Convincing Tong Xuan took hardly any effort at all.
Almost the moment Dao Twelve brought it up, Tong Xuan agreed.
After all, Dao Twelve possessed great fame. Everyone had witnessed him steadily reaping northern barbarian Divine Strength Realm martial artists day after day.
Countless people had secretly wanted to team up with Dao Twelve, only to be turned away. Now that Dao Twelve was actively assembling a squad, how could Tong Xuan possibly refuse?
Now, only the final spot remained.
Lu Changsheng had to consider this choice carefully.
In truth, Lu Changsheng had thought of Lu Jianming. If he went to Lu Jianming, the young man would certainly agree.
Unfortunately, Lu Jianming's strength fell somewhat short. Forget the top fifty—even making the top seventy or top sixty would be difficult for him. Lu Jianming's sword intent was by no means lacking; in fact, it was quite formidable. What he lacked was cultivation, being merely in the Hundred Tripods Realm. He was still quite a distance away from reaching the Thousand Tripods Realm.
Under such circumstances, bringing Lu Jianming onto the team would be unfair to the others.
For the squad Lu Changsheng intended to build, all other considerations aside, its offensive prowess had to be absolute top-tier. Every member needed to be at least in the Thousand Tripods Realm.
Actually, the best candidate would have been Song Wuqing, ranked third on the Divine Strength Ranking.
Unfortunately, Song Wuqing was a solitary wanderer who never formed teams. For the time being, Lu Changsheng could not think of any suitable candidate, so he could only wait at his residence.
On this day, a man draped in a cloak and dressed entirely in black arrived outside Lu Changsheng's door.
"I heard you are recruiting companions to form a squad. I wonder what you think of me?" the man asked, offering himself forward.
"And you are?" Lu Changsheng did not recognize him.
"I am Tie Yuan."
"Tie Yuan of the Great Spear?"
Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up slightly. With a trace of curiosity, he looked Tie Yuan up and down.
Rumor had it that Tie Yuan was a martial artist who loved spears more than life itself. In the martial world, few martial artists wielded spears, but Tie Yuan was different. Obsessed with his weapon, his great spear struck like an emerging dragon, utterly terrifying.
Lu Changsheng also noticed that Tie Yuan indeed carried a collapsible great spear on his person. In battle, assembling the sections would instantly produce a razor-sharp weapon.
Moreover, the most crucial point was that Tie Yuan was ranked forty-eighth on the Divine Strength Ranking and was a Thousand Tripods Realm expert himself, completely meeting Lu Changsheng's requirements.
"Welcome, Tie Yuan."
Tie Yuan smiled.
Word had spread widely of late that Dao Twelve was personally recruiting martial artists to form a powerful squad. However, Dao Twelve's standards were exceptionally high; he would not consider anyone who was not among the top ranks of the Divine Strength Ranking. Tie Yuan had only come to give it a try.
Though confident in his own abilities, he knew that none of the members Dao Twelve recruited would be inferior to him. He had not expected to succeed so smoothly.
"Good. Now that everyone is here, let us all meet first."
Lu Changsheng went to gather the others, bringing them to his courtyard.
Soon, You Shifei, Yang Zhen, and Tong Xuan all arrived. When they saw Tie Yuan, they nodded in greeting one after another.
Lu Changsheng introduced everyone.
"If no one has any objections, then our squad is officially formed," Lu Changsheng said.
"Wait."
Just then, Tong Xuan spoke up. Gazing at Lu Changsheng with piercing eyes, he said in a deep voice, "Mister Dao, word outside claims you possess Thousand Tripods Realm combat strength and even escaped the siege of four Thousand Tripods Realm martial artists. I would like to witness it myself, if only so our squad members can understand one another. After all, you are the core of our team. If we do not know your exact strength, none of us will feel assured."
Hearing this, the other three wore thoughtful expressions.
Indeed, they were curious as well. As the squad's central figure, how powerful 'Dao Twelve' truly was remained something they deeply wished to know. Having Tong Xuan step forward was clearly the best choice. Known as the Martial Maniac, it was only natural for him to challenge Dao Twelve.
Lu Changsheng knew that unless he demonstrated his strength, reservations would linger among them, and they would never truly coalesce into a unified team.
"Very well. One strike to decide it, then," Lu Changsheng agreed.
Superfluous moves were unnecessary. In the Thousand Tripods Realm, fights often devolved into battles of attrition, but as this was merely a sparring match, there was no need for that. Delivering their strongest blow would suffice.
Neither side drew a weapon, both opting for bare hands. To Lu Changsheng, wielding a weapon or not made no difference.
"One punch!"
As soon as Lu Changsheng spoke, his aura soared into the sky.
At the same time, in the perception of everyone present, their surroundings seemed to transform in an instant—as if they were standing amidst a pitch-black, boundless starry sky. A three-thousand-foot waterfall pierced through the cosmos, crashing down with violent momentum.
*Boom!*
The next instant, Lu Changsheng struck.
He threw a punch, and it felt as though a three-thousand-foot waterfall swept forth in earnest. Furthermore, as the terrifying force of the starry sky waterfall surged forward, a monstrous, churning wave could faintly be seen rolling in from afar, vast and mighty, filling the entire field of vision.
Ocean Wave Conception!
Starry Sky Waterfall Conception!
Divine Dragon Transformation secret method!
Aside from the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method, Lu Changsheng unleashed virtually every technique at his disposal.
This single punch exceeded three thousand ding of force—undeniable Thousand Tripods Realm combat strength!
"*Roar!*"
Tong Xuan seemed to sense the danger. He let out a great roar of his own. Behind him, a terrifying tiger faintly materialized, its frame colossal, as though filling heaven and earth.
The ferocious tiger roared, and Tong Xuan hurled his fist forward in tandem. In this punch, Tong Xuan likewise engaged multiple secret methods, holding almost nothing back. Driven by his cultivation in the Thousand Tripods Realm, the force was equally horrifying.
*Rumble!*
The two forces collided head-on.
A terrifying shockwave swept out in all directions. Ordinary martial artists, even those in the Hundred Tripods Realm, would have been tossed aside by the blast. However, the three onlookers were all Thousand Tripods Realm experts; standing quietly where they were, they remained unyielding and motionless as the shockwave washed over them.
Even so, the three could not suppress the marvel in their hearts. They knew Tong Xuan's strength well, yet Dao Twelve's might far surpassed their expectations.
As the dust settled, both Lu Changsheng and Tong Xuan withdrew their power.
Tong Xuan's eyes were filled with shock and uncertainty. "Mister Dao, your strength is actually this formidable! In raw power alone, that strike definitely rivals the top fifty on the Divine Strength Ranking!"
Tong Xuan spoke with absolute certainty.
In that clash of brute force just now, he had failed to gain even the slightest upper hand, which was simply incredible. One had to remember that Tong Xuan was a genuine Thousand Tripods Realm martial artist, whereas Dao Twelve was merely in the Hundred Tripods Realm. That could only mean one thing: Dao Twelve's mastery of secret methods and martial conceptions far surpassed his own.
"Alright, let us call this a draw," You Shifei spoke up. "Mister Dao, we now understand your strength. From here on, our squad is in your hands. How about giving it a name? What do you think, Mister Dao?"
"Let us call it the Barbarian Slaying Squad," Lu Changsheng said calmly.
The reason this squad had been formed in the first place was so he could slay northern barbarians, making the name quite fitting.
"The Barbarian Slaying Squad? With a name like that, the northern barbarians will surely view us as a thorn in their side. Then again, no matter what name we choose, our squad will be a thorn in their side anyway."
"The Barbarian Slaying Squad it is!"
The others nodded in agreement.
"All spoils will be split evenly, and contributions will be treated equally regardless of scale. However, as the commander, I will not engage in close combat with the northern barbarians alongside you. Furthermore, you must obey my orders unconditionally," Lu Changsheng stated one point at a time.
These were details he had already mentioned to varying degrees before.
"No problem."
"I can hardly wait to get started."
"Brother Dao, when do we move out?"
The four looked toward Lu Changsheng.
"If no one has any issues, let us slaughter a few northern barbarians to celebrate our squad's founding," Lu Changsheng said, a faint smile touching his lips. "Let's go."
Without further ado, the squad set out.
Departing from Beiling City at full speed without wasting a moment, the five soon reached the Northern Region Battlefield. The vast plains stretched out before them, boundless on all sides.
"What should we do now?" Tong Xuan asked, looking somewhat at a loss.
In the past, he would have had no choice but to wander blindly and rely on luck. But relying purely on luck was no longer viable. They could run into a barbarian squad at any moment, and against an organized group, Tong Xuan alone might not be able to wipe them out.
Everyone turned their gaze toward Dao Twelve.
This was the Barbarian Slaying Squad's first operation, and everything rested on Dao Twelve's command. In fact, this was also a test of his abilities. If Dao Twelve lacked the command capability he had claimed earlier, the squad might disintegrate after their very first outing. This battle was crucial.
"No rush," Lu Changsheng said, closing his eyes.
The next moment, he activated his Wind of Perception Conception.
*Whoosh...*
A gentle breeze swept past. Lu Changsheng's consciousness seemed to merge into the draft, drifting along with it into the distance.
"Hmm?" You Shifei snapped his head up, staring intently at Dao Twelve.
Not just You Shifei—the others sensed something as well.
"Was that another martial conception just now?"
"Mister Dao has a third conception hidden away?"
"It seems related to the wind. Could his ability to constantly track down northern barbarians come from this third concealed conception?"
The four exchanged glances, guesses already forming in their minds. The thought of three martial conceptions was staggering. For ordinary people, comprehending a single conception was already plenty to take pride in; comprehending two made one a top-tier genius. But comprehending three? What kind of monster was he?
Still, they did not disturb Dao Twelve, waiting quietly in place.
Channeling the Wind of Perception Conception, Lu Changsheng merged his awareness fully into the air, riding the wind as it blew in every direction. Everything within several li lay laid out before his mind's eye.
*Swish.*
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes.
"Heading west, there is a squad of northern barbarians. Five Divine Strength Realm martial artists in total, though I cannot tell if any are on the Divine Strength Ranking. After all, the barbarians are very adept at disguising themselves now."
"If you engage, you must go all out to kill them in a single strike. Do not let any of them escape."
"If they turn out to be high-ranking experts who overwhelm you, I will not come to your rescue; I will flee straight back to Beiling City at once. Do you all understand?" Lu Changsheng said in a solemn, deliberate tone.
His role was that of the commander; he would not take part in the fighting. Yet his contribution was the greatest of all. This arrangement had been agreed upon from the start.
"Understood."
"If we cannot even handle a mere squad of northern barbarians, that falls on us."
"Brother Dao, your safety comes first. Stay well hidden and await our triumphant return."
"Let's move!"
You Shifei, Yang Zhen, Tong Xuan, and Tie Yuan spoke up in turn.
Previously on the Northern Region Battlefield, their greatest struggle had been locating barbarian squads. Now, Dao Twelve had pointed out the barbarians' exact position; all they had to do was strike. If they still could not deal with the barbarians under these conditions, it would have nothing to do with Dao Twelve. It would be their own lack of skill, and they would have no regrets even in death.
With that, the four set off.
Watching their departing backs, Lu Changsheng activated his Wind of Perception Conception once more, tracking them the entire way. He wanted to see the true mettle of this squad he had assembled. Boasting meant nothing; only real action could prove their worth.
At that moment, five barbarian Divine Strength Realm martial artists were roving idly across the grasslands. Although they appeared inattentive, they were actually being exceedingly cautious, watching their surroundings with sharp vigilance.
"Seems our luck isn't great today. We haven't run into a single Great Fish Dynasty martial artist."
"The Great Fish martial artists are forming squads now too. If we meet them, it'll be a bitter fight."
"A bitter fight? Not necessarily. The Great Fish martial artists rank rather poorly on the Divine Strength Ranking. With our strength, even if we run into one or two ranked fighters, we should still be able to win, right?"
All five were confident, and the atmosphere in their squad was fairly relaxed. In fact, they were even hoping to encounter martial artists from the Divine Strength Ranking, which would earn them far greater merits.
However, the grasslands of the Northern Region Battlefield were vast. Even after wandering for an entire day, one might not cross paths with another team.
"Wait, someone's coming!"
"Such speed! They seem to be heading straight for us!"
"Four martial artists in total, all in the Divine Strength Realm."
"One of them looks like You Shifei, ranked eighteenth on the Divine Strength Ranking!"
"Run!"
The barbarian squad spotted the approaching figures, particularly You Shifei.
Ranked eighteenth on the Divine Strength Ranking, his name was far too famous. The barbarians might not recognize others, but they certainly knew You Shifei and had long memorized his distinguishing traits.
Without the slightest hesitation, all five decided to flee at once. While confident they could defeat some ranked martial artists, that had never included the top twenty. Experts in the top twenty possessed horrifying strength. What was more, You Shifei was not alone; he had companions, and those companions were unlikely to be weak either.
*Whoosh!*
The five scattered and fled.
However, You Shifei and his companions were faster.
*Clang!*
Yang Zhen drew his sword.
Recruited by You Shifei, Yang Zhen had remained taciturn throughout, speaking barely a handful of words within the squad. Yet his sword was utterly terrifying.
The moment his blade was drawn, the atmosphere across the entire grassland seemed to shift. Every blade of wild grass nearby felt as though it had turned into a lethal sword. That sheer, terrifying sword intent alone caused the barbarians' faces to drain of color.
"Such swordsmanship... Could it be Yang Zhen, ranked thirty-third on the Divine Strength Ranking?!"
*Squelch.*
Before the words had fully faded, Yang Zhen's sword pierced straight through one barbarian's throat. With a horizontal sweep of the blade, the head was instantly severed.
The barbarian was dead!
Whenever Yang Zhen struck, he claimed a life; his sword never missed.
You Shifei was no different.
Wielding a saber, You Shifei was even more terrifying than Yang Zhen. With a single sweeping cleave, he brought two barbarians within his reach.
"Kill!"
Knowing You Shifei's terror, the two had no choice but to join forces. Yet You Shifei's sweep carried no intricate technique—only horrifying, overwhelming power. It held several thousand ding of force, even more terrifying than the three thousand ding Lu Changsheng had unleashed.
*Smash!*
Caught in the sweep, the two barbarians looked as though they had been struck by a battering ram; their chests caved in instantly. Two corpses crashed heavily to the ground.
Three down!
"Heh, shatter for me!"
Tong Xuan specialized in fist techniques. As he threw a punch, the invisible pressure around him crashed down like a tiger descending the mountain, stripping the barbarian before him of any will to resist before shattering his head in a single blow.
Four dead!
Only the last one remained, facing Tie Yuan of the Great Spear.
Tie Yuan was in no hurry. Slowly, he retrieved two metal rods from his back. With a sharp click, they locked together into a great spear.
"Go."
Tie Yuan thrust forward. The shaft vibrated violently, the spearhead corkscrewing with spiraling force as it plunged straight into the barbarian's body.
*Squirt.*
Expressionless, Tie Yuan yanked the great spear free. Blood coated the weapon, dripping onto the ground.
The final barbarian's eyes widened in horror. He recognized the man who had struck him.
Tie Yuan of the Great Spear!
All four of them were powerhouses from the top fifty of the Divine Strength Ranking! To think their group had run into such a monstrous squad... They had not died in vain.
"Move!"
Without a second's hesitation, You Shifei and the other three severed the five barbarians' heads and withdrew immediately, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
From the moment You Shifei and his companions struck to their departure, what seemed like an elaborate sequence had in fact taken only a single breath's time.
In a single breath, a five-man northern barbarian squad had been eradicated.
Swift, accurate, and ruthless—their lethal efficiency was pushed to the absolute peak!
Chapter 118