Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 533 - 516: Surrender

Zhou Leng glanced at his watch and said, "I’ll give you guys fifteen minutes to discuss, then I have to meet with the other races."

The crowd began to discuss among themselves, with those who knew each other gathering together.

Not long after, seventeen people expressed their refusal to learn, including two from Dragon Country, while the rest were foreigners, and they walked away to a distance.

The remaining people lingered, some with their eyes flickering.

Zhou Leng pretended not to notice and, in his capacity as the senior brother of the Ancient River Sect, recruited all the present Great Innate individuals as disciples.

The initiation ceremony was completed without incident, and some people secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Leng calmly glanced at the Tiger Talisman and then formally began teaching the cultivation technique "Mountains and Rivers of Myriad Streams," with three people explaining it sequentially.

All those present were Great Innate individuals, the oldest being fifty or sixty years old.

Their martial arts experience far exceeded that of Zhou Leng and the other three.

Soon, they realized that this was the first Martial Arts Will cultivation technique in human history.

The Mountain River Guardian Technique originally had no fixed techniques and relied entirely on comprehension and self-understanding.

But with "Mountains and Rivers of Myriad Streams," as long as one follows the steps to cultivate and visualizes the Golden Cross Star, their Martial Arts Will will gradually grow, and eventually, they will master the Mountain River Guardian Technique.

A martial artist asked, "Since we’re all Ancient River Sect disciples, I have a question. This cultivation technique must have been created by the Divine Spirit, but who translated it?"

Zhou Leng replied, "Since we’re all from the same sect, there’s no need to hide it. I was responsible for the translation, while Zhang Xinglie and Mountain and River Origin were responsible for providing related experience."

"In theory, does that make you the ’founder of martial arts’?"

"Uh..." Zhou Leng hadn’t really thought about it, but according to the rules of the Blue Star martial arts world, he indeed qualified to be considered a martial arts founder.

Because this is the first Martial Arts Will-type cultivation technique on Blue Star.

"It really is..." Zhang Xinglie touched his chin.

Zhou Leng said, "This kind of vanity is not important, everyone continue cultivating, and remember not to leak any content, or you’ll surely suffer..."

Before he finished speaking, they saw a martial artist who was about to send a message suddenly stiffen, and then a heavenly fire descended from the sky.

The person let out a short scream before silently turning to ashes.

Zhou Leng unhurriedly said, "I have already warned everyone."

As he spoke, he swept his gaze over the other martial artists.

A few martial artists guiltily looked away.

Zhou Leng continued as if nothing had happened, leading everyone in cultivation.

Some people had questions and brought them up in the group, and everyone discussed them together.

Not long after, another heavenly fire descended, obliterating the second martial artist before they could send their message.

Most martial artists, although shocked, didn’t pay it much mind, but a small number were scared out of their wits.

Zhou Leng suddenly received a friend request from someone in the group, accompanied by a message.

"Senior Brother, I am willing to be a double agent."

Zhou Leng accepted the friend request and then looked toward that person.

The person averted his gaze, shrinking his neck.

"Come over, let’s talk face to face."

Zhou Leng walked to a corner, and after a moment’s hesitation, the person followed.

Some martial artists watched the two, their eyes changing with expression.

The martial artist was from the Shaya Countries, named Kauf, slightly hunched with a smile on his face.

"Speak," Zhou Leng said.

"Report to the National Mansion! I have turned over a new leaf! From today onwards, I am a loyal disciple of the Ancient River Sect and the Dragon Country."

"If I remember correctly, half of your country is in league with the Eagle Alliance, and the other half with the Demon Worship Sect, right?"

"To be precise, we are both ’friends’ with the Eagle Alliance and the Demon Worship Sect. But from now on, I am no longer, and consider myself the most humble disciple of the Ancient River Sect and Dragon Country." His Dragon Country dialect was impeccable.

Zhou Leng asked, "Scared?"

"Scared." The person replied, looking resigned.

"Very good. Once we leave the Great Battlefield, contact me. I will have someone reach out to you."

"Rest assured, National Mansion!" Kauf immediately stood up straight, exuding the demeanor of someone reformed by Dragon Country.

"Alright, you’re also a Great Innate, so I won’t say much more. Just send me everything you know via Martial Faith."

"Yes... but... if I’m seen now, won’t it cause problems?"

"Don’t worry, I’ll ensure your safety. You also have one more task: try to get more people to turn over a new leaf."

"This..."

"Trust me, if I harm you, I will also be punished by the sect rules."

"Understood."

"Share your journey and why you chose to turn over a new leaf. I hope more people will follow suit."

"This..."

"This is your first task."

Kauf was silent for a long time, then said, "I’ll do it."

Faced with the choice of dying now or later, he chose the latter.

Kauf slowly walked to the crowd, cleared his throat, cupped his hands, and said, "Fellow brothers, from today onward, I, Kauf, am a new man, staying away from the Demon Worship Sect."

The crowd paused, looking at Kauf.

Kauf met their gaze with sincerity and said, "I don’t want to die; it’s that simple. But then I thought of my brother."

"In my memory, he’s already quite vague, but I’ll always remember how he brought back stolen bread and leaned against me as it slowly got cold..."

"That bread was tucked into his clothes, large, with bite marks but without missing pieces, perfectly intact."

"After eating that bread, I was never the same."

"I joined the Demon Worship Sect and did everything. Yes, everything you’ve heard about the Demon Worship Sect, I’ve done it all."

"A few months ago, I mainly captured women. Recently, I started capturing men as well. I’ve done this for many years, always doing this..."

"I occasionally think, should I try to be a decent person?"

"Unfortunately, my answer is always the same each time."

"Being a dog allows me to live. Being a person, I can’t survive."

"I know people from the Dragon Country look down on us, but you don’t know how much we wish we could live in the Dragon Country. Yes, the Dragon Country has all kinds of scandals, all kinds of problems, but in this world full of decay, the Dragon Country treats ordinary people the best, bar none."

"Why bar none? Because other countries either don’t treat ordinary people as humans, or they aren’t even complete countries. Back then, many small countries were wealthy, beautiful, developed, and happy, but when the Ten Realms War started, overnight they turned into purgatories."

"Only the Dragon Country, only the Dragon Country."

"I know there are still many problems in the Dragon Country, but... if my younger brother were in the Dragon Country, he wouldn’t have died, at least he wouldn’t have died in my arms..."

Kafu opened his mouth, struggling for a long time, his lips trembling, unable to speak for a while.

After a long while, he slowly said, "I don’t care, as long as I can survive, whether as a demon or as a person, I don’t care. But... no matter how I am, no matter how barren my heart is, I know being a person, no matter how bad, is still a little better than being a demon."

"Thank you to the Ancient River Sect for giving me a chance. It feels much better to say it out loud."

After he finished, he sat back silently, not even looking at Zhou Leng.

He suddenly no longer cared about life or death.

Zhou Leng looked at Kafu without blaming him.

It’s hard to tell the truth at any time.

Zhou Leng glanced at the crowd and calmly said, "You still have a chance."

Slowly, one by one, people secretly contacted Zhou Leng, sending messages.

After a long time, a martial artist from the Dragon Country helplessly sent a message: "I am a double agent, I can’t say specifically, just make sure not to mistakenly harm allied forces. I can’t provide any evidence, but I promise I will never harm the Ancient River Sect or the country."

The deterrence of Heavenly Fire is quite strong.

Zhou Leng accepted the allegiance of several people and then looked at the Tiger Talisman again.

"You continue your cultivation, I’ll communicate with the other races."

Zhou Leng left by himself, while also summoning the Demon Spirit Masters, Giants, Dwarfs, and Tree-men.

Because of his participation in the Starry Mountain, Zhou Leng’s status among the Giants was far superior to all present Giants, and they were exceptionally submissive.

Then, he showed the Tower Book to the Demon Spirit Masters, each of them bowed.

The identity of the Dwarf Duke was enough to make the Dwarfs obey.

As for the Tree-men, Zhou Leng’s status wasn’t enough, but under the pressure of the other three races, the Tree-men didn’t dare to say much.

As before, Zhou Leng explained that it was a method of passing the Stelae Trial, but it required a great oath and joining the Ancient River Sect to become an alien race’s Outer Sect disciple to make the oath.

Surprisingly, members of various races refused, and Zhou Leng did not persuade them, allowing those who refused to leave.

Then, the remaining people took the oath, and Zhou Leng taught them the "Mountains and Rivers All-Encompassing" method, a will-oriented cultivation technique, not purely a martial arts technique that all races could cultivate.

After receiving it, everyone was overjoyed and began their cultivation.

The Demon Spirit Masters, knowing its value, judged it to be an undoubtedly divine-level spiritual power cultivation method, rejoicing.

Then, one Heavenly Fire, two Heavenly Fires, three Heavenly Fires...

No less than five Heavenly Fires descended, killing five people, leaving everyone dumbfounded.

"I said before, the Ancient River Sect takes zero tolerance towards deceit," Zhou Leng said. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Then, one by one, the inner spies of the alien races defected.

Even Tree-men were among them.

Afterward, Zhou Leng looked at the Tiger Talisman, not saying anything.

After teaching everyone, Zhou Leng stayed here to cultivate, conducting unified Q&A every hour.

The next day, the simulated Burial Star Stelae started to shine one after another.

After all, these people were Great Innates, qualified to advance to Grandmaster, and none lacked power, experience, or talent.

With guidance from Zhou Leng and others, they quickly gained the recognition of the Stelae.

The Stelae’s massive anomaly caused concern among the Demon Alliance and others.

Some regretted and returned voluntarily, but Zhou Leng refused them.

Zhou Leng remained under the simulated Burial Star Stelae, constantly cultivating and solidifying the Mountain River Guardian Technique.

The Divine Spirit’s cultivation method was indeed vast and profound, and the growth of Martial Arts Will was unprecedentedly rapid.

The enhancement of the Martial Arts Will brought the most direct benefit, which was increased perception, and hence combat awareness grew significantly as well.

The only downside was that overly strong Martial Arts Will made people more calm.

Excessive calmness made people feel colder.

More than just Zhang Xinglie said, Zhou Leng had become even colder.

After a full five days, most Ancient River Sect disciples had activated the Stelae and completed the First Layer Trial.

As for outsiders and demons, not a single one succeeded.

On this morning, Zhou Leng looked at the time, realizing it was about time to return to Celestial Bone City.

So, he gathered all the Ancient River Sect disciples.

Under the pale gray clouds, the Human Race and alien races stood together.

The three of Zhou Leng stood opposite the crowd.

Zhang Xinglie and Mountain and River Origin stood on the left and right.

The temperament of the two showed subtle changes.

Zhang Xinglie’s explosive lion hair became more majestic, his eyes more dazzling, his gaze more resolute.

Mountain and River Origin had lost some honesty and gained some wisdom, his eyes were more like a human’s, rather than a giant’s.

Zhou Leng said, "I am about to leave here, but before I go, I have two things to do."

"The first is to cleanse the Ancient River Sect of internal enemies."