Chapter 161: Chapter 152: Competitive Battle
By the roadside, Lou Fei Qiong, Zhao Le, and others paused while looking at Zhou Leng’s face through the car window, then turned their attention to the military vehicle’s plate number.
They exchanged glances.
This was the General’s car.
The driver and attendant sat in the front seats, Zhou Leng and Chen Shouhu sat in the back.
Chen Shouhu leaned lazily against the seatback and said, "Are you interested in joining the Martial Arts Brigade?"
"I’m still just a Martial Arts School Student." Zhou Leng replied.
"You plan to take the Martial Guard Department route? That’s not suitable for Extreme Martial Artists. Look at Wang Huaixiong, he’s able to endure more than I do, fiercer, and smarter, but ultimately, he lagged behind me by a step. The Martial Guard Department, it’s too stressful, the Demon City Army is more straightforward."
Zhou Leng hesitated for a moment and honestly said, "I haven’t really decided on a specific route yet, I prefer a bit more freedom."
Currently, no force can replace the Frost Giant Tree.
Once you fully join a force, you’ll inevitably be at their disposal, wandering everywhere, even spending years away, making it hard to visit the Frost Giant Tree.
"Oh? Free Martial Artist? That’s not bad either. Wang Huaixiong would probably be quite disappointed." Chen Shouhu smiled slightly.
"I really don’t want to be bound."
"You’re quite wild at heart, just like your uncle... Oh yes... Xiaoqi, hand Zhou Leng the staircase Lieutenant Camp invitation." Chen Shouhu switched the topic.
"Yes, General." The attendant in the front row opened the briefcase, took out an invitation, and turned to hand it to Zhou Leng.
Zhou Leng pretended not to hear the previous conversation, accepted the invitation, and looked at the embossed golden letters on it.
Invitation to the Sea Suppressing Army’s Staircase Lieutenant Competition Camp.
"Instructor Deng said he plans to move me into the Warrant Officer Camp." Zhou Leng commented.
"Warrant Officer Camp? That’s just a bunch of freshly bodily refined rookies." Chen Shouhu glanced sideways at Zhou Leng’s shoulder and said, "With your current body, you could break through the Warrant Officer Camp in a day, you need higher intensity."
"Thank you, General Chen," Zhou Leng wasn’t familiar with the Lieutenant Camp, "What’s the main setup of this Staircase Lieutenant Competition Camp?"
"Xiaoqi, you’ve been there, why don’t you explain it to him." Chen Shouhu said.
"Yes, General."
"From the name alone, you can tell ’Competition Camp’ is completely different from the training camps you’ve experienced."
"Even in Yunhua Jinjing’s training camps, no matter how high the level, it’s still just ’training.’"
"The Competition Camp is hosted by the Demon City Army, unlike ’training,’ it focuses on ’competition’ and ’actual combat.’"
"Thus, the Competition Camp is far more brutal than the training camps, much more brutal indeed."
"Only powerful martial artists can enter the Competition Camp, and only the strongest martial artists can come out of it."
"The ’Lieutenant’ prefix means entrants are geniuses in the late Blood Transport and early Body Refining, along with some mid-stage Body Refining average individuals."
"It’s rare but not unheard of for someone like you, in the late Blood Transport, to enter the Lieutenant Camp."
"The ’Staircase’ prefix indicates that all rewards and benefits in this Lieutenant Camp are tiered, escalating step by step. Break through the highest level, and you’ve completed the Staircase Competition Camp, claiming the final rewards."
Zhou Leng asked, "Is there a time limit?"
"As the General mentioned earlier, if you’re strong enough you can ’break the camp in a day.’ If you’re not, you need to advance tier by tier. It’s not about time, just your strength."
"As for the specific requirements of the Staircase Lieutenant Camp, you’ll know once you enter. But it all boils down to the words ’competition’."
Zhou Leng nodded, taking out his Demonized Watch to check the news on the ’Staircase Competition Camp.’
Chen Shouhu asked, "For January’s mid-term exam, are you planning to hide your strength or go all out?"
"There’s no point in hiding, it’s still far from Mountain and River Origin." Zhou Leng responded candidly.
Zhou Leng checked the rankings in Martial Arts City.
Due to entering the Dwarf World and missing December’s monthly exam, his Martial Arts Index had decreased.
On the Rucheng Freshman Chart, his ranking plummeted.
241st place.
But the treatment remains unchanged until February.
"Mountain and River Origin... Top ten on the National Newcomer Rankings. This kid really has a fierce edge, not just you, many newcomers from Yunhua Jinjing are also overpowered by him."
"Do you know him? What’s he really like? There’s a lot of rumors online." Zhou Leng asked.
"Seems like you’re keen to learn about Mountain and River Origin." Chen Shouhu smiled looking out the window.
Chen Shouhu slowly said, "His father is remarkable, Mountain River Celestial Peak, we sparred back in the day, but unfortunately, I lacked the strength. After becoming a Grandmaster, I plan to find time to spar again."
"As for Mountain and River Origin, neither of you should even think about it."
"He has the blood of a Demigod Giant flowing through him, he’s a descendant of the so-called Golden Race, and also proficient in True Qi, possessing divine techniques of two races..."
Zhou Leng’s eyes slightly widened.
Chen Shouhu continued, "His advancement speed is far less rapid than Li Shenkong’s, but in another ten or twenty years, Mountain and River Origin will surely meet Li Shenkong at the pinnacle of Martial Saint."
"His body is far stronger than an ordinary giant, slightly weaker than a demigod golden giant heir, but combined with True Qi, his ability far exceeds. Beyond that, he is smarter, calmer, and possesses stronger will than any giant."
"So, both Dragon Country and the Giant Realm are fully nurturing him."
"Especially the Mountain and River Tribe, they’ve already been cultivating him as a future Demigod Giant."
"You start at the Lieutenant Camp, ten days ago, he started at the Captain’s Camp and broke through in a day."
The Captain’s Camp, only masters of the early Life Force stage can enter.
"Even more impressive than I imagined." Zhou Leng remarked.
Chen Shouhu said, "His actual realm is just the Early Stage of Body Refining."
Zhou Leng fell silent.
"What, afraid?" Chen Shouhu turned to look at Zhou Leng.
Zhou Leng thought as he slowly spoke.
"I’m just contemplating, an ordinary giant at the Early Stage of Body Refining is just that, only with greater strength, certainly not capable of crushing three tiers like him."
"Even those who know True Qi can’t achieve that level."
"In the past, there were half-blood giants who mastered True Qi, but their strength was only slightly better, far inferior to him."
"Then, he must be like Zhang Xinglie, definitely a genius, surely gifted, and must have other extraordinary qualities worth learning."
"As for being afraid... I haven’t thought about it. I just want to know, once I have a powerful Body of Wonders, how do I compare to him?"
Chen Shouhu laughed, "Good, it’s best not to be afraid. In the path of Martial Arts, fear of power or Divine Techniques is not as daunting as one word: ’precision’."
"How mighty is the giant’s body, a giant dragon’s body is strong and can cast spells, and demons have an abundance of tactics."
"Yet, our human Martial Saints win more than they lose!"
"As long as you continually refine your martial arts to perfection, to the limit, and even beyond the limit, you achieve Divine Communication."
"Then, regardless if you face a giant or a giant dragon, you’ll crush them with a single punch!"
"In a few days, once I’ve consolidated my realm, I will head to the Giant Realm for another battle at Mountain River Celestial Peak!"
Chen Shouhu grinned widely, a glint of madness in his eyes.
"I wish Senior Chen an assured success."
"Success is certain." Chen Shouhu replied unreservedly.
Zhou Leng felt a stir in his heart, "Senior, in a few days, I will participate in the Giant Trial. Can you guide me on techniques for battling giants? I am proficient in Overlapping Waves Palm and Flying Cloud Leg, and my heart method is the Mystic Tide Technique."
"Are you going to participate in the Giant Trial during the Body Refining Stage?"
"Yes."
"Since you asked, I will guide you. But... if you can’t beat the giant and instead get beaten black and blue, then head to the frontline to redeem yourself." Chen Shouhu said.
Zhou Leng saw the fierce light in Chen Shouhu’s eyes and began to doubt if the cost of seeking guidance was too high...
The driver and attendant stole a glance at Chen Shouhu through the rearview mirror; ever since he became a Grandmaster, he has grown increasingly fierce and mad.
"General Chen somewhat underestimates people," Zhou Leng refused to back down.
"Alright! Giant bodies are tall; you’ll be in the Body Refining Stage, so the best techniques for you are leg techniques and joint techniques..."
The vehicle sped along, with Chen Shouhu continually explaining how to combat giants.
Zhou Leng held the Demonized Watch, constantly recording.
Upon reaching the Great Martial Arts Hall entrance, Zhou Leng got out, bidding farewell to Chen Shouhu.
"Martial Guard has no future." Chen Shouhu said and drove off.
Zhou Leng walked a few steps, recalling he had many messages to reply to.
Reply to Xu Qingjin first, then respond to others one by one.
Slowly walking and replying to messages.
When two hundred meters away from the class Martial Arts Dojo, a white figure appeared from the side, running with Qi manipulation, then quickly stopped in her tracks.
A ponytail bouncing.
The girl took a deep breath, adjusted her breathing, and walked towards Zhou Leng like normal, waving her arm.
"Zhou Leng."
Zhou Leng looked up, saw the familiar face, and smiled slightly.
"Turns out you were nearby? No class this afternoon?"
"No class." Xu Qingjin, who never lied, surprisingly didn’t blink.
Face not turning red, but her heartbeat was intense.
Zhou Leng said, "We haven’t seen each other for over half a month."
Following the trade caravan, staying in the Fiery Furnace city, exploring the Ancient King’s Treasure and finally the Ancestral Protection, more than half a month had passed.
It’s already mid-December, and January is approaching fast.
"How are you? Not hurt, right?" Xu Qingjin carefully examined Zhou Leng.
"No."
"Oh? You seem to have gotten stronger."
"Made some gains in the Dwarf world."
"That’s great." Xu Qingjin smiled.
For some reason, Zhou Leng thought of the Flower of High Earth and the Mountain Melting Furnace story.
"I encountered some things in the Dwarf world, some I can’t tell, but some I can. Dinner tonight, and I’ll tell you then?"
"Okay!" Xu Qingjin moved forward, her slender arms resting behind her, nodding lightly, smiling continuously.
"I still need to go back to class; see you at dinner."
The two walked a stretch together, then Xu Qingjin left.
Under the willow at the class Martial Arts Dojo entrance, Deng Zhijue was perusing the projection from a Demonized Watch.
"Instructor Deng."
Deng Zhijue raised his head to glance at Zhou Leng, his pupils slightly dilating.
"Your body... has bulked up significantly." As a small expert of the Vitality Stage, he was experienced.
"Gained quite a lot in the Dwarf world," Zhou Leng said.
"When will you advance to the Body Refining Stage? Have the pills prepared?"
"Everything’s ready, once I take the last Replenishing Essence Pill, I’ll advance..." Zhou Leng said, "By the way, Instructor Deng, I have more than 100 Replenishing Essence Pills on hand, can the Eagle Plan be exchanged for Strengthening Body Pills?"
Deng Zhijue said, "The Eagle Plan rewards are ready, just waiting for you to sign. But since you’re about to advance to Body Refining, wait till then to report. Per the contract, you can get an additional 50% reward."
"Good." Zhou Leng said.
"How’s your preparation for January’s mid-term exam?" Deng Zhijue asked.
"Normal participation, normal assessment." Zhou Leng said.
Deng Zhijue looked at Zhou Leng a few more times, "Come on, with Power, Skill, and Qi, cooperate with me so I can judge your mid-term ranking in advance."