Chapter 183: Chapter 171: Presumptuous

Rao Mingxian shook his head and said, “Someone asked, but the other party didn’t elaborate. They just said Third Young Master Zhao helped him get something, which he lost because of you. It seems you benefited from it, so there’s no need to create trouble for the other party.”

“I benefited?”

The rewards from the Lieutenant Camp don’t take anyone else’s quota, and it’s not worth it for a powerful family to openly scold.

Either it’s a misunderstanding, or something unknown to him happened.

Zhou Leng shook his head and said, “Forget it, it doesn’t matter. By the way, has Third Young Master Zhao not left yet?”

“He’s already an Innate, and his closed-door cultivation will take a long time. He probably has other matters, so he stays in Rucheng. However, thanks to him, all parties in Rucheng are very restrained, fearing to cause trouble that would draw higher attention.”

“We also need to strive to become Innate…” Zhou Leng remembered the injured Instructor Deng Zhijue.

“Indeed.”

Parting with Rao Mingxian, Zhou Leng slowly walked along the streets outside Ruda towards Xiaoru Village.

The bright streetlights illuminated the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the sidewalk.

A jogger ran towards him.

The two passed by each other.

Zhou Leng nodded slightly.

Once the first, now the second of Ruda, Ji Changnian was dressed in white, with fair skin.

“Zhou Leng.”

“Ji Changnian.”

Ji Changnian hesitated a moment, stopped, and said, “We haven’t met since the Celestial Ladder, and I’ve never had the chance to thank you in person. Thank you for saving me on the Celestial Ladder.”

“It’s what classmates should do, helping each other.”

Zhou Leng didn’t take it to heart, almost having forgotten it if Ji Changnian hadn’t mentioned it, only remembering saving Xu Qingjin.

Ji Changnian asked, “How’s your injury? I saw your ranking kept dropping; did you not participate in assessments, or was it something else?”

“I was recovering from sickness recently and haven’t participated in any assessments.” Zhou Leng wasn’t close to him, so he didn’t provide details.

“Will you join the midterm in January in a few days?”

“I haven’t participated in two months, so I must join this time,” said Zhou Leng.

Ji Changnian looked Zhou Leng up and down, finally focusing on the developed trapezius muscles on both sides of his neck, surprised, “You’ve gotten much stronger since the Celestial Ladder. I believe you can get good results and make it back to the top hundred on the freshman chart!”

“Thank you.”

“I’m heading back to school.”

“Catch you later.”

The two brushed past each other.

Ji Changnian glanced back at Zhou Leng’s figure and sighed lightly.

Since learning that Zhou Leng hadn’t participated in any assessments and kept dropping on the Rucheng freshman chart, he felt more sympathy for Zhou Leng, his competitive spirit waning.

Relying on his gains from the Celestial Ladder, he kept progressing.

After the December monthly exam, he was already ranked 75th on the Rucheng freshman chart.

Surpassing many students from the West Sea Martial Arts Academy.

However, he was only second in Ruda.

Ruda’s number one, Rao Mingxian, had recently entered the top 19 on the freshman chart.

In a few months, he might break into the top ten.

In the long history of Ruda, no one had ever entered the freshman top ten.

The eyes of the entire school, both teachers and students, were on Rao Mingxian alone.

“Having a grandfather as the principal is indeed different.”

“But if I can surpass Zhou Leng, I can surpass you.”

He completely forgot about Zhou Leng, having only Rao Mingxian in his eyes.

Half a month ago, he relied on the gains from the Celestial Ladder to successfully advance to the Early Stage of Body Refining.

This time, in January’s midterms, he would surely make an impressive debut!

Ji Changnian smiled.

Zhou Leng continued walking forward.

After a while, from the street on his left came the sounds of fighting.

He turned to look.

Under the streetlights, seven to eight people were fighting in two groups, leaving clusters of shadows on the ground.

With fists meeting flesh, blood splattered.

Recognizing it as a Blood Transport Early Stage battle, Zhou Leng lost interest and continued walking.

In the Martial Arts Era, street fights, sparring, and gambling were everywhere, seen since childhood.

Fortunately, Zhang Xinglie had been fighting frequently since middle school, large fights every three, small fights every day.

He walked and thought.

Scenes of today’s battle constantly appeared in his mind.

First, he fought a Late Stage of Body Refining Demon Worshiper, slightly at a disadvantage, then Instructor Deng Zhijue encountered an ambush and was seriously injured…

Zhou Leng gazed at the distant night sky, his eyes slowly becoming resolute.

He must strengthen his cultivation.

According to the Lieutenant Camp’s assessment, his regular Body Squats with No True Qi had reached 2000 kilograms, that’s 2 tons.

With True Qi Squats, at least 5 tons.

Taking out his Demonized Watch, he calculated his current savings.

Then, he searched online for various demonized equipment prices.

A 5-ton set of demonized barbells and dumbbells costs 600,000.

A 10-ton set costs 1.2 million.

A 20-ton set costs 2.2 million.

…

A basic striker set costs 10 million.

An advanced striker set costs 50 million.

True Qi Ropes, a set of two, cost 20 million.

Gravity Cultivation Armor, 1-ton level, costs 30 million.

…

Facing the millions costing demonized equipment, Zhou Leng remained silent.

Ruda has demonized equipment, and the Frost Giant Tree has high-multiplier Spiritual Qi.

Only by combining the two can the cultivation effect be maximized.

The Frost Giant Tree can’t be moved, so equipment must be bought and placed under it.

Demonized barbells and dumbbells must be bought, they’re not too expensive; even the 20-ton set is affordable.

The others, however, would be difficult.

It’s impossible to sell pills for money.

Other treasures are either not worth much money or not really worth selling.

“Given the current speed of my physical development, a basic striker is basically ineffective. If I have to buy one, it should be advanced, but it’s too expensive, unnecessary.”

“However, the True Qi Rope is crucial. The first piece of high-level martial arts equipment introduced and taught by Instructor Deng is the True Qi Rope.”

“The True Qi Rope can be used all the way until the Grandmaster stage.”

“The Gravity Cultivation Armor is also important, but after I advance to the Vitality Stage, it’s very likely I can get free rental, just like Zhang Xinglie, no need to spend money…”

After thinking for a while, ultimately decided to find a way to buy a Demonized Barbell and a True Qi Rope.

Moreover, the Demonized Barbell should be a one-time purchase, directly buying the 50-ton level, which costs five million.

After all, barbells and dumbbells can each be fitted with different weights.

“Next, I need to gather 25 million…”

Zhou Leng walked while calculating his recent gains.

Not enough.

Selling the High-Energy Sea Shell might suffice, but it feels inappropriate unless absolutely necessary, really don’t want to sell it.

It is possible to exchange some money with Battle Points, but it’s clearly a loss, because Battle Points can be exchanged for good things that money can’t buy.

“It’s tough…”

During his thoughts, a scene from an online video flashed in his mind, a young master showing off his family’s cultivation room, rows of high-level equipment shining brightly, and countless people below calling themselves “old slaves.”

Zhou Leng kept browsing through the projection of the Demonized Watch, just like when he searched for loose change in the corners as a child, looking around for all possibilities.

Bank card balance, not enough.

Martial Faith’s electronic wallet, not enough.

Martial Arts Loan… don’t dare.

Martial Arts City’s Battle Points, not suitable.

“Hmm?”

Zhou Leng suddenly found masses of “Contribution Points” appearing in his Martial Arts City information.

Upon a closer look, his eyes suddenly brightened.

Civilian rating: Professor.

“22,073 Contribution Points?”

Through battle-related achievements, one gains War Merits or Battle Points.

But humans aren’t the only ones whose work is rewarded; research, pills, divine text, and other civilian abilities contribute greatly as well.

Civilian contributors are awarded Contribution Points.

The ratio of civilian Contribution Points is the same as Battle Points, one point can exchange for about 1000 Dragon Country Coins.

This is exactly more than 22 million.

Zhou Leng immediately realized this and opened the unread information in the Divine Script Ruins section.

Many were article replies or private messages from Divine Rune Masters, ignored for now.

There were also some system messages.

Quickly skimming through.

It turns out, after deciphering that Ancient River Stele, the Divine Text Domain continuously researched related information, even holding several world-class seminars.

Some of the content inside was deemed valuable, thus rewarding Contribution Points.

Meanwhile, the messages kept reminding him of his civilian rank increase, rising all the way to the level of a professor.

The civilian ranks of the Martial Arts Civilization are different from the old ranks of the technological civilization.

Above professor, there are titles such as lifelong professor and Yangtze River Scholar.

The treatment of a professor is equivalent to that of a major or an Innate Martial Artist.

Many civilians spend their whole lives stuck at associate professor and can’t advance to full professor.

These dense messages were sent one after another.

Contribution increases gradually and requires going through procedures step by step.

It looks like the credit for Divine Text pronunciation and full-shape Divine Text will take some time before gradually gaining civilian Contribution Points.

The latest message shows that it is reviewing the qualification for the “National Mansion Special Subsidy.”

Zhou Leng stared dazedly at this high-level qualification that he had only heard about in the news.

Previously, this subsidy was only granted to famous figures in various fields, and he had never seen it awarded to young people.

Then, with a simple glance at the other information, it was found to be basically useless.

After thinking for a bit, he quickly browsed through the responses from those Divine Literature Scholars.

Some asked for guidance, some refuted, some supported, and some inquired about his true name, including famous experts in the Divine Text Realm.

“Hmm?”

Zhou Leng suddenly saw a familiar name in a private message.

Zhao Nandi.

That stunningly beautiful Divine Text teacher.

Zhou Leng carefully read her private message.

“Hello, teacher, although I don’t know your name or who you are, please allow me to muster up courage and politely ask for your guidance.”

“First, I apologize, but I have been researching the Ancient River Stele for a long time and spent too much effort on it. Some difficult points are really hard to comprehend.”

“Of course, I am only asking. If you don’t have time, you don’t have to reply.”

“Your time is a thousand times more valuable than mine and I am just your student.”

“I would like to ask you three questions…”

After reading the three questions, Zhou Leng found them to be quite simple and then looked at Zhao Nandi’s final sentence.

“Please allow me to express my gratitude again, regardless of whether you reply or not. Finally, I wish you happiness as vast as the East Sea and longevity like the Southern Mountains.”

At the end of the text, there was also a picture of a small figure repeatedly bowing.

Seeing the blessing “happiness as vast as the East Sea and longevity like the Southern Mountains,” Zhou Leng’s lips slightly curved.

After some thought, Zhou Leng quickly answered the three questions, then sent them anonymously.

Then, he looked at the more than twenty thousand civilian Contribution Points he had received.

The True Qi Rope and 50-ton barbells and dumbbells were now secured.

Xiong City, Divine Text Bureau.

After a busy day, Zhao Nandi uncharacteristically didn’t even take a bath but collapsed on the sofa, motionless.

Her expression was blank, more rigid than an ID photo.

Her body wasn’t tired, but her mind had turned to mush.

These days, she had been learning the Divine Text pronunciation and full-shape Divine Text.

She recognized the surface text.

But the full-shape Divine Text, once memorized, left her mind blank after a few seconds.

She could pronounce the surface text.

But the full Divine Text pronunciation, she just couldn’t manage.

After a while, though exhausted beyond measure, her lips slightly curved upward.

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