However, this Martial Arts Trace has not been thoroughly researched yet, and it contains powerful forces.

Currently, only Martial Arts Grandmasters or higher, and Chief Scientists or higher can access it.

Zhou Leng checked the forum discussions and saw many young Intermediate Divine Text Researchers crying out and expressing their dissatisfaction.

He glanced at his own title, still at the level of a full professor.

Above this is tenured professor, Yangtze River Scholar, and only then the Chief Scientist.

Too low a level to see the contents of the Ancient River Jade Stele.

He looked at the system messages, mostly notifications awarding Contribution Points.

Two of them were different.

Official information from the "Ancient River Ruins Research Institute."

The first one stated that since all recent achievements of the Ancient River Ruins Research Institute originated from the "Mysterious Master," it has been approved by the higher authorities to award the title of "Honorary Chief Researcher" to the Mysterious Master.

From now on, the Mysterious Master holds the highest authority over all Ancient River Ruins Research Institute findings.

Now, he can access the three-dimensional image of the Ancient River Jade Stele.

The second message conveyed that the Ancient River Ruins Research Institute made an official judgment, based on the Mysterious Master's insights, that the Ancient River Ruins serve as a trial ground used by an unknown force named 'Ancient River' to select disciples.

This force is temporarily named "Ancient River Sect."

If a way to enter the trial ground is found, conventionally, some "Trial Qualifications" will be distributed before the first entry.

Only those with the Trial Qualification can enter.

This initial Trial Qualification is overlooked by the direct descendants of the Martial Valve Race, as the initial trial is filled with unknowns, and the average mortality rate reaches 50%.

Yet, the indirect descendants of the Martial Valve Race and the offspring of intermediate forces eagerly seek it.

It's their only chance to ascend quickly.

At that time, the Ancient River Ruins Research Institute will issue five anonymous trial qualification electronic vouchers to the "Mysterious Master," who can decide to keep, use, sell, or not use them.

Zhou Leng reviewed the old Ancient River Stele.

The decoded content indicates that for the trial qualification, one should best be below Innate and possess a shadow of the Mountain of Will.

If one can materialize Martial Arts Will and enter the Rock Realm, even better.

"I still quite meet the conditions; if given a chance, I might try it."

Zhou Leng thought of Elder Tree and the Golden Page content.

The Ancient River Sect surely belongs to a force of high-level civilization.

This implies that the selection difficulty for the Ancient River Trial is extremely high.

But the rewards are also tremendously substantial.

Zhou Leng estimated his own level.

The first tier of freshmen is the Vitality Stage.

Currently, he barely touches the edge of the global first tier, but to securely stand within the first tier requires some time for honing.

The primary issue is the newly established foundation, lacking experience accumulation.

If he can pass the Ancient River Trial selection and receive rewards at the high-level civilization level, it will undoubtedly compensate for the final shortcomings and lead directly into the global first tier.

Zhou Leng returned to the class Martial Arts Dojo, sitting in a corner, reviewing the latest piece of the "Martial Arts Trace."

It was a fragmented dark blue jade stele, towering five meters high.

The top of the jade stele had been sliced by an invisible blade, forming a slanted face.

Other areas of the stele bore faint mold spots.

No matter how powerful the force, it could not resist the lengthy erosion of time.

Yet, the blade-sliced top remained as smooth as a mirror, its jade color mellow and eternal.

Through radiocarbon dating and Demon Spirit Spell measurement, this jade stele has existed for 10.2 billion years.

But Blue Star is only about 4 billion years old, and the Sun about 4.5 billion years old, while the known Universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old.

This jade stele is the Solar System's great-grandfather.

However, Zhou Leng was unfazed.

Measurements of various ancient relics showed most relics existed long before Blue Star formed.

Demon Purgatory and Sea Demon World are also older than Blue Star.

This Ancient River Jade Stele has no Divine Text nor explanation, only some fingerprints adhered to it.

Fingerprints etched by a humanoid life form, marking strange patterns on it.

Research Institute personnel tested the hardness of the Ancient River Jade Stele.

Currently, no force in this world can damage it.

They originally sought a Martial Saint to test it, wanting the Martial Saint to attack and see what would happen.

But the Martial Saint only glanced at the cut marks and turned away silently with a disgruntled expression.

It was later learned that attacking the Ancient River Jade Stele would result in death from its contained power.

Researchers had to abandon hardness testing, listing it temporarily as a "Resource for Comprehension."

Currently, both Martial Saints and Grandmasters can comprehend something from it, but with moderate effects.

Innate comprehension is difficult, yielding even less.

Currently, no one below Innate has comprehended anything new.

Lastly, Zhou Leng gazed upon the three-dimensional image of the Ancient River Jade Stele.

The fingerprints looked like ripples, yet no matter how one senses or gazes, nothing could be comprehended.

Zhou Leng pondered, downloading it, viewing it from time to time, in case of sudden comprehension.

Previously, this content was non-downloadable, but with the Honorary Chief Researcher's status, he could download all content from the Ancient River Ruins Research Institute.

Ruda Hall Master's Room.

Wang Boxiong examined Martial Guard Department and Great Wall Shield personnel's intelligence, slightly frowning.

The intelligence revealed that during the Demon attack on Rucheng, someone infiltrated the communication system to locate Zhou Leng's position.

It's confirmed to be an insider from a communication company.

On his way home, this person was killed by a passing Demon.

According to current indications, it was mostly accidental.

Because this person frequently traded with the Demon Worship Sect, with large sums involved, they wouldn't eliminate him over a minor transaction.

Wang Boxiong's face was as dark as a black cloud, recalling some bloody past events.

"This time, Rucheng suffered great losses, and there will surely be a reckoning. If there's a scapegoat, all parties won't waste this opportunity... it could be considered..."

Wang Boxiong opened the Demonized Watch and dialed the Deputy Minister of the Martial Guard Department…

A wild and desolate village.

Shen Jun cursed for a while before helplessly asking his men to contact Tian Wenhua, return the money, and temporarily cancel the assassination.

"Big brother, according to the injuries and nearby surveillance footage, it was Azure Scale who killed him."

"Is it that one praised by Blood of Tyranny, claimed to be the number one genius of the new generation of Azure Royal Family?"

"Yes. We contacted the Sea Siren, and it seems like his maternal cousin died, which affected our people."

"Forget it, we can't afford to provoke the Azure Royal Family; they even have a Demigod now. That Zhou Leng is quite uncanny."

"He is a bit uncanny, almost driving Tian Wenhua insane, and this time, he might actually go insane."

Shen Jun showed regret, saying, "50 million... what a pity. However, I don't do overly risky things. If I get caught for killing Zhou Leng, it's not worth it. Now, I need to fulfill Mrs. Xiyang's order to investigate the cause of Star of Dim Light's death, and not worry about Zhou Leng or Tian Wenhua for now."

"But the Celestial Tier Battlefield has passed for so long, and there's really no trace to be found. Even if you gave those students ten lives each, they couldn't kill Star of Dim Light."

"I know, but she's the Weapon Envoy."

"So what should we do?"

"Anyway, Tong Tianxia and the Flame of Burning Evil passed through there; if necessary, just pin it on those two."

"Won't they come looking for trouble with us?"

"Those two are big fools, filled with righteousness. As long as we don't provoke the Hell Knight Order's 'Shadow's Thorn' Luigi, it's fine. Go, gather everyone to investigate the Celestial Tier Battlefield."

"But in this battle, we suffered heavy casualties..."

Shen Jun casually said, "What's there to worry about? Let the vassals replenish; if not, secretly pressure them to speed up their Demonization, so the Martial Guard has no choice but to come over to our side."

"Yes."

The so-called vassals are those secretly cultivating Demon Skills and attached to the Demon Worship Sect among the Human Race.

"Now, with all this buzz about the Headless God, should we get involved?"

Shen Jun touched his chin, sighed, and said, "The Headless God is so precious. As long as I obtain it, my strength will significantly increase. Unfortunately, too many are eyeing it; to my knowledge, at least five Innate ones have died."

"So terrifying?"

"Even the third son of the Zhao Family is interested. Who dares intervene among ordinary people?"

"Does the Zhao Family lack this?"

"The Zhao Family lacks nothing, yet lacks everything."

"Heh, no wonder Mrs. Xiyang looks down on them..."

"Is that something you should say?"

"Yes, yes, yes..."

"Go."

His subordinate turned and left, Shen Jun glanced at the back of his neck and looked to his confidant, making a cutting gesture across his throat.

The confidant nodded and walked out slowly.

That night.

In a villa.

"The sacrifice needs to be strengthened."

"I think it's enough."

"Not enough, far from enough..."

Under the Frost Giant Tree.

Zhou Leng studied the Ancient River Jade Stele.

Occasionally, he glanced at Huang, looking at the nearby ground.

Seeing if he could dig up a wild Golden Page to explain the Ancient River Jade Stele's Golden Page.

Unfortunately, Huang lay lazily on his back, occasionally reaching out to tap Zhou Leng, wanting to play.

Seeing that Elder Tree seemed uninterested in the Ancient River Jade Stele, Zhou Leng took Huang and went to the shore of Mammoth Lake, took a Pill, and entered the water.

Not cultivating, just soaking as if taking a bath, resting after the battle.

After a while, Xiaoba swam over.

A person, a dog, and an elephant leaned together, quietly soaking in the lake.

Gradually, fatigue welled up, and they closed their eyes to sleep.

Lake scenery, moonlight, and gentle breeze.

After some unknown time, Zhou Leng woke up.

Using Martial Arts perception to check, he found that his ribs had largely healed, as if two or three days had passed.

This meant that he could halve the weight for training and practice Martial Arts normally.

Zhou Leng gazed at the azure Mammoth Lake.

This lake itself was a treasure.

Having completed his morning training, Zhou Leng headed to the Martial Arts Hall, then called Li Yuanhe.

"Third Brother, do you have plans for the next month?"

"It's almost New Year, what could I possibly have? Bored to death," Li Yuanhe said lazily.

"I'm going to the West Sea Demon City for training during the New Year, and upon returning, I'll be escorting Martial Arts Traces from the Ancient River Ruins following the Hall Master's orders. If you have time, apply to join the Sea Suppression Army and see if you can join this team. We can walk back to Rucheng together from the West Sea Demon City defense line. Think it over before answering me."

On the other side of the phone, Li Yuanhe was silent for a long time and said, "Okay. I'll immediately ask my comrades and superiors to see if I can join this team. I'll give you news then."

"Okay."

Zhou Leng felt relieved when he heard him mention "superiors."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.