Chapter 444: Chapter 429: Octopus

Two Demon Spirit Masters have visited Xiongjing in the Dragon Country several times for learning exchanges. When they saw Zhou Leng studying Divine Texts, they chatted with him casually.

After a short conversation, the two Demon Spirit Masters were deeply impressed by Zhou Leng’s solid knowledge of Divine Texts, and they proactively added him as a friend on their Demonized Watch, which they used back on Blue Star.

The three of them walked along the walls of the palace, pointing out the Divine Texts or ancient ruins they encountered.

The two had less knowledge of Divine Texts than Zhou Leng, but they excelled in their understanding of the Demon Spirit World and had more insight into many of the ruins here than Zhou Leng.

The three continued to communicate, learning from each other’s strengths.

Some Demon Spirit Masters, including the Cyan Flame, frequently glanced towards the trio of Zhou Leng, unable to understand how martial artists and Demon Spirit Masters, who seemingly had nothing in common, could converse so happily.

Even some Demon Spirit Masters from the Book of God were puzzled; although those two Demon Spirit Masters were not skilled fighters, they were well-known scholars in the Book of God.

In the fields of Demon Spirit knowledge and research, they far surpassed their contemporaries and were key development subjects for the Book of God.

One was called the Spirit Hall’s Eye, the other the Spirit Hall’s Book, both outstanding members of the demigod Spirit Hall family.

As everyone rested, an old man’s voice echoed.

“The Path of Pressure, begin.”

The center of the roof in the first hall, which was previously dark, suddenly lit up with a white sphere.

The white sphere, about a meter in diameter, revealed a shadow of a miniature flame giant inside.

Everyone fixed their gaze and realized it was a Flame Demon emitting a powerful Demon’s Might.

At first, the pressure swept over like a summer heatwave.

Soon, the entire first palace began to heat up.

Everyone felt it difficult to breathe, and both their skin and spirit were being scorched by the fiery pressure.

Throats were dry, nostrils flared, and even their minds felt like they were burning.

Having experienced the Red Lotus Fire Purgatory, Zhou Leng merely glanced at the eye demon in the light sphere and continued his research.

The duration of the Path of Pressure was long, providing plenty of time to explore the hall’s ruins.

The three circled the palace once, each gaining something and unaffected by the pressure.

“Let’s go, check out the second palace.”

The three of them proceeded to the second palace together.

Some trial takers had already entered the second palace, while others remained in the first.

The Cyan Flame did not venture further but sat in place, carefully experiencing the pressure, refining his Spiritual Power.

After a long while, the Cyan Flame stood up and headed for the second palace.

Glancing around, he didn’t see Zhou Leng and continued his cultivation.

In the second palace, the roof sphere revealed a spider’s shadow.

The pressure here had an evil edge to it, creating a wrapping sensation.

The Cyan Flame closed his eyes, beginning to meditate, using the external pressure to refine his Spiritual Power.

In the fourth palace, Zhou Leng and the others continued recording Divine Texts while discussing.

For the three, such a level of pressure wasn’t worth wasting time on.

The trio quickly entered the fifth palace.

Zhou Leng’s eyes brightened as he hurried to a wall, looked at a sheet of metal, took a photo, and created a Divine Text.

“Is this… a Divine Text recording martial arts knowledge? No wonder you’re so interested,” the Spirit Hall’s Eye remarked.

“I’ve seen a photo of this metal sheet in the Divine Text Tower,” added the Spirit Hall’s Book beside him.

“Has it been deciphered?” asked the Spirit Hall’s Eye.

“Impossible. Even the Demon Spirit Divine Texts haven’t been fully deciphered, let alone martial arts ones.”

“Any research materials?”

“That I don’t know; it’s a pity we don’t have the ’Tower Book,’ or we could look it up now.”

“We’ll get one when we advance to demigod.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

At this moment, Zhou Leng said, “This isn’t a martial arts Divine Text.”

“Then what is it?”

“It looks a bit like a pill-related Divine Text. Not very valuable, but somewhat useful.” Zhou Leng, having been unable to use the Star Refining Furnace, recognized the connection at a glance.

“Pill-related Divine Texts? If they aren’t useless, even a little useful, they hold massive value.”

The Spirit Hall’s Eye asked, “Can you handle this level of pressure?”

“It’s quite manageable,” the Spirit Hall’s Book replied.

“It’s alright,” Zhou Leng added.

The three continued walking and chatting.

Not far away, some disciples from the Three High Towers gathered, whispering.

“That human martial artist, could he be both a trial taker and a Demon Spirit Assistant?”

“Quite possible.”

“By the rules, we should warn him, forbidding him from entering the eighth or even the ninth palace.”

“He should know, right?”

“But, with the Spirit Hall brothers with him, it complicates things.”

“I think there’s no need to interfere; no matter how strong a martial artist he is, what can he do? The final ranking isn’t solely about the Path of Pressure’s score.”

“Let’s just see. If he really tries to enter the eighth palace or deeper, experts will naturally trouble him, not really our concern.”

“True.”

Unknowingly, they headed for the seventh palace.

The three gazed at the white sphere on the palace roof ahead.

Inside was a shadow of a three-headed giant dragon, its intense dragon might creating a faint white mist within the palace.

That is the manifestation of spiritual pressure being materialized.

The Spirit Hall Eye said, “I can probably enter the Eighth Palace or even the Ninth Palace, but when I reach the Seventh Palace, I can’t just stroll around as I did before. I can only rely on meditation to resist the pressure.”

“Same here.”

“I’m not sure. If the pressure is strong, I’ll sit down to resist it and temper my Martial Arts Will. If it’s not strong, I’ll continue exploring.”

“Alright.”

The three of them stepped into the Seventh Palace, their bodies trembling, skin rippling like waves, and their hair standing on end like needles.

An unspeakable fear surged in their hearts, causing their hearts to pound and their blood to rush uncontrollably.

The Spirit Hall brothers remained silent and sat down on the spot.

Zhou Leng slowly employed True Qi, restoring the normal flow of Qi Blood and scanning the Seventh Palace.

More than twenty people were sitting here, all closing their eyes in meditation, tempering their Spiritual Power.

Zhou Leng slightly perceived the pressure; it was quite strong, but landing on Martial Arts Will, it was like heavy rain on a glass window—frightening to look at but ultimately ineffective.

Thus, he continued walking along the wall, searching for Divine Texts and ancient relics.

As he walked, he took videos or photos, knowing these are precious materials that might be valuable someday.

In the earlier palaces, the walls were still a mix of ancient relics with modern repair marks.

Starting from the Seventh Palace, the walls were almost entirely fragments of ancient materials.

Ordinary materials couldn’t withstand prolonged pressure impacts.

Divine Texts became more and more numerous.

Soon, Zhou Leng abruptly quickened his pace, focused on a corner, and took dozens of photos from various angles.

That spot was about the size of a desk, covered in esoteric Eastern-style cloud patterns.

Upon seeing the cloud patterns, he felt a sense of familiarity, as many places in ancient Dragon Country had similar patterns.

On closer inspection, these cloud patterns turned out to be variations of Divine Texts.

The more he looked, the more taste he found.

He didn’t know why, but he kept linking it to patterns in places of the Ancient River Sect, including the Star Refining Furnace.

“These Divine Text variations seem unheard of; they should be a type of power based on but beyond Divine Texts… Let’s call them Divine Text Maps.”

Zhou Leng documented these Divine Text Maps, glanced around, and reached out to touch the fragments.

The fragments transmitted a peculiar sensation; clearly metal, but felt like wood.

He was tempted to remove them but ultimately refrained, as they belonged to someone else.

“Forget it…”

Reluctantly, Zhou Leng took one last look and continued to explore the Seventh Palace.

Unconsciously, after finishing the Seventh Palace, he entered the Eighth Palace.

Standing at the Eighth Palace entrance, he looked up at the spherical ceiling.

Inside was the silhouette of a small octopus.

Though small, the octopus shadow gave a vast impression, like a planet with colossal, endless tentacles.

Five individuals were meditating in the Eighth Palace.

At that moment, a Demon Spirit Master from the Seventh Palace spoke, “Human Martial Artist, please wait.”

“Hmm?” Zhou Leng turned to look at the Demon Spirit Master.

Some Demon Spirit Masters opened their eyes, staring at Zhou Leng.

“According to the rules, only members of the Three High Towers can enter the eighth layer. Haven’t you signed a contract?”

“I’ve only signed contracts with the Demigod Masters of the Ice Snow Divine Sect and, oh yes, with the great Torch of God, the founder of the Three High Towers. Has the great Torch of God stated that besides the Three High Towers, no one else can enter the Eighth Palace here?”

The man’s face darkened.

Back then, it was Torch of God who broke the monopoly of the old towers, establishing new towers to prevent the Three High Towers from monopolizing resources and jeopardizing the future of the Demon Spirit World.

“What now, are you looking to challenge the Three High Towers against us here?”

Zhou Leng surveyed the dozen Demon Spirit Masters who stood up, saying, “Oh? You want to challenge me to a life-and-death duel? I accept.”

“I came to the Demon Spirit World as a guest, so I aim to befriend others. But you openly violated the Demon Spirit Emperor’s Order, ostracize the Snow Born, Dance Light Masters, High Priests of Ice Snow Divine Sect, and persecute the humanoid alliance majors. I shall climb the Three High Towers, stand before the great Torch of God’s statue, and consult with the Demigod Masters…”

Zhou Leng looked around before continuing, “Whether it’s the Ice Snow Divine Sect unworthy of the trial, or the humanoid alliance being unworthy.”

The Demon Spirit Masters gazed at Zhou Leng, who appeared unscathed, somewhat bewildered.

For so many years, no Demon Spirit Master dared defy the unwritten rules of the Three High Towers.

The Ten Palaces weren’t large; Zhou Leng was speaking in the Seventh Palace, audible to people in the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Palaces.

People from the Sixth and Eighth Palaces went to the entrance, looking toward the Seventh Palace.

Cyan Flame was silently meditating in the Fifth Palace.

Song of the Long Wind was also in the Seventh Palace; he hesitated for a moment and said, “I am not here to argue for this human Martial Artist, only to say, I’m not his rival, not even close. If anyone intends to initiate a life-or-death challenge, you’d better think it over.”

Those Demon Spirit Masters eager to try paused, for Song of the Long Wind had a considerable reputation in the Three High Towers.

“Have you fought him?” one Demon Spirit Master asked.

Song of the Long Wind sighed, “I haven’t fought him.”

“Then why do you say that?”

“We encountered each other on the battlefield road’s arena. My Demon Spirit Assistant is a Giant and was knocked out by this man with a single punch. After I conceded, he began to speak nonsensical words; I suspect his brain is damaged so I let him go.”

“A single punch?”

“A single punch.”

“I recall Storm Gate also said a human Martial Artist killed his Black Dragon assistant with a single punch.”

“Nonsense? Storm Gate is right in the Fifth Palace, bring him here.”

Shortly, a Demon Spirit Master from the Three High Towers led Storm Gate to the place.

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