Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques

Among the countless onlookers watching Lu Changsheng's confrontation with three Martial Venerables, the martial artists of the Deep Space Merchant Association paid especially close attention.

Xiao Cong trembled when he saw the enormous black vortex appear.

"That is the divine ability he used in Cloud Chart Mountain Range," Xiao Cong told his companions. "It's a mental-type immeasurable divine ability called the Mental Black Hole. It was powerful enough to affect the mind of the sacred beast flood dragon. Although the flood dragon does not have particularly powerful mental strength, its mind is still far beyond the reach of ordinary mental-type divine abilities. Only an immeasurable divine ability could possess such astonishing power.

The other martial artists of the Deep Space Merchant Association had heard countless stories about Lu Changsheng's immeasurable divine abilities, but those descriptions had never allowed them to grasp their true might.

Only after seeing the Mental Black Hole with their own eyes and feeling its oppressive force bearing down upon their minds did they finally understand that an immeasurable divine ability was not merely stronger than an ordinary divine ability—it stood on an entirely different level.

The martial artists of the Deep Space Merchant Association fell quiet. Earlier, some among them had wondered why their association had gone out of its way to seek cooperation with the Li Clan Merchant Association, extending goodwill and offering benefits no one had asked for.

Now they understood completely. With Lu Changsheng's strength as it stood, who beneath the Martial Saint realm could possibly stand against him?

At that moment, the three Martial Venerables found themselves trapped in an impossible situation. The overwhelming pressure of the Mental Black Hole had shaken them to their very cores.

"Who exactly are you?" the three asked, almost in unison.

Lu Changsheng stood high above them, his hands still clasped behind his back, and his gaze still icy. "Lu Changsheng of the Sacred Earth Heavenly Sect."

The moment the name left his mouth, countless martial artists below felt their hearts jolt. Even the three Martial Venerables narrowed their eyes, staring intently at him.

Lu Changsheng of the Sacred Earth Heavenly Sect was the number-one figure in the Martial Saint Institute's inner division, the wielder of several immeasurable divine abilities, and a man considered invincible within the Divine Ability Realm. And now, this renowned Venerable Lu, whose name had spread throughout the Sacred Earth, was standing before them.

Lu Changsheng was famous beyond measure, and many of the stories that surrounded him had always sounded almost legendary. Before witnessing his power for themselves, the three Martial Venerables and the other Divine Ability martial artists had suspected that those stories might have been exaggerated. Now, they realized the stories had actually failed to convey the full extent of his strength.

"It really is him..."

The three Martial Venerables exchanged apprehensive glances.

They know Lu Changsheng had already killed several Martial Venerables, so even if the three of them joined forces, they would most likely die without accomplishing anything. Just seeing the immeasurable divine ability hanging above their heads was enough to make their hearts tremble.

So the three Martial Venerables took a deep breath and lowered their heads. "We pay our respects to Venerable Lu."

At the same time, the dozens of martial artists who had been shouting threats only moments earlier immediately fell silent. None of them dared to make another sound.

Just like that, Lu Changsheng had subdued three Martial Venerables and dozens of Divine Ability martial artists merely by revealing his name.

Even Lu Changsheng was slightly surprised by their reaction. He had expected the confrontation to end in a bloody battle, but since they had already submitted and no longer dared to resist, there was no reason for him to kill them.

"Hahaha! Impressive, Lu Changsheng. What a powerful immeasurable divine ability!" A deep, resonant voice suddenly echoed through the air. "Old bastard Li, I never expected your clan to recruit a Martial Venerable who is practically invincible within the Divine Ability Realm. It seems I've underestimated you."

Everyone turned their heads toward the source of the voice and saw a man dressed in white robes appear from deeper within the Black Light Merchant Association headquarters.

His aura intensified with every step, and by the time he rose into the air, his overwhelming aura had spread across the entire area. Divine Ability martial artists and Martial Venerables alike found it hard to breathe under the pressure.

This man was none other than the Black Light Merchant Association's Martial Saint.

Lu Changsheng's expression turned serious. A Martial Saint!

Although he had once slain a sacred beast flood dragon despite being in a lower cultivation realm, he had only succeeded through clever tactics, gradually wearing the creature down.

In theory, a Martial Saint was stronger than a sacred beast. At the very least, Lu Changsheng's Mental Black Hole would not nearly be as effective against a Martial Saint as it had been against the flood dragon. Furthermore, the explosive power of a Martial Saint's Saint Body far exceeded anything a sacred beast could muster.

At this moment, the Black Light Martial Saint had not even unleashed his Saint Body, yet the pressure from his aura alone already weighed heavily upon Lu Changsheng.

Yeah, they truly deserve to be called saints among martial artists... Lu Changsheng frowned.

"Black Light, you old bastard. You've finally shown yourself!" Li Zhenggang finally spoke up. "But as a Martial Saint, do you not find it beneath you to intimidate members of the younger generation?"

No one had paid Li Zhenggang much attention until now. After all, with Lu Changsheng shining so brightly, who would notice an unfamiliar martial artist with a rather feeble aura?

Although Li Zhenggang was a Martial Saint himself, he had lived long enough to fade from the public eye. Furthermore, he had withdrawn into obscurity following his injury, so not many people recognized him anymore. Among everyone present, only the Black Light Martial Saint could.

Li Zhenggang stepped forward one step at a time, unbothered by the Black Light Martial Saint's imposing aura. Then, he released his own Martial Saint aura, and the pressure from him immediately matched the Black Light Martial Saint's.

"Another Martial Saint!"

"That's the Li Clan's grand elder, Martial Saint Li Zhenggang!"

"Ah, I know him! He's a legendary figure, one who hasn't appeared in public for a very long time."

"No wonder the Li Clan Merchant Association acted so boldly, charging straight into the Black Light Merchant Association. They had a Martial Saint with them all along."

"But wasn't Li Zhenggang rumored to be injured? Could the rumors be false?"

"I mean, it was the Black Light Merchant Association that spread that rumor. They should know better than anyone whether it is true."

"A clash between two Martial Saints... We might never get to see something like this ever again."

Every eye in Heavenly Light City turned toward the two Martial Saints.

To most martial artists, becoming a Martial Saint represented reaching the very summit of the Martial Dao. A Martial Saint stood so far above ordinary cultivators that such figures might as well have been gods, so the prospect of witnessing two Martial Saints fight filled the entire city with anticipation.

The Black Light Martial Saint narrowed his eyes at Li Zhenggang. The two had known each other for many years and had even clashed several times in their youth. However, after both of them became Martial Saints, they had rarely fought again.

"Old bastard Li, you hide it well, but you can't fool me. I know you're still injured. Even if you are capable of fighting at full strength, it'll come at a great cost."

The Black Light Martial Saint immediately saw through Li Zhenggang's condition.

Li Zhenggang, however, showed no surprise. He knew he could conceal his injury from ordinary martial artists, but another Martial Saint would inevitably see through him once they stood face-to-face. He had already expected his condition to be exposed before coming here.

"So what if I'm injured?" Li Zhenggang said coldly, killing intent flickering in his eyes. "I still have enough strength to destroy the Black Light Merchant Association."

Li Zhenggang knew he might not be able to kill the Black Light Martial Saint in his current state, but destroying the association itself was not going to be a problem for him.

The Black Light Martial Saint had poured his life's work into the Black Light Merchant Association. There was no way he would stand by and watch it be destroyed.

"Is that so? Old bastard Li, I'd like to test that. Let's see how much of your strength you still have."

Li Zhenggang's threat had not intimidated him. On the contrary, the prospect of battle filled his eyes with anticipation.

The Black Light Martial Saint had long wanted to absorb the Li Clan Merchant Association and eliminate Li Zhenggang. If he succeeded, his influence would extend across both Heavenly Light City and Heavenly Sacred City. Now, with Li Zhenggang injured and in his territory, he was presented with the perfect opportunity, one he could not let slip away.

Li Zhenggang's heart sank when heard the Black Light Martial Saint's reply. In his current state, he was most likely no match for the Black Light Martial Saint. If he accepted the challenge, he would immediately be placed at a disadvantage, which was precisely what his opponent wanted.

Once the Black Light Martial Saint proved that Li Zhenggang could no longer contend with him, the Li Clan would lose its greatest deterrent, leaving the entire Li Clan Merchant Association exposed to disastrous consequences.

However, the Black Light Martial Saint had just forced Li Zhenggang into a corner. He knew he could not backtrack now. Li Zhenggang was left with no choice but to fight with everything he had, regardless of the consequences.

However, Lu Changsheng stepped forward before Li Zhenggang could make his move.

"Grand Elder, we agreed that I would deal with the Black Light Martial Saint. Leave him to me."

Lu Changsheng's voice was calm as he moved step by step in the air toward the enemy Martial Saint.