Tens of Thousands Gather at Tianhe Sacred Ground; Lu Changsheng's Renown Shakes the Sacred Ground!

"S-Saint Lu." Zhang Shu's expression was conflicted. She could hardly bring herself to believe it. It had been only about ten months—not even a full year—since their three-year agreement, yet Lu Changsheng had already ascended to Martial Saint. During that time, he had even accomplished numerous sensational feats that shook the Holy Land. "Fellow Daoist Zhang Shu, the clue about the Void Divine Crystal you provided back then saved me a great deal of time when forging my saint body. Even though the three-year term has not yet arrived, I can make a trip to your clan now to help resolve the threat from the Martial Saint." Lu Changsheng remained true to his word. Since he had promised Zhang Shu, he naturally had to see it through. A surge of joy rose in Zhang Shu's heart, yet her feelings were complicated. Back then, she had taken the initiative to approach him, asking to become Dao companions. Had Lu Changsheng agreed at the time, the Zhang clan's crisis would have been resolved by now. With Lu Changsheng's towering reputation today, which Martial Saint would dare threaten the Zhang clan? Alas, there were no "what-ifs." Now that Lu Changsheng was already a Martial Saint, it was even less possible for her to become his Dao companion. "Then I must trouble you, Saint Lu," Zhang Shu said, bowing respectfully. Regardless, Lu Changsheng's willingness to keep his promise and resolve the threat posed by the Martial Saint allowed her to heave a sigh of relief. "Without further ado, let us set off at once," Lu Changsheng said. He wished to resolve Zhang Shu's problem quickly, so he could deliver the Heavenly Rain Fortune Pill back to Tiansheng City. "Very well. Saint Lu, please follow me." With that, Zhang Shu transformed into a streak of light and departed from the Martial Saint Mansion. Lu Changsheng followed behind her. Zhang Shu's speed was relatively slow. The two flew for over a month before finally arriving at Xiao City, where Zhang Shu's clan resided. "Saint Lu, Xiao City lies just ahead," Zhang Shu said. "My Zhang clan is one of the Martial Saint clans in Xiao City. However, ever since our Martial Saint ancestor fell, not a single descendant has attained the Martial Saint realm. Consequently, in recent years, the Zhang clan has gradually declined to the point where even our standing as a top faction in Xiao City is in jeopardy. "Meanwhile, the city's foremost power is the Xiao clan. Not only do they have a Martial Saint presiding over them, but Divine Ability martial artists emerge from their ranks in continuous succession. Members of their younger generation even show promise of becoming Martial Saints. The entire city is named after their family. "The Xiao clan intends to swallow my Zhang clan, and I am the first step. They want to arrange a marriage first, using me as a foothold to slowly devour the Zhang clan. Once married into their family, they would even control my cultivation to keep me from ascending to Martial Saint, thereby suppressing the Zhang clan completely." Zhang Shu laid out the entire sequence of events. In truth, it was simply the mutual friction and crushing between powers. In the past, the Zhang clan had also been anchored by a Martial Saint and was a bona fide powerhouse. But after their Martial Saint fell, they still sought to preserve their influence. Naturally, a price had to be paid. Now, however, even paying the price was no longer enough to maintain their status as a top faction in Xiao City. Their desire outstripped their strength. And precisely at this juncture, the Xiao clan sought to swallow them whole. The Zhang clan's sole reliance now was Zhang Shu. After all, she had entered the Martial Saint Mansion and was their most promising candidate to attain the Martial Saint realm. If she succeeded, the Zhang clan could rise anew. Unfortunately, ascending to Martial Saint was far from easy. Even Zhang Shu herself had little confidence. Ultimately, to avoid becoming a sacrificial pawn, she had no choice but to seek Lu Changsheng's power in hopes of neutralizing the Xiao clan's threat. Having grasped the full context, Lu Changsheng made his decision. "Fellow Daoist Zhang Shu, I will not meddle in the affairs between the Zhang and Xiao clans. However, what I promised you, I will certainly resolve. Since you worry about a forced marriage alliance, I will pay the Xiao clan a visit and speak with them properly. I believe they will no longer coerce you into marriage. "Nevertheless, even if the Xiao clan agrees not to force you, staying in the Zhang clan means you will likely be sacrificed by your family sooner or later. I have an idea that might grant you a measure of freedom, freeing you from the worry of being treated as a sacrifice." Zhang Shu hurriedly asked, "What idea?" "You may go to Tiansheng City and join the Holy Land Heavenly Sect. When that happens, the Zhang clan's reach will be far too short to compel you to do anything. You can cultivate in peace within our sect, and out of respect for the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, the Xiao clan will not dare push the Zhang clan too far either. What is more, you can concentrate on your cultivation there. One day, you may still have hope of advancing to Martial Saint!" Lu Changsheng's proposal was truly killing two birds with one stone. It helped Zhang Shu while expanding the strength of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect. After all, Zhang Shu had qualified for the Martial Saint Mansion; her talent was beyond question. She was indisputably a genius. Even if she could not become a Martial Saint within ten years at the mansion, who was to say she had no hope if she cultivated peacefully in the Holy Land Heavenly Sect? Once she ascended, the sect would stand secure even without Lu Changsheng presiding over it. Zhang Shu carefully weighed the feasibility of the idea. Times had changed. The Xiao clan had already set its sights on her family. Even if she dodged this blow with Lu Changsheng's aid, what about the future? Even without a marriage alliance, the Xiao clan would find other ways to whittle down the Zhang clan piece by piece. And to preserve their standing, the Zhang clan would exhaust every avenue—very likely sacrificing her in the process. If she returned to the Zhang clan after leaving the Martial Saint Mansion, it would not take long before she was sacrificed in the name of the clan for one reason or another. Perhaps through a marriage alliance with another major faction, or perhaps something else. In any case, her situation would never improve. Joining the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, however, would be entirely different. With a peak Martial Saint of boundless potential like Lu Changsheng presiding over it, the sect was visibly destined to expand and thrive. Even at worst, it would enjoy three thousand years of glory. That was more than enough! If she wished to advance further along the martial path without being bogged down by mundane affairs, joining the Holy Land Heavenly Sect was her best option. "I am willing to join the Holy Land Heavenly Sect!" Zhang Shu declared after weighing the pros and cons. Lu Changsheng smiled. "Good. Then there is no need to visit the Zhang clan first. Let us head straight to the Xiao clan. Since you are now an elder of my Holy Land Heavenly Sect, I must naturally have a proper 'talk' with them." With that, Lu Changsheng led Zhang Shu straight into Xiao City. Xiao City appeared even larger and more prosperous than Tiansheng City. The two proceeded directly to the Xiao clan's estate. "Halt! Who goes there?" The Xiao clan's guards stepped forward to block their path. Just as Zhang Shu was about to speak, Lu Changsheng shook his head. He took a deep breath. *Boom!* Aura erupted from his body with tremendous force. "Ah..." The guards shuddered violently. They were thrown back more than a dozen steps, as if struck by a massive hammer, their bodies entirely paralyzed. They were not even in the Divine Ability realm, merely ordinary guards. How could they endure the aura of a peak Martial Saint like Lu Changsheng? Lu Changsheng strode directly into the Xiao clan's compound, making no attempt to conceal his aura. Chaos erupted instantly. Scores of Divine Ability martial artists surged out. Yet none dared approach him. With Lu Changsheng releasing his aura so unabashedly, their trained eyes immediately told them that the person before them was a Martial Saint! Still, which Martial Saint was this to forcibly barge into the Xiao clan? "Which Martial Saint is this?" "He looks unfamiliar. I've never seen him before—he must not be from Xiao City." "Indeed. We have some impression of all the Martial Saint ancestors in Xiao City, and even those from neighboring cities. But this person is completely unknown to us." "He is unfamiliar, but the woman behind him looks very recognizable. Isn't she... Zhang Shu from the Zhang clan?" "Zhang Shu? The one who entered the Martial Saint Mansion?" "Could she have brought in a Martial Saint to back the Zhang clan?" "Hmph, how could the Zhang clan possibly invite a dignified Martial Saint? Besides, even a Martial Saint wouldn't casually interfere in the matters between our two families. For this Martial Saint to come with Zhang Shu, she likely pulled strings through her connections at the Martial Saint Mansion." "She has spent several years there, so it's not surprising she knows some Martial Saints, or even invited one here. But what does she think she's doing? Provoking our Xiao clan?" "Do they truly think our Xiao clan lacks a Martial Saint?" The numerous Divine Ability martial artists of the Xiao clan looked stern, their eyes fixed intently upon Lu Changsheng and Zhang Shu. In truth, their guesses were largely on the mark. Yet they felt no fear. The Martial Saint of their Xiao clan was no ordinary saint. He was the foremost Martial Saint of Xiao City! Across ten thousand li encompassing many surrounding cities, he ranked firmly among the top three. His strength was formidable, and ordinary Martial Saints truly dared not provoke the Xiao clan. It was only because the Martial Saint Mansion was so distant from Xiao City that this newcomer might be ignorant of their ancestor's prestige. Otherwise, what ordinary Martial Saint would dare act so brazenly here? "Which Martial Saint dares behave so presumptuously in my Xiao clan?" Just then, a voice brimming with authority drifted from the Xiao clan's back courtyard. Immediately after, an elder with white hair and beard strode into the sky step by step, looking down upon Lu Changsheng and Zhang Shu from above. This was the pillar of the Xiao clan: Martial Saint Xiao Zhenyi! "Hmm?" Xiao Zhenyi's eyes narrowed slightly. Under the pressure of his aura, this unfamiliar Martial Saint remained completely unaffected. That was abnormal. Xiao Zhenyi was no stranger to battling fellow Martial Saints; in fact, he boasted an undefeated record. How sharp and overbearing his aura was! Even among peers of the same realm, very few could utterly disregard his presence. Seeing Xiao Zhenyi arrive, the Xiao clan members below breathed a sigh of relief, their eyes shining with excitement. "It's the ancestor! With him stepping in, he will surely repel this stranger!" "We can finally see the ancestor take action again! The last time was his battle against the Zhao clan's ancestor, wasn't it? That was three hundred years ago. The Zhao ancestor suffered a crushing defeat and never dared cross our Xiao clan again." "With the ancestor here, our Xiao clan stands as stable as a mountain." Confidence instantly surged through the Xiao clan. Xiao Zhenyi was their unshakeable bedrock! "Are you the Xiao clan's ancestor?" Lu Changsheng asked calmly. "Indeed. I am Xiao Zhenyi! From where does Fellow Daoist hail, and what is the meaning of forcibly trespassing into my Xiao clan? Moreover, you arrive with a junior from the Zhang clan. Do you intend to stand up for them?" Xiao Zhenyi was also aware of Zhang Shu. Lu Changsheng glanced at the crowd, then at Xiao Zhenyi, and stated flatly, "Lu Changsheng of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect. "I came today wishing to have a word with the Xiao clan. Zhang Shu is now an elder of my Holy Land Heavenly Sect. She has no wish to enter into a marriage alliance with your clan, and I hope you will not force her against her will. What does the Xiao clan's ancestor think?" Hearing the name "Lu Changsheng," Xiao Zhenyi frowned slightly. He genuinely did not recognize the name. Ever since attaining the Martial Saint realm, Xiao Zhenyi had spent most of his years in secluded cultivation. Even on the rare occasions he emerged, he never meddled in the clan's daily affairs. How could he know who Lu Changsheng was? However, the elders and Divine Ability martial artists of the Xiao clan reacted entirely differently. They had heard of Lu Changsheng. In fact, his fame was thunderous! "Lu... Lu Changsheng?" "The Venerable Lu who slew a Martial Saint while still in the Divine Ability realm?!" "No, he is no longer Venerable Lu—he is Saint Lu! Lu Changsheng has already forged his saint body and ascended to Martial Saint!" "Yes, that news reached Xiao City only recently. It is absolutely true! Saint Lu forged his saint body based on a boundless divine ability. Once completed, its power is unimaginable!" "Ancestor, you must never make an enemy of him..." The Xiao Clan Head was seized by terror. Lu Changsheng! That terrifying Saint Lu of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect! Some were already claiming that he was among the absolute pinnacle of Human Saints. Across the entire Holy Land, the number of Martial Saints who could rival him could be counted on one hand. Just days ago, they had treated this legendary figure as mere conversation material, something that had nothing to do with their clan. Yet who could have imagined that this figure of legend would appear right at their doorstep? Looking at Zhang Shu and recalling that Lu Changsheng had been a martial artist of the Martial Saint Mansion's inner mansion, the Xiao clan members connected the dots in an instant. Zhang Shu and Lu Changsheng must have become acquainted at the mansion. Fearing that the ancestor remained unaware of Lu Changsheng's terrifying reputation, the Clan Head sent a voice transmission, recounting Lu Changsheng's various deeds in full detail. Xiao Zhenyi's mind was profoundly shaken. He had spent the vast majority of his time in seclusion; he had never imagined such a terrifying Martial Saint had emerged in the Holy Land, comparable to the reclusive disciples of the sacred grounds! *A boundless divine ability...* At that moment, all of Xiao Zhenyi's pride vanished. He flew down at once, his manner thoroughly humble. "So it is Saint Lu honoring us with your presence. Forgive my lack of welcome. "Please rest assured, Saint Lu. The matter regarding Zhang Shu was merely a misunderstanding. The Xiao clan will never again force her into marriage, nor will we suppress the Zhang clan." Xiao Zhenyi knew when to yield. He understood full well what a "boundless divine ability" signified, and even more so how terrifying a saint body forged from one would be. He had zero desire to test Lu Changsheng's saint body personally. Since Lu Changsheng was personally backing Zhang Shu, how could Xiao Zhenyi dare touch the Zhang clan? As long as Lu Changsheng lived, the Xiao clan would never dare make a move against them. Such was influence. Or rather, deterrence. A person's fame was like the shadow of a tree. Lu Changsheng was already renowned throughout the Holy Land. For many matters, his name alone was enough to settle them. "Very well. The matter is resolved," Lu Changsheng said with a faint smile. Turning to Zhang Shu, he said, "Zhang Shu, return to your clan and explain everything clearly to your family. Once they are settled, come join me to head toward the Holy Land Heavenly Sect. The Xiao clan's ancestor and I feel like old friends at first meeting, so we wish to discuss and exchange insights on the martial path. When you are ready, come find me at the Xiao clan." Zhang Shu's expression turned odd. *Old friends at first meeting?* How could this possibly look like old friends? Still, since Lu Changsheng had spoken, Zhang Shu nodded, departed from the Xiao compound, and flew toward the Zhang clan. Xiao Zhenyi looked at Lu Changsheng with a stiff expression, his heart sinking further. "Fellow Daoist Lu, please." Helpless, Xiao Zhenyi could only usher Lu Changsheng inside. Within a private chamber of the Xiao estate, Lu Changsheng and Xiao Zhenyi sat cross-legged opposite each other. In truth, Lu Changsheng genuinely wished to consult and exchange martial insights with him, particularly regarding the Human Saint realm. "Fellow Daoist Xiao, may I ask: with the Xiao clan's current scale, is the momentum of all living beings sufficient to sustain your cultivation?" Lu Changsheng asked. "It is not..." Xiao Zhenyi shook his head, answering truthfully. The momentum of all living beings sounded profoundly mystical, but in reality, a martial artist's supreme power was concentrated entirely within themselves. The momentum of living beings functioned merely as a cultivation resource, utilized to continuously temper and elevate the saint body. Once the saint body was elevated, losing that momentum caused no adverse effects, nor did it create any lasting dependency. Immortal cultivators spoke of comprehending the Dao in the mortal world, and martial artists originated from the mundane. Relying on the momentum of all living beings to cultivate was perfectly natural. Yet even the Xiao clan's scale could not adequately sustain Xiao Zhenyi's cultivation. If a second Martial Saint were to emerge, the clan would be utterly incapable of providing for both. When that time came, the only path left for them would be frantic expansion. For any faction, more Martial Saints was not inherently better. More Martial Saints meant greater strength, which was certainly beneficial, but each additional saint also siphoned away a massive share of the momentum of living beings. If territorial expansion could not keep pace, it would only impede cultivation instead. "Have you never considered going to a sacred ground?" Lu Changsheng inquired further. "A sacred ground... How could it be so easy to enter?" Xiao Zhenyi replied with a bitter smile, "In fact, I went to the Tianhe Sacred Ground back then, but was eliminated. I lacked the qualifications to enter." At the mention of this, Xiao Zhenyi's heart was filled with bitterness. In Xiao City, his word was law, and across ten thousand li, his reputation was illustrious. Yet after becoming a Martial Saint, his attempt to enter a sacred ground had ended before he even qualified, costing him all face. Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up, and he pressed, "You have visited the Tianhe Sacred Ground? What criteria did they have for Martial Saints back then?" "Criteria?" Xiao Zhenyi glanced at Lu Changsheng, instantly discerning his intent. With Lu Changsheng's talent, he was surely unwilling to halt at the Human Saint realm. To advance further, and perhaps even attain the Earth Saint or Heavenly Saint realms, one had to find a way into a sacred ground. Naturally, intelligence regarding the Tianhe Sacred Ground was of utmost importance. After a moment's thought, Xiao Zhenyi decided that earning some goodwill with Lu Changsheng would only benefit his clan. Thus, he said, "For external Martial Saints, the Tianhe Sacred Ground essentially has only one requirement: overwhelming strength! "The stronger, the better! "After all, the sacred ground must apportion a vast amount of the momentum of living beings to external Martial Saints, so they cannot afford to harbor idlers. Only those with exceptional strength can be of assistance to them. "I have no hope, but you certainly do, Fellow Daoist Lu. If even a saint body forged from a boundless divine ability cannot enter, I truly do not know what kind of Martial Saint could." Xiao Zhenyi held not the slightest doubt regarding Lu Changsheng's prospects. Lu Changsheng fell into thought. He went on to inquire thoroughly about the assessment Xiao Zhenyi had undergone back then. Although many years had passed and the specifics changed with each trial, it still served as a valuable reference. Time slipped by. In the blink of an eye, Lu Changsheng and Xiao Zhenyi had engaged in heart-to-heart discussions for three days. On the third day, Zhang Shu finally arrived at the Xiao clan. "Is everything settled?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Everything has been properly arranged." The lingering worry between Zhang Shu's brows had vanished; evidently, the clan's affairs had proceeded smoothly. "Good. Then let us return to Tiansheng City," Lu Changsheng said. Bidding farewell to Xiao Zhenyi, the two took to the sky and flew toward Tiansheng City. Zhang Shu's flight speed was indeed quite slow. It took a full three months before they returned, and that was with Lu Changsheng assisting her along the way; otherwise, the journey would have taken even longer. Upon arriving at the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, Lu Changsheng arranged for Zhang Shu to become an elder. Then, carrying the Heavenly Rain Fortune Pill, he went to the Li clan to meet Li Zhenggang. "Fellow Daoist Li, here is the Heavenly Rain Fortune Pill I promised back then. Take a look." Lu Changsheng produced the pill and handed it to Li Zhenggang. "This is..." Li Zhenggang's voice trembled. He took the pill and examined it meticulously, an expression of ecstatic joy bursting across his face. "That's it! This is indeed the Heavenly Rain Fortune Pill! I never expected you to find it so quickly, Fellow Daoist Lu! "Hahaha! My injuries finally have hope of recovery!" Li Zhenggang was overcome with joy. This was the Heavenly Rain Fortune Pill, the elixir he had yearned for day and night. His injuries had remained incurable for years, forcing him to recuperate inside the Li clan's secret chamber, which in turn caused his clan's power to decline gradually. Fortunately, Lu Changsheng had succeeded. Had he perished, the Li clan would have fallen into dire straits. "Fellow Daoist Li, I plan to set off for the Tianhe Sacred Ground," Lu Changsheng said. "After I leave, I must trouble you to watch over the Holy Land Heavenly Sect." Another key reason Lu Changsheng had delivered the pill so promptly was that the Holy Land Heavenly Sect currently lacked another Martial Saint. What would become of the sect once he departed? They could not rely on him for every minor matter, and if an emergency arose, he would be too far away to help. Having a Martial Saint standing guard was crucial. If Li Zhenggang recovered, his presence in Tiansheng City would ensure the Holy Land Heavenly Sect was well protected against major crises. And if a true disaster struck, Lu Changsheng would rush back. "Rest assured," Li Zhenggang agreed readily. Even without Lu Changsheng's request, he would have looked after the sect. Lu Changsheng returned to the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, settled its affairs, and bid farewell to his acquaintances. Once everything was in order, he resolutely departed Tiansheng City and flew toward the Tianhe Sacred Ground. The sacred ground was extraordinarily distant. Even at a Martial Saint's speed, it required months of travel. But Lu Changsheng was in no hurry. He expected to remain at the sacred ground for a very long time, and unless something critical occurred, he likely would not return to Tiansheng City anytime soon. Finally, after a full half year of travel, Lu Changsheng arrived at Tianhe. What was called Tianhe was in fact a boundless, endlessly surging great river. The river was immensely wide, stretching beyond the horizon. Viewed from afar, it seemed to connect heaven and earth, hence earning the name Tianhe—the Heavenly River. Near this river stood a sacred ground of martial arts known as the Tianhe Sacred Ground! Legend held that the founder of the sacred ground had attained the Heavenly Saint realm along the banks of the Tianhe, subsequently establishing the sacred ground there, where its heritage had endured to this day. Outside the sacred ground lay a massive metropolis called Tianhe City, boasting a population of several million—a true great city. Anchored by the sacred ground, Tianhe City bustled with immense prosperity. Countless martial artists traveled from far and wide, hoping to join the sacred ground as disciples. The Tianhe Sacred Ground opened its gates once every ten years to recruit disciples. Word of the impending recruitment had drawn vast throngs, causing the city's population to swell dramatically in recent days. Of course, the sacred ground was not situated within the city itself, but outside it along the riverbank. Lu Changsheng first found lodgings within Tianhe City. He noticed that the travelers were mostly martial artists accompanying their younger kin, almost all below the Divine Treasury realm. The sacred ground only accepted disciples below the Divine Treasury stage, and enforced strict age limits: applicants could not exceed sixteen years of age. Even so, whenever the recruitment opened, crowds swarmed in droves. Attaining disciple status in a sacred ground was truly an overnight ascent to greatness. Concealing his aura, Lu Changsheng made inquiries around the city. While disciple recruitment occurred only once every ten years, Martial Saints wishing to join could present themselves at any time—provided they passed the assessment. However, that trial was notoriously stringent. Not a single external Martial Saint had successfully joined in many years, which spoke volumes of its difficulty. Having gathered thorough intelligence and gained a clear grasp of the situation, Lu Changsheng took his leave and headed toward the sacred ground. Upon arriving outside the gates, he found a sea of martial artists gathered, nearly all seeking to become disciples. Lu Changsheng stepped forward and observed the personnel screening the candidates. The best metric to screen candidates was comprehension. The sacred ground assigned a random martial art, and those who mastered it within the allotted time passed the first stage. Yet that single trial eliminated ninety percent of the contenders. "Alas, just a hair short! Just a tiny bit!" "Failing this screening means returning to my clan to fade into mediocrity..." "I clearly felt the technique wasn't difficult, so why couldn't I master it?" Many candidates were consumed by regret, feeling that just a little more time would have allowed them to succeed. Lu Changsheng glanced at the martial art. With his comprehension, mastering it was child's play. However, to master it within such a short window, his estimate suggested one needed a comprehension level on par with "Hidden Dragon in the Depths" just to clear the first gate. And this was merely the first trial; several more reportedly followed. Lu Changsheng estimated that the candidates ultimately selected would likely possess comprehension ranked as "Praised in All Directions" or even "Dragon and Phoenix Among Men." It was clear how exacting the sacred ground's standards were. After watching for a moment, Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer and strode directly toward the main gates of the Tianhe Sacred Ground. "Halt!" "Those seeking to join the sacred ground as disciples must participate in the assessment! Entrance is forbidden without passing the trials!" Several Tianhe disciples stepped forward to block him. Their sharp reprimand drew widespread attention, turning numerous eyes toward Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng frowned slightly and said in a measured voice, "Could it be that the Martial Saint assessment also relies on such child's play?" He cast a glance at the technique used for the screening. "A Martial Saint?" The expressions of the disciples shifted, and the surrounding crowd stirred with shock. No matter where one went, a Martial Saint was a paramount figure—an overlord of a region. Among the crowds bringing their offspring for the trials, very few hailed from factions backed by a Martial Saint. Even within a vast sacred ground, Martial Saints were far from common; they remained lofty beings of supreme status. "You are a Martial Saint? How should we address you?" Hearing that he was a Martial Saint, the disciples adopted a somewhat more polite tone. But that was all. As sacred ground disciples, they had seen far too many Martial Saints. Renowned, fearsome figures from the outside world frequently arrived to attempt the assessment, yet what became of them? Nearly all returned in humiliating defeat. Over the past century, not a single external Martial Saint had managed to join. Though these disciples were not Martial Saints themselves and might never become one, witnessing so many had rendered them somewhat indifferent toward outside saints. In their eyes, Martial Saints were divided into two categories: those belonging to the sacred ground, whom they looked up to with reverence, and external saints, whom they held in little regard. Lu Changsheng replied calmly, "Lu Changsheng of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect in Tiansheng City." Even Martial Saints from other sects were permitted to join, reflecting the broad-minded magnanimity of the Tianhe Sacred Ground. "Lu Changsheng?!" The disciples' hearts jolted. They snapped their heads up, staring at him in utter disbelief. Even as sacred ground disciples who cared little for outside Martial Saints, the name "Lu Changsheng" was an exception. Because Lu Changsheng was unique. Recently, his name had shaken the entire Holy Land—even reverberating through the sacred grounds themselves. Hardly anyone was ignorant of his renown. Slaying a Martial Saint while still in the Divine Ability realm had stunned the world! Yet for the disciples of the sacred ground, that was not what drew their deepest attention. What truly commanded their focus was his divine ability. A boundless divine ability! Outsiders might simply marvel at the achievement, but members of the sacred ground understood better than anyone what mastering a boundless divine ability truly meant. They could hardly fathom how anyone outside a sacred ground could comprehend such an ability—let alone forge a saint body from it to ascend to Martial Saint! To the disciples of the sacred ground, this sounded like an outright myth, delivering a shock of staggering proportions!