will fight them all alone. I will fight them one by one until I die."

"Without distinction of realm?"

"Without distinction of realms."

On the lakeside, on the grass, the three groups of people stood there, stunned.

None of the parties involved could even react, because they simply couldn't understand it.

There are now a total of 23 grandmasters from the 16 families.

How can Zhou Leng take on so many challenges on his own?

Even the martial arts legend Li Shenkong, without the Starry Sky Divine Sword, might not have had this strength when he first advanced to the lower-level Grandmaster.

Xu Xinke and the other family heads exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with undisguised joy.

You choose not to take the path to Heaven, but come to Hell by your own hand when there is no way out.

Since both sides have already torn off all pretense of civility, there's no need for politeness anymore.

Without Chen Shouhu and Wang Boxiong, what kind of trouble can Zhou Leng, a martial artist without true qi, stir up?

not to mention……

Some family heads glanced at Dong Yingxi, a grandmaster of the Dong family.

Then, all the family heads nodded in unison.

Xu Xinke said, "Alright! All sixteen of us agree. You mustn't go back on your word!"

As he spoke, he walked forward and raised his right palm.

"I, Zhou Leng, am a Grandmaster of the Sixteen Families in the Battle of Life and Death. I ask all of you present to bear witness."

As Zhou Leng spoke, he raised his arm and gave Xu Xinke a high five.

Snapped!
The sound was crisp and clear; the agreement had been made.

"Senior Brother!" Zhang Feng stepped forward and pressed down on Zhou Leng's shoulder.

The disciples of the Ancient River Sect stepped forward, intending to persuade him.

Zhang Feng's hand slid down.

I didn't feel any true energy or strength.

Force does not arise from nothing; it requires physical exertion. When force is exerted, the body will inevitably move.

The lower-level Grandmaster Zhang Bokai stepped forward and placed his hand on Zhou Leng's shoulder.

His hands were covered in a dense layer of true energy.

My right hand slipped.

Zhang Bokai looked bewildered. As a lower-level grandmaster, he possessed incredibly rich martial arts skills and combat experience, having roamed the Corpse Mountain and Demon Sea for decades.

They actually lost to a child.

He had no idea what methods Zhou Leng had used.

It seems as if one's thoughts are like knives.

The power of a top-tier grandmaster or martial saint can influence external forces without exerting physical effort; it can be achieved simply by communicating with the power of heaven and earth through one's thoughts.

The grass and stones that made way for me when I was walking earlier were not due to any other force, but simply a natural phenomenon caused by this high level of spiritual attainment.

The master behind Zhou Leng looked less worried.

Among the sixteen families, some were puzzled, while others sneered. Who knew what tricks they were playing? Anyone could put on an act.

"Child, are you sure?" Grandmaster Sun Chan looked at Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng said, "Please rest assured, Elder Sun..."

Just then, the earth shook violently, and as everyone looked, a supersonic figure sped towards them.

As they got closer, the person slowed down, and only then did the booming sound reach them.

Only then did everyone see clearly that he was an old man with white hair and beard, a youthful face and white hair, and a baby-like complexion, clearly possessing an extremely high level of martial arts skill.

"It's Elder Song Juesi!"

"He just revealed his true energy, and his aura was like that of a high-level grandmaster."

"Old Song!"

People who knew Song Juesi greeted him.

"Am I late? Didn't I notify you? Your aura..." Song Juesi stared at Zhou Leng, a look of delight on his face.

"I used alien methods to advance to the Grandmaster level."

Old Song stroked his beard and laughed, "Good! Good! Good! I received news of Wang Boxiong and deliberately suppressed my cultivation level to the upper-level grandmaster, all for this battle."

(End of this chapter)