Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

The sacred land's disciples were bewildered by Lu Changsheng's name, but the martial artists who had come for the disciple recruitment were just as stunned, if not more so.

The sacred land's disciples had seen their share of dazzling talents; the people outside the sacred lands had not. Upon seeing Lu Changsheng, their eyes went wide with open curiosity.

"That's the legendary Saint Lu?"

"It's actually Saint Lu... I can't believe it."

"Saint Lu could slay Martial Saints back when he was still a Martial Venerable. Now that he's become a Martial Saint, can you even imagine how strong he has to be?"

"Saint Lu must be here to join the Heavenly River Sacred Land too. But no Martial Saint has succeeded in joining for the past hundred years. I wonder if Saint Lu can pull it off."

"If even Saint Lu can't join the sacred land, then what Martial Saint ever could?"

These onlookers were not particularly strong, nor was their judgment especially keen, yet even they knew Lu Changsheng would most likely make it into the Heavenly River Sacred Land. Such was the weight his name now carried across the entire Sacred Earth!

"Saint Lu, the Martial Saint assessment is not held here. Please enter the sect's base," said one of the disciples, respectfully stepping aside.

With that, they led Lu Changsheng into the Heavenly River Sacred Land's base.

Walking forward, Lu Changsheng gazed into the distance and saw the boundless breadth of the Heavenly River, its roaring current audible even from here. And as his gaze shifted upward, he saw that the sacred land's vast base actually stood in the air.

Peak after peak, cave residence after cave residence, pavilion after pavilion, all floated above the Heavenly River. The whole of the Heavenly River Sacred Land looked like an immortal realm.

Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes. A formation? And no ordinary formation. Even a Heavenly Saint probably couldn't easily break the Heavenly River Sacred Land's base.

An entire base suspended in the sky. The scale of such workmanship was immense, a grand gesture in every sense, and it proclaimed the sacred land's majesty. No martial artist who came to the Heavenly River Sacred Land could help but be awed.

Following the disciple, Lu Changsheng arrived atop one of the peaks, where a Martial Saint with snow-white hair and beard and a ruddy complexion sat quietly cross-legged on the ground.

"Elder Liu, this is Martial Saint Lu Changsheng, here for the assessment," the disciple explained with a bow.

Elder Liu opened his eyes and glanced at Lu Changsheng. "A Martial Saint from the outside? It's been a hundred years since any outsider Martial Saint passed the assessment. Make no mistake. Whatever reputation one might have out there, whether you're a renowned titan or a nameless hermit master, once you arrive at the Heavenly River Sacred Land, you are ordinary and unremarkable. You count for nothing."

This Elder Liu had clearly spent his life inside the sacred land, indifferent to worldly affairs. He had never heard the name of Lu Changsheng, and he did not care to.

The disciple beside them opened his mouth as if about to say something, but he ultimately remained silent. He knew all too well how stubborn and foul-tempered Elder Liu could be. Speaking up about Lu Changsheng's fearsome reputation would accomplish nothing besides angering the elder.

Lu Changsheng himself made no effort to defend himself. He seemed completely unbothered by Elder Liu's attitude. These sacred land elders were accustomed to standing high above others; such airs were only natural. He had come to join the sacred land, not argue with people.

"If I pass the assessment, where would I stand in the Heavenly River Sacred Land?" he asked directly.

What he really wanted to know was what his standing would be after passing. If the position was too low, he clearly could not share in the sacred land's momentum of the masses, which would make joining the sacred land meaningless.

"I know exactly what you outside Martial Saints are thinking. You want to borrow the sacred land's momentum of the masses to cultivate your Saint Body," Elder Liu said after a glance at him. "And that, my Heavenly River Sacred Land can offer. The sacred land's momentum of the masses is vast beyond measure, but every strand of it has its use, and not every Martial Saint who arrives is qualified to draw on it. An outside Martial Saint who passes the assessment may hold one of three positions.

"First, ordinary elder of one of the sacred land's halls. You would receive a share of the momentum of the masses, though not much. But you could make slow and steady progress. At the very least, it would be enough for you to cultivate with it.

"Second, vice master of a hall. Such Martial Saints hold considerable standing in the sacred land, above the halls' ordinary elders, and share in far more of the momentum of the masses for cultivation.

"Third, titled elder. Such elders need hold no hall post at all. They receive a title from the sacred land and simply cultivate here. In standing and treatment they fall only half a step short of the sacred land's sect master. It is the highest honor an outside Martial Saint can attain in the sacred land."

Lu Changsheng's eyes brightened. Ordinary elder, vice hall master, and titled elder, huh? titled elder is clearly the best position.

Indeed, every titled elder could draw on an enormous share of the momentum of the masses to cultivate their Saint Body.

"Are there restrictions or conditions on the titled elder position?" Lu Changsheng asked.

At that, Elder Liu snorted. "Just as I thought. Reaching for the stars, huh? You arrive at the sacred land and immediately want to be a titled elder. All these years, outside Martial Saints have failed even the ordinary Elder assessment, and you want titled elder?

"Here, ordinary elder, vice hall master, and titled elder each require an assessment of matching difficulty. The titled elder assessment is the harshest of all. Failure might result in death."

Lu Changsheng did not seem fazed at all. "Is the titled elder assessment set at the Earthly Saint level?"

"How could it be? The titled elder assessment is also at the Human Saint level. As for Earthly Saints, you clearly know little of them. Become a true Earthly Saint, and the title of titled elder is granted automatically."

Lu Changsheng turned this over in his mind. As long as the assessment was not at the Earthly Saint level, there should be no problems. At the Human Saint level, no assessment could be too difficult for him.

"Very well. I'll go for the titled elder assessment," he said bluntly.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Absolutely sure," Lu Changsheng answered with iron firmness.

Elder Liu frowned, for he himself had no authority to handle the titled elder assessment. At most, he handled the vice hall master assessment; he did not qualify for titled elder. Still, rules were rules. However displeased, he could only send word at once.

"Wait here. Elder Feng shall be the one to oversee your assessment," Elder Liu said flatly, closing his eyes as if to tell Lu Changsheng to go away.

His reaction was not that surprising. In a way, Lu Changsheng had humiliated Elder Liu by choosing an assessment he was not qualified to oversee. Now, Elder Liu was eager to see Lu Changsheng pay for his arrogance with his life.

Indeed, the titled elder assessment was extremely dangerous; one misstep and even a Martial Saint would perish. Even the most confident Martial Saints were reluctant to attempt this assessment.

***

Soon, a white-robed elderly man arrived atop the peak.

The disciple guarding the mountain bowed at once. "Greetings, Elder Feng."

Lu Changsheng also gave a fist-and-palm salute.

Elder Liu opened his eyes and said, "Thank you for coming, Elder Feng. This Lu Changsheng has applied for the titled elder assessment."

Elder Feng raised an eyebrow. "titled elder, you say? No one has applied for the titled elder assessment in all these years. Only thirty-eight people have applied in the entire history of the Heavenly River Sacred Land. Of those, only two ultimately passed and became titled elders of the sacred land."

With that, he turned to Lu Changsheng. "Fellow Daoist, are you confident you'll become the third Martial Saint to pass this assessment?"

Instead of answering directly, Lu Changsheng decided to ask a question of his own. "What became of the thirty-six Martial Saints who failed?"

"They died, of course."

At that, Lu Changsheng frowned slightly. So Elder Liu wasn't just trying to scare me. The titled elder assessment really is that dangerous, huh? One slip and you die.

"Fellow Daoist, you still wish to apply for the titled elder assessment?" Elder Feng asked, his gaze boring into Lu Changsheng.

"Yes. I am not changing my mind," Lu Changsheng said without hesitation.

Both Elder Liu and Elder Feng seemed slightly taken aback by his resolute stance.

"Oh? Perhaps you're no ordinary figure," Elder Feng conceded. "Still, that won't make any difference. Follow me."

Elder Feng turned and walked toward the depths of the peak, and Lu Changsheng followed close behind.