The disciples of the Holy Land were stunned by Lu Changsheng's name, but the martial artists who had come to take part in the sacred ground's disciple recruitment were just as shocked.
In fact, they were even more astounded.
The sacred ground's disciples had seen plenty of exceptionally talented individuals, but those from beyond the sacred ground rarely witnessed such peerless figures. Looking upon Lu Changsheng, their eyes went wide, their faces brimming with curiosity.
"Is that the legendary Saint Lu?"
"It really is Saint Lu! Incredible."
"When Saint Lu was only a Martial Venerable, he could already slay a Martial Saint. Now that he has ascended to Martial Saint, just how strong must he be?"
"Saint Lu must be looking to join Tianhe Sacred Ground too. But in the past century, not a single person has managed to enter as a Martial Saint. Can Saint Lu succeed?"
"If even Saint Lu can't join, what other Martial Saint would have the qualifications?"
Though these people were not particularly strong and their discernment was hardly sharp, even they knew that Lu Changsheng had a high chance of joining Tianhe Sacred Ground.
Such was the prestige that made Lu Changsheng's name resound across the entire Holy Land!
"Saint Lu, the Martial Saint assessment is not held here. Please enter through the mountain gate."
Several disciples respectfully cleared a path. One of them guided Lu Changsheng directly into Tianhe Sacred Ground's main gates.
Step by step, Lu Changsheng walked into Tianhe Sacred Ground.
Gazing into the distance, he could see the vast, boundless Tianhe, and even hear the roaring rush of its waters. Moreover, as he mounted higher, he saw that the sprawling mountain gate of Tianhe Sacred Ground was built right in the void.
Indeed, it hovered suspended in midair.
Peaks, cave abodes, and pavilions all floated high above the Tianhe. The entire Tianhe Sacred Ground was like a realm of immortals.
"Is this... an array?"
"And not an ordinary one at that. Even a Heavenly Saint probably couldn't easily destroy the mountain gate of Tianhe Sacred Ground."
Lu Changsheng's expression turned solemn.
Suspending an entire mountain gate in the void was truly a grand feat—a monumental undertaking!
Yet it also showcased the majesty of Tianhe Sacred Ground. Any martial artist arriving here would inevitably be filled with awe.
Following the sacred ground disciple, Lu Changsheng arrived at a mountain peak.
On the summit, a Martial Saint with white hair and beard but a ruddy complexion sat quietly cross-legged on the ground.
"Elder Liu, this is Martial Saint Lu Changsheng, who has come to take the assessment."
Having introduced him, the disciple respectfully stood to the side.
Elder Liu opened his eyes.
"A Martial Saint from the outside world?"
Elder Liu cast a glance at Lu Changsheng and said indifferently, "It has been a century since an outsider Martial Saint has passed the assessment. No matter what kind of reputation you possess in the outside world—whether a mighty hegemon or a reclusive master who keeps to obscurity—once you arrive at our Tianhe Sacred Ground, you are thoroughly ordinary and count for nothing."
This Elder Liu had clearly remained inside the sacred ground for ages, indifferent to worldly matters. He had no interest in external events and had never even heard the name "Lu Changsheng."
The disciple beside him parted his lips to speak, but hesitated and said nothing in the end.
The disciple knew very well that Elder Liu had a foul temper—stubborn as a mule. If he brought up how illustrious Lu Changsheng's reputation was, it would likely only irritate the elder, so he chose to keep silent.
Lu Changsheng neither agreed nor disagreed, seemingly unbothered by Elder Liu's attitude. Those of the sacred ground were accustomed to looking down from on high; such a disposition was only normal. Lu Changsheng had come to join the sacred ground, not to bicker.
Thus, he asked directly, "If I pass the assessment, what role can I assume in Tianhe Sacred Ground?"
In truth, he wanted to know his status upon passing.
If his standing were too low, he obviously would not be able to share in the sacred ground's momentum of all living beings, in which case joining would be pointless.
Elder Liu glanced at Lu Changsheng and said placidly, "I know what you outside Martial Saints are after. You merely want to borrow our sacred ground's momentum of all living beings to cultivate your saint bodies. Our Tianhe Sacred Ground can grant you that opportunity. The momentum of living beings here is boundless, but every shred of it is accounted for. Not just any Martial Saint who arrives is qualified to use it for cultivation.
"If an outsider Martial Saint passes the assessment, there are generally three positions they can hold.
"First, an ordinary elder in one of the halls. You may share a sliver of the momentum of all living beings, though not much. The benefit is that it is a steady trickle, enough to cultivate with.
"Second, a vice hall master of one of the halls. Such Martial Saints hold notable standing in the sacred ground, outranking ordinary elders and receiving a larger share of the momentum of all living beings.
"The third is a titled elder. Such elders need not assume administrative duties in the halls and are granted an official title by the sacred ground. They normally cultivate within the grounds. In terms of status and treatment, they fall only half a notch below the Sect Master, representing the highest honor an outsider Martial Saint can attain here."
Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up.
Ordinary elder, vice hall master, titled elder.
It was immediately obvious that a titled elder far surpassed the other two. In status and treatment, they were nearly on par with the Sect Master, comparable to a vice sect master.
Every titled elder could enjoy a massive amount of the momentum of all living beings to cultivate their saint body.
"Are there any restrictions or requirements for a titled elder?" Lu Changsheng asked.
"A titled elder?" Elder Liu gave a cold sneer. "Just as expected—aiming too high, wanting to become a titled elder the moment you step foot in the sacred ground. For so many years, outside Martial Saints haven't even managed to pass the ordinary elder assessment, yet you dream of becoming a titled elder? In our sacred ground, ordinary elders, vice hall masters, and titled elders each face a corresponding level of assessment. The titled elder assessment is the most severe. In fact, once you apply for it, you may die!"
Lu Changsheng showed no fear, asking instead, "Is the difficulty of the titled elder assessment at the Earth Saint level?"
"How could that be? The titled elder assessment is also at the Human Saint level. As for Earth Saints, you clearly don't understand them. If you truly become an Earth Saint, you automatically receive the standing of a titled elder."
Lu Changsheng felt enlightened. As long as it was not at the Earth Saint level, it mattered little. What did difficulty matter? No matter how hard it was, at the Human Saint level, why would Lu Changsheng care with his current strength?
"Very well. I choose the titled elder assessment!" Lu Changsheng said directly.
"Hm? You truly choose the titled elder assessment?"
"Beyond doubt!" Lu Changsheng answered firmly.
Elder Liu's brow furrowed. A titled elder! He did not have the authority to administer that assessment; at most, he oversaw assessments for vice hall masters. For a titled elder, he simply was not qualified.
Still, rules were rules. However dissatisfied Elder Liu was, he could only send a transmission immediately.
"Wait here. Another elder, Elder Feng, will oversee your assessment."
Having said this, Elder Liu closed his eyes, offering Lu Changsheng no pleasant expression. After all, Lu Changsheng choosing the titled elder assessment had made him lose face, as he lacked the qualification to test him.
Even so, Elder Liu wanted to see how Lu Changsheng would meet his end shortly. The titled elder assessment was exceedingly dangerous; a single misstep would cost even a Martial Saint their life. Under normal circumstances, no matter how confident a Martial Saint was, they would never choose it.
Before long, an elderly man in white robes arrived on the peak.
"Greetings, Elder Feng," the mountain-guarding disciple bowed respectfully.
Lu Changsheng cupped his hands slightly as well.
Elder Liu opened his eyes and said flatly, "Thank you for coming, Elder Feng. This Lu Changsheng has applied for the titled elder assessment."
"A titled elder?" Elder Feng mused. "It has been many years since anyone applied for that. Throughout the history of our Tianhe Sacred Ground, only thirty-eight people have ever applied for the titled elder assessment. Yet in the end, only two succeeded in passing and becoming titled elders. Fellow Daoist, do you have the confidence to become the third Martial Saint to pass?"
Instead of answering, Lu Changsheng asked, "What became of the thirty-six Martial Saints who failed?"
"All thirty-six died."
Elder Feng's words caused Lu Changsheng's pupils to contract slightly.
Throughout history, thirty-eight Martial Saints had applied, and thirty-six had perished. That failure rate was staggering. It also proved Elder Liu had not been exaggerating—the titled elder assessment was perilous beyond measure. One slip meant death!
"Fellow Daoist, do you still wish to apply for the titled elder assessment?" Elder Feng gazed intently at him.
"Of course. I will proceed with the titled elder assessment!" Lu Changsheng replied without hesitation.
Seeing his resolve, both Elder Liu and Elder Feng seemed slightly surprised.
"Oh? It seems you must be no ordinary figure in the outside world. Regardless, who you were does not matter. If you wish to apply, follow me."
Elder Feng turned and walked toward the depths of the mountain, with Lu Changsheng following close behind.
Only after Lu Changsheng's figure had disappeared did Elder Liu question the disciple: "Earlier, you hesitated to speak. Out with it—what is this person's background?"
Clearly, Elder Liu was not completely oblivious; he had noticed the disciple seemed to know something. For Lu Changsheng to insist on the titled elder assessment, he was plainly extraordinary.
The disciple said respectfully, "Elder Liu, this Martial Saint is no simple figure. He is Martial Saint Lu Changsheng of the Holy Land Heavenly Sect, known in the outside world as Saint Lu! Endowed with astonishing talent, he once slew a Martial Saint while still in the Divine Ability realm, shaking the entire Holy Land!"
A flicker of surprise flashed across Elder Liu's eyes.
"Slaying a Martial Saint while in the Divine Ability realm? No wonder he thinks so highly of himself. To achieve that is indeed remarkable. However, outside Martial Saints are generally mediocre. The top disciples of our sacred ground may not be guaranteed to slay a Martial Saint, but certain peerless prodigies among them are certainly not weaker than one. Even for such top talents, the chances of passing the titled elder assessment remain slim."
Elder Liu shook his head. There was a difference between sacred ground Martial Saints and outside Martial Saints—a massive one, in fact. This was not mere prejudice on his part; it was simply the truth.
In his eyes, outside Martial Saints were barely worth mentioning. The Martial Saints of the sacred ground had built rock-solid foundations from childhood, advancing step by step through the Divine Treasury, Divine Ability, and Martial Saint realms, every stage meticulously anchored, with every divine ability condensed ranking among the finest greater divine abilities. When such cultivators became Martial Saints, their strength was terrifying.
Were it not so, how could the sacred ground maintain its transcendent, supreme standing in the Holy Land? Could it rely on the name of a Heavenly Saint for everything? Impossible. The sacred ground's disciples were absolute terrors who could sweep away vast swathes of external peers, even if they could not claim absolute invincibility in their realm.
The disciple took a deep breath and said heavily, each word measured, "Elder Liu, Saint Lu is not that simple. Not only did he slay a Martial Saint as a Divine Ability cultivator, but more importantly, the divine ability he condensed was extraordinary—it was a boundless divine ability! In fact, he possesses more than one. He has three boundless divine abilities! When he advanced to Martial Saint, he must have forged a saint body, and a saint body founded upon boundless divine abilities is undoubtedly among the most supreme. Saint Lu's strength is so formidable that he likely has few equals among Human Saints..."
Elder Liu's expression changed drastically.
"What did you say? A saint body forged from boundless divine abilities? How could a mere outsider martial artist condense a boundless divine ability? Could the outside world be spreading false rumors?"
Elder Liu could hardly believe what the disciple was saying.
A boundless divine ability! That was a boundless divine ability! As a Holy Land martial artist, Elder Liu understood all too well what that signified. The sacred ground possessed an ancient heritage that had produced countless dazzling talents. Yet among all those prodigies, anyone who managed to condense a boundless divine ability was undeniably one of the greatest figures in the sacred ground's entire history! Without a doubt! Condensing a boundless divine ability meant talent on a historical scale.
Elder Liu knew Lu Changsheng was probably famous outside, perhaps even a regional hegemon. But never could he have imagined that Lu Changsheng was so brilliant as to condense boundless divine abilities. He even doubted whether the rumors had been exaggerated.
Yet the mountain-guarding disciple said nothing further. No matter how distorted rumors became, news regarding something like a boundless divine ability would never be fabricated lightly.
Elder Liu's face looked grim. He could only stare in the direction Lu Changsheng had departed, wondering whether a saint body forged from boundless divine abilities could truly pass the titled elder assessment.
At this moment, even Elder Liu felt uncertain.
Lu Changsheng had no idea that Elder Liu's confidence had wavered. Following Elder Feng, he arrived at a stone tower.
The stone tower pierced high into the clouds, appearing grand and imposing.
Elder Feng said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Lu, this is the Tower of All Saints, where Martial Saints typically spar and exchange insights. The tower itself is a supreme magic treasure that even a Heavenly Saint cannot destroy. Within the Tower of All Saints, you only need to pass the assessment to become a titled elder of Tianhe Sacred Ground!"
Lu Changsheng nodded. "How many Martial Saints must I face?"
"The assessment for an ordinary elder requires facing ten Martial Saints. For a vice hall master, thirty Martial Saints. And for a titled elder... one hundred and eight Martial Saints!"
Elder Feng's words caused Lu Changsheng's pupils to narrow sharply.
"One hundred and eight Martial Saints?"
Lu Changsheng felt a jolt in his heart. Compared to ten or thirty, one hundred and eight was truly a qualitative leap—the difficulty was magnified unimaginably.
"Yes, one hundred and eight Martial Saints. Inside the Tower of All Saints, one can concede. However, if you apply for titled elder, their combined strike may kill you before you even have time to utter a surrender. That is why the mortality rate for the titled elder assessment is so high. Failure almost invariably means death.
"It is not too late to back out now. Within the Tower of All Saints, the Martial Saints can pool their power, acting as a single entity! Their united strike holds earth-shattering might. If you give up now, you still have time."
Elder Feng remained pessimistic about Lu Changsheng's chances. He had made it abundantly clear: once Lu Changsheng stepped into the tower, he truly might perish. With the tower's unique environment, the Martial Saints could link their power as one. How terrifying was such might? Even for the ordinary elder test, where the power of ten Martial Saints was combined, passing was exceedingly difficult, let alone facing one hundred and eight.
"I appreciate your concern, Elder Feng, but I will proceed with the titled elder assessment."
With that, Lu Changsheng strode directly into the Tower of All Saints.
A look of surprise flashed through Elder Feng's eyes.
"He has courage, and immense confidence to boot. Let us see where that confidence comes from."
Elder Feng stepped into the tower right after him.
A hum resonated as Lu Changsheng entered. His vision instantly went dark, as though he had stepped into another dimension.
Lu Changsheng knew this was the internal space of the Tower of All Saints. As a terrifying magic treasure, it was only natural that it contained its own pocket worlds. He remained calm, waiting patiently. He knew that since an assessment was taking place, those one hundred and eight Martial Saints would surely appear.
While Lu Changsheng waited, Elder Feng traversed the spaces of the tower, manipulating the artifact slightly to broadcast a message to each realm within.
"Fellow Martial Saints, someone has applied for the titled elder assessment. All one hundred and eight Martial Saints, take your positions immediately!"
The voice swiftly reverberated across the entire Tower of All Saints.
The tower contained many distinct spaces, with each Martial Saint dwelling in their own realm. Hearing Elder Feng's voice, the Martial Saints inside were taken aback.
"It's Elder Feng! Someone actually applied for the titled elder assessment? Are they seeking death?"
"After so many years, someone is finally trying again? How rare."
"We must see who it is! To have the courage to apply—they'll have to face the combined strike of all one hundred and eight of us!"
Responses echoed throughout the tower as one Martial Saint after another moved into place.
Elder Feng waited quietly. One hundred and eight Martial Saints was no small number; in fact, it was staggering. Consider other factions beyond the sacred ground: a city having three to five Martial Saints was already respectable, and even stronger cities barely maintained around ten. Yet Tianhe Sacred Ground could easily assemble one hundred and eight just within the Tower of All Saints.
What was heritage? This was the heritage of a sacred ground! The total number of Martial Saints in Tianhe Sacred Ground likely far exceeded a hundred. That was precisely why the sacred ground's momentum of all living beings was so immense. With so many Martial Saints, how could it not be?
As each Martial Saint took position, the full count of one hundred and eight was finally assembled. All one hundred and eight manifested in the space, with Elder Feng standing high at the center of the formation.
"The usual rules apply. Once we strike, release your saint bodies with full power. Follow my lead for an instant kill!"
Elder Feng showed no restraint. Once they moved, it had to be an all-out strike!
The Martial Saints nodded in unison. Though a long time had passed since they last struck together, Martial Saints could live for three thousand years. Those present were largely the same ones as before, save for a rare few who had perished when their lifespans expired.
"I wonder which Martial Saint it is this time?"
The one hundred and eight Martial Saints felt a surge of anticipation.
"Strike!" Elder Feng bellowed.
Instantly, across the void, all one hundred and eight Martial Saints unleashed their saint bodies.
Rumble!
Lu Changsheng felt the surrounding space roar violently. The previously pitch-black void lit up in an instant, and waves of berserk energy washed over him. Looking up, he saw saint bodies emerging in every direction, each representing a Martial Saint. At a glance, there were over a hundred—evidently the full complement of one hundred and eight!
The moment they attacked, they manifested their saint bodies, going all out purely to deliver this single strike. Under the mysterious power of the Tower of All Saints, the one hundred and eight saint bodies even showed faint signs of fusing, their collective strength converging into a unified force.
Of course, this was not a true fusion; had it been, their power would have multiplied beyond measure. For now, the tower's power merely layered the strength of the one hundred and eight Martial Saints together, forcefully binding them. While the might surged drastically, it was not completely exaggerated.
Even so, faced with the full-power strike of one hundred and eight Martial Saints, even the most exceptional Martial Saint would likely be reduced to ashes.
Lu Changsheng's eyes turned cold. Taking a deep breath, he braced himself.
Boom!
A thunderous resonance erupted within him. The Chaos Saint Body stepped directly out of Lu Changsheng's physical form, standing tall across the void. A towering figure a full hundred zhang tall, it exuded a terrifying aura like a true primordial fiendgod.
Simultaneously, Lu Changsheng's Chaos Saint Body thrust a palm forward.
That palm was earth-shattering. The gigantic hand blotted out the sky, seemingly blending the power of three divine abilities into one: the Five Elements Decomposition divine ability, the Spiritual Black Hole divine ability, and the Four Symbols Prison divine ability.
The power of all three divine abilities merged seamlessly. Under the amplification of the Chaos Saint Body, they were boosted not by tens of times, nor even a hundred times, but by three hundred times!
Three divine abilities, amplified three hundredfold.
How terrifying was such power?
Lu Changsheng had never believed that anyone at the Human Saint level could rival his saint body. And now, going all out, he displayed his Chaos Saint Body before others for the first time.
With just a single palm strike, the entire Tower of All Saints seemed to tremble.
Seeing Lu Changsheng unleash the Chaos Saint Body and watching that earth-shattering palm descend, the one hundred and eight Martial Saints wore expressions of sheer disbelief.
"What?"
"This palm... this power... this saint body..."
"What kind of saint body is this? The moment it appeared, why did I feel such horrifying pressure?"
"Even our Tianhe Sacred Ground seems to have no record of such a saint body..."
All one hundred and eight Martial Saints were utterly shaken, unable to believe their eyes. Never had they witnessed such a formidable saint body.
Lu Changsheng's palm collided squarely with the combined punch launched by the one hundred and eight saint bodies. It was an absolute head-on clash, devoid of trickery, pitting raw divine ability power against raw power.
Yet the unified strike of the one hundred and eight Martial Saints, which had proven invincible in the past, collapsed into ruin in that instant. Beneath Lu Changsheng's palm, the saint bodies of the one hundred and eight Martial Saints crumbled.
Yes—they crumbled.
How terrifying was the Five Elements Decomposition divine ability amplified three hundred times? Anything composed of five elements power could not escape being decomposed. And among the one hundred and eight Martial Saints, the vast majority possessed saint bodies connected in some way to the five elements. Thus, Lu Changsheng's palm swept through like snapping dry twigs, annihilating the combined strike inch by inch. Numerous Martial Saints saw their saint bodies shatter completely.
"We lost! We lost!"
"One palm... with just a single palm, we were defeated!"
"Who is this person? How can his saint body be so powerful? The combined all-out strike of all one hundred and eight of us couldn't withstand a single palm!"
"I even feel like he didn't use his full strength. If this were outside, our strike would have failed, and we would all be dead!"
"No doubt about it—we would have died. A single strike to destroy a hundred saints!"
The one hundred and eight Martial Saints were stricken with terror. It was only because they were inside the Tower of All Saints that they were protected. The moment their defeat became certain, the tower's power intervened to shield them. After all, they were Martial Saints of the sacred ground; while challengers taking the assessment could die, they could not.
Yet outside the tower, even if they had a way to combine their might, they would have perished without question. The mere thought was mind-boggling.
A single strike to destroy a hundred saints!
That was not the slightest exaggeration.
Lu Changsheng also halted. Withdrawing his saint body, he stood quietly in the space with his hands clasped behind his back.
His palm strike had indeed swept aside all resistance. It seemed no Martial Saint could withstand it, not even one hundred and eight together. Only at the very last moment had a mysterious force blocked it—a force Lu Changsheng could sense belonged to the Tower of All Saints.
Once the tower's power intervened, it meant the victor had been decided. The titled elder assessment was over!
Whoosh.
With a flash, Lu Changsheng was transported out of the tower.
At the same time, Elder Feng, who had been displaced a step earlier, appeared before him.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on passing the assessment! To annihilate a hundred saints in a single strike—truly boundless divine might!"
Elder Feng took a deep breath, his eyes fixed firmly on Lu Changsheng.
Never could he have imagined that a Martial Saint at the Human Saint level could deliver such a terrifying blow. Elder Feng now realized that Lu Changsheng's identity outside the sacred ground had to be extraordinary.
More than anything, he wanted to know: who in the world was this Lu Changsheng?
Chapter 238