The group was chatting and eventually talked about the arrival of the Celestial Ladder.

Zhang Xinglie, already easygoing and having drunk a lot, slapped his thigh upon hearing about the Celestial Ladder.

“You don’t know, when they heard about the Celestial Ladder, both Yunhua and Jinjing universities were in an uproar.”

“Some people were gnashing their teeth in hatred, wondering why such a good thing did not happen to them.”

“If the freshmen from Yunhua and Jinjing were allowed to enter, in no more than two years, no, in no more than a year, Dragon Country would have thousands of Innate experts.”

“What a pity, such a pity…”

Zhang Xinglie’s face was flushed, filled with regret.

“However, among us here, there are two people who gained immense benefits from the Celestial Ladder.” Mo Hai looked toward Zhou Leng and Rao Mingxian.

“Rao Mingxian, tell us about the Celestial Ladder. Although it’s not to be widely publicized, speaking about it privately should be fine.”

“Yes. As long as it’s not the specific contents of the Celestial Ladder’s trials, you can freely talk about what happened inside.”

Everyone urged strongly, so Rao Mingxian had to share some things, only omitting the details of the final battle.

After Rao Mingxian finished speaking, everyone turned their gaze towards Zhou Leng.

“Rao Mingxian talked for ages, so it seems the most impressive at the Celestial Ladder was Zhou Leng?”

“The United Senior Brother of the eighteen schools, to be honest, he’s on a top-tier level even among the Top Ten Martial Arts.”

“I really didn’t expect Zhou Leng, who usually keeps quiet, to be such a person of brotherhood. Come, let’s drink to Zhou Leng’s courage and brotherhood.”

Everyone raised their glasses and drank them in one go.

Zhang Xinglie placed his left hand on Zhou Leng’s shoulder, looking at him sideways with much satisfaction.

He sighed, “You have finally passed through the long dark night.”

Zhou Leng nodded slightly.

Rao Mingxian showed a sympathetic expression and asked, “Was Zhou Leng really that miserable before?”

“Very miserable, unimaginable.” Zhang Xinglie replied.

With a frown, Rao Mingxian said, “I’ve heard about Zhou Leng’s story. Logically, the pension his father received should be a reasonable amount, and the national support has always been good. As a child, he shouldn’t have been too miserable, right?”

Everyone turned to look at Zhou Leng.

Zhang Xinglie asked, “You really don’t know why?”

The group collectively shook their heads.

“What?” asked Rao Mingxian.

Zhou Leng slowly said, “This matter is quite common in our community. If you must say, it’s a bit like a dark humor. All that money was used to pay off the mortgage early.”

The group suddenly understood, having actually heard of such things before.

When it happens to a child, indeed it’s a bit hellish.

Rao Mingxian froze for a moment, realizing the gravity of the situation, he wanted to change the topic but didn’t know what to say for the moment, so he muttered, “Then after the mortgage is paid off, it should be fine, right? I remember you seem to live in Dragon Bay Community, which looks quite decent.”

Zhou Leng and Zhang Xinglie exchanged a glance, their eyes flickering with a bizarre light.

“What’s wrong?” Rao Mingxian asked.

Zhou Leng quietly said, “Our community’s developer was Heng University.”

The group collectively reacted with ‘WTF’, this joke was even darker.

The real estate issue from years ago has yet to be completely resolved, and it occasionally appears in the news.

People will always remember the feast and disaster that passed like a demon across the land all those years ago.

Leaving ruins in the hearts of countless people.

Rao Mingxian parted his lips, saying nothing more.

Living in a villa, he couldn’t understand what kind of ruins his peers lived on.

Until late at night, the group left the barbecue joint, leaving behind a mess of cups and bottles everywhere.

“So it’s agreed, tomorrow morning we’ll meet at Minghe Martial Arts Hall for some pointers.”

Everyone either ran home or took a taxi, scattering away.

Zhou Leng and Zhang Xinglie were in the same community, walking along as they chatted in the cool night breeze.

“There’s some progress on the Steel Dwarf Tribe matter. A classmate of mine is in the family business that operates on that trade route.”

“Upon hearing that you’re my friend, he happily agreed, saying it’s just a phone call if you ever wish to go there.”

“No need to pay a penny. However, it’s only right to give some money to the pioneer team for escorting.”

“By the way, why do you suddenly want to go to the Dwarf world?”

Zhang Xinglie, slightly tipsy, had a faint red face.

Zhou Leng was about to answer but remembered that it was content from Elder Tree’s Golden Book, and saying anything might break a taboo.

So he simply said, “An elder advised me to do so, but it involves his secret, so I can’t say much. I can only tell you it has to do with the identity or maybe the title in the Dwarf Race.”

“Hmm.” Zhang Xinglie nodded slowly.

Zhou Leng looked at Zhang Xinglie and said, “Do you have time in the coming days? I suggest you come with me too. I can’t reveal the details, but there are great benefits.”

Zhang Xinglie smiled faintly and asked, “How great are the benefits?”

Zhou Leng thought for a moment and said, “It should be no less than the Elite Training Camp.”

If it were merely acquiring Dwarf identity, the value wouldn’t differ much from the Elite Training Camp, but with the addition of the Giant’s Unique Body, it would be a hundred times more.

“Oh? Really?” Zhang Xinglie’s eyes lit up.

“Otherwise, why else would I take the risk to go there.”

Zhang Xinglie looked ahead, thought for a moment, and said, “Alright, contact me when you go. If I have no major engagements, I’ll definitely go take a look. What’s the specific goal?”

Zhou Leng said, “To obtain certain privileges from the Steel Dwarves. Right now, there’s no clear path, but it shouldn’t be particularly difficult.”

“Interesting…” Zhang Xinglie said.

Zhou Leng took out two leaves from the Magic Spirit Bag and handed one to Zhang Xinglie.

“Today’s meal was a bit mixed, so when you get home, have a leaf. Since it’s your first time, you might need to sit on the toilet.”

“Harvest from Shuizhou Demon City? Pretty good.” Zhang Xinglie took a leaf, couldn’t tell what it was, and put it in his pocket.

Zhou Leng tore open the leaf and began to eat.

Zhou Leng didn’t know what the leaf was called, so he temporarily named it ‘Gastric Health Tea’.

Zhang Xinglie’s gaze brushed past Zhou Leng’s Magic Spirit Bag. He had one too, but it was just on loan and still belonged to Yunhua Martial Arts Academy.

“You have changed the most in the past few months, even more than Rao Mingxian. Celestial Ladder entrance exam, I give you this sword, the edge is sharpened.” Zhang Xinglie said with emotion.

“The experiences over the past few months have indeed been numerous.”

“What was your biggest gain from Celestial Ladder?” Zhang Xinglie asked casually.

Zhou Leng thought for a moment.

“Many things. The most important isn’t even from Martial Arts; it’s more spiritual.”

“When fighting alongside tens of thousands of fellow students against the Demon, the feeling of being cloaked in United Strength was especially unique.”

“I can’t describe it well, but I always feel this battle experience had a much greater impact on me than any cultivation technique.”

Zhang Xinglie sighed, “I knew it, you might not have physical talent, but you possess other talents.”

He turned his head to look at Zhou Leng and continued.

“What you’re talking about, I don’t understand it even now. Although I often venture into North Capital’s Demon City, I’ve never experienced large-scale combat.”

“Our Innate Teacher mentioned this.”

“He said that in all previous Human Race battles, every initiator of United Strength, that is, the army’s War Soul, undergoes a spiritual baptism.”

“Those who receive this spiritual baptism seem useless at first glance.”

“But strangely, as long as they survive, don’t betray the Human Race, and do no evil, their future achievements are no less than those with higher talent.”

“Our teacher says civilization battles and the Ascension to Divinity battle need such people the most.”

“Such people are more important than a physical genius like me.”

Zhou Leng said, “I’ve never heard of this concept.”

Zhang Xinglie said solemnly, “After hearing about your experiences and insights, I’ve decided to find an opportunity to join the Demon City Army for training, then bravely fight to become an army’s War Soul and trigger United Strength. I have an inkling that this is particularly important.”

“That’s so like you, always terrifyingly quick to learn.”

“Anything else?” Zhang Xinglie asked.

Facing a lifelong friend, Zhou Leng said everything he could, including Heart and Mind Shadow.

“Huh? You’ve comprehended Heart and Mind Shadow?” Zhang Xinglie suddenly stopped, widening his eyes at Zhou Leng.

“Yeah…” Zhou Leng didn’t expect Zhang Xinglie’s reaction to be so big.

Zhang Xinglie couldn’t help but laugh, “I knew I hadn’t misjudged! I’m increasingly suspicious that besides Will Talent, you also have Combat Technique Talent. Remember I always mentioned the top of our class?”

“I remember.”

“His name is Tang Heng. After advancing to Vitality Stage, he desperately wanted to cultivate Heart and Mind Shadow, but to this day, he hasn’t figured it out and sometimes complains to me about how difficult it is. Didn’t expect you to learn it first, and it was like one out of six choices, while he couldn’t even manage one out of two.”

“All thanks to Celestial Ladder,” Zhou Leng said.

“That may not be true; many have braved Celestial Ladder, but how many can comprehend such a high-level combat technique like you?”

While speaking, Zhang Xinglie suddenly turned his head.

In front, a bright sign displayed five words.

Minghe Martial Arts Hall.

“Let’s go to the Martial Arts Dojo; I’ll test your Heart and Mind Shadow. Now I suspect you’re no less than me in External Skills.”

Zhang Xinglie continued enthusiastically.

“In sparring, my score against the top fifty freshmen of Yunhua is generally nine to one, me being nine, them one.”

“Even if many classmates have a higher Martial Arts Index and ranking than me, they’re lacking in practical combat.”

“But against the top ten freshmen, I’m completely at a disadvantage.”

“The only reason I lose to them is True Qi Manipulation. My highest score in True Qi Manipulation is only about 93.”

“That bunch of weirdos all get perfect scores.”

Zhang Xinglie ended nonchalantly, “But I’m not afraid. One day, even without relying on True Qi Manipulation, just by relying on myself, I can defeat them.”

Entering Minghe Martial Arts Hall, Zhang Xinglie operated his Demonized Watch, “I have a prepaid card for this place, awarded in a previous prize.”

Zhang Xinglie chose a Martial Arts Room, and the two walked inside.

Zhang Xinglie glanced at a message prompt, muttering aloud, “Almost 50% more expensive, prices are rising fast.”

This was a medium-sized Martial Arts Room, spanning three hundred square meters, enough for the two to display their skills.

“Step by step, let’s start with the basic Power, Skill, and Qi comparison, how about it?”

Zhang Xinglie immediately took off his shirt, leaving only his shorts.

His bronze-colored skin and figure were far taller than Zhou Leng, his perfectly inverted triangular upper body standing like a bull in front.

“Let’s compare Power first.”

In high school, classmates often compared Power, Skill, and Qi.

“Come, let’s wrestle first.”

The two didn’t use True Qi, faced each other, raised their arms, interlocking four hands tightly, bending knees and waists as if pressing against the wall, gripping each other’s hands.

“Start! Push.”

Both muscles surged, stepping forth with full force, pushing toward each other.

Suddenly, Zhang Xinglie was covered in fine sweat.

Sweat pouring like a garment.

Tremendous power erupted, pushing Zhou Leng stumbling back nearly ten meters.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep