Shengzhou City, the prefecture office.
Lu Changsheng arrived at the prefecture office and met with the governor.
With a face full of smiles, the governor said to Lu Changsheng, "Mister Lu, please, take a seat."
"I only just learned that Mister Lu is a formidable expert who has forged a divine body foundation. For Shengzhou City not to have welcomed Mister Lu properly was truly a slight on our part. I hope Mister Lu can forgive us."
The governor was exceedingly polite, even exceptionally warm.
Yet, for a complete stranger to show such warmth meant he certainly had a favor to ask.
"The governor flatters me. I am merely a martial artist. How could I deserve such courtesy? May I ask why the governor has summoned me today?"
Lu Changsheng knew that the Wenhua Divine Dynasty revered scholarship above all.
A dignified prefectural governor held quite a high status.
By contrast, while the standing of martial artists was also respectable, it was far from reaching the heights it enjoyed in the Great Qian Divine Dynasty.
For this governor to display such humility and warmth now could only mean there was something he needed Lu Changsheng to do.
When someone showed unearned hospitality, they harbored an ulterior motive.
Lu Changsheng naturally remained cautious.
The governor smiled slightly. "Mister Lu, truth be told, there is indeed a matter with which I must ask for your assistance. I wonder if Mister Lu knows of the otherworldly godly beings?"
"Mm?"
Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the governor.
Then, his expression calm and composed, he replied, "I have naturally heard of them, but I have never seen one."
"These otherworldly godly beings are truly the root of all turmoil in our Kunwu World," the governor sighed.
"Our Wenhua Divine Dynasty possesses a splendid culture, lives in harmony with neighboring divine dynasties, and maintains goodwill with our neighbors. Within our borders, goods are abundant, the common folk live and work in peace and contentment, and, even more remarkably, moral culture reaches far and wide, winning the willing submission of foreign lands.
"Regrettably, these otherworldly godly beings all harbor sinister designs. They constantly sow destruction within our divine dynasty, completely lacking reverence and wreaking havoc willfully, causing immense headaches for the imperial court.
"Yet what can be done? Each of these otherworldly godly beings is exceedingly powerful. Some can only be dealt with by deploying a national divine item. For instance, not long ago, the prefect received a lead that a formidable otherworldly godly being was hiding in the provincial capital.
"The prefect subsequently laid out a meticulous plan to capture this being, but in the end, the creature went on a rampage of destruction throughout the provincial capital and escaped. What is infuriating is that the fiend did not flee far at all. Instead, it seized a prefectural city, though no one knows what it is looking for.
"Enraged, the prefect ordered every prefecture to dispatch a designated number of experts—all of whom must have forged a divine body foundation—to the provincial office to await his command, with the goal of slaying or driving out that otherworldly godly being.
"Shengzhou City scraped together everyone it could, but we were still short by one expert who had forged a divine body foundation. Fortunately, Mister Lu appeared. Therefore, I implore Mister Lu to lend a helping hand. This official would be endlessly grateful!"
The governor had spoken at great length.
In truth, the matter was very simple.
An otherworldly godly being had entrenched itself in a prefectural city and refused to leave. The prefect intended to eradicate it and required every prefecture to send experts at the divine body level.
The governor of Shengzhou City had sought out Lu Changsheng because, with him included, Shengzhou City's quota would finally be met.
Lu Changsheng was actually quite curious.
What was that otherworldly godly being trying to accomplish by holing up in a prefectural city?
Lu Changsheng was an otherworldly godly being himself.
The so-called otherworldly godly beings were merely experts from the myriad races of the Boundary Sea.
These experts came to the Kunwu World with clear objectives.
First, to seek their own opportunities, such as divine items.
Second, to carry out tasks assigned by those in the Ancestor Realm.
The tasks assigned by Ancestor Realm figures generally involved clues regarding the Road to Ascending Heaven, or clues about the Heaven Realm, immortals, and the like.
Otherworldly godly beings were usually extremely cautious and would rarely entrench themselves in a prefectural city to clash head-on with a divine dynasty.
A divine dynasty was not weak.
If one provoked a divine dynasty into fury and prompted them to deploy powerful divine items, the otherworldly godly being would be placed in grave danger.
Yet this particular otherworldly godly being was willing to defy such danger just to occupy a prefectural city.
That was rather peculiar.
Even so, curiosity was one thing.
Expecting Lu Changsheng to risk his life for the prefecture office on a few honeyed words alone? That was impossible.
Lu Changsheng remained impassive and held his tongue.
Seeing that Lu Changsheng offered no reply for a long time, the governor naturally understood why.
He smiled faintly. "I heard that Mister Lu has been looking for clues regarding immortal script or immortals. I wonder if that is true?"
Lu Changsheng looked up at the governor. "Could it be that the governor has clues?"
"Naturally."
"Within the prefecture's archive, there are two volumes recording details concerning immortal script and immortals. Such records are not found even in the academy's collection. Perhaps they might be of some help to Mister Lu."
"Oh? Is that true?"
A sharp gleam flashed across Lu Changsheng's eyes.
"Every word is true! If Mister Lu is willing to help, once you return in triumph, I will grant those two ancient volumes to you immediately. How does that sound?"
The governor was keeping a card up his sleeve, offering them only after Lu Changsheng returned.
Lu Changsheng weighed his options for a moment.
In truth, he could seize the ancient texts right now.
At worst, he would simply slaughter the people in the prefecture office.
Yet if he truly did that, it would be an open provocation against the Wenhua Divine Dynasty.
Unless absolutely necessary, there was no need for such extremes.
After all, the Wenhua Divine Dynasty likely harbored many records concerning immortals and immortal script.
Lu Changsheng would also need to search the divine dynasty for the remaining Mortal Immortal tombstone fragments.
Antagonizing the Wenhua Divine Dynasty at this juncture would bring far more harm than good.
Besides, going to see why that otherworldly godly being had entrenched itself in a prefectural city might yield unexpected rewards.
"Then it is a deal between us," Lu Changsheng agreed.
"Wonderful! Mister Lu, please return and rest for now. In a few days, this official will send men from the prefecture office to invite you to depart."
Lu Changsheng nodded and took his leave.
Soon, Lu Changsheng returned to Zhao Shuwen's ancestral residence and called Zhao Shuwen over.
"In a few days, I must make a trip to the provincial capital. My return date is uncertain. I might not make it back in time for your wedding day. However, if I can return early, I will certainly do so as soon as possible," Lu Changsheng said.
Zhao Shuwen nodded. Lu Changsheng had already helped him tremendously.
Counting the days, there was roughly a month left before his wedding with Miss Qin.
He still hoped Lu Changsheng could attend.
"Mister Lu, I will continue to work hard on deciphering the patterns. I have made some initial headway, but it may take more time," Zhao Shuwen said sheepishly.
He knew his value lay in translating the immortal script and patterns.
Hence, he had not slacked off during this period, pouring himself earnestly into the work.
Yet those patterns were profoundly abstruse.
Translating them completely was a massive undertaking that could not possibly be finished in short order.
"Do not rush this matter; let nature take its course. Your inability to translate them now is merely due to a lack of reference materials. Once I finish this task for the governor, I will be able to borrow several ancient texts on immortal script from the prefecture office. Perhaps they will aid your deciphering."
Zhao Shuwen was overjoyed.
The prefecture's collection was quite extensive.
While not as vast as the academy's, many of its works were rare, unique copies, and some were even sensitive texts touching upon state affairs.
If he could access the prefecture's collection to examine those ancient texts, it would indeed provide immense help toward deciphering the immortal script and patterns.
Three days later, messengers from the prefecture office arrived.
Lu Changsheng returned to the prefecture office once more.
The governor sat in the reception hall. Upon seeing Lu Changsheng, he warmly invited him to take a seat.
"Everyone, our party is fully gathered. This time, our Shengzhou City has assembled eight great experts at the divine body level, meeting the prefect's requirements. Therefore, you must set out for the provincial capital today. Also, once you arrive at the provincial office, you must heed the prefect's arrangements."
The governor was all smiles.
In truth, Shengzhou City possessed only a handful of divine body experts, making it no easy feat to round them all up.
It had cost the governor tremendous effort to assemble the required number.
The governor had prepared eight whole carriages to escort the eight experts to the provincial capital.
This was not merely for show.
Eight divine body experts simply warranted such treatment.
"Governor, when we go to the provincial capital, do we represent ourselves or the Shengzhou prefecture office?" one of the divine body experts suddenly asked.
Instantly, the gazes of all eight divine body experts converged upon the governor.
This was a crucial question.
The governor seemed to have anticipated it. Without the slightest hesitation, he smiled faintly. "You naturally represent the prefecture office."
He had struck private bargains with each of these experts.
Otherwise, why would they agree to journey to the provincial capital?
They were going to fight an otherworldly godly being with their lives on the line; without compensation, none of them would have budged.
"If we represent the prefecture office, then among the eight of us, someone must take the lead. May I ask the governor, who is to lead us?"
This was the real crux of the matter.
These eight great experts represented the prefecture office.
There had to be a leader who could give orders.
Otherwise, if everyone fought for themselves, how could they represent the prefecture office?
"Well... There is no undisputed first in literature, just as there is no second in martial arts. Who should take the lead is not for this official to decide. You will have to settle it amongst yourselves..." the governor replied, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his smile.
Settle it amongst themselves?
When martial artists sought to settle a dispute, there was only one method.
The victor was king, while the loser was nothing!
No second in martial arts!
Who would lead?
It would naturally be decided with fists!
In fact, this was precisely what the governor intended.
A bout would make it abundantly clear who was superior and who was inferior, who was strong and who was weak.
"Fight it out?"
The eight divine body martial artists exchanged glances.
"May I ask, are there any benefits to being the leader?" Lu Changsheng suddenly spoke up.
Fighting tooth and nail for an empty title was not his style.
"It is merely a title," the governor said, shaking his head.
"Then I will not participate," Lu Changsheng declined directly.
He held no interest in being a leader.
Of course, whether the position was entirely devoid of benefits remained uncertain.
After all, it carried formal authority.
As for whether one could actually direct or order the other experts, that depended on personal capability.
In the end, Lu Changsheng was the only one who opted out.
The remaining seven were keenly interested in the leadership.
Thus, the seven proceeded to fight.
Lu Changsheng witnessed the entire battle among them.
Ultimately, a divine body expert named Gao Shan emerged victorious, becoming the head of the eight.
Naturally, Lu Changsheng paid no heed to this Gao Shan.
He was only traveling to the provincial capital.
Once there, he would act on his own.
"Good. Gao Shan, lead these experts to the provincial office on behalf of Shengzhou Prefecture."
The governor was thoroughly satisfied.
"Yes, Governor."
Gao Shan nodded toward the other six.
Only Lu Changsheng ignored him.
However, Gao Shan did not make a scene.
Thus, the group of eight boarded their respective carriages and slowly departed Shengzhou City, heading toward the provincial capital.
The interior of the Wenhua Divine Dynasty was generally stable.
Public order was vastly superior to that of the Great Qian Divine Dynasty.
They encountered no bandits along the road.
Perhaps it was because all eight carriages bore the official insignia of Shengzhou City, deterring would-be brigands from acting recklessly.
Yet the primary reason was likely the peaceful nature of the Wenhua Divine Dynasty itself.
With less chaos, there were naturally fewer bandits.
Along the way, Gao Shan sought out Lu Changsheng and exchanged a few words.
It was nothing more than meaningless talk about staying united.
Lu Changsheng ignored it.
With his current strength, why would he care about a mere Gao Shan?
The other six, however, were thoroughly reined in by Gao Shan, generally obeying his commands.
Gao Shan clearly possessed skill and tact to intimidate and manage those six so quickly, proving he was no simple figure.
Yet no matter how capable he was, it had no effect on Lu Changsheng.
At present, Lu Changsheng was merely traveling along the same road as Gao Shan's group.
Once they reached the provincial office, they would go their separate ways and have nothing more to do with one another.
The carriages traveled for ten-odd days before finally arriving at the provincial capital.
The group headed straight for the provincial office.
The provincial office was bustling, with numerous people coming and going.
All of them were spirit body or even divine body experts.
Upon reaching the office, the Shengzhou City experts were granted an audience with the prefect.
However, the prefect was clearly overwhelmed with business and paid little attention to Lu Changsheng and the others, merely telling them to lodge at the provincial office for now and await orders.
The provincial office was vast, housing many experts dispatched from various subordinate prefectures and counties.
Most were divine body experts.
By Lu Changsheng's rough estimate, there were several dozen.
"A single province, and a single command from the prefect gathers dozens of divine body experts.
"It seems the foundation of the Wenhua Divine Dynasty is far deeper than that of the Great Qian Divine Dynasty, and its strength is far greater."
Lu Changsheng compared the two divine dynasties.
The Great Qian Divine Dynasty truly paled in comparison.
No wonder Great Qian had never dared expand toward the Wenhua Divine Dynasty, even during its golden age.
Lu Changsheng separated from Gao Shan's group.
Both sides likely understood they walked different paths, so Gao Shan did not press him.
The rooms adjoining Lu Changsheng's seemed to house other divine body experts.
As soon as he moved in, he spotted a swordsman sitting cross-legged on the ground.
His expression was cold, yet a terrifying sword intent emanated from his body.
This sword intent was exceedingly sharp, radiating a piercing edge that made anyone nearby feel as though they stood before a bared blade.
"A swordsman?"
Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised.
This person had clearly refined a divine item to forge a divine body.
He had not expected divine items to yield experts tied to the Sword Dao.
However, the man's Sword Dao aura gave Lu Changsheng a faint sense of familiarity.
In particular, his sword.
"His sword..."
Lu Changsheng felt the sword looked familiar.
He seemed to have seen it somewhere before, yet could not immediately recall where.
Lu Changsheng possessed a photographic memory; anything he had seen was impossible to forget.
Searching his memory carefully, a flash of inspiration crossed his mind.
At last, he remembered.
"There are patterns on the hilt of his sword. Aren't those the same patterns found on the Mortal Immortal tombstone fragments?
"Perhaps not identical, but certainly very similar.
"His sword must be related to the Mortal Immortal tombstone fragments..."
Lu Changsheng's heart stirred.
The Mortal Immortal tombstone!
To think that the moment he arrived at the provincial capital, he would stumble upon a clue regarding the Mortal Immortal tombstone.
Zhao Shuwen had been studying the mysterious patterns on the fragments all this time without discerning their meaning.
Since the patterns on this sword's hilt were so similar, it was likely connected to the fragments.
Lu Changsheng walked toward the swordsman.
As for the sword's origin, asking the swordsman directly would settle the matter, saving Lu Changsheng from wild guesses.
Without knocking, Lu Changsheng pushed open the courtyard gate and stepped inside.
"Is it not discourteous to enter unannounced?"
Though the white-robed swordsman kept his eyes closed, he had clearly sensed Lu Changsheng's arrival. His tone was chilly.
Lu Changsheng smiled. "It is indeed discourteous. However, does a fellow Daoist truly care for such trivial etiquette? Besides, you have kept your senses locked onto me the entire time. Does that not count as discourtesy as well?"
In truth, the white-robed swordsman did not care whether Lu Changsheng knocked.
Both understood the situation perfectly.
From the moment they caught sight of each other, they had been gauging each other's every move.
"What do you want?" the white-robed swordsman asked coldly.
"How should I address you, sir?"
"Wang Jiuzhen!"
"So it is Brother Wang. I came only to ask if there is any history behind the sword in your hands?"
Wang Jiuzhen was taken aback.
He opened his eyes.
A piercing, unbridled sharpness shone in his gaze.
"My sword..."
Wang Jiuzhen gripped the weapon.
His blade was indeed a treasure, indestructible and his constant companion for many years.
Yet he was a swordsman; everyone knew a swordsman's blade was his second life.
"Do you covet my sword?" Wang Jiuzhen countered.
"No. I have no designs on Brother Wang's sword. I merely wish to know its origin."
"Its origin... It does no harm to tell you. This sword was gifted to me by an old acquaintance, who claimed it was an ancestral heirloom of his clan."
Lu Changsheng fell into thought.
He did not know whether to believe Wang Jiuzhen.
If it were true, then this lead was clearly broken.
An ancestral heirloom passed down for generations meant that even its original source was likely lost to time.
"Would Brother Wang permit me to take a rubbing of the patterns engraved upon the sword?" Lu Changsheng made another request.
"Take a rubbing of the patterns?"
Wang Jiuzhen glanced at the hilt.
He suddenly understood.
Lu Changsheng's goal was not the sword itself, but the patterns on its hilt.
"Is there something extraordinary about these patterns?" Wang Jiuzhen asked.
"Nothing extraordinary. I have merely been studying some ancient scripts and patterns lately. This particular design seems exceedingly ancient, and I wish to understand what it signifies."
Lu Changsheng's words blended truth and fabrication, leaving no flaw to pick apart.
"Even if you rub the patterns, it will likely be useless.
"The origin of this sword is far from as simple as you think.
"In this world, perhaps no one understands this sword better than I.
"If you agree to do one thing for me, I will tell you the sword's origin and even the clues regarding the patterns..."
Wang Jiuzhen looked up suddenly, speaking solemnly word by word.
"Oh?"
Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised.
This Wang Jiuzhen had hidden things deeply indeed.
His earlier explanation had also been half-true and half-false.
The man actually knew the sword's origin, and even clues regarding the patterns.
Yet upon reflection, that made sense.
This was his sword. To a swordsman, a blade was a second life; how could he not uncover its history?
"What do you need me to agree to?" Lu Changsheng asked.
"It is simple: find someone for me—an otherworldly godly being!
"If you find it, kill it if you can. If you cannot kill it, notify me."
As Wang Jiuzhen spoke, a sharp light flashed in his eyes.
He made no attempt to conceal his icy killing intent.
Evidently, that otherworldly godly being was his bitter enemy who had thoroughly enraged him, prompting Wang Jiuzhen to hunt it down at any cost.
"And what if I cannot find it?" Lu Changsheng asked.
Killing was straightforward enough.
Finding someone, however, was another matter entirely.
Especially tracking an otherworldly godly being.
How vast was the Kunwu World?
How many otherworldly godly beings were there?
Locating an unfamiliar otherworldly godly being was extraordinarily difficult.
Moreover, otherworldly godly beings usually kept themselves hidden, making them even harder to find.
Lu Changsheng was not adept at tracking people.
Scouring the world for decades just for clues about the sword's patterns would hardly be worth the effort.
"As long as you agree to search for it and kill it, I will give you the sword's origin and the clues about the patterns right now!" Wang Jiuzhen stated resolutely.
"Very well, I agree!"
Lu Changsheng agreed without hesitation.
This matter was merely a slight inconvenience; he did not consider it particularly dangerous.
With his current strength, if he truly found that otherworldly godly being, he could simply kill it.
It was no trouble at all.
In any case, the sword's origin and the clues regarding the patterns were far more important.
"Good!
"Before that, I must confirm one thing.
"Can you take a strike from my sword?
"If you can, I will give you the clues immediately. If you cannot, seeking that otherworldly godly being will only bring you death. That otherworldly godly being is very strong!
"Do you dare take a strike from my sword?"
Having said this, Wang Jiuzhen gazed quietly at Lu Changsheng.
"A strike from your sword..."
Lu Changsheng returned his gaze.
A terrifying aura was gradually rising from Wang Jiuzhen.
He seemed like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, radiating piercing menace.
Even a single glance made one feel his sharp edge.
He clearly was not someone to be trifled with.
Swordsmen were never to be trifled with, especially one like Wang Jiuzhen.
He was powerful!
Lu Changsheng suddenly asked, "Brother Wang, why choose me?
"Even if you need someone to help find an otherworldly godly being, you wouldn't pick just anyone at random, would you?"
Wang Jiuzhen answered slowly, word by word, "Because you are strong! Even though we have not crossed hands, my intuition tells me you are formidable!
"That is why I demanded this single strike."
With that, Wang Jiuzhen said no more.
It was his instinct.
Lu Changsheng was strong!
A swordsman's intuition might sound far-fetched, but it was not difficult to understand.
After all, a swordsman's intuition was often remarkably sharp.
"Very well, one strike it is!"
Lu Changsheng smiled.
Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, he watched Wang Jiuzhen quietly, accepting the wager of a single strike.
He also wanted to see just how strong this swordsman who had refined a divine item truly was.
He wanted to see how a swordsman who had refined a divine item differed from those of the Boundary Sea.
"Shall we go to the Martial Arts Field?" Wang Jiuzhen asked.
"No need. Right here will do. Deliver your strike," Lu Changsheng said calmly.
"Right here?"
Wang Jiuzhen was astonished.
Was Lu Changsheng not being overly conceited?
Here, once his sword struck, Lu Changsheng would have no room to dodge.
Did he intend to take the blow head-on?
Wang Jiuzhen deemed it impossible.
Though his intuition warned him that Lu Changsheng was exceptionally strong, he had even greater confidence in his blade.
No one could take his strike head-on!
Not even Lu Changsheng!
*Swoosh!*
The next instant, Wang Jiuzhen moved.
The piercing aura around him had peaked.
A dazzling, sharp sword light flashed.
The sword light was exceedingly swift, flashing across the space in the blink of an eye to arrive right before Lu Changsheng.
There was no vast wave of sword qi.
There was only sharpness—sheer, unadulterated sharpness.
Yet this pure sharpness felt capable of cleaving through everything in existence!
A sword!
Lu Changsheng finally witnessed a pure sword once more!
No wonder Wang Jiuzhen was so confident.
Facing such a mighty strike, which ordinary divine body expert would dare meet it head-on?
Yet Lu Changsheng was, after all, Lu Changsheng.
He was no ordinary man.
Never mind this single sword strike—even against a national divine item, he would dare clash head-on!
Standing with his hands behind his back, Lu Changsheng watched the strike whistle toward him.
He simply reached out a hand.
Then, he lightly flicked his finger.
*Bang!*
Lu Changsheng's flick collided squarely with Wang Jiuzhen's sword light.
A terrifying force rippled out in all directions.
Though it looked like a mere flick of his finger, that flick was backed by the fused power of several divine bodies.
Thus, the force behind this finger was immensely powerful, more than enough to slay an ordinary divine body expert.
*Pfft!*
Wang Jiuzhen's sword light instantly shattered.
It had been broken apart by Lu Changsheng's single flick.
Witnessing this, Wang Jiuzhen could hardly believe his eyes.
"This... this is impossible!"
Wang Jiuzhen was thoroughly shaken.
Though he had always remained composed, he could not keep his calm now.
Shattering his sword light with a single flick was something he had never encountered before.
It defied his imagination.
What kind of person could break his sword with a mere flick of a finger?
It was utterly inconceivable!
*Swish!*
Wang Jiuzhen shot to his feet.
"How can your divine body be so powerful? To shatter my sword light with a flick of your finger... Even a top-tier divine body could not achieve such a feat! You..."
Wang Jiuzhen was gripped by sheer disbelief.
This had exceeded his comprehension.
Even though his intuition had told him Lu Changsheng was strong, he never could have dreamed the man was strong to such a degree.
It was miraculous!
"What, is Brother Wang going back on his word? Or would Brother Wang like to try again?"
With his hands behind his back, Lu Changsheng fixed a sharp gaze upon Wang Jiuzhen.
Moreover, the aura radiating from Lu Changsheng continued to climb, until even Wang Jiuzhen felt overwhelmed with terror.
At this moment, Wang Jiuzhen fell silent.
"I naturally keep my word.
"Regarding the sword's origin and the clues about the patterns...
"Follow me."
Wang Jiuzhen turned and walked straight into the house.
Lu Changsheng followed closely behind.
Chapter 338