Fifty Years of Cultivation, Finally a Heavenly Saint!

Lu Changsheng returned to his cave abode and formally began deducing a Heavenly Saint structuring method. What he intended to deduce was a structuring method best suited for a Master of Ten Thousand Daos—more precisely, one best suited to himself even among Masters of Ten Thousand Daos. No one understood the martial daos within his body better than Lu Changsheng. However, working behind closed doors would not suffice. Much less when deducing a structuring method. Therefore, Lu Changsheng frequently sought guidance from various Heavenly Saints. He sometimes consulted fellow true disciples, and even inner disciples and deacon elders. He gathered the strengths of many schools and turned them to his own use. Lu Changsheng made swift progress. Had he tried to deduce it completely on his own from scratch, it might have taken up to a century. Later, that timeframe shrank to mere decades. By now, ten years would be enough. Yet that was still too long. Lu Changsheng needed to compress it further—preferably down to a few years, or even better, a single year or just a few months. Day after day went by. In the blink of an eye, eight months had passed. Lu Changsheng continued as before, consulting and comparing notes with other true disciples. However, whenever he walked past other disciples, even many outer disciples were already familiar with him. He was the only true disciple who would ask inner disciples for advice. "Quick, look! Isn't that True Disciple Lu?" "Indeed. Over the past few months, True Disciple Lu has been very active in the Jidao Sacred Ground. You can spot him everywhere across the inner sect and the Deacon Hall." "I heard True Disciple Lu even seeks guidance from inner disciples. It seems he's deducing a brand-new Heavenly Saint structuring method." "That's right. It's no secret that True Disciple Lu is deducing a brand-new Heavenly Saint structuring method. Word is he joined over eight months ago, yet hasn't succeeded so far." "True Disciple Lu is the only Earth Saint martial artist among all the sacred ground's true disciples. Could he be having trouble even advancing to Heavenly Saint?" "If he can't deduce a new Heavenly Saint structuring method, I'm afraid True Disciple Lu might remain an Earth Saint forever." "The only true disciple in history who's still an Earth Saint nearly a year after joining..." Many disciples exchanged varied looks. Lu Changsheng had indeed become renowned. Throughout the entire Jidao Sacred Ground, practically everyone knew of him. The reason was simple: Lu Changsheng was far too approachable. True disciples in the past were always aloof and distant. Or rather, difficult to even catch a glimpse of. Many outer and inner disciples might not see a single true disciple for years. But Lu Changsheng was different. He ran over to the inner sect nearly every day. Even many outer disciples had seen him. Seeing him was no longer a rarity. Nor did he put on any airs of a true disciple. Moreover, he was still an Earth Saint. True disciples at the Earth Saint level usually only remained so right when they first entered the sacred ground. No matter the delay, an Earth Saint true disciple would basically advance to Heavenly Saint within three to five months. Only that befitted the status of a true disciple. Only Lu Changsheng stood apart. It had already been eight months since he entered the Jidao Sacred Ground, yet there was still no sign of him advancing to Heavenly Saint. Although many disciples gossiped, none dared look down on Lu Changsheng. Nor did anyone dare disrespect him to his face. The authority of a true disciple was no laughing matter. Especially in the Jidao Sacred Ground, once a true disciple, always a true disciple. If an outer disciple were to anger a true disciple, a single word could have the outer disciple expelled. Such was the influence of a true disciple! Lu Changsheng did not care much about any of this. He walked straight toward the Deacons' Hall. Upon arriving at the Deacons' Hall, even more people recognized him. Countless gazes fell upon Lu Changsheng. Although Lu Changsheng often consulted deacon elders, he rarely visited the Deacons' Hall itself. "True Disciple Lu, do you have any instructions?" The deacon elder smiled faintly upon seeing Lu Changsheng. The deacon elders showed not the slightest neglect in their attitude toward Lu Changsheng. No matter the rumors swirling about him, he was undeniably a true disciple. Building good ties with a true disciple was never wrong. Lu Changsheng said straightforwardly, "I have come to the Deacons' Hall to apply for the use of the Heavenly Saint Pool." "The Heavenly Saint Pool?" The deacon elder was slightly startled. "True Disciple Lu, are you preparing to advance to Heavenly Saint?" the deacon elder could not help asking. After all, the Heavenly Saint Pool was specifically used by Earth Saints to advance to Heavenly Saint. Access to the Heavenly Saint Pool was exceedingly costly. Outer disciples often had to accumulate points for a very long time and complete numerous sect missions just to earn the qualification to enter the pool. Inside the Heavenly Saint Pool was a very special spiritual water that could calm the turbulence of countless martial daos, conferring immense benefits for advancing to Heavenly Saint. Yet for true disciples, it was completely free. They could stay inside for as long as they pleased. "Indeed. That is my intention. I plan to advance to Heavenly Saint in the Heavenly Saint Pool," Lu Changsheng admitted directly without concealing anything. *Buzz.* Inside the Deacons' Hall, many inner and outer disciples could not help turning their eyes toward Lu Changsheng, instantly bursting into discussion. After all, Lu Changsheng was currently an unconventional celebrity in the Jidao Sacred Ground. "True Disciple Lu is preparing to advance to Heavenly Saint?" "Eight months... Compared to other true disciples, that's far too long." "Regardless, he's certain to advance." "Still, with the status of a true disciple, he can go directly to the Heavenly Saint Pool without needing to apply at all. Why did True Disciple Lu come to the Deacons' Hall to submit an application?" Many were puzzled, including the deacon elder. Applying to the Deacon Hall for the Heavenly Saint Pool was a rule meant for outer disciples; true disciples did not need to follow it at all and could simply go. "True Disciple Lu, you are a true disciple. You have priority to use the Heavenly Saint Pool and can go straight there without applying," the deacon elder explained. "No. My use of the Heavenly Saint Pool is not ordinary. I need the Deacon Hall to seal off the entire pool. "When the time comes, only I may use it." Lu Changsheng's words instantly provoked discontent. "Even though Lu Changsheng is a true disciple, he shouldn't be so overbearing, should he?" "Yeah, the Heavenly Saint Pool is so vast. He can use it anytime, so why must he monopolize the entire thing?" "Some outer disciples have applied months ago and been waiting all this time. Now they'll have to delay further just because Lu Changsheng wants to monopolize the entire pool for himself?" "This is truly too tyrannical..." Many disciples felt deeply dissatisfied. They held true disciples in awe, but this did not mean they accepted someone acting so completely overbearing and unreasonable, utterly disregarding the interests of the outer disciples. Even the deacon elder was put in a difficult spot. "This... "True Disciple Lu, the Heavenly Saint Pool is very large. How about the Deacon Hall partitions off a separate area just for you? We can guarantee no one will disturb you. What do you think?" The deacon elder proposed a compromise. Lu Changsheng glanced at the deacon elder. This deacon elder was a decent person, still thoughtful enough to consider the outer disciples. However, he seemed to have misunderstood. Lu Changsheng shook his head. "Elder, I believe you have misunderstood. "I am requesting the pool be sealed not because I fear others disturbing me, but because I fear disturbing others. "With me present, I am afraid no one else will be able to advance to Heavenly Saint..." Lu Changsheng spoke the truth. He was doing it to protect other disciples who wished to advance. Yet the moment those words were uttered, the crowd was left even more dumbfounded. What did that mean? Advancing to Heavenly Saint could affect other martial artists' breakthroughs? Such a thing was simply unheard of. One had to know that a martial artist gathered all mighty power into oneself. Even advancing to Heavenly Saint meant refining one's martial daos into one's own body. How could that affect anyone else? "True Disciple Lu, is that truly the case?" The deacon elder still found it hard to believe. "Of course. "If any outer disciples wish to advance then, they will see for themselves. "Elder, can this arrangement be made?" Lu Changsheng's words left everyone speechless. If they did not believe him, they could go and see for themselves when the time came. Right now, they had no grounds to refute him. Ultimately, it came down to Lu Changsheng's status: A true disciple! "It can be arranged! "When do you plan to enter the Heavenly Saint Pool, True Disciple Lu?" Lu Changsheng thought for a moment. "In three days." "Very well. Then the Heavenly Saint Pool will be sealed in three days. True Disciple Lu can head straight there then, and we guarantee not a single disciple will be inside." "Then I trouble the elders of the Deacon Hall." With that, Lu Changsheng turned and left the Deacon Hall. Once Lu Changsheng departed, the disciples in the Deacons' Hall cast aside their reservations. One by one, they began to chatter excitedly. "True Disciple Lu is finally preparing to advance to Heavenly Saint. We definitely have to go watch." "Indeed. For True Disciple Lu to act so solemnly—even sealing off the entire Heavenly Saint Pool—just what makes his breakthrough so special?" "We'll find out in three days at the pool." "Watching a true disciple advance to Heavenly Saint is a rare opportunity, something you can only hope to chance upon." "Rumors say True Disciple Lu is a Master of Ten Thousand Daos, though no one knows if it's true. When he advances to Heavenly Saint, we can see whether he truly is the legendary Master of Ten Thousand Daos!" Many disciples brimmed with curiosity. There were simply too many rumors about Lu Changsheng, and this was their chance to see for themselves. Lu Changsheng returned to his cave abode. His mind had long since grown calm. Advancing to Heavenly Saint was no hurdle in itself; whenever he wished, he could make the breakthrough. The difficulty lay in using the Heavenly Saint structuring method he had deduced himself. No matter how complete a deduced technique might seem, until it was put into practice, it could not be considered a true technique. At times, unexpected and bizarre problems could always crop up. "After eight months, I have finally deduced a Heavenly Saint structuring method suited to my own condition. I call it the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method!" Lu Changsheng murmured softly. The Ten Thousand Daos structuring method, as the name implied, was designed for a Master of Ten Thousand Daos to advance to Heavenly Saint. Of course, it was best suited to Lu Changsheng himself. If another Master of Ten Thousand Daos were to use it, they might fit with eighty or ninety percent of it, but they could never achieve a full hundred percent like Lu Changsheng! After all, this was tailor-made according to his own martial daos. Even with Lu Changsheng's transcendent comprehension of nearly eight million, it had taken him a full eight months, showing just how difficult deducing the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method was. Naturally, Lu Changsheng had deduced and calculated it over and over, patching every flaw he could conceive of until virtually no weaknesses remained. The core of this Ten Thousand Daos structuring method lay in ten thousand martial daos. It utilized the ten thousand martial daos to continuously draw any rule concerning the Martial Dao from the void, converting them into body-refining power to temper the physical body again and again. And this tempering was automatic. Just think: how terrifying was the rule power drawn by ten thousand martial daos? In Lu Changsheng's conception, the Dao of the Sword could temper the flesh, and the Dao of the Saber could do the same. He treated the body as a peerless saber, a divine sword, and so on. In short, it would be forged like a precious treasure. This imposed extraordinarily high demands on the physical body. If the body was not sturdy enough, advancing to Heavenly Saint with the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method could cause the body to collapse instantly, unable to withstand the rule power drawn by the martial daos. That would turn a clever idea into disaster. But Lu Changsheng did not need to worry about this issue. His body already rivaled that of an Earth Saint, so why would he fear being unable to withstand it? Only with this foundation could the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method exert its full potential. "According to my calculations, by advancing to Heavenly Saint with the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method, even if I do nothing, it will be enough to elevate my physical body to the Heavenly Saint level within ten thousand years. When that time comes, I can attempt True Self Oneness, completely fusing everything to become a Martial Dao Sovereign!" A sharp glint flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes. Ten thousand years! It seemed like a long time. Yet in truth, this was something countless pinnacle Heavenly Saints dreamed of. One must understand that Heavenly Saints enjoyed a lifespan of a hundred thousand years! Using a mere tenth of one's lifespan to temper the physical body to the Heavenly Saint level and gain a chance to strike for Martial Dao Sovereign—what immense fortune that was! Even among the true disciples of the Jidao Sacred Ground, many never had the chance to attempt becoming a Martial Dao Sovereign in their entire lives. All because their physical bodies could not reach the Heavenly Saint level. Yet Lu Changsheng did not have to do anything. He merely needed to advance using the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method. Even if he did not cultivate at all and slept every day, his physical body would automatically be pushed to the Heavenly Saint level in roughly ten thousand years. That was the truly frightening aspect of the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method. Naturally, the prerequisite was becoming a Master of Ten Thousand Daos. That condition alone blocked countless people. Furthermore, unless someone was like Lu Changsheng, possessing a physical body that rivaled an Earth Saint while still an Earth Saint, even if a Master of Ten Thousand Daos advanced using the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method, they would likely live in daily fear of bodily collapse and still find it difficult to become a Martial Dao Sovereign. Still, if given the opportunity, Lu Changsheng could refine it further later on. However, that required practical application. Only after advancing to Heavenly Saint would he have the opportunity to make adjustments. Lu Changsheng waited quietly. In a flash, three days passed. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. "Three days have passed. It is time to go to the Heavenly Saint Pool." During these three days, Lu Changsheng had adjusted his condition to its peak. Consequently, his state of mind was exceptionally calm. He rose and flew straight toward the Heavenly Saint Pool. By now, an immense crowd had already gathered around the Heavenly Saint Pool. Disciples stood everywhere. Whether outer or inner disciples, vast numbers had gathered outside the pool. Clearly, they had all come for Lu Changsheng. "I heard long ago that True Disciple Lu was deducing a new Heavenly Saint structuring method. Eight months is quite a long time. For him to advance now, his brand-new structuring method must be complete." "To deduce a brand-new Heavenly Saint structuring method in a mere eight months—True Disciple Lu's comprehension is truly astonishing." "He most likely finished deducing it, but can a method deduced in only eight months really compare to the pinnacle structuring methods in the Library?" "We'll surely find out soon enough how True Disciple Lu's structuring method holds up." "True Disciple Lu has arrived..." At that moment, countless gazes converged upon a figure outside the Heavenly Saint Pool. It was none other than Lu Changsheng! He paid no attention to the throngs of disciples outside the pool, walking straight into the Heavenly Saint Pool one step at a time. Inside the pool grounds, Lu Changsheng swept his gaze across the area. Indeed, not a single disciple remained. He was the only person left in the entire Heavenly Saint Pool. Moreover, the spiritual water in the pool was completely refreshed, having been replaced in advance. This showed that the Jidao Sacred Ground attached great importance to Lu Changsheng's breakthrough. This spiritual water did offer a tiny bit of help for his advancement to Heavenly Saint, though not very much. Ultimately, everything depended on Lu Changsheng himself. "Let us begin." Hesitating no further, Lu Changsheng stepped directly into the spiritual water. *Splash.* The spiritual water enveloped his entire body. In the next moment, a terrifying martial dao manifested above Lu Changsheng's head. It was none other than the Infinite Martial Dao! Only this time, the Infinite Martial Dao contained ten thousand martial daos within it. Although they were only embryonic martial daos, the aura they emanated rivaled that of some Heavenly Saints. *Rumble.* The void seemed to tremble. Lu Changsheng's Earth Saint Dao body manifested as well. Ten thousand zhang tall, his Earth Saint Dao body spanned the void like a primordial fiendgod, radiating terrifying pressure. Outside the pool, countless outer disciples, inner disciples, and even several true disciples watched intently. Naturally, they saw Lu Changsheng's Infinite Martial Dao and Earth Saint Dao body. Many felt their hearts jolt! "An Earth Saint Dao body like this, such immense pressure... Even a Heavenly Saint is hardly more than this, right?" "Such an Earth Saint Dao body is utterly unheard of." "And True Disciple Lu's embryonic martial dao—what kind of martial dao is that? Why does it feel like the number of martial daos contained within is countless? Yet they're perfectly orderly, without the slightest sign of collapse." "Let me sense the number of martial daos in True Disciple Lu's... This... ten thousand martial daos?! He truly is a Master of Ten Thousand Daos, just like the rumors said!" "It really is a Master of Ten Thousand Daos! A legendary Master of Ten Thousand Daos has only ever been heard of in lore, but never appeared in our Jidao Sacred Ground. To think I'd witness a Master of Ten Thousand Daos today!" "No wonder True Disciple Mo Kong brought Lu Changsheng back to the sacred ground and directly gave him the status of a true disciple. He's a Master of Ten Thousand Daos..." Many disciples felt deeply shaken. All their prior speculations were rendered meaningless in this instant. Some had even hoped to watch Lu Changsheng make a fool of himself. What if he failed his advancement? Although advancing to Heavenly Saint was no great hurdle for true disciples and failures were virtually nonexistent, what if? Yet now, before the achievement of a Master of Ten Thousand Daos, such wishful thinking seemed utterly absurd and laughable. A Master of Ten Thousand Daos had never existed in the entire history of the Jidao Sacred Ground. He was arguably the most dazzling genius of all. What point was there to their petty jealousy and small-minded schemes? Lu Changsheng did not know that merely manifesting the Infinite Martial Dao and virtually exposing his identity as a Master of Ten Thousand Daos was enough to shake countless disciples. To him, what mattered most right now was thoroughly reorganizing the ten thousand martial daos within the Infinite Martial Dao using the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method. This was an extraordinarily complex and difficult process. Yet Lu Changsheng had deduced it countless times. Short of actual practice, he had simulated it hundreds, if not thousands, of times. He was already intimately familiar with every detail. "Reorganize!" With that, Lu Changsheng began using the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method to reorganize the ten thousand martial daos. In the void, one martial dao after another rearranged in a highly peculiar pattern. Two hours passed, then four, six, eight, ten... Reorganizing the martial daos took an immense amount of time. After all, there were ten thousand martial daos. The Ten Thousand Daos structuring method was run through with immense intricacy. So intricate that many disciples watching with their own eyes found it taxing just to follow. Even if given such a Heavenly Saint structuring method, they would likely have no confidence in ever executing it successfully. "Can such a complex Heavenly Saint structuring method truly succeed?" "A structuring method isn't necessarily better just because it's more complicated." "Still, the more complex it is, the more profound and subtle it must be. Once successful, the benefits will naturally be immense." "True Disciple Lu's comprehension is truly terrifying. To deduce such a complex structuring method in a mere eight months..." Only now did many disciples feel genuine wonder. If they were tasked with deducing such an intricate structuring method, let alone eight months, they probably couldn't manage it in eight years, eighty years, or even eight hundred years. From this structuring method alone, one could see just how frightening Lu Changsheng's comprehension was. It was second to none in the entire Jidao Sacred Ground! Everyone marveled. Any previous doubts about Lu Changsheng vanished like smoke in this moment. Moreover, some disciples began to experiment. They were at Earth Saint perfection and could attempt their own advancement to Heavenly Saint. Yet the moment they manifested their martial daos, they immediately sensed something was wrong. Suppression! Yes, suppression. Even though they were not inside the Heavenly Saint Pool and stood merely on the outside, they still felt the martial daos above their heads suppressed to the extreme. Under such conditions, how could they refine their martial daos into their bodies? How could they advance to Heavenly Saint? "If someone were inside the Heavenly Saint Pool, the suppression would probably be even more horrifying." "It seems True Disciple Lu's demand to seal the Heavenly Saint Pool wasn't arrogance or tyranny, but the simple truth. Near True Disciple Lu, no one could possibly advance to Heavenly Saint—their martial daos would undoubtedly be suppressed!" "Truly incredible. Is this the might of a Master of Ten Thousand Daos? Once he advances to Heavenly Saint as a Master of Ten Thousand Daos, there's real hope of him becoming a Martial Dao Sovereign." "More than just hope—the chances are immense..." By now, no one blamed Lu Changsheng for being overbearing anymore. Sealing off the pool was indeed for the good of the other disciples. Otherwise, once Lu Changsheng unleashed his martial daos, any martial artist inside the Heavenly Saint Pool would have suffered a devastating failure. That would have been a catastrophic loss, potentially causing incalculable disaster. In the void, Lu Changsheng's Earth Saint Dao body remained serene. The ten thousand martial daos within the Infinite Martial Dao continued to reorganize and align according to the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method. This continuous realignment went on for three full days. Yes, three full days. In the history of the Heavenly Saint Pool, no one had ever taken three days to advance to Heavenly Saint. At most, it took a single day. Most completed their advancement in just a few hours. Yet Lu Changsheng spent three entire days just reorganizing and aligning his ten thousand martial daos. Now, the reorganization was finally complete. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. The ten thousand martial daos were aligned according to every step of the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method. It was exceedingly intricate. Yet across the full three days, everything had gone remarkably smoothly. Not a single mishap had occurred. This was precisely because Lu Changsheng had simulated it hundreds, thousands of times. Deducing it again and again, fixing every conceivable issue, allowed him to execute the actual process without a single hitch. However, reorganizing the martial daos with the structuring method was merely the first step. Next came the most crucial step: refining the reorganized martial daos back into his body. And transforming the illusory into substance. Transforming embryonic martial daos into true martial daos! These steps occurred simultaneously. Once refined into his body, they would solidify from illusory to real. Furthermore, they would materialize according to the positions arranged by the structuring method. "Refine!" Lu Changsheng snapped his eyes wide and let out a low shout. Instantly, the Infinite Martial Dao shone with brilliant radiance. His Earth Saint Dao body opened its mouth and inhaled deeply. It swallowed the Infinite Martial Dao in a single gulp. *Boom!* Thunderous roars shook Lu Changsheng's interior. He felt his Earth Saint Dao body expanding violently, bearing the impact of terrifying power. Lu Changsheng's Infinite Martial Dao contained ten thousand martial daos. For his Earth Saint Dao body to forcibly refine them all into itself—how colossal was that pressure? Yet his Earth Saint Dao body was far beyond what it once was. Thus, it held firm against the onslaught. Moreover, as the Infinite Martial Dao was refined into his body, the illusory embryonic martial daos gradually transformed into true martial daos! The ten thousand martial daos rapidly condensed into shape according to the Ten Thousand Daos structuring method, solidifying from the illusory. Throughout this process, the Earth Saint Dao body had to endure. Ten percent, twenty percent, thirty percent, forty, fifty... Lu Changsheng's Infinite Martial Dao transformed rapidly. From ten percent, it climbed all the way to ninety-nine percent. And finally, one hundred percent! *Buzz.* Lu Changsheng's Earth Saint Dao body quivered slightly. The endless pain finally vanished. The entire Earth Saint Dao body seemed filled with a sensation of profound jubilation. It was complete! The embryonic form of the Infinite Martial Dao had been fully transformed, completely evolving into a true martial dao. Lu Changsheng could clearly sense the terrifying power of the Infinite Martial Dao within him. This was the martial dao of a Master of Ten Thousand Daos post-transformation. Its power was so immense that even Lu Changsheng himself found it frightening. It felt as if, were he to face Bloodfire Ancestor again, a single finger would suffice to crush him. This was no illusion, but reality! "It worked! True Disciple Lu has advanced to Heavenly Saint!" "Terrifying! To possess such dreadful might right upon advancing—truly worthy of a Master of Ten Thousand Daos!" "Just how powerful can a Heavenly Saint who advanced as a Master of Ten Thousand Daos be?" "There are Heavenly Saints in the sacred ground who advanced as Masters of a Thousand Daos, and their strength shakes the heavens. But a Heavenly Saint who advanced as a Master of Ten Thousand Daos is bound to be even more terrifying. Could he be... invincible among Heavenly Saints?" "Invincible among Heavenly Saints... How many years has it been since an invincible Heavenly Saint appeared in our Jidao Sacred Ground? Can True Disciple Lu truly achieve that?" Many looked up at Lu Changsheng in the void, their eyes filled with curiosity. Lu Changsheng gazed into the void as well. At this moment, he was a Heavenly Saint! Counting the time, not even fifty years had passed since he began his cultivation journey. It was merely close to fifty years. "Fifty years of cultivation, and at last, a Heavenly Saint!" With a thought, *Rumble.* His Earth Saint Dao body seemed to truly come alive. A terrifying aura swept out in all directions like a tempest, vast and mighty!