Lu Changsheng drew closer and closer to the Lingshu Squad's position.
Even the dullest observer could tell what Lu Changsheng and the Tianlin Squad were truly after.
"The Tianlin Squad's target is actually the Lingshu Squad's position?"
"The Lingshu Squad! They occupy the very best spot. Every squad watches them and wants to take their place, but the Tianlin Squad is the only one to actually make a move."
"To be precise, it's Lu Changsheng who's making a move! Aside from him, not a single member of the Tianlin Squad poses any threat to the Lingshu Squad."
"That's the Lingshu Squad we're talking about—a squad that managed to retreat unscathed from a Divine Treasury Realm martial artist in a direct clash. It wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say they can hold their own against one. Does Lu Changsheng really have what it takes to deal with them?"
"Lu Changsheng may be formidable, but the Lingshu Squad is in a league of their own. Lu Changsheng picked the wrong target this time. The Lingshu Squad won't become a stepping stone for him!"
Every gaze turned toward the spot held by the Lingshu Squad.
A clash seemed inevitable.
At that moment, the Lingshu Squad naturally noticed Lu Changsheng and the Tianlin Squad as well.
One of the women in the squad sneered, "Heh, do they take us for a soft target? After all these years, who would have thought our Lingshu Squad would one day be seen as easy pickings?"
Her tone dripped with mockery, yet fury simmered in her eyes.
The Lingshu Squad's renown shook the entire first tier of the Ancient Region. Almost everyone knew of them. Even the top squads that viewed them as rivals never dared underestimate them.
Yet what was happening now?
A squad like the Tianlin Squad, which looked utterly vulnerable in their eyes, actually dared march straight toward them to seize their position?
Nothing like this had happened in years.
"Boss, what should we do?" the woman asked their captain beside her.
The captain did not reply.
His expression remained calm, but his gaze drifted toward a white-robed man sitting cross-legged on the ground.
The man had an icy demeanor, exuding an aura that kept others at a respectful distance.
"Tianhua, what do you think?" the captain asked.
*Whoosh.*
The cold man opened his eyes.
"He's very strong!"
His name was Dong Tianhua, a man of few words who seemed as cold and unyielding as stone. Yet this martial artist, who spoke fewer than ten sentences on any given day, was the strongest member of the entire Lingshu Squad.
Even the squad's captain, Zhao Lingshu, was inferior to Dong Tianhua in sheer strength.
"Oh?"
"Tianhua, even you think he's strong? What are your chances?" Zhao Lingshu asked.
"Against the strength he just displayed, I only have a thirty percent chance of winning."
"However, he still possesses three other domains. If he uses them all together, my chances might drop to twenty percent."
"And if he has hidden cards left, I wouldn't have even a ten percent chance."
Dong Tianhua spoke deliberately, enunciating every word. He might not say this many words across several days.
Zhao Lingshu fell silent.
Dong Tianhua never lied. If he said thirty percent, then it truly was thirty percent. And that was assuming Lu Changsheng had not concealed any of his strength. If Lu Changsheng had held something back, Dong Tianhua could not even estimate the outcome.
Still, the Lingshu Squad had their own trump card. Even against a Divine Treasury Realm martial artist, let alone Lu Changsheng, they were confident they could hold their ground head-on. But that confidence relied entirely on their "treasure." Once activated, it would impose a tremendous toll on the squad.
"Dong Tianhua, what do you think we should do? Should we use the treasure, or fight?" Zhao Lingshu asked, his gaze sweeping over the rest of the squad.
"We withdraw!"
"The Golden Fruits haven't ripened yet. There's no need."
"Save the treasure for the critical moment!"
Dong Tianhua was concise.
"What? If we back down, what will the other martial artists think of us? They'll think we're afraid of Lu Changsheng!" One of the squad members objected.
Zhao Lingshu closed his eyes, then opened them again.
He glanced at Lu Changsheng, who was drawing steadily closer, and said in a heavy voice, "The Golden Fruits are what matter most! Even if we defend our position and repel Lu Changsheng, once the treasure is drained, how will we withstand the siege of the other top squads when the fruits actually ripen? Since the Tianlin Squad wants to steal the spotlight, let them!"
Zhao Lingshu had made his decision.
*Whoosh.*
Just then, Lu Changsheng arrived at the Lingshu Squad's position.
This spot was extremely close to the Golden Fruit Tree, making it the finest vantage point in the entire Golden Marsh. The moment the Golden Fruits ripened, Lu Changsheng would be the first to reach the tree and pick them.
Of course, picking the fruit was one thing; defending them and safely escaping the Golden Marsh was another entirely.
"Lingshu Squad, Dong Tianhua!"
Lu Changsheng scanned the group, his eyes finally locking onto the cold, white-robed martial artist.
Liu Yuan had already given him a brief overview of the Lingshu Squad earlier, placing special emphasis on this Dong Tianhua.
He was exceptionally powerful—arguably the strongest in the entire squad.
However, Dong Tianhua gave no response.
It was Zhao Lingshu who replied.
"Tianlin Squad, Lu Changsheng."
"That is me." Lu Changsheng shifted his gaze to Zhao Lingshu. As the squad's captain, he could not be taken lightly either.
"Lu Changsheng, do you want this spot?" Zhao Lingshu asked.
"Yes."
"So there's no room for discussion?" Zhao Lingshu asked again.
"Lingshu Squad, I know your capabilities. You can hold your own against Divine Treasury Realm martial artists and are widely regarded as the foremost squad in the first tier of the Ancient Region. But this spot—I am taking it!"
Lu Changsheng stood alone before the five members of the Lingshu Squad.
Even when the rest of the Tianlin Squad arrived, they could only remain behind him. Lu Changsheng understood full well that once a battle began, he might not be able to protect them entirely. Therefore, if a fight truly broke out, he would go all out and strike to kill! He would not give the Lingshu Squad any openings. His Mind Sword was primed to strike at a moment's notice.
"If you want this spot, take it."
"We're withdrawing!"
Zhao Lingshu took a deep look at Lu Changsheng, then waved his hand without hesitation, leading his squad away.
*They're leaving?*
Lu Changsheng was slightly taken aback.
He had been fully prepared for a bitter struggle, ready to eliminate the Lingshu Squad at any cost. It should have been a brutal fight!
Yet the Lingshu Squad had backed down just like that? They had retreated outright?
This caught Lu Changsheng completely by surprise. He even wondered if there might be a trap. Consequently, he spread his Perception Domain across the surroundings, keeping a close watch on every member of their squad. If they showed the slightest hostile intent, he would strike without hesitation!
Yet from start to finish, the Lingshu Squad made no suspicious moves at all.
Even though they clearly sensed his Perception Domain washing over them, none of them reacted. They endured it completely.
The Lingshu Squad moved straight toward the fifth-best position, which was still quite advantageous and happened to be not far behind Lu Changsheng.
The group occupying that fifth spot was the Tianji Squad.
Though their name sounded grandiose, the Tianji Squad was indeed quite powerful. However, the Lingshu Squad seemed very familiar with them.
The moment Zhao Lingshu reached the Tianji Squad, he said coldly, "Will you leave on your own, or should Dong Tianhua see you off?"
"Zhao Lingshu, you..." The members of the Tianji Squad flared with rage, but their captain stopped them.
"Zhao Lingshu, consider yourself ruthless. We're leaving!"
The Tianji Squad withdrew immediately as well. Evidently, they knew how terrifying the Lingshu Squad was, especially Dong Tianhua. If a real fight broke out, the Tianji Squad would be wiped out entirely! In the face of life and death, pride meant nothing.
The Tianji Squad backed down instantly, but then headed further back to drive away another squad behind them.
The Lingshu Squad had voluntarily pulled back and ousted the Tianji Squad to take their place, while the Tianji Squad retreated further to usurp another spot. This triggered a chain reaction that set the entire Golden Marsh into motion.
Some squads of comparable strength clashed fiercely, yet the instigators—the Tianlin Squad and the Tianji Squad—remained completely undisturbed.
Watching this unfold, the martial artists throughout the Golden Marsh were left stunned.
"What is the Lingshu Squad doing? They actually chose to pull back voluntarily and yield the best spot to the Tianlin Squad, to Lu Changsheng?"
"Lu Changsheng's strength is simply terrifying. Even the Lingshu Squad probably didn't have absolute confidence in defeating him. Why else would they yield?"
"The Lingshu Squad is likely trying to conserve their strength. Fighting over a position right now might carry some benefits, but the losses would outweigh them. The Golden Fruits aren't even ripe yet. Stepping back for now and fighting with everything they have once the fruits ripen is the smarter choice."
"Still, it goes to show how powerful Lu Changsheng is. Even the Lingshu Squad wasn't sure they could handle him. Dong Tianhua is practically known as the number one Divine Gang in the Ancient Region; I wonder who is truly stronger between him and Lu Changsheng?"
"The number one Divine Gang... we might only know once they fight!"
"Either way, Lu Changsheng's decapitation of Dong Mao today has proven his terrifying might. He's certainly no weaker than Dong Tianhua."
"It's a pity the Lingshu Squad backed down today, so we couldn't see them clash. Still, it won't be long before the Golden Fruits ripen. When that time comes, everyone can unleash their full arsenal."
"Aside from Lu Changsheng, the rest of the Tianlin Squad is quite ordinary; their overall strength isn't high. They might rank among the top Divine Gang Realm squads now, but contending for and defending the Golden Fruits will still be difficult!"
With the Lingshu Squad's voluntary retreat, many martial artists seemed to suddenly realize that Lu Changsheng was far stronger than they had imagined. Even the Lingshu Squad had lacked confidence against him, choosing to step aside to avoid pointless depletion.
Lu Changsheng's name spread completely among the top Divine Gang Realm squads across the first tier of the Ancient Region, positioning him as a rival to Dong Tianhua for the title of the foremost Divine Gang.
Of course, there was no official "number one Divine Gang" in the Ancient Region. No matter how powerful Dong Tianhua was, no one had ever formally proclaimed him as such. A title like that was forged through battle, not claimed with words. Without strength that reigned supreme over the entire Divine Gang Realm, who would dare claim to be the number one Divine Gang?
***
Not far from the Golden Fruit Tree, Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged on the ground.
He remained calm, using his Perception Domain to monitor the condition of the Golden Fruit Tree. This allowed him to track every subtle change, ensuring he would not miss the moment the fruits ripened.
Yet while Lu Changsheng appeared composed and entirely focused on the tree, Liu Yuan and the rest of the Tianlin Squad felt immense pressure.
When had they ever faced a spectacle like this?
Gaze after gaze bore down on them, each belonging to a top Divine Gang Realm martial artist—figures who commanded great influence across the first tier of the Ancient Region, none weaker than Xu Haoran. The intangible pressure was suffocating.
"Lu Changsheng, I'm under an enormous amount of pressure here," Liu Yuan could not help saying. "Are you truly certain you can hold off so many top squads and elite Divine Gang Realm experts on your own? Once the Golden Fruits ripen, we won't be able to shoulder that burden for you..."
He had asked this question before. In fact, before setting out, they all knew what kind of difficulties and pressure they would face. But knowing about the pressure was one thing; bearing it firsthand was another.
Now, they occupied the finest position in the entire Golden Marsh, having forced even the Lingshu Squad to step aside. The more prominent they became, the heavier the pressure grew.
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes and said calmly, "Rest assured. When the Golden Fruits ripen, you can focus on harvesting them. Leave the rest to me."
His words gave Liu Yuan a slight measure of comfort. However, things had come this far, and it was too late for regrets. The Tianlin Squad could only brace themselves and see it through.
Days slipped by, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
Over the course of that month, Lu Changsheng did not remain idle while monitoring the tree. Sitting in the Golden Marsh, he kept his Perception Domain active every day, contemplating its nature and striving to advance its progress. The more progress he made on his own, the fewer Dao Comprehension Pills he would need to consume later.
During that month, even more squads arrived at the Golden Marsh. Clashes and skirmishes broke out from time to time, but none of it affected Lu Changsheng. No one was foolish enough to challenge the Tianlin Squad's position. Even the Lingshu Squad had backed down, so who dared test the edge of Lu Changsheng's blade?
On this day, Lu Changsheng maintained his Perception Domain as usual, closely watching the Golden Fruit Tree.
Suddenly, the Golden Fruits began to change.
"The color of the Golden Fruits is deepening."
Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
Previously, the fruits had only borne a pale golden sheen. Now, they had turned a rich, brilliant gold, hanging from the branches like gleaming clusters of precious metal.
Moreover, Lu Changsheng had long since counted them: exactly twenty-eight Golden Fruits hung from the tree, a rather generous yield.
The golden hue of all twenty-eight fruits deepened rapidly. His Perception Domain perceived it with crystal clarity—this was not the slow deepening of color over the past month, but a sudden, rapid transformation occurring within mere moments.
*The Golden Fruits have ripened!*
The thought instantly crossed Lu Changsheng's mind.
Liu Yuan's expression turned grave as excitement surged through him. "They've truly ripened! We can harvest the Golden Fruits now!"
It was not just Liu Yuan who noticed; martial artists across the entire Golden Marsh saw the transformation.
"Move!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Changsheng took a step forward. The rest of the Tianlin Squad followed suit, reaching the base of the Golden Fruit Tree in an instant.
Because they were closest to the tree and Lu Changsheng's Perception Domain had detected the change immediately, the Tianlin Squad seized the initiative.
Seeing Lu Changsheng and his squad move, the martial artists across the marsh snapped to attention.
"The Golden Fruits have ripened! They're definitely ripe!"
The entire Golden Marsh erupted into an uproar.
The Lingshu Squad had been holding the fifth position, but now Zhao Lingshu did not hesitate for a second.
"Move!"
"At all costs, seize the Golden Fruits first!"
The Lingshu Squad surged forward, and the other squads were just as swift.
All of them were elite squads. Over the past month, they had coexisted peacefully in the marsh, refraining from slaughter and exercising immense restraint. But did anyone truly believe they were gentle souls? They had merely been biding their time, holding back for the sake of the Golden Fruits! None of them had wanted to waste their strength on pointless squabbles. But now that the fruits were ripe, what reason was there to wait? Had they not endured an entire month just for this very day?
*Whoosh.*
Lu Changsheng was the first to arrive beneath the Golden Fruit Tree. However, he did not immediately pick any fruit. Instead, he turned around and shielded the members of the Tianlin Squad behind him.
"Captain, go harvest the fruits. Follow the plan!"
"If any fruits aren't fully ripe yet, wait a moment. Gather the ripe ones first."
"As for the martial artists and squads trying to contest them—leave them to me!"
Lu Changsheng's tone was calm.
Even now, he remained completely composed.
Yet Liu Yuan and the others could already feel the terrifying momentum bearing down from all sides. The combined auras of countless elite squads and top Divine Gang Realm martial artists surged toward them like a tidal wave, with the Golden Fruit Tree at its epicenter.
The pressure was horrific.
Facing such a frightening scene, even Liu Yuan—who had believed in Lu Changsheng's strength and held confidence in him—could not hide the dread in his eyes.
He could not help saying, "Lu Changsheng, if you can't hold them off, we retreat!"
"Retreat?"
Lu Changsheng simply stood beneath the Golden Fruit Tree. Facing the countless top Divine Gang Realm martial artists and the torrential momentum sweeping toward him, he remained as immovable as a mountain.
"Among those in the Divine Gang Realm, who could possibly make me take a single step back?"
*Boom!*
The moment his words fell, his vast Starry Sky Domain unfurled, instantly enveloping the entire Golden Fruit Tree and extending a hundred zhang beyond it!
"Ten zhang shall be the boundary."
"Anyone who steps within ten zhang of the Golden Fruit Tree dies!"
Lu Changsheng's voice boomed outward in all directions, resounding across the entire Golden Marsh.
His declaration instantly sparked an uproar.
"What? Anyone who steps within ten zhang dies? What is Lu Changsheng thinking?"
"Insane! The Golden Fruits ripen only once every ten years, yielding just over twenty fruits each time. No one has ever monopolized them completely; everyone competes with their own abilities. Now Lu Changsheng wants to claim every single one for himself? Arrogant beyond belief!"
"Even if Lu Changsheng is truly formidable, so what? With so many top Divine Gang Realm martial artists here, could he possibly kill them all?"
"Ignore him, go for the Golden Fruits!"
A vast swarm of martial artists continued charging toward the tree. In particular, the elite squads holding the foremost positions scrambled ahead, none willing to fall behind.
As for the ten-zhang boundary Lu Changsheng had set? In a moment like this, no one cared!
"I'm close."
"I still made it to the Golden Fruit Tree right away."
"My position was slightly further back, but my speed is the greatest. Arriving right after the Tianlin Squad, I should be able to claim a few Golden Fruits."
The first person to cross the ten-zhang perimeter was neither one of the martial artists from the front nor a member of the Lingshu Squad, but Xu Fei of the Tianji Squad!
Xu Fei had comprehended the Wind Domain. Enhancing himself with it and relying on top-tier movement techniques, his speed was blindingly fast.
Yet the moment Xu Fei stepped within ten zhang of the Golden Fruit Tree and entered Lu Changsheng's Starry Sky Domain, his expression changed drastically.
*Boom!*
The Starry Sky Domain instantly crushed Xu Fei's Wind Domain.
A perfected Starry Sky Domain was more than enough to overwhelm any ordinary domain.
*Swish!*
Before Xu Fei could even recover from the shock, his spirit jolted, and an excruciating pain tore through his mind.
Mind Sword!
Lu Changsheng had unleashed his Mind Sword directly.
Amid that spiritual shockwave, Xu Fei's figure froze for a fraction of an instant, and Lu Changsheng drew his blade.
*Clang!*
Blade light flashed.
A crimson arc slashed through the void. Beneath the dark starry sky, it looked strikingly brilliant. Yet that radiant light carried lethal intent.
A hundred thousand tripods of force erupted, instantly cleaving through the layers of Divine Gang shielding Xu Fei's body.
*Squelch!*
With a single stroke, Xu Fei was decapitated. His headless body collapsed directly into the marsh, where both head and corpse were swiftly swallowed by the golden mire.
"What?"
"Xu Fei is dead? In just one slash!"
"Ten zhang! He truly meant ten zhang!"
"Does Lu Changsheng really intend to fight all of our top squads and martial artists alone?"
The Divine Gang Realm martial artists who witnessed the strike felt that Lu Changsheng had lost his mind.
They knew full well that no matter how arrogant a Divine Gang Realm martial artist might be, none would dare claim they could take on so many elite squads at once. Even the Lingshu Squad, without deploying certain treasures, would find it an impossible pipe dream. In fact, even with treasures, they might still be overwhelmed and blasted apart.
As for Dong Tianhua alone? He would have been torn to shreds long ago.
In past competitions for the Golden Fruits, squads had fought independently based on their own abilities. While squads were said to withstand rival teams, no single squad, let alone a single Divine Gang Realm martial artist, had ever truly taken on everyone at once.
Yet Lu Changsheng had done just that.
And he had slain Xu Fei in a single slash.
Xu Fei was by no means weaker than Dong Mao. Yet Lu Changsheng had killed him without the slightest hesitation, finishing him in the span of a breath. Such speed was almost impossible to believe.
"Unleash your domains and wear down Lu Changsheng's!" a martial artist shouted, instantly reacting.
Domains were the key.
With so many of them gathered, could they truly fail to grind down the domain of a single man? Even through sheer attrition, they could wear him to death.
*Rumble!*
In an instant, an overwhelming sea of domains surged toward Lu Changsheng like an engulfing tide.
Ten, twenty, fifty, eighty, a hundred...
Lu Changsheng could not tell how many layers of domains there were. No one could know the exact count, but there were easily a hundred.
A hundred domains swept forward with earth-shattering force, nearly all directed at Lu Changsheng. The sheer pressure was immense, enough to shatter the heavens and shake the earth. Perhaps no domain could endure it.
Lu Changsheng unleashed his Ocean Wave Domain and Tempest Domain as well. However, neither domain was perfected, and they did not even get the chance to fuse. The moment they appeared, they were crushed outright by the onslaught of a hundred domains.
*Buzz.*
Lu Changsheng directly unleashed his Starry Sky Domain and Waterfall Domain.
These were two perfected domains!
Yet even two perfected domains could not hold against a hundred domains through sheer force of numbers. After enduring for merely a few moments, signs of collapse began to show.
"Hahaha! Lu Changsheng can't hold out!"
"We have a hundred domains combined—who could possibly withstand this?"
"Lu Changsheng is truly terrifying, having cultivated two different domains to perfection. If not for over a hundred of us Divine Gang Realm martial artists joining forces, who could have rivaled his domains?"
"Press the attack and crush his domains!"
The hundred-plus Divine Gang Realm martial artists were ecstatic. Crushing Lu Changsheng's two perfected domains gave them an immense sense of accomplishment.
Yet Lu Changsheng showed not the slightest panic.
Even as his two perfected domains teetered on the brink of collapse, his expression remained tranquil.
"A hundred domains, and this is all the pressure you can muster?"
"I am disappointed!"
Lu Changsheng shook his head.
Under normal circumstances, gathering a hundred formidable domains would be virtually impossible. Only now, having become the common enemy of all, could he face a hundred elite domains at once.
Yet he still felt disappointed.
Along the path of domains, Lu Changsheng had already traveled far too far—far beyond any ordinary Divine Gang Realm martial artist!
"Perfected Starry Sky Domain!"
"Perfected Waterfall Domain!"
"Fuse!"
In the next instant, the two perfected domains merged.
The semi-real Starry Sky Waterfall Domain descended with a thunderous roar!
Chapter 157