Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 557 - 540: Flower Demon

Rao Mingxian said, "Second Young Master, the team cannot do without you. You should return first, and I’ll see Zhou Leng off."

"Alright, sending a friend off for a thousand miles always ends in farewell. I hope we can meet at the Zhao Palace outside the Dragon Battlefield, where mountains and rivers are long, and we shall meet again someday."

"We shall meet again someday."

Zhao He turned and left, while Rao Mingxian accompanied Zhou Leng on their way.

After walking for a while, Rao Mingxian said, "I couldn’t mention this when Zhao He was around. Zhang Xiaoxiao joined us in the Ancient Beast Stone Wall."

"She came in too? And then?"

"Successfully passed the First Layer of the trial. As for whether she passed the Second Layer, I’m not sure, but she definitely gained some benefits there."

"That’s good." Zhou Leng felt somewhat relieved.

Rao Mingxian remained silent for a moment, then slowly asked, "You know Zhang Xiaoxiao killed my family. What do you think about this matter?"

Zhou Leng was also silent for a long time and asked, "Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

"The truth."

"She committed a crime, but she wasn’t wrong."

Rao Mingxian’s face showed a mix of blue and red, his right hand clenching into a fist, "Is this why, despite the report landing right in front of you, you ignored it?"

Zhou Leng remained silent.

He knew then that the report against Zhang Xiaoxiao was sent by Rao Mingxian.

The two continued walking silently.

Much later, Rao Mingxian said, "Zhang Xiaoxiao is dead."

"Hmm?" Zhou Leng suddenly stopped in his tracks, staring into Rao Mingxian’s eyes.

Rao Mingxian let out a long sigh, "You should know, she couldn’t go with us all the way, so we parted ways later. Then, when I saw her again, she was severely injured, her oil running dry. She glared at me, using a Demon Spirit Artifact to set herself ablaze. To the end, she was so stubborn."

Zhou Leng felt a surge of words in his stomach, yet he didn’t know how to express them.

Finally, he said, "I remember you fought in the Tree-man World, right?"

Rao Mingxian nodded, "We crossed swords, evenly matched. After she finished the First Layer of the Ancient Beast Stone Wall, she far surpassed me."

"Who killed her?"

Rao Mingxian shook his head, "In such a chaotic place, I dared not investigate, only leaving quickly. We later discussed that with Zhang Xiaoxiao’s strength at the time, if she wanted to escape, no one could kill her, unless it was a top-tier Innate King."

Zhou Leng asked some more about Zhang Xiaoxiao, and Rao Mingxian answered each question, but never mentioned the Eight-toothed Mammoth and Black Armored Vicious Wolf.

Zhou Leng sighed softly, not understanding why the Huang Meng Sect allowed Zhang Xiaoxiao into the Great Battlefield, as it was too dangerous.

But for some reason, hearing that Zhang Xiaoxiao most likely died at the hands of a demon gave him a sense of relief, as it might have been a release for her.

She had suffered too much in the past.

Unfortunately, this was the Great Battlefield, making it impossible to investigate Zhang Xiaoxiao’s cause of death.

There were no flaws in Rao Mingxian’s words.

Even if there were suspicions, it was impossible to pursue further.

Zhou Leng kept this matter in mind and bid farewell to Rao Mingxian.

After parting with Zhou Leng, Rao Mingxian returned to tell Zhao He about their conversation.

"What might be the crown of light above his head?" Zhao He asked.

Rao Mingxian shook his head, "I’m not sure, but the Demon suspects it might be for achieving special war merits or completing special trials. However, the dense dragon scale markings on his exposed skin can’t be faked, undeniably proving he’s killed many demons."

Zhao He said, "Do you think he suspects me?"

"No, on the Great Battlefield, anything can happen. Besides, you didn’t actually kill Zhang Xiaoxiao, you just drove her away. And without any surprises, Zhang Xiaoxiao has already died in some deserted place."

Zhao He stared at Rao Mingxian, "You’ve always said Zhou Leng belongs to the foreign faction, opposing internal conflicts and advocating unity against external forces. But why do the things he says to me seem to have some underlying meaning?"

Rao Mingxian carefully recalled what Zhou Leng had said, "I don’t think he’s the kind of person who would allude to hidden meanings. I didn’t understand much of what he said, but even if he did imply something, I guess it’s the old story, hoping Zhao Family descendants would act according to Saint Zhao’s spirit. All those who revere Saint Zhao think this way, I’m sure you’ve encountered it before."

Zhao He glanced at Rao Mingxian, seemingly convinced, and smiled, "Encountered? From childhood to adulthood, countless uncles and masters have advised us this way. With what you’ve said, I understand better now. If he truly stands for going against external threats, he’s even more worth drawing over to my side."

Rao Mingxian said, "Indeed. People from their faction detest internal strife, focusing on external threats, so he basically poses no threat to the Zhao Family."

Zhao He paused for a moment, about to say something, but then abandoned it and changed his approach, "You’ve done well in the Great Battlefield. I’ll try to secure a White Lake Lotus Fruit for you. Big Brother is preparing for the Corpse King’s Throne, and if you can advance to Grandmaster, you might earn a chance at the Corpse King’s Throne."

Rao Mingxian smiled wryly, "Thank you, Second Young Master, for the encouragement. As soon as you exit the Great Battlefield, you can advance to Grandmaster. But for me, reaching Great Innate is already the limit. Reaching Grandmaster is impossible."

"You still have hope. Work hard with me, and the Zhao Family won’t treat you unfairly."

"I swear to follow the Zhao Family loyally!"

Zhao He smiled and nodded.

"Let’s go, to find White Lake. The Celestial Calamity Envoy should be arriving soon. To witness an incarnation of a Divine Spirit is a rare fortune..."

Zhao He’s eyes revealed a trace of fervor, as this was indeed a true Divine Spirit, not a false god, not a Void God.

At that moment, a team of demons approached, led by the Hundred-Eyed Bow, "Second Young Master Zhao, Zhou Leng is on the Celestial Calamity Envoy’s hunting list. Please allow us to pursue him."

Zhao He displayed a friendly smile, "Dear demon friends, his momentum is impressive, and we do not know what gains he achieved in the Great Battlefield, so rash actions may not succeed. Moreover, our main goal is to find White Lake and locate the Celestial Calamity Envoy. As for Zhou Leng, he is of little importance."

"We should have joined forces to kill him just now."

"There are too many people and tongues, making some things difficult to do."

"You humans are so indecisive." The demons cursed a few times and then left.

Zhao He didn’t dare to retort, showing an embarrassed look, and said to Rao Mingxian, "No matter is small with the aliens, the bigger picture is vital."

Rao Mingxian nodded but cursed inwardly, criticizing that he should display the same enthusiasm for scolding as he does in front of them. Acting like a lord before us and like a grandson before the demons, preferring to unite with demons rather than with us, heh.

Rao Mingxian turned his head, looking in the direction where Zhou Leng had left.

Zhou Leng walked while reminiscing about his childhood experiences playing with Zhang Xiaoxiao.

The earliest memories were very vague, probably Grandma Zhang carrying a little child, passing through the garden of the community.

Pinkish, like a ball of milk.

The young Zhou Leng looked up, that little child was biting her index finger.

Grandma Zhang forcibly removed the finger, and then she cried loudly.

Some memories gradually floated into his mind.

Then, he involuntarily thought of another child from the same community who had been harmed, not familiar with each other, but had played together in childhood.

He also recalled Hu Yi’s mother and her braised pork.

Very tasty, very tasty.

After a long time, he took out the Demon Spirit ring and transformed into Guan Canglong’s appearance.

Zhou Leng’s gaze became colder than before.

The Perfect Garden was incredibly beautiful, with dazzling colors everywhere, almost like impressionist paintings, full of gorgeous hues.

Even though Zhou Leng was always vigilant before, he couldn’t resist taking photos and videos of especially beautiful plants, and even picked some specimens to study upon returning to Blue Star.

But for some reason, upon transforming into Guan Canglong, the entire Perfect Garden felt completely different.

The brightness diminished a bit, the colors darkened, less radiant than before.

Occasionally, he would notice some black shadows he had never encountered before, fleetingly.

Zhou Leng searched for the shadows multiple times but always to no avail.

Hence, he deployed drones for aerial reconnaissance.

Unfortunately, this place was shrouded in a mysterious force, and in the images returned by the drones, at a distance, they could only see repeated scenery.

Golden light shimmering, flowers blooming, and nothing else could be seen.

Collecting the drones, Zhou Leng ran all the way.

No matter if it was the Ten Realms Demon or battlefield monsters, he killed them without a word.

The blood balls behind him, countless and dense, like a thick giant wall.

Gradually, Zhou Leng discovered some patterns.

The brightness of the plants deepened from outside to inside.

Some plants only existed deep within, not at the edges.

Thus, he adjusted his direction according to the blank trajectory map, heading straight into the depths of the garden.

The further he went, the more demons he encountered.

Even in groups.

Zhou Leng seemed to be stimulated by Divine Spirit power, becoming increasingly ferocious, needing no reason, killing upon sight.

Even if there were many enemies, he charged straight in.

The True Qi of Celestial Tide Palm roared like a tiger, the sword energy of Void-Breaking Finger flashed like lightning, leaving corpses everywhere.

No matter how many or how strong the demons were, they eventually broke their morale and scattered.

Every time in fights against many, he was covered in wounds.

Yet Zhou Leng was oblivious, devouring pills to replenish himself, and continued finding new targets.

Unknowingly, the demons he encountered began to dwindle.

In the distance, appeared a sea of golden flowers, waist-high.

The flowers were unique, not fixed, continuously changing shapes.

Sometimes they were elongated, sometimes disc-shaped, sometimes trumpet-shaped, rotating between various flower forms.

Suddenly, three meters ahead, a golden flower rose high, forming a shape like a sunflower, facing Zhou Leng.

"Hello, mighty human Martial Artist."

A strange sound vibrated and transformed automatically into familiar Dragon Country language when it reached the ears.

"Brilliant Flower Demon?" Zhou Leng asked.

"It seems you know quite a lot about us." The voice was that of an elderly woman, calm and generous.

"What is your purpose?"

"You come to our home and ask what our purpose is?"

Zhou Leng said, "As far as I know, the whole Great Battlefield belongs to the Divine Spirit, no ordinary being has the right to claim it."

"Your heart is full of vigilance, we can understand. After all, without enough power, one cannot survive on the Great Battlefield. However, we harbor no hostility towards you; on the contrary. We wish to make a deal with you."

"What deal?"

"We offer the blessing of the Flower Demons, and you leave the Perfect Garden."

"Why do you not want me here?"

"Mighty as you are, any tribe would find you both respectable and frightening."

"Why did those Demons come here?"

"Probably to obtain Golden Flowers or other important treasures."

"I refuse the deal. When to leave the Perfect Garden, I will decide." Zhou Leng said.

"Then you may become enemies of the entire Brilliant Demon Flower tribe."

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