Previously on High Martial Arts: I Awaken a Low-Tier Martial System...
Jiang Ye successfully formed his internal Origin of Heaven and Earth and condensed the Original Dharma Aspect. He then manifested this into a massive Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect, breaking through to the Seventh Break and shocking his peers with its unprecedented size.
"In any case," Jiang Ye chuckled, "with the addition of the Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect, I feel more confident facing a Ninth Break powerhouse now."
The Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect vanished. "Continue," Jiang Ye urged, "Stabilize your realm and strive to further advance your understanding of the laws and mysteries." He wasn't in a hurry to depart.
...
As Jiang Ye achieved the Seventh Break, on Blue Star, within East Sea Province, a vast expanse of towering, continuous mountains, shielded by a formation and suspended high in the sky, was home to the Extraordinary Family, the Zhou Family. Inside a magnificent palace atop the highest peak, the Zhou Family's Demi-God, Zhou Huaifeng, clad in white robes, looked utterly shocked and disbelieving. "What? You claim your injuries were inflicted by Jiang Ye?" Before him, only the torso of Zhou Xingkong remained, a pathetic sight.
"How is this possible?" Zhou Huaifeng frowned, his gaze fixed on the dismembered subordinate. "Over the past six months, you have endured countless life-and-death trials, and your strength has advanced by leaps and bounds. Yet, Jiang Ye has only been in secluded cultivation. Under such circumstances, you were still shattered by his single palm strike?" The Zhou Family Demi-God was utterly perplexed.
Zhou Xingkong, hearing his ancestor's words, inexplicably coughed up a mouthful of blood and promptly fainted. "Truly useless," the Demi-God's expression turned icy. He felt Zhou Xingkong had brought immense shame upon the Zhou Family. It was noteworthy that Zhou Huaifeng had once placed immense hope in Zhou Xingkong, pouring most of the family's resources into him. The defeat in the Star Wars half a year prior was one issue, but Zhou Huaifeng had still granted Zhou Xingkong a chance, subjecting him to numerous life-or-death trials over the last six months, hoping he could redeem himself. Unexpectedly, after six months, he remained so feeble, annihilated by Jiang Ye before many witnesses during an Extraordinary Talent assessment. And now, he still had the audacity to return?
"Perhaps the family requires a new successor," Zhou Huaifeng mused, his eyes deepening as numerous thoughts raced through his mind. With the aid of those talent-boosting treasures, another extraordinary individual had indeed emerged within this generation of the Zhou Family.
Suddenly, as if recalling something, the Zhou Family Demi-God produced a black token. This token was entirely obsidian, etched with peculiar runes that emanated an intensely cold aura. With a flick of his wrist, the Demi-God sent a beam of light towards the token. It trembled subtly, then erupted into a voluminous cloud of black fog. The engulfing fog coalesced into a vortex-like projection, appearing both tangible and ethereal.
"Zhou Huaifeng," a hoarse voice emanated from the projection, "What do you seek?"
"Information regarding Jiang Ye," the Zhou Family Demi-God stated in a low tone. "I believe you might find it of interest."
"Oh?" The hoarse voice conveyed a hint of surprise. After a brief silence, the vortex projection quivered slightly. A treasure glow emerged and floated towards the Zhou Family Demi-God, who caught it and scanned its contents with his eyes, a look of satisfaction crossing his face. "Let's hear it," the hoarse voice commanded.
"Jiang Ye's strength," the Zhou Family Demi-God declared somberly. "I suspect he has already comprehended the mysteries at the Peak of Eighth Break."
"Suspect?" The hoarse voice responded with clear dissatisfaction, deeming uncertain information unworthy of the price paid. "I am ninety percent certain," the Demi-God elaborated. "Jiang Ye shattered Zhou Xingkong with a single palm strike. Xingkong's Mystery of Gold had reached the Eighth Break level, and he possessed protective treasures equivalent to the late Eighth Break. Only the Peak of Eighth Break could obliterate him with such ease." As he finished speaking, the vortex projection fell into silence. The Zhou Family Demi-God waited patiently.
After a moment, "Zhou Huaifeng," the hoarse voice inquired grimly, "Are you interested in striking a deal with us?"
"Speak," the Zhou Family Demi-God's eyes narrowed.
"Attempt to bring Jiang Ye to our side," the hoarse voice instructed chillingly. "If successful, the rewards for you will be substantial."
The Zhou Family Demi-God's gaze turned cold. "You wish for me to betray my clan?"
From their initial dealings to the present, their exchanges had been limited to trivial bits of information, all in pursuit of treasures that aided in breakthroughs.
However, the situation had changed dramatically; it was now evident that the other party was after Jiang Ye himself.
Though the Zhou Family's Demi-God didn't openly show favoritism towards Jiang Ye, he understood that the Alliance Leader Qitian held him in high regard, seeing him as a beacon of hope for Blue Star's future, to a certain extent.
This was no longer a simple matter of trade.
Handing over Jiang Ye? Such an act would be equivalent to betraying the entirety of the Blue Star Civilization!
"Hehehe..."
"Zhou Huaifeng, didn't you begin betraying the moment you initiated contact with us?" the hoarse voice rasped with sinister amusement. "Why maintain such a pretense of nobility here?"
"As long as we wish it."
"We can expose the transactions between us at any moment," the hoarse voice declared coldly. "Can you still remain on Blue Star then?"
"Try it if you dare!" Zhou Huaifeng retorted icily.
"No worries."
"We won't be doing that for now," the hoarse voice chuckled darkly. "Fulfill this task for us, and we might even bestow upon you that treasure for ascension."
"Of course."
"The choice is yours; we won't force you if you refuse this transaction."
"Why should Qi Tian hold the esteemed position of Federation Alliance Leader, and not Zhou Huaifeng?" the projection echoed with malicious laughter.
Whoosh~
The vortex projection gradually faded away.
Zhou Huaifeng remained rooted to the spot, his gaze flickering with intense contemplation.
"A treasure for ascension?" Zhou Huaifeng's eyes blazed with powerful longing.
Relying on external forces is far less secure than self-reliance.
Previously, his hopes were placed on the younger generation within his clan, but those descendants had consistently failed to meet his expectations.
