Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

The entire hall fell silent. The elders stiffened in their seats, exchanging stunned glances as they struggled to comprehend what Lu Changsheng had just said.

Martial Saint? Did Lu Changsheng say he has already become a Martial Saint? Incredible!

"Venerable Lu, you just said you intend to hold a Martial Saint Banquet, right? Have you really forged a Saint Body and become a Martial Saint?" Lu Tong asked, his voice quavering with disbelief. He himself was a formidable Divine Ability martial artist, yet even he could barely contain his excitement.

For thousands of years, not a single Martial Saint had emerged from the Ancient Region, and this was not because the region itself prevented martial artists from advancing.

Martial artists who reached the Divine Ability Realm could always use the long-distance teleportation formation to travel to the Sacred Earth and continue cultivating the Martial Dao. However, even with that path open to them, no one had ever managed to forge a Saint Body and become a Martial Saint.

Not until now, at least. Today, Lu Changsheng had done what no one had managed in thousands of years.

Rather than answering, Lu Changsheng released a faint trace of the Primordial Chaos Saint Body's aura. Its illusion immediately appeared behind him, and an overwhelming pressure descended upon the hall.

Although he had revealed only a wisp of its power, every elder present felt as though a towering mountain were bearing down upon them, leaving them almost unable to breathe. Their eyes widened at the sight of the illusion. There was no mistake about it. This was a Saint Body.

"Venerable Lu—no, Saint Lu, how do you intend to hold the Martial Saint Banquet? Who should we invite?" asked Lu Tong.

After considering the matter for a moment, Lu Changsheng said, "The Li Clan and the Deep Space Merchant Association must be invited. Send invitations to the Martial Saint forces in Heavenly Saint City and Heavenly Light City as well, even those with whom we have had no previous dealings."

A Martial Saint Banquet was not merely a celebration; it was also a display of strength, a declaration. If the Sacred Earth Heavenly Sect wished to secure its position, every major power had to know that it now possessed a Martial Saint and had become a Martial Saint-level force.

Lu Changsheng discussed the arrangements in detail with Lu Tong, and they ultimately decided to hold the banquet one month later. That would give the Sacred Earth Heavenly Sect enough time to prepare and send invitations to the various powers.

Once the details had been settled, Lu Tong left to proceed with the necessary arrangements. Lu Changsheng had no intention of involving himself in such minor matters, so after considering his next step, he rose and departed for the Li Clan.

***

"Brother Li," Lu Changsheng greeted Li Guang when he arrived at the Li Clan.

The moment Li Guang laid eyes on Lu Changsheng, he sensed that something had changed, though his cultivation level was too shallow for him to guess what. He only felt that Lu Changsheng's whole presence had shifted, as if a different man now stood in his place.

"Brother Lu, you..." Li Guang started, confusion creasing his brow.

Beside Li Guang, Li Chengwu's gaze sharpened at once, his heart lurching. As a supreme Divine Ability martial artist, it had only taken him a glance to see the change for what it was.

"Martial Saint! Venerable Lu—no, I should address you as Saint Lu now! You have advanced to the Martial Saint Realm, haven't you?"

Lu Changsheng nodded. "Indeed, I fortunately managed to forge a Saint Body and ascend. But there are a few matters concerning the path ahead that I would like to seek the Grand Elder's advice on."

Hearing Lu Changsheng's admission, Li Chengwu and Li Guang exchanged stunned glances. Although they had long believed that Lu Changsheng would eventually become a Martial Saint, neither had expected him to advance so soon.

Even before forging a Saint Body, Lu Changsheng had possessed enough strength to contend with an ordinary Martial Saint. Now that he had become a Martial Saint himself, they could hardly imagine how powerful he had become.

Suddenly, Li Chengwu heard Li Zhenggang's voice transmitted directly to him, then he told Lu Changsheng. "S-Saint Lu, the Grand Elder wishes to see you..."

Lu Changsheng nodded, and Li Chengwu quickly led him to Li Zhenggang's secret chamber.

A trace of surprise appeared in Li Zhenggang's eyes when he saw Lu Changsheng, but he was not nearly as astonished as the others. Given Lu Changsheng's talent and strength, he had been certain that Lu Changsheng's ascension would be just a matter of time.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, congratulations. You have forged your Saint Body in a single attempt and become a Martial Saint. Now, you shall live for three thousand years."

Three thousand years could certainly be considered a long and unfettered life, but longevity was not the same as immortality. No matter how long one's lifespan was, it would eventually come to an end. Lu Changsheng had only taken another step along the Martial Dao, and there was still a far longer road ahead of him.

"Fellow Daoist Li," Lu Changsheng greeted Li Zhenggang.

That simple form of address reflected the change in their relationship. Lu Changsheng was no longer a Martial Venerable speaking to a Martial Saint. He and Li Zhenggang now stood in the same realm and so could address one another as equals. In fact, Lu Changsheng had far surpassed Li Zhenggang in terms of actual combat prowess.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, has today's visit to do with the path ahead in the Martial Saint Realm?"

"Indeed. I would like to ask for your guidance, Fellow Daoist Li."

Although Lu Changsheng had successfully forged a Saint Body, he was not going to let this accomplishment go to his head. After all, the Martial Saint Realm was not an endpoint; it was only another step on the Martial Dao.

Li Zhenggang looked at Lu Changsheng with mixed emotions. There was even a trace of envy in his eyes. Lu Changsheng had only just become a Martial Saint, yet he still possessed the drive and potential to continue advancing along the Martial Dao. Li Zhenggang, by contrast, had been burdened by his injuries for so long that he had already lost that ambition. He acknowledged his own limits; the Martial Saint Realm was as far as he would ever go.

Lu Changsheng, on the other hand, still had a bright future ahead of him. His flame showed no signs of dimming.

Li Zhenggang's expression grew solemn. "Fellow Daoist Lu, you should already know that the Martial Saint Realm is divided into three stages: Human Saint, Earthly Saint, and Heavenly Saint.

"Given that you've just forged your Saint Body, you are considered a Human Saint. The key to advancing beyond this stage lies in the word human. The Martial Dao is fundamentally the path of humans. As humans, we are born from among the masses, and as we contemplate the path of the masses and integrate the power of the masses into our Saint Body, our Saint Body will be able to refine itself, ultimately transforming us into an Earthly Saint.

Lu Changsheng frowned slightly. "What exactly is the power of the masses?"

"The power of the masses can also be understood as the momentum of the masses," explained Li Zhenggang. "Each person may seem weak on their own, but when countless people unite, their will converge into one and their strength moves in the same direction. When that happens, even ordinary mortals can accomplish what would otherwise seem impossible, whether that means moving mountains or reshaping the world around them. That united force is the momentum of the masses.

"As long as you govern a force large enough, Fellow Daoist Lu, you will naturally gain access to this momentum. By gradually expanding your influence and gathering more people under your command, you can accumulate an even greater momentum of the masses and use it to refine your Saint Body.

"That is why most martial artists choose to join an established force or create one of their own after forging a Saint Body and advancing to the Martial Saint Realm. A Human Saint cannot progress through personal cultivation alone. Their cultivation requires the support from the momentum of the masses."

Lu Changsheng finally understood. The power of the masses, the momentum of the passes, and the convergence of the people's will were merely different ways of describing the same force.

This concept also highlighted one of the fundamental differences between the Martial Dao and the Immortal Dao. The latter emphasized contemplating heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, and the Heavenly Dao. It emphasizes transcendence, detachment from worldly affairs, and rising above the mortal world.

As for the Martial Dao, it followed the exact opposite path. Martial artists emerged from among ordinary people, and the human element lay at the very foundation of their cultivation. Rather than severing themselves from people, they relied upon them. The stronger the will gathered behind a martial artist, the further that martial artist could progress.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you founded the Sacred Earth Heavenly Sect yourself, which makes you its founding ancestor. With that, you already carry the momentum of the masses. You simply haven't learned to feel it yet. Let me teach you how to sense it. It's nothing particularly profound, but it's enough for you to sense the momentum of the masses."

With that, Lu Changsheng listened attentively to Li Zhenggang's explanation. He grasped the method almost immediately and began sensing the momentum of the masses.