The Black Light Chamber of Commerce Withdraws from the Ancient Region; Lu Changsheng Returns to the Holy Land!

A group of unexpected guests arrived at the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. "This humble one is the Vice President of the Black Light Chamber of Commerce. Greetings, Venerable Lu." A middle-aged man bowed respectfully toward Lu Changsheng, observing proper etiquette down to the smallest detail. "Vice President of the Black Light Chamber of Commerce?" "What business brings you to Lu?" Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised. He had only just slain more than a dozen Divine Ability martial artists of the Black Light Chamber of Commerce, including Ouyang You and Blade Venerable Zhou Lie. While such enmity might not be entirely irreconcilable, it was unquestionably a deadly feud. Yet the Vice President of the Black Light Chamber of Commerce had come in person to the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. The man's strength was not particularly formidable—at most that of a top-tier Divine Ability realm martial artist, certainly not a Martial Venerable. Coming to the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect with such strength was practically seeking death. But he could not have come to throw his life away; he had to have another purpose. Lu Changsheng was curious to hear what that purpose was. The Vice President smiled and said, "Venerable Lu, the conflict between our Black Light Chamber of Commerce and the Ancient Region was purely an accident. We did not know beforehand that this was Venerable Lu's homeland, which led to a few clashes. But now that Venerable Lu has made his stance clear, our Black Light Chamber of Commerce naturally will not linger in the Ancient Region. We will withdraw from the Ancient Region and pull back to the Holy Land. Furthermore, we will reveal the exact location of our super long-distance teleportation array to Venerable Lu. How about we write off all grievances between Venerable Lu and our Black Light Chamber of Commerce here and now?" Lu Changsheng was rather startled. He studied the Vice President closely. The man's tone was earnest, without the slightest hint of deceit. He was telling the truth! They were... backing down? The Black Light Chamber of Commerce was actually backing down? They had suffered grievous losses this time—even Blade Venerable had perished at Lu Changsheng's hands. By all logic, the Black Light Chamber of Commerce would never take this lying down. After all, they possessed a Martial Saint! If Lu Changsheng were a Martial Saint presiding over the Black Light Chamber of Commerce, how could he tolerate a mere Martial Venerable repelling his faction? Lu Changsheng's thoughts raced, and his eyes narrowed slightly. He asked, "Does your chamber's Martial Saint know of this?" "Of course. This order was issued personally by our Martial Saint Forefather, and it was also communicated to the Li Chamber of Commerce. We conduct a great deal of business with the Li Chamber of Commerce and maintain good relations, so everyone is willing to resolve this misunderstanding." The Vice President's words brought immediate clarity to Lu Changsheng. He understood why the Black Light Chamber of Commerce was backing down. The Li Chamber of Commerce! The Black Light Chamber of Commerce must have negotiated with the Li Chamber of Commerce to gauge their attitude, and the Li Chamber of Commerce had undoubtedly backed Lu Changsheng. The Black Light Chamber of Commerce's Martial Saint had to tread carefully. After all, the Li Chamber of Commerce also had a Martial Saint! As a result, the Black Light Chamber of Commerce's Martial Saint could not act lightly. And beneath the realm of Martial Saint, who could stand against Lu Changsheng? Therefore, the only viable course for the Black Light Chamber of Commerce was to yield. There was no way forward for them. Lu Changsheng understood, and he was quite satisfied with this outcome. "Very well. Lu accepts your chamber's goodwill! Once the super long-distance teleportation array is destroyed, all misunderstandings between Lu and the Black Light Chamber of Commerce will be wiped clean." Lu Changsheng offered his promise in return. "Then please accompany me to the super long-distance teleportation array, Venerable Lu, lest any further misunderstandings arise." Lu Changsheng nodded. Together with the Vice President, Lu Changsheng swiftly departed from the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect and arrived at the stronghold of the Black Light Chamber of Commerce. As promised, the Black Light Chamber of Commerce had already begun withdrawing, leaving behind only a small contingent. Even those remaining stepped into the array once they saw the Vice President arrive. "Venerable Lu, until we meet again in the Holy Land." A smile lingered on the Vice President's face. *Whoosh!* The array activated, and every member of the Black Light Chamber of Commerce vanished, teleported back to the Holy Land. Seeing the clearing empty, Lu Changsheng held back no longer. *Rumble!* His brain domain descended. Lu Changsheng used his brain domain to obliterate the area completely. The super long-distance teleportation array was thoroughly erased, leaving not a trace behind. With this, even if the Black Light Chamber of Commerce still possessed their teleportation array on the other end, they had no way to teleport to the Ancient Region again. "The Black Light Chamber of Commerce..." Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly. Could they truly swallow such a heavy loss? Lu Changsheng knew very well that he likely owed another favor to the Li clan. Without the deterrence of the Li Chamber of Commerce, how could the Black Light Chamber of Commerce have been so accommodating, going so far as to back down voluntarily and withdraw from the Ancient Region? "A Martial Saint..." "To truly establish a foothold in the Holy Land and ensure the Holy Land Heavenly Sect stands firm, a Martial Saint must preside over it." "Now that matters in the Ancient Region are settled, I must return to the Holy Land as soon as possible, find enough Heavenly Spirit Water, and allow the remaining two boundless divine ability Dao fruits to transform into true boundless divine abilities." "When the time comes, with three boundless divine abilities at my disposal, I will have no equals across the Divine Ability realm and Golden Core realm!" A plan had already formed in Lu Changsheng's mind. *Whoosh!* The next moment, Lu Changsheng flew back toward the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. Upon returning, Lu Changsheng took personal command, accelerating the restructuring of the three Heavenly Sects. He even made a trip back to the Northern Region Heavenly Sect—the place where he had first stepped onto the martial path. He met a few acquaintances, but nothing more came of it. They already belonged to two different worlds, with little common ground left between them. As time passed, barely a month had elapsed since Lu Changsheng returned to the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect from the Holy Land, yet the three Heavenly Sects had completely finished their restructuring. The three Heavenly Sects officially became one, each fulfilling its respective role. The Ancient Region Heavenly Sect and the Northern Region Heavenly Sect were relegated entirely to logistical hubs for cultivating talent for the Holy Land Heavenly Sect. Yet this model was sustainable. As long as no issues arose in the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, it was certain to flourish and expand rapidly under this system. "Seven Ancestors." "Three ancestors will remain on rotation, while the rest may proceed to the Holy Land Heavenly Sect. Three Divine Ability realm experts will rotate each year. Therefore, I must ask three of you ancestors to stay for one more year." Lu Changsheng spoke to the three Divine Ability realm ancestors. The three Heavenly Sects were now unified, with all rules and regulations fully established—including concrete provisions for the rotation of Divine Ability martial artists. "Hahaha, of course! We've stayed here for so many years; what difference does one more year make?" "Venerable Lu, you need not worry about the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. With you here as our Venerable Lu, our Ancient Region Heavenly Sect is entirely safe." Lu Changsheng nodded. Afterward, taking along the ten elders of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect and four ancestors of the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect, he used the Haoxian Immortal Sect's super long-distance teleportation array to return to Tiansheng City. Upon returning to the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, Lu Changsheng's first order of business was to visit the Li clan and find Li Guang. "Brother Li, regarding the matter of the Black Light Chamber of Commerce, I must thank you for your trouble." Naturally, Lu Changsheng had come to express his gratitude. Li Guang smiled faintly and said, "The Black Light Chamber of Commerce did indeed inquire about you, Brother Lu, and the matter even disturbed our Forefather. Forefather sent a direct message to their Martial Saint Forefather, which caused them to cease all hostility. Venerable Lu, has everything been settled properly?" Li Guang did not pry into the specifics, though he had a rough idea. "Everything is settled. But at present, I require Heavenly Spirit Water—a large quantity of it. Does Brother Li have any way to acquire it?" Lu Changsheng asked. "This..." Li Guang fell into deep thought. "If all else fails, I can go to the Battle Arena again..." Lu Changsheng suggested, recalling the venue. He knew the Battle Arena also hosted Divine Ability realm battles, and the spirit stones earned there were quite substantial. Li Guang chuckled wryly and shook his head. "Brother Lu, you are now the renowned Venerable Lu! You, entering the Battle Arena? Do you think they would let you compete?" Unless the Battle Arena was out of its mind. If a Martial Venerable like Lu Changsheng stepped into the arena, who would ever bet on his opponent? Everyone would place all their bets on Lu Changsheng, and the Battle Arena would lose everything down to the shirts on their backs. Thus, while the Battle Arena did feature Divine Ability martial artist battles, the contestants were generally not famous Divine Ability experts, let alone Martial Venerables. "The Battle Arena won't take me? What a shame..." Lu Changsheng sighed with slight regret. How convenient the Battle Arena had been—capable of yielding hundreds of thousands of spirit stones in a short span of time. Unfortunately, his fame was now too great, and the Battle Arena dared not accept him. Fame had both benefits and drawbacks, and in the case of the Battle Arena, the drawback was obvious. Yet if not the Battle Arena, where else could he earn a massive quantity of spirit stones in a short time? Lu Changsheng furrowed his brow, sinking into contemplation. Right then, Li Guang spoke up. "Brother Lu, if you truly wish to acquire a large number of spirit stones quickly, there is a place that might suit you." "Where?" Lu Changsheng looked up at Li Guang. "Ethereal Spirit Mountain!" "Ethereal Spirit Mountain?" This was the first time Lu Changsheng had heard of this place. Did it contain numerous spirit stone veins? But that seemed unlikely; if it truly held many spirit stone veins, large factions would have claimed them long ago. How could anyone else get a share? Lu Changsheng did not rush, quietly listening to Li Guang's explanation. Sure enough, Li Guang asked, "Brother Lu, do you know who is the wealthiest?" Without hesitation, Lu Changsheng replied, "Golden Core True Persons, or rather, practitioners of the immortal Dao system." "Correct. Golden Core True Persons and Nascent Soul True Monarchs can forge artifacts, lay formations, and the like, making them extraordinarily wealthy. Yet for a Golden Core True Person to melt their core into a nascent soul is no easy feat. In particular, 'melting the core' is exceptionally difficult. They require a treasure called Core Melting Liquid. This treasure can only form naturally through heaven and earth; it is exceedingly rare, something found only by chance. Ethereal Spirit Mountain happens to yield Core Melting Water on occasion. However, the mountain contains so much Core Melting Water that it has formed a specialized environment. Any Golden Core True Person, or indeed any cultivator, who enters will find even their dharmic power melted away, suffering tremendous harm. "Therefore, only martial artists can enter unaffected. But such an important location could never be monopolized by a single Immortal Sect or faction. As a result, the major Immortal Sects joined hands to seal Ethereal Spirit Mountain, opening it once every ten years. When Ethereal Spirit Mountain opens, only martial artists below the Martial Saint realm from the various Immortal Sects are permitted inside, for a period of one month. How much Core Melting Liquid one obtains during this month depends on the fortune of each Immortal Sect. "Although the various Immortal Sects have cultivated groups of Divine Ability martial artists, you know how difficult it is for a Divine Ability martial artist to produce a Martial Venerable—it cannot simply be done at will. Since Martial Saints are forbidden from entering Ethereal Spirit Mountain, Martial Venerables stand as the strongest. The stronger the Martial Venerable, the more Core Melting Liquid they can secure." Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up. He understood. Li Guang wanted him to enter Ethereal Spirit Mountain on behalf of an Immortal Sect to compete for Core Melting Liquid. "Indeed: enter Ethereal Spirit Mountain on behalf of an Immortal Sect to fight for Core Melting Liquid. As long as you can secure it, you can demand as many spirit stones as you want. After all, those Immortal Sects are fabulously wealthy. Furthermore, only a little over a month remains before the next opening of Ethereal Spirit Mountain." Li Guang's words stirred Lu Changsheng's heart. "Is Ethereal Spirit Mountain dangerous?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Naturally, there is danger. Ethereal Spirit Mountain harbors a type of ethereal demon—formless and intangible, targeting the mind, perceptible only faintly. Divine Ability martial artists with weaker minds face grave danger. However, the mind and the spirit are one. Brother Lu, you possess the spiritual law, and you even used it to condense a boundless divine ability. How could those ethereal demons possibly harm you? Besides, if you truly represent an Immortal Sect in competing for Core Melting Liquid, they will certainly provide you with treasures to protect your mind." Li Guang explained each point. Lu Changsheng weighed the matter for a moment, then nodded. "Very well, I shall go to Ethereal Spirit Mountain! However, I am unfamiliar with the Immortal Sects. Which one should I approach? Furthermore, am I to go asking them one by one?" Li Guang smiled. "Rest assured, leave this matter to me. Brother Lu is hardly an unknown figure now. If you offer to compete for Core Melting Liquid on their behalf, those Immortal Sects will be tripping over themselves to recruit you. As for which one to choose, that is simple enough: whichever offers the most, we choose them. How does that sound?" Lu Changsheng nodded. "Good, let us do that. I leave it in your capable hands, Brother Li!" "A trifling matter, barely worth mentioning. Return for now, Brother Lu, and await my news. Within roughly a month, I will have everything settled." Lu Changsheng had great confidence in Li Guang's reliability. Turning, he left the Li clan and returned to the Holy Land Heavenly Sect to wait patiently. Days slipped by. In the blink of an eye, about a month had passed. Li Guang had not yet sent word, but Lu Changsheng remained unhurried, waiting steadily. Finally, Li Guang arrived at the Holy Land Heavenly Sect and found Lu Changsheng. "Brother Lu, it is settled." "After a month of inquiries and discussions, I approached nearly all the major Immortal Sects. The one offering the best terms is the Huxian Immortal Sect. Their offer is fifty thousand spirit stones per drop of Core Melting Liquid, plus a Mind Pagoda to assist you in warding off the mental and spiritual attacks of ethereal demons." Li Guang's words made Lu Changsheng's eyes gleam. Fifty thousand spirit stones for a single drop of Core Melting Liquid! That was an exceptionally steep price. "In truth, even when recruiting a Martial Venerable, Immortal Sects generally offer around thirty-some thousand spirit stones, never exceeding fifty thousand. But you are different, Brother Lu. I explained your situation in detail to the various Immortal Sects, and most were willing to offer forty thousand. After all, you condensed a boundless divine ability—and a spiritual one at that—giving you an enormous advantage in Ethereal Spirit Mountain. In the end, however, the Huxian Immortal Sect proved the wealthiest and most generous, offering fifty thousand spirit stones per drop." Lu Changsheng nodded. He did not care much for the Mind Pagoda that protected the mind and spirit, but fifty thousand spirit stones per drop of Core Melting Liquid mattered greatly to him. Fifty thousand spirit stones for one drop. Ten drops meant five hundred thousand spirit stones. If he could obtain dozens or even a hundred drops, both of his divine ability Dao fruits could fully transform into true divine abilities. With that in mind, Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer. "We choose the Huxian Immortal Sect!" Lu Changsheng decided. "Good. Only ten or so days remain until Ethereal Spirit Mountain opens, so you had best set out for the Huxian Immortal Sect promptly. They have substantial intelligence on Ethereal Spirit Mountain, which will allow you to familiarize yourself with it and prepare thoroughly. Preparedness averts disaster!" Li Guang advised. "Understood. I will depart immediately. Once again, thank you for your trouble, Brother Li." Lu Changsheng stood, expressing his gratitude. "If not for you, I would still be a useless loafer waiting around to die. How could I have become the heir to the Li clan? Brother Lu, there is no need for such formalities between us." Lu Changsheng smiled. He and Li Guang had originally become 'friends' through mutual interest, but judging by deeds rather than motives, Li Guang had indeed aided him immensely. "Very well, I will say no more. We shall speak again after I return from Ethereal Spirit Mountain." With that, Lu Changsheng went down to make arrangements for the Holy Land Heavenly Sect. In truth, the sect did not require much of his attention. He was only the Supreme Elder, not the Sect Master. The Sect Master was Ancestor Lu Tong, who had come over from the Ancient Region Heavenly Sect. In the Holy Land, a Dao Foundation martial artist could not command respect as the head of a sect; only a Divine Ability realm expert would suffice. *Whoosh!* Shortly after, Lu Changsheng transformed into a streak of flowing light, speeding toward the Huxian Immortal Sect. Traveling swiftly, he arrived at Hushan several hours later. The so-called Hushan was renowned for the Huxian Immortal Sect. It was said that the sect possessed a pot-shaped magic treasure that served as its foundational treasure, possessing all manner of wondrous and unimaginable powers. The sect derived its name from this very treasure. The Huxian Immortal Sect was protected by a mountain-guarding array. Rather than forcing his way in, Lu Changsheng halted outside the barrier and called out loudly, "Lu Changsheng of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect has come to pay respects to the Immortal Sect!" As Lu Changsheng's voice fell, the array hummed. *Buzz.* The mountain-guarding array parted on its own, and a Golden Core True Person with an otherworldly, immortal demeanor flew out. "So it is Venerable Lu gracing us with his presence! Please, enter the sect!" This Golden Core True Person was exceedingly courteous to Lu Changsheng. "May I ask how to address you, True Person?" Lu Changsheng asked. "This humble Daoist goes by the Daoist name Xuanhu." "So it is True Person Xuanhu." Lu Changsheng asked no further, following True Person Xuanhu into the grand hall. *Hm? So many Divine Ability martial artists?* Lu Changsheng was slightly startled. A brief sweep of his senses revealed thirteen Divine Ability realm martial artists assembled inside the hall. True Person Xuanhu explained with a smile, "Ten years ago, when Ethereal Spirit Mountain opened, our Huxian Immortal Sect was ill-prepared and failed to secure much Core Melting Liquid. As a result, several of our True Persons at peak Golden Core have been unable to melt their cores into nascent souls. Therefore, we recruited more martial experts this time around. Counting you, Venerable Lu, there are fifteen in total. Only the last person has yet to arrive, which should happen in the next few days." Lu Changsheng nodded. Fifteen Divine Ability realm experts—the Huxian Immortal Sect had truly spared no expense. Of course, when it came to Core Melting Liquid, the more the better. "Venerable Lu of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect enters the hall!" True Person Xuanhu announced in a clear voice. *Swish!* Instantly, countless gazes fell upon Lu Changsheng. Any Divine Ability martial artist crowned with the title of 'Venerable' was, without question, a Martial Venerable! "A Martial Venerable!" "This Venerable Lu sounds somewhat familiar..." "Venerable Lu... could it be the Venerable Lu of Tiansheng City? The one rumored to have slain Sword Venerable Chen Peng?" "Right, I remember now! Tiansheng City is so far away... but anyone capable of slaying Sword Venerable Chen Peng is a force to be reckoned with." "True Person Xuanhu received this Venerable Lu personally. That's unusual—no Golden Core True Person came out to welcome us when we arrived." "I heard news earlier that the Huxian Immortal Sect offered this Venerable Lu fifty thousand spirit stones per drop of Core Melting Liquid..." In an instant, the pupils of the Divine Ability martial artists shrank slightly, their eyes fixed intently on Lu Changsheng. Fifty thousand spirit stones for a single drop of Core Melting Liquid! They were all Divine Ability martial artists, and all of them were going to risk their lives in Ethereal Spirit Mountain to fight for Core Melting Liquid. How could the difference in price be so vast? In truth, even for a Martial Venerable, the customary offer was roughly forty thousand spirit stones—and that was for an established one. An unfamiliar Martial Venerable might receive only thirty-some thousand. Yet Lu Changsheng had been offered fifty thousand! "Lu Changsheng of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect greets the Sect Master, the True Persons, and fellow Daoists." Lu Changsheng bowed slightly. Those gathered in the hall were all Golden Core True Persons or Divine Ability martial artists, each of extraordinary standing. "Good! With Venerable Lu's arrival, this expedition to Ethereal Spirit Mountain is well assured," the Sect Master of the Huxian Immortal Sect said with a smile. Evidently, he had long reviewed Lu Changsheng's strength and held considerable trust in him. It was the Sect Master who had personally authorized the decision to secure Lu Changsheng, sparing no expense. After all, Li Guang had approached numerous Immortal Sects, not just the Huxian Immortal Sect. At that moment, one of the Divine Ability martial artists abruptly stood up and questioned the Sect Master, "May I ask the Sect Master: rumors say the Huxian Immortal Sect offered Venerable Lu fifty thousand spirit stones per drop of Core Melting Liquid. Is this true?" As the words fell, the entire hall instantly fell silent. The Sect Master's brow furrowed slightly, but he nodded. "It is true." "However, the prices offered to those present vary. High or low, the price depends on your strength. Venerable Lu is a Martial Venerable, a top-tier Martial Venerable who slew the Sword Venerable. Furthermore, Venerable Lu has condensed a boundless divine ability and earned great renown. Which Divine Ability martial artist here dares claim they can best Venerable Lu? Besides, this price was set by our Huxian Immortal Sect. If you are dissatisfied with your compensation, you are free to leave; our sect forces no one." The Sect Master of the Huxian Immortal Sect took a firm stance, shouldering full responsibility for the arrangement. The price had been set by the sect; anyone who disagreed could simply walk away. Participating in Ethereal Spirit Mountain was voluntary. The Sect Master's words left no room for argument. The Divine Ability martial artist's expression turned unsightly. Yet flouncing off in anger was not worth it; he still needed spirit stones. "Very well. It was my indiscretion," the martial artist conceded, backing down. From beginning to end, Lu Changsheng had not spoken a single word. It was natural for others to feel dissatisfied. For the exact same drop of Core Melting Liquid, some received thirty thousand spirit stones while Lu Changsheng received fifty thousand. It seemed deeply unfair. But what was true fairness? Once Lu Changsheng entered Ethereal Spirit Mountain, his chances of securing large quantities of Core Melting Liquid far surpassed the rest. How could they compare? "Venerable Lu, please take a seat. One more Daoist has yet to arrive, likely in the next few days. Please wait a bit longer. Here is some intelligence regarding Ethereal Spirit Mountain for you to peruse." Lu Changsheng nodded. He sat down in the hall, reading through the intelligence on Ethereal Spirit Mountain while quietly waiting. Roughly three days later. "Flame Palace, Venerable Fiery Cloud, please enter the hall!" Once again, True Person Xuanhu's voice echoed into the hall. *Swish!* All eyes turned toward the entrance. A martial artist flew into the hall from outside, radiating an overbearing aura. The moment he stepped inside, even the ambient temperature seemed to rise sharply. "It's Venerable Fiery Cloud of the Flame Palace. To think the Huxian Immortal Sect managed to invite him!" "Venerable Fiery Cloud shouldn't be lacking spirit stones, should he? Why would he come to the Huxian Immortal Sect to join the contest for Core Melting Liquid in Ethereal Spirit Mountain?" "I heard Venerable Fiery Cloud has already begun forging a Saint Body. Forging a Saint Body is no simple task, especially since he possesses three divine abilities, all of them greater divine abilities. His three greater divine abilities complement one another with terrifying might, making him an absolute peak figure among Martial Venerables. For such an expert to forge a Saint Body is extraordinarily difficult—the materials alone are exceedingly precious and hard to assemble. Perhaps the Huxian Immortal Sect promised him some Saint Body materials?" "Most likely. Otherwise, why would a peak Martial Venerable like him participate in Ethereal Spirit Mountain?" "Venerable Fiery Cloud once slew nine Martial Venerables. His fearsome reputation is known throughout the Holy Land. I wonder what price the sect offered him?" Murmurs broke out across the hall, especially among the Divine Ability martial artists. Everyone was curious about Venerable Fiery Cloud's compensation. Of course, he was almost certainly receiving Saint Body materials rather than spirit stones. They simply wanted to see whether the Huxian Immortal Sect valued Venerable Fiery Cloud or Venerable Lu more. "Hahaha! Venerable Fiery Cloud has finally arrived! With both Venerable Fiery Cloud and Venerable Lu present, this expedition to Ethereal Spirit Mountain is practically guaranteed!" The Sect Master of the Huxian Immortal Sect was visibly overjoyed. Securing both Lu Changsheng and Venerable Fiery Cloud had been no easy feat. Venerable Fiery Cloud in particular had demanded Saint Body materials rather than spirit stones. Fortunately, the Huxian Immortal Sect possessed deep heritage and happened to have the exact materials he needed; otherwise, they never could have engaged him. Venerable Fiery Cloud narrowed his eyes slightly and took a seat beside Lu Changsheng. "Venerable Lu... are you the Venerable Lu of Tiansheng City who slew Sword Venerable Chen Peng?" Venerable Fiery Cloud asked suddenly. Lu Changsheng nodded. "Indeed, it is I." Unlike the other Divine Ability martial artists, Venerable Fiery Cloud showed no hostility toward Lu Changsheng. Instead, he was quite genial, even actively extending goodwill. "Venerable Lu, I have long heard of your renowned name. I heard you condensed a boundless divine ability? In my youth, I also aimed for the heavens, yearning to condense an earth-shattering boundless divine ability. Alas, I fell short and ultimately only condensed greater divine abilities. That you were able to condense a boundless divine ability is truly breathtaking—it commands immense respect!" Lu Changsheng smiled and replied, "Venerable Fiery Cloud flatters me. With your three peak greater divine abilities complementing and compounding one another, their combined might is already earth-shattering." A smile appeared on Venerable Fiery Cloud's face as well. The two hit it off immediately, conversing with great rapport. As for the other Divine Ability martial artists, Venerable Fiery Cloud paid them no mind whatsoever. Perhaps in his eyes, only a Martial Venerable of Lu Changsheng's caliber was worthy of acquaintance.