Chapter 320: Chapter 306 Persuasion

The crowd tended to their injuries, while in Zhou Leng’s mind, the Void-Breaking Finger of the Martial Stone-man replayed over and over.

After a while, Deep Dark Fury said, “This time, we lure the Martial Stone-man, and Cyan Dragon, you try touching the light barrier.”

“The possibility is low, but there’s no harm in trying.” Zhou Leng did not think the Ancient River Sect would leave such an obvious flaw.

The other demons and giant dragons attracted the creatures, while Zhou Leng stepped with the Eight Trigrams Step, bypassing the Martial Stone-man, and reached the outside of the first light barrier.

He reached out to touch it, but was blocked.

He circulated True Qi to push it, to no avail.

He lightly bumped into it, still to no avail.

“Let’s go!”

Seeing it was useless, the crowd departed once more, discussing as they descended the mountain.

“Last year, Li Shenkong led some people to charge here, defeating half of the Martial Stone-men, but ultimately failed. For us to succeed, we must defeat all the Martial Stone-men.”

“Did Li Shenkong try other methods?” Zhou Leng asked.

“He did try. Li Shenkong wanted to learn the martial arts of these Martial Stone-men, but no matter how talented he was, he couldn’t learn it in a short time, it was useless. Besides, Li Shenkong specializes in extreme swordsmanship, his Inner Power and swordsmanship reached Divine Communication, even the mastery of Divine Communication, but other martial arts couldn’t reach such a level. Even last year, many other martial arts were slightly inferior to yours.”

“Indeed, a truly versatile genius doesn’t exist in this world, but mastering any two kinds of martial arts to their limit is enough to step onto the path of sainthood,” Zhou Leng said.

Jade Wings said, “Since these are Martial Stone-men, using your Human Race martial arts, chances are it’s related to your Human Race if you want to enter.”

“This should be a trial ground for Human Race civilization, everyone in the Ten Realms knows,” Wind of Grey Steel said.

Deep Dark Fury sighed, “If we ally with other experts, breaking the first barrier wouldn’t be difficult. The challenge lies with the thirty-three giant Giant Dragons in the second barrier, they’re quite extraordinary. Even I can probably only withstand one.”

“Look carefully at those Great Martial Stone-men, the lines on their bodies look very much like True Qi circulation routes,” Jade Wings said.

“How do you know?”

“I’ve seen human cultivation techniques and Human Body Operation Diagrams, they’re quite similar.”

“Cyan Dragon, what do you think?”

“Indeed very similar, but which specific cultivation technique, I’m not sure,” Zhou Leng didn’t say, but he was almost certain in his heart.

The cultivation techniques on the bodies of the thirty-three Great Martial Stone-men are “Body Protection Techniques” not even found in the Innate Pavilion, generally called Body-Protecting Divine Skills.

The so-called Body-Protecting Divine Skills involve merging True Qi with the body and releasing True Qi externally, creating extremely strong defensive capabilities.

According to speculation by Martial Saints, the upper limit of Body-Protecting Divine Skills is extremely high, standing on par with Inner Power, Martial Body, etc.

So far, the entire Blue Star Human Race only has basic Body-Protecting Divine Skills, no complete high-level Body-Protecting Divine Skills.

Masters of Body-Protecting Divine Skills all comprehend them independently, exploring them based on their own circumstances with no universal applicability.

The techniques on the Great Martial Stone-men are likely complete high-level Body-Protecting Divine Skills.

Those peculiar lines are the tracks of Body-Protecting Divine Skill operation.

These Body-Protecting Divine Skills have little use to other races, but their significance for the Human Race is beyond imagination.

Moreover, they share the same origins with the Ancient River Sect. If acquired, alongside recordings from the Innate Pavilion, it would mean a complete inheritance of the Ancient River Sect’s foundational legacy.

Zhou Leng said, “I plan to form an alliance with the Humanoid Alliance, find more experts. From now on, as long as they’re willing to charge the highest mountain, we will cease all conflicts. After reaching the top, whether alliance or war will be reconsidered, what do you think?”

“Agreed! I represent the Demons in agreement.” Deep Dark Fury looked at Wind of Grey Steel.

Wind of Grey Steel hesitated for a moment, recalling his father’s advice to foster good relations with Deep Dark Fury, nodded, “In the name of the Gray Steel Dragon Nest, I command that the Dragon Race must not attack any races heading for the highest mountain.”

“Let’s move!”

The crowd descended the mountain, with Deep Dark Fury and Wind of Grey Steel putting forth the joint command.

The demons were mostly exhausted, and with the youth ranking numbers dropping from over seven thousand to just over three thousand, they were also somewhat worried.

Therefore, they readily agreed.

“Form groups, spread the orders everywhere, and inform the outside world that I treat captives from all realms well, they’re all alive.”

The crowd dispersed, Deep Dark Fury called Zhou Leng over, and the two walked and chatted in a secluded area.

“What do you think about the treasures on the highest mountain?” Deep Dark Fury asked.

Zhou Leng thought for a moment, then said, “The highest mountain is clearly left by some grand Starfield Sect for its disciples, those lines on the Great Martial Stone-men are Body-Protecting Divine Skills. As for the treasures on the altar, they are of extraordinary value, possibly surpassing all other mountains combined. Your determination to obtain them is correct.”

Deep Dark Fury nodded in approval, “I’ve always felt you have extraordinary grace, and a good mind, I wasn’t wrong. Sea Sirens are too excessive in slaughter, Beastmen too foolish, Giant Dragons are brave but lack strategy, Demon Spirit Masters are good at plotting but lack a bit of courage…”

“While your Blue Star Martial Artists are the most balanced among all races.”

“I hail from the Star Sky Race, our tribe never concerns itself with the Ten Realms’ struggles, but rather sets its sights on the starry sky.”

“My father taught me from a young age, to leave the world, and ascend to the starry sky, is the only path for us Spine-headed Demon Dragons.”

“The other high mountains have good treasures, but can they transform us completely? Hardly. So even if obtained, the impact is limited, and if not obtained, it’s not significant.”

“Only the best treasure on the highest mountain is worth our utmost effort.”

Zhou Leng glanced at Deep Dark Fury for a moment, then asked, “How old exactly are you? Sometimes you seem very immature, but now you speak so maturely.”

Deep Dark Fury stiffened slightly, let out a light cough, hesitated for several seconds, then said, “You must not tell anyone else.”

“Of course.”

“I’m six years old. Nurtured in a Dragon Egg for 14 years, and out of the egg for 6 years, or you could say I’m 20. You can’t tell anyone else, okay?”

Zhou Leng was bewildered.

This giant dragon, over twenty meters long, sprawled on the ground like a behemoth equivalent to a seven-story building, is actually only six years old?

So many people on the Youth Rankings, countless geniuses in the Ten Realms, yet they are all firmly overshadowed by a 6-year-old child?

Zhou Leng suddenly understood why Deep Shadow’s Anger rarely spoke to people, always stayed in the cave, and whenever he emerged, he feigned arrogance and killed recklessly.

He was afraid of being discovered as just a little kid.

Deep Shadow’s Anger lightly coughed and said, “After all, I possess the Starry Sky Bloodline, you can’t naturally compare to me. My father said that if I could obtain the complete inheritance, I could roam the starry sky, and now I would already be a demigod.”

“The Starry Sky Bloodline is indeed exceptional.” Zhou Leng praised.

“It’s alright.” Deep Shadow’s Anger slightly raised his chin, and the slightly smaller dragon head on his back did the same.

“I’ll go back to make some contacts and persuade all parties to come to the highest mountain. As long as we join forces, we can definitely break through.”

“Definitely!”

Zhou Leng left and headed straight for the human camp.

Upon arriving at the camp, Zhou Leng found Li Yuanhe and explained the situation on the highest mountain.

“This… should be the true final trial of the Ancient River Trial, right?”

“You’ve also noticed. The highest mountain is the focus of the Ancient River Trial, not the Innate Pavilion.”

“I’ll help you convey this to everyone, especially Zhang Xinglie and Song Juesi; if those two are present, the chance of successfully breaking through the mountain is higher.”

“I’m going to the Demon Spirit Masters now, then have them find the Treemen, Giants, and Dwarves. The more people storm in, the higher the chance of success. Once inside, humans, particularly the Ancient River Sect disciples, will gain the most.” Zhou Leng said.

“Exactly! I’ll go mobilize everyone.”

Zhou Leng left the human camp and went straight to the Demon Spirit Masters camp, touting the highest mountain in front of the Demon Spirit Masters and presenting Deep Shadow’s Anger’s statement.

Finally, Zhou Leng said, “The Martial Stone-man may possess the puppetry techniques of the Starfield Sect, a value unimaginable to you Demon Spirit Masters.”

All the Demon Spirit Masters were intrigued.

The current Demon Spirit World can craft various puppets, but compared to the Martial Stone-man, there is still a significant gap.

Cyan Flame said, “I agree, how about you all?”

“I agree too.” The Demon Spirit Masters supported in succession.

“Alright, then let’s split up to persuade the Dwarves, Giants, and Treemen. The Treemen are less inclined to battle, so their participation might be uncertain.”

Zhou Leng said, “I know a few Treemen friends, they have already gone back to the Treemen camp to rest. Let’s find a few Demon Spirit Masters familiar with the Tree-man World to go with me; we’ll likely persuade them.”

“That’s great.”

Shortly thereafter, Zhou Leng and a few Demon Spirit Masters went to the Treemen camp to persuade them.

Eventually, the Treemen agreed.

Leaving the Treemen camp, Zhou Leng returned to the human camp, planning to cultivate for two days and chat with fellow disciples from the Ancient River Sect about martial arts.

On the second day back at the human camp, while chatting with fellow disciples from the Ancient River Sect, a familiar voice came from afar.

“Zhou Leng!”

Zhou Leng looked in the direction of the sound and saw Zhang Xinglie striding towards him.

He hadn’t gotten a haircut in days, his hair wild like a lion’s mane, filled with excitement.

Taking a closer look, even after about ten days of absence, his physique had undergone a tremendous change.

Not only did he become bulkier, but he appeared more powerful, resembling a moving mound.

Like a compressed little giant.

The power of the Innate Martial Body was activated significantly by the medicinal fruit here.

In Zhang Xinglie’s eyes, Zhou Leng was the same, though his physique didn’t show marked improvement, his aura was particularly heavy.

When old friends meet, they couldn’t be warmer, chatting lively about the recent happenings.

As the two chatted, a person walked over from not too far away.

“Elder Song is also back.”

The two turned to look, Elder Song was dressed in black silk, looking scholarly, yet his bulging muscles made his image slightly out of sync.

His internal power had strengthened to the point of breaking balance, even overpowering the personal aura he had cultivated for years.

Welcoming Elder Song back, the Ancient River Sect disciples gathered again, talked leisurely.

Not long after, Rao Mingxian and Rao Mingjun returned to the camp, Rao Mingxian walked over to join the conversation.

After Zhou Leng detailed the battle on the highest mountain, all the Ancient River Sect disciples’ eyes gleamed.

“Interesting, this scenario might conceal a special trial.”

“Those three hundred Little Martial Stone-men surely have a special solution, but we haven’t trained the Ancient River Sect martial arts long enough to manage it.”

“That Great Martial Stone-man, if equipped with Body-Protecting Divine Skill, when we break in, we must train differently.”

“No need, the senior disciple is already in the Inner Sect, should be able to record videos.”

“Don’t, better not take the risk.”

“It’s best that everyone try to remember so that once we leave Hundred Peaks Valley, we can reconstruct it.”

“It seems, as disciples of the Ancient River Sect, we must go to the highest mountain, otherwise, the Ancient River Trial would only be half-complete.”

“Once the mountain assault is over, surely a great battle will commence.”

“Fight if we must, who’s afraid!”

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