After ending the call, Xue Tongming walked back.

Xue Chengsong saw his father's face had eased and asked, "Did we get any news?"

"The current news says the Martial Guard Department doesn't plan to expand and has no intention of taking down Shuangjiao Company completely. But they've found evidence of crimes, so they'll definitely arrest some high-level members and fine them heavily."

Xue Chengsong breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good, it seems it's not a total storm. Was there any reason mentioned?"

"No, let's wait a bit longer."

Not long after, Xue Tongming received more calls and made several calls himself.

During breakfast, the father and son ate together.

A call came in, and Xue Tongming put down his chopsticks, answered the phone, and after listening, an extremely complex expression appeared on his face.

Xue Chengsong looked at his father in confusion, never having seen such a strange expression on his father's face all these years.

He couldn't make out what was happening at all.

Xue Tongming looked quietly ahead, and after a long while, he sighed deeply.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Xue Chengsong's little face turned pale; usually, he could joke with his father, but when it came to serious matters, his father wouldn't coddle him at all.

Xue Tongming looked at Xue Chengsong, with sunlight shining on his young face.

Xue Tongming smiled slightly and said, "Dad is indeed getting old, sometimes, he has to listen to young people's opinions like yours."

Xue Chengsong felt nervous inside, not knowing what major event had occurred.

Xue Tongming smiled and said, "I've heard a lot of rumors about this matter, and just now, I heard one more. Can you guess who it's related to?"

"It's hard to guess." Xue Chengsong's legs were still weak, gently shaking his head.

"Three things are certain: first, Shuangjiao Company approached the Patrol Office to have them investigate Tian Wenhua's cause of death, and then they approached Zhou Leng."

"And Zhou Leng..."

Xue Tongming raised a hand to interrupt Xue Chengsong.

"Second, the second big boss of Xiongjing's Patrol Department made a call to the number one at Rucheng's Patrol Office, inquiring about the situation and subtly saying they should promote unity with other systems and not randomly investigate people from the Martial Guard System."

Xue Tongming continued, "Third, Wang Boxiong personally led the team and personally directed the search operation without communicating with any other systems, especially not with the Patrol Office. You know, Wang Boxiong also serves as the Hall Master of the Great Martial Arts Hall and is Zhou Leng's direct superior."

In Xue Chengsong's mind, the image of Zhou Leng appeared, followed by an inexplicable recollection of Rao Mingxian's words.

"Everything about him is good, except he's too soft-hearted."

Xue Tongming sighed and said, "Usually, I wouldn't think there's any connection between them, but after personally witnessing two Innate Masters from the Martial Arts Brigade saving Zhou Leng, I have to connect them."

"This possibility is small, but not impossible," Xue Chengsong comforted his father.

Xue Tongming shook his head and said, "The Martial Guard has long wanted to take action against Shuangjiao, but couldn't find a good excuse. This time, they're using the issue to expand. The fact that Wang Boxiong is using this as a pretext already indicates Zhou Leng's importance."

"Indeed."

Xue Tongming said, "I'll personally make a trip and gather some High-Energy Shells from old friends for you to deliver together later."

"Okay."

Xue Tongming no longer picked up his chopsticks, continuously gazing out the window.

Xue Chengsong didn't dare to eat either, watching his father, suddenly realizing that his father wasn't omnipotent but actually just a regular person.

"By the way, the four mines."

"Okay."

Originally planned to give Zhou Leng half of the shares from the three mines.

In the Fierce Beast World, under the Frost Giant Tree.

Beside Zhou Leng, over a hundred Star Conches formed a circle.

Continuing to cultivate the Undying Star Body.

In the Will World, the virtual image of Ceres hovered high in the sky.

Most of its surface was enveloped in a gentle white glow.

As more Will Power enveloped the virtual image of Ceres, the cultivation progress slowed down significantly.

After so many days, the enveloping degree barely reached 90%.

At this moment, Will Power continued to spread on the surface of Ceres's virtual image, but it was a struggle.

Ultimately, this cultivation only increased the coverage by 1%.

Zhou Leng opened his eyes and glanced at the Star Conches around him.

Never felt any power from the Star Conches before.

"Could these not actually be Star Conches, but just resemble them?"

Zhou Leng began to doubt, and re-read the Golden Page of the Undying Star Body cultivation, studying it repeatedly.

Up to now, he had yet gained any power from the virtual image of Ceres, having tried in both the Fierce Beast World and Blue Star, both day and night, without any difference.

Not sure if there's an issue with the cultivation technique, or his own body isn't strong enough, or if Ceres's power is too feeble, leading to cultivating loneliness.

Ultimately, Zhou Leng calmed his mind and continued cultivating step by step.

After all, it's a Starry Martial Art from a high-level civilization, if it were learned immediately, it might actually be substandard.

As for the Star Conches, perhaps there aren't enough of them, might need to buy some from Xue Chengsong, or purchase cheap ones online, if it doesn't work then seek Molten Hammer and Mountain River Oak for help, acquire from the Dwarf and Giant worlds.

Their High-Energy Shells are relatively cheap.

Opened the database and searched for High-Energy Shell production locations.

Blue Star's High-Energy Shell production is low, Giant World is intermediate, but the Dragon World and Tree-man World have some rich mines of High-Energy Shells.

Dragons love shiny things and enjoy collecting High-Energy Shells, storing them warehouse by warehouse.

In Tree-man World, High-Energy Shells are considered ancestral relics, not expensive but also unwilling to trade them.

These two largest production places have very little circulation.

Thus became the content promoted by speculators, crazily advertising how rare High-Energy Shells are in the Dragon and Tree-man worlds.

After cultivating, Zhou Leng left the Fierce Beast World and headed to the Martial Arts Hall.

Today is April's monthly exam day.

This time, the entire class went straight to the advanced testing venue.

The entire day followed with classmates repeatedly doing two things, first being spectators during Zhou Leng's testing, and then taking their own tests.

After the scores were distributed, seeing the scores exceeding 200+ one after another, the classmates were completely numbed.

Only waiting for tomorrow to see the Martial Arts Index and final ranking.

After the testing ended, class president Wei Hong made a fair evaluation of Zhou Leng's scores, receiving unanimous agreement from classmates.

"The current testing standard is not applicable to an enormous beast like Zhou Lengleng."

Early the next day, Zhou Leng returned to the class's Martial Arts Hall, chatting and hanging out with classmates while waiting for the final ranking results.

Just after eight, everyone shouted out.

"Updated! Updated!"

"Indeed, the Martial Arts Index has surpassed 10!"

"Mountain and River Origin has also surpassed 10."

Zhou Leng opened the "Rucheng Freshman Chart" rankings of Martial Arts City.

First, Mountain and River Origin, Martial Arts Index: 11.

Second, Zhou Leng, Martial Arts Index: 10.99.

"10.99, indeed at the level of the Late Stage of Vitality."

"It's a pity Zhou Leng is too young and hasn't killed enough demons in the Vitality Stage; otherwise, he should be able to reach 11 or even 12."

"There's no helping it, the Martial Arts Index tests too many factors."

"Those well-known Martial Artists have accumulated over many years."

"I heard Mountain and River Origin went to the West Sea Demon City recently, killing a large number of Sea Sirens in the Vitality Stage."

"I heard it too, especially the scene of him charging into a brigade of over a hundred Sea Sirens in the Vitality Stage alone, it was so brutal."

"12 is Innate, right?"

"Yes, 12 to 30, is Innate."

"I suspect, purely in combat, many with a high index might not match Zhou Leng."

"Of course."

"Zhou Leng, since your index has reached 10, check the Rucheng Qi Blood Chart."

Below the Innate Realm is the Qi Blood Realm.

Zhou Leng opened the Rucheng Qi Blood Chart and projected it onto the wall.

The Rucheng Qi Blood Chart encompasses all masters in the Qi Blood Realm within the Rucheng region.

Those on the list are all uniformly in the Vitality Stage.

On the Rucheng Qi Blood Chart, the top three Martial Arts Indices are all 11.

Mountain and River Origin ranks third.

The second one is also a familiar figure.

Zhang Feng.

The son of an Innate Master, one of the eleven from the Ancient River Sect who entered the Ancient River Illusion Realm together.

Zhou Leng did not expect his strength to be so strong; he just looked like an ordinary Martial Artist.

For the next one hundred plus names, all have the same number: 10.99.

Among them is another familiar, third brother Li Yuanhe is among them.

The index ranking is arranged by time; Zhou Leng ranks 123rd.

Everyone looked at those perfect-score Martial Artists, discussing eagerly.

"These people have polished their bodies, True Qi, war merits, and other aspects to the extreme, many of whom will gradually advance to Innate."

"Theoretically, a Martial Arts Index of 11 is bound to advance to Innate. Those with an index of 10.99 also have a chance; these are the masters Rucheng has accumulated over decades."

"Once Zhou Leng advances to the Late Stage of Vitality, he might reach index 11 and crush the whole city."

"What's Instructor Deng's ranking?"

"Search for it."

"Rank... 872, Martial Arts Index 10.95, lower than Zhou Leng."

"Also a formidable person, impressive."

"Do you think Instructor Deng could win against Zhou Leng and Mountain and River Origin in actual combat?"

The entire class was silent.

Wei Hong said, "I suggest you all stop making comments that could tarnish the instructor's reputation, beware of being punished with running."

"Class leader, why don't you persuade Instructor Deng and Zhou Leng to have a teacher-student match someday, so we can watch with sunflower seeds to enjoy."

"I think we better not; if the persuasion fails, and they team up to beat us, then munch on seeds while watching us lie on the ground, that would be miserable."

Everyone burst into laughter.

"Mountain and River Origin's index reached 11, tying for first place; I wonder when the citywide Qi Blood Realm sparring session will be held."

"Yeah, by tradition, once there's a tie for first place, if anyone requests a sparring session, it must be held."

"I watched one a few years ago, it was spectacular, though a bit gory, it was really thrilling."

"If it's Mountain and River Origin's sparring session, I'm planning to attend too."

"Once Zhou Leng's index rises to 11, we'll all go to see Zhou Leng crush those sparring participants."

Zhou Leng flipped through the city rankings and saw some familiar faces.

Tian Wenhua's ranking is still listed.

Ranked with a Martial Arts Index of 10.99.

Probably after this month, it will be deregistered.

Finishing viewing the projection, he flips to the national freshman chart.

The first is still the forever unchanged and non-displaying Martial Arts Index, Li Shenkong.

12, Zhang Xinglie, Martial Arts Index: 11.

Zhou Leng saw this number and recalled Zhang Xinglie's cultivation at Innate Mountain and Residual Cloud Pillar, having had no news for days, likely hunting demons in the army.

Not surprisingly, he has already advanced to the middle period of the Vitality Stage and will soon advance to the late stage.

Zhang Xinglie's talent is truly brutal.

Mountain and River Origin's advantage is the combination of a giant's body and human True Qi.

Zhang Xinglie, on the other hand, possesses the balanced talent of a Hexagon Warrior, and his future advancement speed will far surpass Mountain and River Origin.

But Mountain and River Origin's steady progress ensures the two will inevitably meet at the peak of Martial Saints.

Being a step faster or slower doesn't matter; reaching the summit is what matters.

"Zhou Leng, what's your national freshman chart ranking?"

19, Zhou Leng, Martial Arts Index: 10.99.

"19," Zhou Leng stated.

The class was silent.

After a while, Wei Hong finally said, "Awesome!"

"Ranking in the top 19 nationally, that counts as the first echelon of new students worldwide, right?"

"It does."

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