The second case, a Demon attacked the city, a family of a third class was destroyed by the Demon.

It was the residual power of this Demon that caused Zhou Leng to be injured and fall ill.

This time, it was also regarded as an accident.

Afterwards, many people tried to resist, but either the summoning of the Demon failed, or they were eliminated by the culprit.

The Martial Guard felt something was wrong and began to increase the investigation of the Fifty-Ninth Martial Arts Hall.

The last case happened before Zhou Leng entered the Ancient River Trial, Zhang Xiaoxiao's grandmother was killed.

After Zhang Xiaoxiao's grandmother's death, Zhang Xiaoxiao became demonized and was hunted by another more powerful Demonized Martial Artist, disappearing without a trace.

Zhang Xiaoxiao was from the third class.

Moreover, Zhang Xiaoxiao had a very good relationship with a friend who perished.

After Zhang Xiaoxiao fled, they joined the Huang Meng Sect.

With the support of Huang Meng Sect, Zhang Xiaoxiao successfully ascended to demon form and rose to the Innate stage.

Subsequently, Zhang Xiaoxiao returned to Rucheng, contacting the parents of the third class in secret.

With the help of the third class parents, Zhang Xiaoxiao collected intelligence.

On the day of the Huang Meng Sect attack, the third class parents and Zhang Xiaoxiao collaborated to capture Hall Master Rao Fuxing of the Fifty-Ninth Martial Arts Hall and other martial arts experts.

A multi-person revenge began in the school's basement.

The Martial Guard judged that it was not done by Zhang Xiaoxiao alone because too much evidence pointed to others.

The traces on the basement's corpses showed different people's cutting marks and footprints.

Many of those traces indicated average strength, not up to Huang Meng Sect's level.

Finally, with incomplete evidence, the Martial Guard Bureau made further judgments.

Rao Fuxing, to enhance the power of his underperforming grandson Rao Mingxian, used an Enchantment Array to siphon the power of the third class and transfer it to Rao Mingxian.

Rao Mingxian's strength increased steadily, eventually gaining admission to the Martial Arts Academy.

The parents of the third class were unwilling to accept this, using various methods to resist, but were suppressed by Rao Fuxing, the backing Rao Patriarch, and the Zhao Family.

Finally, under Zhang Xiaoxiao's leadership and the assistance of Huang Meng Sect, the third class parents enacted their revenge.

No one was spared.

After seeing this, Zhou Leng silently handed the information he received to Wang Boxiong.

Wang Boxiong quickly flipped through it.

"You should be able to guess who mailed you Zhang Xiaoxiao's evidence."

"Only one person could do it," Zhou Leng sighed.

Wang Boxiong looked at Zhou Leng, his eyes dark.

"Now, do you help your life-and-death sworn brother Rao Mingxian, or Zhang Xiaoxiao, who is the benefactor's descendant?"

Zhou Leng froze in place, his heart blocked with worry.

Even more Innate Qi Blood couldn't clear it.

He could only remain silent.

When he learned that the Martial Guard stopped the investigation, a fire rose in his heart.

But now it was his turn.

Equally helpless.

Wang Boxiong asked, "What do you think of this case?"

Zhou Leng opened his mouth, racked his brain, and couldn't utter a word.

This case seems simple on the surface, but thinking deeply, it's hard to summarize.

Rao Mingxian was forced, but what role did he truly play?

Rao Fuxing, just a principal, couldn't suppress this; what roles did the Rao Family and Zhao Family behind him play?

As a Martial Guard, should they first investigate Zhang Xiaoxiao and those people, or pursue the Rao Family and Rao Mingxian first?

What will happen to those corrupted by the Magic Array?

How can such heinous crimes never happen again?

In front of Zhou Leng's eyes, the dark basement of the Fifty-Ninth Middle School emerged.

Lights flickered, shadows danced.

The crowd bent down, chopping evil flesh with each knife.

A lifetime's hatred poured into the blade.

Blood soaked the Enchantment Array on the ground.

After a long time, Zhou Leng asked, "Hall Master, what do you think?"

Wang Boxiong said slowly, "This has been an endless war since ancient times."

Zhou Leng's mind was shaken, thunder and lightning rumbled in his thoughts.

Looking at it from a crime angle fails to explain it, but from a war perspective, everything seems to make sense.

"Who are the parties in the war?" Zhou Leng asked.

Wang Boxiong said, "You must find the answer yourself."

Zhou Leng was silent for a long while and asked, "How is the Martial Guard handling this case?"

"Insufficient evidence, temporarily shelved."

Zhou Leng sighed softly.

Wang Boxiong said, "The Incense Burner will be delivered soon. After you advance to the Innate stage, the Flying Eagle Plan's funds already aren't enough. Next is the Innate stage's Divine Eagle Plan."

"What should I do after advancing to the Innate stage?"

"First settle down, thoroughly learn Innate knowledge, then participate in counterattacks to hone yourself. Afterwards, take a trip to Innate Mountain."

"What's at Innate Mountain?"

"Innate Mountain is connected to Grandmaster Island, there are cultivation lands and resource spots only accessible at the Innate stage, equivalent to an advanced Demon City. The most important are the cultivation places unavailable elsewhere."

"Of course, there's also the Innate ranking, determining the amount of resources you can obtain. Do you want to use the name 'Zhou Leng' for the Innate ranking, or 'Xin River', or come up with another name."

Zhou Leng asked, "Can I not use my real name?"

"Of course. For example, Li Shenkong's real name hasn't appeared at Innate Mountain yet," Wang Boxiong said.

"How strong is Li Shenkong now?" Zhou Leng asked.

Wang Boxiong said, "By the end of this year or next, he will probably catch up with me."

"At this time last year, he had just returned from the youth battle and had already advanced to the Innate stage, right?"

"That's right."

"Last year he was Innate in high school, and next year he'll be a Grandmaster in his sophomore year. No wonder his Martial Arts Index has been absent from the national new student rankings. If it showed, it would be too incredible," Zhou Leng said.

"However, I've also heard some negative rumors," Wang Boxiong said.

"What kind?"

"It's said that the Li Clan is pushing him too fast, which might make his ascension to Martial Saint somewhat rocky. Moreover, it was originally thought he had the talent to reach the Void God above the Martial Saint, but because the Li Clan is eager for success, it might ruin his future position as a Void God."

"This... The Li Clan can't be that short-sighted, can they?"

"It's not that the Li Clan is short-sighted, but the path of Martial Arts is shrouded in mist, and if one is not careful, they might go wrong. Of course, it's just speculation for now. Moreover, what's a hurdle for us might just be a small mound for him."

"Quite possible."

"You've always been worried about being targeted by that side. I think..." Wang Boxiong said slowly, "why not keep a low profile and reduce exposure, and speak up after you've ascended to Grandmaster? By then, even the great families of the Martial Clans can't do anything to you."

Zhou Leng thought, as expected of Wang Huaixiong, and said slowly, "Great minds think alike."

Wang Boxiong said, "After becoming a Grandmaster, show your identity as the senior brother of the Ancient River Sect. By then, you would have the identity, status, and merits. I'll pull some strings to spread the word, which would serve as your amulet among the Human Race."

"Must it be done that way?"

"If you were from the great families of the Martial Clans, no need."

"I understand."

"Work hard. After becoming a Grandmaster, everything will be better."

"Yes."

"By the way, don't try to break through the 'Gate of Will' on the Innate Mountain yet. Wait until you're about to become a Grandmaster," Wang Boxiong said.

"Is that the trial ground to test Martial Arts Will?"

"Yes. Once you test it, you'll inevitably be discovered for still having Martial Arts Will."

"Martial Arts Will? I lost that long ago," Zhou Leng said.

"Yes, that's how it should appear," Wang Boxiong said.

"Truly, I don't have it," Zhou Leng said earnestly.

Wang Boxiong nodded in satisfaction and said, "Go cultivate, prepare for the entrance ceremony, and then prepare for the counterattack. Don't you want to slay demons? After reaching Innate, you should show your might."

"Of course," Zhou Leng said with fierce determination in his eyes.

After parting with Wang Boxiong, Zhou Leng left the school and headed straight for the Frost Giant Tree. Then, pulling Huang along, they chatted aimlessly, getting Huang to find the Golden Page.

After reaching Innate, Elder Tree should at least give a Golden Page as a congratulatory gift.

But Elder Tree showed no response.

The man and the dog stared at each other until finally stopping in resignation.

Zhou Leng looked at the Gate of Purgatory.

"Second layer: Insect Beast Valley."

The Gate of Purgatory rotated and sucked in Zhou Leng.

Soon after, he was spat out.

Zhou Leng had a look of indescribable disgust, cursing the creator of the Gate of Purgatory in his heart, believing they couldn't be human. The process of insects crawling inside the body was too disgusting.

The Insect Beast Valley doesn't test Martial Arts Will, it tests one's ability to endure disgust.

To rid himself of the negative effects of the Insect Beast Valley, Zhou Leng rested before looking at the Gate of Purgatory again.

"Third layer: Spring Hall."

A short while later, Zhou Leng returned.

Licking his lips, he felt his ability to resist temptation had seemingly improved a bit, but not much.

It still needed further strengthening.

After resting again, he entered the fourth layer, the Red Lotus Fire Purgatory.

Standing on the earth, the crimson flames roasted him.

After reaching the Innate level, his body and Martial Arts Will had both grown.

In the flames, his body turned black slowly, but unlike before, it didn't burn to ash quickly.

The duration of burning gradually increased, and when it reached 300 seconds, the fire suddenly changed.

From extreme heat, it suddenly transformed to extreme cold.

The pitch-black body cracked instantly, and wounds spread densely and continuously expanded.

Blood and flesh opened outwards, like blooming crimson flowers.

The black body cracked a hundredfold, blossoming red lotus.

Intense pain struck the Martial Arts Will, causing Zhou Leng to groan and pass out.

The Gate of Purgatory spat him out.

"Huh?"

Huang ran to Zhou Leng, frowning deeply.

It had been a long time since he fainted like this.

Over an hour later, Zhou Leng slowly opened his eyes, suddenly shivering.

His body still believed it was in the Red Lotus Fire Purgatory.

Even with the Frost Qi Marvelous Body, he couldn't expel this terrifying chill.

His whole body alternated between hot and cold, like a minor cold that wouldn't rest.

Zhou Leng glared at the Gate of Purgatory.

This fourth layer was indeed much more powerful than the first layer.

He looked at his skin; it was reddened all over.

Remarkably, it triggered his body's self-protection.

Zhou Leng had to get up, meditate, and manipulate Qi to slowly dispel the body's illusion.

The surface of the Mountain of Will, condensed from Martial Arts Will, displayed a faint red lotus flower.

Lightly and delicately, like drawn with an eyebrow pencil.

"Imprinted on Martial Arts Will, the Gate of Purgatory certainly lives up to its name..."

Thinking for a while, Zhou Leng fell into a drowsy sleep.

After waking, he began his daily cultivation.

Running at high speed, practicing various External Skills, including the Flying Whale Chapter, Void-Breaking Finger, Taiqing Sea Robe, and studying the Overlapping Waves Palm killing move.

Elder Song once said that before merging the eighteen forms of the Overlapping Waves Palm into one, do not learn other palm techniques. This point is of utmost importance.

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