Limp Qiu finished speaking and kept rummaging for a while before finally finding the photo, then picked up his phone to show the two of them.

Jax glanced at the photo of Zhou Leng's family of four, fixed his gaze on one individual, and said, "I think I've seen this person before, but I can't recall the name."

Tu Rong stared at the photo blankly, and after a long time, said in a hoarse voice, "Ma Xingkong looks very much like Zhou Leng's mother. So, could it be that Ma Xingkong is Zhou Leng's uncle?"

"Yes, we guessed the same at the time. But Ma Xingkong is a taboo in Rucheng, afraid of causing trouble for Zhou Leng, which is why I didn't want to say much earlier."

"I never expected..." Tu Rong sighed with deep emotion.

"So it was Ma Xingkong. I've heard of him in the Eagle Alliance..." Jax said thoughtfully.

Jax told Limp Qiu to leave, then looked at Tu Rong and asked, "Do you know Ma Xingkong?"

Tu Rong said, "He saved my life. I was young back then, hanging around outside. My boss got into trouble with the Principal of Eighth Middle School. The Principal led the whole school's martial arts faculty and students to capture us. I would have been caught and sentenced too, but Ma Xingkong saw I was small and skinny, recognized I was forced to be a thug, and reported to Principal Lu, who let me go. I didn't think he would be Zhou Leng's uncle."

Jax said, "I remember you said before that you were going to gather people to hit Zhou Leng for your friend. Later, you found out Zhou Leng was commended by Principal Lu from Eighth Middle School, and decided not to go against someone the principal valued. You ended up turning danger into safety and saved your life?"

"Yes," Tu Rong said slowly, "I still remember Ma Xingkong walking over, patting me on the back, and sending me away."

"Quite interesting." Jax hadn't expected there to be this layer of connection between the two.

"How's your friend, the one whose leg Zhou Leng kept breaking?"

"Tao Bing hasn't gone back to the Martial Arts Hall to study. He's scared to death of Zhou Leng. Especially after I told him that Chang Luan and his son might have been killed by Zhou Leng. He's been too terrified to leave the house for a month."

"Life's encounters..." Jax sighed softly.

That night, Zhou Leng went to the tavern at the Tree-man Base, drinking and chatting with Zhao He, Lou Fei Qiong, and some of the Human Race's Innates.

Zhou Leng spoke very little, just listening to their conversations.

Initially, they were only discussing martial arts and great events of the Ten Realms, but after drinking a lot, they started talking about various gossip.

For instance, whose son or daughter got involved with which star or internet celebrity, whose family made a big haul in the financial market, whose family acquired shares in a new company, who profited greatly from trade between the Ten Realms...

It seemed like they talked about everything, yet they never touched upon any important or sensitive topics.

Zhou Leng wanted to hear some explosive gossip, but unfortunately, there was none to be heard.

Since it was a wartime zone, people weren't playing as freely.

Several people asked to add Zhou Leng as a friend on Martial Faith, and he did, but still said little.

Zhou Leng remained calm and composed, as they were not from the same circle to begin with. There was no need to forcefully integrate.

Lou Fei Qiong came over and asked if Zhou Leng wanted to go outside to sober up.

Zhou Leng saw that he had something to say, so they walked outside together.

Once they left, someone looked at Zhao He.

"Second Brother, what's the deal with Zhou Leng, why is he so aloof?"

Zhao He said, "Don't ask me, ask Brother Hu, he just got beaten by Brother Hu."

"Brigadier General Chen?"

"No kidding."

"This person... not very interesting."

"He's an Extreme Martial Artist, focused solely on cultivating martial arts. Just showing up to this event is giving me face."

"I don't think this person will go far."

"Whether you think so or not is of no consequence." Zhao He glanced at the doorway.

He's seen all kinds of people, and the more determined Zhou Leng is, the more optimistic he is about him.

Those truly powerful Grandmasters and Martial Saints are mostly like this.

They never compromise with worldly power.

If Zhou Leng were to lower himself and blend in with these people, then Zhao He would feel that Zhou Leng wouldn't go far.

Lou Fei Qiong and Zhou Leng stood outside the Tree-man Tavern, looking at the starry sky of the night.

"The nights here and in the Giant World seem brighter than on Blue Star," Lou Fei Qiong said.

"It probably has to do with the position of the planets. Blue Star is far from the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, while here and the Giant World are closer to the center of their respective galaxies," Zhou Leng said.

"You've grown quite fast, but your foundation is more important. Like Chen Shouhu and Wang Boxiong, those predecessors had slow but sure progress that suits you better. The path Li Shenkong took is too difficult."

"I'm also trying to take the slow but sure route. Li Shenkong had abundant resources from a young age, essentially putting him ten years ahead of me. We're destined to take different paths," Zhou Leng said.

"I rarely see you at the Ancient River Research Bureau," Lou Fei Qiong said.

"I'm used to freedom, don't want to be constrained," Zhou Leng said.

"Our Ancient River Sect is quite interesting; with so many people joining, yet no one has ever mentioned who the head senior brother is," Lou Fei Qiong said, still looking into the distance.

"Indeed." Zhou Leng answered plainly.

"A few days ago, I had a family gathering and learned that you're actually Ma Xingkong's nephew," Lou Fei Qiong said.

Zhou Leng's eyes flickered, "I thought you already knew."

"What's past is past. Some people are fixated on it, but we're different from them. No need for internal strife. I heard you're with the external affairs faction, right?"

"Yes." Zhou Leng remained calm.

"We should strive to exorcise demons and destroy evil, after all, time is running out for humanity. The final battle of the Ten Realms is about to begin."

Zhou Leng said, "This Tree-man battle is quite unusual."

"Yeah, I suspect this Tree-man battle might be the prelude to the second Ten Realms war."

The two chatted idly, then Lou Fei Qiong went back inside, and Zhou Leng left for his room in the Tree Root Cave.

In his mind, he kept replaying the things Lou Fei Qiong had said earlier.

"Slow but sure progress..."

"Family gathering..."

"Some people are fixated..."

"I heard you're with the external affairs faction..."

"Time is running out for humanity..."

Zhou Leng pondered over these words repeatedly and eventually seemed to gain insight.

After nursing his injuries for three more days, Zhou Leng opened the Martial Arts City app and actively applied to participate in the defense against the giant insect battle.

Feeling the power of his body, he was full of confidence.

In just six days, his strength had increased significantly.

True Liquid Innate, thoroughly stabilized. Once the Embracing Essence Pill bought with borrowed money arrives, I can quickly compress True Qi.

Reaching ten times the density will allow advancement to Blood Shocking Innate.

Once achieving Blood Shocking Innate, the destructive power will reach a new level.

The application was just sent out when loud cheers came from the direction of the city wall.

"The giant insects have retreated..."

Zhou Leng looked at the cheering races on the wall, full of questions.

What about my war merits?

Did I come here just to cultivate?

Although the effectiveness is indeed good.

Zhou Leng ascended the city wall and looked out.

In the area of dozens of kilometers ahead, not a blade of grass grew. Large pits and scorched blackness were everywhere.

Dried bones, broken limbs, and filthy blood were scattered all around.

A long wind blew past, empty and desolate.

At the horizon's edge, giant insects drifted away.

The smallest insect was three meters high, capable of filling a small room.

The largest beetle moved slowly like an entire building.

Zhou Leng asked the Tree-man Captain beside him, "Friend, why did the giant insects retreat?"

The Tree-man Captain's face was complex.

"On one hand, they have conquered another tribe, killed a Tree of Life, acquiring a Heart of Life, completing their strategic goal."

"On the other hand, this time the reinforcements were numerous and strong, causing significant losses to the giant insects. It's expected they will switch to attack other areas, at which point there will be far fewer reinforcements from various races."

Zhou Leng understood, the Demon City base leads to all realms, and the Humanoid Alliance would naturally offer full support.

If the battlefield were only within the Tree-man World, while the Humanoid Alliance would assist, their efforts would be greatly diminished.

Such is human nature.

Tree-men also find it hard to give their all in aiding the great battles of alien worlds.

Zhou Leng was even more disheartened than the Tree-man Captain, touching his War Merit Token; it had been six days, and his war merits were still at zero.

However, the power of life borrowed was not lacking.

The group of fifty from the Ancient River Sect became active.

Early disciples of the Ancient River Sect stationed at the Tree-man Base started chatting.

Zhou Leng looked and realized it was the Innate disciple who had returned from reporting to Shuizhou Demon City.

He sent messages to other disciples of the Ancient River Sect; many came, but some had no response.

Either they were cultivating, or they were far away in the Demon City or even the Otherworld.

Chang Luan was still in the Giant World, while Elder Song trained alone in the Demon Purgatory, and Zhang Xinglie had rushed into the Beastman World to fight, rumored for some treasure opening there.

Brother Li Yuanhe didn't come; the Ancient River Sect needed him too much.

He had already shifted to an administrative path, nominally a deputy director, but effectively overseeing the daily operations of the Ancient River Research Bureau.

Old friends each busy with their own affairs.

Zhou Leng wanted to involve them in searching for Ancient Tree Fossils, but unexpectedly, they all had their own schedules.

Browsing through the chat page of Martial Faith, scrolling down slowly, eyes fell on the avatar of Rao Mingxian.

Opening it, nothing had changed; everything seemed frozen on the day of the Huang Meng Sect's city assault.

After that day, there was no new intelligence on Zhang Xiaoxiao and Tong Tianxia either.

The Huang Meng Sect seemed to have evaporated.

Zhou Leng looked up, silently gazing into the distance.

As the giant insects passed, the land lay barren.

Descending from the city wall, returning to the Tree Root Cave room, silently cultivating.

Compared with the beginning, the overall efficiency of cultivation kept improving.

The main reason for the accelerated cultivation is the enhancement of life's power which increases body activity.

The stronger the body's activity, the more external strength, the better the cultivation results.

However, the enhancement of body activity has its limits.

By then, cultivation efficiency will stabilize within a certain range and no longer improve.

Feeling the body's activity nearing its limit, Zhou Leng recalled the content of the second part of the "Star Gazing Technique," so he slowly read.

The first part mainly focused on cultivation technique operation, while the second part was a miscellany involving much cultivation knowledge.

Zhou Leng slowly read, growing increasingly clear about his cultivation status.

Approaching the evening, a message arrived that the previously bought Embracing Essence Pills had arrived and could be collected.

Zhou Leng went to the human station to receive a large number of Embracing Essence Pills.

Now, the Embracing Essence Pills on hand, combined with those consumed before, total 90 pills.

Returning to the Tree Root Cave room, he saw Vigorous Root and several Tree-men chatting at the door.

The Tree-men's voices were low and deep, echoing in the corridor.

"Vigorous Root." Zhou Leng greeted first.

"Zhou Leng."

"Let's talk inside."

Entering the room, Zhou Leng brewed a pot of tea, pouring it into cups for his four Tree-man friends.

The Tree-men extended a root each, inserting it into their respective teacups.

Zhou Leng remained silent.

Every time he saw Tree-men drinking tea, it always reminded him of soaking feet.

The tea in the cup gradually diminished.

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.