Chen Shouhu asked as he walked, "How did you two meet?"

Zhou Leng recounted the events.

Chen Shouhu was amazed, "You're getting along pretty well in the Ten Realms, you have friends everywhere—dwarves, giants, and now tree people too. You're like the social butterfly of the Ten Realms."

"Social butterfly is too tacky, my friends usually call me the Knight of the Ten Realms." Zhou Leng replied calmly.

"Yeah, right. As for Zhao He, how should I put it? He's not like Zhao Tong, a spoiled fool who's also bad, nor like Zhao Cong, the eldest of the Zhao Family, who's scheming and ruthless. At least Zhao He's decent overall, but you shouldn't get too close. You understand?"

"Understood." Zhou Leng naturally understood that anyone who could make Chen Shouhu put on a stern face in public was definitely not a good person. Coming from Xiongjing and the Military Gate, Chen Shouhu must know what he's talking about.

Common people and trivial matters wouldn't make him say such insensitive things.

"What do you think of Martial Saint Chen Shaohuang?" Chen Shouhu asked.

"He's a very powerful senior, top-notch in every aspect among the Second Generation Martial Saints." Zhou Leng said.

"You better not call him a Second Generation Martial Saint in front of them; they don't like being categorized by generations. Even if they appear humble on the surface, deep down they consider themselves the best." Chen Shouhu commented.

"I hadn't heard of that, I won't bring it up in the future." Zhou Leng was just discussing based on what he read online.

"Well, are you interested in having my teacher, Chen Shaohuang, as your mentor?"

"Huh? Hall Master Wang should have mentioned this to you, right?" Zhou Leng looked at Chen Shouhu, puzzled.

"That's exactly why I'm asking. Because he was bragging that Saint Zhu has already taken you in, I came to ask. Anyway, you haven't formally become his disciple yet. If you join Saint Chen now, no one can do anything to you. If Saint Zhu gets upset, my teacher would handle it, so it won't affect you."

"I've already promised Hall Master Wang." Zhou Leng responded.

"What you agreed to before has nothing to do with today. You can change your mind." Chen Shouhu said nonchalantly.

"I'm a person, not an actor." Zhou Leng understood the cost of going back on his word.

"Stubborn! Why did Wang Huaixiong choose someone so bull-headed like you? Don't you know how much of a manipulator Wang Huaixiong is? He's clearly Saint Zhu's disciple, yet he cozies up to my teacher all the time because of my teacher's appreciation. I suspect he often says things like, 'Saint Chen, you are guiding me in martial arts, won't your disciples get upset?' to my teacher. He's sure to say such things."

Zhou Leng was stunned for a moment, almost laughing. Can people really behave like this?

"It's not that bad, Hall Master Wang still has his limits."

"It is!" Chen Shouhu insisted.

Zhou Leng was curious, "What did Hall Master Wang do to make the tree people dislike him?"

Chen Shouhu's expression softened as he said, "You can't really blame him for this. To save... a friend, he found a way to get a tree-man heart from the tree people but ended up failing to save them. He felt guilty and couldn't face them, leading to a period of dejection. Later on, he pulled himself together and went to the Tree-man World to fulfill a promise. He did keep his promise, but he was a couple of months late. The tree people are conservative and stubborn, and he didn't really explain the situation, which led to some conflict."

Chen Shouhu paused, then slowly continued, "Since then, he's never set foot in the Tree-man World again."

"I see..." Zhou Leng replied softly.

"He had just achieved the Innate level back then, to be able to obtain a tree-man heart, really impressive. Although he's cunning... very cunning." Chen Shouhu remarked.

Zhou Leng nodded.

"Don't mention this to him. By the way, how have you been doing in cultivation?" Chen Shouhu checked Zhou Leng out from top to bottom.

Zhou Leng hid some things but shared everything about the martial arts he could publicly disclose.

"So your Innate Palm Technique has reached minor achievement? Ultimate Killing Move? Not bad, come on, let's spar together, just us brothers."

Zhou Leng felt something was off and was about to refuse when Chen Shouhu wrapped an arm around him in a semi-forceful, semi-friendly way, leading him toward the Independent Martial Arts Hall.

"Brigadier General Chen, this isn't right."

"Many people want to spar with me but can't, let them envy you."

"It's not that..."

Chen Shouhu applied gentle pressure with his right hand.

People nearby took a look and quietly backed away.

It was as if they were watching a scene where a tiger led a lamb into a cave.

Many people there knew Chen Shouhu and stood curiously at the entrance waiting.

Occasionally, they heard loud thudding sounds from inside.

After a good half-hour, Chen Shouhu walked out smiling.

A bruised and swollen Zhou Leng hobbled out after him.

"I went a bit hard on you this time, rest for three more days." Chen Shouhu said as he left with large strides.

The crowd looked at Zhou Leng with sympathy and envy.

Zhou Leng looked up at the sky, thinking he was there to support the Tree-man Race, but now, first resting three days due to injury, and then resting three more days due to injury.

Escaped Wang Huaixiong, couldn't escape Chen Fenghu.

When he becomes a Grandmaster, he'll first take down Chen Fenghu, and even the Celestial King couldn't stop him!

But for now, Zhou Leng starts recalling the fight.

Chen Shouhu uses a combination of Zhang Xinglie's technique and Mountain and River Origin's battle style, strikes with no return, with the intent of Mountain River Guardian.

He doesn't know the Heart and Mind Shadow Splitting Battle Technique at all, but the No Return Battle Technique and Mountain River Guardian Technique are incredibly powerful.

Although he's not as precise in technique as Elder Song, he surpasses Elder Song greatly in momentum.

Chen Shouhu, being in the military, has undergone countless battles honing himself.

The Heart and Mind Shadow Splitting Battle Technique allows the style to vary, always choosing the most appropriate move.

At its peak, not only are the moves unbeatable but it also sees through the opponent's moves.

The Mountain River Guardian Technique allows a move to have the user's will attached to it, the higher the level, the more frightening the power.

At its peak, the power of the Mountain River Guardian Technique matches True Qi.

The No Return Battle Technique, fearless and bold, once launched, there's no fear, no worry, only charging forward.

At its peak, undefeated in life, and after death, the fighting spirit persists, martial dao essence qi remains in the world.

This fight, the Grandmaster level No Return Battle Technique and Mountain River Guardian Technique, opened Zhou Leng's eyes.

Chen Fenghu subtly pointed out a path towards Grandmaster level.

Although it was a sparring session, Chen Shouhu himself possesses the Giant Body, even when suppressing his power to the Blood Shock level, he's too overpowering.

Initially, Zhou Leng could fight back a bit, but eventually, he was overwhelmed by the No Return Battle Technique and Mountain River Guardian Technique, only able to defend, unable to attack.

The heart and mind are subdued, the will is suppressed, no matter what, there is no chance of winning.

A complete defeat.

However, the harvest was far beyond imagination.

This battle yielded the greatest benefits among all battles.

All previous battles, the Flesh and Blood War Chariot, Martial Stone-man, Barbarian Star Axe, Azure Scale, all combined couldn't compare to the effects of this battle.

Zhou Leng simply sat down on the spot, recalling the battle just now.

Imprinting every detail deeply in his mind.

Using innate power to execute the Grandmaster Battle Technique is easier to learn.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, the Power of Life surged out, entering his body to heal his injuries.

Once the memories were firmly in place, Zhou Leng returned to his room in the Tree Root Cave, repeatedly recalling and pondering the battle with Chen Shouhu.

"No Return Battle Technique..."

"Mountain River Guardian Technique..."

At the same time, he also recalled the moves from the Mountain and River Origin and Zhang Xinglie, then the teachings of Elder Song, and some popular martial arts videos on the internet...

Originally, many incomprehensible areas slowly became integrated and made sense.

In just one day, his understanding of the No Return Battle Technique and Mountain River Guardian Technique made further progress, soon able to master one.

Zhou Leng thought for a moment and decided to master the No Return Battle Technique first, then learn the Mountain River Guardian Technique.

The No Return Battle Technique and Heart and Mind Shadow are easier to combine, while Mountain River Guardian and Heart and Mind Shadow are more difficult to integrate.

Before sleep, he perceived his body.

The battle with Chen Shouhu was similar to the battle with the Flesh and Blood War Chariot.

Covered in injuries.

Afterwards, although he didn't deliberately heal himself, always learning combat techniques, the injuries unexpectedly recovered seventy to eighty percent.

Pretty much equivalent to soaking continuously in Mammoth Lake.

The healing capability of the Tree of Life is indeed strong.

No wonder the Tree-man Race isn't large in number but always remains unafraid of the Giant Insect Race.

With powerful recovery abilities, the Tree-man Race's sustained warfare capability equals that of dozens of times the enemy.

Deep into the night, Shuizhou Demon City.

A Demon Worship Sect team stopped.

Mrs. Xiyang, riding a black Hell Horse with flaming hooves, looked at a few subordinates.

"Our main force will enter the Demon Purgatory, then head to the Giant Insect World, led by Celestial Calamity Envoy, to attack the Tree-man tribe. To accumulate enough Power of Life for the next White Lake."

"You few, infiltrate the Tree-man Base without revealing your identity."

"Yes." The few people responded in unison.

"Rao Mingxian, you stay behind first."

After Mrs. Xiyang finished speaking, Shen Jun and the other Demon Worshipers left.

Shen Jun occasionally glanced back at Mrs. Xiyang and Rao Mingxian.

"What's the situation on the Rao Family's side?" Mrs. Xiyang sat upright on the horse, looking down at Rao Mingxian beneath.

At this moment, Rao Mingxian appeared like a regular person, but with a circle of blood rings surrounding his pupils.

"The two heirs of the Rao Family head died in succession, the core and most of the Rao Family elders were killed by Huang Meng Sect, yet the Martial Mansion ignores Huang Meng Sect. Since that Blood Night, the Rao Family is irreconcilable with Dragon Country. The Innate of Rao Family only I remain, temporarily acting as Patriarch, only gazing at your leadership."

Mrs. Xiyang asked, "What does the Zhao Family mean?"

"At all costs, to kill Tong Tianxia."

"Are you looking towards me, or killing Tong Tianxia?"

Rao Mingxian half-kneeled on the ground, lowering his head, "The lady's orders are greater than the Zhao Family."

"Your request."

"Kill Zhang Xiaoxiao, to avenge the family."

"So, between Tong Tianxia and Zhang Xiaoxiao, you choose the latter?"

"Yes."

"Haven't you always been chasing Zhang Xiaoxiao?"

"She has the Headless God, and Huang Meng Sect has always been protecting her from behind, I have no chance."

"As long as you're loyal, I'll give you the opportunity."

"Yes, madam."

Mrs. Xiyang grasped the reins and looked up into the distant night sky.

"I heard you know Zhou Leng?"

"An old friend from the past, no contact anymore."

"I'll give you a month, kill him." The corners of her lips under the veil slightly lifted, her two slender legs squeezed the horse's side, and the Hell Horse galloped forward.

Behind her, a large group of Demon Worshipers followed running.

Rao Mingxian's body turned rigid, gazing blankly at Mrs. Xiyang's departing figure.

Shen Jun and others came over.

"Let's go, settle down first in the Tree-man Base, then find a chance to meet up with Jax and his group." Shen Jun said.

The Demon Worship Sect members quietly walked.

After a long while, Rao Mingxian asked, "Brother Shen, what are White Lake and White Lake Lotus Fruit?"

Shen Jun said: "They are things of the Demon, Magic Bag Garden, White Lake, and that Bone Mountain Grinding Disc, all are things for the Demon to convert power."

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