Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

"A Martial Saint... He actually became a Martial Saint..." Martial Venerable Tian Ming muttered under his breath. He had thought his heart was at peace, but clearly, that was not the case.

Not long ago, word had spread that Lu Changsheng had slain a Martial Saint head-on while still in the Divine Ability Realm. The news had utterly shaken the Martial Saint Institute. Not even the Institute's most supreme Divine Ability Realm martial artists could claim any confidence in going against a Martial Saint, let alone killing one. After all, the power gap produced by the Saint Body was simply too vast.

And yet, the rumors about Lu Changsheng had proven to be true. Countless people had witnessed that battle with their own eyes, everyone stunned by Lu Changsheng's feat.

Before many in the Martial Saint Institute could even recover from the shock of Lu Changsheng killing a Martial Saint, he had returned to the institute as a Martial Saint himself.

That news was even more staggering. Lu Changsheng had already been formidable in the Divine Ability Realm, so how much more terrifying would he be now as a Martial Saint?

While the Institute's members were trying to gather themselves, Lu Changsheng found himself in somewhat of a pinch. He could not get in. He stood right outside the Martial Saint Institute, barred from entry.

Indeed, Martial Saints were forbidden from entering the Martial Saint Institute. The Institute itself was an enchanted treasure, and the artifact spirit governed everything within it. Now, it was denying Lu Changsheng entry.

Of course, he could force his way in, but this was the Martial Saint Institute, forged by the joint efforts of supreme powers. Who would dare trespass into the Institute?

"Artifact spirit, I wish to enter Cave Residence No.1 to retrieve my belongings," Lu Changsheng said directly. He knew the artifact spirit was a wondrous thing, with intelligence nearly matching a human's. Clearly, it had to realize his request was reasonable.

"Martial Saint Institute inner division disciple Lu Changsheng, you may enter Cave Residence No.1 for one hour only. After one hour, you must leave the inner division."

With that, Lu Changsheng finally managed to enter the Institute. There were indeed some of his belongings left in Cave Residence No.1, though nothing of great importance. He managed to collect everything with a quick sweep, and then he simply left. Given how little time he had spent at the Martial Saint Institute, his departure hardly stirred any emotion. He had not really grown attached to this place.

Leaving the inner division, he made his way to the outer division. He still had to find a Heavenly Rain Creation Pill for Li Zhenggang, which was easier said than done. The Heavenly Rain Creation Pill was priceless, something one could not simply buy with spirit stones. If that were possible, Li Zhenggang would have long dealt with his condition, not having to resort to asking Lu Changsheng for help.

On that note, Lu Changsheng had become remarkably wealthy, and not just in terms of spirit stones. On top of that, he also possessed a great quantity of Void Divine Stones.

Eventually, Lu Changsheng arrived at the outer division's Exchange Hall and began making inquiries about the Heavenly Rain Creation Pill.

"Hmm?"

Before long, he actually found a Heavenly Rain Creation Pill. It was in the possession of a heavyset man, likely just a Divine Ability Realm martial artist, who held up a task plaque with his terms written on it.

Kill the grand elder of the Joyous Sect, Martial Saint Fang Yi. Upon completion, receive one Heavenly Rain Creation Pill.

The task itself sounded straightforward, but of course, killing a Martial Saint was easier said than done. In fact, the mere fact that someone dared to publicly put a bounty on a Martial Saint's head there in the outer division's Exchange Hall was quite astonishing. This was not courage or arrogance; it was something closer to madness.

Lu Changsheng did not approach the man right away. Instead, he asked around about him, and before long, he managed to piece together the whole story. The stout man was apparently quite well known in the outer division.

His name was Zhao Wulong, born to an immortal cultivation clan. However, he could not enter the Immortal Dao system due to not having a spirit root, so he had been left to walk the Martial Dao instead.

On the bright side, Zhao Wulong showed some promising talent for the Martial Dao. Stumbling along the way, he had somehow cultivated a divine ability and made something of himself in the Martial Dao.

However, misfortune often strikes without warning. Over a certain treasure, the Zhao Clan came to blows with a group of martial artists and immortal cultivators, and in doing so provoked a Martial Saint: the Joyous Sect's grand elder, Fang Yi.

With a single strike, the mighty Martial Saint Fang Yi wiped out the entire Zhao Clan, rooting them out down to the last. Apart from Zhao Wulong, who escaped by sheer luck, every member of the Zhao Clan perished.

Carrying a blood feud, Zhao Wulong threw himself into cultivation. However, forging a Saint Body proved to be too difficult. The gap between the Divine Ability Realm and Martial Saint was all but unbridgeable. Zhao Wulong was not devoid of talent, but reaching the Divine Ability Realm was clearly his limit.

Ultimately, Zhao Wulong had decided to put a bounty on Martial Saint Fang Yi, offering the Heavenly Rain Creation Pill he obtained in his early years as a reward.

Within the outer division, not even Martial Saints could openly attack anyone, so Zhao Wulong was safe there, despite his audacious bounty. The moment he left the Martial Saint Institute, however, he was a dead man.

Unfortunately for him, more than ten years had passed, and not a single Martial Saint had come forward to take up the task, despite the reward of the Heavenly Rain Creation Pill. That was not particularly surprising, though, as the Martial Saint Institute housed mostly Divine Ability Realm martial artists.

The occasional Martial Saint did visit the outer division, but so far, no one confident enough to go against Fang Yi had come. Besides, while the Heavenly Rain Creation Pill was definitely enticing, many did not consider the reward worth so much trouble.

Still, Zhao Wulong did not give up. This was, after all, his only hope of revenge. He would hold his placard there in the Martial Saint Institute until someone finally accepted his task—or he grew old and died.

Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes.

Martial Saint Fang Yi... He became a Martial Saint eight hundred years ago, which makes him a veteran. Still, he's only a Human Saint, and he forged his Saint Body from a major divine ability. Not that impressive, but definitely not weak either.

The Joyous Sect's grand elder had a considerable reputation, so obtaining information about him was hardly difficult. He was a Human Saint whose Saint Body had been forged on the foundation of a single major divine ability. As the sect's sole Martial Saint, he remained at the sect's base all year round.

Ultimately, the Joyous Sect was enormous, with thousands of disciples, a truly massive power. As such, no ordinary Martial Saint would dare provoke Fang Yi.

Having learned enough, Lu Changsheng made up his mind and walked straight over.

"I'll take up the task!" Lu Changsheng said flatly.

"Hmm?" Zhao Wulong's head snapped up, and he stared in shock at the stranger before him.

He did not recognize Lu Changsheng, and since Lu Changsheng had concealed his aura entirely, Zhao Wulong had no idea he was facing a Martial Saint.

"Sir, do you know who this task is aimed at?" Zhao Wulong asked.

"Of course. The Joyous Sect's grand elder, Martial Saint Fang Yi," Lu Changsheng replied calmly.

Seeing that Lu Changsheng knew exactly what the task entailed, excitement stirred in Zhao Wulong's heart. After more than a decade of waiting, someone was finally willing to help him take his revenge. Even so, he remained cautious.

"May I ask your name, sir?" Zhao Wulong asked, a hint of skepticism still present in his voice.

"I am Lu Changsheng of the Sacred Earth Heavenly Sect," Lu Changsheng said nonchalantly.

A shudder passed through Zhao Wulong upon hearing his name, and his eyes widened in shock.