"An auction in one month."
A thoughtful look appeared in Lu Changsheng's eyes.
First, he visited a place that handled sales and rentals of cave dwellings, purchasing one with spirit stones.
In Saint Star City, ordinary folk lived in houses or estates, while those with status and standing resided in cave dwellings. Spirit stones were all one needed to buy one.
Before long, Lu Changsheng had settled into his new cave dwelling.
Sitting cross-legged, he carefully reviewed everything he had heard and seen at the Secret World Tower that day.
"The Secret World Tower claimed unowned secret worlds are hard to come by nowadays, so much so that they must be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
"That is only their side of the story, and it contradicts what the founding ancestor of Tianhe Sacred Ground said. I must investigate thoroughly to be sure."
Lu Changsheng was not one to accept the Secret World Tower's words blindly, even given their sterling reputation.
Leaving his cave dwelling, he discreetly asked around the city over the following days.
In truth, none of this was a closely guarded secret. Many people across the Saint Domain knew about secret worlds, so Lu Changsheng was easily able to glean clear answers.
Secret worlds were actually quite numerous. A great mighty figure had once remarked that they were as countless as the sands of the Ganges. Even though only a negligible fraction ever came close enough to touch the Immortal Martial World, that fraction was still substantial.
However, while secret worlds were plentiful, there were far too many Earth Saints. Year after year, day after day, their numbers swelled, inevitably sparking fierce competition among them. Thus, in recent years, the coordinates to an unowned secret world had indeed grown exceptionally precious.
It seemed the Secret World Tower had not deceived him after all.
To secure an unowned secret world, competing in an auction was indeed the only way.
With that in mind, Lu Changsheng returned to his cave dwelling.
"According to the Secret World Tower, only deity fragments or martial dao fragments can be used to bid on secret world coordinates.
"Martial dao fragments are out of the question—I definitely have none. As for deity fragments, they can basically only be obtained within the Divine Domain.
"Many Earth Saints and powerful factions groom top-tier Human Saints one after another solely to send them into the Divine Domain to seize deity fragments.
"In the Saint Domain, virtually every top-tier Human Saint must make a trip to the Divine Domain unless they possess an exceptionally formidable background..."
A chill ran through Lu Changsheng's heart.
The Saint Domain was indeed the heart of the martial path, boasting far greater martial prosperity than the Holy Land. Yet here, Human Saints were treated purely as tools—high-grade tools at best.
Deity fragments were hard currency. To amass more of them, countless factions bred Human Saints into disposable instruments, and most met tragic ends.
By contrast, Human Saints in the Holy Land enjoyed lofty status and faced far fewer hazards than their peers in the Saint Domain. Some factions here even specialized in capturing Human Saints and controlling them to force them into the Divine Domain.
"I only have a dozen or so deity fragments. That would be plenty under normal circumstances, but at an auction, having so few will likely not be enough to secure an unowned secret world..."
Lu Changsheng understood the reality well. Once coordinates for a secret world went up for auction, they were certain to fetch an astronomical price. A dozen or so deity fragments would never suffice.
Yet he was determined to claim those coordinates at all costs!
"Deity fragments..."
Lu Changsheng let out a long sigh.
Had he known, he would have lingered in the Divine Domain a while longer to gather more. Of course, thinking about it now was pointless; he could not return. The Divine Domain barred anyone above the rank of Human Saint from entering, and now that he was an Earth Saint, passing through was impossible.
Perhaps the ancient mighty figures had anticipated the bloodshed deity fragments would provoke, which was why they set a cultivation ceiling upon the arrays safeguarding the Divine Domain. In truth, this design allowed the Divine Domain to foster a sustainable, endless cycle of deities, ensuring a steady harvest of deity fragments. Otherwise, had Earth Saints or even Heavenly Saints intervened, the Divine Domain would long since have been shattered to pieces.
"If I fail to win the coordinates at auction, I might have no choice but to take them by force..."
Lu Changsheng's eyes turned cold.
Having clawed his way up from a weak, insignificant martial artist to where he stood today, he was hardly a pedantic moralist. An unowned secret world was vital to his cultivation, and he would secure its coordinates by any means necessary!
Days slipped by.
Lu Changsheng strolled through Saint Star City every day, searching for ways to acquire deity fragments. Unfortunately, they were simply too scarce, and the Divine Domain remained virtually the only source. Even if an innate deity suddenly manifested somewhere, nearby Earth Saints would have rushed to obliterate it long before Lu Changsheng could ever get a chance.
In the blink of an eye, over twenty days had passed, and nearly a month was up. The Secret World Tower's auction drew closer by the day.
"Hm?"
"I've been wandering the city all this time, yet several gazes have lingered on me on and off. Though they hid their presence well, my senses still caught onto them after so many days. Someone has marked me as a target?
"Could they be marauder cultivators?"
Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly.
His face remained serene, but thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind.
Marauder cultivators!
They were ruthless individuals who preyed on martial artists or immortal cultivators, killing them to loot their treasures. Marauder cultivators existed across every realm of cultivation—even Earth Saints were no exception.
Lu Changsheng was a fresh face in Saint Star City, and he had visited the Secret World Tower. Anyone walking straight into the tower was bound to possess deity fragments, making him an easy mark for marauders. However, Saint Star City was overseen by a Heavenly Saint expert, so none dared make a move within city bounds; instead, they kept him under constant surveillance.
"Marauder cultivators... Those eyeing me are most likely Earth Saints. As for Heavenly Saints, what need would they have to become marauders?
"Once they strike, there will certainly be more than one Earth Saint.
"Still, so what if there's more than one? With over a dozen heaven-and-earth powers accompanying me, and my Earth Saint Dao body forged from the Chaos Saint Body, I can crush the Dao body of any ordinary Earth Saint.
"Just as I was worrying about where to find deity fragments, the opportunity delivers itself to my door..."
Lu Changsheng was by no means ignorant of an Earth Saint's prowess. During his time in Saint Star City, he had gathered ample knowledge. The true measure of an Earth Saint lay primarily in their Earth Saint Dao body, and his was powerful enough to overwhelm any ordinary peer.
Of course, there was another category of Earth Saints—those whose Dao bodies had refined martial dao fragments yet failed to ascend to Heavenly Saint. Such individuals possessed terrifying might. Even so, Lu Changsheng had nothing to fear; his Earth Saint Dao body was overwhelmingly robust. Even against an opponent who had refined martial dao fragments, he would hold his ground.
Realizing marauders had targeted him, Lu Changsheng felt delighted rather than alarmed. He could simply turn their trap against them.
"Since you've set your sights on me but haven't found an opening, I'll provide one for you.
"I just hope you aren't too penniless..."
With a flicker of resolve, Lu Changsheng took a step forward and flew straight toward the outskirts of Saint Star City.
Watching him head outside the walls, several divine senses exchanged rapid messages: "Quick, the target appears to be leaving the city!"
"Execute the plan immediately."
"To guarantee success, mobilize ten Earth Saints and three Deity Transformations!"
The exchange took only an instant. Soon, thirteen figures darted out toward the outskirts in swift pursuit.
*Whoosh.*
Lu Changsheng exited Saint Star City. He maintained a speed only slightly faster than an average Earth Saint as he put distance between himself and the walls, worried that flying too swiftly might cause his pursuers to lose his trail.
After traveling several thousand li...
*Hum.*
Lu Changsheng abruptly ground to a halt.
The surrounding void had suddenly been sealed off on all sides.
"An array?"
Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
His pursuers had actually deployed an array, and one at the Deity Transformation level at that. This meant the marauders were not merely Earth Saints—they included Deity Transformation cultivators as well!
"Suppress!"
An unfamiliar voice echoed from the void.
Immediately afterward, figures materialized one after another, instantly manifesting their Earth Saint Dao bodies upon arrival. The fearsome Dao bodies bore down heavily upon Lu Changsheng.
Without a single wasted word, they struck immediately, unleashing their full might right from the start to deny Lu Changsheng any room to breathe.
"Quite the grand lineup: ten Earth Saints and three Deity Transformations.
"A force like this is enough to suppress and slaughter any ordinary Earth Saint..."
Lu Changsheng immediately sensed all thirteen presences. The three Deity Transformation experts did not participate directly in the assault; instead, they controlled the array, completely isolating the pocket of space to prevent Lu Changsheng from shattering it and fleeing with a Great Shift Talisman.
The remaining ten Earth Saints served as the primary strike force. When it came to close-quarters combat, martial saints were the true masters. Their ten Earth Saint Dao bodies blotted out the sky, their combined auras merging into a stifling, suffocating pressure.
Such seamless coordination showed this was far from their first ambush.
"What a ruthless pack of marauders!"
Lu Changsheng's eyes turned frosty.
Confronted by the onslaught of ten Earth Saints, he stood motionless in the void, utterly devoid of fear. He had set out to fish, and seeing so many large fish bite, he felt deeply satisfied—and resolved not to hold back in the slightest.
He would strike with full force!
*Boom!*
Lu Changsheng unleashed his Earth Saint Dao body.
Standing ten thousand zhang tall, the colossal Dao body was enveloped in the power of thirteen distinct heaven-and-earth rules. The moment it appeared, thunderous rumbles shook heaven and earth, and the void twisted violently. A terrifying aura swept outward in all directions like a raging tempest.
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
Over a dozen arms seemed to sprout simultaneously from Lu Changsheng's Earth Saint Dao body, each radiating the power of a heaven-and-earth rule as they reached out toward the ten Earth Saints and three Deity Transformations.
"What?!"
Seeing Lu Changsheng advance rather than retreat, unleash his Earth Saint Dao body, and even have the spare strength to reach for the three Deity Transformations, the attackers were stunned.
He was taking on thirteen Earth Saints and Deity Transformations single-handedly!
How could this be possible?
Short of a Heavenly Saint, who possessed such power?
Moreover, the sight of thirteen rules swirling around him sent shockwaves through their hearts. Manifesting thirteen rules with every gesture meant he had likely refined thirteen heaven-and-earth origins. That defied all common martial knowledge! Who could draw upon thirteen heaven-and-earth origins, let alone refine them all? Could they be seeing an illusion?
They soon learned whether it was an illusion or not, for Lu Changsheng's massive hands collided head-on with their strikes.
*Rumble!*
Without any trickery, both sides clashed in direct, brute force.
Yet the outcome defied the ten Earth Saints' expectations. Their combined assault—ten Earth Saint Dao bodies crashing down like a sky-covering canopy—shattered like dry wood against Lu Changsheng's arms. His towering limbs smashed through their offensive with unstoppable momentum, slamming directly onto their Dao bodies.
*Crack!*
With a single grasp from Lu Changsheng's hands, their immense Earth Saint Dao bodies fractured and collapsed, as brittle as eggshells.
"Impossible..."
"How can an Earth Saint be this strong?!"
"The ten of us joined forces, yet we couldn't withstand a single strike from him?!"
The ten Earth Saints and three Deity Transformations turned pale with horror. They could scarcely believe their eyes. How could thirteen experts working together fail to withstand a single blow from a fellow Earth Saint? It defied all reason! The man before them had overpowered thirteen equals in one stroke—it was utterly inconceivable.
Lu Changsheng, however, felt no surprise.
These marauders only knew he was an Earth Saint and had prepared thoroughly by deploying thirteen peers. How could they possibly fathom the terrifying might of an Earth Saint Dao body forged jointly from a boundless divine ability, the Chaos Saint Body, and thirteen heaven-and-earth origins? Its power exceeded their wildest imaginations.
*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Lu Changsheng crushed the Dao bodies of the Earth Saints one by one, and the three Deity Transformations met the exact same fate. In fact, the very array they had erected became their own trap, cutting off their escape. They could only watch in despair as their saint bodies burst into mist. Once their saint bodies were obliterated, their remaining physical forms amounted to nothing.
"Mercy!"
Some of the Earth Saints begged for their lives.
Lu Changsheng did not bother to reply, snuffing them out with a single clench of his fist.
Moments later, stillness returned to the void.
Not a single trace of the ten Earth Saints or three Deity Transformations remained. All thirteen had perished, crushed to death by Lu Changsheng's bare hands. It seemed almost unbelievable, yet it was absolute reality.
"Collect."
Lu Changsheng gathered the spatial treasures belonging to all thirteen experts.
"Time to go."
Without lingering, he turned and flew straight back to Saint Star City.
Before long, Lu Changsheng was back inside his cave dwelling.
"To deploy ten Earth Saints and three Deity Transformations in one go, these marauders are clearly not simple. There must be a massive faction behind them.
"It seems I should stay inside Saint Star City for the time being."
Lu Changsheng reviewed the battle thoughtfully. Although the Earth Saints and Deity Transformations were numerous, they had posed no real threat to him; not a single one among them had refined a martial dao fragment, or they would never have fallen so easily. Still, it was not that Lu Changsheng feared Earth Saints who had refined martial dao fragments, but rather that there was no need to take needless risks. If the enemy sent seven or eight such individuals at once, they might indeed pose some danger.
"Let's see what treasures these Earth Saints and Deity Transformations had in their spatial belongings."
Full of anticipation, Lu Changsheng began unsealing their spatial treasures.
Scanning them thoroughly, he focused primarily on deity fragments.
"Hm?"
"This is... three deity fragments!"
"Here are five!"
"It seems these marauders have slaughtered quite a few victims to amass such wealth."
Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up.
Not a single one of these marauders was poor; each possessed considerable wealth. The poorest held three deity fragments, while most carried five. The richest among them had over a dozen, matching Lu Changsheng's own prior reserves. After all, they were Earth Saints engaged in lucrative, overnight plunder—how could their pockets be empty? They had likely been hoarding deity fragments to buy secret world coordinates in hopes of claiming martial dao fragments one day.
Now, all of it had fallen into Lu Changsheng's lap. Those who walked along the riverbank often were bound to get their shoes wet eventually, and Lu Changsheng gladly accepted their spoils.
A quick tally revealed a total of seventy-eight deity fragments across the thirteen spatial treasures, averaging six per person. Combined with the fourteen he originally possessed, his wealth surged to ninety-two deity fragments—nearly a hundred in total!
This was a tremendous fortune, a true windfall overnight.
"Ninety-two deity fragments should be enough to win an unowned secret world at auction!"
A sharp glint flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes.
With his pockets filled, bidding with everything he had should pose no problem. If he still failed, he would find another way, but settling the matter cleanly with deity fragments was naturally the ideal outcome.
And so, Lu Changsheng waited quietly.
Soon, the month was up.
Lu Changsheng headed straight to the Secret World Tower.
"Honored guest, please come inside."
A Martial Saint escorted Lu Changsheng into the auction hall.
Inside were numerous VIP rooms reserved exclusively for Earth Saints. Down in the main hall sat many Human Saints. This auction was certainly not limited to secret world coordinates; the secret world was the grand finale, saved for the very end. Before that, numerous other treasures coveted by Human Saints would be put on the block.
Lu Changsheng's sole target was the secret world. Therefore, when the auction commenced, he watched the proceedings purely as an appreciative spectator.
The auction indeed featured many exceptional items, offering immense benefits to Human Saints, and even included several magic treasures from the immortal path.
Time ticked away.
Finally, the auction arrived at the thirtieth lot—the final grand finale.
"Our final lot is the coordinates to an unowned secret world!
"According to the calculations of our secret world masters, this secret world has an energy level corresponding only to the Dao Foundation realm.
"As everyone knows, the lower a secret world's energy level, the easier it is to coalesce a martial dao, thereby yielding a far greater chance of securing a martial dao fragment.
"Every Earth Saint here must be determined to claim such a secret world, so I will speak no further. The starting bid is ten deity fragments!"
The bidding for the secret world began.
The moment the host finished speaking, bids erupted across the room.
"Twenty!"
"Twenty-five!"
"Thirty!"
In the span of a few breaths, the price climbed to thirty deity fragments, showing no sign of slowing down.
Lu Changsheng frowned slightly. He did not join in immediately, choosing instead to wait.
As time passed and the price reached forty deity fragments, the number of active bidders dropped noticeably. Forty deity fragments was already a massive sum that the vast majority of Earth Saints could never produce. Though bids continued, increases slowed down to one fragment at a time.
Eventually, the price reached fifty, with only five bidders remaining.
"Sixty!"
At that moment, Lu Changsheng made his move.
His bid leaped straight up by ten deity fragments, landing at sixty!
*Swish.*
Numerous gazes, divine senses, and probes swept toward Lu Changsheng's VIP room. However, an array shielded the room from prying eyes, completely preventing the martial artists and immortal cultivators from discerning who sat within.
"Sixty-five."
Someone was still competing against him.
"Seventy," Lu Changsheng countered without hesitation.
The two sides traded bids back and forth. In the end, Lu Changsheng came out on top, securing the unowned secret world for a total of eighty-two deity fragments.
"Phew..."
Lu Changsheng exhaled a long breath.
"Not bad. Eighty-two deity fragments, but I won it in the end."
A wave of relief washed over him. Though he had only ten deity fragments left, the secret world was finally in his hands, making every bit of expenditure well worth it.
A Martial Saint from the Secret World Tower soon appeared before Lu Changsheng.
"Honored guest, your winning bid comes to eighty-two deity fragments."
Lu Changsheng promptly produced eighty-two deity fragments. The Secret World Tower's reputation was solid, so he had no fear that they would embezzle a mere eighty-two fragments from him.
Taking the deity fragments, the Martial Saint beamed with an even broader smile.
"Honored guest, please follow me."
Lu Changsheng followed the Martial Saint into a spacious chamber.
"Honored guest, this is the Secret World Tower's cultivation chamber.
"It is stocked with all the treasures needed to enter a secret world and assist your cultivation.
"For instance, Soul Burning Incense. Lighting a stick of Soul Burning Incense can strengthen your consciousness and divine soul, allowing your entry into the secret world to proceed much more smoothly.
"There is also Dao Enlightenment Incense. Lighting a stick continuously enhances your comprehension; even when your consciousness descends into the secret world, your comprehension will remain elevated under its influence. And a stick of Dao Enlightenment Incense costs merely one deity fragment.
"Furthermore..."
The Martial Saint introduced various treasures one by one.
It had to be said that the Secret World Tower truly knew how to conduct business. Selling the coordinates was only the beginning; they offered an entire suite of auxiliary packages combining different treasures to help Earth Saints enter secret worlds and coalesce martial daos more effectively. They even offered a discounted bundle for just twenty-eight deity fragments.
Lu Changsheng was indeed somewhat tempted, but the price was simply too steep. With only ten deity fragments remaining, he could not afford their complete package.
"Never mind. Just give me a copy of the Secret World Canon."
"Please wait a moment, honored guest."
A copy of the Secret World Canon cost one deity fragment, and the tower's canon was considered quite valuable. It detailed the essential common knowledge and precautions required upon entering a secret world, which would save him a great deal of time.
"Honored guest, the coordinates you purchased belong to what we designate as Secret World No. 18.
"Ten days from now, Secret World No. 18 will brush lightly against the Immortal Martial World, which will be the optimal window for entry. At that time, we will alert you and activate the array to send you in.
"According to our secret world masters' calculations, the period of light contact between Secret World No. 18 and our Immortal Martial World will last roughly ten years. If our masters observe the secret world pulling away ahead of schedule, we will immediately close the array, and your consciousness will be pulled back.
"Therefore, ten years is merely an approximation. We advise you to coalesce the martial dao as early as possible within the secret world to avoid any unforeseen changes that might prevent you from obtaining a martial dao fragment.
"The optimal window should be around the three-year mark. In three years, Secret World No. 18 will collide directly with the Immortal Martial World, lasting anywhere from a few shichen to a day or two. During that window, you can project the power of your true body into the secret world via the array, allowing you to shatter the martial dao much more easily and claim the fragment.
"Should you die in that world, your consciousness will be drawn back into your physical flesh by the array without causing you any harm, unless the secret world possesses a power capable of wiping out your consciousness entirely.
"Of course, if you perish and your consciousness returns, you will forfeit any chance of re-entering that secret world. Entering again would require purchasing new coordinates, so please be sure to seize this opportunity.
"With that, I will take my leave and trouble you no further."
Having said his piece, the Martial Saint departed.
Lu Changsheng carefully committed the timelines to memory.
"In three years, I can summon the power of my true body?
"Once the power of an Earth Saint's true body projects into the secret world, even a brief moment is enough to forcefully shatter the martial dao and claim the fragment.
"However, there are only three years. In other words, it is best to coalesce the martial dao within three years; otherwise, if I miss that window of projection, I will have to rely on whatever power I cultivate within the secret world during the remaining four to six years to break the martial dao myself. Breaking it then would undoubtedly be much harder."
Lu Changsheng knew well that coalescing a martial dao within three years in an alien world was an exceedingly difficult feat.
Yet just because others could not do it did not mean he couldn't. His comprehension surpassed all of history, ancient and modern alike, and that terrifying talent was his greatest reliance!
Days slipped by in quiet succession.
Lu Changsheng maintained a peaceful state of mind.
Finally, ten days had passed.
"Honored guest, Secret World No. 18 is ready for entry."
The voice of the tower's Martial Saint sounded from outside the cultivation chamber.
*Swish.*
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes.
He immediately activated the array within the cultivation chamber.
*Hum.*
The array flared to life, rapidly flooding the entire chamber with radiant light. Lu Changsheng's consciousness felt as though it were piercing through layer upon layer of space within the array. At last, he "saw" a magnificent, colossal glow that resembled an entire world.
Immediately after, his consciousness surged toward that radiant, massive realm.
A sudden chill enveloped Lu Changsheng's entire being, feeling as though he had plunged into icy water.
***
Inside the emergency room of Pan City Hospital, Yulong Kingdom.
A young man was undergoing urgent resuscitation.
Outside, a crowd of reporters waited anxiously for the outcome.
"In the first round of the Pan City Martial Arts Tournament, third-year university student Lu Yuan was beaten into a coma by a Meridian Severing Fist martial master and is currently undergoing emergency treatment."
"According to martial arts insiders, the Meridian Severing force within the Meridian Severing Fist is exceptionally terrifying, capable of severing heart meridians—a fatal strike to anyone who takes it! Lu Yuan's prospects look grim."
"Lu Yuan was hailed as a martial arts genius who became a martial master at a young age. Who would have thought he wouldn't even survive the first round, and is now hovering between life and death?"
"Sources claim Lu Yuan's reputation was unwarranted, that he was merely a packaged prodigy who possessed zero real combat experience..."
Each reporter seemed eager to stir up turmoil.
After all, this was major news! In fact, some were practically wishing for Lu Yuan to die. A genius martial master beaten to death in the very first round of a tournament? Such sensational news was an extraordinary scoop that rarely came along.
Inside the emergency room, the doctors and nurses stared at the flatline on the electrocardiogram, shaking their heads with regretful expressions.
"Sigh, so young. What a pity."
"We still couldn't bring him back."
"Have the vice director go out and announce that resuscitation has failed..."
The doctor looked despondent.
At such a young age, why did he have to pursue martial arts? Getting beaten to death in a tournament was truly tragic.
The doctors and nurses filed out one after another, and the vice director personally delivered the announcement of the failed resuscitation.
Instantly, the reporters' eyes gleamed.
The breaking news had finally landed!
Yet while the crowd of reporters and medical staff were engrossed in the media storm outside, the motionless "corpse" on the operating table inside the emergency room gave a slight twitch.
*Swish.*
The "corpse" suddenly opened its eyes.
Chapter 251