Lu Changsheng Acclaimed Martial Venerable! The Name of Venerable Lu Spreads Far and Wide!

"Who else desires the position of clan head?" Lu Changsheng stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his voice echoing across the Martial Arts Field. Yet every single person remained as quiet as cicadas in winter, none daring to respond. The scene just now had been far too shocking. Moreover, the casualties were catastrophic. In merely a single instant, a single fraction of a second, Lu Changsheng had retracted his divine ability. Yet what was the aftermath? Every one of the forty-three Li clan scions competing for the headship—aside from Li Guang—had perished. All of them were dead! That was the finest generation of the Li clan. And the result? Every last one had died! More than forty of them in total. Under these circumstances, who would dare contend for the seat of clan head? The Li clan elders trembled all over, their faces pale and livid. Many of those forty-plus dead clan descendants had deep ties to these elders, bound to them by countless threads of interest and blood. Yet now, all of them were gone. What was more, Lu Changsheng had not even done it deliberately. It was merely because those people could not endure even a single instant before dying. Their spirits were simply too frail! Or rather, Lu Changsheng's divine ability was far too powerful—so powerful that Dao Foundation martial artists had their spirits obliterated and perished just by laying eyes upon it. Even Li Chengwu and the clan elders had been entirely powerless to save them. In fact, it was not only Dao Foundation martial artists; several Divine Ability experts had died as well. The surviving Divine Ability martial artists were left reeling with lingering dread. After all, Lu Changsheng's Spiritual Black Hole divine ability had not even descended upon them; it had not enveloped them yet. If that Spiritual Black Hole had truly descended, then aside from a select few with extraordinary spiritual gifts or defensive spiritual treasures, scarcely anyone could have withstood it. Such was a boundless divine ability! Boundless in divine power, boundless in might! "Among those in the Divine Ability realm, there exists a kind of being who has reached the pinnacle of the path of divine abilities—overwhelming in combat prowess, sweeping through all opposition, completely invincible, and reigning as an overlord of an entire domain." "Such figures are worthy of being hailed as 'Martial Venerables.' Lu Changsheng has condensed a boundless divine ability, sweeping away all before him and looking down upon all living beings. Lu Changsheng is truly a Martial Venerable!" "A Martial Venerable has actually been born in our Tiansheng City! Beneath Martial Saints, Martial Venerables reign supreme!" "From now on, we must address him as Venerable Lu..." Some Divine Ability martial artists wore complicated expressions. Venerable Lu! Who could have imagined that an unknown martial artist could attain the pinnacle of martial arts and be acclaimed a Martial Venerable the very moment he achieved a divine ability? Martial Saints were already on an entirely different plane, seemingly separated from other martial artists altogether. Many people went centuries without catching sight of a Saint. Thus, a Martial Venerable was virtually the pinnacle of the martial path! In the entirety of Tiansheng City, those who could be called Martial Venerables numbered fewer than ten fingers—a vanishingly small number. And even among Martial Venerables, condensing a boundless divine ability was exceptionally rare! "It seems no one else wishes to contest the clan head's seat," Lu Changsheng said. "Clan Head Li, will you now announce Li Guang as the heir to the clan headship?" "Of course, Little Friend Lu... no, Venerable Lu!" Li Chengwu corrected himself at once. In truth, he was beside himself with excitement. A Martial Venerable! Who could have imagined that his son, Li Guang, could become acquainted with a Martial Venerable? He had even extended a helping hand while Lu Changsheng was still obscure. Such luck... was practically comparable to that of the thirty-sixth-generation clan head back then. Back then, the thirty-sixth-generation clan head had enjoyed even greater fortune, rescuing a Divine Ability martial artist during humble beginnings. Who could have known that a few years later, that Divine Ability martial artist would become a Martial Saint? Supported by that Martial Saint, the thirty-sixth-generation clan head embarked on his path of ascent. Could it be that Li Guang would also become a figure akin to the thirty-sixth-generation clan head? Beaming from ear to ear, Li Chengwu turned to the clan elders and said mildly, "Elders, what say you?" The elders were completely cowed by Lu Changsheng. Moreover, outstanding descendants like Li Feng and Li Chen were all dead, and Li Guang had Lu Changsheng's backing. Who else could be chosen as the clan head's successor besides Li Guang? "Clan Head, make the announcement," an elder spoke. They knew the tide had turned. In this confrontation against the clan head, they had lost—and suffered an utter, crushing defeat! Going forward, Li Guang would have the backing of a Martial Venerable like Lu Changsheng. If a Saint did not intervene, who could hold Li Guang in check? Once Li Chengwu stepped down and Li Guang assumed the clan headship, the clan head's authority would only grow greater, and life for the elders would become even more difficult. Yet circumstances were stronger than men. A loss was a loss, and they could only concede for now! "Very well." "In the name of the clan head of the Li clan, I hereby declare Li Guang the sole successor to the clan headship!" Li Chengwu beamed. From this day onward, he could openly pave the way for Li Guang. After all, Li Guang was now the rightful heir! Li Guang was deeply agitated, seeming not to have fully processed reality yet. "Successor to the clan head... I... I really did it?" "Brother Lu, I actually did it?" Looking at the emotional Li Guang, Lu Changsheng nodded. "Indeed, Brother Li, you did it. You are now the heir to the clan headship, the future head of the Li clan!" Li Guang drew a deep breath, steadying his inner turmoil. "Thank you, Brother Lu, for seeing this through for me!" Li Guang bowed respectfully in gratitude to Lu Changsheng. He understood all too well that without Lu Changsheng, he would not even have had the qualifications to compete for the seat of clan head, let alone stand here today. Thus, witnessed by numerous members of the Li clan, Li Guang emerged as the greatest victor—the true successor to the clan head! However, even more eyes fell upon Lu Changsheng. They knew clearly that the birth of a Martial Venerable would inevitably alter the balance of power across all of Tiansheng City. A Martial Venerable might seem less influential than a Saint, but in truth, disputes between ordinary factions were settled at the Divine Ability level. And a Martial Venerable often represented invincibility! With a Martial Venerable like Lu Changsheng on their side, the Li clan's influence would likely expand rapidly. For the entire Li clan, this was undeniably an immense boon! "Brother Lu, you have labored hard today. Please go rest for a while," Li Guang said in a deep voice. "In a few days, once I have sorted out certain clan matters, I will discuss things in detail with you." "Very well, I will await you, Brother Li." Without hesitation, Lu Changsheng took his leave. He knew what Li Guang wanted to discuss, and Li Guang likewise knew what Lu Changsheng needed. However, there was no rush. It was better for Li Guang to first gain a clear understanding of the Li clan and the Li Chamber of Commerce. Particularly the Li Chamber of Commerce. Without a firm grasp of the chamber, Li Guang would find it difficult to make any concrete promises to Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng returned to the room prepared for him by the Li clan. Inside, he was all alone. He began reviewing the events of the day. Exchanging blows with the Li clan's Divine Ability experts had impressed a clear truth upon him: Those hundred drops of Heavenly Spirit Water were truly worth it! A boundless divine ability stood far above a lesser divine ability. In truth, Elder Tu and True Person Ningxu were not weak. Even a martial artist wielding a greater divine ability likely could not have defeated them easily. Yet Lu Changsheng had crushed them in a single move. In fact, had Lu Changsheng wished, a single divine ability strike would have been enough to slay both of them. Such was Lu Changsheng's current strength. His title of Venerable Lu was truly well-deserved! "Acclaimed as a venerable of the martial path..." Lu Changsheng murmured softly. Unbeknownst to himself, he had already reached such lofty heights. Even in the Holy Land, he could be called an overlord of an entire domain. Right now in Tiansheng City, Lu Changsheng could establish a faction at any time. Moreover, as long as he was there, the faction's influence would certainly not be small. For a martial faction, what is the most important thing? The question flashed through Lu Changsheng's mind. He quickly found the answer. Heavenly Spirit Water! Without question, the most vital thing for a martial faction was Heavenly Spirit Water: channels to obtain Heavenly Spirit Water, or better yet, direct control over it! Otherwise, one would forever be constrained by others. Lu Changsheng had come to the Holy Land carrying the hopes of the entire Ancient Region Heavenly Sect on his shoulders. If the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect wished to establish a foothold, it had to establish the Holy Land Heavenly Sect in Tiansheng City. Establishing the Holy Land Heavenly Sect was easy, but how to sustain it? That was the difficult part! Lu Changsheng was now a Martial Venerable, sufficiently strong to uphold a faction. Yet if he could not resolve how to sustain the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, it would never be stable. Lu Changsheng knew well that resolving this issue would likely depend on Li Guang! And so, Lu Changsheng waited quietly. In the blink of an eye, three days passed. "Hmm?" Lu Changsheng opened his eyes and waved a hand. The room's doors swung open. Outside stood Li Guang, waiting quietly. "Brother Li, have you settled matters concerning the clan and the chamber of commerce?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Everything has been settled. I was unable to visit you over these past three days, Brother Lu; please forgive me." Li Guang appeared noticeably more composed and steady. It had only been three days. Often, a difference in identity and status could truly transform a person. "No matter. You just became the heir to the clan headship; there are bound to be many clan and chamber affairs that demand your attention. Taking a few days is only natural," Lu Changsheng said, his expression turning solemn. "Now that trivial matters are settled, it is time to speak of serious business." Li Guang nodded; he naturally knew what Lu Changsheng meant by "serious business." Thus, Li Guang took the initiative to speak: "Brother Lu, regarding the Heavenly Spirit Water you desire, I can make the call to grant you a discount—pricing it at seventy percent of the standard rate! But this is the absolute limit, essentially at cost. Any lower, and we would not even recoup our expenses." Lu Changsheng was not particularly surprised. He knew the Li Chamber of Commerce was merely a merchant house; it did not produce Heavenly Spirit Water itself. There was inevitably a base cost. However, even at seventy percent, that was still seven thousand spirit stones. Far too expensive! Not only did Lu Changsheng need a great deal of Heavenly Spirit Water for his cultivation, but as the foundation of a major martial sect in the future, it would also require vast amounts of Heavenly Spirit Water. Even if a single Dao Foundation martial artist only used one drop, what about ten? Twenty? Or even more? And over decades, centuries, or hundreds of years? By then, the Heavenly Spirit Water needed would amount to an enormous figure, consuming vast seas of spirit stones! The best approach was to control Heavenly Spirit Water directly. "Brother Li, how exactly is this Heavenly Spirit Water produced? Where can it be found?" Lu Changsheng asked. "You wish to control Heavenly Spirit Water?" Li Guang immediately grasped Lu Changsheng's intention. Controlling Heavenly Spirit Water. In truth, the Li clan wanted to do so as well. Not only the Li clan, but every large faction and chamber of commerce in Tiansheng City dreamed of controlling Heavenly Spirit Water. After all, the majority of inhabitants in the Holy Land were martial artists, and for a martial artist to reach the Divine Ability realm, Heavenly Spirit Water was indispensable. As long as one controlled Heavenly Spirit Water, one held an endless stream of wealth. Who wouldn't covet it? "Brother Lu, I advise you to dismiss such thoughts as early as possible," Li Guang said. "Heavenly Spirit Water is not something we can touch. Heavenly Spirit Water originates from Heavenly Spirit Mountain, and Heavenly Spirit Mountain has another name: the Heavenly Spirit Holy Sect! Essentially, Heavenly Spirit Water is monopolized by the Heavenly Spirit Holy Sect. Of course, there are other Holy Sects that hold some Heavenly Spirit Water to varying degrees, but their output is negligible. Only the Heavenly Spirit Holy Sect can produce Heavenly Spirit Water in massive quantities. It is precisely through Heavenly Spirit Water that the Heavenly Spirit Holy Sect has become nearly the number one sect in the entire Holy Land, as well as the wealthiest. Even those Immortal Sects cannot compare to the wealth of the Heavenly Spirit Holy Sect." Lu Changsheng grew thoughtful. "Heavenly Spirit Holy Sect..." Lu Changsheng murmured under his breath. He had heard of this major martial sect more than once. "Any sect designated a Holy Sect is overseen by a Heavenly Saint!" Li Guang continued. "Saints are actually divided into three realms: Heavenly Saint, Earth Saint, and Human Saint, collectively known as the Three Saints realm! And a Heavenly Saint stands at the very summit of the Three Saints realm, practically touching the limits of the Three Saints boundary. Across the entire Holy Land, Heavenly Saints reign supreme!" Lu Changsheng understood. However, that was far too remote for him. He had only just transformed one boundless divine ability. As for the other two boundless divine abilities, there was no telling how long it would take to transform them. The Three Saints realm—or rather, the Heavenly Saint realm—was simply too distant. "So there is truly no other way?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Indeed, there is truly no way," Li Guang replied. "The Heavenly Spirit Holy Sect does not simply sell Heavenly Spirit Water casually either; each year, they only release a fixed quota. Sometimes the quota is even reduced. For the sake of this small allocation of Heavenly Spirit Water, various major factions and merchant chambers employ every conceivable trick to curry favor with the Heavenly Spirit Holy Sect, causing the price of Heavenly Spirit Water to climb higher and higher. Yet no one can afford to give up on Heavenly Spirit Water. In the future, its price may rise even further—eleven thousand, thirteen thousand, fifteen thousand, or even twenty thousand spirit stones per drop is not impossible." Lu Changsheng could hear that Li Guang was also deeply dissatisfied with this state of affairs. Yet there was nothing to be done. Heavenly Spirit Water was in the hands of the Heavenly Spirit Holy Sect; what could the Li Chamber of Commerce possibly do? Even the Li clan ancestor was merely a Human Saint, who would have to be thoroughly deferential upon arriving at the Heavenly Spirit Holy Sect. In the Holy Land, martial strength reigned supreme above all else. Without strength, attempting to obtain anything was as difficult as ascending the heavens. "If Heavenly Spirit Water cannot be directly secured... and is even subject to quotas, what is the Li Chamber of Commerce's yearly quota?" Lu Changsheng asked. "The Li Chamber of Commerce's allocation is around a hundred drops a year." "Only a hundred drops?" "Indeed. This year's quota was essentially bought out by you, Brother Lu. Therefore, if you wish to purchase Heavenly Spirit Water from the Li Chamber of Commerce, you must wait until next year. Next year, I can make the call to allocate half of it to you at seventy percent of the price. How does that sound?" Half meant fifty or sixty drops of Heavenly Spirit Water—roughly that number. Yet even for these mere dozens of drops, he would have to wait until next year. As for the price, Li Guang had indeed exerted his utmost effort. "So currently, obtaining Heavenly Spirit Water comes down to two main problems: one is spirit stones, and the other is the quota of Heavenly Spirit Water. The quota issue can be resolved simply enough—just seek out several more chambers of commerce. The most critical issue is spirit stones; there must be a location capable of stably producing spirit stones so that the Holy Land Heavenly Sect can firmly establish its footing in the Holy Land." In an instant, many thoughts flashed through Lu Changsheng's mind. Spirit stones—Lu Changsheng knew where they came from: Spirit stone mines! As long as one possessed a spirit stone mine, it could be excavated. Depending on the size of the mine, it could be mined for countless years. Moreover, spiritual energy flowed between heaven and earth; if an array were gathered to continuously replenish the spirit stone vein with spiritual energy, the vein could replenish and grow indefinitely. Provided there was a measured limit to the extraction, spirit stones would practically remain an inexhaustible, endless resource. However, the most difficult aspect was obtaining a spirit stone vein. Where could one find a spirit stone vein? Near Tiansheng City, almost every single spirit stone vein already had an owner. To acquire a spirit stone vein, there was only one way: Seize it! "Brother Li, can you mobilize the Li Chamber of Commerce's resources to provide me with the exact locations of spirit stone veins near Tiansheng City, along with detailed dossiers on the factions backing them?" Lu Changsheng asked. Li Guang gave Lu Changsheng a deep look. Evidently, he had already guessed what Lu Changsheng intended to do. However, his relationship with Lu Changsheng was exceptionally close right now, so he would naturally help with such a minor matter. "No problem. I will have someone prepare it immediately and deliver it to you tomorrow, Brother Lu." Lu Changsheng nodded. "One more thing: if I wish to establish a faction, such as a sect, under what circumstances will Tiansheng City not interfere?" Lu Changsheng asked again. "Establish a sect..." Li Guang looked deeply at Lu Changsheng once more. He pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, "Do not cause major chaos in Tiansheng City, maintain the city's order, and do not provoke factions that possess Saint-level powerhouses. So long as those points are observed, virtually no one will intervene in the struggles and slaughters between factions within Tiansheng City. However, take note that many factions in Tiansheng City share deeply intertwined, convoluted ties. Many factions are even subordinate to certain top factions..." Lu Changsheng understood. "However, I am not entirely without backing or foundation either. For instance, behind me stands Brother Li, and behind Brother Li stands the Li clan—a Martial Saint—is that not so?" Lu Changsheng remarked with a smile. Li Guang smiled as well. Indeed. Given the relationship between Lu Changsheng and him, if someone said Lu Changsheng had the Li clan behind him, who could doubt it? The next day, Li Guang had the materials delivered. Lu Changsheng examined them carefully. The information was exceptionally thorough. The spirit stone veins near Tiansheng City, the factions behind them, and even the intricate ties between those factions and others were documented in meticulous detail. Some of the information was practically top-secret—intelligence only a colossal power like the Li Chamber of Commerce could possibly possess, all handed over to Lu Changsheng in one go. Just from this detailed intelligence alone, the Li clan was clearly anything but ordinary. Truly worthy of being a local hegemon of Tiansheng City! "There are eight top factions in Tiansheng City in total." "These eight top factions are divided into three upper factions and five lower factions. The distinction lies in that the three upper factions currently have living Martial Saints overseeing them, whereas the five lower factions were founded by Martial Saints and had produced Martial Saints in their past, giving them profound heritage." "Although the five lower factions possess no active Martial Saints, each of them is overseen by a Martial Venerable!" Lu Changsheng examined the dossiers one by one. He noticed the detail that every one of the five lower factions was overseen by a Martial Venerable. In truth, Martial Venerable was not a cultivation realm, but merely a title—or rather, an honorific of combat prowess! A Martial Venerable was still a Divine Ability martial artist, designating someone invincible who swept through all opposition within the Divine Ability realm, possessing virtually no rivals, having progressed as far as possible in that realm. Those who could be hailed as Martial Venerables almost never suffered defeat; whenever they took action, they were inevitably victorious. This could not help but strike Lu Changsheng as somewhat odd. Logically speaking, the number of Martial Venerables ought to be minuscule. Why, then, was each and every one of the five lower factions overseen by a Martial Venerable? "Martial Venerables... Some of them are likely exaggerated through boasting." Lu Changsheng's eyes turned cold, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. A Martial Venerable was fundamentally just an honorific—an honorific acknowledging combat prowess. Since it was merely a title, there was ample room for manipulation. For example, boasting. Lu Changsheng had climbed up step by step from a weak martial artist to where he stood today; boasting in the pugilistic world was an everyday occurrence. That one was a Sword God, this one a Sword Saint. That one was a Blood Butcher, this one a Human Slaughterer. Those claiming kingship, hegemony, or grandmaster status were innumerable. Yet did their combat strength truly match their grand titles? Far from it. Even a butcher dared call himself Lord of Guanxi, let alone others. A so-called Martial Venerable was a title in the martial world; with a bit of orchestration, obtaining such a moniker was quite easy. With the heritage and influence of the five lower factions, arranging that was child's play. Consequently, though the five lower factions lacked Martial Saints, they boasted Martial Venerables generation after generation without interruption. Yet how could a true Martial Venerable emerge so easily? "The five lower factions..." Lu Changsheng looked closer. Aside from the so-called Martial Venerables, he also noticed that the five lower factions shared intricate ties with the three upper factions. Even the Li clan, being one of the three upper factions, maintained deep connections with one or two of the lower factions. This was precisely what Li Guang had described: deeply intertwined and convoluted connections. "The lower factions cannot be touched." Lu Changsheng made up his mind. He did not care about their so-called Martial Venerables. He was a Martial Venerable himself, and a genuine one possessing a boundless divine ability! How could those overhyped Martial Venerables compare to him? However, if the lower factions were entwined with the upper factions and involved Martial Saints, Lu Changsheng had to tread carefully. After all, he intended to establish the Holy Land Heavenly Sect to give the martial artists of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect an opportunity to gain a foothold in the Holy Land. Therefore, stability and caution were paramount! Even if he had to "seize" a spirit stone vein to enrich the sect's foundation, he would never leave behind lingering perils. It had to be clean and decisive. Thus, among the eight top factions, neither the upper nor the lower factions would be touched. Below the eight top factions in Tiansheng City were the second-tier factions. There were many such factions. However, very few possessed spirit stone veins. After all, if any spirit stone veins existed, they were almost entirely carved up by the eight top factions. How could other factions get a share? Yet for various reasons, a few second-tier factions indeed held spirit stone veins. "A spirit stone vein is an absolute necessity!" "Now, it comes down to which faction to make an example of." Lu Changsheng would certainly not be softhearted. "The Sanluo Chamber of Commerce? Hmm, this chamber's background is extremely complex, and it is said to have extensive entanglements with factions outside Tiansheng City. Although it possesses a spirit stone vein, attempting to seize it by force would likely invite endless troubles. While I personally do not fear trouble, the Holy Land Heavenly Sect is different; a constant stream of trouble would be very detrimental to the sect." "Myriad Sword Manor! Hmm, this is a swordsmanship clan that has produced numerous sword experts throughout history, occupying a spirit stone vein of decent quality." "Myriad Sword Manor's background is remarkably clean, without major entanglements with other factions. That it can occupy a high-quality spirit stone vein was forged entirely through raw martial strength." "Because Myriad Sword Manor possesses a genuine Martial Venerable: Sword Venerable Chen Peng!" "Chen Peng is a top-tier Divine Ability realm martial artist who condensed a greater sword divine ability. Yes, a greater sword divine ability! Relying on his greater sword divine ability and peerlessly sharp offensive might, Chen Peng tested his sword across the world and practically never suffered a defeat, naturally earning his renowned name as the Sword Venerable!" Lu Changsheng analyzed Myriad Sword Manor. The more he analyzed it, the brighter his eyes shone. "Sword Venerable Chen Peng..." Lu Changsheng murmured softly. A greater sword divine ability? Relying on a greater sword divine ability, Sword Venerable Chen Peng swept through all opposition, utterly invincible, forging his fame as the Sword Venerable! He had even secured a spirit stone vein for Myriad Sword Manor. "It will be you!" "Myriad Sword Manor, Chen Peng!" A sharp gleam flashed through Lu Changsheng's eyes. He had made his choice! And so, Lu Changsheng sought out Li Guang. "Brother Li, I wish to challenge Sword Venerable Chen Peng of Myriad Sword Manor." "If Chen Peng loses, he must yield the spirit stone vein occupied by Myriad Sword Manor." "If I lose... I will be at their disposal!" Lu Changsheng stated calmly. Vying for a mineral vein could be done fair and square. After all, Lu Changsheng was no weakling. He possessed the right to challenge. Because he was a Martial Venerable! Those two words alone were Lu Changsheng's confidence! A Martial Venerable challenging a Sword Venerable. This was a fair battle! If Chen Peng lost, Myriad Sword Manor would merely lose a single spirit stone vein; Myriad Sword Manor would remain Myriad Sword Manor. Yet if Chen Peng refused the challenge, action would be taken behind closed doors—and that would mean cutting weeds and pulling up roots, risking the destruction of Myriad Sword Manor! "Brother Lu, must it be so?" Li Guang could not help but caution. "Though you have condensed a boundless divine ability, Sword Venerable Chen Peng has fought a hundred battles without a single defeat; his fame as Sword Venerable was truly forged in combat!" "I have considered it thoroughly; it must be so!" Lu Changsheng's tone was resolute. "Very well, then I will convey your intent to Myriad Sword Manor. With your exalted status as a Martial Venerable making an open and honorable challenge, Chen Peng will not refuse!" Lu Changsheng nodded. "Then I trouble you, Brother Li." Regardless, having the Li clan deliver the message to Myriad Sword Manor carried a far different weight. Afterward, Lu Changsheng quietly awaited Myriad Sword Manor's response.