Unscathed by Guns and Artillery! Lu Changsheng's Decisive Battle Against the King of the Century!

"He's bound to be dead this time, right?" "If even bullets couldn't kill him, is he even human? But artillery shells pack far more destructive power than bullets—no body of flesh and blood could ever withstand an artillery shell." "Indeed. Even large, ferocious beasts that might withstand a few bullets could never survive an artillery round." Many guards were staring fixedly at the spot where Lu Changsheng had stood. This was an era of firearms and artillery. While guns might fail to kill certain monsters, artillery shells were guaranteed to blow them apart. The destructive potential between the two differed like heaven and earth. The members of the Long family were likewise staring intently at that colossal fireball. They had even resorted to rocket launchers, which were practically the most powerful weapons they could currently muster. If even rockets failed to kill him, bringing out other weapons would be just as useless. The massive fireball ignited by the rocket barrage began to shrink and gradually faded away. Yet, through the dissipating smoke, they caught sight of a figure standing tall and erect in the exact same spot. *Thump. Thump. Thump.* It sounded like the beating of a heart. Only, this heartbeat was impossibly loud. It was so intense that the hearts of many onlookers involuntarily synchronized with the rhythm. "I... what's happening to me?" "What on earth is going on?" "My heart is beating too fast... If it can't keep up, I'll die..." Agony seized the crowd. They clutched their chests desperately. "Rockets? Decent power. A pity it fell short of killing me." Lu Changsheng stepped out from the smoke and dust, one measured stride after another. His clothes hung in tattered rags. Covered in soot from head to toe, he looked almost comical. Yet no one present could laugh. Instead, each person was gripped by absolute terror, collapsing to the ground in agony. Clutching their chests, they stared at Lu Yuan with eyes full of disbelief. "You... you're not dead? Impossible! How could you not be dead? Those were rockets..." The members of the Long family and the guards stared at Lu Yuan in sheer disbelief. As Lu Yuan drew closer step by step, they involuntarily stumbled backward. Even though the guards still held guns and rocket launchers, none dared to take action anymore. Deep within their hearts, an overwhelming sense of dread took root. That eerie, pulsating heartbeat seemed to be emanating from inside Lu Changsheng's body. Moreover, the rhythm seemed to be accelerating. Dozens of guards screamed, clutching their chests as they crumpled to the ground. The Long family members suffered the same fate, collapsing one after another, their faces twisting in excruciating pain. Lu Changsheng watched the ground full of people writhing and wailing. He raised a hand and pressed it against his own chest, over his heart. "Too weak." "I merely stimulated my own heartbeat to resonate with yours, and you already cannot endure it." "Do you see? This is the chasm between the Limit Martial Dao and ordinary mortals." Lu Changsheng had now reached tertiary growth, officially stepping into the transcendent realm. In the realm of transcendence, one naturally commanded transcendent methods. At present, this resonant heartbeat was merely a rudimentary application of his transcendent capabilities. He used the rhythm of his own heartbeat to trigger a harmonic resonance with the hearts of others. Then, by steadily accelerating his own heartbeat, he forced theirs to quicken in lockstep. On the surface, it seemed harmless. However, Lu Changsheng's physical constitution had undergone tertiary growth, giving him a non-human physique far beyond anything an ordinary person could match. Therefore, a slight increase in his heart rate was enough to push these ordinary people past their breaking points. If Lu Changsheng wished, he would not even need to lift a finger to slaughter them all! "Spare us!" "Lu Yuan, our Long family is willing to stop the Yulong Kingdom from banning the Limit Martial Arts Hall!" "Give our Long family a chance..." The Head of the Long family was an elderly man who leaned on a walking stick. He, too, was clutching his chest tightly, his expression racked with agony. Yet his mind remained clear. The Head of the Long family knew full well that under these circumstances, if the Long family did not beg for mercy, they would be completely wiped out. When that time came, no amount of status or prestige would matter in the slightest. If they were all slaughtered by Lu Yuan, what meaning would it have even if the Yulong Kingdom eventually destroyed him? Thus, the Head of the Long family decisively pleaded for mercy. "Pleading for mercy?" Lu Changsheng chuckled. At that moment, Senior Sister Xiang and the others rushed over. Taking in the scene before them, they were utterly stunned. The Long family estate looked as though it had just endured a fierce war. Craters pocked the earth everywhere. The entire estate was reduced to shambles, as if subjected to intense bombardment. Lu Yuan stood blackened from head to toe, clad in nothing more than shredded strips of fabric, looking quite comical. Senior Sister Xiang immediately produced a robe and draped it over Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan did not stand on ceremony and put the clothes on. Step by step, he walked straight into the Long family's reception hall. Soon, the people sprawled on the ground realized that the eerie heartbeat had ceased. The pain in their chests vanished. One by one, they scrambled back to their feet. The guards remained on high alert, helping the Long family members up. Leaning on his cane, the Head of the Long family pushed away the relatives supporting him. "All Long family members, come inside. Guards, wait outside. No one is to enter without permission." "Yes, Mr. Long." With that, the guards stood watch outside the doors. The members of the Long family followed their patriarch into the reception hall. Inside the hall, Lu Changsheng sat imposingly in the seat of honor. Before him stood the members of the Long family. They kept their heads bowed, not daring to look Lu Changsheng in the eye. Most of them felt intense anger toward Lu Yuan, but fear dominated their hearts, and they dared not show any defiance. After all, the sensation of standing just a hair's breadth from death was truly horrifying. The Head of the Long family stood before Lu Changsheng and spoke respectfully, "Lu Yuan, isn't your goal to prevent the Yulong Kingdom from banning the Limit Martial Arts Hall? Our Long family will do everything in our power to support the Limit Martial Arts Hall!" The Head of the Long family was shrewd and directly offered his family's commitment. Of course, when under another's roof, one had no choice but to bow one's head. They could only compromise for now. Lu Changsheng nodded, his gaze fixed on the Head of the Long family, seeming to see through everything. "The Long family knows how to read the situation. I will give you a chance." "Whether you intend to use this chance to stall me through temporary compliance, or whether you plan to plot against me later, it makes no difference to me." "Just remember, you only get one chance!" "I will be staying in Yudu for a while. I hope you won't disappoint me..." Having said his piece, Lu Changsheng took Senior Sister Xiang and the others and departed from the Long family estate. Once Lu Changsheng and his entourage had completely vanished from sight, the Long family erupted into heated clamor. They were beside themselves with fury. "Grandfather, Lu Yuan cannot be forgiven! Let us mobilize our forces and wipe him out right now!" "No one has ever dared to treat our Long family this way." "Lu Yuan must die!" The younger generation of the Long family had never faced such intimidation before. Least of all from a mere martial artist. "Silence!" The Head of the Long family roared furiously. Instantly, the entire hall fell dead silent. Sweeping his authoritative gaze over the crowd, the patriarch said coldly, "Which of you will lead the men to wipe out Lu Yuan?" "Step forward!" "Tell me, which of you can guarantee that you will kill Lu Yuan?" "You all heard what Lu Yuan said just now. Even if we seek revenge, we have only one shot. If you strike a serpent without killing it, you invite disaster. If Lu Yuan survives, our entire Long family dies." "Do you truly dare to gamble? To stake the entire Long family against a lone martial artist in a reckless gamble?" The patriarch's words made everyone hang their heads. Indeed, they had only one chance. If they failed to kill Lu Yuan, he would surely slaughter the entire Long family. Unless pushed to absolute desperation with foolproof preparations, did the Long family dare to gamble? "Grandfather, what should we do now?" someone asked. "Endure!" "Our Long family has prospered and stood glorious for hundreds of years not by reckless brawling, nor by desperate gambles, but by enduring!" "When confronting major crises, especially those concerning the very survival of our clan, we must endure! As long as we survive, our family can continue." "Besides, how deep is our feud with Lu Yuan? We don't truly have one; it was merely some benefits offered to us by the traditional martial arts circle. Now, we can cast those benefits aside." "Remember: without absolute certainty, under no circumstances must you provoke Lu Yuan. If we make a move, we must possess complete certainty of wiping him out entirely!" The Long family descendants nodded in agreement. Without absolute certainty of destroying Lu Yuan, they had no choice but to endure. Especially when recalling the agony in their hearts earlier, lingering dread gripped their souls. Lu Yuan's threat to wipe out the Long family was by no means empty talk. "Very well. You know what needs to be done next without my explicit orders, don't you?" "Send word to the prominent families: we will clearly and unequivocally support the Limit Martial Dao." "Moreover, this isn't entirely a bad thing. Lu Yuan is impervious to swords and guns, surviving even direct rocket blasts. Perhaps the claims of the Limit Martial Arts Hall regarding life prolongation might actually be true..." Everyone's heart trembled. Indeed, the Limit Martial Dao style supposedly extended lifespan. Although it had only been the Limit Martial Arts Hall's one-sided claim until now, Lu Yuan was impervious to weapons and artillery. What could be more convincing than Lu Yuan himself? The incident at the Long estate was covered up by the Long family. Despite the massive commotion, which yielded scraps of intelligence to several influential families in Yudu, the reports remained fragmented. All they knew was that Lu Yuan had personally visited the Long estate, after which the Long family abruptly changed their stance and took a clear stand in support of the Limit Martial Dao. All at once, the political landscape in Yudu shifted dramatically. What was once a settled decision to ban the Limit Martial Arts Hall was forced back into a grueling political tug-of-war. Days slipped by. In the blink of an eye, three days passed. "Sect Master, the Long family just called. They invited you to their estate, stating that they have an extremely important matter to discuss with you." Senior Sister Xiang stood before Lu Changsheng, reporting respectfully. Ever since the battle at the Long estate, Senior Sister Xiang looked upon Lu Changsheng as though he were a living deity. Her heart held nothing but profound awe! "It seems the Long family has news." "Let's go. We'll pay a visit to the Long estate," Lu Changsheng said with a faint smile. Senior Sister Xiang hesitated, looking as if she wanted to say something, before voicing her concern: "Sect Master, the Long family holds immense power. Over the past few days, they have heavily reinforced their guard presence. This invitation might harbor ill intent. Please proceed with caution, Sect Master." Lu Changsheng chuckled. "Are you saying the Long family wants to kill me?" Senior Sister Xiang neither confirmed nor denied it, but the worry in her eyes was unmistakable. "Senior Sister Xiang, in this world, there is perhaps no one who understands what tertiary growth truly entails better than I do." "Tertiary growth signifies transcendent power!" "Be it the weapons wielded by ordinary mortals or any other mundane schemes, they pose little threat to someone who has stepped into the realm of transcendence." "Furthermore, the Long family is a clan with centuries of heritage. They understand the art of survival and will not gamble their entire bloodline away." "So, rest assured." Lu Changsheng harbored no concern regarding the Long family. Leaving the hotel, he boarded a vehicle and returned to the Long family estate. The Long family guards recognized Lu Yuan. Seeing him arrive, they dared not show the slightest disrespect and immediately opened the gates. The car drove slowly into the estate. Lu Changsheng cast a glance around the grounds. Indeed, the number of guards had increased substantially. However, from the moment he entered the estate, none of the guards projected even a sliver of hostility. They did not even dare to monitor Lu Yuan's party. This showed that the Long family was genuinely terrified. Without absolute certainty, they would never dare make a move against Lu Yuan. "Mr. Lu, you have finally arrived." The Head of the Long family remained that same spirited old man. Moreover, with his ruddy complexion, one could hardly tell that he had nearly been killed by Lu Changsheng just a few days prior. Such composure far surpassed that of ordinary men. Lu Changsheng did not bother with pleasantries, taking a seat directly on the sofa and asking coldly, "Speak. What is the outcome regarding the ban on the Limit Martial Dao style?" The Head of the Long family took a deep breath and said gravely, "Those people in the martial arts circle truly possess vast connections. They have persuaded many influential figures. Even with our Long family clearly supporting the Limit Martial Dao style, after three days of political clashes, we are finding it hard to hold our ground." "In particular, the Zhao family, the Zhang family, and the Li family are adamant about banning the Limit Martial Dao style. These three families represent the aristocracy along with several prominent parliamentarians, commanding immense influence. They also have deep entanglements with the martial arts circle." "If we can sway their stance, or even if they simply agree to remain neutral, our Long family will naturally be able to suppress the martial arts factions and allow the Limit Martial Dao style to spread freely." "This time, the three families took the initiative to send word requesting a meeting with you, Mr. Lu. What are your thoughts?" Lu Changsheng understood. The Head of the Long family could not handle the three families. He wanted Lu Changsheng to handle them. After all, since Lu Changsheng could "persuade" the Long family, he could certainly "persuade" the other three families as well. Lu Changsheng looked at the Head of the Long family with a half-smile. "Tell me, what backing do the three families possess?" "With the Long family's influence, it is impossible that you are unaware of what they rely upon." "Think carefully before you speak." Though Lu Changsheng spoke calmly, a chill ran down the patriarch's spine. Not daring to hide anything, he lowered his voice and replied, "Mr. Lu, according to our intelligence, the three families have invited the strongest existence in the traditional martial arts circle—the legendary King of the Century, Hong Chuan!" "Hong Chuan is in his seventies today, but it is said that as a King of the Century, he has attained Divine Incorruptibility, possessing a flawless body free of leaks. He is capable of permanently maintaining his peak combat power. Even in his seventies, his prowess has not waned in the slightest." "Therefore... the three families have essentially laid their cards on the table. They no longer wish to engage in endless debates with our Long family, intending instead to settle the dispute directly through martial strength!" A sharp glint flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes. "The King of the Century, Hong Chuan?" He had never heard of any King of the Century before. Yet the title alone was enough to know that Hong Chuan was undoubtedly the pinnacle of the entire martial arts circle. No one surpassed Hong Chuan. "Very well. We settle it through martial strength!" "Old Master Long, please accompany me to the three families to meet this King of the Century." Lu Changsheng rose to his feet. The Head of the Long family did not hesitate. At this juncture, he had to accompany Lu Changsheng to the three families. After all, on the surface, Lu Changsheng's backer was the Long family. The Long family was now completely tied to Lu Changsheng; it was impossible for them not to show their face. Thus, the Head of the Long family dispatched a motorcade and set out alongside Lu Changsheng toward the agreed-upon location. The meeting place arranged by the three families and the Long family was the Zhao estate. The Zhao estate was situated outside the city. Lu Changsheng pondered this. Heading outside the city—was it to avoid Yudu and make it easier to deploy their men? Or perhaps even to mobilize troops? It was entirely possible. The three families possessed monstrous authority; mobilizing military units was well within their reach. Even if they did not know that Lu Changsheng could withstand rocket blasts, they had likely gathered intelligence that he was impervious to guns and bullets. Making thorough preparations was highly probable. Yet, for Lu Changsheng, how was this not an advantage? Settling everything in one stroke would save him from further entanglements and wasted time. After driving for an hour, the Long family motorcade finally arrived at the Zhao estate. "Heh, quite the display!" Lu Changsheng sneered. There were indeed troops. Quite a substantial number, in fact. Moreover, there were heavy weapons! It seemed the three families were truly cautious. They had even brought out heavy ordnance, revealing their deep wariness toward him. The Head of the Long family felt a chill in his heart and said cautiously, "Mr. Lu, if you are unwilling to enter the Zhao estate, we can turn back right now." The Long family was tied to Lu Yuan. Although they secretly wished for his demise, they could never express it openly. If they displeased Lu Yuan, calamity would certainly fall upon the Long family. "No need. Settle it all at once to avoid further trouble." "Drive on into the Zhao estate." Lu Changsheng waved a hand dismissively, appearing thoroughly indifferent. The motorcade smoothly entered the Zhao estate. Lu Changsheng and the Head of the Long family stepped out of the vehicle. Representatives from the three families had long been waiting. "Old Master Long, Sect Master Lu, please come inside." The hosts wasted no words. Lu Changsheng took the lead, walking straight into the spacious reception hall. *Whoosh.* The moment Lu Changsheng crossed the threshold, he immediately sensed a terrifying aura. It came from an old man. His hair and beard were completely white. Yet he possessed a remarkably robust and muscular frame. The aura radiating from him resembled that of a monstrous beast, sending chills down the spine. Even though he was there on behalf of the three families, none of their representatives dared to stand close to him. "The King of the Century, Hong Chuan!" Lu Changsheng spoke slowly, enunciating each word. He knew this man had to be Hong Chuan. Otherwise, no one could project such a terrifying aura. This was the first person Lu Changsheng had encountered in this world whose physical presence and aura were this powerful. "You are strong," Hong Chuan spoke. "I have seen video footage of your Limit Martial Dao." "To be honest, I cannot comprehend it. I have practiced martial arts my entire life, even achieving Divine Incorruptibility, but I know that human strength has its limits. A human is a human; one cannot break past the limits of mortal flesh." "You claim the Limit Martial Dao can break those limits. Then let me see whether you truly can." Hong Chuan rose abruptly. The moment he stood, he was like a waking lion, his sharpness laid bare. The entire hall instantly fell dead silent, to the point where a dropped pin could be heard. "Hold on," Lu Changsheng suddenly spoke up. "Hm?" "Do you not dare?" Hong Chuan frowned. Lu Changsheng shifted his gaze from Hong Chuan and swept it across the representatives of the three families in the hall. Finally, his eyes settled on three middle-aged men. They were presumably the spokespersons for the three families. "Let us be clear first. Your three families invited Hong Chuan to battle with me." "What happens if I win, and what happens if Hong Chuan wins?" The three men exchanged glances. Finally, one of them spoke: "If Mr. Lu wins, the Limit Martial Dao style may spread freely throughout the Yulong Kingdom, and the kingdom's authorities will place no further obstacles in its path." "If Elder Hong wins, Mr. Lu will be expelled from the Yulong Kingdom, forbidden from ever stepping foot inside its borders again, and the Limit Martial Dao will be permanently banned." Lu Changsheng nodded. In truth, there were things these men left unsaid. If Lu Changsheng lost, it would hardly be as simple as mere expulsion. He would undoubtedly be killed! After all, could the three families deploy such a formidable military presence merely to stage a fair martial arts duel between Lu Changsheng and Hong Chuan? Impossible! Today, only one of them would walk out alive! Defeat meant death! "Agreed," Lu Changsheng nodded. "Let's take this outside. No need to tear down the manor," Hong Chuan said indifferently. With that, Hong Chuan strode out on his own. Lu Changsheng nodded in agreement. He did not care where they fought. The two made their way to the grassy grounds outside the manor. The estate grounds were vast. On the open grass, Lu Changsheng and Hong Chuan stood quietly facing each other, separated by a dozen meters. Hong Chuan said in a deep, measured voice, "I began practicing martial arts at age eight. At eleven, I mastered hidden force; at fifteen, transforming force; at twenty, pellet holding; at thirty, astral force; at forty-three, Divine Incorruptibility; and at forty-five, I defeated every master under the heavens to become the King of the Century!" "After becoming the King of the Century, I ceased fighting others for thirty years. Instead, I devoted myself to tempering my physique and delving into martial arts, ultimately creating the Thirty-Six Forms of Thunder Fist." "Later, I condensed them into the Three Forms of Thunder Fist." "These Three Forms of Thunder Fist are not mere martial techniques, but a triple seal. Each tier seals up to ten years of my physical might." "I cannot break the limits of the flesh on my own, but I believe my ultimate strike will briefly shatter those limits." "Therefore, there is no need for probes between us. Unleash your strongest blow, and let a single strike decide the victor." Hong Chuan carried immense pride. He had openly revealed his trump card. Yet this was not foolishness; it was supreme confidence. At the realm of the King of the Century, complex techniques were meaningless. All that remained was sheer, overwhelming force! Lu Changsheng nodded. If it was truly as Hong Chuan said, then the man was indeed an exceptional talent. To attempt breaking through his limits in such a manner. Of course, whether he could truly break those limits remained to be seen. "As you wish. I shall meet you with my utmost power and my strongest strike!" Lu Changsheng replied. Since the man was the King of the Century, he would grant him proper respect. "Good." Hong Chuan struck his own body with a series of heavy slaps. He roared, "First Form of Thunder Fist, open!" *Boom.* With that furious roar, a terrifying momentum erupted from Hong Chuan's body. It was far more dreadful than his previous aura. This was pure physical power! A decade of strength accumulated by Hong Chuan. No one knew what secret technique he had used to seal ten years of physical power within himself. Next came the second seal. "Second Form of Thunder Fist." As the second form was unleashed, Lu Changsheng faintly sensed another subtle transformation within Hong Chuan. It was as if the force within his body surged forth in a wild explosion. "Third Form of Thunder Fist." With the third form unleashed, the final seal shattered. Behind Hong Chuan, the faint silhouette of a colossal face materialized. Invisible to the naked eye, it could nevertheless be distinctly felt—an astonishing phenomenon. *The First Form of Thunder Fist seals the essence!* *The Second Form of Thunder Fist seals the internal force—which resembles the vital energy of the human body!* *The Third Form of Thunder Fist seals the spirit!* *Hong Chuan has accumulated thirty years of essence, energy, and spirit, unleashing them all at once.* *To release it through such a method is truly incredible.* *Thirty years of accumulation bursting forth in a single instant has completely shattered the mortal limit...* Lu Changsheng was genuinely surprised. Hong Chuan had actually broken past his limits temporarily through this method. Even if only for a single strike, he had undeniably broken the threshold. It had to be said that among the billions of people in this world, there were indeed brilliant geniuses. With the Three Forms of Thunder Fist breaking all three seals, thirty years of essence, energy, and spirit surged through Hong Chuan. Originally a lean, wiry old man around 1.7 meters tall, Hong Chuan's body suddenly swelled like an inflating balloon, reaching nearly two meters in height. Coils of dense muscle knotted across his frame. A horrifying presence loomed behind him. At this moment, a single glare from Hong Chuan could strike paralyzing terror into anyone. Let alone facing him in battle. "Come, fight!" Hong Chuan's voice rolled like muffled thunder. He lunged forward explosively. The dozen meters between them vanished in a mere few strides as he reached Lu Changsheng. Hong Chuan threw a punch—a blow delivered with every ounce of his power. Thirty years of essence, energy, and spirit combined with the terrifying might of the King of the Century. This strike appeared utterly unstoppable. Yet Lu Changsheng also respected Hong Chuan. He directly manifested his strongest form! "Limit Triple Transformation!" The moment Lu Changsheng spoke, a resounding blast echoed. *Boom.* In an instant, Lu Changsheng's body expanded. From around 1.8 meters, he swelled into a three-meter frame. Like a towering giant, he looked down upon Hong Chuan. Lu Changsheng possessed no theatrical aura. The only thing he possessed was power—pure, unadulterated power. A power that broke all limits and stepped into the realm of transcendence! "Heaven!" "Overturning!" "Seal!" Lu Changsheng swung both hands in a sweeping arc, like massive millstones, his voice booming like rolling thunder. Hong Chuan looked up, and it seemed as though the sky itself had turned black. In his vision, there was only that colossal palm, descending with vast, unstoppable momentum. "I see it... the path beyond the limit." "So there truly is a path beyond the mortal limit..." "That is... transcendence..." Hong Chuan smiled. A smile of genuine enlightenment. Lu Changsheng showed no hesitation. His palm crashed down like the vault of heaven collapsing, engulfing Hong Chuan's frame. *Rumble!* As the palm landed, Hong Chuan's massive body was instantly pulverized into paste!