CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 53: SEIZING THE CELESTIAL LADDER

Zhou Leng asked, "Instructor, since the Celestial Ladder is the world’s most important artifact, where does it come from?"

Deng Zhijue shook his head and said, "The reasons for the formation of the Ten Realms are unclear, let alone the Celestial Ladder, but currently, there are two relatively reliable theories."

"The old theory is that the overlapping and collision of the Ten Realms generated terrifying cosmic energy, causing mutations, which then formed the Celestial Ladder or various artifacts."

"The new theory posits that the essence of the Ten Realms war is a battle of civilizations, a climb up the ladder of civilization. The so-called Celestial Ladder is the core of this civilizational war, formed by the convergence of civilization’s great powers."

"Some even speculate that if humans gather enough Celestial Ladders, they could climb from Elementary Civilization to Intermediate Civilization."

"Now as the Ten Realms continue to yield more Celestial Ladders, the new theory is gaining dominance."

"So now, all major groups are desperately competing for the Celestial Ladder. Whoever obtains it is a hero to their people."

Zhou Leng sighed and said, "We know too little about the Ten Realms and the universe."

As Deng Zhijue walked, he said, "For you, besides your own cultivation, you must focus on two major things. One is the joint exams or the grand joint exams. The grand joint exam is a Top Ten Martial Arts level exam and will send invitations to normal Martial Arts Academies. At that time, you’ll have a chance to compete for it. Then there’s the training camp..."

As they walked, Deng Zhijue explained various matters.

The news of Zhou Leng advancing to Blood Transport spread quickly.

In the afternoon, Zhou Leng had just arrived at the Martial Arts Dojo to temper his body when Lu Juncai and several classmates greeted him with smiles.

"How about a spar?"

"I can’t control my strength yet," Zhou Leng replied.

"Let’s just spar without externalizing our True Qi," Lu Juncai said.

"Okay."

Spotting is a form of sparring to reduce injuries.

True Qi circulates to protect the whole body, but is not externalized.

When an attack lands, both sides immediately withdraw and retreat.

A hit counts as one point.

"Zhou Leng is going to spar!" Wei Hong’s words stopped all his classmates’ training, drawing their attention.

Zhou Leng walked to an open space with Lu Juncai, the class’s second-best. They saluted with their fists.

"Just until being touched."

"Just until being touched."

After speaking, Lu Juncai took the initiative, swinging his fist towards Zhou Leng.

With his Qi Blood flowing, his steps were like a galloping horse, his figure like a mountain rock, his right fist streaked with purple lines, and the wind rumbling with his punch.

Zhou Leng stepped lightly, dodging sideways, and gently chopped Lu Juncai’s right shoulder with his left palm before swiftly retreating.

Lu Juncai turned to look at Zhou Leng, then at his own shoulder.

"Such fast stepping technique..."

"At least 20% faster than during the top sixteen battle."

"Again!" Lu Juncai launched a strong attack again, first with a feigned punch, then a sweeping kick.

Zhou Leng suddenly advanced, grabbed Lu Juncai’s leg with one hand, lifted his waist with the other, and sharply pulled and pushed, throwing Lu Juncai into the air. He landed on the ground sitting down.

The crowd watched the two of them.

Lu Juncai had made it to the top eight but lost to Xu Kang’an, originally possessing the strength for the top four.

Lu Juncai continued to attack, but Zhou Leng easily countered him.

After ten moves, Lu Juncai waved his hand.

The score was 10 to 0.

"Your True Qi coordination, dynamic vision, and reaction capability have improved significantly. Your total True Qi and strength might be slightly weaker than mine, but in other aspects, you far surpass me. You might surpass Xu Kang’an or even Ji Changnian in this monthly test."

"Let me try. Zhou Leng, go easy on me, I’m scared!" Wei Hong’s brash and timid words drew laughter.

They sparred for ten rounds, with Zhou Leng easily controlling the bout, fast and precise.

Wei Hong shook his head and said, "I can’t, the gap is too big."

"Me too..."

The classmates were eager to spar with a master and all took turns sparring with Zhou Leng.

After a round, no classmate managed to score a point on Zhou Leng.

"Zhou Leng, test your strength," Feng Wenhao said.

Zhou Leng nodded, as this was his main purpose in coming to the Martial Arts Dojo today.

Zhou Leng walked to the weightlifting platform and lifted the demonized steel plate with both hands.

Buzz...

The steel plate pressed downward.

Zhou Leng did it without Qi manipulation, purely relying on muscle strength to hold it up.

The numbers on the display changed rapidly, finally stopping.

658.7 kilograms.

Score: 100.

Feng Wenhao held his phone, looking at Zhou Leng’s start-of-term test results screenshot.

"The last no True Qi weightlifting was 496.5 kilograms, an increase of 162.2 kilograms in about two weeks."

"This..."

"Zhou Leng’s stamina is really deep. I remember Xu Kang’an only managed around 692 kilograms back then."

"Try True Qi weightlifting."

A classmate next to him pressed a button for Zhou Leng, who rested for a moment, circulated his True Qi, and lifted the demonized steel plate with both hands.

His whole body turned red, with thin purple lines spreading like branches along his blood vessels.

The numbers remained at 3029 kilograms.

Score: 100.

Feng Wenhao said, "The start-of-term test was 2054.35 kilograms, 974.65 kilograms more than then."

Wei Hong’s eyes shone as he chuckled, "The monthly test will be interesting."

"That stamina... can’t be compared to." Lu Juncai shook his head gently.

The crowd dispersed, each returning to their training.

Zhou Leng turned and walked to the squat rack, setting up a 200-kilogram barbell.

Feng Wenhao and several others who had a good relationship with Zhou Leng watched him from a distance.

Zhou Leng did four sets of barbell squats, ten times each set, without True Qi.

Then, he set up a 400-kilogram barbell and did True Qi squats.

Still four sets, ten times each set.

"Lu Juncai, what’s your regular bearing weight?"

"180."

Everyone turned and trained.

After training, Zhou Leng headed to the Great Martial Arts Dojo to start a Qi manipulation run.

Finished running, he checked the time.

minutes and 10 seconds.

A few days ago, his Qi manipulation run could only last 6 minutes and 2 seconds.

The standard duration for early Blood Transport period is 8 minutes.

In the evening, Zhou Leng went to the cafeteria.

Even after eating Replenishing Essence Pills and Blood Replenishing Pills, he felt his stomach rapidly churning.

He went for food repeatedly.

By the tenth time, the cafeteria auntie asked, "You ate a lot at noon too, did you make a big advancement?"

Zhou Leng nodded and said, "Advanced to Blood Transport."

"Then you should eat more." With that, the auntie piled six large chicken legs onto Zhou Leng’s tray.

"Thank you, Auntie," Zhou Leng said.

"Eat more!" the auntie said with a smile.

After dinner, Zhou Leng returned to the Frost Giant Tree.

"Hmm?"

Upon closer inspection, Zhou Leng noticed a black object beside Huang.

"Woof!"

Huang wagged his tail, ran over, and pounced on Zhou Leng, panting with his tongue out.

Zhou Leng rubbed Huang’s head and walked toward the black object.

"Did you find this here?"

"Woof!"

It was a pitch-black bone, a little over a meter long, as thick as two adult calves.

Having processed many magical beasts and demons at the Pioneer Company, Zhou Leng carefully examined its shape before consulting the materials.

He quickly confirmed that this was likely part of a bone from the magical beast known as the "Back Horned Demon Bull," and from its size, it was definitely of the Innate Realm.

Zhou Leng looked at Huang and sighed, "This is a good find, but very dangerous. Do you understand what danger means?"

Huang nodded.

"From now on, don’t run off randomly, got it?"

Huang nodded, his eyes darting around.

Zhou Leng gazed into the distant depths of the dense forest.

The bone of an Innate magical beast was something to be wary of.

"Did you go looking for it to buy meat?" Zhou Leng asked.

Huang blinked, looking puzzled.

Zhou Leng looked at the demon bull bone.

If it were fresh, this bone would be extremely valuable, but being dried out for so long, its price wouldn’t be very high.

This kind of bone is suitable for grinding into powder for use in Body Refining Stage or Vitality Stage training, something he currently couldn’t use.

Zhou Leng thought for a moment and decided to rest first.

In the dead of night, Zhou Leng carried the bone back to the old residence, wrapped it in a used bedsheet, slung it over his shoulder, and headed towards Old Building Street.