Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

Zhao Wulong had suddenly found himself standing face-to-face with Martial Venerable Lu Changsheng, the legendary martial artist who had slain a Martial Saint by himself while still in the Divine Ability Realm.

Lu Changsheng's name thundered in his ears. Even though Zhao Wulong had never left the Martial Saint Institute, he too had heard of Lu Changsheng. It would be no exaggeration to say that Lu Changsheng had already become a living legend.

"Y-You're that Venerable Lu...? The one who killed the Martial Saint wh-while still in the D-Divine Ability Realm?" Zhao Wulong stammered.

Lu Changsheng nodded, and Zhao Wulong's face lit up with uncontainable excitement. Even if he was only in the Divine Ability Realm, Lu Changsheng had slain a Martial Saint by himself. He could absolutely be regarded as a Martial Saint in his own right.

"Well? Can I take up this task?"

"You can! You can most certainly take it!" said Zhao Wulong without a second's hesitation. This was his only chance. If he let Lu Changsheng slip away, who else could avenge him?

Still, Zhao Wulong could not let Lu Changsheng do this without offering a word of warning first.

"Venerable Lu, I know you're incredibly strong, enough to slay a Martial Saint head-on. But the Joyous Sect's grand elder is not your usual Martial Saint. He's definitely stronger than the Black Light Martial Saint you killed. You cannot underestimate him. Besides, Fang Yi had informants in the Martial Saint Institute. Even if you accept this mission, catching Fang Yi off guard would be impossible..."

Zhao Wulong was an honest sort, and he truly hoped Lu Changsheng would succeed.

"I need to see the Heavenly Rain Creation Pill first," said Lu Changsheng.

"Of course."

Zhao Wulong took out the pill, and Lu Changsheng nodded in approval after examining it briefly. This was the real thing, which meant there was nothing left to hesitate over.

"Good. Once I have slain the Joyous Sect's grand elder, I will return."

With that, Lu Changsheng turned and left.

Following that, several people in the Exchange Hall exchanged glances.

"Quick, go back and inform the grand elder. Lu Changsheng has taken the task. Tell the grand elder to be careful."

Those were Fang Yi's informants. The moment they saw Lu Changsheng leave, they departed as well; the news had to be relayed back to the Joyous Sect at once.

Lu Changsheng and Zhao Wulong had been discreet, but even so, their exchange couldn't have escaped every other martial artist in the Exchange Hall. Besides, the fact that the informants of the Joyous Sect had left almost immediately after Lu Changsheng confirmed that something big was about to go down. As such, onlookers could not help but break into discussion.

"Venerable Lu actually took Zhao Wulong's task? To kill the Joyous Sect's grand elder, Fang Yi? That's a Martial Saint!"

"Venerable Lu has recently slain the Black Light Martial Saint, so his confidence is probably at his peak. But the grand elder of the Joyous Sect is no ordinary Martial Saint. Killing Fang Yi while still in the Divine Ability Realm is ridiculous. Can't be done."

"Exactly. Martial Saint Fang is stronger than many Martial Saints out there. And then there's the Joyous Sect itself. If all those Divine Ability martial artists swarm him at once, that's a massive force in its own right. I think Venerable Lu has made a mistake by taking up Zhao Wulong's task."

"Zhao Wulong has been in the outer division for over a decade, and no one has taken up his task until now. Sure, a Heavenly Rain Creation Pill is most precious, something you find only by chance, and even Martial Saints may not have one. But still, who in their right mind would actually take on this bounty?"

"Keep a close eye on this. I think Venerable Lu has finally run into a brick wall..."

Many shook their heads, convinced Lu Changsheng had let his success and confidence go to his head. Slaying one Martial Saint while being in the Divine Ability Realm could very well be considered incredible luck, and now, it seemed like Lu Changsheng was pushing his luck too much.

However, Lu Changsheng himself had no such worries. He had already left the Martial Saint Institute and was heading straight for the Joyous Sect.

The sect's base stood in Joyous City itself. The city had not originally borne that name, but once Fang Yi founded the Joyous Sect there, the name naturally changed. The entire city revolved around the sect with the same name. There, the Joyous Sect was the undisputed overlord.

"Grand elder, it's confirmed. Lu Changsheng has indeed taken Zhao Wulong's task and is currently on his way to our sect," a middle-aged man reported to Fang Yi inside the sect.

Martial Saint Fang Yi, grand elder of the Joyous Sect, currently sat with two young women in his arms.

"Lu Changsheng... Yes, I've heard of him. A prodigy blessed by the heavens, the one who killed a Martial Saint while still in the Divine Ability Realm... Indeed, he's an incredibly strong individual..."

After a brief pause, Fang Yi's expression turned cold. "But if he thinks I am anything like the Black Light Martial Saint, he's wrong. Dead wrong! I myself could've killed the Black Light Martial Saint with ease.

"Besides, haven't our reliable channels already investigated this thoroughly? In the

battle between Lu Changsheng and the Black Light Martial Saint, the gap between them was not large. Lu Changsheng relied on his bizarre divine abilities to grind the Black Light Martial Saint to death.

"Hmph! If Lu Changsheng thinks that's going to work against me, he's got another thing coming. The only question now is whether we can keep him here. Have you finished the arrangements at the base? Once I cripple Lu Changsheng, he must not be allowed to escape. Given his talent, would we ever know peace again if he manages to escape and recover?

"No, we need to cut the grass and pull out the roots! We absolutely cannot allow Lu Changsheng to leave the Joyous Sect alive!" Fang Yi's eyes grew colder still.

Upon learning that Lu Changsheng was coming from the Martial Saint Institute to kill him, Fang Yi did not decide to flee. Instead, he calmly investigated Lu Changsheng's situation, and he was now certain the man was not stronger than any other ordinary Martial Saint.

Indeed, Fang Yi was confident he could stop Lu Changsheng in his tracks, even cripple him. The only thing that worried him was whether they could prevent Lu Changsheng from escaping, so he had spent this time preparing the means to do exactly that.

"Grand Elder, everything is in place. Once Lu Changsheng sets foot in the Joyous Sect, he'll never be able to leave!"

Satisfied with the report, Fang Yi returned to his two women.

A few days went by.

Whoosh!

A streak of light flashed above Joyous City.

Lu Changsheng was hovering in the air, staring down at the Joyous Sect.

A formation?

He could vaguely sense that the Joyous Sect had laid down a formation, though that came as no surprise.

The flight from the Martial Saint Institute to the Joyous Sect had taken him ten days, while a message took only an instant. Fang Yi had informants in the Institute, which meant he had had plenty of time to prepare for Lu Changsheng's arrival.

If anything, the formation was good news; it meant Fang Yi had not fled, which made things easier for Lu Changsheng.

I guess they still don't know I've become a Martial Saint.

He was glad for that, as having to chase Fang Yi across the land would have been a hassle.

Now, where are you?

Lu Changsheng extended his senses slightly and immediately located Martial Saint Fang Yi within the sect, sitting there in the main hall.

"Hmm?" Fang Yi's eyes suddenly snapped open, and he looked up.

Whoosh!

Fang Yi shot out of the hall and rose into the air at once. Step by step, he came face to face with Lu Changsheng, with only a few hundred zhang between them.

"I take it you're Venerable Lu?" Fang Yi said lightly.

"Grand elder of the Joyous Sect, Martial Saint Fang Yi."

"Venerable Lu, I hope you don't think all Martial Saints are like that one from the Black Light Merchant Association," Fang Yi said with a slight shake of his head. "In any case, you've come to my sect today in a most brazen manner. There's no going back for you!"

Boom!

No sooner had Fang Yi finished speaking than his Saint Body manifested. His Saint Body had been forged from a major divine ability, and its power far exceeded that of the Black Light Martial Saint's.

With the Saint Body unleashed, a tremendous pressure bore down on Lu Changsheng. In fact, the whole Joyous City stirred. Everyone looked up, staring at the sky in utter shock.