Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 642 - 621: Old Battle

"Star power? What is that?"

Zhou Leng described, "This ability, I discovered it on the great battlefield... It can help people ascend to Void God... I have an item that stores a tiny amount of star power, you guys can sense it..."

He took out the Sun Shield Disk and released a fine star power.

The Martial Saints felt it slightly and suddenly understood.

"So this thing is called star power, I’ve absorbed it before..."

"I see, I see..." Zhu Shiji suddenly lowered his head slightly, a faint sadness on his face.

The Martial Saints gathered around Zhou Leng and began discussing star power.

Everyone chimed in, mentioning places where this power was present.

"I’ve sensed it in the Mother Tree; it might have grown strong relying on this ability."

"It’s said that the ancestral land of fierce beasts also has it."

"I once entered a mysterious trial that had this power too, no wonder despite my lesser talent compared to others, I could ascend to Martial Saint..."

"You’re being modest again; while your martial arts talent may not be the best, your effort and wisdom make up for it, which is a kind of special talent too..."

The discussion went on for a long time.

The star power system opened a whole new door for the Martial Saints.

Zhou Leng shared with each Martial Saint a pure, refined thread of star power, which they stored in their dantian to gradually familiarize with. In the future, they could more easily detect and absorb it when encountered.

After the discussion ended, everyone agreed to communicate frequently thereafter and formed a "Ancient River Martial Saints" group.

Zhu Shiji, Chen Shaohuang, Huang Xuan Pavilion, Li Tianyuan... world-renowned names, appeared in this group just like ordinary people.

Chen Shaohuang was the most playful; his profile picture was a cross-eyed dog head from an internet meme from who knows how many years ago.

Zhou Leng was the only non-Martial Saint member.

Once the other Martial Saints left, Zhu Shiji stayed behind.

The two chatted, eventually talking about star power.

Zhu Shiji lamented, "Back then, when Saint Zhao reached the peak of Martial Saint, he said he could clearly sense a peculiar power, and that if he could absorb enough of it, he could break the Martial Saint limit and ascend to Void God..."

"Unfortunately, human strength is limited, he didn’t understand divine text and couldn’t refine this power separately or fully master it. If he had known its nature earlier, searched decades in advance, maybe he could have ascended to Void God, defying fate, changing destinies, innovating fates..."

"Regrettably, he ultimately failed. No surprise, the power he mentioned is likely the star power you speak of. Do you know of the Demigod Sanctuary?"

"I’ve heard of it, but not much."

"Experts at the demigod level from various races pay a great price to enter Demon City, and attempting to enter the otherworld could lose half their life. However, in an alliance world, the cost is less. This causes us, people at the demigod level, to scarcely leave our worlds unless the Ten Realms War breaks the Two Realms Barrier..."

"The Demigod Sanctuary is an exception. It’s unknown what kind of divine artifact it is, but upon becoming a demigod, or Martial Saint, one can sense and enter it. The sanctuary is in unknown regions of the starry sky, changing locations frequently, mostly within the endless void, occasionally encountering planets..."

"We demigods or Martial Saints occasionally explore outside. With your star power, we’ll find ways to collect star power in the starry sky..."

Zhu Shiji suddenly looked at Zhou Leng and asked, "Your martial arts system relies on star power, doesn’t it?"

Zhou Leng remained silent.

Zhu Shiji smiled slightly, his face exceptionally kind as he slowly said, "Human destiny is heavy. Saint Zhao entrusted us, and while we may hesitate, harbor self-interest, and even feel fear, it’s our first time being a Martial Saint, and our first time shouldering the fate of a planet. Regardless, we’ll keep moving forward."

After saying this, Zhu Shiji patted Zhou Leng on the shoulder.

Zhou Leng half-understood and felt Zhu Shiji seemed to have more to say, yet also seemed unwilling to say it.

In the evening, Zhu Shiji and the others had dinner.

Xu Qingjin and her daughter, and Li Linhan and his son were all extremely excited, the meal making the four of them feel full of passion.

After all, Dragon Country people grew up listening to stories of Martial Saints.

Zhu Shiji, due to injuries, became less known in old age, but he participated in numerous battles back in the day as Saint Zhao’s reliable assistant.

His famous battle was the Nuclear Island battle.

After the establishment of the martial arts civilization, Dragon Country and Eagle Country vied for the new global supremacy.

Neither wanted to fight in their own region, so the battlefield was chosen at Nuclear Island.

At that time, Nuclear Island was occupied by many demons, yet still had many surviving islanders.

Dragon Country’s Martial Saint Grandmasters fought against the Eagle Alliance-led old order nations’ Martial Saint Grandmasters with the power of one nation.

The first to fall were the Martial Saint Grandmasters from Nuclear Island, Baseball Country, and small Southeast Asian countries, then Eagle Alliance martial artists took the stage.

At that time, Saint Zhao’s accumulated momentum of victory, the Great Sun Divine Skill and East Wind Fist reached their peak, crushing an Eagle Alliance Martial Saint with one punch, the aftermath tearing apart thousands of Eagle Alliance Grandmasters.

The punch’s power spread, splitting the sea for three hundred miles.

The Eagle Alliance immediately conceded, acknowledged Dragon Country’s power, redefined territories, and withdrew from the eastern hemisphere.

The Nuclear Island battle established Saint Zhao’s reputation as the one who could decide the world’s fate with one punch.

A Martial Saint’s full power could crush land.

Nuclear Island was in an earthquake zone, and after the battle, it split into chunks, with many areas sinking, and those that didn’t sink had frequent volcanic eruptions.

The last inhabitants of Nuclear Island had no choice but to flee to the backup nation, Nanba Country.

Nowadays, the total area of Nuclear Island is less than one-tenth of its original size, completely dominated by demons.

Zhu Shiji once fought on Nuclear Island for thirteen consecutive days, slaughtering grandmasters from various countries.

Eventually, he was awarded the "Nuclear Island Hero" medal, a great honor in the hearts of the older generations.

After dinner, Li Linhan couldn’t help but take a family photo with Zhu Shiji, six people in the same frame.

After taking the photo, Li Linhan prepared to post on his social media.

He hesitated and revised for half an hour, always feeling that whatever he wrote was a bit too showy, ultimately only adding a single line.

"Martial Saint Shiji came to visit, gracing the humble abode."

A photo with a single line sparked a large response from Li Linhan’s many friends.

By the end of the night, it received several hundred likes.

Li Linhan couldn’t close his mouth from grinning, checking occasionally and then "humbly" responding to others.

After Zhu Shiji left, Li Linhan found Zhou Leng.

"Your Uncle Zhao Lianshu wants to invite you to his house for a meal. I originally didn’t want to trouble you, but... ever since the Broken Sword was tricked away by the new Zhao Family, he’s been a bit erratic, the whole person..."

"How should I put it, his mental state is similar to when he fought desperately against the demons and the Nuclear Island invaders back in the day, practicing fervently. He even wants to go to Xiong City to reclaim the Broken Sword. Your status now is extraordinary, have a talk with him, if he’s in good spirits, maybe he won’t want to go anymore."

Years ago, Zhao Lianshu and other comrades collectively funded Zhou Leng multiple times and also helped Li Linhan repeatedly, even breaking protocol for Xue Chengsong to contact the Zhao Family, being loyal, not to mention, he was an old associate of Saint Zhao.

"Alright, you set the time, no problem."

"Bring Xu Qingjin and her daughter; the old squad leader likes seeing young people."

"Okay."

The next day, Zhou Leng, Xu Qingjin and her daughter, Li Linhan and his son, a total of five people, went to Zhao Lianshu’s house.

Today was exceptionally lively; many war friends of Zhao Lianshu came with their families, over forty people in total, including many children.

Zhou Leng became the focus of the scene, a few older children clung to Zhou Leng’s leg without letting go, or desperately demanded a hug, refusing to go down, happily nestled in Zhou Leng’s arms, grinning broadly.

The slightly older children or young people were too shy to compete with the little ones, merely observing from a distance, eyes shining.

Once a bit familiar, they all approached, asking for autographs and photos.

Zhou Leng didn’t have the habit of signing names but didn’t refuse to take photos.

A few older folks who seldom surf the internet had heard of Zhou Leng, seeing the children’s reactions, realizing Zhou Leng’s incredible online fame, then secretly searching videos to watch.

Everyone ate and drank, talked about everything.

Until evening, Zhao Lianshu rose, slightly drunk, gazing at everyone.

For some reason, even the children stopped talking and playing, watching this tall elder.

His face slightly flushed, demeanor mildly drunken, yet emanating a peculiar aura.

As though on the battlefield, wielding a weapon.

Zhao Lianshu clasped his hands toward everyone, saying, "Previously at every gathering, I had a routine segment, which was to flaunt my Saint Zhao’s Broken Sword."

"I know some were annoyed, but some understood that what I flaunted wasn’t just the Broken Sword."

"Now there’s no Broken Sword, nothing left to flaunt."

"Old Zhao, you’ve drunk too much..."

One old comrade hurried to pull Zhao Lianshu.

Zhao Lianshu shook off the other, continuing, "The last time I saw Saint Zhao, he was lying on his sickbed. I went to see him with the Broken Sword. He stared at the Broken Sword for a long time, then pointed to it."

"He said: ’You keep the Broken Sword, and if one day, someone demands it back, then abandon fantasy, prepare to fight.’"

"Before that, Saint Zhao said, the Broken Sword, like justice, isn’t something that can be asked for or granted. It can only be fought for with life, one person alone can’t win it, then a group will fight; one generation can’t achieve it, then generations will strive for it. Only by getting it can one truly be human."

"Now, someone has reclaimed the Broken Sword."

"Since that day, I’ve resumed cultivation, abandoned fantasy, prepared to fight."

"I will continue cultivating until the right opportunity, go to Xiong City, and fight to reclaim the Broken Sword."

"Back then, we fought the invaders on Nuclear Island for the Broken Sword, fought through the Eagle Alliance artillery for the Broken Sword, seized it from demons. Now, it must be reclaimed from demonized men who’ve fallen into demons."

"I know you mean well by stopping me, but some things must be done. You may not understand, but Zhou Leng surely comprehends me, he’s striving for his own Broken Sword."

Everyone turned to Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng’s face remained calm.

Zhao Lianshu raised his glass high, proclaiming, "Today is our last gathering; after today, I’ll intensify cultivation, restore to my former strength. I don’t know what else to say; everything is in the wine. Raise your glasses! Let us, as Xu Ming once said to Zhou Leng, toast to the future of humanity!"

Everyone raised their glasses or held up drinks, toasted from afar, and drank.

Children puzzled, but adults understood Zhao Lianshu’s resolve.