Directly charging a military formation—and from the front, no less—was an unquestionably audacious idea.
Even many Divine Strength Realm martial artists would probably deem it mad.
Yet Lu Changsheng had not truly lost his mind; naturally, he had something to rely on.
His reliance was the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method.
With that, Lu Changsheng called up his attribute panel to look.
Host: Lu Changsheng
Comprehension: 872 (Hidden Dragon in the Depths)
Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method: Cast for 3 months and 8 days.
Ocean Wave Conception: Progress 10%
Qiantian Treasure Transformation Secret Method: Second Layer
Ninefold Carp Leaping Dragon Gate Art: Third Layer
Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method: Mastery
Lu Changsheng's comprehension had frozen at 872 points, having barely grown during this period.
The reason was simple: he had already finished practicing all sixty-eight martial arts techniques he had acquired last time.
He was still over a hundred points shy of the grand milestone of 1,000 comprehension points.
This time, however, the key for Lu Changsheng was the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method.
In a mere month and a half, his Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method had already reached the mastery level.
One had to realize that even Guo Jiuling's level in the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method back then had been no higher, also at the mastery level.
Moreover, what Lu Changsheng cultivated was the complete version of the Nine-Word Mantra, whereas Guo Jiuling had cultivated a fragmented version.
The difference in power between the two was naturally vast.
The complete Nine-Word Mantra could not only suppress an opponent on a mental level, but also shock their qi, blood, and physical body.
An army's formation was terrifying indeed, yet the Nine-Word Mantra could shock those soldiers across a wide area.
Once they were stunned, Lu Changsheng would only need to shatter the tightly barred city gate to calmly leave Qianjiang City.
"The city gate..."
That gate was exceptionally sturdy.
Relying on human strength alone to break it would be exceedingly difficult.
However, with Lu Changsheng's current might, unleashing the Three Transformations of the Divine Dragon alongside Triple Waves would yield a terrifying force of nearly five hundred tripods.
What city gate could withstand that?
With that thought, Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer.
*Whoosh.*
The next instant, Lu Changsheng shot forward.
Though his speed was blistering, the soldiers at the gate were not slow to react either.
Anyone approaching the gate who did not belong to Heavenly King Min's forces was shot on sight.
"Someone is charging the formation! Loose arrows!"
A dense rain of arrows poured down toward Lu Changsheng.
Lu Changsheng brought forth a wall of qi and blood, blocking directly before him.
The barrage struck the barrier and clattered to the ground one after another.
Though the wall of qi and blood trembled violently, it remained unpierced.
"A Divine Strength Realm martial artist!"
"A martial artist is charging the line! Spearmen, thrust!"
These soldiers seemed no strangers to martial artists charging their ranks.
The formation quickly snapped into order, spears bristling like a forest as they thrust forward with all their might.
Once a dense thicket of spears thrust forward together, merely coating oneself in Divine Strength Realm qi and blood could not truly stop them.
After all, the Divine Strength Realm meant peerless physical might, not invulnerable defense.
"*Lin!*"
Lu Changsheng immediately unleashed the Nine-Word Mantra.
In an instant, his voice roared like thunder, exploding in the ears of countless soldiers.
A military formation was formidable, yet these men were ordinary soldiers, not martial artists.
Besides, even Divine Strength Realm martial artists had little resistance before the Nine-Word Mantra.
Thus, that single cry of "*Lin*" instantly froze the soldiers at the gate, their minds wiped completely blank.
The imposing, magnificent formation ground to an abrupt halt.
*Go!*
Without a second thought, Lu Changsheng leaped up, clearing the soldiers' heads entirely to land behind them right before the gate.
Without pausing for a moment, he hammered at the gate in a wild frenzy.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Three Transformations of the Divine Dragon paired with Triple Waves unleashed an almost unfathomable force nearing five hundred tripods.
After just three punches, the gate could endure no longer, and a gaping hole was smashed through by Lu Changsheng.
"Hahaha!"
Lu Changsheng burrowed through the breach and threw his head back in laughter.
Exhilarating—it was truly magnificent.
Right before everyone's eyes, he had punched through a military formation and crossed through an army of ten thousand.
This was how a martial artist ought to be!
In this vast world, what could possibly obstruct such a martial artist?
Before long, the soldiers came to their senses.
Looking at the battered, ruined gate, they exchanged stunned glances.
It was not that they had never faced martial artists before; they had even surrounded and killed Divine Strength Realm experts.
Yet when had they ever seen a martial artist so terrifying?
"Who was that man? How could he be so ferocious?" a commander demanded.
"He is probably one of those legendary figures in the Jianghu who can roam the world unhindered..."
Shattering a city gate in a few punches, piercing an entire battle formation single-handedly, toying with an army of ten thousand as if it were child's play.
"Repair the gate. As long as someone like that does not make an enemy of our army, just let him go if he wants to leave," the commander ordered.
In truth, what could they have done even if they did not want to let him go?
There was simply no stopping him!
News of the gate was kept under tight wraps, known only to some soldiers who regarded it as a bizarre marvel.
Yet they had no idea who the person who had charged the formation and broken the gate actually was.
By this time, Lu Changsheng was already far from Qianjiang City. Though he had not brought his horse out, his stamina was immense; sprinting on foot was hardly inferior to riding.
It was merely slightly more tiring.
Upon reaching the next town, Lu Changsheng bought a horse and rode all the way toward Zhanhai Prefecture.
Lu Changsheng had planned this long ago: to go to Zhanhai Prefecture.
Only Zhanhai Prefecture could allow his Ocean Wave Conception to continue advancing.
As for Nanyang Prefecture, he would not return for now; he could always visit when an opportunity arose later.
Compared to Nanyang Prefecture, Zhanhai Prefecture was undoubtedly far more prosperous.
Moreover, maritime trade flourished there, gathering rare treasures from the four seas. Whether it was the martial path or secret treasures and curiosities, Zhanhai Prefecture had it all.
If Lu Changsheng wished for his martial path to advance further, Zhanhai Prefecture was clearly the better fit.
Along the way, Lu Changsheng encountered few troubles.
A few days later, he finally arrived in Zhanhai Prefecture.
Although the realm was currently in turmoil and displaced refugees were everywhere—even Qianjiang Prefecture had been overrun by roving bandits, and beacon fires of rebellion rose across the land—Zhanhai Prefecture remained prosperous, with scarcely any refugees in sight.
The reason was simple: Zhanhai Prefecture was simply too wealthy.
Blessed with the profits of sea trade, common folk who did not farm could still fill their bellies and stave off starvation by working as manual laborers or doing odd jobs at the docks.
This time, Lu Changsheng did not disguise himself as "Dao Twelve," appearing instead under his true appearance.
After all, if Lu Changsheng wanted to establish himself in Zhanhai City and fully integrate into it, he needed an identity.
There were martial sects in Zhanhai City.
However, sects generally recruited very young children to raise from an early age, ensuring a sense of belonging and loyalty.
Sects would never accept someone of Lu Changsheng's age.
The path to entering a sect was blocked.
As for joining merchant guilds or aristocratic families, that was even less suitable.
How much help could merchant guilds or aristocratic clans provide to his martial cultivation?
Lu Changsheng had already finished practicing all sixty-eight martial techniques.
To increase his comprehension, relying solely on buying and selling techniques on the black market was becoming quite difficult.
He still needed a legitimate avenue to learn a wide variety of martial techniques.
A sect was the best choice, but he could not enter one.
Aristocratic families and merchant guilds possessed few martial arts.
The government was even less viable.
The authorities and the Jianghu operated along two distinct tracks, keeping out of each other's affairs.
Even if the government possessed martial arts, one needed a spotless background, along with various trials and meritorious service, which was exceedingly troublesome.
Considering all this carefully, Lu Changsheng had few options left.
"Gangs..."
Lu Changsheng thought of a special kind of faction in Zhanhai City.
Because Zhanhai City was a hub of maritime commerce, trade thrived.
The docks in particular were immensely lucrative.
Several gangs had arisen here, boasting numerous experts and deeply entrenched influence.
Their martial strength was especially formidable, not a bit inferior to the sects.
Zhanhai City had three great gangs: the Four Seas Gang, the Three Dragons Association, and the Blood-Oath Gang.
Lu Changsheng did not ponder for long.
Among the three, the Four Seas Gang was unquestionably the largest.
Lu Changsheng naturally chose the top gang.
However, he did not plan to join the Four Seas Gang as a martial artist, but rather as a physician.
Where gangs differed from sects was that they could absorb outsiders into their ranks.
Furthermore, they required people from all walks of life—not just martial artists, but physicians as well.
In fact, good physicians were in high demand.
Thus, Lu Changsheng headed straight for the Four Seas Gang.
The headquarters of the Four Seas Gang sat on the most prosperous street in Zhanhai City, making it easy to find.
Several guards stood at the entrance. Lu Changsheng went straight up and said, "I am a physician. May I ask if I can join the Four Seas Gang?"
"A physician?"
A smile appeared on the guards' faces.
No matter where one went, physicians were always respected.
"We accept them, of course we do!"
"However, physicians must undergo an assessment. Follow me."
And so, Lu Changsheng followed the guard, smoothly entering the Four Seas Gang.
The Four Seas Gang had a large gathering of physicians.
After all, as a gang, they spent their days fighting and killing; many members ended up wounded or sick.
Consequently, the gang employed numerous physicians, even establishing a Medical Hall.
Lu Changsheng was brought to the Medical Hall. An elderly man dressed as a physician looked him up and down, brow furrowing slightly. "Seeing how young you are, are you truly a physician?"
Lu Changsheng's only disadvantage was his youth.
Physicians were apprenticed to masters and taught by hand, usually reaching competence only in their late twenties or even thirties.
And Lu Changsheng?
He was not even twenty.
It was no wonder the Medical Hall physician wore such an expression.
"I studied under the renowned Nanyang physician Wu Jing," Lu Changsheng introduced himself directly.
Since he was appearing in Zhanhai City under the identity of "Lu Changsheng," his background was hardly a secret anyway.
Even if he said nothing, anyone who cared to look could find out.
"The renowned Nanyang physician Wu Jing?!"
"So you are Elder Wu's esteemed disciple!"
The physician in the Medical Hall came to an understanding.
Wu Jing was a true master of medicine.
Among physicians, scarcely anyone had not heard of Wu Jing.
"Since you are Elder Wu's disciple, your medical skill must surely be decent."
"However, the proper assessment cannot be skipped."
With that, the physician began arranging Lu Changsheng's assessment.
For a physician, the examination naturally fell into two categories: diagnosing illnesses and treating injuries.
For the Four Seas Gang, treating injuries was even more crucial than diagnosing illnesses.
And bone-setting happened to be Lu Changsheng's greatest specialty.
After a thorough assessment, the Medical Hall physician was full of praise.
"Truly worthy of being Elder Wu's disciple! To possess such skill at such a young age is remarkable—truly remarkable!"
"Physician Lu, you have passed our Medical Hall's assessment. However, our Medical Hall is divided into four ranks: Miracle Hand, Renowned Physician, Senior Physician, and Ordinary Physician."
"Although your skill is superb—bordering on that of a Renowned Physician—the rules of our Medical Hall mandate advancement through merit. Therefore, you must also start as an Ordinary Physician."
"Still, so long as your skill is profound and you accumulate enough merit, you will be able to advance to Senior Physician or even Renowned Physician."
Having learned the rules of the Medical Hall, Lu Changsheng nodded.
The so-called "merit" system applied across the entire Four Seas Gang.
From ordinary members at the bottom to the gang leader and elders at the top, everything operated on merit.
Supposedly, this system had been established jointly by the four founding elders of the Four Seas Gang. It was precisely because of this framework that the gang had stood firm for a century and grown into the greatest gang in all of Zhanhai City.
Soon, Lu Changsheng officially became an Ordinary Physician in the Four Seas Gang's Medical Hall.
The Medical Hall also assigned Lu Changsheng two apprentices.
One was named Lu Yang, and the other was Zhang Xuan.
Lu Yang was quiet, dependable, and hardworking, if a bit dull.
Zhang Xuan was smooth, worldly, and clever.
Regardless of their personalities, both were overjoyed to become apprentices to a Medical Hall physician.
It meant their status within the Four Seas Gang had risen.
Furthermore, the relationship between an apprentice and a physician was one of shared fortune and misfortune.
If a physician was dissatisfied with an apprentice, they could dismiss them outright.
Apprentices dismissed directly within the Four Seas Gang were usually "cleaned out" of the gang altogether.
Though cruel, that was the way of a gang.
"Greetings, Physician Lu!"
The two apprentices kowtowed respectfully.
Right now, Lu Changsheng held the power of life and death over them.
"Mm. I will only begin consultations tomorrow. Do not be overly restrained; simply attend to your duties properly," Lu Changsheng said casually.
"Yes, Physician."
Lu Changsheng had a courtyard of his own within the Four Seas Gang.
The gang still placed considerable value on physicians.
The next day, Lu Changsheng arrived at the Medical Hall and began seeing patients.
Yet after waiting the entire morning, only four or five people came.
This would not do.
Under the Medical Hall's system, successfully treating a patient earned merit points.
The severity of a patient's injuries or illness determined the reward.
Lu Changsheng's few patients were all of the lowest tier—mere superficial wounds, or at most a common cold.
After a whole morning, he had earned negligible merit.
Without merit, one could hardly take a step forward in the Four Seas Gang.
Lu Yang said nothing, spending the morning like a mute flask, quietly performing odd chores unless Lu Changsheng gave an order.
Zhang Xuan, on the other hand, looked anxious and seemed hesitant to speak.
"Zhang Xuan, what is on your mind?" Lu Changsheng asked.
Zhang Xuan promptly spoke up. "Physician Lu, you are newly arrived, so the people in the Four Seas Gang do not know of your skills yet."
"I heard you studied under the renowned physician Wu Jing. That is excellent publicity. Why don't the two of us go spread the word for you outside?"
Zhang Xuan was clearly quick-witted, having already dug up Lu Changsheng's background in just a day.
Even fine wine feared a deep alley.
Especially for a newly arrived Ordinary Physician like Lu Changsheng.
Without a little flexibility, there was no telling how long one would have to languish.
Lu Changsheng did not want to endure a slow grind.
He wanted to earn merit quickly as well.
The more merit he had, the more martial arts techniques he could exchange for in the Four Seas Gang.
"Very well. Zhang Xuan, Lu Yang, go spread the word together," Lu Changsheng nodded.
With that, Zhang Xuan dragged Lu Yang along to promote his name outside.
Sure enough, after their promotional efforts, more patients began to arrive.
Yet only a few days of such life passed before trouble arrived.
On this day, Zhang Xuan and Lu Yang appeared before Lu Changsheng, battered black and blue.
"Hm? Who beat you?" Lu Changsheng asked.
Chapter 97