CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 46 BASIC DIVINE TEXT RESEARCHER

Zhou Leng said, "Does martial arts refer to martial arts research?"

"Yes."

"Then I probably am not very skilled. To be honest, I’ve done some research in the Divine Text domain. Recently, I’ve been delving deeper into it." Zhou Leng said.

Deng Zhijue was slightly surprised and said, "You’re so young, yet you study the Divine Text? The Divine Text is said to be the crown jewel of the Ten Realms’ research domains, as profound as martial arts."

"I have a little talent for Divine Text." Zhou Leng said.

Deng Zhijue’s eyes lit up and said, "If you say you have talent, it must be true. This morning, there’s a practical exam, and classes start formally in the afternoon. After class, we’ll head to the ’Examination Room’ to take the ’Basic Divine Text Researcher’ online exam."

"This exam must be quite difficult?" Zhou Leng’s eyes had a peculiar look.

"All exams related to Divine Text are difficult. I don’t expect you to pass it all at once, just give it a try to see how much you can score. Once you have a baseline, you can prepare for the next time."

"Okay."

Deng Zhijue smiled and said, "If you really pass this exam, you won’t just get a monthly stipend of 6000, but you’ll also be eligible to participate in the Divine Text Bureau’s Divine Text deciphering rewards."

Zhou Leng seemed a bit distracted and hesitated for a moment, "Instructor, could you help me unfreeze my online account? I tried to participate in some online activities before but had to stop because I couldn’t communicate."

"Online account? You..." Deng Zhijue paused for a moment and quickly understood.

"Is it because of your uncle?" Deng Zhijue asked.

Zhou Leng nodded and said, "Besides that, there’s no reason to freeze an ordinary person’s account like mine."

Deng Zhijue sighed and said, "My rank doesn’t allow me to handle this. But I’ll ask the Hall Master; his authority should suffice."

"Hmm? The Hall Master would care about my problem?" Zhou Leng asked.

Deng Zhijue gave Zhou Leng a peculiar look and then said meaningfully, "Our Hall Master Wang Boxiong is a very kind senior. If he knows you’re in trouble, he’d be willing to help."

"Please thank the Hall Master for me."

"I’ll contact him now."

After Deng Zhijue sent a message to Wang Boxiong, he said, "Let’s go to the Martial Arts Hall first."

Wang Boxiong walked out of the Innate Martial Arts Hall, looked at the message Deng Zhijue sent, and squinted slightly.

Wang Boxiong pondered for a while and sent a message to Chen Shouhu.

"Zhou Leng’s online account is frozen, and he can’t even take online exams."

"What’s that got to do with me? He’s with your Martial Guard Bureau now."

"I don’t have enough authority."

"And you think I do?"

"Ha."

The two engaged in a veiled argument.

Looking at the word "ha," Chen Shouhu pictured Wang Boxiong’s icy face.

Chen Shouhu snorted, turning off the projection screen.

After a long while, he reluctantly dialed a number.

"Hello, second uncle."

"First off, I’m not cleaning up any messes for you."

"It’s not that. I just need a favor to unfreeze an online account."

There was a long silence on the other end before it said, "You called the main headquarters just to unfreeze an account? Explain clearly."

"Zhou Leng, just a kid."

"Bullshit."

"Ma Xingkong’s nephew."

"You little brat, always causing trouble for your second uncle. I can’t; this matter was too big back in the day, I can’t intervene."

"When did you become so cowardly? Didn’t you also criticize them back then?"

"Cough, overall, it’s not a good situation."

"Then what should I do? I’ve already promised Wang Huaixiong."

"Where is that kid now?"

"At Ruda’s Affiliated Martial Arts Hall."

"A Martial Arts Hall? Ah, I thought it was more serious. If it’s just a Martial Arts School Student, it’s easier to handle. I’d bet even if they remembered, they wouldn’t bother with it."

"Yeah, he’s just a Martial Arts School Student after all." Chen Shouhu smiled and then restrained himself.

"Let Wang Boxiong apply according to the Martial Guard Department’s process. I’ll call a friend over there, and it should go through."

"Thank you, second uncle."

"I have a feeling you’re hiding something from me. I’d better check out this Zhou Leng thoroughly."

"There’s really nothing. He just happens to be in Wang Boxiong’s Martial Arts Hall. I can’t let him down after he bowed to me."

"Humph, hold on, Zhou Leng..."

Chen Shouhu rolled his eyes, old foxes are indeed old foxes.

"Hmm? Martial Arts Exam score of 276, high-energy blood reaction, top four in entrance exam... You little brat, as usual, nine out of ten things you say are lies, you even divert when you fart."

"Second uncle..."

"You think I’m blind? This kid is a top-tier talent in the Top Ten Martial Arts."

"Compared to Yunhua Jinjing, there’s not much difference, really."

"I can’t help with this, but I have a friend who probably can."

"Really?"

"Alright, you keep cultivating and aim to become a Grandmaster soon."

"Thank you, second uncle. You’ll always be a monumental figure to me."

"I’d be thankful if you bothered me less. Goodbye."

Chen Shouhu chuckled, propping his feet up on the table.

"Second uncle was right; Zhou Leng is indeed top-tier among the Top Ten Martial Arts, wasting talent at Wang Huaixiong’s. Let me think..."

Chen Shouhu made a phone call.

"When Zhou Leng’s war merits reach 100 and he gets promoted to Private, give him an honorary rank of Martial Arts Brigade Private, with all permissions and allowances intact."

After Chen Shouhu finished speaking, he imagined the look on Wang Huaixiong’s face upon receiving the news, and smiled slightly.

Afterward, Chen Shouhu frowned.

"What is Tong Tianxia doing in Shuizhou Demon City? Could he really do what he wrote in his poem back in the day..."

The Great Martial Arts Dojo at Ruda’s Affiliated Martial Arts Hall.

The massive circular dojo was surrounded by tiered seating for spectators.

In the center, on the green practice ground, there were white lines drawing out eight square rings, each with sides twenty meters long, all lined up.

The current four classes of the Martial Arts Hall were positioned in front of these white squares.

Zhou Leng, along with Lu Juncai and the other top four students from the entrance exam, stood at the forefront of Class 01.

Instructor Deng Zhijue said, "Those eight white square lines are simplified arenas. The next practical exam is an uninterrupted continuous battle."

"The fighting will start from sixteen into eight, until a champion is decided."

"Sixteen people will draw lots to determine opponents, then fight one-on-one. The winner advances, and the adjacent winners continue to face off."

"Whoever wins first can rest. The one who wins later will face a rested opponent."

"Apart from headgear and groin protection, no other protective gear is allowed."

"Because it’s a practical exam, groin strikes, eye pokes, throat locks, and sand throwing are all allowed, but try to be merciful."

"This fight might be more brutal than the endurance test."

"This battle aims to let you experience the real battlefield."

"A true martial heart is needed to become a powerful martial artist."

"Alright then, start warming up. Zhou Leng, run in place."

The other three students started their warm-up run, while the rest of the class watched Zhou Leng and Deng Zhijue curiously.

Deng Zhijue said, "You’re the only one among the sixteen who hasn’t advanced to Blood Transport."

Zhou Leng nodded gently.

"So, others might opt for an attrition strategy, using their True Qi and energy advantage to wear you down until your True Qi is exhausted."

"That way, even if you enter the top eight, it’ll be hard to reach the top four, and harder still to get to the finals."

"So now, it’s about your choice."