"Zhuang Thirteen of Nanyang?"
Many martial artists were present, including quite a few renowned experts who were well-informed.
Yet most had never heard the name "Zhuang Thirteen."
After all, Zhuang Thirteen's rise had been far too swift. In particular, his leveling of the Blood Fiend Sect and slaying of Divine Strength Realm expert Yan Jiansheng had happened only a few days prior; word would take time to spread far and wide.
"Wait, I think I've heard of Zhuang Thirteen of Nanyang. A short while ago, wasn't there an expert who wiped out the Thirteen Desert Riders?"
"The Thirteen Desert Riders? Ah, I remember now! White Demons seemed to be involved as well. Among Refining Organs martial artists, this Zhuang Thirteen might very well be considered invincible."
"Heh, invincible among Refining Organs? So what? Li Huan, Zhao Yuanba—which of them wasn't proclaimed invincible among Refining Organs? And look what happened! Zhang Tianwu is a Divine Strength Realm martial artist!"
"That's right. No matter how strong a Refining Organs martial artist is, they're still only at the Body Tempering level. There's simply no comparison to the Divine Strength Realm."
Zhang Tianwu looked thoughtful, seemingly recalling Zhuang Thirteen's identity.
"Zhuang Thirteen of Nanyang, who wiped out the Thirteen Desert Riders single-handedly and is hailed as invincible among Refining Organs?"
A faint smile touched the corner of Zhang Tianwu's lips. "What, do you want the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure as well?"
"That's right, Gang Leader Zhang. You still have one Four-Eyed Toad Treasure left in your hands, and I, Zhuang, want it!"
Lu Changsheng seemed not to hear the murmurs of the crowd, his tone remaining calm.
Now that Zhuang Thirteen was no longer an unknown figure, having some fame did carry advantages: it drew plenty of attention, making people less likely to painstakingly investigate other clues.
Otherwise, had Lu Changsheng arrived cloaked in black and masked, people would certainly have hunted him down and might have turned up trace evidence.
But by revealing the name Zhuang Thirteen, people would only think of Zhuang Thirteen of Nanyang.
Whenever trouble arose, Zhuang Thirteen stepped forward; whenever blame fell, Zhuang Thirteen bore it.
As for whether Zhuang Thirteen drew trouble, there was even less cause for worry—that was Zhuang Thirteen's business, with nothing to do with Lu Changsheng.
Even if someone searched throughout Nanyang Prefecture, they would likely never find Zhuang Thirteen.
The martial artist possessing immense power was Zhuang Thirteen, while the skilled physician who worked miraculous cures was Lu Changsheng.
Two identities, representing two entirely different circumstances.
To contend for the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure, the persona of Zhuang Thirteen was clearly far more suitable.
"With just you?"
Zhang Tianwu's gaze turned sharp in an instant.
He could not be bothered to waste more words.
Since he had been forced to expose his identity today, he would no longer hold back. He would kill these martial artists first, then deal with the other factions in Yancheng.
*Boom!*
The next moment, Zhang Tianwu unleashed his qi and blood.
A surging tide of qi and blood dyed the entire hall a crimson hue.
A terrifying presence pressed down like Mount Tai itself, leaving onlookers feeling as though they were suffocating.
This was the full aura unleashed by a true Divine Strength Realm martial artist!
At that moment, the martial artists in the hall fell into despair.
Under such overwhelming pressure, they could barely even move, let alone dream of escaping Zhang Tianwu's grasp.
It was nothing more than a fool's dream!
Lu Changsheng remained standing calmly in place.
Letting Zhang Tianwu's aura surge toward him like a vast tempest, he stood utterly unmoved.
One step, two steps, three steps...
Zhang Tianwu suddenly felt something was amiss.
He had nearly reached Zhuang Thirteen, yet the expression on Zhuang Thirteen's face had not changed in the slightest.
Something was wrong!
Still, as a Divine Strength Realm martial artist, he was brimming with absolute confidence.
No matter what tricks Zhuang Thirteen possessed, he was confident he could easily deal with them.
"Senseless mystics—die!"
Zhang Tianwu threw a punch, a tempest of violent energy instantly enveloping Lu Changsheng.
The next moment, Lu Changsheng moved.
He took only a single step forward and stamped his left foot firmly against the floor.
*Boom!*
With that stamp, a large crater instantly appeared in the ground, flanked by a dense web of spiderweb-like cracks radiating outward.
At the same time, drawing upon the momentum of that stamp, Lu Changsheng's entire strength erupted completely.
"First Wave!"
Lu Changsheng punched out, the blow sweeping toward Zhang Tianwu like rolling waves.
In that instant, the expression on Zhang Tianwu's face changed drastically.
Only when the Zhuang Thirteen before him threw this punch and stamped that foot did Zhang Tianwu finally realize the man's true depth.
Divine Strength Realm!
Zhuang Thirteen was actually a Divine Strength Realm martial artist as well!
"How is that possible?!"
Zhang Tianwu's heart jolted, a flicker of panic surfacing in his eyes.
Yes, panic.
Zhang Tianwu had only recently broken through to the Divine Strength Realm; he had never even fought another Divine Strength Realm martial artist.
Lu Changsheng was different.
He had already fought an intense battle against Yan Jiansheng, and had even beaten him to death.
Facing another Divine Strength Realm expert now, Lu Changsheng could be considered experienced.
It was also the perfect chance to execute Triple Waves and see just how effective it was!
*Boom!*
Lu Changsheng's fist clashed violently with Zhang Tianwu's.
Zhang Tianwu immediately felt an overwhelming force surge through his arm.
This was the strength of thirty tripods!
Lu Changsheng had not even used the Divine Dragon Transformation; he had merely unleashed his body's ordinary strength.
Even so, the strength of thirty tripods was utterly terrifying.
In an instant, it snapped Zhang Tianwu's arm.
"Ah!"
Zhang Tianwu let out a bloodcurdling scream and staggered backward.
Yet Lu Changsheng had no intention of stopping.
Triple Waves was a Divine Strength Realm martial skill where each wave crested higher than the last. Once unleashed, the strikes followed wave after wave, leaving no room to evade.
Gaining the upper hand in the first step meant pressing the advantage with every subsequent move!
Sure enough, Lu Changsheng followed like a shadow, flashing directly before Zhang Tianwu and throwing another punch.
*Boom!*
This was the Second Wave!
As the blow was struck, everyone present seemed to hear the booming roar of ocean waves.
Waves crashing violently against coastal reefs!
In Zhang Tianwu's eyes, he seemed to "see" a terrifying ocean wave sweeping toward him in a vast deluge, submerging him in an instant.
"No!"
Zhang Tianwu roared at the top of his lungs.
Yet he was no reef in the sea.
When Lu Changsheng's Second Wave slammed into Zhang Tianwu, augmented by fifty percent, a staggering force equivalent to forty-five tripods detonated across Zhang Tianwu's body.
*Squelch!*
Lu Changsheng's punch punched straight through Zhang Tianwu's heart.
His arm punched right through Zhang Tianwu's back, utterly blasting Zhang Tianwu's heart to pieces along the way.
With an injury like this, let alone a Divine Strength Realm expert, even someone several realms higher would certainly die!
"I worked so hard to reach the Divine Strength Realm... I... I refuse to accept this..."
Zhang Tianwu's voice turned hoarse.
The vitality of a Divine Strength Realm martial artist was formidable indeed; even with his heart crushed, Zhang Tianwu did not perish immediately.
Lu Changsheng drew back his arm, letting Zhang Tianwu collapse to the ground, where the man continued to twitch violently.
After a few breaths, Zhang Tianwu ceased twitching, all signs of life extinguished.
Dead!
Zhang Tianwu was dead!
A grand Divine Strength Realm martial artist had failed to endure even two moves.
This sight struck everyone present dumb with terror, as if unable to believe their eyes.
Blood still dripped from Lu Changsheng's hand.
Looking down at Zhang Tianwu's corpse on the ground, he furrowed his brow.
"Zhang Tianwu was this weak?"
Lu Changsheng felt somewhat surprised.
Back then, he and Yan Jiansheng had traded blows back and forth in a fiercely contested battle.
Yet against Zhang Tianwu, the man seemed to possess no ability to fight back at all. Lu Changsheng had not even needed to use Divine Dragon Transformation—just the second strike of Triple Waves had killed him.
Lu Changsheng grew thoughtful.
Perhaps his Triple Waves was simply too potent.
Coupled with the base strength of thirty tripods, the second strike of Triple Waves reached forty-five tripods of force. An ordinary Divine Strength Realm martial artist truly could not withstand it.
There was a vast difference between one Refining Organs martial artist and another.
Likewise, there was a vast difference between Divine Strength martial artists!
Looking at Zhang Tianwu's corpse on the floor, Lu Changsheng crouched down and began searching it with practiced ease.
"Hm?"
"No Four-Eyed Toad Treasure?"
Lu Changsheng stood up at once, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall like a razor-sharp blade.
"Zhang Tianwu said the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure came in a pair. Even if he used one, another should remain."
"Where is the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure?"
Lu Changsheng's tone was not particularly harsh, but having just beaten Zhang Tianwu to death, his brutal display left everyone's heart trembling with dread.
"H-Hero Zhuang, the Black Water Gang members should know about Zhang Tianwu's affairs."
The seductive 'Pink Poison Maiden' Yang Sanniang did not dare make any rash moves now, completely dropping her sultry demeanor for fear of displeasing "Zhuang Thirteen" and getting herself killed.
Judging by the brutality "Zhuang Thirteen" had displayed just now, if anyone claimed he could slaughter everyone present, no one would doubt it.
Lu Changsheng turned his gaze to the various hall masters of the Black Water Gang.
"Hero Zhuang, there is a hidden compartment behind the gang leader's chair. Perhaps the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure is inside," one of the hall masters said, trembling with fear.
"A hidden compartment?"
Lu Changsheng cast a meaningful glance at the hall master.
For this man to know about a hidden compartment behind Zhang Tianwu's chair, he likely harbored schemes of his own.
Lu Changsheng found the hidden compartment behind the chair.
Inside, there truly was a wooden box with several ventilation holes, through which a toad treasure could faintly be seen.
Lu Changsheng opened the compartment and took out the box.
Sure enough, inside rested a toad treasure.
In size, it was no different from an ordinary toad treasure, except that it had four eyes.
This was also the origin of the name "Four-Eyed Toad Treasure."
"Good. It really is a Four-Eyed Toad Treasure."
Lu Changsheng was very pleased.
There were too many people here. While the Black Water Gang might possess other valuable items, it was not convenient for Lu Changsheng to continue searching.
He could already hear hurried footsteps outside, with a large contingent of people rushing toward the scene.
*Whoosh!*
The next moment, Lu Changsheng's figure blurred, vanishing into the night in an instant.
With Lu Changsheng's departure, the numerous martial artists in the hall finally seemed to regain their senses.
"That was close... We truly escaped with our lives this time."
"Who could have imagined Zhang Tianwu had reached the Divine Strength Realm? And even so, he was still beaten to death."
"There is always someone better. Zhang Tianwu rose because of the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure, and fell because of it too."
"Zhuang Thirteen of Nanyang... To think this man is such a formidable Divine Strength Realm expert. It seems best to stay far away from Nanyang Prefecture in the future."
"For Nanyang Prefecture to produce such a mighty martial artist, yet unheard of until now..."
The martial artists departed one after another.
However, after tonight, the renowned name of Zhuang Thirteen of Nanyang would surely spread across the martial world at once.
*Clang, clang, clang.*
A night watchman walked past outside the Xia Manor.
He caught a fleeting glimpse of a dark silhouette flashing by, rubbed his eyes, and found nothing there.
Lu Changsheng returned to the Xia Manor; although security was tight, it posed no obstacle to him.
Back in his room, Lu Changsheng immediately brought out the box.
*Croak, croak, croak.*
Suddenly, the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure inside the box made a sound.
Fortunately, it was not loud and had likely not carried outside.
"It's said that Four-Eyed Toad Treasures rarely form, being mutants among ordinary toad treasures."
Lu Changsheng stared intently at the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure.
He knew a fair bit about them.
Mutations like this were things one could only hope to encounter by chance, not seek out.
And for Zhang Tianwu to have obtained a pair this time was rarer still.
The Four-Eyed Toad Treasure was venomous and capable of spitting poison.
However, Zhang Tianwu had tied its mouth shut, preventing it from discharging venom.
Lu Changsheng recalled the Qiantian Treasure Transformation Secret Method.
Endowed with photographic memory, he had long memorized the secret method by heart.
Now, he reviewed the details regarding how to refine the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure.
The Qiantian Treasure Transformation Secret Method consisted of seven layers, but they could be cultivated in any order.
As long as one obtained the seven secret treasures and refined them, one could advance by a layer.
The Four-Eyed Toad Treasure belonged to the "exotic species" category. Refining it not only facilitated marrow transformation and blood exchange, granting the strength of ten tripods, but also rendered the body immune to a hundred poisons—offering an abundance of benefits.
Not wanting complications to arise from delay, Lu Changsheng reviewed the steps in the Qiantian Treasure Transformation Secret Method. With his terrifying comprehension exceeding 600 points, it took him merely two hours to thoroughly master the "Four-Eyed Toad Treasure Chapter."
"Let us begin."
Lu Changsheng reached out and grabbed the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure.
At the same time, he used a dagger to make a light slice across the creature's body.
*Slice!*
A large gash was carved into the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure.
Instantly, fresh blood gushed forth.
Lu Changsheng immediately cut a slit into his own palm as well, willing the wound not to heal, and pressed his hand over the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure's wound.
Then, he swiftly channeled the Qiantian Treasure Transformation Secret Method.
*Buzz.*
Lu Changsheng's palm rapidly drew the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure's blood into his body, blending it with his own.
Under the guidance of the secret method, wisps of mystical energy within the toad treasure's blood swiftly flowed into his bone marrow.
*Boom.*
Lu Changsheng's marrow began to vibrate once more, gradually being renewed.
"Marrow transformation and blood exchange has begun again..."
Lu Changsheng was intimately familiar with this sensation.
Another marrow transformation and blood exchange—this would be his fourth time.
Time slipped away.
In the blink of an eye, dawn began to break.
*Swish.*
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes.
He had not slept the entire night, yet he felt energetic and radiant.
He immediately spread open his hand.
The Four-Eyed Toad Treasure in his palm had shriveled, its corpse cold; it had clearly perished long ago.
Within Lu Changsheng's body, a new surge of divine strength had emerged, his bone marrow faintly carrying the trait of the Four-Eyed Toad Treasure: immunity to a hundred poisons!
Of course, "immunity to a hundred poisons" was a figurative expression.
Against certain bizarre poisons, Lu Changsheng would still lack immunity.
Yet most toxins would likely no longer pose a threat to him.
Furthermore, Lu Changsheng had gained the strength of ten tripods; once unleashed, his physical power reached a full forty tripods of force!
Such a figure was nothing short of terrifying!
Lu Changsheng immediately called up the attribute panel.
Host: Lu Changsheng
Comprehension: 609 (Hidden Dragon in the Depths)
Qiantian Treasure Transformation Secret Method: First Layer
Triple Waves: Second Layer
Blood Crystal Secret Method: Mastery
Ninefold Carp Leaping Dragon Gate Art: First Layer
Divine Dragon Transformation: First Transformation
Nine-Word Thunder Sound Secret Method: Perfection (Incomplete)
The attribute panel was densely packed with secret methods and martial arts capable of swiftly boosting Lu Changsheng's strength.
"If the Blood Crystal Secret Method reaches perfection and I immediately refine the blood crystals, I'll be able to reach fifty tripods of force."
"At that point, if I stack the Three Transformations of the Divine Dragon, my physical body will easily reach the Hundred Tripods Realm!"
"And if I factor in Triple Waves on top of that, my strength will reach an unimaginable level..."
Calculating slightly, Lu Changsheng felt a jolt of shock within his heart.
After entering the Divine Strength Realm, he had initially assumed his cultivation progress would slow down.
Yet looking at it now, without realizing it, his strength was advancing by leaps and bounds, seemingly even faster than during the Body Tempering Realm.
A phrase came to mind: accumulative progress yields tremendous breakthroughs!
It was precisely because he had laid a solid foundation in the Body Tempering Realm and diligently trained martial skills to boost his comprehension that his cultivation speed showed no sign of flagging even after advancing to the Divine Strength Realm.
"Doctor Lu, the master requests your presence."
Suddenly, the voice of a Xia Manor maid came from outside the door, her tone sounding rather anxious.
Lu Changsheng ceased his cultivation, opened the door, and asked, "What is the urgent matter?"
"Doctor Lu, the young mistress has fallen ill again, and it seems even worse than before. The master asks that you go take a look immediately."
"It worsened again?"
Lu Changsheng frowned slightly.
That shouldn't be!
According to his diagnosis, Miss Xia's illness should have been nearing full recovery. How could it have worsened?
With that, Lu Changsheng quickly followed the maid and hurried over.
Chapter 76