"The rest is still under consideration, but the Path of Innate is almost ready. We'll probably just follow the trend, running on the Himalayas, doing a loop around the North and South Poles, and then swimming along the coast."

"Call me when it's time," Zhang Feng said.

"Count me in as well," Zhang Xinglie added.

"We should set a time and run the Path of Innate together," Li Yuanhe suggested.

"My advancement speed is lacking, I probably won't catch up," Rao Mingxian remarked.

Everyone chatted and laughed, then Zhang Xinglie answered a phone call and lagged behind.

After quite a while of talking, Zhang Xinglie still didn't come over, causing Zhou Leng to turn around and look.

Zhang Xinglie had his back turned, touched the spot around his eyes, lowered his head, and solemnly walked over.

Zhou Leng took a closer look to find Zhang Xinglie's eyes slightly red.

"Zhang Xinglie, what's wrong?" Zhou Leng hurriedly went over.

Everyone turned their gaze towards Zhang Xinglie.

Zhang Xinglie opened his mouth but couldn't speak. After a long while, he finally said, "My aunt just called me crying, saying Grandma Zhang was killed by a demon and Zhang Xiaoxiao is missing, presumably also dead by the demon's hand. I... I now recall Xiaoxiao's condition, I should have known earlier. She was so thin, it definitely wasn't due to illness or cultivation, it must have been the work of demons, but I couldn't imagine this small hometown..."

"We had just planned to meet in Yunhua in Xiong City not long ago..."

"She also said Brother Zhou Leng's chocolate was delicious..."

"She said..."

Zhang Xinglie's voice was filled with guilt, his throat seemed choked, and he couldn't continue speaking.

Zhou Leng and Zhang Xinglie were both taken care of by Grandma Zhang when they were small, and the relationship between Zhang Xinglie and Zhang Xiaoxiao had always been good.

Zhou Leng saw tears welling up in Zhang Xinglie's eyes and felt his own eye rims redden.

"Wait a moment, I will contact the Martial Guard to check," Zhou Leng said, walking to the side to call Deng Zhijue.

As soon as it connected, Instructor Deng's voice came through.

"I was just about to call you. You should know Zhang Xiaoxiao, right? We found your name in her notebook, along with Zhang Xinglie and Rao Mingxian."

"I heard some things... Tell me what happened."

"It's unclear at the moment, only that her grandma was killed at home. There are also traces of her blood at the home, indicating a fight and then an escape."

"The perpetrator?"

"We have retrieved all surveillance footage nearby for investigation. It only shows a demonized martial artist sneaking into her home, killing her grandmother. Additionally..."

Deng Zhijue continued, "Zhang Xiaoxiao somehow demonized as well, allowing her to escape. The cameras only caught her growing black wings and fleeing to the suburbs, followed by the demonized martial artist, and then the trail was lost."

Zhou Leng frowned deeply, recalling a series of cases he had seen earlier concerning Fifty-Ninth Middle School.

"You contacted me about this matter too?" Deng Zhijue asked.

"I heard about it from Zhang Xinglie, so I came to ask."

"What's your opinion?"

"Fifty-Ninth Middle School." Zhou Leng didn't know why, but he instinctively felt there was something wrong with his alma mater.

Like a demon's lair in the night, lurking in his memory.

"We think so too. This time, we have to investigate again, hoping to find something." Zhou Leng narrated the situation with Zhang Xiaoxiao to everyone as he slowly walked back.

Standing some distance away, Zhang Xinglie was being consoled by Rao Mingxian and others.

Zhou Leng activated the Martial Guard's intelligence system to review the photos and videos of Zhang Xiaoxiao's case.

Just a few days ago, he had visited Grandma Zhang's house.

The photos depicted shattered remains and splattered blood.

Zhou Leng only glanced briefly before shutting off the demonized watch.

He couldn't bear to look further.

Seeing someone you know dead before you, the impact is entirely different compared to a stranger.

Zhou Leng stood dazed for a while, then slowly walked over to recount the events concerning Zhang Xiaoxiao to everyone.

"What kind of agony did she endure to opt for demonization..." Zhang Xinglie murmured lowly.

This robust man, akin to a lion, bowed his head, eyes filled with remorse and sorrow.

"I want to get to the bottom of this," Zhang Xinglie said slowly.

Zhou Leng replied, "I have already contacted the Martial Guard. They are investigating with full force. Let's give them some time. If nothing comes out after a while, we can team up and investigate ourselves. How about it?"

Zhang Xinglie nodded slightly, saying, "Then I'll wait for some time."

Zhou Leng pulled Zhang Xinglie aside to a secluded place, speaking softly about the series of cases at Fifty-Ninth Middle School.

After Zhou Leng finished speaking, Zhang Xinglie pondered for a moment and said, "The leadership at Fifty-Ninth Middle School has issues."

"Do you have evidence?" Zhou Leng asked.

Zhang Xinglie slowly analyzed.

"We are both aware of how powerful the Martial Guard's methods are, they even deployed the Demon Spirit Masters. Despite such a comprehensive investigation, they couldn't find anything, which leaves two major possibilities."

"Either it's a lone wolf acting randomly, or a larger force is covering up clues."

"These cases are all connected to Fifty-Ninth Middle School, so it's obviously not random acts."

"Regarding a lone wolf, in such a chaotic society, it's naturally possible not to be detected."

"But a demonized martial artist finding it hard to live as a lone wolf is inevitable. They need the environment for ordinary life, martial artist life, and demonized demon life simultaneously."

"In such a complex interwoven environment, there should naturally be plenty of clues. There's no way the Martial Guard and Demon Spirit Masters wouldn't find a pattern."

"To say the Martial Guard system is covering up these cases is highly improbable, there's no indication whatsoever."

"Thus, the only possibility is that other forces are covering up something."

"All these families have ordinary backgrounds; they're all ordinary civilians."

"A force powerful enough to erase traces at this level doesn't need to be very high, more so with the cooperation of the Demon Worship Sect. As you mentioned, even the school authorities brought in forces from Lai Xiong City, making the Martial Guard hesitant to investigate deeply."

"The common factor among these people is Fifty-Ninth Middle School, so it's very likely that the leadership there is covering something up. Of course, this is just the most likely scenario, and not definite."

Even in anger, Zhang Xinglie did not lose his rationality; he only mentioned possibilities but not certainties.

Zhou Leng said softly, "Once we advance to Innate, if the Martial Guard hasn't conducted a thorough investigation, you and I will team up and investigate."

Zhang Xinglie said, "Okay. Before the investigation, don't forget to apply for an 'Innate Martial Power' qualification."

The so-called Innate Martial Power is a privilege for Innate Martial Artists.

You can purchase villas in tightly protected core areas and directly submit proposals to the Martial Mansion.

Even if one accidentally kills someone, there is a qualification for exemption, replaced by a fine.

In the Dragon Country, there is no such qualification certificate, because after becoming Innate, one naturally possesses greater privileges.

In many countries, Innate individuals can kill at will.

The Martial Mansion of the Dragon Country is wary of individual power endangering ordinary people, after negotiating with Martial Artists, they chose the Innate qualification certificate.

This certificate is both a privilege and a constraint.

Once a person kills, the certificate is revoked and re-evaluated.

Zhang Xinglie turned his head to the crowd and whispered, "Do not reveal the details to outsiders, just you and I need to know."

"Of course." Zhou Leng replied.

The two returned to the crowd, and everyone offered solace.

Zhao Nandi also came over to comfort Zhou Leng.

"Let's go. We can't go to the No. 9 pit, let's check out some of the other unexplored pits, maybe we'll find something new," Zhao Nandi suggested.

The two walked away from the crowd, and after a few steps, the ground trembled.

A peculiar wave of white light emerged from the ground, more than two meters high, enveloping an area of several miles.

Everyone seemed to be in a surreal ocean.

"It's opened!"

"The Ancient River Trial has begun!"

Many people shouted.

Zhou Leng and Zhao Nandi exchanged glances, and she whispered, "Stay with them, I'll check with the director and others. Make sure to find me before entering the Ancient River Trial, I'll give you the Guhe Token."

"Okay." Zhou Leng replied.

Zhao Nandi quickly left, and Zhou Leng returned to Zhang Xinglie and the others.

Many people reached out, trying to touch the wave of white light.

"It feels like a special power, but it's untouchable."

"Seems like special Spiritual Qi."

"Who can feel it?"

Zhou Leng circulated his True Qi, meticulously sensing it, to no avail.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Xinglie said, "I have a bit of a feeling, like some special Spiritual Qi is entering my body."

Everyone looked at Zhang Xinglie, showing signs of envy.

Zhou Leng also looked at Zhang Xinglie. Having seen Zhang Xinglie's talent since childhood, he wasn't surprised to see him resonate with the Mysterious Power.

In the eyes of classmates who grew up together, Zhang Xinglie is destined to become one of humanity's top geniuses, inevitably ascending to Martial Saint status.

Zhou Leng firmly believed this too.

"I also feel something a bit different..."

Everyone turned to look at Song Juesi.

A group of young people felt a bit ashamed to be outdone by an elder.

"What about you?" Rao Mingxian inquired.

Zhou Leng shrugged and said, "My talent doesn't even come close to theirs."

"I feel balanced now," Rao Mingxian smiled and said.

"Just like an underachiever looking at top students, I'm already used to it."

"We're the eleven from the Ancient River Sect, and it's a bit embarrassing," joked Li Yuanhe.

"What eleven from the Ancient River Sect? Isn't it fifteen from the Ancient River Sect?" Zhang Feng corrected.

"Yes, yes, Zhang Xinglie and Elder Song are our fellow disciples!"

Rustle, rustle...

The loudspeaker from the research institute blared.

"The gate to the Ancient River Trial has manifested."

"Everyone, please take your belongings and enter the No. 9 pit in an orderly manner. Running and fighting are prohibited; violators will be expelled from the research institute and banned forever!"

"To reiterate, everyone must orderly enter the No. 9 pit..."

Everyone's faces lit up with joy.

Zhang Xinglie remained composed; the news of entering the Ancient River Trial couldn't dispel the sadness and guilt in his heart.

Zhou Leng sent a message to Xu Qingjin, then returned with the others to the room to quickly pack, strapped on his backpack, and headed towards the No. 9 pit with everyone else.

Hundreds of people walked along the road, faces filled with anticipation but maintaining steady steps, proceeding at a normal pace.

The three gates of the No. 9 pit were open, and guards checked in sequence.

Passing through the gates, everyone stepped into the vast and open No. 9 pit.

Zhou Leng glanced at the broken light bulbs on the ceiling, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

In the center of the pit, a translucent large gate appeared out of thin air.

The gate was about eight meters high and five meters wide, with side doors on either side.

Golden columns etched in scarlet, with blue cloud patterns underfoot.

In the center of the gate plaque, a golden three-dimensional Divine Text was slowly rotating.

Zhou Leng looked at the rotating Divine Text, translating it directly.

Transmitting heritage through ancient and modern times, pioneering through the ages.

Revolutionizing the old and establishing the new, an enduring sect.

Liberal translation, Ancient River Sect.

"All Trial Takers, please line up neatly and enter one by one. Do not make noise or jostle. Please adhere to order."

Zhou Leng and the others lined up as instructed by the staff.

Looking around, Zhao Nandi was nowhere to be seen.

The line slowly advanced, with the person at the front already stepping inside the gate.

After entering, the person disappeared into thin air, leaving everyone with anticipation mixed with a trace of nervousness.

On the way, Zhou Leng inquired and found out that Zhao Nandi and the experts had yet to enter.

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