Lu Changsheng Has Arrived, Everything Is in Hand!

Lu Changsheng had finally entered Tianhe Sacred Ground and become a titled elder. In Tianhe Sacred Ground, a titled elder was no ordinary position. It was practically the highest status an outside Martial Saint could attain. Once he was granted his identity token and assigned a cave dwelling, Lu Changsheng entered its secluded chamber and immediately attempted to cultivate his saint body. Lu Changsheng called up his attribute panel. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 551,000 (Praised for a Hundred Generations) Chaos Saint Body: Momentum of All Living Beings (1%) On the panel, his momentum of all living beings remained at 1%. It seemed as though no matter how much time passed, it stayed fixed at 1%. Yet now, the moment Lu Changsheng focused his senses— *Boom.* Momentum of all living beings! A boundless torrent of momentum surged over him in an instant. It was ten times, dozens of times, even a hundred times greater than what he had drawn upon back at Holy Land Heavenly Sect! Under the wash of such vast momentum, Lu Changsheng's Chaos Saint Body finally showed a stir of progress. He sensed it clearly: his Chaos Saint Body was advancing bit by bit. This was the first time Lu Changsheng had ever felt such an immense volume of the momentum of all living beings. He threw himself into his cultivation inside the chamber, completely oblivious to everything else. One month, two months, three months, four months, five months... In the blink of an eye, six months slipped by. For half a year, Lu Changsheng remained inside his cave dwelling without taking a single step outside. *Boom.* Suddenly, Lu Changsheng's body gave a gentle shudder. He felt that his Chaos Saint Body had finally gained another sliver of progress. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. He immediately brought up his attribute panel to inspect it. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 612,000 (Praised for a Hundred Generations) Chaos Saint Body: Momentum of All Living Beings (2%) Sure enough, just moments ago, his Chaos Saint Body had advanced from 1% to 2%. Lu Changsheng knew all too well what that signified. It meant that in half a year, his Chaos Saint Body had progressed by 1%. Extrapolating from this rate, reaching 100% would take six hundred months—almost exactly fifty years! Fifty years! To any ordinary cultivator, this duration was remarkably short. What was fifty years to a Martial Saint? A Martial Saint enjoyed a lifespan of three thousand years! A full three millennia! A mere fifty years was truly negligible. As long as Lu Changsheng followed this routine and cultivated steadily in Tianhe Sacred Ground, his Chaos Saint Body would attain 100% perfection after fifty years. When that time came, he could attempt a breakthrough to become an Earth Saint. Yet to Lu Changsheng, fifty years was simply too long. He was not even fifty years old yet, let alone willing to spend fifty years just to advance a single realm. It took too much time! *I still need to find a way to speed up my cultivation,* Lu Changsheng thought, furrowing his brows. He either had to increase the momentum of all living beings available to him, or find another method to enhance his cultivation efficiency. Neither option was easy. Lu Changsheng had no idea whether other methods to improve cultivation efficiency even existed. But to increase his share of the momentum of all living beings, there was only one path: raise his status within Tianhe Sacred Ground. Currently, his status was that of a titled elder. This was already the highest position Tianhe Sacred Ground offered to outside Martial Saints. However, if his influence grew large enough, it could indirectly elevate his standing. "Influence..." Lu Changsheng murmured softly. Ever since arriving at Tianhe Sacred Ground, he had not once walked about. He had spent the entire time in closed-door cultivation, knowing virtually nothing of the sacred ground's internal affairs. Under such circumstances, how was he supposed to build influence? With that in mind, Lu Changsheng rose and left his cave dwelling. He spent a few days roaming through Tianhe Sacred Ground, grasping the general situation. Before Lu Changsheng could devise a plan to expand his influence, however, a message arrived through his transmission stone. "Elder Boundless, please proceed to the grand hall at once to discuss matters." A message had surfaced on the transmission stone. Lu Changsheng was "Elder Boundless." Since he was a titled elder, his given title was "Boundless." The outside world called him the Boundless Martial Saint, or Elder Boundless. Naturally, some simply addressed him as Saint Lu. It made no difference to him; Lu Changsheng was never one to fuss over titles. Still, having arrived at Tianhe Sacred Ground only half a year ago, being summoned to the grand hall for a council seemed somewhat unusual. After all, the sender was none other than the Sect Master of Tianhe Sacred Ground! Lu Changsheng did not hesitate. Though he did not know what had occurred, he would find out once he reached the hall. Transforming into a streak of light, Lu Changsheng flew swiftly toward the Tianhe Grand Hall. Before long, he arrived outside. Other streaks of light descended one after another before the entrance—hall masters of various halls and elders, representing the true core of Tianhe Sacred Ground. "Greetings, Elder Boundless." "I heard long ago that our Tianhe Sacred Ground had gained a new titled elder, but never had the fortune to meet you. Today, I finally do." "Elder Boundless is indeed dignified and extraordinary in presence." Upon spotting Lu Changsheng, the hall masters and elders lit up with interest. They greeted him warmly and amiably, acting as though they were old acquaintances. In truth, this was the first time Lu Changsheng had met any of them. He did not even know their names. Still, he could feel their genuine goodwill. Over the past few days, Lu Changsheng had gained an understanding of the environment in Tianhe Sacred Ground. Outside Martial Saints typically formed a marginalized circle. No matter how much they accomplished or how long they stayed, outside Martial Saints never quite blended in with the homegrown Martial Saints of the sacred ground, remaining permanently detached from the inner core. This was only natural. Outside Martial Saints felt no inherent sense of belonging toward Tianhe Sacred Ground; both sides merely took what they needed. The sacred ground provided momentum for their cultivation, and in return, the outside Martial Saints used their strength to handle matters for the sacred ground. These people certainly would not be this friendly toward other outside Martial Saints. Yet Lu Changsheng was different. The reason was simple: Lu Changsheng had condensed a boundless divine ability! Furthermore, he was a Martial Saint whose very foundation rested upon a boundless divine ability! The elders and hall masters of the sacred ground held their heads high and looked down on ordinary outsiders, but they felt heartfelt admiration for a warrior capable of condensing a boundless divine ability. Even within a sacred ground, such geniuses did not appear in every era. In the entire history of the sacred ground, fewer than ten individuals had ever formed a boundless divine ability. Every single one had been dazzlingly brilliant, possessing the talent of a Heavenly Saint! "Do you know what this assembly is about?" Lu Changsheng inquired. "We do not know either." "Once we enter the hall, all will be clear." "Elder Boundless, after you." Lu Changsheng nodded and walked into the Tianhe Grand Hall alongside the elders. Inside, numerous elders and hall masters gathered in a crowded assembly. Seated at the head was the Sect Master of Tianhe Sacred Ground. This was Lu Changsheng's first time seeing the Sect Master. Yet the Sect Master seemed quite familiar with him. Upon seeing Lu Changsheng enter, he smiled and said, "Elder Boundless, as a titled elder of Tianhe Sacred Ground, please take the third seat on the left." Lu Changsheng glanced over. The third seat on the left was an exceptionally elevated position. Seating within the Tianhe Grand Hall followed strict propriety; the closer to the front, the higher the status. Without hesitation, Lu Changsheng took his seat. Soon, the two seats ahead of him were filled as well. Dozens of Martial Saints sat inside the grand hall—all of them top-tier Martial Saints, far beyond ordinary ones from the outside world. The Sect Master swept his gaze across the gathering and spoke: "Everyone, the decennial Sacred Ground Exchange Assembly is about to begin. This time, it will be held at Qingshan Sacred Ground. As in previous assemblies, disciples from the various sacred grounds will compete and spar. Last time, the ranking of our disciples was rather poor, costing us face. Therefore, this time we must dispatch our strongest disciples to secure a better placement. Which elder is willing to lead the team to Qingshan Sacred Ground?" The Sect Master's words caused the elders' expressions to shift slightly. The Sacred Ground Exchange Assembly! Especially at Qingshan Sacred Ground—this was by no means an enjoyable errand. Relations between Qingshan Sacred Ground and Tianhe Sacred Ground were far from harmonious, marred by many ancient grudges. Leading a team there meant the hosts would not dare strike at Tianhe's representatives directly, but making things difficult for them was another story. If provoked, they might easily lose face. Moreover, Tianhe Sacred Ground's disciples consistently performed poorly; escorting them to the assembly was almost guaranteed to end in embarrassment. No one wanted to lose face. Thus, after the Sect Master finished speaking, dead silence settled over the grand hall. Not a single person answered. For a moment, the atmosphere seemed frozen. No one stepped forward. Not a single one. Awkwardness crept across the faces of the crowd. The Sect Master's expression darkened, and he said coldly, "What, no one is willing to step forward? No one wants to lead the team to Qingshan Sacred Ground?" The elders remained silent. Lu Changsheng looked at the Sect Master, then back at the elders. Suddenly, he understood why the Sect Master had summoned him. It turned out he had been called in precisely for this sort of task. Then again, it made sense. As an outside Martial Saint—even a titled elder—wasn't his purpose to handle chores the sacred ground's native cultivators were unwilling to do? Lu Changsheng recalled that accepting the position of titled elder came with obligations. For instance, the sacred ground could call upon a titled elder to perform one task per year. After all, one could not share in the sacred ground's momentum of all living beings for free. "I will go," Lu Changsheng spoke up suddenly. Going this time and handling the affair properly would likely ensure Tianhe Sacred Ground did not disturb him again anytime soon. In theory, they could call on him once a year, but in practice, if he did a good job, he could probably enjoy peace for several years. "Oh? Elder Boundless is willing to lead the team to Qingshan?" The Sect Master turned his gaze toward Lu Changsheng. The eyes of the hall masters and elders lit up as well. Lu Changsheng's strength was beyond doubt. Having become a titled elder, among Human Saints, likely not a single Martial Saint in all of Tianhe Sacred Ground could best him. If he led the expedition to Qingshan Sacred Ground, no matter what trouble arose, nothing disastrous would happen, and the disciples' safety would be guaranteed. "Indeed. I have nothing urgent at hand, so I might as well attend the assembly and witness the bearing of the various sacred grounds' disciples," Lu Changsheng said calmly. The Sect Master nodded. When he sent the transmission, he had indeed intended for Lu Changsheng to lead the team. It seemed Lu Changsheng had grasped his intention. Offering to go voluntarily spared the Sect Master the awkwardness of assigning someone directly. "Good. Elder Boundless shall lead the team. Furthermore, we will assign three Martial Saints to accompany Elder Boundless and guide the disciples to Qingshan Sacred Ground together." This time, the Sect Master directly named individuals. The three Martial Saints chosen did not mind much. After all, there was already a head leader: Lu Changsheng. They were merely assisting him; if face was lost, the disgrace would fall on Lu Changsheng. "Sect Master, when do we depart?" Lu Changsheng asked. "In one month. During this month, we will screen and select the most outstanding disciples of Tianhe Sacred Ground," the Sect Master arranged. Lu Changsheng nodded. Afterward, everyone departed the grand hall, bringing the assembly to a close. Lu Changsheng returned to his cave dwelling. One month was far too brief to advance his saint body significantly, so he decided to observe the selection of the disciples instead. The so-called screening was ultimately a tournament. A grand tournament was held across all of Tianhe Sacred Ground. Aside from those in closed-door cultivation, every disciple was required to participate. As a titled elder, Lu Changsheng held an exalted status, meaning he did not need to step into the ring. Instead, he became a spectator. At times, the Martial Saints presiding over the bouts would even invite Lu Changsheng to offer a few remarks. Initially, some disciples did not know who he was. But once they learned his identity, all arrogance vanished, replaced by profound respect for his feedback. After all, the guidance of a titled elder who had condensed a boundless divine ability carried far more weight than that of most Martial Saints! "Elder Boundless's insights are so sharp—he hits the crux of the issue in a single remark." "Indeed. After all, Elder Boundless is a titled elder. His assessment required defeating over a hundred Martial Saints in the Tower of All Saints." "Rumor has it that the one hundred and eight Martial Saints merged into one through the tower's power, yet Elder Boundless shattered them with a single blow! Annihilating a hundred saints with one palm strike—how terrifying, how magnificent!" "One strike to defeat a hundred saints... Just imagining it fills one with awe!" No matter how proud the disciples of Tianhe Sacred Ground were, facing Lu Changsheng, they could muster no arrogance, only reverence. Condensing a boundless divine ability! Annihilating a hundred saints in a single strike! Not a single disciple dared claim they could ever match such feats. Thus, every disciple humbly took his guidance to heart. In just one month, Lu Changsheng's prestige surged among the disciples of Tianhe Sacred Ground. As his reputation soared among the disciples, his influence expanded rapidly. Lu Changsheng keenly noticed that his share of the momentum of all living beings had grown again. *As expected, expanding my influence allows me to share more of Tianhe Sacred Ground's momentum of all living beings. If I lead the disciples to Qingshan Sacred Ground and achieve a top placement, my influence will climb even higher, granting me still more momentum. Perhaps advancing my saint body by one percent won't require six months—it might take only five, four, or even three months.* A sharp light flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes. This was excellent news! With greater influence, his cultivation speed would accelerate accordingly. Over the course of that month, Tianhe Sacred Ground finally finished selecting its representatives—a total of fifty disciples, the cream of the crop, to be led by Lu Changsheng to Qingshan Sacred Ground. At last, departure day arrived. Tianhe Sacred Ground prepared a flying boat magic treasure for the journey, powered by spirit stones. They also assigned three Martial Saint assistants to Lu Changsheng: Elder Feng, Elder Yun, and Elder Xia. All three stated that during this trip to Qingshan Sacred Ground, they would follow Lu Changsheng's commands and arrangements in all matters. Seeing how sensible the three elders were, Lu Changsheng nodded. The flying boat then activated, transforming into a streak of light that vanished beyond the horizon. The fifty disciples were thrilled to participate in the exchange assembly at Qingshan Sacred Ground; after all, it was a rare opportunity to broaden their horizons. To Lu Changsheng, however, the burden was much heavier: he had to ensure the safety of all fifty disciples. Fortunately, nothing went awry along the way. Fifty Divine Ability realm cultivators accompanied by four Martial Saints formed a lineup that ordinary powers dared not provoke. Moreover, they represented Tianhe Sacred Ground; what faction would dare court disaster by crossing them? The only drawback was the distance. Even at the speed of the flying boat, the journey from Tianhe Sacred Ground to Qingshan Sacred Ground took three full months. After three months, they finally arrived. "We've finally reached Qingshan Sacred Ground!" Lu Changsheng brought the flying boat down and led the group toward the entrance. "May I ask if you are the disciples and Martial Saints of Tianhe Sacred Ground?" A Martial Saint dispatched by Qingshan Sacred Ground stepped forward to receive them. His gaze swept over the group, coming to rest on Lu Changsheng, who was clearly the leader. "You look unfamiliar, fellow Daoist. May I ask your name?" the Qingshan Martial Saint inquired. "Tianhe Sacred Ground, Lu Changsheng," Lu Changsheng replied calmly. "Lu Changsheng?" The Qingshan Martial Saint frowned slightly. The name sounded somewhat familiar, yet as he searched his memory, no Martial Saint named Lu Changsheng came to mind from Tianhe Sacred Ground. Could he be a newly ascended Martial Saint from recent years? But how could a newcomer be chosen to lead the delegation to the Sacred Ground Exchange Assembly? At that moment, Elder Feng stepped forward and said, "Saint Lu is also our Tianhe Sacred Ground's titled elder—Elder Boundless!" Hearing Elder Feng's explanation, the Qingshan Martial Saint understood immediately. A titled elder! That was a title of immense weight. Those who became titled elders in Tianhe Sacred Ground were outside Martial Saints, yet the trial to earn that title was notoriously brutal. To think an outside Martial Saint had actually passed Tianhe Sacred Ground's titled elder trial! "Saint Lu, please enter through the mountain gate," the Qingshan Martial Saint said respectfully. Even though Qingshan Sacred Ground and Tianhe Sacred Ground engaged in open and covert rivalries, he would not make trouble over standard etiquette. "Let us head inside first," Lu Changsheng said. He promptly led the group into Qingshan Sacred Ground and settled them into the cave dwellings arranged by their hosts. However, the Qingshan Martial Saint remained preoccupied with this new titled elder. "Investigate! Check into Tianhe Sacred Ground's titled elder, Lu Changsheng, at once. Find out where he came from to earn such a position..." Qingshan Sacred Ground immediately launched an inquiry into Lu Changsheng's background. Before long, they uncovered his various deeds and intelligence. None of this was confidential; Lu Changsheng's name had already spread far and wide across the Holy Land. It was only because the sacred grounds sat high above the worldly plane, paying little attention to external events, that they had failed to recognize him immediately, merely finding his name familiar. "We found it." "Lu Changsheng condensed a boundless divine ability and once slew a Martial Saint while still in the Divine Ability realm!" "Later, using his boundless divine ability as a foundation, he forged a saint body and ascended to Martial Saint!" "Furthermore, when taking Tianhe Sacred Ground's Martial Saint assessment for the titled elder rank, he faced one hundred and eight Martial Saints in the Tower of All Saints and destroyed a hundred saints in a single strike!" "Now, Tianhe Sacred Ground already views him as the undisputed number one among Human Saints!" Qingshan Sacred Ground gathered a substantial amount of information on Lu Changsheng, but these were the crucial points. *Hiss.* The Martial Saints of Qingshan Sacred Ground drew in sharp breaths as they read the reports. As sacred ground cultivators, they were haughty and looked down on outsiders. Yet Lu Changsheng was an exception. Condensing a boundless divine ability! Annihilating a hundred saints in a single blow! Those hundred saints were from Tianhe Sacred Ground. Even if Qingshan Sacred Ground disliked Tianhe, they had to acknowledge that Tianhe's Martial Saints were every bit as formidable as their own. If Lu Changsheng could wipe out a hundred saints of Tianhe in one blow, he could do the exact same to Qingshan! "Unbelievable. Aside from the sacred grounds, could such a monstrous genius truly emerge from the outer Holy Land?" "According to the intelligence, Lu Changsheng truly rose step by step from the ranks of the weak. In fact, he wasn't even from the Holy Land originally, but hailed from a remote, desolate Ancient Region..." "I truly wish to spar with him and see just how formidable his saint body is." Many Qingshan Martial Saints felt an itch to test him. A saint body forged on the foundation of a boundless divine ability was something rare even within Qingshan Sacred Ground over a thousand years. At least in the current generation, no one in Qingshan Sacred Ground had condensed a boundless divine ability, let alone forged a saint body from one. "Everyone, this exchange assembly is being held in our Qingshan Sacred Ground, so nothing must go wrong," the Sect Master of Qingshan Sacred Ground said, his sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered Martial Saints. "We have old grudges with Tianhe Sacred Ground, but this time, none of you are to provoke them—and above all, do not provoke Lu Changsheng. Otherwise, if you are defeated by him, the only one losing face will be our Qingshan Sacred Ground." He was warning them not to stir up trouble with Lu Changsheng. Had Lu Changsheng possessed ordinary strength, they would not mind humiliating Tianhe Sacred Ground. But his might was immense—he could shatter a hundred saints in one blow. Provoking him would only bring shame upon Qingshan Sacred Ground. The Martial Saints nodded in agreement. They were not foolish enough to seek trouble with Lu Changsheng. *** Lu Changsheng remained unaware that Qingshan Sacred Ground had thoroughly investigated him. Once he settled the Tianhe disciples, he stayed in his cave dwelling, quietly waiting for the exchange assembly to begin. In contrast, Elder Feng and the other two elders frequently visited Martial Saints from other sacred grounds, likely renewing old acquaintances and friendships. Lu Changsheng had no such connections and knew no outside Martial Saints. In any case, his goal on this trip was simply to complete his mission. While Lu Changsheng kept to himself, many disciples could not sit still. They wandered all over Qingshan Sacred Ground to take in the sights, simultaneously gathering information about the top Divine Ability realm cultivators from each sacred ground. In this assembly, the sparring matches were restricted to Divine Ability disciples. The subtle rivalries among the various sacred grounds had already begun the moment their disciples arrived. They gathered information on the foremost disciples of each sacred ground and even compiled a so-called Sacred Ground Disciple Ranking. While it was merely an informal reference that carried no official weight, this very ranking infuriated the disciples of Tianhe Sacred Ground. The ranking listed fifty individuals in total. Yet among those fifty, not a single Tianhe disciple made the top twenty! Their highest-ranked representative was only placed twenty-fifth! "Where did this bullshit ranking come from? It's complete nonsense!" "Does our Tianhe Sacred Ground not have a single disciple worthy of the top twenty?" "This list was first circulated by Great Snow Mountain Sacred Ground. It was definitely drafted by their people!" "Exactly! Look at the top twenty—disciples of Great Snow Mountain take up seven spots!" The Tianhe disciples were filled with indignation. Yet the disciples of Great Snow Mountain Sacred Ground had their justifications: in the past few exchange assemblies, Tianhe's disciples had performed abysmally; calling it an utter rout was already being generous. It was only natural that the compilers paid little regard to Tianhe. Over this ranking, the disciples of the two sacred grounds ended up trading blows. Before the exchange assembly even officially began, a conflict broke out between Great Snow Mountain and Tianhe. Though it began as a clash of youthful pride, it soon alerted the Martial Saint elders of both sides. "Who dares harm the disciples of my Great Snow Mountain?" "Old Ghost Xue, your disciples were ruthless toward our Tianhe disciples, ganging up on them in a mob! Is this old man not even permitted to injure a few troublemakers?" "Feng Tianxing, bullying the young—you truly have no shame! Why don't the two of us have a go? Back in the Divine Ability realm, you were already defeated by my hand. Did you really think becoming a Martial Saint would make you my match?" "Old Ghost Xue, do you think I fear you?" Elder Feng's face turned livid, infuriated by Elder Xue of Great Snow Mountain Sacred Ground. Both were Martial Saints and old acquaintances, yet Martial Saint Xue was utterly intolerable, deliberately poking at old wounds. The two came to blows. But the moment they clashed, Elder Feng was suppressed, suffering a crushing defeat! Elder Feng stood with an ashen face. "Feng Tianxing, I already told you: you couldn't beat me in the Divine Ability realm, and even as a Martial Saint, you're still no match for me," Elder Xue said, standing with his hands behind his back and looking down at Elder Feng. The disciples of Great Snow Mountain cheered with high morale. In contrast, the disciples of Tianhe Sacred Ground hung their heads in dejection. Unwilling as they were, what could they do? Even their Martial Saint elder had been bested... "Old Ghost Xue, do you truly think Tianhe Sacred Ground has no one left?" Elder Feng snapped, rising abruptly. In the distance, he spotted a familiar figure approaching. Lu Changsheng! Lu Changsheng had arrived! At that moment, an intense surge of excitement rushed through Elder Feng, causing him to completely forget that Lu Changsheng was an "outside Martial Saint." Right now, Lu Changsheng represented Tianhe Sacred Ground! Elder Feng was brimming with confidence. Now that Lu Changsheng was here, everything was in hand!