Lu Changsheng Slays the Sword Venerable with a Boundless Divine Ability: Tiansheng City's Number One Beneath the Martial Saints!

Within Myriad Sword Manor, numerous Divine Ability realm martial artists had gathered. Nearly all of them were core, high-ranking figures of the manor. Manor Lord Chen An wore a solemn expression. In his hands rested a formal letter of challenge. This challenge was no small matter—it was addressed to none other than the Sword Venerable, Chen Peng. Furthermore, having been delivered in person by the Li clan, it immediately commanded the full attention of the entire Myriad Sword Manor. "Everyone, take a look at this challenge." Chen An passed the letter down so that every Divine Ability martial artist present could inspect it thoroughly. Upon reading its contents, a heavy atmosphere settled over Myriad Sword Manor. Yet even greater than their gravity was their indignation. "Lu Changsheng? I've heard of him. Supposedly, he made an astonishing splash during the Li clan's succession struggle, helping Li Guang secure the position of heir, and was even hailed as Venerable Lu!" "This Venerable Lu has supposedly condensed a boundless divine ability, though who knows whether that's true or false." "A boundless divine ability... It's unimaginable that a powerhouse wielding a boundless divine ability could emerge in our Tiansheng City." "Regardless, Lu Changsheng had no right to set his sights on Myriad Sword Manor's spirit stone vein. So many factions possess spirit stone veins, yet he singled out our manor. Does he take us for a soft persimmon?" "Hmph! Lu Changsheng let success go to his head after winning once. Does he truly believe Chen Peng is weaker than him? Ever since Chen Peng condensed his greater sword divine ability, he has fought over a hundred battles, large and small, without a single defeat! His reputation as the Sword Venerable was earned through genuine combat! How could he be compared to those boastful Martial Venerables?" "Whether this Lu Changsheng truly condensed a boundless divine ability is another matter altogether. The claims spread by the Li clan can hardly be taken at face value." "In truth, it does no good for us to argue here. It all comes down to what Chen Peng thinks..." The members of Myriad Sword Manor finally turned their gazes toward a serene-faced Divine Ability martial artist. That was Chen Peng! The pillar and anchor of the entire Myriad Sword Manor. Chen Peng had risen to fame early in life, yet he was not particularly old. His talent was simply too exceptional; he had gained renown at a young age, later condensed a greater sword divine ability, challenged countless opponents without suffering a single loss, and forged his title as the Sword Venerable! Though Chen Peng rarely involved himself in administrative affairs, devoting his mind entirely to the sword, his voice within Myriad Sword Manor carried immense weight. His words often represented the final decision of the manor. Chen An looked at Chen Peng and asked softly, "Chen Peng, what is your view? Do we accept this challenge or not?" *Swish.* The next instant, Chen Peng opened his eyes. The moment his eyes opened, everyone felt as if a precious sword had been drawn from its scabbard, radiating a chilling, razor-sharp edge. "Accept!" "Lu Changsheng delivered this challenge under the Li clan's name, leaving our Myriad Sword Manor no room to refuse in the first place." "Besides, I would like to witness this legendary boundless divine ability for myself and see what manner of might warrants the name 'boundless.'" Chen Peng had spoken. He had announced his decision before the entire gathering. "Chen Peng, how confident are you?" the manor lord asked. Chen Peng shook his head, his tone flat as he said, "I have no certainty." "Faced with such an opponent, who could be certain without having fought him?" "If he truly condensed a boundless divine ability, then given its terrifying nature, this battle will likely be perilous." "However, I once tested my sword across the world, encountering over a hundred battles large and small without tasting defeat. In those days, aside from a handful of sacred grounds and great sects that might possess experts of boundless divine abilities, I never heard of anyone capable of condensing one." "As long as his ability is not truly boundless, Lu Changsheng will surely lose!" Chen Peng spoke with absolute conviction. This was his confidence! Or rather, his bedrock! Undefeated through more than a hundred battles, possessing a greater sword divine ability—what sheer strength and courage did that entail? Chen Peng had never known fear. In fact, he harbored a faint hope that Lu Changsheng had genuinely condensed a boundless divine ability, rather than it being an exaggerated rumor or a boast by the Li clan. Chen Peng yearned for a battle against a boundless divine ability! Seeing Chen Peng in this state, the members of Myriad Sword Manor felt their worries ease. As long as Chen Peng was willing to take the field, victory was practically nine parts assured. No one could withstand Chen Peng's greater sword divine ability. "Very well! In that case, Myriad Sword Manor accepts the battle!" "As for the battleground... it shall be here at Myriad Sword Manor!" The manor lord spoke with finality, having clearly made up his mind. *** At the Li clan estate, Li Guang hurried before Lu Changsheng. "Brother Lu, word just came from Myriad Sword Manor. Chen Peng has accepted your challenge." "The duel is set for three days from now at Myriad Sword Manor." "Is there anything you need my help preparing?" Li Guang delivered the news. "Chen Peng agreed?" Lu Changsheng smiled. It made sense; this was entirely within his expectations. Chen Peng could not refuse. Myriad Sword Manor could refuse even less. "There is indeed something I need Brother Li's help with." "Over these three days, I hope Brother Li will use the Li clan's influence to heavily publicize the news of my duel against Chen Peng across Tiansheng City. The more people who know, the greater the commotion, the better!" Lu Changsheng stated his "request." "Just that?" Spreading word was effortless for the Li clan. However, it truly required Li Guang to carry it out. After all, Myriad Sword Manor would certainly not advertise the duel. Should Myriad Sword Manor lose, it would be disastrous for them. And if they won, it offered little upside for them either. Chen Peng was undefeated in over a hundred battles, after all. Would another victory for Chen Peng be any great surprise? "No problem!" "With the influence of the Li Chamber of Commerce, the entire Tiansheng City will know of the battle between you and Chen Peng within three days." Li Guang rose and took his leave. He had to arrange the publicity immediately. As for why Lu Changsheng wished to publicize this battle so aggressively, Li Guang did not ask. His relationship with Lu Changsheng had grown very close. There were things he did not need to pry into. He simply needed to assist Lu Changsheng faithfully and maintain their bond. Lu Changsheng's desire to broadcast this battle far and wide was naturally preparation for founding the Holy Land Heavenly Sect. A sect could not remain obscure. Even if the sect itself was lesser known initially, it required a renowned expert holding the fort to project influence. And this climactic clash between "Venerable Lu" and Myriad Sword Manor's undefeated "Sword Venerable" was the finest opportunity for Lu Changsheng to elevate his renown. Such an opportunity could not be squandered. As for losing? Lu Changsheng had never even considered the possibility. If condensing a boundless divine ability could still leave one defeated by other Divine Ability realm martial artists, what would be the point of a boundless divine ability? The current Lu Changsheng truly held the power to look down upon all living beings and sweep through the Divine Ability realm without rival! Time slipped by. Li Guang acted swiftly. Before long, word spread through the entirety of Tiansheng City. "Have you heard? Venerable Lu, who recently rose to fame, is challenging Sword Venerable Chen Peng of Myriad Sword Manor! Both sides have agreed to duel three days from now at Myriad Sword Manor!" "What? Venerable Lu is challenging Sword Venerable Chen Peng? That... that's truly rare! Who doesn't know that Sword Venerable Chen Peng is the undisputed number one expert in the Divine Ability realm throughout Tiansheng City, undefeated in over a hundred battles? Such a master is entirely different from those overhyped Martial Venerables." "There are rumors that Venerable Lu condensed a boundless divine ability... but that news is probably exaggerated. When has our Tiansheng City ever produced a martial artist with a boundless divine ability? Besides, Lu Changsheng was completely unknown prior to this. Choosing Sword Venerable Chen Peng this time might just be the greatest mistake of his life!" "Even if he wanted to issue a challenge, he should have challenged one of those overhyped Martial Venerables. Sword Venerable Chen Peng is a bona fide Martial Venerable; I'm afraid Lu Changsheng will suffer a crushing defeat..." As the Li clan continued its promotional blitz, the entire city grew lively with anticipation. It seemed as though everyone was discussing the matter. Lu Changsheng had indeed achieved great fame earlier, and the title of Venerable Lu had resonated across Tiansheng City. Yet he had held that title for only a brief period. Moreover, Tiansheng City was not lacking in one or two "overhyped" Martial Venerables. Who could say for certain that Lu Changsheng wasn't merely built up by the Li clan's propaganda? Still, his audacity in challenging Sword Venerable Chen Peng came as a surprise. Many people were genuinely intrigued and prepared to head to Myriad Sword Manor to watch the spectacle. Yet in contrast to the commotion outside, both Myriad Sword Manor and the Li clan remained remarkably calm. Three days passed in the blink of an eye. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. "Brother Lu..." Li Guang's voice sounded from outside. *Creak.* Lu Changsheng stood and opened the door. "Let us go," Lu Changsheng said calmly. Li Guang had brought a substantial retinue, effectively sending a clear signal to the outside world: Lu Changsheng shared deep ties with the Li clan! This was very necessary. Without the backing of an upper faction, accomplishing anything in Tiansheng City would prove far less smooth. Lu Changsheng and the Li clan's contingent of experts arrived at Myriad Sword Manor in grand fashion. At this moment, Myriad Sword Manor had thrown open its gates, allowing martial artists inside to spectate. Myriad Sword Manor had not wished to do this, but simply too many people had arrived. Moreover, nearly all of them were Divine Ability realm martial artists. Who among them lacked status and background? To some extent, no Divine Ability realm martial artist was a rootless drifter. While Myriad Sword Manor had nothing to fear from driving them away, doing so would reflect poorly on the manor's prestige. Thus, Myriad Sword Manor chose to welcome the martial artists inside to watch the duel out in the open. *Hmm?* Sweeping his Perception Domain across the crowd, Lu Changsheng spotted a few familiar faces. For instance, True Person Cuixuan. Even True Person Cuixuan had come this time. One had to remember that True Person Cuixuan had been dispatched by the Haoxian Immortal Sect to guard the super-long-distance teleportation array. Under ordinary circumstances, True Person Cuixuan never departed Haoxian Workshop. Yet this time, he had left Haoxian Workshop to watch the battle at Myriad Sword Manor, which spoke volumes about how much importance he placed on Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng gave True Person Cuixuan a slight nod. In truth, True Person Cuixuan understood Lu Changsheng's motive for challenging Chen Peng. It was to make a name for himself! At the same time, it was for the spirit stone mine, so that he could establish a firm foothold in the Holy Land. Although this primarily benefited the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, Lu Changsheng shared ties with the Haoxian Immortal Sect as well. At the very least, the people of the Haoxian Immortal Sect treated Lu Changsheng with courtesy and maintained good relations with him. Once Lu Changsheng secured a foothold, it would bring immense benefits to the Haoxian Immortal Sect as well. To others, this battle might merely appear to be a contest between Martial Venerables. Yet to Lu Changsheng and True Person Cuixuan, it was of paramount importance. Lu Changsheng carried the hopes of all martial artists from the Ancient Region as he stepped forth to battle Chen Peng! "Look, Venerable Lu has arrived!" "Regardless of whether the Li clan was boasting, Lu Changsheng must possess considerable strength. Earning the title of Venerable Lu can't be pure exaggeration." "Most likely not pure exaggeration, or how would he dare challenge Sword Venerable Chen Peng?" "Indeed. Everyone knows Sword Venerable Chen Peng is the foremost figure among the Divine Ability realm in Tiansheng City. To dare challenge him, one must possess some tricks up their sleeve." "Then let us see what means this Venerable Lu possesses, and whether he has truly condensed a boundless divine ability as the rumors say!" Lu Changsheng's arrival instantly drew the eyes of everyone in Myriad Sword Manor. He was currently at the height of his fame and shrouded in mystery. Many wished to learn more about this newly risen Martial Venerable. "He is Lu Changsheng?" "I don't see anything particularly extraordinary about him." "Daring to challenge our manor's Sword Venerable—he's courting death!" Naturally, the members of Myriad Sword Manor looked upon Lu Changsheng with distaste. Step by step, Lu Changsheng walked onto the Martial Arts Field of Myriad Sword Manor. Without uttering a word, he fixed his gaze directly upon a black-robed man seated cross-legged in the center of the field. *Swish.* The black-robed man opened his eyes. The instant his eyes opened, it felt as though a peerless blade had been freshly honed, revealing a terrifying sharpness. Radiating such a frightening edge, Lu Changsheng knew the man's identity without asking. Sword Venerable Chen Peng! Only Sword Venerable Chen Peng could project such an awe-inspiring edge. An ordinary Divine Ability martial artist facing Chen Peng's razor-sharp momentum would likely be cowed, unable to bring forth even a fraction of their strength. Yet to Lu Changsheng, it had no effect whatsoever. He remained composed, as if an ordinary mortal. No matter how astonishing Chen Peng's momentum grew, Lu Changsheng showed no change. Yet the calmer he remained, the more alarming it was to behold. For it meant Lu Changsheng could rein in his own sharpness, controlling his aura at will. Furthermore, he had no fear of Chen Peng's momentum. In terms of presence, he was in no way inferior to Chen Peng. Otherwise, he could never have stood before Chen Peng's aura so completely unfazed. "You are Venerable Lu?" Chen Peng spoke. His voice was as cold and sharp as a honed blade. "Indeed I am," Lu Changsheng replied calmly. Chen Peng nodded, having recognized Lu Changsheng's extraordinary nature. Yet he still said, "You will have only one chance to strike. Do not hold back, and do not expect to unleash a second or third divine ability." "Otherwise, you will die!" "Because when I kill, it takes only one sword!" A sword rested before Chen Peng. Even after stepping into the Divine Ability realm, a sword remained indispensable to a swordsman like Chen Peng. The sword was like a second life to them. Under any circumstances, the sword was essential. Moreover, what Chen Peng had condensed was a greater sword divine ability. Only by channeling it through the sword in his hand could he unleash the pinnacle of its might! "Only one chance?" Lu Changsheng did not feel slighted. He knew that someone like Chen Peng was incapable of petty disdain. Chen Peng's words were entirely earnest. Such was a pure swordsman! No dissimulation, no self-aggrandizement. "Very well. Then let one strike decide the outcome!" Lu Changsheng stood upon the Martial Arts Field. Sword Venerable Chen Peng stood upon the field as well. Their gazes locked. Formless and invisible, their stares seemed to clash in the void, sending ripples spreading through the air. Two terrifying presences stood in sharp opposition across the space. *Clang!* Chen Peng drew his sword first. It had been a long time since Lu Changsheng had encountered a true swordsman. Especially after becoming a Dao Foundation martial artist, he had met none. As for swordsmen within the Divine Ability realm, they were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Yet now, Lu Changsheng was witnessing a swordsman of the Divine Ability realm. Furthermore, he was witnessing a greater sword divine ability! "Divine ability—One Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate!" Chen Peng's voice reverberated grandly through the void. Lu Changsheng saw what appeared to be a colossal sword manifesting in the emptiness, sundering the sky asunder. The concept of a sword opening the heavenly gate was merely a legend; there was no actual heavenly gate. Yet Sword Venerable Chen Peng had condensed a greater sword divine ability based upon this very legend. Wherever his blade pointed, it swept through all obstacles. Under such a terrifying greater sword divine ability, Lu Changsheng found it difficult to imagine who could possibly resist. No wonder Chen Peng had gone undefeated across more than a hundred battles. Such a dreadful divine ability was truly extraordinary. Among the surrounding spectators, many were seeing Chen Peng's greater sword divine ability for the first time. Even those who had witnessed it before had done so long ago, for Sword Venerable Chen Peng rarely took the field anymore. Yet even for those who had seen One Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate in the past, witnessing it once more filled them with overwhelming awe. "Too terrifying! Such a greater sword divine ability is simply unbelievable!" "Sword Venerable Chen Peng truly lives up to his name! Beneath such a sword ability, I, as a fellow swordsman, feel as if I lack even the qualification to draw my blade..." "Relying on this single sword, Chen Peng went undefeated through over a hundred battles. Can Lu Changsheng block it?" "I'm afraid it will be exceedingly difficult..." Only by truly witnessing Chen Peng's greater sword divine ability could one feel their own insignificance and realize that such dreadful abilities existed under the heavens. And these were merely the onlookers. Lu Changsheng was the one facing the full brunt of this greater sword divine ability! "This is the strongest divine ability I have ever seen..." Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly. He felt this challenge had been well worth the journey. Sword Venerable Chen Peng truly lived up to his reputation! On the strength of this single divine ability alone, Chen Peng was indisputably the Sword Venerable! Unfortunately, he had encountered Lu Changsheng. Facing such a horrifying greater sword divine ability, Lu Changsheng's face showed not the slightest trace of panic. With a single thought, *Rumble!* The void trembled. *Buzz—* The spectators raised their heads. It seemed as though the sky had plunged into sudden darkness. "What's happening? Why has the sky gone dark?" "Above us... why is there a black hole above our heads?" "What a terrifying black hole! I feel as though my very thoughts have ground to a halt, weighed down by a dreadful sense of oppression..." "Wh-what divine ability is this? The power spilling onto us is merely a sliver, while Sword Venerable Chen Peng is bearing ninety-nine percent of its force! Yet even so, we can barely endure it!" "My consciousness feels as though it's being swallowed by the black hole..." "Could this be a boundless divine ability?" The crowd was shaken to its core, staring blankly at the black hole in the sky. The instant Lu Changsheng's black hole appeared, it descended in a flash. Sword Venerable Chen Peng had nowhere to evade. A profound sense of mortal peril surged in his heart, yet he could not dodge. In practically a fraction of an instant, Sword Venerable Chen Peng was enveloped by Lu Changsheng's Spiritual Black Hole. "Sword heart clear and bright, true self unified! Suppress!" Chen Peng immediately realized that Lu Changsheng's divine ability was of a spiritual nature. He swiftly mobilized his inner spirit, locking down his mind completely. However, Sword Venerable Chen Peng had still underestimated the Spiritual Black Hole. A so-called boundless divine ability was something that simply could not be resisted. It was entirely unstoppable! As the Spiritual Black Hole descended and swallowed Chen Peng, he felt his spirit, consciousness, and soul devoured by the void. All of his perception plunged into absolute darkness. Even his greater sword divine ability and sword laws seemed beyond his reach at this moment. All he could sense was boundless, endless dark. "How is this possible?" "Heart like a sharp blade, break, break, break!" Chen Peng roared again and again in his mind. Yet it was useless. His perception remained shrouded in infinite dark. Moreover, the darkness continued its unrelenting invasion, eroding his senses until they grew fainter and fainter. In the end, he could perceive nothing at all. To the outside world, everyone witnessed an utterly shocking sight. Lu Changsheng had unleashed his divine ability. The terrifying black hole descended straight onto Chen Peng. Then, the black hole vanished into Chen Peng's body. Meanwhile, the greater sword divine ability Chen Peng had released into the void shattered with a roar the moment the black hole struck him, scattering completely. It was as if it had never existed in the first place. Chen Peng stood completely motionless. *Thud!* Chen Peng collapsed to the ground. The mighty Sword Venerable, Chen Peng, had been unable to mount even the slightest resistance against Lu Changsheng's divine ability. His body crashed to the earth, entirely devoid of life. Dead! Sword Venerable Chen Peng was dead! Virtually an instant kill! And this was a genuine, bona fide Martial Venerable! Beholding this scene, everyone struggled to believe their eyes. Silence! The entire Myriad Sword Manor fell deathly silent. You could have heard a pin drop! What had they just witnessed? There had been no earth-shattering clash. No perilous, drawn-out duel. Merely a single exchange! Both men had unleashed their divine abilities. Sword Venerable Chen Peng's One Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate had indeed lived up to its name. Yet Lu Changsheng's boundless divine ability was unfathomable and immeasurably divine! Reality had proven that no matter how powerful a greater sword divine ability was, it was utterly insignificant before a boundless divine ability. In just one strike, the Sword Venerable had fallen! "He still couldn't withstand it..." Lu Changsheng looked down at Chen Peng's corpse and shook his head. This time, he had held nothing back. He had gone all out, unleashing his Spiritual Black Hole divine ability. The black hole had descended, enveloping Chen Peng, and directly devoured his spiritual consciousness. Even though Chen Peng possessed a heart like a sword and a clear, unified mind—endowed with a terrifying willpower far stronger than anyone else present— it had been futile. Before a boundless divine ability, no matter how strong Sword Venerable Chen Peng's willpower was, it was useless. He could not block it at all! From the moment Lu Changsheng unleashed his Spiritual Black Hole divine ability, the outcome had already been decided. "Chen Peng..." Manor Lord Chen An rushed forward almost immediately. His face was ashen, his whole body trembling. No matter what, he could not accept the sight before him. Chen Peng was dead! He was truly dead! It was like a bolt from the blue. Chen An had previously conferred with the many experts of Myriad Sword Manor; even if Chen Peng proved unable to win, preserving his life would surely be no problem. Yet who could have imagined that in a single strike, Chen Peng would perish? It was simply inconceivable! And losing Chen Peng was a catastrophic blow to Myriad Sword Manor. *Swish.* Numerous glares locked onto Lu Changsheng. The martial artists of Myriad Sword Manor gnashed their teeth and charged straight toward him. Sword Venerable Chen Peng's death dealt too massive a blow to the manor. Chen Peng had been the spiritual symbol of Myriad Sword Manor. Now that he had died, how could Myriad Sword Manor stand idly by? "Stop!" Manor Lord Chen An roared in fury. He was the manor lord; he had to consider the survival of the entire Myriad Sword Manor. Now that even Chen Peng was dead, what good would rushing him do? Given Lu Changsheng's terrifying might, a single misstep could wipe Myriad Sword Manor from existence! "Those who wager must accept defeat!" "In this battle, Venerable Lu is the victor." "Myriad Sword Manor officially surrenders that spirit stone mine to Venerable Lu. Please send your people to take possession of it as soon as possible, Venerable Lu." Chen An enunciated each word, speaking aloud for all to hear. *Boom!* As his words fell, a commotion erupted through the crowd. They had conceded. Myriad Sword Manor had actually conceded. Yet upon second thought, what choice did they have? Did they really expect to swarm Lu Changsheng? Given Lu Changsheng's divine ability just now, would numbers make any difference? A single boundless divine ability would likely obliterate the entire Myriad Sword Manor. A boundless divine ability wielded that kind of horrifying power. Now, not a single doubt remained among the onlookers. A boundless divine ability! What Lu Changsheng had displayed was truly a boundless divine ability! "Sword Venerable Chen Peng's greater sword divine ability held such terrifying might! Even feeling a sliver of its edge sent shivers down our spines, making us feel as though we were being severed and pierced by sharp blades. Yet before Venerable Lu's divine ability, Chen Peng couldn't even resist for a second. That was undoubtedly a genuine boundless divine ability!" "A boundless divine ability... That spiritual black hole was far too terrifying. Even from such a distance, a single glance made me shudder in dread. Who could possibly rival such an ability?" "Now, no one will dare question Venerable Lu's boundless divine ability again. When even Sword Venerable Chen Peng's greater sword divine ability was no match for him, Venerable Lu can truly be called the foremost figure beneath the Martial Saints in all of Tiansheng City!" "Without a doubt, Venerable Lu is now the number one figure in the Divine Ability realm across Tiansheng City, the foremost beneath the Martial Saints! In fact, even across the entire Holy Land, I doubt many in the Divine Ability realm could measure up to Venerable Lu. Perhaps only the monstrous geniuses deep within the sacred grounds might surpass him..." Many voiced their awe and astonishment. As they looked upon Lu Changsheng's figure, their eyes held a complex mixture of dread, reverence, and envy. None of them had ever imagined that they would one day bear witness to a legendary boundless divine ability with their own eyes! Coming to Myriad Sword Manor to watch this duel had been worth every moment!