Crisis in the Ancient Region! Lu Changsheng Returns with Ten Divine Ability Martial Artists!

Lu Changsheng stood suspended in the void. His goal had been achieved. With a spirit stone vein in his hands, he now possessed the foundation of a formidable faction. Whether an organization held a spirit stone vein made all the difference in the world. Only with one could a faction hope to become a major power, ensuring an unbroken heritage, a steady emergence of experts, and enduring prosperity. Without a spirit stone vein, a faction might flourish brilliantly for a time, but as the years slipped by, it would inevitably wither into decay, never to regain its past glory. Lu Changsheng looked down upon the gathered Divine Ability martial artists and Golden Core True Persons. Taking a deep breath, he declared, "From this day forth, I, Lu, establish the Holy Land Heavenly Sect! As our sect is newly founded, we urgently require experts to hold the ground. Any Divine Ability martial artist or Golden Core True Person willing to join the Holy Land Heavenly Sect shall be appointed a Supreme Elder, enjoying treatment on par with the Sect Master! "However, this offer stands for one month only. "Once the month has passed, any Divine Ability martial artists or Golden Core True Persons who join can only become guest elders!" Lu Changsheng's voice reverberated majestically in all directions. Instantly, a tremendous uproar swept through the countless martial artists gathered across Myriad Sword Manor. "What? Venerable Lu is establishing a sect?" "No wonder Venerable Lu insisted on challenging Sword Venerable Chen Peng and seizing the spirit stone vein—it was all to found a sect! With Venerable Lu presiding over it, its future is boundless. From its very inception, it will likely leap straight into the ranks of Tiansheng City's top factions!" "Indeed. Among the eight top factions in Tiansheng City, the upper three are anchored by Martial Saints, while the lower five have none. Though they boast Martial Venerables, whether those figures are true Martial Venerables is hard to say. But Venerable Lu's Holy Land Heavenly Sect will possess a genuine, top-tier Martial Venerable right from the start. Its prospects are limitless!" "Rogue Divine Ability martial artists and Golden Core True Persons are rare, but they do exist. While they could join other top factions, they would only ever receive the status of guest elders; becoming a Supreme Elder would be out of the question. Venerable Lu's Holy Land Heavenly Sect being newly formed truly presents an opportunity." "Heh, an opportunity it may be, but becoming a Supreme Elder binds you entirely to the Holy Land Heavenly Sect. You share in all its glory and suffer all its losses." "Venerable Lu is truly buying the horse bones for a thousand gold pieces to attract the finest steeds! A one-month deadline to become a Supreme Elder... but only for this month. That makes for an agonizing choice..." Many eyes lit up with excitement, yet even more harbored deep reservations. Binding oneself irrevocably to Lu Changsheng carried immense risk—what if the Holy Land Heavenly Sect encountered danger? What if its path proved fraught with disaster? Who could tell for sure? Though Lu Changsheng's momentum soared like a rainbow right now and his future seemed vast, anything could happen in the Holy Land. Lu Changsheng was far too high-profile. The road ahead for such a peerless genius was unpredictable; if he fell prematurely along the way, the Holy Land Heavenly Sect would be doomed. Still, some placed great faith in Lu Changsheng. What if he became a Martial Saint? That would usher in a thousand years of glorious reign—or even establish a lasting Martial Saint legacy! Whether to go or stay depended entirely on each individual's choice. Lu Changsheng was in no hurry. He had a full month, after all. He truly was offering extravagant terms to draw in talent. Once the Holy Land Heavenly Sect was established, it could not rely solely on him. Nor would it suffice to lean only on the seven Divine Ability experts of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. They simply had too few heavyweights. To stand firm as a top-tier faction in Tiansheng City, having dozens of Divine Ability martial artists was practically a prerequisite. Offering this limited-time opportunity to join the Holy Land Heavenly Sect was his way of securing committed pillars. Anyone joining now would be bound to the sect with one heart and mind. Then, across hundreds of years or more, as the sect gradually nurtured its own disciples, it would naturally establish an unshakeable foothold in Tiansheng City. "Manor Lord Chen, lead me to the spirit stone vein. Have your people from Myriad Sword Manor withdraw today," Lu Changsheng said calmly. He had no desire to wait a moment longer. He wished to take possession of the mine immediately. After all, taking over a day earlier meant yielding that much more spirit stones. "Very well. I will escort you personally." Chen An took a deep breath, suppressing the burning rage in his chest. Lu Changsheng had slain Chen Peng. To the entirety of Myriad Sword Manor, he was a sworn enemy with whom they could not share the sky! Yet Chen An dared not lift a finger against him, nor did he dare utter a single harsh word. He understood all too well that Myriad Sword Manor stood in extreme peril, at its weakest and most vulnerable hour. The slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin. From today on, Myriad Sword Manor had to keep an exceptionally low profile and enter a period of dormant seclusion. That hibernation might last decades, or even centuries, until another Martial Venerable arose in their ranks. Only then could they stage a resurgence. For now, keeping their heads down and satisfying Lu Changsheng's demands as much as possible was the only way to ensure survival—their sole remaining objective. Shortly after, Lu Changsheng departed, and Myriad Sword Manor closed its gates to all guests. The onlookers gradually dispersed. This battle had etched Lu Changsheng's name into every mind, along with the Holy Land Heavenly Sect he intended to build. Going forward, Tiansheng City would no longer speak of eight top factions, but nine. And if Myriad Sword Manor kept its doors shut and remained in seclusion indefinitely, it might well lose its standing as one of the city's premier forces altogether. Soon, Lu Changsheng arrived in the airspace above Myriad Sword Manor's spirit stone vein. "The spirit stone vein lies below," the manor lord said heavily. "Myriad Sword Manor personnel are stationed down there. I will have them withdraw in succession." Lu Changsheng extended his perception slightly and immediately confirmed the presence of a spirit stone vein winding through the mountain range beneath them. Its quality was quite impressive. "Have them stop all work and depart immediately," Lu Changsheng instructed. Chen An nodded and sent a voice transmission echoing through the mountains: "All personnel in the spirit stone vein, leave immediately! You are forbidden from taking a single spirit stone..." His voice reverberated across the valley. Countless figures below looked up toward the sky in confusion. "What is happening? Why is the Manor Lord ordering us to leave the mine, and forbidding us from taking even one stone?" "What? Sword Venerable Chen Peng lost to Lu Changsheng? He's dead, and the mine was forfeited to Lu Changsheng as well..." "Impossible! How could the Sword Venerable be defeated?" "This vein is the lifeblood of our Myriad Sword Manor! We cannot just hand it over to someone else..." Within the mine, many found the reality of yielding their vein impossible to accept. Some even defied Chen An's direct command, refusing to vacate, while others attempted to pocket spirit stones in secret. Yet none of this escaped Lu Changsheng's sharp perception. He had no intention of indulging them. The vein was his now. Who dared smuggle spirit stones from his domain? Utterly out of the question! *Rumble!* In an instant, his brain domain descended. Lu Changsheng did not unleash a divine ability; he merely deployed his brain domain. Upon reaching the Divine Ability realm, one still wielded a brain domain, and an exceedingly formidable one at that. Only two Divine Ability experts had been stationed at the mine, and Chen An had already contacted them individually. Having accepted the harsh reality, they had already withdrawn, leaving no Divine Ability martial artists among the ranks below. When Lu Changsheng's brain domain crashed down, it struck the miners and guards like a cataclysm! "Ah... what is this?" "A brain domain! I'm being crushed by a brain domain!" "What's going on? Where are our Divine Ability elders?" "No—!" Lu Changsheng's brain domain mercilessly pulverized body after body—every single person who had attempted to steal spirit stones. Then, suppressing the rest with his domain, he displaced them in a single sweep beyond the perimeter of the mine, his voice booming like thunder: "Anyone who steps within thirty paces of the spirit stone vein again shall be executed without mercy!" Looking back at the mine enveloped in the oppressive brain domain, the surviving martial artists of Myriad Sword Manor gathered outside the boundary turned pale with terror. People had died. Many had died in a single instant, crushed to pieces by the brain domain without the slightest ability to resist. "Lu Changsheng... that's the Lu Changsheng who killed the Sword Venerable..." Realizing that Lu Changsheng had acted personally, no one dared linger, no matter how bitter their resentment. Turning on their heels, they fled the mine without looking back. Roughly an hour later, not a single outsider remained near the vein. Only Lu Changsheng and Chen An hovered in the sky above. "Venerable Lu, the spirit stone vein has been handed over. Farewell." Chen An did not wish to stay a second longer. Lu Changsheng nodded, and Chen An transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the horizon. "The spirit stone vein..." Lu Changsheng descended into the heart of the mine. With a thought, his brain domain gathered all the mined spirit stones stored within into a single cache. A quick sweep revealed their sum. "Eighty thousand spirit stones. They must not have had time to transport them back to Myriad Sword Manor yet." A trace of delight surfaced on Lu Changsheng's face. He swept the eighty thousand spirit stones into his spatial treasure. One drop of Heavenly Spirit Water cost ten thousand spirit stones. Even with his strong ties to the Li clan, they could not discount it by much; for a long-term arrangement, ninety percent of the price was about the limit. Eighty thousand stones amounted to roughly nine drops of Heavenly Spirit Water—theoretically enough to birth nine Divine Ability martial artists. But for Lu Changsheng's own cultivation, it remained far from sufficient. Lu Changsheng retrieved the mining ledgers kept on site. They contained extensive, detailed records of the vein, such as monthly yields and the quality of the deposits. He pored over the documents for a full two hours. Setting the records down, a flicker of contemplation crossed his eyes. According to Myriad Sword Manor's records, the vein was indeed of good quality, but it remained classified merely as a small-scale spirit stone vein. "According to the records, this vein yields fifty thousand spirit stones a month, or six hundred thousand a year. Shipments were sent to Myriad Sword Manor roughly every three months; these eighty thousand stones hadn't reached the three-month mark yet, which is why they were still here. "Six hundred thousand a year sounds high, but spirit gathering arrays must be maintained to nourish the vein with worldly spiritual energy, allowing new stones to form for sustainable extraction. Otherwise, overmining would exhaust the vein in short order. "Maintaining those extensive spirit gathering arrays consumes at least two hundred thousand spirit stones annually. On top of that, hiring Golden Core True Persons to service and maintain the formations costs another hundred thousand every year. "All told, the vein's net annual profit comes out to roughly three hundred thousand spirit stones. Even so, it can only last about a millennium. After a thousand years of continuous mining, the vein will be completely depleted, and a new one will have to be found. "Over the course of a thousand years, deducting operational and maintenance costs, it should yield a total of over three hundred million spirit stones..." Three hundred million was a staggering figure. Yet stretched across a millennium, three hundred thousand a year was modest by comparison. Of course, if one mined recklessly at all costs, several million stones could be extracted in a single year—but the vein would run dry within a decade or two, cutting off any steady stream of income. The greatest virtue of a spirit stone vein was its long-term stability. "A steady profit of three hundred thousand stones a year is quite respectable, and this is merely a small-scale vein. If it were medium, large, or super-large, the annual yield would be truly astronomical. "However, hoping to rely on this single mine to swiftly acquire enough spirit stones to buy Heavenly Spirit Water and evolve my remaining two divine abilities is unrealistic. "This vein can only serve as the foundation of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect..." Many thoughts raced through his mind. His Spiritual Black Hole alone had consumed one hundred drops of Heavenly Spirit Water; evolving Five Elements Decomposition and Four Symbols Prison into boundless divine abilities would surely require just as much, if not more. Relying on this small mine alone would never suffice. Still, that was a matter for later. First, he had to establish the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, then dispatch disciples here to secure and manage the mine. Lu Changsheng departed. Founding the Holy Land Heavenly Sect was no simple undertaking, and selecting the sect grounds was paramount. Most sects established their mountain gates outside cities, where vast stretches of open land were readily available. Inside Tiansheng City, crowded and densely built, finding a plot large enough for a proper sect headquarters was exceedingly difficult. Yet the surrounding wilderness outside the city offered few ideal locations either. "It cannot be too far from Tiansheng City, or we will miss out on crucial news and developments. Nor can it be too close, or we might as well have set up inside the city itself. A distance within a hundred li would be best." Lu Changsheng searched across a hundred-li radius, but found no land naturally suited for a mountain gate. No matter. If no suitable land existed, he would carve one out himself. He was a Martial Venerable. Moving mountains, filling seas, and summoning the elements were second nature to him. Wielding his brain domain, laws, and boundless might, Lu Changsheng reshaped the terrain fifty li from Tiansheng City. He altered the topography, relocated entire peaks, and forged a majestic mountain gate out of thin air. He then hired Golden Core True Persons to lay foundational arrays and construct grand pavilions. In about twenty days, the mountain gate stood complete. The Holy Land Heavenly Sect finally had its sanctuary! During this time, a number of Divine Ability martial artists expressed willingness to become Supreme Elders. Even so, Lu Changsheng continued to wait. More than ten days remained before the one-month deadline expired. He wanted to see if any Golden Core True Persons would step forward. He had already decided that if Golden Core True Persons joined, he could establish a dedicated Immortal Dao lineage, transforming the Holy Land Heavenly Sect into a grand order cultivating both martial and immortal paths. Before long, the one-month deadline arrived. Within the grand hall of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, Lu Changsheng looked down upon the gathered figures. Thirteen Divine Ability martial artists. Thirteen had chosen to join the sect as Supreme Elders. The number was somewhat low, but well within Lu Changsheng's expectations. "Elders, you are all Supreme Elders of our Holy Land Heavenly Sect. In truth, I too am a Supreme Elder. Yet our sect cannot rely solely on us; we require disciples, ordinary elders, and a broader foundation of martial artists. Recruiting disciples from scratch right now would take too long. I intend to return to the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect and bring people over to bolster our ranks. "What do you all think?" Lu Changsheng asked the thirteen. In that month, only thirteen Divine Ability martial artists had answered the call; none of the Golden Core True Persons he had hoped for had joined. "Return to the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect?" The thirteen newly appointed Supreme Elders were intrigued. They were not particularly shocked, as Lu Changsheng had already explained the relationship between the Holy Land Heavenly Sect and the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. The two shared a common heritage, yet neither answered to the other—much like the relationship between the Northern Region Heavenly Sect and the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. All three traced their lineage to the same root, sharing identical teachings while remaining autonomous. "Venerable Lu, as Supreme Elders of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, we share the same lineage as the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. Since you are returning, could you take us along?" "Indeed! We would love to see what kind of place could nurture a figure like Venerable Lu!" "Venerable Lu, would that be convenient?" Knowing Lu Changsheng was straightforward and open to honest discussion, the elders spoke their minds freely. Now that they were Supreme Elders, their fates were tied to the sect; Lu Changsheng saw no reason to hide matters concerning the Ancient Region from them. "You wish to visit the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect? Very well. However, as our sect has just been founded, it cannot be left undefended. How about this: three Supreme Elders will remain behind to guard the sect, while the remaining ten accompany me back to the Ancient Region?" The thirteen elders conferred briefly, and three volunteered to stay behind and guard the mountain gate. "Good. In three days, the ten of you will depart with me for the Ancient Region!" Lu Changsheng declared. Counting the time, he had arrived in the Holy Land only a few months ago—less than a full year. In that span, he had evolved his Dao fruit into a boundless divine ability, established a firm footing in Tiansheng City, and founded the Holy Land Heavenly Sect. It was time to return. The seven patriarchs of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect were still awaiting his return. Three days passed in a flash. Lu Changsheng led the ten Divine Ability elders straight to Haoxian Workshop. Their arrival gave everyone at the workshop quite a shock. A lineup featuring Lu Changsheng alongside ten Divine Ability elders was awe-inspiring and terrifying in equal measure. Arriving in such formidable force left the workshop staff flustered, momentarily fearing the Holy Land Heavenly Sect was about to move against them. The misunderstanding was quickly cleared up once Lu Changsheng met with True Person Cuixuan and explained his purpose. True Person Cuixuan looked at the ten Divine Ability elders behind Lu Changsheng, an odd expression flitting across his eyes. "Fellow Daoist Lu, returning to the Ancient Region with such an entourage... you aren't planning to unify the entire region, are you?" He was only half-joking. With Lu Changsheng's current strength and this lineup, unifying the Ancient Region would pose little challenge. Lu Changsheng smiled. "True Person Cuixuan, you overthink things. What benefit would unifying the Ancient Region bring me? Would it yield vast amounts of Heavenly Spirit Water, or mountains of spirit stones? Or do you imagine I wish to play emperor and rule as a supreme tyrant there? My sights are set on becoming a Martial Saint; what meaning is there in dominating the Ancient Region? I am returning merely to fulfill a promise I made to the patriarchs of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect." True Person Cuixuan nodded. Thinking about it, he realized Lu Changsheng spoke the truth. What treasures could the Ancient Region hold that were worth his time and effort? Lu Changsheng had already conquered a spirit stone vein right here in the Holy Land, whereas the Ancient Region didn't possess a single functioning one. Even the Haoxian Immortal Sect's ancient mine had long run completely dry, leaving them to consume their dwindling reserves. That was precisely why they fought so hard to carve out a foothold in the Holy Land; continued stagnation in the Ancient Region would lead to their slow demise. "Very well. By the usual rules, activating the super long-distance teleportation array requires one hundred spirit crystals!" Lu Changsheng nodded and handed over one hundred spirit crystals without hesitation—equivalent to ten thousand spirit stones. Lu Changsheng and the ten elders stepped onto the super long-distance teleportation array. The formation could only transport a limited number of people at a time—several dozen at most. With only eleven in their party, there was plenty of room. *Hum!* A moment later, the teleportation array roared to life. A brilliant flash of white light erupted, and in the next instant, Lu Changsheng and his companions vanished into thin air. *** Meanwhile, within the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, the atmosphere hung oppressively heavy. The seven Divine Ability patriarchs had gathered in solemn council. In recent days, the situation had shifted with bewildering speed. The Ancient Region, tranquil for centuries, had suddenly been plunged into chaos and turmoil. "Everyone, the entire Ancient Region has reached a critical juncture of life and death. "Who could have imagined that a dormant super long-distance teleportation array still remained hidden in our Ancient Region? Worse, a faction from Tianguang City in the Holy Land discovered and restored it. "That faction—the Black Light Chamber of Commerce—has already sent numerous experts across the array into our Ancient Region. "Wherever they go, those who submit prosper and those who resist perish. Several immortal sects have already been wiped out by their hands! "It is said that they even possess a master of a greater divine ability! "Though they have not yet marched on our Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, our position is perilous in the extreme. "We must agree on a course of action." The seven Divine Ability patriarchs looked grim. A master of a greater divine ability! The Black Light Chamber of Commerce wielded someone who commanded a greater divine ability! Having ventured into the Holy Land in their earlier years, the patriarchs knew all too well what that meant. "The Black Light Chamber of Commerce of Tianguang City... having traveled the Holy Land, we should all remember them. They specialize in scouring unfamiliar, desolate regions, bleeding them dry of resources, and slaughtering the local inhabitants without hesitation to squeeze every last drop of potential from the land. "Our Ancient Region has fallen into decline, but it was once glorious, meaning there are still spoils to be plundered. Under these circumstances, hoping the Black Light Chamber of Commerce will withdraw of their own accord is a pipe dream. "We have no choice but to retreat! Perhaps we should withdraw to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect." "What good would retreating to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect do? With the Black Light Chamber of Commerce's brutal methods, once they sweep through the Ancient Region, they will surely overrun the other four regions as well. Nowhere will be safe!" The seven patriarchs fell silent. Confronted by the Black Light Chamber of Commerce, the entirety of the Ancient Region was utterly helpless. And that was just a single chamber of commerce! Furthermore, they knew the Black Light Chamber of Commerce possessed not only masters of greater divine abilities, but Martial Venerables as well—and most terrifying of all, a presiding Martial Saint! Against such a monstrous power, what could the Ancient Region possibly muster to resist? A single master of a greater divine ability dispatched by their foe was enough to sweep across the entire region unimpeded. In truth, another option lay before the patriarchs of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, yet none had voiced it aloud: abandoning the Ancient Region entirely and escaping to the Holy Land. It was theoretically possible, but the Haoxian Immortal Sect's super long-distance teleportation array could transport only a few dozen people at a time and required an exorbitant amount of spirit stones—wealth the sect simply did not possess. Even if they scrounged enough, only a tiny handful could flee. Leaving meant abandoning the entire Ancient Region Heavenly Sect to annihilation. The Ancient Region Heavenly Sect was the root of the seven patriarchs. Unless driven to the absolute brink, they would never forsake it! *Buzz!* At that moment, the communication talisman on one of the patriarchs vibrated. "A transmission from the Haoxian Immortal Sect!" "The Haoxian Immortal Sect is summoning every sect and faction across the Ancient Region, rallying all Divine Ability martial artists to wage a decisive battle against the Black Light Chamber of Commerce. "Shall we go?" The patriarchs shuddered. Even the Haoxian Immortal Sect had issued a general mobilization. Clearly, the entire Ancient Region had arrived at the precipice of life and death. "We must go!" "A master of a greater divine ability is formidable, but not entirely invincible. The Haoxian Immortal Sect possesses an exceptionally powerful defensive array; relying on their grand sect-protecting formation, we might stand a fighting chance against their experts. "The Haoxian Immortal Sect is the foremost immortal sect of the Ancient Region, indeed its greatest overall power. If they fall, all hope for the Ancient Region is extinguished. "More importantly, the super long-distance teleportation array leading to the Holy Land is housed within the Haoxian Immortal Sect! If the Black Light Chamber of Commerce captures it, our last hope of escaping to the Holy Land will be severed forever." At the mention of the teleportation array, the patriarchs felt a chill in their hearts. Indeed, the Haoxian Immortal Sect was no ordinary immortal sect; it controlled their only pathway to the Holy Land. If it fell, the Divine Ability experts of the Ancient Region would lose any chance of reaching the Holy Land, and their final lifeline would be snuffed out. They had to preserve the Haoxian Immortal Sect, and with it, the teleportation array! "Very well. One patriarch will stay behind, and the other six will depart for the Haoxian Immortal Sect immediately. "If we fall... let the disciples of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect flee as far and as fast as they can..." With heavy hearts, the seven patriarchs of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect made their decision.