Chapter 158: Chapter 149 Correct
"...One option is, after being promoted to the Innate stage, to enter the ’Ancient King Array’ and choose an Ancient King’s Relic to perceive or learn from. The other option is various Pills."
Zhou Leng asked, "Is it common to get a chance to enter the Ancient King Array?"
Molten Hammer shrugged and said, "I’m ranked among the top of the Dwarf Race’s Innate Middle-Rank, but even until now, I’ve only gotten two opportunities."
"What does the Ancient King Array contain?"
"It contains everything, from Divine Text remnants to traces left by Ancient Kings, and unknown engravings. The many things left by the dwarves over tens of thousands of years are all placed in the Ancient King Array. In a sense, the Ancient King Array is not inferior to Divine Blood Lava."
"If it were you, what would you choose?"
"Of course, the Ancient King Array. Ordinary Pills, I can obtain with some effort, and Pills have a limit. But with the Ancient King Array, the more opportunities, the better. There are countless treasures inside; if you’re lucky to find a Resonating Treasure, you can even use War Merits to rent it out for personal contemplation."
"Can I exchange my dukedom War Merits?"
"Of course. You are the only non-Martial Saint Foreign Duke. Apart from you, the Dwarf Dukes of the Alien Race are at least Martial Saints."
"Alright, then I’ll choose the Ancient King Array."
Molten Hammer smiled and said, "So, Divine Blood Lava, Dragon Bone Medicine, and the Ancient King Array, are all decided?"
"Since it’s endorsed by a senior, it can’t be wrong," Zhou Leng said.
Molten Hammer squinted his eyes with a smile, "These choices are only suitable for Extreme Martial Arts. If you want to make money or enhance your status, there are other options, such as obtaining a real position in the Dwarf hierarchy. For instance, choose four Vitality Stage dwarves as your guards. Of course, you’ll need to supply their cultivation resources. You can even marry a dwarf princess, descendant of the Ancient King."
Molten Hammer raised his eyebrows while smiling.
Zhou Leng shook his head and said, "I’m not interested in those."
"Then it’s settled."
"As for the Divine Blood Lava and Ancient King Array, wait until you’re Innate before returning."
"The Dragon Bone Medicine, you can receive today but be sure to use it during the Body Refining Stage or even Vitality Stage. Otherwise, you won’t absorb the medicinal effects, and don’t overstrain your body."
"Despite being a Dwarf Duke, in the Human Race world, you can’t receive a monthly salary. Roughly every three months, based on your needs, you can contact our Dwarf Foreign Affairs Department in the human world for distribution."
"Regarding the Giant Trial, we will arrange it for you. Wait until you are promoted to the Body Refining Stage, preferably the Late Stage of Body Refining. Once your body is well-tempered, you can participate."
"Tomorrow, we’ll first conduct the ennoblement ceremony, then initiate an ’Ancestral Protection’ to further consolidate the power of the ’Ancient God’s Blessing’."
Molten Hammer suddenly sighed and said, "You youngsters are really lucky. Back in the day, I entered the treasures of the Ancestor King numerous times, gained plenty of small items, but could only drool at the high platform."
"With the Eye of the Ancient God, can’t you also activate the Ancient God’s Blessing?" Zhou Leng asked.
"You have absorbed an accumulation of eight hundred years of the Ancient God’s Blessing; we can’t compare. However... all future dwarves will remember your contribution."
Zhou Leng said, "Will the Beastmen not target me?"
Zhou Leng’s real concern was the Eye of the Ancient God in his hand. If the Beastmen discovered it, the consequences would be unthinkable.
But, such a precious item cannot be abandoned.
Molten Hammer said, "That’s why we must conduct Ancestral Protection to prevent information from leaking. Of course, there’s always some risk of leakage."
"During the award ceremony, can it be done discreetly? I have more significant issues ahead..."
Zhou Leng thought of the Divine Text pronunciation.
Zhao Le and Lou Fei Qiong, among others, know that it can only be reported to the Demon City Army and the Martial Guard Department.
The possessor of the Eye of the Ancient God and the only one with the Divine Text pronunciation, either matter is earth-shattering, and adding the second Eye of the Ancient God in my Magic Spirit Bag, if revealed, would stir the Ten Realms.
What’s more, there’s an ascending Celestial Tier Trial Ground; once it matures and the Celestial Ladder appears, the whole world will know.
It’s like a volcano blocked at the mountain pass, with magma inside growing stronger and stronger.
Molten Hammer frowned, "True, if you were a Grandmaster, such matters wouldn’t affect you, but your power is too weak. If the Beastmen find out, they are sure to send Innates to kill you out of spite."
"After all, your achievement is immense. How about we invite a Demigod Demon Spirit Master to cooperate with the Dwarf Race’s High Priest to issue the highest level of Sealing Spells, which only ten or more Lords from Demon Purgatory joining forces could crack."
"Moreover, we don’t want the Beastmen to know about the Eye of the Ancient God early, so we can catch them off guard..."
Zhou Leng said, "Thank you, General, and all the seniors for your assistance."
"It’s what’s expected, but you don’t look like you’re poisoned..." Molten Hammer cast a meaningful glance at Zhou Leng.
Zhou Leng remained silent.
Molten Hammer said earnestly, "Next time someone asks about such matters, you need to clutch your head and say, ’Oh no, oh no, my eyes can’t see, my ears can’t hear.’"
"Alright." Zhou Leng replied, half amused, half helpless.
"I heard you all seem to have gained a lot of Divine Text knowledge from the Ancient King’s Treasure. We dwarves don’t value it much; after all, you and the Demon Spirit Master will share it. Do you want me to contact Chen Fenghu?" Molten Hammer asked.
Zhou Leng estimated the importance of the Divine Text pronunciation and said, "Brigadier General Chen Shouhu... probably can’t make that decision."
Molten Hammer’s large eyes brightened with joy, "What level is the Divine Text knowledge?"
Zhou Leng remained silent for a moment and said, "The highest level."
Molten Hammer was delighted, "Good news, good news, our Humanoid Alliance sees more hope. Then I’ll find Master Chen Changyi; he is a wonderful elder. However... before long, Chen Fenghu will advance to Grandmaster, leading the Seventh Division."
The smile vanished from Molten Hammer’s face.
"How did you figure it out?" Zhou Leng asked.
"His breath was strong and unstable when he spoke, clearly near a breakthrough. Damn it... still going to get beaten by him." Molten Hammer muttered.
"Alright..."
Molten Hammer pressed his hands on the table and jumped to the ground.
At the door, he turned to look at Zhou Leng.
"Before advancing to Grandmaster, keep a low profile and protect yourself. I’ll wait for you to reach Grandmaster and make the Ten Realms explode with your power!" The Giant Furnace grinned and pushed the door open to leave.
Zhou Leng was deep in thought.
Clearly, the chiefs of the Dwarf Race had guessed that Zhou Leng gained significant treasures in the Ancient King’s Treasure.
But ultimately, amid various influences and considerations, they chose to treat the matter coldly.
Presumably, knowing that the Mountain Melting Furnace and the Flower of High Earth could rest their souls in peace would bring them comfort.
Zhou Leng looked into the distance.
Recalling the details of the Ancient King’s Treasure expedition, entering the prison, constant mistakes, encountering Beastmen, classroom learning, entering the Divine Literature Academy, and finally ascending the palace high platform where the Flower of High Earth and Mountain Melting Furnace embraced...
The Mountain Melting Furnace incorrectly learned countless Divine Texts.
But on the high platform, it left the correct method to unlock them.
Zhou Leng picked up the Demonized Watch, clicked to enter, and looked at the familiar avatar.
He typed four characters in the offline dialog box and then deleted them one by one.
The next day, a secret ceremony for awarding honors took place.
All those aware were subjected to group silencing spells by the Demigod Demon Spirit Master and the High Priest, and were forbidden from leaking important secrets.
After the ceremony ended, Jax and Mark, from the Trup consortium, returned to their rooms.
Everyone either stood or sat in silence for a long time.
"This Zhou Leng is quite formidable."
"The Dwarf Race is willing to make sacrifices."
Jax slowly said, "As the tenth successor for the future of the Trup family, I order that from now on, under no circumstances should you mention this treasure journey, even if the family asks. You will say it was sealed by the Dwarves and direct them to ask the Dwarves directly, understood?"
"Yes!" everyone replied in unison.
Jax continued, "It’s not that we fear him, but his identity has become extraordinary. He may not be able to help us, but he could easily sever our commercial route with the Dwarves if he harms us."
Mark said, "What about the Five Tigers of Shuizhou..."
"Is Tian Wenhua intending revenge?" Jax looked towards Tu Rong and the others.
Tu Rong nodded helplessly, "Yes."
"Then let him bow his head. For the commercial route with the Dwarf Race, whether he wants to or not, he must bow." Jax said.
In a courtyard not far from Jax’s residence, Lou Fei Qiong, Zhao Le, and others sat together.
Lou Fei Qiong said, "The Dwarf Race is very concerned about this secret, and I do not want anyone carelessly affecting Zhao Clan and Lou family’s commercial routes. Even when returning home, you must not reveal anything, understood?"
"Yes," everyone responded in unison.
"This is just the beginning. If there are no unexpected events, the Demon City Army will come to handle the Divine Text pronunciation issue. This matter concerns the prosperity or decline of humanity, and if anyone leaks it, the Demon City Army’s Martial Guard Department will find them. Do not expect the Zhao Clan and Lou family to be lenient." Lou Fei Qiong sternly warned.
"Yes,"
Zhao Le sighed and said, "Although Zhou Leng’s ceremonial award was separate from ours, the rank he received must be far above ours."
"Therefore, we cannot offend him and affect Zhao Clan and Lou family’s commercial routes. Annual transactions of hundreds of billions are not something anyone can afford to suffer."
"I really envy the two of them. We and other human groups have left, but they stayed and probably received better rewards."
Lou Fei Qiong said, "It must be the Ancestral Protection of the Dwarf Race. No rush, when we advance to Innate, we will also have the opportunity."
Underneath the city of the Fiery Furnace.
The magnificent Lava Hall is located at the base of the volcano.
At the end of the Lava Hall, scorching lava cascades down from above, resembling a waterfall flowing down the mountain wall, producing a massive roar.
The bright lava lights up the hall like daylight, flowing into streams of lava rivers on the ground.
Massive pillars support the hall.
Rich heat rises, creating air distortions.
More than three hundred dwarves and two humans, bare-bodied and stepping on the scorching black basalt floor, slowly advanced.
Some female dwarves occasionally stole glances at Zhang Xinglie and Zhou Leng.
Even though they had just drunk protective potions, most people were sweating profusely, their bodies red and feet swollen from the heat.
Even Zhang Xinglie’s skin became dry, with cracked lips.
Most dwarves were the same.
"Strange..." Molten Hammer and others stared at Zhou Leng.
Clearly only at the Late Stage of Blood Transport, his muscles weren’t as strong as those of the dwarves, yet his skin appeared normal.
"My True Qi is peculiar," Zhou Leng said.
"Who’d believe that?" Molten Hammer sneered.
"Everyone stand ready," the dwarf priest’s voice echoed in the hall.
Everyone quickly stood in place, even as their feet burned, they gritted their teeth to endure.
"Under Ancestral Protection, you would normally sit, but you’re too weak. Sitting might damage your little dwarves," the priest jested.
The dwarves laughed heartily, regardless of gender, and didn’t particularly mind, as was customary for dwarves, lacking the many taboos of humans.